"Didn't you always escape? General Yan Xiao."
Yan Zhao was slightly startled, and looked up at her, "Your Highness, I don't understand what you mean."
Xue Zining stood up, her upper body leaning over the table.
"Don't understand? Yan Zhao, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
Yan Zhao pulled back a little to create some distance between them. "Your Highness, I truly do not understand what you are saying?"
From this distance, Xue Zining saw Yan Zhao's thin lips. She suddenly reached out, grabbed his chin, and pulled him towards her, their lips colliding.
Yan Zhao's eyes widened, his dark pupils shimmering like a flowing river of stars, converging into a breathtaking sight.
The kiss lasted for a long time. Just as she felt she was about to suffocate and was about to pull away, a hand clasped her shoulder, rendering her immobile.
Only when she was on the verge of suffocation, with a sliver of consciousness remaining, did he release her.
She gasped for air.
"Your Highness, it was you who provoked me." His voice was low and seductive.
Xue Zining felt a sense of shame. She had initiated it, but in the end, she was the one being overpowered.
She pushed Yan Zhao away and swept out of the room.
Watching the slender figure of the princess disappear, Yan Zhao's lips curved into a slight smile.
As Xue Zining emerged from the teahouse, Xue Lian, who was guarding the entrance, quickly stepped forward. "Your Highness..."
"Return to the palace." Xue Zining headed straight for the carriage.
Xue Lian was a little flustered but still followed her into the carriage.
Inside the carriage, Xue Lian covered her mouth. Why were the princess's lips swollen?
Xue Zining noticed Xue Lian's peculiar expression and instinctively touched her own lips, only to realize they had been swollen by Yan Zhao's kiss.
She couldn't help but curse Yan Zhao several times in her mind. He had done it on purpose.
"Do not tell anyone that I met with General Yan Xiao," Xue Zining said coldly.
Xue Lian nodded. "Yes, this servant understands."
Upon returning to the imperial palace, Xue Zining went directly to her sleeping quarters and lay down on the bed.
"Sister, what's wrong?"
Xue Zining turned her head and saw Xue Chang'an, then sat up. "Why are you here?"
Xue Chang'an smiled. "Sister, what are you saying? I am your elder sister, shouldn't I be concerned about you?"
Xue Zining let out a cold snort. "I thought you should be concerned about Young Master Hua instead."
Xue Chang'an's expression changed. "Sister, are you still holding a grudge against me?"
"Why would I hold a grudge against you?" Xue Zining tilted her head and looked at Xue Chang'an.
Xue Chang'an blinked her eyes. "Since Sister does not wish to see me, I shall not linger here. Sister, get some rest."
After leaving Changning Palace, Xue Chang'an called someone to her and asked, "Where did Princess Changning go today?"
The servant replied, "Reporting to Your Highness, Princess Changning met with General Yan Xiao and left alone half an hour later."
Xue Chang'an breathed a sigh of relief. "Very well, I understand. You may withdraw."
As long as she wasn't with her Young Master Hua, Xue Chang'an thought.
Xue Zining lay down for a while before getting up. Just as she was about to pay her respects to the Emperor and Empress, she saw Xue Lian walk in. "Is something the matter?"
Xue Lian stepped forward. "Your Highness, Young Master Hua wishes to invite you for tea."
"There's no need for tea. Tell him I'm busy." Xue Zining finished speaking and headed towards the Empress's sleeping quarters.
Hua Yunjin was momentarily stunned upon hearing the reply from his subordinate. He instinctively doubted if it was truly Princess Changning who had spoken, but his subordinate wouldn't deceive him about such a matter.
Therefore, it could only mean that this was indeed what Princess Changning had said.
He couldn't understand it. Previously, Princess Changning had never treated him with such coldness. If there was a change, it was likely after General Yan Xiao publicly rejected the marriage proposal.
No, he absolutely could not let General Yan Xiao win the heart of Princess Changning.
"Come with me." Hua Yunjin decided to go and see Princess Changning in person.
Upon arriving at Changning Palace, he was informed by Princess Changning's servant that she had gone out.
Hua Yunjin was not annoyed and directly sat on a stone chair in the courtyard of the sleeping quarters to wait for Princess Changning's return.
After Princess Changning paid her respects to the Empress and came out, she saw Xue Lian approaching and whispering, "Your Highness, Young Master Hua is waiting for you in your sleeping quarters."
Xue Zining was taken aback. She didn't recall summoning Hua Yunjin, but then she thought, perhaps her refusal had made Hua Yunjin anxious. "Xue Lian, go and invite Princess Chang'an, and tell her I invite her for tea."
Xue Lian nodded and left.
Xue Zining stood under a tree, looking into the distance. She didn't know why she had returned.
However, since she knew that her future trajectory was due to Xue Chang'an's jealousy, couldn't she simply avoid competing with her?
When Xue Chang'an heard that her sister wanted to invite her for tea, she found it a bit strange, but she didn't refuse and went to Changning Palace. As she walked in, she saw a man sitting on a stone chair at first glance.
The man was dressed in a dark robe, his black hair tied up. Even his profile was exceptionally handsome. Xue Chang'an's gaze flickered as she stepped forward.
"Young Master, it is Princess Chang'an," a young attendant beside Hua Yunjin whispered.
Hua Yunjin looked up and saw Xue Chang'an. In fact, Xue Chang'an shared some similarities with Princess Changning, but Chang'an Princess was more alluring.
Unlike Princess Changning's pure and lovely demeanor.
He chose Princess Changning because he felt she was less calculating and easier to deceive.
Unlike Princess Chang'an, who looked difficult to deceive at first glance.
"Young Master Hua." Xue Chang'an walked forward. At this moment, she understood why Changning had called her over; it was clearly because Hua Yunjin was here.
Instead of feeling grateful to her sister for arranging a meeting between her and Hua Yunjin, she felt that Changning was showing off.
Or perhaps humiliating her, telling her that even if Changning no longer liked Hua Yunjin, Hua Yunjin would still come to her and care about her.
Xue Chang'an felt only anger within her, but she didn't show it on her face at that moment, especially with Hua Yunjin present.
"This subject greets Princess Chang'an." Hua Yunjin stood up and slightly bowed.
Xue Chang'an had witnessed the way her sister Changning and Hua Yunjin interacted, and Hua Yunjin had not been as courteous to her then.
The difference in treatment was obvious.
"Young Master Hua, there's no need to be so formal. Please rise." Xue Chang'an stepped forward, intending to help Hua Yunjin up.
Hua Yunjin subtly dodged Xue Chang'an's gesture and said, "This subject has matters to attend to and shall take his leave!"
Xue Chang'an was somewhat displeased upon hearing this. Why was he leaving as soon as he saw her? Wasn't this clearly him avoiding her?
Xue Chang'an was getting angry. She took a step forward, blocking Hua Yunjin's path, and said coldly, "Young Master Hua, since you're here, why the hurry to leave?"
Hua Yunjin lowered his gaze. "This subject truly has matters to attend to."
Xue Chang'an sneered, a trace of mockery in her eyes. "You have matters to attend to the moment you see me, don't you? Hua Yunjin, do you truly think I am a fool?"
"This subject dares not," Hua Yunjin replied.
"I think you dare quite a lot. Sit down," Xue Chang'an said coldly, looking at Hua Yunjin. Hua Yunjin's gaze shifted, and after a moment, he returned to his original seat.