The Kingdom of Hua
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince of the Snow Kingdom will attend Princess Anning's coming-of-age ceremony in the Kingdom of An next month. The Empress of the Barren Marsh will also be there."
Crown Prince Hua looked up, his handsome face carrying a faint expression. "Why? It's just a princess of a small Kingdom of An?"
"Your subordinate does not know, but I heard a piece of news, I don't know if it's true."
"What news?" Crown Prince Hua asked.
Hua Wei said, "The Crown Prince of the Snow Kingdom canceled his engagement with the Empress of the Barren Marsh a year ago."
Crown Prince Hua abruptly stood up and looked at the official. "What did you say?"
Hua Wei was startled. "The Crown Prince of the Snow Kingdom canceled his engagement with the Empress of the Barren Marsh."
Crown Prince Hua frowned upon hearing this and said coldly, "Why was such a big matter only reported to me now?"
Hua Wei, frightened, quickly knelt on the ground and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, you told your subordinate not to report any news about the Empress of the Barren Marsh to you..."
Crown Prince Hua paused. He had indeed said such a thing.
At that time, in the Cold Palace, he had obtained a supreme treasure and reached an agreement with Xue Jingyun: he would absolutely not invade the Snow Kingdom and the Barren Marsh during his lifetime.
He also knew that after obtaining the supreme treasure, he and the Empress had become permanently estranged.
He had used the supreme treasure to cure the curse of the Hua family and re-established the Hua Kingdom of his previous life.
He knew that Xue Jingyun, whether in his previous life or this one, was deeply in love with Xue Zining. It was impossible for him to cancel the engagement just like that.
"Hua Wei, go and investigate what happened in the Barren Marsh."
Hua Wei nodded. "Your subordinate will go and investigate now."
After Hua Wei left, Crown Prince Hua stood by the window. His long-dormant heart suddenly became active. Upon hearing Xue Zining's name and thinking of her, the memories of his previous life and the current life merged together.
In his previous life, he was deceived by Chang An and wrongly blamed Xue Zining, who was then Changning. This led to his next life, where he sought revenge on Xue Zining and let her die at the hands of Xue Zixuan.
If you think about it, it was all Chang An's doing, and also his own lack of willpower.
This led to this three-lifetimes-three-worlds cycle of hatred.
Xue Zining, you must be well, otherwise, he will not let go.
In the evening, Hua Wei's gathered information arrived. A year ago, Xue Jingyun lost his beloved and publicly canceled his engagement with the Empress of the Barren Marsh.
Lost his beloved? He was somewhat puzzled. Wasn't Xue Jingyun's beloved the Empress of the Barren Marsh?
"Do we have an invitation from the Kingdom of An?" he inquired.
Hua Wei nodded. "Yes, Your Highness, are you also going?"
"Yes." He wanted to know what was going on.
The Kingdom of An
"Anning, you are finally awake. Do you know how worried your father has been about you all these years?"
Anning looked at the sobbing woman in front of her, feeling a slight headache. She coldly asked, "Who are you?"
The woman was taken aback, her lips twitching. It was the woman who had been silent all along who spoke, "This is Consort Shu, and I am the Imperial Noble Consort."
Anning looked up at the woman who was the Imperial Noble Consort. The woman showed no closeness, but also no disdain, as if looking at an ordinary person.
"Imperial Noble Consort, I am tired. Could you please take Consort Shu away?" Anning lay on the bed, ignoring the two women.
Consort Shu was displeased. "Imperial Noble Consort, is this the etiquette of a princess?"
The Imperial Noble Consort said faintly, "Otherwise, why don't you call out Princess Anning's etiquette?"
Consort Shu shrunk her neck. Who dared to teach Princess Anning etiquette? Who didn't know that Anning was the apple of the Emperor's eye?
"Let's go!" the Imperial Noble Consort said faintly.
Consort Shu did not dare to linger and also left.
Anning turned around and asked, "Rong Cui, have you inquired about what I asked you to find out?"
Rong Cui stepped forward and said guiltily, "Princess, your servant is useless and could not find out."
"It's alright," Anning said.
Since waking up, her mind had been very confused. It seemed like many images appeared in her mind, but she couldn't piece them together.
She only knew that she had been reborn and had some connection with the Crown Prince of the Snow Kingdom.
To clarify these matters, she asked the Emperor of An to invite various countries to her coming-of-age ceremony.
The Crown Prince of the Snow Kingdom should come.
"Anning, why are you out of bed? Hurry back to bed..."
The Emperor of An came after the morning court and saw his little Anning standing barefoot on the ground, staring into the distance.
The Emperor of An was heartbroken. He stepped forward, picked up his little Anning, and placed her on the bed. "Why did you get out of bed? The imperial physician said you just woke up and your body is weak. You need to rest quietly."
"Father, are there any replies from the various countries?" Anning asked.
The Emperor of An nodded proudly. "They have all replied and will come to celebrate your coming-of-age ceremony."
Anning breathed a sigh of relief.
The Emperor of An looked at his awakened little Anning and thought that on that day, he must take a good look at the Crown Princes of the various countries. If they were outstanding in appearance, he would choose a suitable husband for his little Anning.
Thinking of this, the Emperor of An felt that he needed to properly look at the detailed information of the Crown Princes of those countries.
The Emperor of An hurried to the study and summoned his trusted officials. "Go and get me the information on the Crown Princes of those three countries."
The official quickly compiled the information. The Emperor of An looked at the first one, which was the Crown Prince of the Snow Kingdom.
He was indeed perfect, but he had heard that he had lost his beloved a year ago and canceled his engagement with the Empress of the Barren Marsh.
Since he had a beloved, yet also had an engagement with the Empress of the Barren Marsh, he was simply a hypocrite and unworthy of his little Anning. Even if his appearance was outstanding, what of it?
His Anning was not looking for a pretty vase, but someone who could truly dote on her.
The second one was the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Hua.
It was a country established around the same time as his own, but it was rumored that the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Hua had some entanglement with the Empress of the Barren Marsh.
Not good. He did not like someone who was entangled with women.
The third one was Prince Xi Xia of the Kingdom of Han.
Looking at the tall and rugged man in the portrait, the Emperor of An felt that he would be like a flower stuck in dung, completely mismatched with his little Anning.
"Is that all?" the Emperor of An asked displeasedly.
The official quickly said, "There is also the eldest prince of the Snow Kingdom, the former Young General Yuan of Snow Ling Pass."
"Yuan Zhao? The grandson of the old general Yuan who resisted the Han army?"
The official nodded. "However, he is the prince of the Snow Emperor and Empress who were left outside. He was welcomed back not long ago and is the eldest prince of the Snow Kingdom, Xue Yuanzhao."
Upon hearing this, the Emperor of An nodded. "This one is good. He is brave and resourceful. I have met this Yuan Zhao, a young man of noble bearing. It will be him."
The official twitched his lips. "Your Majesty, you did not invite him."
The Emperor of An threw the document at the official and said angrily, "Go and send the invitation now."
"Yes... yes, your subordinate will go now."
Having accomplished one task, the Emperor of An felt his mood lift. His little Anning deserved someone better.
Xue Yuanzhao received the invitation and confirmed it several times. Only after he was sure that it was indeed from the Emperor of An did he feel a bit confused. Why would the Emperor of An send him an invitation?
"Your Highness, are you going?"
Xue Yuanzhao looked into the distance, and after a long while, he said slowly, "Yes."
"You..."
"I just want to go and confirm if she is alright," he lowered his eyes and said slowly.