"Why does Crown Prince Hua dislike me so much?" Xue Chang'an walked forward and sat down opposite Hua Yunjin.
Hua Yunjin glanced up at Xue Chang'an. In fact, Xue Chang'an bore a five-point resemblance to Changning, but Changning appeared more innocent and easier for him to control.
As for this Princess Chang'an, her schemes were all on the surface. From the very beginning, he had kept his distance from her, yet he still could not escape her grasp.
"Princess Chang'an, there is a distinction between ruler and subject. I ask that you speak with caution," Hua Yunjin stated slowly, neither humble nor overbearing.
Hearing this, Xue Chang'an became even more displeased. "Hua Yunjin, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."
"Your Highness, from the start, I have shown you no disrespect. I do not understand what you are referring to."
"Hua Yunjin, are you deliberately pretending to be foolish?" Xue Chang'an was furious.
"I do not know how I have angered Your Highness. Since you find me so troublesome, I shall take my leave."
With that, Hua Yunjin rose to leave.
"Did I say you could go?" Xue Chang'an felt she was about to explode with anger.
This Hua Yunjin was definitely doing this on purpose.
Hua Yunjin stopped and looked at Xue Chang'an. "Your Highness, I have other matters to attend to. I will take my leave now!"
Without waiting for Xue Chang'an's reply, he strode away.
Xue Chang'an was so enraged that she swept the teacup on the stone table to the ground, seething with anger.
When Xue Zining returned, she saw Xue Chang'an throwing a tantrum in her chambers. Looking at the mess on the floor, she felt a pang of distress for the items in her room.
"Xue Chang'an, why are you throwing a tantrum in my chambers?" Xue Zining stepped forward and grabbed a vase that Xue Chang'an was about to throw.
Xue Chang'an looked up at her, her gaze unusually sharp.
Xue Zining faltered slightly. "Xue Chang'an, you..."
"Changning, are you deliberately here to watch me make a fool of myself?" Xue Chang'an grabbed her arm and asked coldly.
Xue Zining frowned. "Xue Chang'an, what are you being hysterical about? Why would I want to see you make a fool of yourself? What benefit would that bring me?"
She truly had no idea why Xue Chang'an was in such a temper.
"Xue Zining, didn't you deliberately keep Hua Yunjin here and then have him humiliate me?" Xue Chang'an accused her.
Xue Zining was taken aback. "You saw Hua Yunjin?"
"You still won't admit that you did this deliberately?" Xue Chang'an said angrily.
"Xue Chang'an, you said you liked Crown Prince Hua. I was merely trying to help you."
"Help me? I think you're trying to show off to me," Xue Chang'an retorted.
"If you insist on saying that, then I won't yield Crown Prince Hua to you anymore," Xue Zining said coldly.
Xue Chang'an looked at her, her gaze sharp and piercing.
"You've smashed my chambers to this state, are you going to pay for it?"
Xue Chang'an flicked her sleeves and left.
"How could the Eldest Princess do this?" Xue Lian looked at the mess on the floor, her heart aching.
Among the items were imperial treasures, and even rare artifacts brought from afar. Now, they were all smashed to pieces by Princess Chang'an.
"Clean this up and send it to Chang'an Palace. Tell her she has to pay me for all of this."
Xue Lian quickly agreed, afraid the princess would refuse to pay.
Although these were gifts from His Majesty, they still represented money.
When Xue Chang'an heard the servants say that Princess Changning had sent people to demand payment, she almost laughed out loud.
"No, send them away," Xue Chang'an said angrily.
This matter was considered concluded for the time being.
Xue Zining found that each day spent here seemed to help her forget those past days.
Here, she could be with her family. Although Yan Zhao seemed a bit slow-witted, she wasn't in a hurry. Such days were the very ones she had once longed for.
"Your Highness, something bad has happened..."
Until one day, Xue Lian ran in shouting. Xue Zining looked at her and asked, "What has you shouting like this?" Da Feng Novel Network
Xue Lian said, "Your Highness, Young General Yan and Crown Prince Hua have started fighting."
Xue Zining was stunned. "Why are they fighting?"
Xue Lian shook her head. "This servant doesn't know, but I heard that Princess Chang'an also went there."
"Help me get dressed. I'm going to see too," Xue Zining said.
Xue Lian quickly helped her dress, and Xue Zining eagerly walked outside. By the time she reached the imperial garden, a crowd had already gathered.
"Princess Changning arrives!" With Xue Lian's loud announcement, the maids and eunuchs present quickly turned and bowed.
"Don't you have anything else to do? Disperse!" Xue Lian shouted coldly.
The maids and eunuchs dared not linger and quickly departed.
Now, only Xue Zining and Xue Lian remained, along with the two figures fighting in the imperial garden.
Xue Chang'an was not here.
As Xue Zining walked closer, she saw two figures fighting. The one in white was likely Yan Zhao, and the one in black robes was Hua Yunjin.
Judging by their skill, their abilities were at least evenly matched for now.
However, it soon became apparent that Hua Yunjin was at a slight disadvantage.
At this moment, a voice called out from nearby, "His Majesty has arrived!"
Yan Zhao and Hua Yunjin stopped fighting and bowed towards the figure clad in imperial yellow.
"Father..." Xue Zining stepped forward and put her arm around the Emperor.
The Emperor, who had been somewhat angry, sighed at Xue Zining's gesture. Beside him, the old General Yan's beard trembled. "Yan Zhao, what are you doing?"
Yan Zhao stepped forward upon hearing this and knelt on one knee. "Your Majesty, I wish to marry Princess Changning."
Hua Yunjin, standing behind, was not to be outdone. "Your Majesty, I and Princess Changning share a mutual affection. I beg Your Majesty to grant our wish."
The Emperor let out a couple of sharp shouts and then turned to look at the main culprit, Xue Zining. She smiled sheepishly.
It wasn't intentional, was it? Wasn't it the troubles of her past self that had caused this?
"Young General Yan, just a few days ago you refused the imperial marriage decree, and now you come seeking one. Do you truly think this is a place you can come and go as you please, to marry whom you wish?"
"This subject dares not," Yan Zhao replied in a low voice.
"Dares not? I think you dare quite a lot." The Emperor was angry.
Seeing this, the old General Yan stepped forward and kicked Yan Zhao's shoulder. "You fool."
Yan Zhao bore the kick stoically. "I beg Your Majesty to grant my wish."
"Grant your wish for what!" The Emperor couldn't help but curse.
Xue Zining twitched her lips. This was the first time she had heard her father curse.
"Father..." she couldn't help but speak, fearing that her father would, in a fit of anger, have Yan Zhao dragged away and flogged.
The Emperor looked at his little princess and sighed. "A'ning, this Young General Yan is not suitable for you."
"Then who is suitable for me?" Xue Zining asked.
The Emperor glanced at Hua Yunjin. He was not suitable either; someone who came as a hostage was still impudently seducing his princess.