"Xue Changan, though you possess A Ning's looks, you are not A Ning, and I could never love anyone other than A Ning."
Xue Changan had never seen Yan Zhao wear such a placid expression, yet every gesture and gaze told her that he was resisting, disdainfully avoiding contact with her.
"Yan Zhao, you lie. If you don't love me, why did you marry me? Why did you go through all this?"
She saw Yan Zhao lift his eyes, and the clear, frost-like depths of his gaze erupted with the brilliance of stars. "The name on the marriage contract is Xue Zining. It is my wedding to A Ning."
Xue Changan slumped to the ground, as if everything had suddenly become clear. With all her might, she asked, "So, that's why you made that one demand: to have the marriage contract read out by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. You wanted everyone to know you were marrying Xue Zining?"
"Yes," he answered crisply, without a trace of hesitation.
At that moment, Xue Changan felt the sound of her heart breaking. The wedding she had prepared for with such effort and joy was being trampled by him.
"Yan Zhao, don't you think this is cruel?" she roared, bordering on hysteria.
Yan Zhao looked at her indifferently. "The empire as my dowry, drawing just one ladle from the vast sea of life; one lifetime, one devoted partner—that is my promise and vow to A Ning. As for you..."
She saw his gaze deepen, like an abyss, a place of eternal damnation.
"You are unworthy."
"Hahaha..." She threw her head back and laughed. After planning for so many years, all she received was unworthiness.
After a long while, she stopped laughing, slowly stood up, and said, "Yan Zhao, you wish to have your way? I will absolutely not let you succeed. I will find Xue Zining, and then I will kill her."
"Xue Changan, you will never be A Ning's match, not before, and certainly not now."
"Is that so? Then we shall see..." Xue Changan roared.
Yan Zhao stood up and said, "A Ning will reclaim everything you have lost. You are the final obstacle to her success."
"You love her so much, why don't you get rid of me? This only proves you don't love her as much as you think," Xue Changan screamed hysterically.
As he walked towards the exit, he said lightly, "Love is not about helping or charity. She is not an ordinary woman; she is a monarch, and will one day unify the realm as Empress. I cannot selfishly shield her, protecting her from storms. That would harm her..."
"I want her to spread her wings and soar freely, to possess armor and a resilient heart. Love is fighting side-by-side, being equals. This is how I love her, and what I can give her..."
"And you, you are the trial born from her weakness and failures, the crucible for her growth. Xue Changan, your life will be ended by her..."
"Ah..." Xue Changan cried out, standing up, her hair flying, her eyes red as she looked at the man she had fallen in love with.
It was the man she deeply loved, who spoke of loving another woman and intended for that woman to end her life.
"I am not reconciled, Yan Zhao. I will make you watch. I will kill Xue Zining and make you witness it with your own eyes..." Xue Changan roared.
"Is that so? This Princess awaits. Xue Changan, you are no match for A Ning."
Xue Changan watched as that figure disappeared before her.
She slammed her palm down, splitting the table in two, which shattered into pieces.
"Guards, guards..." she bellowed towards the outside.
"Your Majesty, this servant is here." The palace maid outside the chambers trembled as she emerged. What had she just heard? It was utterly shocking.
"Summon all my male attendants. I want them to serve me." Xue Changan trembled with rage.
"Your Majesty, today is your wedding day. Doing this might..."
Xue Changan glared at the maid with bloodshot eyes. The maid, terrified, immediately kowtowed. "Your Majesty, spare me. This servant knows her mistake."
"Are you not going?" Xue Changan demanded angrily.
"Your Majesty, tonight is indeed not suitable," Xue Yu said, stepping forward to dissuade her.
Xue Changan looked at Xue Yu and shouted, "Since he is unrighteous, why should I be virtuous? He abandoned me tonight, am I not to be a laughingstock?"
"Xue Yu can silence them," Xue Yu stated calmly.
"Tomorrow is the day Xue Zixuan is beheaded. I will go myself. I will personally kill Xue Zining."
Yan Zhao, I will show you Xue Zining's tragic end.
"Your Majesty, you must not. Tomorrow is dangerous, perhaps..."
"You will handle all the arrangements at the execution ground. You must prepare it well, otherwise, Xue Yu, I will not forgive you lightly."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Xue Yu withdrew.
The male attendants were brought in. Xue Changan lay on the bed and said, "Come closer..."
The male attendants sensed the Empress's displeasure. Not consummating the marriage with the Crown Prince of Xue Country on her wedding night, but summoning them instead, filled them with dread.
Seeing that the male attendants were hesitant, Xue Changan grew angry. She couldn't touch Yan Zhao, but their lives were in her hands.
"I command you to pleasure me, or you will die..." Xue Changan looked up at the male attendants.
The male attendants did not dare to delay and stepped forward, exerting all their efforts to please Xue Changan.
Outside, the deep autumn night was frosty and chilling. Inside, amidst the warmth of the curtains, it was a scene of spring.
In the early morning, a palace maid went to wake Xue Changan. Seeing the scene within the tent, she was greatly startled. Five young male attendants lay exhausted on the bed, completely unclothed. The maid quickly retreated, not daring to wake Xue Changan.
Soon, the rumor spread that the Empress had not slept with the Crown Prince of Xue Country, but instead spent the night with five male attendants.
At once, the Empress was described with words like absurd and many others.
On the execution ground, Xue Zixuan was pushed onto the scaffold.
The Minister of Justice, Zhu Keqing, enumerated Xue Zixuan's several major crimes.
Xue Zixuan sneered, "If you want to accuse me, there is no need for justification. My sister was too merciful not to kill you and lop off your head back then."
Zhu Keqing chuckled softly, his smile utterly sarcastic. "Back then, I was fortunate; where did her mercy come in? But today is your execution, and it will also be her place of death."
Xue Zixuan trembled all over and roared, "What exactly are you trying to do?"
Zhu Keqing stepped forward, approaching Xue Zixuan, and whispered, "How your mother died, she will die."
Xue Zixuan trembled, his voice filled with rage, "You..."
"Execute!" Zhu Keqing picked up the plaque and threw it to the ground.
Xue Zixuan was forced onto the scaffold. He used all his strength to shout, "Sister, don't come out, don't..."
He felt a cold touch on his hair, on his face.
He closed his eyes and thought, "Sister, if there is a next life, let me truly be your brother. Thank you for this life..."
Just as the blade was about to fall, an arrow flew out, striking the blade. The blade deflected, cutting into the ground.
Xue Zixuan's eyes snapped open. He saw four figures descending from the sky.
Among them, a young girl in a serene, water-like dress slowly landed before him.
His eyes welled up with tears, and he opened his mouth...