Xue Zining watched the approaching face with a calm and collected demeanor. It was beautiful, and unfamiliar.
She pondered, if no one was outside, how did he get in?
"Since you know it is I, have you considered if you wish to be intimate with me under these circumstances? Afterward, I will certainly not spare you."
The youth curved his lips into a smile, like a bewitching spirit. "Your Majesty, now that you have been intimate with me, how can you bear to do it?"
"That is not certain," Xue Zining blurted out word by word.
The youth covered his mouth with a smile, a hint of allure flowing through his brows.
"Your Majesty, you will know after spending a night with me."
As he spoke, the youth reached her and his outstretched hand was about to touch her skin.
Xue Zining let out a cold laugh, suddenly rose from the pool, and quickly ran behind the screen. She haphazardly put on her robes and said coldly, "Put on your clothes and come out..."
With that, she turned and walked out.
The youth looked at the empty pool, pouted, and reluctantly put on his clothes before stepping out.
Xue Zining looked at Xue Yan outside, her expression cold, and asked, "Do you also know the person inside?"
Xue Yan stiffened, a hint of panic flashing across her face. "Your Majesty, it was arranged by the young prince. He said Your Majesty would definitely like him."
Xue Zining narrowed her eyes. In her past life, she would indeed have liked him, because this youth always had a profile that resembled Yan Zhao.
In her past life, she had loved Yan Zhao madly, but Yan Zhao had always been indifferent to her. She thought it was just Yan Zhao's nature, so anyone who resembled Yan Zhao, she would try her best to gather into her harem.
In the sleeping quarters, Yan Zhao looked indifferently at the impossibly beautiful youth before him, his gaze chilling.
How could he not see that the youth resembled him?
"You may withdraw." Xue Zining walked in and saw Yan Zhao, turning her face away guiltily.
"I shall withdraw!" Yan Zhao said indifferently and left.
Xue Zining sat on a chair, looking at the beautiful youth, and asked, "Where are you from, and why are you here?"
The youth curved his lips into a smile, exuding a natural, innate allure. "It seems Your Majesty has not yet grown up. I was presumptuous."
Xue Zining frowned and said coldly, "Answer my question."
The youth said, "I admire Your Majesty and have come specifically for you."
"I asked where you came from," Xue Zining's expression held a chill.
The youth blinked his beautiful eyes and said, "I don't know where I came from, nor what my name is. Oh, yes, everyone calls me Mei'er."
Seeing that she could not get any information, Xue Zining said coldly, "You may leave!"
Mei'er startled, then took a dagger from his waist and thrust it expressionlessly towards his chest.
Xue Zining shuddered and urgently called out, "Xue Yan..."
Xue Yan quickly pulled out a hairpin from her head and flicked it out.
But it was too late; the dagger in the youth's hand had already penetrated halfway into his chest.
"You... what are you doing?" Xue Zining was greatly alarmed.
The youth licked the blood trickling from his lips, his face pale. At this moment, he was even more alluring. "Your Majesty doesn't want Mei'er. Mei'er has no reason to live."
"You..."
Mei'er said, "Your Majesty, Mei'er exists for this very purpose."
Xue Zining frowned, then after a pause, said, "Stay."
Mei'er breathed a sigh of relief, lowered the dagger, and fainted completely.
Xue Zining stood up and said to Xue Yan, "Go and invite the imperial physician."
Xue Yan nodded.
The imperial physician arrived. Fortunately, it was only a superficial wound. Xue Zining instructed Xue Yan to look after Mei'er and then headed towards Consort Chao's sleeping quarters.
Consort Chao looked at the young girl with a fierce aura before her, feeling inexplicably uneasy. However, years of life in the harem had prepared her to face such a scene.
She rose and curtsied slightly. "Your Majesty, coming so late in such a hurry, is there something important?"
"Where is Zixuan?" Xue Zining asked.
Consort Chao's gaze turned cold. "The young prince has retired. If Your Majesty has something to discuss, please come tomorrow."
"I want to see him now," Xue Zining said.
Consort Chao's expression completely chilled, and she said unpleasantly, "Your Majesty, it is late. Please come tomorrow!"
Xue Zining raised an eyebrow and said coldly, "I want to see him now."
Consort Chao became angry. "Your Majesty, this is my sleeping quarters, not yours. Please comport yourself appropriately!"
Xue Zining narrowed her eyes. She was not angered by Consort Chao's outburst, but said indifferently, "I am the monarch of Huangze, and this is my land."
Consort Chao stiffened and was about to speak when a child's voice interrupted her. "Imperial Sister, are you looking for me?"
Xue Zining looked towards the voice. A small youth stood at the doorway, his big eyes looking at her with joy.
"Zixuan, why are you up? How are the servants taking care of you, letting you come out dressed so thinly?" Consort Chao said with great concern.
Xue Zixuan pushed Consort Chao aside and ran to Xue Zining, revealing a joyful smile. "Imperial Sister, you've come to see Zixuan?"
Xue Zining crouched down and nodded. "Yes, Imperial Sister has come to see Zixuan."
Xue Zixuan, full of excitement, threw himself into her arms. "Imperial Sister, Zixuan misses you so much. You haven't visited Zixuan for so long, I thought you didn't like me anymore."
"How could that be? Imperial Sister has always liked Zixuan."
If only you could remain like this forever...
Xue Zixuan poked his head out of her embrace and asked, "Imperial Sister, do you need something?"
Xue Zining looked at him. The small youth's eyes were dark, but also lustrous, without any mist.
"Was Mei'er arranged by Zixuan?" she asked.
Xue Zixuan froze, then suddenly remembered something. "Imperial Sister, are you referring to that very beautiful youth?"
Xue Zining nodded. "Yes."
Xue Zixuan smiled and nodded. "Yes, Zixuan thought Mei'er was so beautiful, and Imperial Sister would like him too. Imperial Sister, do you like him?"
His dark eyes were too innocent, showing no ulterior motives. She said, "From now on, Zixuan, please don't make decisions on your own to place people in Imperial Sister's sleeping quarters, alright?"
Xue Zixuan froze, and then his small face showed some annoyance. "Imperial Sister, do you not like Mei'er? I'll have Mei'er leave right away..."
As he said this, he added with some regret, "Mei'er's parents died in a natural disaster, leaving him alone. Zixuan felt he was very pitiable and wanted to keep him by my side, but he said he was an ill omen, and ordinary people couldn't suppress him."
The small youth looked up, his eyes sparkling with clarity. "Zixuan believes Imperial Sister is the Son of Heaven, capable of suppressing him."
Xue Zining looked at the small youth, and the small youth also looked at her, without any evasion.
"Alright, Imperial Sister will keep him. Do not make unauthorized decisions in the future."
The small youth nodded. "I won't anymore."
Xue Zining stood up and patted his shoulder. "Go to sleep, tomorrow will be very tiring."
Returning to her sleeping quarters, Xue Yan came forward, her expression slightly off. Xue Zining could not help but ask, "What is wrong?"
Xue Yan heard this and whispered, "Your Majesty, Mei'er's body is covered in whip marks."