"Xuesong, how is my Majesty?" Xue Yan asked nervously.
Xuesong withdrew his hand and turned to Xue Jingyun behind him. "Your Highness, the Empress of Huangze is not seriously injured, but..."
"But what?" Xue Jingyun asked.
"The Empress has suffered significant emotional damage and will likely not recover for some time," Xuesong said.
Xue Jingyun's gaze dimmed slightly, and he turned to leave.
In the study, Hua Rong and others had already been waiting.
As Xue Jingyun walked in, those in the room felt an immense pressure, pinning them down so they couldn't even lift their heads.
"Did you all know about Hua Yunjin's matter beforehand?" Xue Jingyun asked coldly.
Hua Zhengfeng was startled and asked, "What matter concerning Yunjin? What does it have to do with him?"
Hua Zhengyi looked at the silent Hua family elders. Hua Rong coldly asked, "Elder, do you know?"
Hua Rong turned his face away, his gaze not daring to meet Hua Zhengyi's. "I don't know what happened to Yunjin, only that he said he could save Yunjin."
"Hua Zhengyang?" Hua Zhengyi asked.
Hua Rong did not answer, nor did he deny it.
Hua Zhengyi said coldly, "Is it Hua Zhengyang or Hua Zhengming."
Hua Rong was stunned and looked up. "You..."
"Although older brother and second brother are twins, as a brother who spent his days with them, I can still tell the difference."
"Didn't older brother die?" Hua Zhengfeng was utterly confused now. Could the dead come back to life?
"Older brother is not dead. I always suspected that older brother only faked his death," Hua Zhengyi said.
Hua Rong sighed. "I just wanted to save Yunjin, I didn't consider much else."
Xue Jingyun sneered, "Indeed. To save him, you've been neglectful from the start, both in the past and now."
Hua Rong trembled and quickly bowed. "Your Highness, the past was my fault. If Your Highness wishes to punish, punish me alone."
"What fault do you have, Elder?" Hua Zhengfeng was confused again. He couldn't understand what they were saying.
"You are indeed guilty, but I have a task for you to redeem yourself. Will you do it?"
Hua Rong was taken aback and asked, "What task?"
When Xue Zining woke up, Xue Yan shed tears of joy, choking out, "You're finally awake."
"How long have I been unconscious?"
Xue Yan said, "Five days and five nights."
Before she finished speaking, Xue Yan saw Xue Zining get out of bed and stumble towards the outside.
"Your Majesty, where are you going?" Xue Yan followed closely.
Xue Zining ran towards a courtyard. She had a dream where Hua Yunjin was a stranger, standing opposite her and telling her that from now on, they would be enemies until death.
Arriving at the door, she took a deep breath. Her hand rested on the door, but she lacked the strength to push it open. She was afraid, afraid no one was in the room, afraid her dream was reality.
Suddenly, the door opened, and a clear, handsome face, still tinged with paleness, appeared before her—the face she had dreamed of.
"You..."
"Your Majesty, you are awake?" The youth's eyes were very gentle, his gaze as bright as the morning light.
"I'm not dreaming, am I?" The maiden's lips parted slightly, her voice filled with disbelief.
She saw the youth smile, a smile exceptionally radiant.
"Your Majesty, you are standing before me now, how can it be a dream?"
She also smiled, her smile blooming like a flower. "Yunjin, I believe you."
She threw herself into the arms of the youth she had longed for, breathing in his scent.
The youth's body tensed, but he did not push her away.
After a long while, she remembered they were outside. She lifted her head from the youth's embrace. "Yunjin, I'm hungry."
"What would you like to eat? I'll have someone buy it for you."
"I want to eat what you make."
The maiden's eyes held a trace of moisture as she looked at him.
"Alright, I'll cook."
In the kitchen, a slender figure was busy at work. The maiden sat nearby, gazing dazedly at the youth.
The sunlight fell inside, creating a picture of exquisite beauty.
Outside, Xue Yan sighed, "Is it good to deceive oneself like this?"
Xuesong shook his head. "I don't know, but let it be like this for now, until your Majesty can adjust."
Xue Yan gritted her teeth. "I never knew Hua Yunjin was so deeply hidden. His betrayal is the greatest harm to Your Majesty."
Xuesong said, "But it also gives my Highness an opportunity."
Xue Yan was stunned. Looking at the busy figure in the kitchen, she said, "If only Your Majesty could develop feelings for someone else."
The Crown Prince of the Xue Kingdom was indeed perfect in every way.
On the border city of Huangze, the youth stood on a carriage, gazing into the distance. He didn't know where to look, or where her figure might be.
But he knew she must be very sad, and perhaps she hated him.
Yet, this was his destiny.
From the moment he regained his memories, the wheel of fate had begun to turn.
"Young Master, it's time to depart." A person approached.
The youth turned, looking at the tens of thousands of people behind the carriage. "Are these all people from my sect?"
The man nodded. "Yes, some have voluntarily followed the Young Master."
"Leaving their homes, leaving the place they've lived for many years, they did so voluntarily?"
The man raised his eyes, his gaze firm. "Yes, wherever the Young Master is, we are."
The youth withdrew his gaze and got back into the carriage. "Depart."
The grand procession left Huangze and headed towards the lawless zone, where they intended to build their own territory.
Inside the carriage, the youth looked at the uninvited guest and said coldly, "Why did you follow me?"
"Hua Yunjin, you can't just use me and then discard me."
"Xue Yunlan, you don't need to be like this. I gave you the money, enough for your lifetime."
Xue Yunlan chuckled softly and looked up, her eyes devoid of any mirth. "What I want isn't this. What I want is for Xue Zining to die."
The youth smiled. "Even if you try your whole life, you won't surpass her."
Xue Yunlan sneered, "Therefore, I need your help."
"Do you think I would help you?" The youth looked at Xue Yunlan as if she were a joke.
"Yes, because I know your true identity."
The youth's gaze turned cold, his eyes like frost, fixed directly on Xue Yunlan.
Xue Yunlan licked her lips. "Han..."
She couldn't finish her sentence because the youth had grabbed her by the throat.
"You..."
"Xue Yunlan, this is the last time I warn you. Be clear about what you should say and what you shouldn't, or I don't mind killing you."
The youth's expression was icy, chilling to the bone. Xue Yunlan shivered inexplicably.
"I... I will be careful."
Xue Yunlan realized now that the Hua Yunjin before her was no longer the Hua Yunjin of the past; he truly would kill her.
"I hope you remember your words." The youth's voice was cold, tinged with malevolence.
Xue Yunlan stumbled back several steps, leaning against the carriage.
She was beginning to fear this Hua Yunjin.