Snow Country
"Xuesong, what time is it?" Xue Jingyun asked in a deep voice, looking up from the pile of memorials.
Xuesong, who had been dozing by his side, jolted awake. He glanced at the dark sky outside before finally replying, "Your Highness, it is only Yinshi."
"Only Yinshi," Xue Jingyun murmured, his gaze deepening as he looked at the memorials that had not been changed since earlier.
Aning had been gone for a full year.
That day, he had stayed up all night, galloping his horse to Huangze, only to find Aning's lifeless body and a weeping Xu Yan.
When he felt for Aning's breath, he could not believe it. His Aning was gone.
He had received Aning's parting words, and had sent people to search everywhere, but where was Aning's trace? Da Feng Novel Network.
Seeing his Highness's worried expression, Xuesong sighed and stood up. "Your Highness, you should rest."
Xue Jingyun looked outside and said, "The morning court will begin soon."
Xuesong was taken aback. "Your Highness, you should take care of your health."
"It is nothing. Go and rest!" Xue Jingyun said lightly.
Xuesong wanted to persuade him further, but Xue Feng, who had arrived to take over, shook his head. Xuesong sighed and walked out of the imperial study, returning to his room. The person inside rushed forward, taking off his cloak. "You're back?"
Xuesong looked at the woman before him and suddenly held her tightly. "Xue Yan, promise me, don't leave me..."
The woman looked up, tears welling in her eyes. "Xuesong, what's wrong?"
Xuesong shook his head and whispered, "Once the Empress is found, we will get married."
Xue Yan sighed. "Is His Highness still the same?"
Xuesong nodded. "Yes, it's been a year. He can count the hours he sleeps. I'm truly afraid that if this continues, the Empress won't be found, but His Highness will collapse first."
"He won't. As long as His Majesty hasn't appeared, His Highness won't collapse," Xue Yan said firmly.
"When will His Majesty appear?" Xuesong's expression was somewhat confused.
Xue Yan shook her head. His Majesty had only left that one sentence before leaving.
All that was left was a lifeless body, a body without a breath.
"Soon, His Majesty will never go back on his word." She firmly believed that if His Majesty said he would appear, he would appear.
Xuesong picked up the cloak and draped it over Xue Yan, then pulled her out of the room.
The snow was vast, emitting a silver light under the moonlight.
Xuesong put his arm around her waist and whispered, "I wonder how many more nights like this we will have to endure."
"Soon, I have a premonition that His Majesty has woken up," Xue Yan murmured softly.
Xuesong sighed inwardly. He hoped so, otherwise his Highness would truly not be able to bear it.
"Xuesong, the Crown Prince has gone to court," Xue Yan said, pointing to the tall, slender figure not far away.
Xuesong sighed lightly. "His Highness has again stayed up all night."
Xue Feng followed behind Xue Jingyun, looking at the Crown Prince who had gradually become thinner over the past year. He couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, you won't be able to handle this if you continue like this."
"It is nothing," Xue Jingyun said lightly.
"Your Highness..." Xue Feng wanted to say more, but Xue Jingyun had already interrupted him.
"Xue Feng, this Prince will not collapse." He had not yet found his Aning, how could he collapse?
Watching his Highness enter the imperial hall, Xue Feng was speechless. This scene occurred every day, and the Crown Prince's reply was always the same.
"If there is a matter to report, retire from court!"
"Your Highness, An Huang wishes to engage in trade with our Xue Kingdom," the Prime Minister said.
"Why the sudden request for trade? We only made peace half a year ago," Li Taiwei asked.
The Prime Minister replied, "I heard that An Huang has a young daughter who had been in a coma for a long time. She recently woke up, and An Huang was overjoyed, granting a general amnesty. It is said that the proposal for trade was also made by this awakened Princess Anning."
"Princess Anning?" Xue Jingyun's eyes flashed with a glint of light.
"Yes, Your Highness, Princess Anning. It is said that next month An Huang will celebrate Princess Anning's coming-of-age ceremony and has invited many people." The Prime Minister said.
Xue Jingyun looked at the Minister of Rites and asked, "Have we received an invitation from An Huang?"
The Minister of Rites stepped forward. "Indeed, we have received one, but Your Highness..."
"Bring it..." Xue Jingyun said. Although his expression was calm, the authority in his eyes was undeniable.
The Minister of Rites ordered someone to fetch the invitation from the Ministry of Rites and handed it up. Xue Jingyun opened the invitation, and the words Princess Anning appeared on it.
Aning, could it be you?
Closing the invitation, Xue Jingyun said lightly, "On Princess Anning's coming-of-age day, this Prince will also attend to celebrate. Minister of Rites, you will reply to An Huang."
"Your Highness, you must not..." All the officials suddenly knelt and objected.
Xue Jingyun looked at the kneeling officials below, stood up, and walked down step by step. "My decision is made. There is no point in saying more."
With that, he walked out of the imperial hall.
The officials looked at each other, thinking the Crown Prince was too willful.
In the imperial study, Xue Jingyun looked at the people inside and was slightly stunned. He stepped forward and bowed. "Father Emperor, Mother Empress, why have you come?"
Snow Emperor snorted. "Isn't it all because of your good deeds?"
The Snow Empress comforted the Snow Emperor. "Why are you so angry? You can't just listen to what those court officials say. You must also listen to what he says. Jingyun, did you say in court today that you would go to An Country to attend Princess Anning's coming-of-age ceremony?"
Xue Jingyun nodded upon hearing this. "Yes, I did say that."
"Crown Prince, you have disappointed me," the Snow Emperor said angrily, slamming his palm on the table.
"Why are you angry? You haven't even finished asking. Go back," the Snow Empress said displeased. How could she be happy if her son was being yelled at?
The Snow Emperor coughed twice to express his embarrassment. Seeing the Snow Empress staring at him coldly, he quickly found a way to save face. "I remember the imperial physician told me to take my medicine at this hour."
"Aren't you going to take your medicine?" the Snow Empress said coldly.
The Snow Emperor quickly walked out.
The Snow Empress sighed and walked forward, patting Xue Jingyun's shoulder. She asked softly, "Is it because of Princess Anning?"
Xue Jingyun's gaze paused. He looked up at the Snow Empress with gentle eyes. "Mother Empress, you know everything..."
"Silly child, how could Mother Empress not know? Mother Empress will not stop you. Since you want to confirm, then go. However, you must ensure your own safety." The Snow Empress said.
"Mother Empress, rest assured, this son will be foolproof."
"Good, Mother Empress believes you." The Snow Empress said.
Huangze
The Empress of Huangze looked at the invitation, her gaze somewhat cold. Princess Anning?
She licked her lips. "Changning, are you back again? Was dying by my hand once not enough, must there be a second time?"
"Your Majesty, wasn't Xue Zining already dead?" Nangong Yue asked from the side.
"Did you see her body?"
Nangong Yue shook her head. "But at that time, the expression of the Crown Prince of Xue Kingdom was not fake."
"It was indeed not fake, but Changning, I don't believe she is truly dead."