"You say, I will agree to anything."
"I… I want the Divine Hall's ultimate treasure."
She opened her eyes and looked at the Crown Prince. She didn't know how long it had been, only that before she fainted, she heard his voice, "I promise you."
The Crown Prince looked at the unconscious person in his arms, then raised his eyes to look at Prince Xue Fu, his gaze turning ice-cold, filled with sinister killing intent.
Prince Xue Fu trembled all over and instinctively retreated, "This… this subject does not know what happened?"
The Crown Prince stood up, holding the person in his arms even tighter. His gaze grew colder, like the frost of winter, piercing the heart.
"Xue Feng, Xue Song, you two handle this place. If anyone resists, kill them without mercy."
Xue Feng and Xue Song stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your subordinate obeys!"
"Your Highness…" Xue Lan rushed forward. Upon seeing the person held tightly in the Crown Prince's arms, her heart suddenly shattered.
She knew she could never win against Feng Ning.
Because from the very beginning, she had lost, completely lost.
"Xue Lan, prepare the carriage. We return to the capital overnight." The Crown Prince left, carrying the person in his arms.
Hua Residence
Hua Yun Xuan, seeing the Hua family elder, Hua Rong, with a frozen expression since receiving the letter from Xue Country, couldn't help but ask, "Elder, did His Majesty…?"
Hua Zheng Yi glared at Hua Yun Xuan beside him, frightening Hua Yun Xuan into swallowing the rest of his words.
Hua Zheng Dao, the third master of the Hua family, said in a low voice, "Elder, please speak if there's anything. Otherwise, we are all consumed by anxiety here."
Hua Rong looked up, his expression grave, "His Majesty has been poisoned and is unconscious."
Everyone present was shocked. This was not good news.
"Elder, this… what should we do?" Hua Zheng Dao became a little anxious. After all, the Empress had gone to Xue Country for Hua Yun Jin. If Her Majesty was harmed because of this, their Hua family would be inexcusable.
"You all need not worry about yourselves. His Majesty is currently in the capital of Xue Country," Hua Rong added.
Hua Zheng Yi looked at Hua Rong and asked, "In the Imperial Palace?"
Hua Rong nodded. The letter said, "His Majesty drank the wine originally intended by Prince Xue Fu for the Crown Prince of Xue Country."
Hua Zheng Yi frowned upon hearing this, "Isn't Her Majesty acting recklessly? She is the ruler of a nation in Huang Ze, how can she be so willful?"
"There is one piece of good news: the Crown Prince has agreed to take His Majesty to the Divine Hall."
Hua Zheng Yi was stunned. At this point, everyone present understood. The Empress was exchanging her life for the Divine Hall's ultimate treasure.
Hua Zheng Dao sighed, "His Majesty has bestowed immense favor upon the Hua family."
Hua Zheng Yi nodded, "Yes."
Hua Rong looked up, suddenly stood up, and knelt on the ground. The other three also knelt. Hua Rong said, "From this day forward, the Hua family will be loyal to His Majesty without fail, serving with all our might until death."
Outside the door, Hua Yun Jin turned around, his eyes dim and lifeless. He looked at his hands, which he wanted to clench into fists but could not, filled with immense anger.
What use was he now, like a cripple?
He truly wished to end his life.
Then His Majesty would not have to risk her life for him, and the Hua family would not have to live in constant fear.
However, every time this thought arose, he would recall the young girl's pure and beautiful face, her clear eyes looking at him, telling him to persevere.
It was this thought that supported him step by step.
"G-Grand Young Master…"
He turned and saw a young girl. The girl's eyes widened slightly, then she smiled, "Grand Young Master, it's really you."
"Who are you…" Hua Yun Jin did not remember knowing this girl.
The girl smiled, "Grand Young Master, I am the cousin from the Zhou family."
Hua Yun Jin raised an eyebrow, "My fourth aunt's niece."
Zhou Shi Yin's gaze paused, and she curtsied, "It is I."
"Miss Zhou," Hua Yun Jin nodded.
"Grand Young Master, are you out for a stroll?" Zhou Shi Yin asked.
Hua Yun Jin looked up at the leafless tree and said, "I should be going back."
Zhou Shi Yin was startled. Looking in the direction Hua Yun Jin had gone, she felt a sense of loss.
It seemed that regardless of Feng Ning's existence, Grand Young Master would never notice her.
It didn't matter; she would have better choices.
Xue Country Imperial Palace
Eastern Palace
Xue Zi Ning opened her eyes and saw an unfamiliar scene. She sat up and found her body weak and without strength.
Footsteps seemed to approach from outside the door. A young maid entered with a bowl. Seeing her awake, her face lit up with surprise, "Miss Feng, you're awake?"
Xue Zi Ning looked at the unfamiliar young maid and couldn't help but ask, "Who are you?"
The young maid was taken aback, then said, "Miss Feng, you can call me Yun Zhu."
"Yun Zhu, where am I now?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
Yun Zhu smiled and said, "Miss Feng, you are in the Eastern Palace."
Xue Zi Ning's gaze paused. The Eastern Palace?
"This is the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace?"
Yun Zhu was startled and nodded, "Yes!"
"How long was I unconscious?"
Yun Zhu said, "Three days and three nights."
"So long, where is the Crown Prince?"
Yun Zhu said, "For these three days and three nights, His Highness has not slept or taken off his clothes, attending to you. He has already gone to court."
"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!" a voice called from outside.
Yun Zhu was surprised. Looking at Xue Zi Ning still lying on the bed, she stepped forward and curtsied, "Miss Feng, do you wish to see Her Majesty the Empress?"
Xue Zi Ning was startled, "Why? Can I not see her?"
Yun Zhu nodded, "Of course. His Highness the Crown Prince has instructed this servant that if you do not wish to get up, no one is to disturb you."
"Then I will not see her!" Xue Zi Ning said.
She did not need any connection with the royalty of Xue Country. The more people who knew what she looked like, the less safe she would be.
After all, she was the monarch of Huang Ze, and her presence here was illogical.
Her Majesty the Empress could never have imagined being refused entry by an unknown young girl. This was simply a humiliation for the Empress of Xue Country.
"You refuse to see me, fine, very good. Guards, break down this door!" the Empress exclaimed in anger.
A palace maid beside her whispered, "Your Majesty, this is the Eastern Palace. If you do this, the Crown Prince will be displeased when he returns."
"He is displeased? I am displeased too! A mere young girl dares to act presumptuously towards me, I cannot swallow this insult." The Empress's face was filled with fury.
The palace maid sighed inwardly and said, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince will be returning soon."
Before the palace maid could finish her words, a voice announced, "The Crown Prince has arrived!"
The Empress turned to look at the approaching figure. A moon-white brocade robe accentuated his tall and slender stature.
Every gesture exuded unparalleled nobility and magnificent grace.
This was the peerless Crown Prince of Xue Country, Xue Jingyun.
"Your subordinate greets Her Majesty the Empress."
The Crown Prince looked at the Empress indifferently, his gaze as cold as if he were looking at a stranger.
The Empress's heart was filled with anger. Her own child, born and raised by her, had become estranged from her for so many years for the sake of an outsider.