Less than a day remained until the coronation.
Xue Yan watched the Empress gazing out the window, lost in thought, and couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, are you nervous?"
Xue Zining turned to look at Xue Yan and smiled, "What is there to be nervous about?"
Xue Yan smiled, "Indeed, it's just like when you offered sacrifices to the heavens before, no need to be nervous."
Xue Zining said nothing more, but she knew she was a little nervous.
Starting from tomorrow, she would officially ascend the throne and become the empress of Huangze.
Her lack of nervousness was merely her comforting Xue Yan.
She had a sleepless night.
At the hour of the ox, Xue Zining got up. Xue Yan, who was in the outer hall, heard the movement and got up. She entered the inner hall and saw Xue Zining already sitting up.
She couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, shouldn't you sleep a little longer?"
Xue Zining shook her head, "I can't sleep. Help me change and get ready!"
Xue Yan nodded, "Alright, I'll go and call them."
In front of the bronze mirror, Xue Zining saw a clear and beautiful face staring back at her. It was her own.
Father Emperor, Mother Empress, she had not failed your trust; the day has finally arrived.
Footsteps sounded from behind her. Xue Zining did not turn around and said, "You're back so soon?"
Her hair was being styled. Suddenly, her eyes narrowed. She reached out and grabbed the person styling her hair, stood up, and said coldly, "You're not Xue Yan. Who are you?"
"Your Majesty, I am Xue Ling."
Xue Zining turned around and saw that it was indeed Xue Ling. She released her grip and said, "Where is Xue Yan?"
Xue Ling said, "Sister Xue Yan went to fetch the clothes Your Majesty will wear for the coronation."
Xue Zining sat down and asked, "Xue Ling, how is your mother's condition?"
"She's fine now, thank you for your concern, Your Majesty!"
"And your sister's illness?"
"She is also fine," Xue Ling replied.
Xue Zining suddenly grabbed Xue Ling's hand and twisted it forcefully. Xue Ling cried out in pain, "Your... Your Majesty, did I do something wrong?"
"You are not Xue Ling. Who are you?" Xue Zining asked coldly.
"Your Majesty, what are you talking about? Who else could I be if not Xue Ling?"
Xue Zining let out a cold laugh and snatched the hairpin Xue Ling had just placed in her hair. She fiercely stabbed it into Xue Ling's shoulder, her voice as cold as ice, "Speak, who are you?"
Xue Ling cried out in pain. The hand that Xue Zining was not holding reached out and grabbed some jewelry from the table, throwing it at her.
Xue Zining dodged it and kicked Xue Ling in the abdomen, saying coldly, "Speak, who are you?"
She had used half of her strength in this kick, and Xue Ling felt as if her internal organs were about to shatter.
A mouthful of blood spurted from Xue Ling's mouth. She lay on the ground begging for mercy, "Your Majesty, I don't understand what you're saying. Where have I gone wrong? Please forgive me!"
"You are not Xue Ling. Xue Ling does not have a sister," Xue Zining said, her words cold and deliberate.
Xue Ling froze and looked up.
Xue Zining sneered, "Stop pretending. You've revealed yourself."
Upon hearing this, Xue Ling suddenly let out a low laugh, "As expected of a person in power, with such a meticulous mind. Xue Zining, you truly surprise me. The Xue Zining of the past is gone."
"So, you are..." Xue Zining asked, looking at the fake Xue Ling.
Xue Ling removed the human skin mask from her face. Xue Zining's expression darkened as she recognized the face beneath. "Nangong Yue. It's you..."
Nangong Yue smiled, her smile pulling at the wound on her shoulder. She winced and said, "How do you like that? Didn't expect it, did you?"
Xue Zining nodded, "I truly didn't expect it."
"Now that you've seen, you should know that Xue Zining, your days of glory are over." Nangong Yue's face was contorted with malice.
"Should the person behind you also appear now?" Xue Zining asked indifferently.
Nangong Yue froze. Xue Zining continued, "You, Nangong Yue, do not have the intellect to orchestrate these matters. Therefore, someone must be directing you. Who is it?"
"My dear sister, do you think of me like this?" A voice echoed, tinged with a chilling malevolence.
Xue Zining looked towards the doorway. A tall figure appeared, dressed in striking red, bold and flamboyant.
Suddenly, she recalled something. It was in this very red attire that the person had approached her before, calling her name.
The woman in red walked in, her face radiant and beautiful, her eyes gleaming with a cold light. "Should I call you Princess Changning or Empress of Huangze?"
Xue Zining collected her thoughts. "Chang'an, you've also been reborn."
Chang'an laughed coldly, "Yes!" She touched the jade hairpin on her head, then pulled it out and rubbed it, saying, "That day, I suddenly woke up and found myself in a commoner's home. They called me Nannan because I was their only daughter. But I knew I shouldn't be there. I was once the renowned Princess Chang'an of Huangze, Chang'an, blessed with both talent and beauty."
"You killed them..."
Chang'an looked up, still smiling, but Xue Zining sensed a chilling darkness in her laughter. "Yes, I killed them, sold their valuables, and step by step, I made my way here. Then I saw that my sister Changning, who was always inferior to me, had become the most respected imperial daughter of Huangze, and was on her way to becoming Empress."
Xue Zining let out a long sigh. "Chang'an, the past is gone. Now I am Xue Zining, the sole Empress of Huangze. If you wish, I am willing to bestow upon you the title of Grand Princess of Huangze."
Upon hearing this, Chang'an threw her head back and laughed heartily. "Changning, after all I've done, do you think a mere Grand Princess would satisfy me?"
"Then what do you want? The throne?" Xue Zining asked.
Chang'an chuckled softly. "Not enough. I want everything you have, including Yan Zhao."
Xue Zining's gaze turned icy. "Chang'an, don't push your luck."
Chang'an laughed several times, her eyes filled with a chilling intensity. "Changning, if you can have it, why can't I?"
"Feng Wu, Xue Yan..." Xue Zining suddenly said coldly.
Feng Wu and Xue Yan appeared before her. Chang'an's gaze faltered, and she frowned, "So you were prepared."
Xue Zining shook her head, "I didn't know it would be you."
If she had known, she would have been more thorough. It was a pity she hadn't guessed that Nangong Yue was backed by Chang'an.
The Chang'an whom even their father had praised.
"Alas, what use is your preparation? You are nothing more than a turtle in a jar now," Chang'an sneered. She clapped her hands, and many guards surrounded Zhaoyuan Palace.
Xue Zining's eyes tightened. Chang'an smirked, "How is it? Does it seem familiar?"
"The Xue Family Army," Xue Zining said through gritted teeth, word by word.
Chang'an nodded, "Indeed, you still know of the Xue Family Army."
"Did Xue Yunlan cooperate with you?" Xue Zining asked.
"Her?" Chang'an scoffed, disdaining to mention her.
"Chang'an, you have gone to great lengths for this throne."
Chang'an sneered, "There's something better awaiting you. Lord Li, please come out and give your Empress her final farewell!"