"The Northern Frontier King's sentencing is postponed, but the wedding date remains as scheduled."
As Wen Yu Xi finished speaking, he felt the gaze of the young woman opposite him flicker.
"A Ning..."
"I'm fine..." Xue Zi Ning said.
Wen Yu Xi remained silent for a long time, then suddenly looked up and asked, "A Ning, are you going?"
Xue Zi Ning trembled, looking at Wen Yu Xi. His gaze was gentle, like water.
She smiled and shook her head, "No need."
"A Ning, you..."
She slowly stood up and turned, "If I appear, my chances of rescuing Xue Zi Xuan will be even slimmer."
"So, to save someone, you're going to abandon him?"
"Do you consider a life more important, or a formality?"
Wen Yu Xi saw the clarity in the young woman's eyes as she looked at him.
He let out a low chuckle, his tone carrying a hint of gravity, "If he consummates his marriage with Xue Chang An, what will you do?"
The young woman's expression visibly fell. "If he truly cannot recognize me, then it can only mean we are not fated to be together."
"A Ning, Yan Zhao is not a god. How can he discern?"
The young woman turned back, "He is not a god, and neither am I. We are all ordinary people. So, let heaven decide!"
"A Ning..." Wen Yu Xi called out to her from behind.
But her departing steps were firm.
No one knew how much pain was hidden within her heart.
The wedding day approached.
Xue Chang An had not sought out male attendants in recent days, her heart filled with excitement as the wish of her past and present lives was finally coming true.
She felt somewhat dazed, as if it were all a dream.
"Your Majesty, all preparations are complete. The Crown Prince is making his way here and should arrive within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn," a palace maid said.
Xue Chang An nodded, looking at her exquisitely made-up reflection in the bronze mirror. A hint of anticipation bloomed in her heart.
An incense stick later, a palace maid entered, bowing. "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived outside the sleeping chambers."
"Help me up," Xue Chang An commanded.
The crimson wedding robe embroidered with soaring dragons adorned her, its hem swaying behind her.
Supported by the palace maids, she stepped out slowly.
The morning light slanted down, seemingly falling upon the man opposite her.
She raised her eyes and saw the man before her, dressed in a grand crimson robe embroidered with dragon and phoenix patterns.
His countenance was exquisitely perfect, his features sculpted flawlessly, refined and handsome.
Even standing still, he exuded an extraordinary grace.
He was truly a sight of unparalleled beauty.
Moreover, the morning light that fell upon him bathed him in a radiant golden glow.
Xue Chang An was mesmerized. Only when someone beside her reminded her did she snap back to reality, calling out, "Yan Zhao..."
She walked towards him, extending her hand.
After a long moment, seeing he did not reach out, she called again, "Yan Zhao."
"Your Highness, it is time to hold the red silk with Her Majesty," a palace maid reminded him.
He accepted the red silk from the palace maid, ignoring the hand that had been waiting there for a long time.
Xue Chang An withdrew her hand. She didn't mind. She was confident that after today, Yan Zhao would be hers. She truly didn't mind.
Along the way, palace servants knelt in greeting.
They proceeded all the way to Sheng Gan Hall.
They arrived before the dragon throne. Xue Chang An turned, and the officials present all knelt in salutation.
"Rise..." Xue Chang An commanded.
At this moment, the Imperial Astronomer presented the marriage certificate and began to read it in the main hall.
This step wasn't originally planned, but Yan Zhao required it, so she would comply.
The Imperial Astronomer read out the names of the couple.
"Xue Zi Ning, Xue Jing Yun."
As soon as the words fell, Xue Chang An's body trembled. She looked up at the Imperial Astronomer.
Perhaps her gaze was too chilling, for the Imperial Astronomer quickly stepped forward and bowed. "Your Majesty, is there an issue?"
"Why is it Xue Zi Ning? It should be Xue Chang..."
Halfway through, Xue Chang An quickly stopped herself. Yan Zhao was by her side. If her name were written, everything would be exposed, and Yan Zhao might not marry her.
"It's nothing," Xue Chang An said.
The Imperial Astronomer retreated.
On the way back to the sleeping chambers, Xue Chang An was somewhat distracted. Did she have to live on as Xue Zi Ning?
"A Ning? What are you thinking about?" Yan Zhao suddenly asked.
"No... nothing..."
Living as Xue Zi Ning wasn't so bad. At least she still had Yan Zhao standing behind her.
Entering the sleeping chambers, Xue Chang An ordered her head adornments removed and her wedding robe taken off. She walked towards him and reached out to unfasten his wedding robe. "Yan Zhao, let's consummate our marriage!"
He took a step back. "Your Majesty, won't you go to the front court to drink with the officials?"
Xue Chang An chuckled softly and raised her eyes, her gaze languid and alluring. "Yan Zhao, I've waited a long time for this day. How could I bear to leave you alone? Isn't it the same for you?"
She stepped forward to touch his refined and handsome face, but before her fingers could make contact, he brushed her hand away with his sleeve.
Xue Chang An froze. Looking at Yan Zhao before her, she couldn't help but ask, "Yan Zhao, we are married now. You are my husband, and I am your wife. Why won't you even let me touch you?"
She watched him slowly walk to a chair behind them and sit down. Though he was now technically beneath her, his aura had not diminished in the slightest.
A hint of coldness, like the frost of late autumn, settled on his refined and handsome face.
Unaccountably, Xue Chang An felt a tremor in her heart. "Yan Zhao, you..."
He poured himself a cup of tea and looked up, his eyes now filled with an icy chill, a frigid aura that pierced the soul.
Xue Chang An took a step back. "Yan Zhao, what's wrong?"
The teacup landed heavily on the table. His tone was as cold as frost. "Xue Chang An, stop pretending. You are not A Ning."
Xue Chang An trembled all over. "Yan Zhao, what are you talking about? I am A Ning..."
"A Ning?" Yan Zhao looked at her indifferently, a chilling aura emanating from him.
The air seemed to thin.
Xue Chang An felt an oppressive force pinning her down, rendering her immobile.
"Yes, I am A Ning. Yan Zhao, have you heard something from others? Don't believe them."
"I don't need to believe them, Xue Chang An. Isn't it tiring to pretend to be someone else?"
Xue Chang An stumbled back, disbelief etched on her face. She hadn't shown any flaws; how could he know she wasn't Xue Zi Ning?
"Yan Zhao, I really am A Ning." She had worked so hard to reach this point; she didn't want to give up.
"A Ning? You dare to bear that name?"
His voice was as cold as ice and snow, seeping into her limbs.
Xue Chang An shook her head in disbelief. "I don't believe it, I don't believe it."
She had done everything so perfectly. How could he know she wasn't?
"My voice, my tone, my actions... where have I gone wrong? Why?"
"Yes, your voice and tone can be mimicked quite well. But if you deeply love someone, you don't need to argue. You just need to feel it with your heart."
"How is that possible? I don't believe you..." Xue Chang An growled.