"Sister, do you know what the only way out is?"
"What is it?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
Xue Chang Jun walked in front of her, his gaze darker than ever, like thick ink, suffocating.
Just as Xue Zi Ning wanted to retreat, Xue Chang Jun spoke, "Only when I die will all this cease to exist."
Xue Zi Ning trembled all over, "Xue Chang Jun, you..."
Xue Chang Jun sneered, "Sister, you wouldn't have guessed it, would you? The medium you've been searching for so hard is actually me, Xue Chang Jun."
"Chang Jun, why must you do this?" Xue Zi Ning truly didn't understand the purpose of Xue Chang Jun's actions.
"Sister, now you know that the only way out is to kill me. What will you do? Will you kill me?"
With a wave of Xue Chang Jun's hand, the lock on the cell door clattered to the ground. He walked in.
The young figure approached Xue Zi Ning step by step. Such a frail figure possessed such a venomous scheme. Xue Zi Ning couldn't help but take a step back.
"Sister, I am right in front of you now. Life or death is in your thoughts. Kill me, and you can go back. Release me, and you can never go back. What will you do?"
"Xue Chang Jun, aren't you afraid I'll kill you for doing this?"
Xue Chang Jun chuckled at her words, a hint of bitterness in his laughter. "Didn't Sister abandon Chang Jun before? That feeling was like dying."
Xue Zi Ning froze, "Chang Jun, what are you talking about? What abandonment?"
Xue Chang Jun stopped talking, only looking at her and saying, "Sister, kill me, and you can go back."
"I won't kill you, go!" Xue Zi Ning said, backing away several steps.
"Sister, if you don't kill me this time, you may never have another chance. Then you truly won't be able to go back."
"If going back requires sacrificing someone, then I'd rather never go back."
"Sister, Chang Jun is also very important in your heart, isn't he?" Xue Chang Jun looked at Xue Zi Ning with full expectation.
"I would do that for anyone who is not my enemy."
Xue Chang Jun was stunned and shook his head, "Impossible."
"Nothing is impossible. I don't like killing, nor do I like others sacrificing for me."
"Sister, you will regret this," Xue Chang Jun roared, and then he left.
After Xue Chang Jun left, Xue Zi Ning breathed a sigh of relief. Since Xue Chang Jun was the medium, there must be another way besides killing him.
However, she knew Xue Chang Jun would never tell her, so she had to find the way herself.
Now she needed to get out. She called for the jailer and wrote a letter to her father, the Emperor, asking the jailer to deliver it.
"Chang Ning, you're finally back."
Hearing the voice, Xue Zi Ning was astonished. She never imagined her father would come to see her in the prison.
"Father, why are you here?"
"You've been gone for so long, you don't even know how many things have happened in the palace. Father wanted to tell you."
"Thank you, Father. I've made you worry." Xue Zi Ning said.
No matter which life she was in, her father's love for her was selfless and the best. But each time, she had failed to live up to her father's expectations.
"Ah Ning, you're being too formal with Father. You are Father's only longed-for child. It's only right for Father to dote on you."
"Father, don't say that. They are also very good."
"Good at what? All day long, they only think about my throne, or the scheming and deceit among siblings. I'm tired of watching it. Ah Ning, why don't you inherit the throne? With you here, they won't have to fight."
"Father, Ah Ning is a woman."
"So what if you're a woman? I'll find you a capable helper. Then whoever dares to rebel will be killed."
"Father, Ah Ning doesn't want to be Emperor."
"What's wrong with being Emperor, Ah Ning? Even Chang An wants to be Emperor, don't you?"
Xue Zi Ning was stunned, "Xue Chang An also wants to be Emperor?"
"Yes, my spies have gathered information that she wants to be Emperor and then help Hua Yun Jin restore the country."
Xue Zi Ning was extremely surprised. She hadn't expected Xue Chang An to aspire to be Emperor in this lifetime.
"Ah Ning, there are many benefits to being Emperor."
"The Emperor is too lonely, and the heights are chilling," Xue Zi Ning shook her head.
She didn't want to change too much here, otherwise, she feared she truly wouldn't be able to go back.
"Why don't you want to be Emperor?" Emperor Huang Ze was very frustrated. He had explained so many benefits, but his Ah Ning remained unmoved, which made him feel defeated.
"Father, everyone has their own path. You cannot take it away, nor can I change it. I do not wish to be Emperor."
"If you don't want to, then don't. However, you must listen to Father regarding your marriage."
Xue Zi Ning nodded, "Alright. I wonder what Father thinks about my marriage?"
"I've always thought General Yan Jr. was good, but he rejected you before. He even dared to slight my princess, so I removed him from the list."
"Father, actually, General Yan Jr. is a good person. He's just too straightforward, which made him think I didn't like him, so he rejected me."
"What right does he have to reject my Ah Ning?" Emperor Huang Ze's anger flared up whenever Yan Zhao was mentioned.
Xue Zi Ning twitched her lips. It seemed her father's attitude towards Yan Zhao was indeed very bad.
"Father, I like Yan Zhao."
Emperor Huang Ze was stunned, "What? You like him? Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Seeing her father's surprised expression, Xue Zi Ning couldn't help but ask, "Father, what's wrong?"
Emperor Huang Ze had no time to explain, "I must quickly order them to withdraw the imperial decree."
Imperial decree? Xue Zi Ning grew more confused as she heard more. She grabbed her father and asked, "Father, what exactly does this mean?"
Xue Zi Ning saw that her father seemed very guilty, "Ah Ning, Father thought you weren't interested in General Yan Jr. This morning, Consort Yi came to ask for an imperial decree of marriage, to arrange a marriage for Chang Yi."
"Consort Yi wants Chang Yi to marry Yan Zhao?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
"Yes. At first, I thought Yan Jr. was getting off too easy, but then I thought, this way, we can see if the Yan family stands with me or Prince Jing."
"Father, it's probably too late. The imperial decree has already been issued."
General's Residence
Eunuch Supervisor Qi Hua looked at General Yan Jr., who refused to accept the imperial decree, and said, "General Yan Jr., if you continue to be stubborn, I will have to report to His Majesty. If blame falls upon you, can you bear it?"
"Eunuch, I will go and see His Majesty right away. Please lead the way."
"Old General Yan, you are already this old, why are you still getting involved? Isn't it better to enjoy your old age?"
Old General Yan smiled bitterly, "I wish I could, but with such an unfilial son, what can I do?"