Xue Chang'an flicked her sleeve and left. Consort Yan was startled and took a few steps back, but didn't regain her footing and sat on the ground.
Consort Yan didn't understand how Xue Chang'an had become like this.
This was not her Chang'an, no.
"Mother Consort, do you still not believe that Imperial Sister actually wants to be emperor?"
Consort Yan trembled all over. She looked up at the young man. His face was somewhat pale, a sickly pallor. It seemed the previous illness had tormented him for a long time. His lips were so dry they were chapped, and he had come out wearing only his inner garments.
"Impossible. How can a girl be emperor?" Consort Yan still believed that Xue Chang'an was talking nonsense, just trying to anger her for favoring Chang Jun.
"Why not? Father Emperor could yield the throne to Imperial Sister Chang Ning, what else can't he do?"
Xue Changjun said with a cold snort.
Consort Yan got up, stepped forward, and embraced Xue Changjun. "Chang Jun, rest assured, the Emperor of Huangze can only be you. I will eliminate anyone who becomes your stepping stone, leaving none behind."
"What if that stepping stone is my sister?" Xue Changjun looked up and asked Consort Yan.
Consort Yan trembled all over, but still gritted out the words one by one through her teeth, "Then let her die!"
Xue Changjun smiled. "Then that's fine!"
Xue Chang'an returned to Chang'an Palace in a fit of anger. She knew Consort Yan was greedy, but she hadn't expected her to be so greedy. They were both her children; what was the difference between her becoming emperor and Chang Jun becoming emperor?
Couldn't she just become the Empress Dowager?
"Your Highness, Young Master Hua requests an audience."
Xue Chang'an was about to refuse, but then changed her mind. "Let him in."
Hua Yunjin walked in and saw that Xue Chang'an's complexion did not seem very good. He stepped forward and bowed. "Greetings, Princess Chang'an."
Xue Chang'an looked up at Hua Yunjin. "Come here to me."
Hua Yunjin frowned, and after a moment, he still walked over. "Your Highness, what are your orders?"
"Undress," Xue Chang'an spat out these two words through clenched teeth.
Hua Yunjin's expression changed. He looked up at Xue Chang'an and said, "Your Highness, I cannot fulfill your request."
Xue Chang'an stood up from her chair and looked at him with a cold smile. "Hua Yunjin, what right do you have to say no to me?"
Hua Yunjin looked at her with disdain in his eyes. "Your Highness, until His Majesty revokes my status as Young Master, I am still the Young Master, and I have the right to say no."
"What if I help you restore your country?" Xue Chang'an leaned forward and said word by word.
Hua Yunjin trembled all over. "Your Highness..."
Xue Chang'an sneered. "I know you will say I'm dreaming, but I truly have this idea. I want to be emperor, to become someone above all others."
"Hua Yunjin, if I become emperor, I can help you restore your country and reinstate your status as Crown Prince of Hua. Don't you want that?"
Hua Yunjin trembled all over and looked at Xue Chang'an.
Xue Chang'an sneered. "You are so subservient to me, isn't it also because you hope to use me to restore your country?"
Hua Yunjin withdrew his gaze and said, "The current Emperor still has two sons, one is Prince Jing, who was enfeoffed as a prince long ago, and the other is Your Highness's own brother, the Third Prince. Prince Jing, I believe it's understandable for Your Highness to move against him, but the Third Prince..."
Xue Chang'an sneered. "What about my own brother? He has never treated me as his own sister, so why should I treat him as my own brother?"
Hua Yunjin remained silent upon hearing this.
Xue Chang'an said, "Are you still thinking of Chang Ning? It's impossible for her now. She went to the Imperial Mausoleum, and I'm afraid she won't be returning."
Hua Yunjin was slightly stunned and looked up at Xue Chang'an. "Your Highness, you..."
"Why would I dirty my own hands? Even if it wasn't me, no one would want her to walk out of the Imperial Mausoleum alive. Hua Yunjin, your best outcome now is me. As for the Ninth Princess?"
Xue Chang'an smiled. "She's a fool. If you place your hopes on her, why not place them on me? I will give you everything you want."
Hua Yunjin knew that at this moment, his most powerful ally was only Xue Chang'an. As Xue Chang'an had said, rather than expecting the Ninth Princess, it was better to expect Xue Chang'an.
He slowly knelt on the ground. "This subject is willing to assist Your Highness until Your Highness ascends that position."
Xue Chang'an walked forward and helped Hua Yunjin up. "Hua Yunjin, as long as you assist me wholeheartedly, I will definitely not treat you poorly in the future."
Hua Yunjin stood up and said, "This subject will not fail Your Highness's expectations."
After leaving Chang'an Palace and getting into the carriage, Hua Yunjin looked at the sweat on his palm and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Young Master, someone from the manor said the Ninth Princess wishes to see you."
Hua Yunjin was stunned. "Why would Princess Changyi want to see me?"
The servant shook his head and said he didn't know.
Hua Yunjin returned to the manor. The servants of the manor hurried forward and said, "Young Master, we told the Ninth Princess you were not here, but the Ninth Princess refused to leave. This servant did not dare to chase the Ninth Princess away."
"Alright, I understand. Take me to see the Ninth Princess." Hua Yunjin said.
Arriving at the main hall, Hua Yunjin saw the Ninth Princess Xue Changyi at a glance.
"This subject greets the Ninth Princess." Hua Yunjin bowed.
"Young Master Hua, you and I need not be so formal." Xue Changyi stepped forward, intending to help Hua Yunjin up, but Hua Yunjin took a step back. "Your Highness, men and women should not touch."
Xue Changyi was startled and bit her lower lip. "Young Master Hua, I like you."
Hua Yunjin frowned and looked at Xue Changyi's slightly flushed cheeks. He said faintly, "Ninth Princess, it would be best not to say such things in the future."
Xue Changyi trembled all over and looked at Hua Yunjin in disbelief. "Young Master Hua, you..."
"Your Highness's marriage is naturally decided by His Majesty. Your Highness saying this makes this subject feel alarmed. This subject has only met Your Highness a few times, and Your Highness claims to have affection for this subject. This subject is greatly alarmed and implores Your Highness to be cautious."
"Young Master Hua, I truly like you. I am not speaking nonsense. From the first moment I saw you, I fell in love with you and have never forgotten you."
"Your Highness, this subject's rough appearance is not worthy of Your Highness. I beg Your Highness..."
Xue Changyi grew anxious and grabbed Hua Yunjin. "Young Master Hua, how can you speak to me like this? Do you know how heartbroken you make me?"
"Your Highness, this subject's marriage is free to be decided by His Majesty. I implore Your Highness to leave quickly." Hua Yunjin stopped looking at Xue Changyi.
Xue Changyi bit her lower lip tightly. "Young Master Hua, this is my only chance. I don't want such a good opportunity to slip away. Young Master Hua..."
Seeing Xue Changyi suddenly take off her clothes, Hua Yunjin retreated several steps. "Ninth Princess, what are you doing?"
The Ninth Princess stepped forward. "As long as I become Hua Yunjin's person, I won't have to marry someone else."