A figure, slender and tall, walked slowly in the rain.
The maiden's steps were slow, but her back was straight.
The heavy rain washed away all the dirt from the maiden's face, revealing a slightly pale but delicate countenance. Her eyes shone exceptionally brightly in the rain.
As she approached, her demeanor could not be concealed.
In every movement, there was an aura of majestic royalty.
At this moment, Fan Qing sighed and bowed, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
The maiden stood before him and said faintly, "Can you accept the body I brought now?"
The words of refusal were on the tip of his tongue but could not be uttered. Fan Qing sighed, stepped aside, and said, "Your Majesty, please..."
The maiden passed him, dropping two light words, "Thank you..."
Fan Qing was startled, and looked up at the maiden's retreating back, his gaze deepening.
Xue Zining, who had just entered, realized that Poison King Valley was vast. However, she was not in the mood to admire the scenery of Poison King Valley, as all sorts of poisonous creatures were before her.
Poisonous snakes, poisonous spiders, poisonous insects...
All kinds of strange and varied creatures, there was nothing lacking.
A green snake suddenly lunged towards Qing Yi. Xue Zining drew her silver whip, intending to strike the snake, but Qing Yi quickly said, "Your Majesty, please do not harm it."
Xue Zining quickly retracted her silver whip. She saw the green snake coil around Qing Yi's arm, rubbing its head against Qing Yi's face.
"What kind of snake is that?" Xue Yan, standing behind, could not help but ask.
Qing Yu said dismissively, "A pit viper."
Xue Yan took a step back. "Is it really a poisonous snake?"
Qing Yu replied, "Poison King Valley is naturally filled with poisonous things."
Entering the poison master's room, Fan Qing said, "Your Majesty, have you brought the body? I wish to see it."
Xue Zining nodded and instructed Xue Yan to bring in the coffin.
Soon, a coffin made from ice that never melted for a thousand years was carried in.
Xue Song carefully placed the coffin on the bed. He pushed open the lid, and a face of unparalleled beauty appeared.
Xue Zining lowered her gaze and reached out to touch the person in the coffin. The touch was cold, but her heart felt much steadier.
Fan Qing looked at the person and said, "It's not difficult."
Xue Zining looked up and asked, "How long can it be preserved?"
Fan Qing replied, "How long does Your Majesty need?"
"One year."
Fan Qing nodded. "It can be done."
Xue Zining glanced at the person in the coffin again, then turned her head away. "Close it!"
Xue Song glanced at the prince in the coffin, then ruthlessly closed the lid.
"Your Majesty, you may leave now." Fan Qing issued the request for her departure.
"Master..." Qing Yu could not help but speak.
Fan Qing glared at Qing Yu and said coldly, "I haven't settled accounts with you for betraying me yet."
Qing Yu took a few steps back but dared not speak further.
"I will leave now. Poison Master, do not break your promise to me."
With that, the maiden glanced at Qing Yi and said, "Qing Yi, once this is done, I will grant you your freedom."
Qing Yi was stunned, a look of joy appearing in his eyes. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
The maiden turned and left.
Fan Qing watched the maiden's retreating figure, anticipating what would become of the desolate wilderness.
"Your Majesty, you have knelt for two days and need to rest. This is a desolate place..."
"I will rest in the carriage for a few days. I am heading to the Snow Kingdom now."
Xue Yan was startled. "Your Majesty, you..."
Before getting into the carriage, Xue Zining said, "Xue Song, come in."
Xue Song was startled and looked at Xue Yan, who shook her head. He entered the carriage. The maiden's eyes were closed, and she looked as if she was asleep. Just as he was about to leave, the maiden's voice suddenly came, "What happened in the Snow Kingdom?"
Xue Song looked at the maiden and lowered his gaze. "Nothing."
He felt a gaze on him, sharp and cold. "Xue Song, even though your prince is no longer here, I will not let the Snow Kingdom fall into bloody succession struggles again."
Xue Song's gaze paused, and he looked up, asking, "Then, in what capacity will you appear in the Snow Kingdom?"
Fenzhou
Prince Xue Fu felt that he must have had the worst luck in his past eight lifetimes, to be confined by the Crown Prince, his good imperial brother. He had finally endured until the man died, ready to display his talents, when another old acquaintance arrived.
"Long time no see, Prince!" Xue Zining looked at Prince Xue Fu and smiled with great delight.
With an identical face, Prince Xue Fu was so enraged he wanted to spit blood. Fen Ning was indeed the Empress of the Desolate Wilderness; he finally understood.
"Empress of the Desolate Wilderness, the Snow Kingdom and the Desolate Wilderness do not permit free passage, have you forgotten?" Prince Xue Fu said coldly.
"I am not entering the Snow Kingdom in the capacity of the Empress of the Desolate Wilderness," Xue Zining stated.
"Then, in what capacity?" Prince Xue Fu asked, amused and angry.
He watched as the maiden slowly raised her eyes, her gaze clear and radiating a faint sadness. "The late Crown Prince's widow."
Prince Xue Fu was stunned. "My... my imperial brother?"
The maiden produced a jade pendant. "This is our token of love."
Prince Xue Fu recoiled a step in shock. "This... this is simply absurd."
"Whether it is absurd or not, this is the truth," the maiden said faintly.
"What do you want to do?" Prince Xue Fu asked.
"Escort me into the palace," the maiden said word by word.
Upon hearing this, Prince Xue Fu laughed. "Empress of the Desolate Wilderness, you probably do not know that I am not allowed to step out of Fenzhou."
"Then, do you wish to leave?" The maiden's eyes sparkled with exceptional brilliance.
Prince Xue Fu lowered his gaze. He wanted to leave Fenzhou, very much, very much.
He wanted to see his father and mother.
"I can let you leave."
Prince Xue Fu let out a mocking smile. "You?"
"The future Crown Princess, and later the Snow Queen," Xue Zining stated word by word.
Prince Xue Fu was startled. "You..."
He wanted to say that his imperial brother, Xue Jingyun, was already dead, and it was time for the dreams of a Crown Princess and a Snow Queen to awaken.
But looking at the maiden's clear and bright eyes, he found himself unable to refute.
"Aren't you afraid that I will betray you at the last moment and seize the throne myself?" Prince Xue Fu asked.
Xue Zining shook her head. "You will not."
"Why?" Prince Xue Fu asked.
He was surprised that a stranger would trust him so much.
Xue Zining walked up to him and spoke in a voice that could be heard by both of them, "Because you now know a secret."
Prince Xue Fu trembled. That secret, no one else knew.
"I know."
"You..."
"Prince, you should know that I obtained the divine artifact a while ago."
Upon hearing this, Prince Xue Fu said, "The Snow Queen was enraged and vowed to capture you."
"In the divine temple, I saw my past and future lives."
Prince Xue Fu's gaze paused. "What did you see?"
Xue Zining did not continue speaking. She looked at Prince Xue Fu and said slowly, "Since some things have already gone wrong, shouldn't we continue to err?"
Prince Xue Fu looked at her, his expression filled with disbelief.
"Tomorrow, accompany me into the palace." The maiden left.
Prince Xue Fu slumped to the ground. Twenty years ago, when the Snow Queen gave birth, the aunt by her side had ulterior motives. She had exchanged her grandson, born to her daughter-in-law, with the Snow Queen's child.
The aunt's grandson became the First Prince of the Snow Kingdom, and the original First Prince became the aunt's child.
Later, that child went missing.
Prince Xue Fu lowered his gaze. Not long ago, that aunt had approached him, and he had then learned of his true identity.