"What do you mean?" An Ning asked Xue Chang'an.
Xue Chang'an chuckled lowly, "It means nothing. I just feel that it would be unbearable to let some people remain in the dark."
"You? I might believe it about others, but not you," An Ning said, turning to leave.
"If you don't believe me, just wait and see, An Ning. When you know the truth, I wonder if you'll still be so indifferent." Xue Chang'an's smile was exceedingly arrogant.
An Ning didn't stop or ask further. She knew that no matter how she asked, Xue Chang'an wouldn't tell her; instead, he would savor her helplessness. She wouldn't let him have his way.
"Princess An Ning..."
Xue Yan was quite surprised to see her. She started to get up from the bed to pay her respects, but An Ning stopped her, "You still need to rest, no need to get up."
Having interacted with An Ning, Xue Yan knew that An Ning's temperament was very similar to the former Emperor's, so she no longer refused. "Princess, is there something you need?"
Xue Yan looked at Princess An Ning. When the former Emperor had that expression, it meant something was on her mind.
"I resemble your former master?" An Ning suddenly asked.
Xue Yan was taken aback. After a long pause, she nodded, "Yes."
An Ning sat down upon hearing this. "Can you tell me about her?"
Xue Yan nodded, "Yes."
As she walked out of Xue Yan's room, An Ning looked up and saw that the sky was gradually darkening, and her heart darkened with it. As she stepped into the Eastern Palace, she instinctively retracted the foot she had just put forward.
"Ning'er..."
She abruptly raised her head and saw a man in white standing not far away. He was breathtakingly handsome and exuded an innate nobility. His eyes shone like the starry river in the night sky, incredibly brilliant. His countenance was heavenly, captivating the soul. For a moment, all the colors of the world seemed to fade, leaving only the smile on his lips.
An Ning felt a tremor from the depths of her heart. She slowly closed her eyes, then opened them again. "Yan Zhao..."
The man walking towards her suddenly stopped. His face was etched with stunning disbelief. He softly murmured, "Ning'er, have you returned?"
Her heart shattered in that moment.
"No, I am An Ning," she said, enunciating each word.
Xue Jingyun's gaze paused slightly. "Ning'er."
She pushed past him and walked in, leaving Xue Jingyun standing there, unmoving for a long time.
As night fell, An Ning sensed someone entering her room and standing by her bed, simply watching her. He didn't move at all, and she didn't wake up. Finally, she heard his soft sigh before he left. She opened her eyes and looked at the now empty room. For some reason, tears flowed.
The next day.
An Ning did not see Xue Jingyun again. For the next two days, she did not see Xue Jingyun at all. Xue Chang'an mocked her, and An Ping spoke with ridicule. She offered no rebuttal. It wasn't until her father and An Ru arrived in Xue Country that she saw Xue Jingyun at the welcoming ceremony. She thought he was doing well, only to find that he seemed thinner. His immaculate moon-brocade robe looked empty.
"My little An Ning..." Emperor An's eyes welled up with tears upon seeing her.
"Third Sister, I'm sorry. If it weren't to save me, you wouldn't have been missing for so long..." An Ru held her hand, weeping uncontrollably.
"Second Sister, this is not your fault at all," An Ning comforted her, shaking her head.
"Little An Ning, you've lost weight." Emperor An, disregarding the presence of outsiders, hugged his little An Ning, weeping as if his heart were breaking. An Ning couldn't help but shed tears. No matter what, her father and Second Sister truly cared for her.
"An Ning, why are you wearing a mask?" An Ru casually removed the mask, revealing a deep scar that ran across her entire cheek.
An Ru trembled all over. "An Ning, you..." Emperor An also saw the scar on An Ning's face and trembled. "What... what happened?"
An Ning calmly took the mask back from An Ru's hand and put it on again. "It's nothing. I just fell out of the carriage when we were traveling."
"My little An Ning, you must have suffered so much. Little An Ning..." Emperor An's heart ached, wishing the injury had been his.
"Emperor An, I have prepared a banquet. Please..."
"How can my little An Ning have suffered so much, and I still be in the mood to eat?" Emperor An replied to Xue Jingyun without politeness.
"Father, this is a foreign land. You should still pay attention to An Country's image," An Ping said, walking over.
Emperor An glanced at An Ping, his expression grim. "Your sister suffered such hardship, and it was all your fault from the beginning. You don't feel heartbroken for your sister, but instead focus on unrealistic things? An Ping, you have greatly disappointed your father."
An Ping trembled all over. "Father, you..."
Emperor An ignored An Ping and looked up at the Crown Prince of Xue Country, Xue Jingyun, saying coldly, "I am grateful for the Crown Prince's welcome, but I do not wish to dine now."
Emperor An's entourage was shocked, worried that their Emperor's words would offend the Crown Prince of Xue Country.
"Your Majesty is correct. It was my oversight. I have already arranged for your chambers. Please, Emperor An, proceed," the Crown Prince of Xue Country said with great respect to Emperor An.
Emperor An pulled An Ning into the carriage. An Ru also got in. Everyone returned to their positions, leaving only An Ping standing foolishly.
"Princess..." It wasn't until a maid beside her called her name that An Ping snapped back to attention. She stepped back, watching her father's carriage depart. Inside were her father, An Ning, and An Ru, but not her.
"Princess An Ping, it seems you are of no consequence to your father?"
An Ping trembled all over and looked up at Xue Chang'an, her face contorted with anger. "Whether you admit it or not, I am still the Grand Princess of An Country."
Xue Chang'an chuckled lowly. "A country like this, a father like that, why keep them? Why not cooperate with me?"
An Ping's face turned ashen, and she spurred her horse away. Xue Chang'an smiled, already eager to see her vast empire.
"Your Majesty, Hua Yunjin has agreed to your cooperation."
A shadowy figure whispered to Xue Chang'an. Xue Chang'an's eyes gleamed with surprise. "Good, very good. Xue Yu, you have done very well."
This person was none other than Xue Yu.
"Your Majesty, will Xue Jingyun really do that?" Xue Yu still found it hard to believe.
Xue Chang'an smiled, "He is deeply in love with my sister. In every lifetime, he will do this. I just don't know how she will react when she finds out this time. I can't wait to know."
"Your Majesty, wouldn't it be better to tell Princess An Ning directly?" Xue Yu did not understand.
Xue Chang'an shook her head. "Xue Yu, you don't understand. Only through such heart-wrenching pain can one achieve unforgettable hatred. Wouldn't mutual destruction be more interesting?"