"Young lady, you don't know yet, Young Master Yan must be the one my father sent to rescue me," Lin Shishu said, looking at her expectantly.
Xue Zining's gaze paused. She felt a slight discomfort in her heart but quickly mocked herself for such a thought. Yan Zhao didn't recognize her at all now, he had forgotten her. To him, she was nothing more than a stranger.
"Young lady?" Lin Shishu noticed something was amiss with this Miss Shu.
"I'm fine," Xue Zining dropped the words and left the room.
Stepping out, the wind blew, lifting her long hair. She gazed towards the horizon. This was the second time they had met since his amnesia. Would he remember her?
If it were the same as before, what would she do?
Choose to give up?
She didn't know.
Why did her heart ache so much? It ached so much she couldn't breathe.
"Young Master, all the men have been ambushed and are waiting for your command."
Yan Jinzhao looked at the little one who was sleeping so soundly she wouldn't easily wake up. He stood up and said in a low voice, "Let's talk outside."
Xuesong nodded.
"Young Master..."
Yan Jinzhao stood outside and said faintly, "I only want to succeed in one attempt. Failure is not allowed."
"Yes, Young Master. Rest assured, there will be no mistakes," Xuesong said.
"You may withdraw!" Yan Jinzhao waved his hand, and Xuesong left.
He stood under the moonlight, the silver light bathing him, transforming him into a radiant figure.
The wind blew, carrying a faint scent of fresh grass. Images seemed to flash across his mind.
In recent days, he had been having dreams. In the dreams, there was the Empress. It felt as if they had known each other a very, very long time ago.
Could it be true, as the investigations suggested, that he was the former Crown Prince of Xue Kingdom, now His Majesty the Emperor of Yun?
But why would he have lost that memory?
"Daddy..." a voice came from behind him.
The corners of his lips curved up in a smile he didn't even know himself, and he turned to pick up the little one, whispering, "You're awake?"
Xue Xingyue nodded. "I woke up and didn't see Daddy, so I came out to look for you."
"I won't leave you." At least not until you find your mother.
Xue Xingyue hugged his neck. "Let's never be apart."
He paused slightly, reaching out to stroke her head, and said softly, "Little one, there are no banquets that last forever."
Xue Xingyue shook her head. "No, I don't want to be apart from Daddy. Daddy, wouldn't it be better if we stayed together forever and ever?"
He fell silent.
"Daddy, you promised me before. How can you go back on your word? Can men just break their promises so casually?" Xue Xingyue was very, very angry.
"Little one, I haven't gone back on my word," Yan Jinzhao said calmly.
"But you said there are no banquets that last forever. Don't bully me for not having read enough. I know what that sentence means."
Yan Jinzhao heard this and chuckled. "Alright then, tell me, what does it mean?"
Xue Xingyue blinked her eyes. "We'll be separated someday."
"Little one, as you grow up, you won't need me anymore. You'll leave me of your own accord then..."
"No, no, that won't happen..." Xue Xingyue shook her head. "I won't leave Daddy, nor will I leave Mommy. We, as a family, will be together forever and ever..."
Yan Jinzhao heard this and stroked her little head. "Okay, as long as you don't want to leave, I won't leave."
"A promise is a promise. Pinky swear..." Xue Xingyue extended her little finger.
Yan Jinzhao smiled and extended his finger.
"Pinky swear, we'll never change for a hundred years," Xue Xingyue said with satisfaction.
"Alright, get some rest early. Tomorrow I have to go out with Uncle Xuesong. You be good and stay here. I'll have Uncle Xuefeng watch over you, okay?"
Xue Xingyue did not refuse and nodded. "Okay, I'll be good." After all, she had her own things to do.
The next day, Yan Jinzhao and Xuesong left with some of their men.
Xuefeng and a few others were left to protect Xue Xingyue.
When Xue Xingyue didn't have anyone she trusted by her side, she rarely slept soundly.
Soon, she heard voices.
She climbed out of bed. Because she was so small, even if she stood at the door, no one would notice. She stealthily opened a small crack and saw Xuefeng with his back to her. A person stood in front of him, but unfortunately, she couldn't see the face of the person opposite.
"Xuefeng, I've chased you all the way here. Aren't you going to invite me in for a seat?" dafeng novel network.
This voice, Xue Xingyue frowned, it was so familiar.
"Miss Yu, this is not a place for you to be," Xuefeng said coldly.
Yu Xiaoyu stepped forward, reaching out to touch Xuefeng's face. "Xuefeng, you didn't speak to me like this before."
Xuefeng took a step back. "Miss Yu, please respect yourself!"
Yu Xiaoyu didn't retreat; instead, she stepped forward again. At this moment, she was only a fist's distance from Xuefeng. This seemed to be the closest they had ever been.
He tried to retreat, but behind him was the tent flap. Retreating further would disturb the little one.
So he didn't move, letting her hand fall onto his face. He felt a soft hand gently stroking him.
"Miss Yu, you don't have to sell yourself like this..." he couldn't help but say.
Yu Xiaoyu heard this, her hand paused slightly. "You know, although I can't forget your Young Master, I don't want to leave you, Xuefeng."
She buried her head in Xuefeng's shoulder.
Behind the tent flap, Xue Xingyue covered her mouth, utterly astonished. What kind of logic did this Miss Yu have?
She kept thinking about her father in her heart, yet she was seducing Uncle Xuefeng?
This was clearly a player, wasn't it?
Xuefeng felt a stir of emotion, his voice hoarse. "Miss Yu, since you can't forget the Young Master, don't do anything that would betray him."
"Xuefeng, do you want me to leave you?" she asked, looking up at him.
After trying so hard to win Xuefeng over, how could she give up so easily?
"Xuefeng, a letter from Governor Lin has arrived," someone suddenly intruded.
Yu Xiaoyu quickly got up, and Xuefeng's face flushed slightly. He looked at the person who had arrived and asked, "What letter?"
The person handed him the letter. Xuefeng took it and opened it, his expression momentarily stunned.
Yu Xiaoyu instinctively tried to peek, but Xuefeng folded the letter, so she didn't see its contents.
"Miss Yu, I need to go out for a while. Can you stay inside and keep the little one company?" Xuefeng asked.
Yu Xiaoyu nodded. "Okay, you go ahead!"
Xuefeng instructed the others to protect Yu Xiaoyu and the little one well before he left.
Yu Xiaoyu bit her lower lip, lifted the tent flap, saw the sleeping little one, and walked forward.
Xue Xingyue feigned sleep. After about the time it took for an incense stick to burn, she slowly woke up.
"You're awake?" Yu Xiaoyu asked.
Xue Xingyue nodded. "Why are you here, Sister Yu?"
Yu Xiaoyu replied, "I just arrived."
"Are you here to see Daddy, Sister Yu?"
Yu Xiaoyu nodded, then shook her head. "I was worried about my cousin's safety, so I ran out secretly. I don't know if Young Master Yan can rescue my cousin safely."