A day later, Xue Zining and Yan Zhao, who had disappeared from the hunting grounds, emerged.
Han Xixia had been waiting and, upon seeing them, rode his horse forward.
Approaching, he dismounted and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Empress."
Xue Zining glanced indifferently at Han Xixia and said, "Rise!"
Han Xixia stood up and, noticing Xue Zining's somber expression, couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "A Ning, why do I feel you didn't get your wish?"
Xue Zining shot Han Xixia a cold look.
Han Xixia said no more. It was clear the plan had failed.
"Where is Xue Wenjie?" Xue Zining asked.
Han Xixia replied, "He's already under strict guard. Rest assured, A Ning."
Xue Zining nodded. "I want to see him tomorrow."
She looked up at Yan Zhao's retreating figure, admitting to herself that she felt a sense of loss.
She had been willing, yet he had pushed her away.
"A Ning..."
Xue Zining turned to look at Han Xixia, who spoke slowly, "The Crown Prince of Xue Kingdom appears to have suffered severe internal injuries."
Xue Zining started. "You mean he's..."
Han Xixia nodded. "He passed by me just now, and I sensed it."
"Thank you!" Xue Zining mounted her horse and rode in Yan Zhao's direction.
Han Xixia's gaze dimmed. He turned and said, "Return to the palace."
"Yan Zhao..." Xue Zining spotted Yan Zhao ahead and rode to catch up.
She leaped into the air and landed before him. "Yan Zhao."
She saw a hint of fatigue on his refined and handsome face.
She stepped forward and grabbed Yan Zhao's wrist, indeed finding his pulse to be weak.
"Yan Zhao, why didn't you tell me?" she asked him, word by word.
He remained silent, only pulling her into his embrace and sighing softly, "A Ning, you're always so sharp. I can't hide anything from you."
"Yan Zhao, you promised me. We would face everything together."
"A Ning, I'm fine. I'm just a little tired..."
Xue Zining felt the weight on her increase. She knelt and supported him. "Then rest for a while."
"Alright..."
Cold Palace
After the imperial physician examined the Crown Prince of Xue Kingdom, his expression was one of disbelief. Han Xixia called the physician out and asked, "Imperial Physician, how is the Crown Prince's condition?"
The physician replied, "Your Majesty, it is truly remarkable that His Highness the Crown Prince has managed to hold on this long."
Xue Zining, who had followed, stepped forward. "What does that mean? Are his injuries very serious?"
The physician continued, "His Highness the Crown Prince sustained internal injuries. After suffering these injuries, instead of resting properly, he worried excessively and endured long journeys, which has led to..."
"Can he recover?" Xue Zining asked.
The physician said, "I dare not speak with certainty, but he must be well taken care of."
Han Xixia heard this and said, "Go prepare the medicine. Let me know if anything is missing."
The physician withdrew.
Xue Zining turned to look at Yan Zhao on the bed, her voice muffled. "I had no idea his body had deteriorated to this extent..."
"A Ning, don't blame yourself. If he didn't tell you, you couldn't have known."
"Please leave. I want to stay with him alone."
"If you need anything, send someone to fetch me," Han Xixia said before turning and leaving.
Xue Zining looked at the still unconscious man on the bed, reaching out to gently say, "Yan Zhao..."
She reached out to touch his hand, finding it cold, which made her frown.
Every time she held his hand, it had been warm. It wasn't that he was naturally warm, but that he had used his internal energy to generate heat.
Suddenly, his hand gripped hers, and his voice rang out, "A Ning..."
"Yan Zhao, you always bear everything alone, you've done so much for me by yourself, and yet I'm always the last to know. Yan Zhao, this isn't fair."
"A Ning, there's no such thing as fair or unfair. I care about you, and I want to give you all the best. This is my willing sacrifice."
"Yan Zhao, we'll soon be husband and wife. Spouses share both joys and sorrows. I don't want you to be like this in the future. We must walk forward together. I hope to have your companionship throughout this life..."
"Alright, I promise you, A Ning..."
"Yan Zhao, once Xue Wenjie confesses, can we get married?"
"Alright..."
"Yan Zhao, you've fulfilled all your promises. Now it's my turn to make a promise to you..."
"A Ning, don't say it now. Wait until that day, let me anticipate it!"
Three days later, Yan Zhao was able to get out of bed and walk. Xue Zining planned to escort Xue Wenjie back to Huangze.
Before departing, she received news: Emperor An had arrived.
To be honest, she hadn't figured out how to meet Emperor An. She locked herself in her room to meet "her." "An Ning..."
"A Ning, I'm here..."
Xue Zining saw that An Ning was now only a transparent shadow.
"An Ning, Emperor An is here. Go meet him. At this moment, I'll lend you my body..."
"A Ning..." Yan Zhao, seeing no movement from inside, pushed the door open.
He saw her standing before him. Her face and demeanor were the same, yet he knew she was not A Ning.
"You are Princess An Ning." He stated with absolute certainty.
"Yes, I am An Ning. It's been a long time, Crown Prince."
"Princess An Ning, Emperor An is waiting for you outside."
"I know..." An Ning walked out.
Han Xixia had arranged for Emperor An in a room. The door was suddenly pushed open, and Emperor An looked up. The person before him was not his little An Ning in appearance or demeanor, but he could still feel that this was his little An Ning, the little princess he had raised with such care.
"An Ning..." Emperor An uttered the two words, his voice choked with emotion.
"Father Emperor, your unfilial daughter An Ning apologizes." She knelt on the ground.
Emperor An rushed forward, intending to help his little princess. But at the moment of contact, his hand stopped. The body An Ning now occupied belonged to the Empress of Huangze, not his little princess.
An Ning also understood her father's concern. She stood up, wiping away a tear, "Father Emperor, I am very happy to see you again."
"An Ning, tell your father if there's any way to help you return. Father Emperor will definitely do it, even if it means exhausting everything."
She shook her head. "Father Emperor, don't waste your efforts. There is no way. Moreover, An Ning was originally just a wisp of soul from the Empress of Huangze. Now it is time for me to depart."
"An Ning..." Emperor An choked back sobs, tears streaming down his face.
"Father Emperor, please don't cry. An Ning is very happy to see Father Emperor..."
"My little An Ning..."
An Ning wiped her tears and said, "Father Emperor, An Ning kowtows to you, thanking you for your upbringing. From now on, without An Ning by your side, you must take good care of yourself!"
"An Ning..."
An Ning kowtowed three times, then stood up. "Father Emperor, take care!"
She walked out. Emperor An pursued her, but she closed the door. "Father Emperor, take care!"