He smiled, "Aning, what's wrong with you today?"
"Why?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
Hua Yun Jin finished stewing the fish and walked out, whispering, "Aning, you're not yourself today."
"Answer me."
Hua Yun Jin was startled. His fair, handsome face was tanned to a wheat color by the sun, and his eyes held a hint of weariness.
He was no longer that refined young master, the Crown Prince of Hua.
"Aning, don't feel burdened, I did this all willingly," Hua Yun Jin said.
"You like me?" Xue Zi Ning suddenly asked.
Hua Yun Jin trembled all over. He looked up at her, her gaze as clear as water as it had always been.
He turned his face away.
"I'll marry you..." Da Feng Novel Network
Hua Yun Jin trembled again, "Aning, you..."
"You like me, you treat me well, I'm willing to marry you..."
"Aning, I'm not taking advantage of your vulnerability, you must think carefully," Hua Yun Jin was too shocked.
"I've thought about it," Xue Zi Ning said.
Perhaps she could never go back, and in her current state, she could never be worthy of him.
Therefore, it was better to choose to give up.
Besides, he was about to marry Xue Chang An.
In her past and present lives, she and he were merely a dream, a dream of wind and flowers.
"Aning, do you know how happy I am to hear you say that?" Hua Yun Jin was almost dancing with joy; he was truly happy.
How long had he waited?
He didn't know.
"Perhaps I won't be a good wife, but I will try. The wedding date is set for the beginning of next month."
Hua Yun Jin nodded, "Aning, everything is up to you."
"Is the fish ready? I'm hungry."
"It's ready, it's ready." Hua Yun Jin went to the kitchen.
She tilted her head back, forcing her tears to flow back. Yan Zhao, we missed each other again.
Snow Country
"Many years have passed, Jing Yun, you are finally getting married. After waiting for so long, you have what you wished for."
Xue Jing Yun looked up at Mo Ran and said, "Are you very eager to see me married?"
"You and the Empress of Huang Ze have been through so much, this is the best outcome. I'm happy for you." Mo Ran drained his wine pot.
Xue Jing Yun gazed into the distance and said, "I should be happy, but I don't feel happy at all right now. I don't know why."
He pointed to his chest, a feeling he couldn't articulate.
Mo Ran smiled upon hearing this, "This is pre-nuptial jitters, it's normal. I was like that before too."
"You're used to being alone. It's hard to adapt to having another person around, but believe me, you'll get used to it soon."
"Perhaps," he said.
"Is tonight the last time I'll drink with you? When is the next time?" Mo Ran asked with a smile.
"I don't know." He truly didn't know. He had promised Aning that he would govern the world with her.
"Xue Jing Yun, you're amazing. In just a few years, the world is in your hands," Mo Ran said with admiration.
"This is my betrothal gift for Aning."
"You still say you don't like her, still say you don't love her to the bone," Mo Ran couldn't help but say sourly.
He never doubted his feelings for Aning, but why did he not feel the same composure when facing her as before?
What was the reason? Perhaps, as Mo Ran said, he was experiencing pre-nuptial jitters.
"I'm going back." He stood up and left Mo Ran alone, returning to the palace.
In the Eastern Palace, he saw Xue Song about to speak, but hesitating. Xue Feng watched Xue Song coldly, as if preventing him from speaking.
"Xue Song, what is it?" he asked Xue Song directly.
Xue Song wanted to speak, but also didn't.
It was Xue Yan who spoke, "If none of you want to speak, then I will."
"What is it, Xue Yan?" Xue Jing Yun asked.
Xue Yan stepped forward and bowed, "Your Highness, you know that His Majesty is the Empress of Huang Ze. Even if she marries you, she will not be solely yours. Of course, you don't have to be devoted to her alone."
Xue Jing Yun's gaze paused upon hearing this. He quickly understood the implication.
He was aware of these matters, of course. "This Highness knows."
Xue Yan then said, "Her Majesty has favored several male consorts."
Xue Jing Yun's gaze faltered, and his gaze dropped considerably. "This Highness knows."
His Aning was not the same naive person as before. It was normal for her to favor others, for she was an Empress.
"Your Highness, if you feel you are at a disadvantage, you can also favor others," Xue Yan said.
Xue Jing Yun's expression changed slightly. "This Highness does not need your concern."
With that, he left.
Xue Yan was taken aback. "Your Highness, is he angry?"
Xue Song sighed, "Xue Yan, you don't understand."
"How can I not understand? I naturally wish for Your Highness and Her Majesty to live in harmony, one person for a lifetime, but when things happen, they must be accepted, mustn't they?" Xue Yan asked.
Xue Song sighed, "That's why Your Highness is so melancholic."
Xue Yan stepped forward and took Xue Song's hand. "Your Highness will understand."
Xue Song nodded, "He will."
At the beginning of the month, the marriage alliance between Xue Country and Huang Ze was celebrated by various countries. Xue Country, carrying the entire realm as its betrothal gift, headed to Huang Ze.
Along the way, the common people lined the streets to welcome them. The realm was finally unified, signifying an end to wars between countries.
"Your Highness, Huang Ze is just ahead," Xue Feng said from outside.
"Prepare a horse," Xue Jing Yun commanded.
Xue Feng led a horse to the carriage. "Your Highness, I've brought your horse."
Xue Jing Yun stepped out of the carriage, leaped into the air, landed on the horse, and headed in the opposite direction.
Xue Feng was greatly alarmed. "Your Highness, where are you going?"
"You all go ahead. This Highness will return tomorrow."
Xue Feng was bewildered by the wind. Where was His Highness going?
"Let's go. His Highness has his own plans," Xue Song came to dissuade him.
Xue Feng nodded, "I understand."
However, leaving before the wedding was truly inappropriate.
"Issue an order that no one is to speak of today's events, or they will be punished by military law," Xue Feng said coldly.
He rode his horse at full speed until he reached the outside of a valley, where Xue Jing Yun dismounted.
The valley was as it had always been, with birds singing and flowers blooming, but he had no mind to appreciate it now. He walked to the depths of the valley and sat down leaning against a tree.
The wind brushed against his face, ruffling his hair. He wanted to feel the sensation of that time.
Suddenly, a faint sound of footsteps made him open his eyes and look at the uninvited guest in the valley.
No one else knew of this place. Could it be Aning?
Xue Zi Ning didn't know why she wanted to come to this place. Perhaps she thought that before her wedding to Hua Yun Jin, she wanted to reminisce about her time with him here.
Because after today, she could no longer think of him. She was going to marry Hua Yun Jin and forget him.
Everything was as it had been before, unchanged. If there was any change, it was that her heart was no longer the same heart as before.
She walked slowly and entered the valley, reaching the hot springs. She removed her outer clothes and stepped into the water.
"Aning..."
Xue Zi Ning trembled all over. That voice wasn't Hua Yun Jin's. It was the person she thought of day and night.
She stood up and saw that tall, slender figure, as if from a dream.
"Yan Zhao, is that you?" she called out softly.