"Your Majesty's words make this servant feel rather apprehensive." Li Yaoqin lowered her head, unsure of the Empress's intentions, and dared not speak further.
"Apprehensive? What is there to be apprehensive about? I summoned you to attend to me, which shows my approval."
Approval? Li Yaoqin couldn't help but want to laugh. She didn't know about other things, but she could guess one thing: the Empress wanted to keep her, this variable, close. After all, under the Empress's watchful eye, any action she might take would require considerable thought, wouldn't it?
But the Empress was mistaken. She, Li Yaoqin, was never one to retreat in the face of setbacks. The more difficult the task, the more she desired to pursue it and to excel.
Did she think this would prevent her from winning the favor of His Majesty, the Cloud Emperor?
The Empress's thinking was utterly wrong. As the saying goes, "The pavilion near the water catches the moonlight first." She would not let such a prime opportunity slip by.
Xue Zining looked at the young woman with lowered eyes, sensing she could guess some of what was on the girl's mind.
"Thank you for Your Majesty's approval. This servant will certainly serve Your Majesty, serve His Majesty, the Cloud Emperor, diligently."
Yun Weishu, standing nearby, frowned at the remark. Li Yaoqin's ulterior motives were as clear as day. Was there really no need to be so obvious?
Did she think the Empress was a pushover?
Meanwhile, Xue Yan, hidden in the shadows, couldn't help but let out a cold snort. Utterly overestimating herself.
The sudden sound startled Li Yaoqin. Only the Empress, Yun Weishu, and Mo Lian were here. Who was that sudden voice?
Sensing her exposure, Xue Yan remained silent. As a result, that voice lingered with Li Yaoqin for a long, long time, and she could not shake it off.
Mo Lian, who had been standing by the door, walked towards the Empress and whispered, "Your Majesty, the Cloud Emperor has arrived."
Li Yaoqin's brow furrowed. She had never expected the Cloud Emperor to arrive so soon after her own arrival. Did this mean she was very lucky?
Suddenly, a gaze fell upon her, sharp and icy. Instinctively, she looked up and met a pair of eyes like scattered cold stars. Though perfectly clear, they radiated a chilling coldness.
Li Yaoqin trembled uncontrollably.
The approaching footsteps grew louder, and she felt the intensity of the gaze on her lessen.
The afternoon sun was bright, falling precisely on the doorway, and a tall, slender figure appeared there.
A moon-brocade white robe was now bathed in a halo of light, dazzling and radiant.
His refined and handsome face was gentle, mirroring the light that fell upon him, as if a spring breeze had arrived.
His eyes, scattered with starlight, seemed to hold the weight of ages.
Li Yaoqin stared, mesmerized, until a soft scoff reached her ears, bringing her back to reality. She turned to see Yun Weishu's disdainful and mocking gaze.
She turned back, suppressing the restless stirrings within her heart. Never before had she desired him—Xue Jingyun—so intensely.
"Let's go!" Yun Weishu approached Li Yaoqin and said coldly.
Li Yaoqin stood up, watching Xue Jingyun, that figure who exuded radiance wherever he went, pass by them without a single glance. She bit her lower lip and said, "I'll take my leave from Your Majesty!"
Just as she turned to leave, Yun Weishu grabbed her arm, her voice cool and clear, "I advise you not to. Offending His Majesty, the Cloud Emperor, will bring nothing but trouble upon you, Li Yaoqin."
Li Yaoqin trembled. Just as she was about to retort, she suddenly recalled Xue Jingyun's threats from yesterday.
Looking at that figure radiating light everywhere, she still lacked the courage to rush forward.
She would proceed gradually.
"A Ning, what are you smiling about?" Xue Jingyun felt that A Ning was a little unusual today.
Xue Zining shrugged, spreading her hands. "I'm smiling at you for being so unromantic."
Upon hearing this, Xue Jingyun chuckled softly and leaned in, whispering into her ear, "As long as A Ning doesn't find me boring, that's all that matters."
Xue Zining shook her head. "The person I've chosen is naturally perfect in every way."
"A Ning, you don't need to test me. Through past and present lives, I have committed myself to you, so naturally, you are the best in my heart."
"The once stunning and exceptionally talented Crown Prince of Xue, pulled down from his pedestal by me. Yan Zhao, do you regret it?"
"A Ning, do you ever regret it?"
Xue Zining shook her head. "Never. In fact, I am grateful."
"A Ning, my feelings for you are known to heaven and earth. If you were no longer in this world, I would want nothing of it."
A hint of melancholy and desolation appeared on his refined and handsome face. Inexplicably, she felt a slight ache in her heart.
"Yan Zhao, one day, one of us will leave first. Promise me, if I leave first, you will live on well."
He held her hand tightly, a fleeting shadow of determination in his gaze. "A Ning, if you are not here, I will follow you, and I will not cling to this life."
"Yan Zhao, we still have a child." Xue Zining said, somewhat flustered.
He placed her hand on his cheek and said, word by word, "Then I will teach him how to be a good emperor, and then I will follow you."
"Yan Zhao, you don't have to. You can..."
Before she could finish speaking, he silenced her with his lips. After a long while, he pulled away. "A Ning, every day without you is an eternity. Don't leave me..."
Xue Zining fell silent, her heart filled with unprecedented worry. What would happen if that day truly came?
"A Ning, why are you suddenly talking about such things? There are many years ahead, many, many years. We can raise our child, let her inherit the throne, and then travel the beautiful landscapes of the world, wouldn't that be good?"
"Good." Xue Zining nodded, though her enthusiasm was somewhat subdued.
"A Ning, don't overthink things. Qing Yi said you tend to dwell on things lately, but these are unnecessary worries."
Xue Zining did not want Yan Zhao to notice any abnormality. She nodded. "Perhaps after becoming pregnant, I've been prone to thinking about other things. It will get better soon. By the way, are there any leads in the case of the stolen imperial silver?"
He caressed her belly. "You just focus on nurturing the child. Leave those matters to me."
Xue Zining nodded. "Alright. You should go attend to your business quickly!"
"If you need anything, just send someone to call me. A Ning, nothing is more important than you."
"I know. Go quickly!" she urged.
Watching him leave, Xue Zining's gaze dimmed. Yan Zhao wasn't lying. If she left first, Yan Zhao would certainly not choose to live on alone.
She didn't want to selfishly take him with her. Yan Zhao had waited for her for so long. Must she now watch him follow her in death?
Xue Jingyun walked out of Changning Palace and looked at the scenery outside. Suddenly, he waved his hand, and a beam of white light shot out from his sleeve, heading straight towards a spot in the flower bushes.
A scream erupted from the flower bushes. His gaze fell upon that spot, cold and clear, his voice like frost. "Come out."
A disheveled figure tumbled out. Her face was flushed red.
His expression turned cold. He said chillingly, "Li Yaoqin, what is the meaning of this?"
"His Majesty, the Cloud Emperor, I... I got lost." Li Yaoqin said, trembling slightly.