"I heard you brought a lady back from Fenzhou," the Empress said.
The Crown Prince looked up, his expression indifferent. "Your Highness's news is truly swift. You know where I went and what I did."
The Empress blinked, her beautiful eyes flickering. "Since you brought her back, it shouldn't be a problem for me to see her, should it?"
Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince's indifferent expression finally held a hint of mockery. "Your Highness, you have overstepped. Father issued a decree that nothing I do requires anyone else's consent. Does 'anyone else' not include Your Highness?"
The Empress stiffened, anger giving way to hurt. "Crown Prince, I am your mother, not 'someone else'."
"In my eyes, Your Highness is the Empress, not someone else," the Crown Prince said indifferently.
The Empress stumbled back several steps. If not for the quick action of the maids behind her, she might have fallen to the ground. Her face was deathly pale. She looked up at this blood relative who had become a stranger, her heart aching.
"If there is nothing else, please leave, Your Highness," the Crown Prince said coldly.
"Your Highness..."
"Go back," the Empress pushed away the maid and stood up herself.
"From now on, no one is to enter the East Palace without my permission, otherwise..."
The Empress could no longer hear the words behind her as she hurried away.
"Your Highness, please forgive my negligence!" Xuellan stepped forward and bowed.
She didn't hear the Crown Prince's voice, only felt a cold gaze upon her. She knew it was the Crown Prince's gaze. After a long while, she finally heard him speak, "Let this not happen again!"
Xuellian's heart trembled. She rose. "Yes, I understand."
Only after the Crown Prince's footsteps faded did she dare to look up and see him entering his chambers.
She slowly exhaled in relief. She had intentionally told the Empress about the girl the Crown Prince had brought back from Fenzhou.
The Empress would surely be wary of a woman of unknown origin. At that time, without her needing to do anything, the Empress would drive this nameless Feng Ning out of the East Palace.
Unfortunately, she hadn't expected the Crown Prince to return so early.
Nor had she expected the Crown Prince's relationship with the Empress to have become so strained.
Xue Zining was eating the lotus seed congee in her bowl. Heaven knew how hungry she was, having not eaten a grain of rice for three days and three nights.
Despite her extreme hunger, she still heard footsteps. They weren't Yunzhu's. She looked up and saw a tall, slender figure.
Though carrying an air of dust and travel, his moon-white brocade robe was spotless.
His strides were imposing, his bearing noble and unparalleled.
His eyes were as bright as stars. If not for the silver mask obscuring his face, she believed his features would have been breathtakingly beautiful.
After all, it was rumored that the Crown Prince of Xue Country was exceptionally talented, with no equal.
"You are awake."
Xue Zining nodded. She did not get up, remaining seated. She found that this Xue Country Crown Prince did not seem to care whether she observed propriety or not. Since that was the case, why should she get up to pay her respects?
In fact, their statuses were equal. If one were to be precise, she was still a ruler of a nation.
It was just that Xue Country, under the leadership of this Crown Prince, had already become a powerful nation here.
However, Xue Country was covered in snow year-round, which was unfavorable for agriculture. It was possible that one day they might attempt to expand their territory to ensure the livelihoods of their people.
After all, the ancestors of Xue Country had done so, and the combined forces of Huangze and several other nations had driven out this aspiring Xue Country.
Thinking of this, Xue Zining lowered her gaze. If the Xue Country Crown Prince knew she was the Empress of Huangze, would he use it to threaten her?
Xue Jingyun noticed that the maiden's gaze flickered, as if deep in thought, and seemed to be avoiding his gaze.
He stepped forward and asked indifferently, "How is your recovery?"
Xue Zining nodded and replied, "I am fine now."
"Miss Feng, please rest assured here. We can discuss anything after you have recovered."
Xue Zining was taken aback. She had been about to mention the divine temple treasure he had promised before she fainted. Now that the Crown Prince had spoken first, she found it difficult to say anything.
After all, she did not want to offend the Crown Prince at this moment, as she needed him to take her to the divine temple.
"Miss Feng, rest well. I will go to the study to handle some matters first."
Xue Zining nodded. "Alright."
Xue Jingyun rose and walked towards the exit.
Xue Zining's gaze deepened. The matter of the divine temple could wait.
Study
Xue Jingyun entered, and Xue Song and Xue Feng were already waiting inside. Xue Song and Xue Feng bowed. Xue Song spoke first, "Your Highness, the matter in Fenzhou has been settled. Prince Xue Fu has confessed. However, as per your instructions, I have released Prince Xue Fu."
If not for the Xue Emperor's decree that the Crown Prince was not to harm Prince Xue Fu while he was alive, Prince Xue Fu would have died countless times.
Xue Jingyun nodded. "You did very well."
Xue Song hesitated to speak. Xue Jingyun, seeing this, said, "If you have something to say, don't hesitate."
"Miss Feng's maid, Xue Yan, insisted on being brought to the East Palace. I..."
Xue Song felt the Crown Prince's gaze turn cold.
As if his entire being was frozen, the Crown Prince finally spoke, "She happens to be alone. Send her over!"
"Thank you, Your Highness." Xue Song's taut heart finally relaxed.
After Xue Song left, Xue Feng stepped forward and whispered, "Your Highness, is this proper? Xue Song wears his emotions on his sleeve. If..."
"Xue Feng..."
Xue Jingyun interrupted him. "Xue Feng, if Xue Song has a maiden he cares for, I will not obstruct or mind. Neither will I mind you."
Xue Feng trembled and took several steps back. "Your Highness is joking. I am loyal to you and would never think of such things."
Xue Feng walked out of the study and saw Xuellan holding a bowl of soup. He walked up to her. "Xuellian."
Xuellian looked at Xue Feng and smiled. "You're back? I saved a bowl for you in the kitchen. Go quickly and drink it."
Xue Feng looked at Xuellan and asked, "Xuellian, if I..."
"Xue Feng, I still need to deliver soup to His Highness. Please go drink yours quickly!"
Xuellian lowered her head and walked past him.
Xue Feng grabbed her arm with such force that her hand, holding the soup, became unsteady, and the soup spilled.
"Xue Feng, let go," Xuellan looked up and said coldly.
"Xuellian, you deliver soup every day, year after year, but it won't change the fact that His Highness will never like you."
Xuellian was startled. The bowl in her hand fell to the ground, the soup spilling everywhere, and the bowl shattered into pieces.
Looking at the spilled soup and broken bowl, Xuellan glared at Xue Feng, full of anger. "What exactly do you want to say?"