Hua Yunxuan nodded, "Very unwell. The Hua family elder brought him back while he was still unconscious."
"He hasn't woken up?" Xue Zining asked, her voice laced with concern.
Hua Yunxuan shook his head, "No, he hasn't."
"What does 'chongxi' mean?" Xue Zining inquired again.
Hua Yunxuan replied, "That was proposed by the Hua family elder."
He himself didn't understand why the Hua family elder believed in this 'chongxi'. Shouldn't medicinal treatment be the priority?
"You've come here to discuss 'chongxi' with me, haven't you?" Xue Zining stated calmly.
Hua Yunxuan was startled. He knew that with the Empress's intelligence, she would have guessed it.
However, for the Empress to participate in 'chongxi', he felt the Hua family must be tired of living.
"Your Majesty, this would..."
"I am willing."
Hua Yunxuan's body trembled. He looked at the young woman before him in disbelief.
In the dim candlelight, the young woman's exceptionally beautiful and pure face was illuminated by eyes that were exceptionally clear and bright, radiating a brilliant glow.
"Your Majesty... this would bring disgrace upon the Hua family," Hua Yunxuan shook his head.
He saw the young woman stand up and say, "Yun Jin has done so much for me. Now that I can do something for him, how can I stand idly by? Go back and tell your fourth uncle that I agree."
The young woman stood there, her slender, delicate figure exuding a noble and aloof aura, so radiant that one couldn't look away.
"Yes, this humble subject obeys your decree!" Hua Yunxuan lowered his gaze and said slowly.
After Hua Yunxuan left, Xue Yan asked with concern, "Your Majesty, is this course of action perhaps not entirely proper?"
For the noble Empress to participate in a 'chongxi' for a subject?
"What is improper about it? I am first a person, and then the monarch of Huangze. Without your companionship and protection, how could I have become the Empress of Huangze? My subject needs me now, and I shall go without hesitation."
Xue Yan heard this and chuckled, "Your Majesty, it also depends on who the other person is, doesn't it?"
Xue Zining paused, her smile fading. "Xue Yan..."
Xue Yan giggled, "Your Majesty is so lovesick, it will lead to illness."
The next day
After Xue Zining had washed up, Hua Yunxuan came to inform her that the Hua family elder wished to see her.
Upon arriving at the main courtyard of the Hua family, Xue Zining walked in. Seated at the head of the room was an elder with completely white hair. The moment he saw her, his expression turned stern.
Next, she observed Hua Zhengyi, whom she had met yesterday, seated on the right. Beside Hua Zhengyi sat another person she didn't recognize, but who bore some resemblance to Hua Zhengyi.
She surmised it was the fifth son of the Hua family, Hua Zhengchang.
On the left sat two men, who appeared slightly older than Hua Zhengyi. They were likely the Hua family's second and third uncles.
She did not see the Hua family patriarch or the elderly Madam Hua.
"Greetings to all," Xue Zining said calmly.
Hua Rong squinted as he watched the young woman walk in. Although still a little youthful, it did not detract from her face, which was capable of captivating any man.
In the future, she would undoubtedly be devastatingly beautiful.
Especially her eyes; he had never seen eyes as clear and bright as hers, like the light of dawn, immensely dazzling.
He felt a sense of déjà vu, as if he had seen them somewhere before, but he couldn't recall where for the moment.
Looking at the young woman standing there, he thought that having such a girl to perform 'chongxi' for Yun Jin was not entirely unjust to Yun Jin. With this thought, he got straight to the point, "Miss Feng, I won't beat around the bush with you. I heard from Yun Xuan that you are willing to perform 'chongxi' for Yun Jin?"
Xue Zining raised her eyes to look at the elder and said softly, "Yes, I am willing."
The Hua family members exchanged glances. Hua Zhengfeng, the third uncle of the Hua family, suddenly said, "Do you know that if Yun Jin dies first, you will be a widow? After all, you are so young, and..."
He glanced at the young woman and continued, "The Hua family has a rule: once married, remarriage is forbidden, even if the person has died."
"I am willing," the young woman said without the slightest hesitation.
"Good. Since Miss Feng is willing, then today is as good a day as any," Hua Rong declared.
"I object," a voice called out.
Xue Zining turned towards the sound. Standing at the doorway was a young woman of similar age to her.
Her complexion was somewhat pale, and her body trembled, clearly having made up her mind before coming here.
"Shiyin, what are you doing? Stand down," Hua Zhengyi suddenly shouted coldly.
Zhou Shiyin bit her lower lip, her expression showing a hint of stubbornness. She suddenly knelt down and said, "Fourth Uncle, Shiyin likes the eldest young master Hua. I implore Fourth Uncle to grant my wish."
"Nonsense..." Hua Zhengyi's face was contorted with rage. He yelled at a nearby servant, "Fetch the madam and have her take her away."
The servant quickly exited. Hua Zhengyi stood up from his seat and strode to Zhou Shiyin, saying coldly, "Get up."
Zhou Shiyin looked up and shook her head, "Shiyin will not get up. If you don't let me perform 'chongxi', I will not get up."
Hua Zhengyi's eyes turned red with anger. Just then, a madam hurried over. She seemed impatient with the maids supporting her and pushed them aside as she walked in. She did not help Zhou Shiyin up but knelt beside her instead, saying, "Sir, Shiyin truly wishes to perform 'chongxi' for the eldest young master. Please, sir, grant Shiyin's wish?"
Grant? Who would grant his dignity?
"Get up, both of you, get up!" Hua Zhengyi's hands behind his back bulged with veins from his rage. Did they all want to embarrass him even more?
"Fourth sister-in-law, what is there to discuss? Bringing the child to kneel like this, aren't you implying that my Hua family is bullying others?"
Hua Rong gave Hua Zhengyi a look at this point. Hua Zhengyi said coldly, "Why don't you help your wife and cousin up?"
The Fourth Madam was helped up. Although Zhou Shiyin was unwilling, she did not want to offend the Hua family elder, for only if the Hua family elder agreed would she be considered successful.
"Miss Zhou, you are speaking too late. I have already chosen Miss Feng," Hua Rong said slowly, looking at Zhou Shiyin.
Zhou Shiyin's face turned pale. "Elder, rather than someone of unknown background performing 'chongxi' for the eldest young master, am I not the most suitable candidate?"
Xue Zining smiled. Zhou Shiyin, hearing the sound, looked at her and asked, "Miss, what are you laughing at?"
"Unknown background? May I ask how long Miss Zhou has known eldest young master Hua?"
Zhou Shiyin was startled. The young woman continued, "I imagine you haven't truly interacted with him at all?"
"And you? Have you interacted with the eldest young master?" Zhou Shiyin retorted.
She saw the young woman curl her lips into a smile, which was surprisingly bright, "Day and night."
"You are shameless!" Zhou Shiyin gasped, covering her mouth.
"How dare you..." Xue Yan, standing nearby, was displeased.
"Xue Yan," Xue Zining stopped Xue Yan from speaking further.
Xue Yan gave Zhou Shiyin a cold look. Zhou Shiyin instinctively took a step back under that icy gaze, "I spoke no lies."
"You call me shameless? What about Miss Zhou? Parents' decree, matchmaker's word. Without your parents' consent, Miss Zhou intends to secretly arrange a marriage? When it comes to shame, haven't you, Miss Zhou, forgotten all propriety and decency?"