"Your Majesty, what's wrong?" Wen Yuxi asked, sensing something was amiss with the Empress.
Xue Zining, though she racked her brain, could not bring herself to say the words.
"There is a severe drought in Dongzhou, and the relief grain has been delayed in reaching the people. I've decided to go to Dongzhou incognito to investigate who is withholding the relief grain."
"Your Majesty, I will accompany you," Wen Yuxi said.
"No, you must remain in the palace. With you here, I can leave with peace of mind."
"Your Majesty has Minister Shen. I..."
"Yan Zhi, Minister Shen's wife recently became pregnant. Minister Shen specifically requested that he be allowed to return home early."
Wen Yuxi was disappointed. He had hoped to accompany the Empress to Dongzhou and perhaps deepen their relationship along the way.
"Your Majesty, who will you take with you?" Wen Yuxi again expressed concern for the Empress's safety.
"I will take Xue Yan. I'll leave Feng Wu with you. The headmaster of Qiushan Academy has decided to select two scholars to accompany me to observe the people's conditions."
"Your Majesty, please be careful on your journey," Wen Yuxi said, knowing he could not go and could only offer his well wishes to Xue Zining.
Xue Zining felt a pang of guilt, but she truly could not utter the words.
"When does Your Majesty plan to depart?" Wen Yuxi asked.
Xue Zining looked at the sky and said, "Tonight!"
After explaining the situation to the two little ones, Xue Xingyue also wanted to go. Xue Xingchen said, "Sister, let's wait for Mother to return in the capital."
"But I still want to go," Xue Xingyue said reluctantly.
"Be good, Xingyue. Perhaps Mother is going to cultivate her relationship with Father."
Xue Xingyue blinked, then looked at Xue Xingchen and asked, "Brother, do you know something?"
Xue Xingchen nodded.
Seeing that Xue Xingyue was no longer clinging to him, Xue Zining breathed a sigh of relief. She had been quite afraid that Xue Xingyue would insist on accompanying them.
Xue Zining and Xue Yan emerged from the palace to find a carriage waiting. As Xue Zining got into the carriage, she discovered someone was already seated inside.
It was Yan Zhao, dressed in a moon-white robe.
"You... why are you here?" Xue Zining asked, astonished.
Yan Zhao leaned closer and said, with utter sincerity, the most flirtatious words, "A'Ning, I missed you..."
Xue Zining pushed him away. "This is outside the palace. Aren't you afraid someone will find out?"
"Who would know? Wen Yuxi?" Yan Zhao asked lightly.
Xue Zining looked at him. "I'm making an exception to bring you along this time. You can explain yourself to the headmaster."
"I've already explained," Yan Zhao said.
Xue Zining frowned. "That old stick would listen to your explanation?"
From outside the carriage, Xue Song's voice called out, "Your Majesty, my young master has presented many treasured ancient poetry collections."
Only then did Xue Zining remember that the old stick's greatest passion was for such things. Otherwise, he would never have allowed him to accompany her.
"Have some pastries." Yan Zhao produced a brocade box and opened it, revealing peach blossom cakes.
Xue Zining looked at the peach blossom cakes, picked one up, and began to eat.
Ever since Yan Zhao lost his memory, she had rarely touched peach blossom cakes. The few times she had, they hadn't evoked the same feeling.
Now, she realized it wasn't that the feeling was gone, but that the circumstances had changed.
Now that he was here, these peach blossom cakes finally tasted as they should.
She took several bites. "The peach blossom cakes you made are still the best."
Suddenly, he snatched away a half-eaten peach blossom cake. He took a bite. "Let me taste."
"You never used to eat them?" She remembered he never ate peach blossom cakes.
"I suddenly want to eat them now," he said, looking into her eyes with a deep gaze.
It was like starlight flowing in the dark night, the most beautiful river of stars in the darkness.
She turned her face away. This Yan Zhao was too much for her to handle. "If you don't like to eat them, then don't."
"I like them from now on," Yan Zhao said deliberately, word by word.
"You..." Xue Zining found the memory-recovered Yan Zhao somewhat brazen. He hadn't been like this before.
On the city walls of the capital, Wen Yuxi, who should have been in the palace, stood there, with Wen Yu beside him, heads bowed. He sighed softly. "Are you sure that was Yan Jin Chao?"
Wen Yu remained silent for a long moment before nodding. "Yes, sir."
Only now did Wen Yuxi understand why A'Ning had seemed so out of sorts these past few days.
And why she had suddenly decided to go to Dongzhou. It was all for him.
"Do you know when he arrived?" Wen Yuxi asked.
Wen Yu bowed his head, guiltily. "Your subordinate does not know. Please forgive me, sir."
Upon hearing this, Wen Yuxi let out a low laugh. "Indeed, if he doesn't want anyone to know, who could know? It's been so long, I've almost forgotten. He was once the stunningly talented Crown Prince of Snow Country, whom so many people wanted to surpass, yet none could. He was like a god.
Before, he had merely lost his memory, and I foolishly thought I could replace him. Now, it seems it was merely my wishful thinking."
"Sir..."
"Let's go, back to the palace."
"Does sir not need to follow?" Wen Yu asked.
"If he doesn't want you to track him, you'll never be able to. Instead of wasting time, it's better to focus on your own duties!"
Wen Yuxi turned and headed towards the palace.
Your Majesty, your choice is still him, isn't it?
No matter how well I do, it's all in vain, isn't it?
Upon returning, Wen Yuxi buried himself in the imperial study.
Xue Xingyue asked in confusion, "Why does Uncle Wen look unhappy?"
Xue Xingchen said in a low voice, "Mother and Father are gone. For Uncle Wen, who likes Mother, this is undoubtedly the most crushing blow."
Xue Xingyue blinked. "Why didn't Mother take Uncle Wen into her harem? Mother is the Emperor, and having three consorts and four attendants wouldn't be wrong."
Xue Xingchen replied, "You probably don't know, but Mother has always believed in 'one lifetime, one couple.'"
"But I want Mother and Father to be together, and I also want to live with Uncle Wen. What should I do?" Xue Xingyue felt troubled. She liked Uncle Wen, but she also wanted Father. How could she have the best of both worlds?
"Xingyue, things that are perfect for both sides are very slow to come by, and they are very slow now. They will be difficult in the future too. You will experience much more than this. You must make the right choices and not let yourself regret them."
Xue Xingyue looked dejected. "Why can't things be perfect for both?"
Xue Xingchen reached out and stroked Xue Xingyue. "Xingyue, you are still young now and don't understand this matter. It doesn't matter. When you grow up, you will know what to do."
"Yes, brother is right. If all else fails, I'll let brother choose for me."
Xue Xingyue finally broke into a smile.
Xue Xingchen looked at Wen Yuxi in the imperial study. He knew Uncle Wen had made his choice.
"Sir, it's the two young princes," Wen Yu said slowly.