The Desolate Marsh
Xue Changan's face was extremely grim, her usually beautiful features contorted into a ferocious mask.
The subordinate who had come to deliver the news also began to worry, fearing Xue Changan's wrath and the potential consequences for himself.
Xue Changan placed the cup she was holding on the table, her voice chillingly cold. "The people have already left Dongling Pass, and you only report now? What use do I have for such a useless waste?"
"Your Majesty, please forgive me, Your Majesty, please forgive me!"
"Drag him away and deal with him," Xue Changan waved her hand.
Someone quickly stepped forward and dragged the informant away to be dealt with.
Xue Changan threw the cup in her hand to the ground and roared, "Useless, a bunch of useless people."
After venting her anger, she asked, "Has Xue Yu returned?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Lord Xue has not yet returned."
Xue Changan fell silent, then suddenly remembered something and asked the trembling palace maid beside her, "How is things at Xue Palace?"
The palace maid quickly knelt and replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the people from Xue Palace have informed that Your Highness Xue has not eaten since returning."
Xue Changan's expression was more troubled than ever. "A hunger strike? Good, very good. Prepare the carriage to Xue Palace."
Xue Palace
Zi Yan and Zi Yun, two palace maids, looked at the completely cold dishes on the table and couldn't help but exchange glances and sigh. If things continued like this, His Majesty would be even more furious.
Zi Yan couldn't help but peek towards the inner chamber. What greeted her eyes was a curtain, and faintly, she could see a figure.
He should be sitting on the bed. Although they had never met this Highness Xue since arriving at Xue Palace, who didn't know the rumors about him?
The Crown Prince of Xue country, a person of extraordinary talent and intelligence.
Even though they hadn't seen him in person, they could imagine he must be breathtakingly beautiful.
"Zi Yan..."
Zi Yun called out.
Zi Yan snapped back to attention and sighed, "If this continues, His Highness Xue might not be able to hold on."
Hearing this, Zi Yun disagreed. "We cannot interfere with His Majesty's affairs. Always remember our duties. Do not look at or ask about anything extra. Be careful not to bring disaster upon yourselves and risk your lives."
Zi Yan looked at the figure reflected on the curtain and said, "I know what you're saying. We are just humble palace maids. Even if we could help, what could we possibly do?"
"His Majesty arrives!"
A voice came from outside.
Zi Yan and Zi Yun exchanged a look, then quickly walked out of the sleeping quarters and knelt to pay their respects, "Your Majesty!"
Xue Changan passed by Zi Yan and Zi Yun and entered the sleeping quarters.
Zi Yan looked up at Xue Changan's retreating back, her hands in her sleeves tightening slightly.
Xue Changan entered the outer hall and saw the dishes on the table, which looked like they had gone cold.
She walked towards the inner chamber, gazing at the indistinct figure reflected on the curtain. She walked forward a few steps, lifted the curtain, and found someone sitting cross-legged on the bed.
His moon-white brocade robe was still spotless. Looking up, she saw the face that had astonished her in her past life and this life.
A handsome, elegant, and exceptionally talented person.
Whether it was the noble young master Yan Zhao in her past life or the Crown Prince of Xue country in this life.
Never before had she been so captivated.
In her past life, she had been blind to choose Hua Yunjin, and had thus missed out on such a person. This time, she would not let go.
"Yan Zhao..." she whispered.
She stepped forward, reaching out to touch his exquisitely beautiful face. Just as her fingers were a fraction away, his closed eyes suddenly opened, like a sliver of light appearing in the darkness of the night, blazing with brilliance.
They were like the brilliant stars in the night sky, breathtakingly beautiful.
"Yan Zhao..." Xue Changan couldn't help but call out the name again.
"You are not worthy of saying those words." The response was a cold, clear voice.
It was filled with an icy chill.
It pierced through Xue Changan's body, spreading to every part of her.
She froze, then looked up to see that the eyes, as brilliant as stars, were now completely black, like a vast abyss, as if wanting to draw her in, a place of eternal damnation.
Her body trembled uncontrollably.
"Why?" she asked, why was she not worthy of saying it?
She heard his low laughter, a smile devoid of any warmth, containing only frost-like coldness. "Only A Ning can say those words."
Xue Changan's body stiffened. Soon, anger surged within her. She stepped forward, looking down at him, who, even in his predicament, had shown no sign of shrinking back or fear. Biting her teeth, she said, "She is already dead."
"She is not," he answered with certainty.
"She's dead. Her body is in my hands at this very moment. Xue Jingyun, give up completely!" she roared.
Xue Jingyun looked at her, his gaze as clear and cold as frost, tinged with an icy chill. However, for a fleeting moment, this chill held a hint of tenderness. He looked through her body towards the distance, towards the vast world behind her. "She is etched in my heart, and I will never forget her, for all eternity. No matter how many future lives or reincarnations, I will never forget her."
"Ah..." Xue Changan, enraged, tore off the curtain and moved closer.
Xue Jingyun did not retreat, nor did he show any sign of wavering. It was this very Xue Jingyun who captivated Xue Changan, but also drove her to madness.
Why could her sister so easily obtain his entire heart and love, while she herself received only deceit, manipulation, and even feigned affection? Why?
She was unwilling, so very unwilling.
"Why? Where else could I go that is not good? Now I am also the Empress of Huangze, why can't we be together?" she asked.
"Because you are not her..." Xue Jingyun said to her, his tone faint.
Xue Changan's gaze flickered. "What if I had her body?"
Xue Jingyun's gaze stirred slightly. It was this slight movement that gave Xue Changan a glimmer of hope.
She took a step forward, closing the distance between them. "Xue Jingyun, I will have you, both your body and your heart. You belong to me, Xue Changan."
Xue Jingyun looked at her, his gaze as clear and cold as frost.
She stood up and walked towards the outside.
Leaving Xue Palace, Xue Changan said, "Summon Fan Min to an audience!"
Soon, Fan Min arrived at the palace. "Your Majesty!"
Xue Changan descended from her throne and looked at Fan Min. "Does the body I possess match your beloved?"
Fan Min trembled all over and looked up at Xue Changan, asking, "Your Majesty, you..."
"Just tell me if it matches?" Xue Changan asked.
Fan Min glanced at Xue Changan and replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, your body, as long as the soul is not extinguished, will not rot or decay."
"So, it's possible?"
Fan Min nodded. "Yes."
"Fan Min, transfer my soul into Xue Zining's body, and I will leave this body to you," Xue Changan said.
Fan Min froze. "Your Majesty, you..."
"You cannot do it?" Xue Changan raised an eyebrow and asked.
Fan Min said, "There will be danger."
"What kind of danger?" Xue Changan asked.
Fan Min replied, "The Empress's body retains its previous memories. If Your Majesty enters, there might be a struggle to control the body."