The Dowager Consort Ming did not answer his words but continued, "Your Majesty, I hope you remember your promise. The nation is now in your hands. Tomorrow, I wish to go to Lingfeng Pass."
Emperor Changning was taken aback. "Dowager Consort Ming, why do you..."
The Dowager Consort Ming smiled, her gaze holding a hint of recollection. "Perhaps my heart has grown old. I wish to see the place that has haunted my dreams."
"Your Highness, I did not expect to part ways so soon." She looked at Xue Zi Ning with reluctance.
Xue Zi Ning smiled and said, "There will be plenty of time. We will always have opportunities."
Lang Xi Luo nodded. "Has Your Highness decided where you wish to go?"
She gazed into the distance, the corners of her lips curling up unconsciously. "Perhaps I will continue to travel through the beautiful landscapes. After all, I am a free person now."
"Your Highness, take good care!" Lang Xi Luo said solemnly.
Xue Zi Ning nodded. "When you have good news, remember to inform me. No matter how far the road, I will return."
"Alright," Lang Xi Luo said, her voice choked with emotion.
"There are no banquets that last forever. We shall meet again!" Xue Zi Ning clasped her hands in a fist and then rode away.
Lang Xi Luo tilted her head back, her eyes moist. She turned to the person behind her and said, "Since you are here, why not go and see her off?"
"I will not see her off. She probably does not wish to see me," Xue Chang Jun said, biting her lower lip.
Lang Xi Luo could not help but smile. "I'm afraid His Highness has never thought of you."
"You..."
Lang Xi Luo laughed heartily. "Xue Chang Jun, we shall meet again!"
Xue Chang Jun also smiled. "Very well, we shall meet again!"
Two horses and two people departed in different directions.
Xue Zi Ning rode her horse to a vast expanse of lush green grass. Her eyes immediately fell upon a figure clad in white, as pure as snow.
Tall and elegant, peerless in the world.
She slowly rode towards him. The figure in white suddenly turned around. That familiar face, the face that haunted her dreams, appeared before her.
Tears welled in her eyes, but she bit her lower lip fiercely, refusing to let them fall.
A deep voice echoed through the place. "A Ning, I know you are about to leave here, and I know that in your world, I am still there. But he is he, and I am me. I hope you will not forget me. A Ning, please allow me to address you by your name so presumptuously. Will you not forget me?"
He paused, then suddenly knelt, his voice low. "Your subject knows that no matter what I say, it will likely be in vain. But I still wish to speak it. I have waited for this day for too long, too long."
Xue Zi Ning was slightly taken aback. "Yan Zhao, I understand everything you wish to say. Whether it is the you here, or the him in that other place, it does not change the fact that you are Yan Zhao."
"A Ning..." He stood up and walked towards her. She closed her eyes and leaped from her horse, knowing he would catch her.
Falling into his embrace, which was so familiar, she cried like a flood.
He held her tightly, as if she would vanish the next moment. His deep voice resonated in her ear. "A Ning, I love you, I love you very, very much..."
"I... I do too, Yan Zhao, Yan Zhao... I love you..."
Not far away, Zhao Feng was weeping uncontrollably. Le Qing held her from behind. "Don't cry anymore. Master and Your Highness are finally together. Then... what about us..."
Zhao Feng heard this and glared at him, snorting. "I haven't settled the score with you yet. Since you knew that Yan Zhao was General Yan Xiao beforehand, why didn't you say anything and let Your Highness worry?"
Le Qing felt extremely wronged. "It's not that I didn't say it, it's that I couldn't. Who knew that the former emperor was not dead and attempted to ascertain if Master was already deceased? Master had no choice but to continue pretending to be Yan Zhao."
"Is he alright this time? I can't let Your Highness be sad again. If your master makes Your Highness sad again, I won't let you or your master off." Zhao Feng said coldly.
"Zhao Feng, don't be angry. It won't happen again, it won't. Master is truly by Miss Xue's side this time."
"That's more like it," Zhao Feng said.
The next day
Hua Huang did not expect that his A Ning was so close to him, yet he had never known.
"Hua Yun Jin, I'm sorry. Circumstances forced me to hide my identity." Xue Zi Ning felt very guilty towards Hua Yun Jin.
Hua Huang sighed. "A Ning, when did you become so polite?"
"Hua Yun Jin,..."
Hua Huang looked at her and suddenly said, "A Ning, may you be happy."
She was stunned and nodded. "I will, Hua Yun Jin, I will."
Hearing this, Hua Huang suddenly said, "A Ning, Yun Dan..."
"I know."
"A Ning, Chang An is about to give birth. She hopes you can go back."
Xue Zi Ning nodded. "I must go back, after all, she is my first niece."
After speaking with Hua Huang, she went to Hua Yun Dan. Li Chen Xi bowed to her. "Your Highness, it is good that you are safe."
She nodded. Li Chen Xi said to Hua Yun Dan beside her, "I'll go pack my things."
Hua Yun Dan nodded. "Alright."
At this moment, only she and Yun Dan were here. For a moment, she didn't know what to say.
"I heard he has returned. I am genuinely happy for you," Hua Yun Dan suddenly said.
She was startled. "Yes, Yun Dan, I..." She suddenly realized that she felt guilty towards Hua Yun Dan.
"Don't say anything. I was willing back then, so it's never your responsibility. You just need to be happy every day, and that's enough." His demands were not many. Seeing her happy was enough.
"Thank you, Hua Yun Dan." A voice came from behind her.
Hua Yun Dan did not look at the person behind her because he knew who it was. Looking at her face filled with tenderness and affection, he knew that this tenderness was always for that person.
All the past unwillingness and jealousy vanished at this moment. To love someone and see her happy, to see her face full of tenderness, was worth it.
"Yan Zhao, if you make her unhappy, if you cause her any grievances, then I, Hua Yun Dan, will not let you off. Because my person, Hua Yun Dan's heart, is reserved for her. So you must remember that there will always be such a person waiting for your betrayal."
"Hua Yun Dan, what you speak of will never happen."
"Good. I hope you remember your words. A Ning must be happy." Hua Yun Dan said and moved forward.
"Thank you, Yun Dan." Xue Zi Ning looked at his receding figure, her eyes slightly moist.
"A Ning, no one can take you away from me, no one is allowed to." He held her tightly.
"I know, you too. We will be together for all eternity."
"Yes, for all eternity," he said, word by word.