"Your Majesty, on my way back to Zhaoyuan Palace just now, someone slipped me a note." Xue Yan handed the note to Xue Zining.
Xue Zining took it. It only had a few words: "At the banquet, trust no one."
There were no other words.
She frowned and asked, "Did you get a clear look at the messenger?"
Xue Yan shook her head, "No. That person's skills are not inferior to mine."
Xue Zining knew that anyone who could escape Xue Yan must be highly skilled in martial arts.
Xue Zining repeatedly examined the note. She could tell that the writer had used their left hand, clearly trying to avoid detection.
She placed the note over the candlelight, and it soon turned to ash.
Xue Yan asked worriedly, "Your Majesty, how can you possibly not drink the wine offered by the ministers tomorrow?"
"It's alright, I will be careful."
Xue Zining gazed into the distance. The person offering the toast would undoubtedly be someone she could not refuse.
Who could that person be?
No matter who it was, her palm would be stained with blood.
Thinking of this, she stood up. "Xue Yan, tomorrow, will it be my demise, or theirs?"
Xue Yan looked up, her eyes sparkling with determination. "Your Majesty will surely win."
Yan Palace
"Young Master Yan, this is a sweet soup I personally made. Please try it." Nangong Yue said with a radiant smile. Today, she wore what she considered her most beautiful gown, and her hair was styled to her liking.
Yan Zhao looked indifferently at the uninvited woman. This was Nangong Yue, Xue Zining's former companion.
He then coldly watched Yan Yi, who had become silent, and already planned how to punish him.
Yan Yi, having left the palace, felt a chill down his spine. His first thought was of his master. But then, he thought that his master was enjoying the company of a beauty and probably wouldn't have time to think of him.
"I don't like sweets," Yan Zhao refused coldly.
"Young Master Yan, if you're going to lie, at least be consistent. I saw you drink the sweet soup served by Your Majesty that day. Could it be because I am not Your Majesty?" Nangong Yue bit her lower lip, putting on a pitiable expression.
Yan Zhao looked up, his gaze clear and cold. "Yes."
With just one word, Nangong Yue was so infuriated she almost spat blood.
"What soup? Let me take a look too." As the voice echoed, Xue Zining entered.
Nangong Yue visibly stiffened. She looked up and saw the young woman approaching step by step, bathed in the starlight.
She exuded an aura of majesty that forced Nangong Yue to lower her head.
"Your Majesty." Yan Zhao also saw the young woman. The starlight still clung to her, making her shine brilliantly.
"Your Majesty, why have you come?" Nangong Yue couldn't help but ask.
Xue Zining smiled at her words, "Ah Yue, this is my territory. Where can I not go?"
Nangong Yue shivered. "It was Ah Yue's imprudence to ask."
Xue Zining lowered her head to look at the sweet soup in the bowl and picked up a spoon to scoop some. Nangong Yue looked surprised. "Your Majesty..."
"What? Can I not eat it?" she asked Nangong Yue, raising her eyebrows.
Nangong Yue was taken aback and shook her head. "No..."
Xue Zining scooped a spoonful of the sweet soup and brought it to her lips. It was indeed very sweet.
"Ah Yue, you may leave. If you have something to say to Young Master Yan, you can tell him directly." Xue Zining dismissed her.
Though Nangong Yue was unwilling, she withdrew.
"Take the sweet soup away. Don't make it so sweet next time. Young Master Yan doesn't like it." Xue Zining wiped her mouth.
Nangong Yue, who had already taken a few steps, froze.
"I haven't drunk it yet. Set it down!" Yan Zhao said faintly.
Xue Zining looked at him. His gaze was like a galaxy gathered in the night sky, as brilliant as it could be.
"Tomorrow, I want to see you dance with your sword," she said softly.
Yan Zhao was startled.
"Is that not allowed?" she asked with a smile.
Yan Zhao said faintly, "As Your Majesty wishes."
How could she not like it? In her previous life, Yan Zhao danced with his sword every day.
His posture was upright, his elegance unparalleled.
She would never forget that figure.
"Your Majesty, it's getting late. Please rest early!" Yan Zhao said.
Xue Zining remained still. Yan Zhao looked at her faintly. "Your Majesty..."
There was no response. Yan Zhao stepped forward and discovered that the young woman had fallen asleep. Even in her sleep, her brow was furrowed.
He stepped forward and gently picked up the young woman. She was so light, as if she had no weight at all.
"Yan Zhao, no..."
He stopped and looked down to see the young woman tightly clutching his robes. She murmured, "Don't betray me..."
This time, he heard her clearly.
He said slowly, "Never, my Empress..."
As if hearing him, the young woman slept peacefully.
That night, Xue Zining did not dream of scenes from her past life.
However, she did have a dream. In it, she stood under a tree, watching the last leaf fall.
She waited and waited, until a gust of wind blew, and the leaf descended.
As the leaf fell before her eyes, a face surprisingly appeared on it.
She trembled all over. The face was Yan Zhao's.
She reached out to catch it, but the leaf slipped through her fingers and fell to the ground.
Suddenly, she opened her eyes. A beam of light shone in from the window, and she realized it was already bright daylight.
She got up, put on an outer robe, and opened the door. The autumn wind was still somewhat cold, making her shiver involuntarily.
In the courtyard, a man dressed in snow-white stood there. He held a long sword and looked towards her.
His dark eyes were exceptionally bright, like a dazzling galaxy.
She saw flashes of silver light beneath the snow-white glow.
Just like in her previous life.
The only difference was that in her past life, she had watched secretly, while in this life, she watched openly.
Sheathing his sword, Yan Zhao slowly walked over and bowed, "Your Majesty."
"Sit down!" she said slowly.
Yan Zhao was slightly taken aback. Since last night, the Empress seemed to have become much gentler towards him.
"How are the preparations for tomorrow's banquet coming along?"
Yan Zhao replied faintly, "Your Majesty, rest assured, everything is ready."
"Have your relatives been found?"
Yan Zhao's gaze paused, and he said faintly, "Yes, they have."
"Congratulations," she said slowly.
"Young Master, how was the sweet soup yesterday?" Yan Yi walked in with a giggle. Upon seeing the young woman sitting there, he stopped.
The... Empress? Why was the Empress here?
"Yan Yi, why aren't you moving? You're blocking my..." Yan Er, who was behind him, also saw the Empress and swallowed the rest of his words.
"Retire," Yan Zhao said faintly.
Yan Yi and Yan Er, however, detected a hint of anger in his words.
Startled, they quickly bowed and fled as if on wings.
"I should also attend court," Xue Zining said, standing up.
"Farewell, Your Majesty!" Yan Zhao said faintly, his gaze lingering on the young woman for a long time.
"Yesterday it was Nangong Yue, how did it suddenly become the Empress?" Yan Yi quietly asked Yan Er.
Yan Er rolled his eyes at him. "Have you forgotten? I wasn't in the palace yesterday, so how would I know?"
"That's true..." Yan Yi rubbed his head.
"Yan Yi, come down..."
Yan Yi was taken aback. He looked down to see his master looking at him with a cold gaze.
He immediately felt a prickle of unease, thinking, this is bad.