The silence was broken after a long, long moment, so long that An Ning thought Xue Jingyun wouldn't agree. He looked up, starlight flowing in his eyes, transitioning from brilliance to destruction, "I promise you!"
An Ning's body trembled, she could hardly believe it, "You... agree?"
Xue Jingyun stood up from the cushion, the moon-brocade white robe around him outlining a beautiful arc with his movement. His clear, handsome face showed no joy or sorrow, not even a hint of warmth. He looked at her faintly, as if seeing through her body to the depths of her soul.
Her heart suddenly skipped a beat. She turned her face away, not wanting to look at his now darkened eyes. She felt a pang of pain in her chest.
"Thank you, Crown Prince. I will return in half a year. I always keep my word."
"I believe you..." he said these three words faintly.
An Ning didn't care if he believed her or not; she only cared about keeping her own promise.
"But I must send someone to protect you. You cannot refuse," Xue Jingyun said slowly.
"I can," An Ning did not refuse. She lacked combat ability; having someone protect her would make her much safer.
A cold wind swept through, and the oppressive feeling in the room finally dissipated. An Ning turned and looked towards the window, only to see a white shadow that had already vanished.
"Princess An Ning, where do you plan to go first?" Wen Yuxi couldn't help but ask.
An Ning gazed into the distance, "Actually, I haven't made any plans. Why not start with the Desolate Marsh!"
"Princess An Ning, you will be gone for half a year. I cannot leave the Crown Prince's bloodline, so I will follow the Crown Prince," Wen Yuxi said.
An Ning was startled and said, "I didn't think of that. Alright."
She didn't refuse, which meant she wouldn't need her father to send extra people to protect her.
The next day
In the grand hall, An Ning expressed her wish to travel to various countries.
The Crown Prince of the Xue Kingdom agreed, granting her half a year, with the wedding ceremony to be held after that period.
"An Ning, you didn't discuss this with your father." Emperor An was still somewhat displeased with An Ning's words in the hall.
"Father, your daughter just suddenly thought of it. After marriage, I can only stay within the Xue Kingdom's inner palace. Not to mention traveling, returning to my own country is not easy. Therefore, your daughter wishes to do what she wants before marriage, to travel through the beautiful mountains and rivers of various countries and see the outside world."
Emperor An sighed, "Father knows. You've forgotten your past memories since you woke up. Since you want to see, then go. However, you must take the escorts your father has prepared for you."
Saying this, Emperor An waved his hand, and over a dozen people emerged from behind him.
An Ning said, "Father, the Xue Kingdom's Crown Prince has already arranged for escorts. We don't need too many people; we need skilled ones. If I take so many people, it won't be a journey; it will be drawing attention."
Emperor An, hearing this, no longer insisted on An Ning staying. "Since the Crown Prince has prepared them for you, they are undoubtedly first-class experts. Father will not ask you to keep these people."
"Father, please take good care of yourself while I am away."
Emperor An sighed, "An Ning, you've grown up. Father wishes you hadn't grown up, to always be my little An Ning."
"Father, An Ning can share your burdens when she grows up. One day, she will leave your side."
"Perhaps! Don't forget to send Father letters; don't let Father worry about you."
An Ning choked back a sob and knelt on the ground, "Father, An Ning is unfilial. Father, take care!"
Emperor An turned his face away, his voice muffled, "Perhaps, don't forget to come back. This is your home."
"Father, take care!" An Ning kowtowed, stood up, and turned to leave.
Emperor An turned back, looking at An Ning who didn't look back, and covered his tear-streaked face with the sleeve of his wide imperial robe. "This child, truly heartless, leaving without a backward glance."
"Father, Third Sister will be safe and sound," An Ru said.
Outside the palace, a carriage prepared by the Crown Prince of the Xue Kingdom was waiting. As An Ning entered the carriage, she almost fell out from shock.
Two men were already seated inside.
One of them was Wen Yuxi. The other, though his appearance was ordinary, emanated such a chilling aura that the carriage could barely contain it, constantly leaking outwards.
"This is..."
"Gui Ning."
Gui Ning? An Ning looked at Gui Ning for two glances, then quickly turned her head back. It was too cold. If she continued looking, she would surely freeze into an ice block.
"Your Highness Princess, don't mind him. I've been talking to him in the carriage for a while, and he doesn't say a word. Just consider him a mute!" Wen Yuxi said with displeasure.
Gui Ning remained silent, sitting there. If he weren't known to be alive, one would assume he didn't exist.
The carriage began to move. Wen Yuxi asked, "Your Highness, where are we going?"
"Since we're going to the Desolate Marsh, there's no specific destination. We'll take it one step at a time," An Ning said.
She had no particular destination. The reason she wanted to go to the Desolate Marsh was a personal one: she wanted to see what kind of place Xue Zi Ning had once resided in. She just wanted to go.
The carriage did not move fast. The scenery along the way was picturesque, different from every time before. This time, she was going to various places with a clear mind, free from any worries.
The An Kingdom was not large. After a day's journey, they left the An Kingdom and arrived at Xue Ling Pass.
Since the Han Kingdom and the Xue Kingdom signed a treaty, there had been no more wars here, and everything had become prosperous.
The border market was bustling, and An Ning couldn't help but get off the carriage.
Wen Yuxi was about to dismount when he suddenly turned back and asked, "Aren't you getting off?"
Gui Ning gave him a faint glance.
Wen Yuxi clicked his tongue twice, "My apologies for being nosy!"
Saying this, he dismounted.
An Ning had never seen such a lively border market and felt a pang of regret that the An Kingdom couldn't open its own border markets.
"Little Ning Ning, buy whatever you fancy. I may not have much else, but I have plenty of money," Wen Yuxi said with a slightly provoking smile.
An Ning glanced at Wen Yuxi and said without politeness, "Since you call yourself my brother, I naturally won't be polite."
She snatched the money pouch from Wen Yuxi's hand. Soon, Wen Yuxi felt the pain that came with it.
Never say that sentence to a woman; the consequence is that he carried large bags and packages, while the woman continued to shop and shop.
"Gui Ning, could you help me carry these?" Wen Yuxi turned to Gui Ning, who was following them meekly, and asked.
Gui Ning only replied with two words: "No."
Concise and to the point.
Wen Yuxi gritted his teeth audibly.
Finally, An Ning got tired of shopping and found an inn to stay in.
Wen Yuxi placed the items on the table, finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.
"Little Ning Ning, if you keep shopping like this, I'll be ruined."
An Ning raised her eyes and looked at Wen Yuxi, saying, "If I could bankrupt the楼主 of Qianjin Tower, then the five kingdoms would be too poor to even eat."
"Little..."
"I'm tired and need to rest." An Ning unceremoniously pushed Wen Yuxi out.
Wen Yuxi was about to cry, but there were no tears. He paid, carried the bags, and was then kicked out of the room. He truly was miserable.