"Madam, I was merely disciplining him. Why must you behave as if you are going to die?" Elder General Yan said angrily.
"He was born after ten months of pregnancy. You dare say you don't care, but I do," Old Madam Yan cried, holding Yan Zhao.
"Madam, please don't be like this."
"Should I be like this? You beat my son and I'm supposed to greet you with a smile and say you did well? I'm not that magnanimous," Old Madam Yan retorted angrily.
Elder General Yan sighed and instructed his servants to help Yan Zhao back to his room and send for a physician to treat him. Da Feng Novel.
Xue Zi Ning secretly followed the physician to Yan Zhao's room. Upon entering, Xue Zi Ning noticed that Yan Zhao's room was exclusively staffed by male attendants, with no maids.
The physician therefore directed the attendants to undress Yan Zhao, revealing his back. The whip marks crisscrossed, a sight that left Xue Zi Ning utterly stunned.
The physician opened his medicine chest and applied the ointment directly. Without a word, he finished the treatment and left. Only then did Xue Zi Ning dare to show herself. She approached Yan Zhao's bedside.
Yan Zhao, possibly mistaking her for the physician, asked, "Does the physician have any further instructions?"
"It's me..." Xue Zi Ning began.
Yan Zhao trembled all over. He turned his head and saw her, his gaze momentarily fixed. He quickly sat up and casually picked up his clothes, draping them over himself. "Your Highness... why have you come?"
"May I not come?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
Yan Zhao quickly replied, "Your subject did not mean that. Your subject is merely... overwhelmed with gratitude."
"Rest well. Your injuries might take several days to heal?"
Yan Zhao nodded. "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. Your subject is fine."
Xue Zi Ning nodded. "Rest well. If you need anything, have the household staff send word to me in the palace."
Yan Zhao's gaze faltered. "Your Highness, you..."
Xue Zi Ning realized that she had perhaps spoken too freely, saying things that were inappropriate for the moment.
She quickly said, "Lie down and rest. I shall take my leave."
"Your Highness, I am very happy that you came," Yan Zhao's voice echoed behind her.
"Rest well." Xue Zi Ning soared into the air and departed.
"Young Master, what has made you so happy?" The attendant returned to see his master with a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
The attendant was puzzled. How could one be so happy after being beaten?
Yan Zhao suppressed his smile and said, "I'm going to sleep."
The attendant: "..."
Xue Zi Ning returned to her sleeping quarters and found Xue Chang An also there. Her gaze darkened. She walked forward and asked, "Xue Chang An, are you here to smash my chambers again?"
"Sister, please don't misunderstand. I just have something I wish to ask you."
"What is it you wish to ask?" Xue Zi Ning inquired.
Xue Chang An asked, "Sister, are you certain you have given up on Hua Yun Jin?"
Xue Zi Ning looked at Xue Chang An and asked, "What exactly do you want to say?"
"Hua Yun Jin still likes you. If you no longer have feelings for Young Master Hua, please say some harsh words to make Hua Yun Jin give up."
Xue Zi Ning looked at Xue Chang An. "Xue Chang An, why should I help you? There's no benefit for me in helping you."
She didn't believe Xue Chang An's words could be so simple.
"What do you want? As long as I can do it, I will give it to you."
"Really?"
"Truly," Xue Chang An affirmed.
"Does that mean you owe me a favor?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
Xue Chang An nodded. "Yes, consider it a favor owed. Is that acceptable now?"
"Do you really like Hua Yun Jin that much?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
Xue Chang An replied, "He was the first man I set my eyes on."
Xue Zi Ning fell silent at this. If that were the case, why did she compete with her for Yan Zhao in the third life? Had it not been for Xue Chang An's interference, she and Yan Zhao might have had a smoother path.
Seeing Xue Zi Ning's silence, Xue Chang An assumed she didn't believe her. She suddenly pulled a dagger from her waist and sliced open her palm.
Xue Chang An's sudden action startled Xue Zi Ning, causing her to retreat several steps. "What are you doing?"
"I can swear that if I go against my vow, may I never obtain the one I love, or even perish because of it."
As soon as the words left her mouth, Xue Chang An looked at her and asked, "Is this sufficient?"
Xue Zi Ning suddenly recalled the third life, when Xue Chang An had loved Yan Zhao but could not have him.
Ultimately, she committed many wicked deeds and lost her life.
"I believe you," Xue Zi Ning said.
Xue Chang An let out a sigh of relief and dropped the dagger. Xue Zi Ning took out a handkerchief and went to bandage her hand, asking, "Aren't you afraid that if you fail to do this, these vows will be fulfilled?"
Xue Chang An smiled. "If they are fulfilled, then so be it. After all, perhaps this is the only person I will love in this lifetime."
Xue Zi Ning blinked and said nothing more. There was nothing more to be said.
Having obtained the answer she wanted, Xue Chang An left with satisfaction.
Xue Yan, standing nearby, asked, "Princess Chang An has pressured Your Highness so much, won't Your Highness report this to His Majesty?"
"Why would I tell Father Emperor? It is not I who made the vow, but she. If there is retribution, it will be for her, not for me," Xue Zi Ning said.
"Has Your Highness truly forgotten Young Master Hua?" Xue Lian still asked, unwilling to give up.
"It's not that I've forgotten, but I no longer like him," Xue Zi Ning said slowly.
Upon hearing this, Xue Lian thought to herself that the cruelty with which Their Highness now treated Young Master Hua was as profound as the kindness she had shown him before.
The next day, Xue Zi Ning arrived at Hua Yun Jin's sleeping quarters. Speaking of Hua Yun Jin, Xue Zi Ning felt a sense of melancholy. In this life, he could have been the Crown Prince of the Hua Kingdom. Unfortunately, the King of Hua was intent on pursuing immortality and did not wish for war to disrupt his spiritual cultivation. Therefore, he sought peace with neighboring countries.
In seeking peace, he had to provide hostages. Thus, the reigning Crown Prince was sent as a hostage.
The King of Hua, obsessed with his pursuit of the Tao, spent vast sums of silver on these spiritual cultivators, causing great suffering to the populace. Consequently, an uprising occurred, the King of Hua was killed, and a new king was proclaimed, who even set his sights on Huang Ze.
The Emperor of Huang Ze dispatched General Yan Kan to suppress the self-proclaimed King of Hua, leading to the fall of the Hua Kingdom. Hua Yun Jin, the former Crown Prince and hostage, became a prince of a fallen nation.
How could Hua Yun Jin accept this? He was constantly biding his time, hoping to return to his country and rebuild the Hua Kingdom.
And she was the woman Hua Yun Jin had chosen to help him restore his nation. In that life, she had been captivated by Hua Yun Jin's tender affections and had assisted him greatly.
Later, Hua Yun Jin returned to the Hua Kingdom and rebuilt it. Turning his attention back, he then attacked Huang Ze.
By then, Elder General Yan had grown old. Yan Zhao took over and went to confront Hua Yun Jin. However, in her efforts to help Hua Yun Jin, she had framed Yan Zhao. When Hua Yun Jin attacked while ill, she realized that Hua Yun Jin had merely used her – used her to restore his country and seek revenge.
Yet, she had still wholeheartedly assisted him, deeply hurting the one who truly loved her.
But by the time she understood, it was too late. Her father, the Emperor, had already died.