"Your Highness, you are finally awake," Xue Song and others, who had stayed up for several sleepless nights, breathed a sigh of relief.
"How long was I unconscious?" Xue Jingyun asked as he got up.
Xue Song stepped forward to help him, saying, "Three days and three nights."
"What day is it today?" Xue Jingyun inquired further.
"The end of the month," Xue Song replied.
Xue Jingyun breathed a sigh of relief, "Fortunately, I can still make it."
"Your Highness, it is not advisable for you to travel long distances at this time," Qing Yi said, stepping forward and bowing.
Upon hearing this, Xue Jingyun said, "I must go."
Qing Yi sighed, "If you must go, please take me with you. If any unexpected situations arise, I can diagnose and treat Your Highness."
Xue Jingyun nodded and looked at Xue Song, "Are everything prepared?"
Xue Song replied, "Yes, it is all prepared."
"We depart tomorrow morning," Xue Jingyun announced. DAFENG NOVEL NETWORK
The Crown Prince of Snow Country personally coming for the wedding showed great respect to the An Kingdom.
The An Emperor was very pleased, and it was evident how much the Crown Prince of Snow Country valued this marriage and An Ning.
In the crowd, An Ning's eyes fell upon Xue Jingyun, who was seated on a white horse.
His moon-white brocade robe was spotless, and though his expression seemed a little weary, it did not diminish his innate grace.
His refined and handsome face was adorned with eyes that shone like stars, bright and radiant.
Suddenly, he seemed to sense a gaze upon him and turn towards this direction. An Ning was startled and quickly lowered her head, not daring to meet his eyes.
After his gaze lingered there for a long time, it finally withdrew.
An Ning breathed a sigh of relief as the procession had already moved on.
"Your Highness, hurry back. If you are not seen soon, His Majesty will not let these servants off," Rong Cui said fearfully.
An Ning did not linger and slipped back with Rong Cui.
In front of the palace, Xue Jingyun dismounted his horse, his movements fluid, exuding an air of noble elegance. His spotless moon-white brocade robe traced an elegant arc in the air.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince..." the An Emperor approached and said.
Xue Jingyun cupped his hands and bowed slightly, "An Emperor."
"You have traveled a long way, Your Highness the Crown Prince. You must be tired. A banquet has been prepared, please join us, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
"An Emperor, please!"
The An Emperor stepped aside. Although he was the monarch of the An Kingdom, in the face of Snow Country, he was nothing.
Xue Jingyun did not proceed first but said respectfully, "Your Majesty, please!"
The An Emperor's face lit up with joy, "Good, I shall precede you!"
One after another, the Crown Prince of Snow Country gave the An Emperor ample respect.
Upon arriving at the palace, the An Emperor invited Xue Jingyun to take the seat of honor. Xue Jingyun declined, and finally, the An Emperor took the upper seat, with Xue Jingyun seated to his right.
The An Emperor was flattered but did not become conceited. As long as it was beneficial for his little An Ning, it mattered not if he was not given due respect.
"Where is An Ning?" the An Emperor asked, looking around and finding no trace of her.
"Father, An Ning is here," An Ning said as she entered from the side hall.
Xue Jingyun followed the sound and looked over. His gaze paused slightly. The maiden stood there in a long dress of the colors of sky and water, exuding an unparalleled, supreme elegance.
She raised her eyes to look at him, meeting his gaze. Then, she suddenly broke into a smile, as if all things were reviving, winter giving way to spring, a scene of utmost beauty.
Xue Jingyun withdrew his gaze and drank the wine in the cup in one gulp.
Behind him, Xue Song worriedly whispered, "Your Highness, you should not drink."
Xue Jingyun seemed not to hear and poured himself another cup of wine.
Just as he was about to lift it, a graceful figure appeared before him. He looked up and met eyes that could reflect everything, clear and pure as the sky, without any impurities.
The maiden's lips parted slightly, "Your Highness, allow me to pour your wine."
A slender finger, fair as jade, poured away the wine he had just poured and reached for the wine pot to pour more. Suddenly, a fair and slender hand grasped the hand holding the wine pot. The fingers were chilling to the bone, and she couldn't help but frown slightly.
His voice was as cool as water, "Princess, hold the wine pot properly."
His icy fingers clasped her hand and filled the wine cup.
"Your Highness has already poured it. May I have my hand back?"
"Mmm..." he replied softly and, without hesitation, released her hand.
The icy chill vanished. An Ning quickly withdrew her hand, wondering why his hand was so cold.
"I will toast you first!" he said, raising the cup and draining its contents.
An Ning saw him raise his head, his Adam's apple moving. For some reason, she felt a dryness in her throat. She averted her eyes, her face flushing slightly. She stood up and left.
Returning to her seat, she also poured a cup of wine and took a sip. Whether it was the strong wine or her own excitement, she choked.
Looking up, she saw everyone looking at her, her face inevitably blushing.
Subconsciously, she saw Xue Jingyun looking at her with a flushed face. His already refined and handsome features now held a touch of allure.
An Ning turned her face away.
"Father, I am a little drunk. I will return to Anning Palace now," An Ning said as she stood up.
The An Emperor looked at her and nodded, "Go ahead. Have Rong Cui escort you back."
An Ning departed.
However, she did not return to Anning Palace. Instead, she made an excuse to go out. Rong Cui could not stop her, so she could only anxiously prevent anyone from entering Anning Palace.
An Ning arrived at Qianjin Tower. Upon entering Qianjin Pavilion, Wen Yuxi, who had been waiting inside, said, "Princess Anning, may I know the reason for summoning me?"
An Ning glanced at him, "I have called you here to be a witness."
Before she could finish speaking, a cold gust of wind swept through the outside, opening the window. Immediately, a white figure drifted in.
Wen Yuxi gritted his teeth in anger, looking at the newcomer with displeasure, "Why didn't you use the door?"
The person sat on the floor on a cushion. His face was refined and handsome, his gaze as cold as frost. He looked up at Wen Yuxi and said, "Troublesome..."
Wen Yuxi was so angry he almost crushed the jade cup in his hand.
The newcomer was none other than Xue Jingyun, who should have been at the palace banquet.
He looked up at An Ning and spread his palm, saying indifferently, "Princess, for what purpose have you asked me to come to Qianjin Tower?"
An Ning sat on the floor, looked at him, and said slowly, "I want to make a deal with you."
"What kind of deal?" Xue Jingyun asked.
"Give me six months. After six months, I will actively seek you out to return my soul and return to you a complete Empress."
Xue Jingyun was slightly stunned, and the starlight in his eyes flowed.
She was breathtakingly beautiful, but An Ning knew that her beauty was never for her own sake.
At this moment, she felt a pang of envy for Xue Zining, fortunate enough to be loved so devotedly and persistently by Xue Jingyun.
"Why?" he asked.
An Ning looked up into the distance, her expression tinged with melancholy, "You know, after I woke up, I couldn't remember anything from before. All I remembered were the events after I woke up. But in less than a year, I want to seize this limited time to go to the places I want to go, to travel to all the places I wish to see. Isn't that a complete life?"
"By then, I will have no regrets about having lived this life..."