"Look, the hunt is about to begin," the Crown Princess interrupted the awkward moment.
Xue Xingyue looked towards the center of the arena.
Amidst the crowd, she spotted a tall, slender figure. It was Song Xiuyuan.
"Prime Minister Song is truly a man of great talent. No wonder Ninth Imperial Sister fancies him," the Crown Princess giggled behind her hand.
Xue Xingyue gazed at the Crown Princess indifferently. She had once been madly in love with Song Xiuyuan, yet now, the Crown Princess could openly joke about him and the Ninth Princess. Truly, things change, and fortunes are unpredictable.
"I hear Miss Xue is also quite skilled. Why not join Xiuyuan for the hunt!"
Everyone was surprised by the Empress’s words, but only Xue Xingyue understood. The Empress knew she didn't like staying here and that it would be better to be by Song Xiuyuan's side.
"Yes, Your Majesty, this humble subject obeys your decree!" Xue Xingyue understood the Empress's good intentions and did not refuse. She bowed to the Empress and left.
Song Xiuyuan looked surprised to see her, "My dear, we've only been apart for a few hours, and you already miss your husband?"
"Naturally. Without you, nothing is enjoyable."
"Hearing you say that, my heart is filled with joy."
"Since you are happy, then you must hunt well," Xue Xingyue said to Song Xiuyuan word by word.
Song Xiuyuan's lips curved. "My dear is absolutely right. Your husband will naturally heed your teachings."
Xue Xingyue and Song Xiuyuan entered the hunting forest. They both managed to hunt quite a few prey. As they were about to head back, someone suddenly cried for help.
Xue Xingyue and Song Xiuyuan exchanged a look. They saw a sense of inevitability in each other's eyes.
What was bound to happen, would eventually happen.
"My dear, you should go back! I can handle this alone," Song Xiuyuan suddenly said.
Xue Xingyue chuckled softly. "Song Xiuyuan, do you think I'm the kind of person who would abandon her husband?"
Song Xiuyuan smiled. "Very well, then let us face it together!"
Xue Xingyue nodded and followed the sound. She and Song Xiuyuan arrived at the source of the voice. They saw a woman lying on the ground, seemingly covered in blood.
"I'll go first." She stepped forward, looking at the woman. She was a stranger; Xue Xingyue had never seen her before.
"My dear, be careful!" Song Xiuyuan suddenly called out from behind her.
She quickly retreated, but it was too late. The injured woman suddenly stood up and lunged towards her.
The woman's movements were swift, so fast that Xue Xingyue couldn't dodge. Just then, a powerful force pulled her aside. She looked at the person who had pulled her – it was Song Xiuyuan.
"My dear, be careful!" Song Xiuyuan's eyes were filled with worry.
Xue Xingyue nodded. Suddenly, she felt the presence of many others around them. She whispered, "There are many more."
Song Xiuyuan clearly sensed it too. "My dear, you go first."
Xue Xingyue shook her head. "No, I'm not leaving. We leave together!"
She saw him smile, his eyes filled with a familiar tenderness.
Black-clad figures emerged from all directions. "My dear, it seems we will have to fight our way out today."
"I will accompany you to the end."
Xue Xingyue didn't know whose blood it was later. All she saw was red – a bloody, crimson rain filling the air.
"My dear, to be with you in this life is my husband's fortune." Song Xiuyuan's handsome, peerless face was also stained with blood.
"Today, this will be Song Xiuyuan's burial ground," a voice called from afar.
Xue Xingyue turned and saw the familiar dragon robe. But it was not the Jade Emperor, but the Crown Prince.
"Crown Prince, you couldn't hold back, could you?" Song Xiuyuan asked coldly.
The Crown Prince replied coldly, "If you cannot be used by me, then I would rather destroy you."
Song Xiuyuan sighed. "Why? I have not taken sides; I am merely loyal to the throne. Is that wrong?"
"Others are not wrong, but you are different. You are exceptionally talented. If you were to stand behind anyone, I would have a formidable opponent. I thought that by marrying Zhao Xiuzhu, you would consider the Zhao family's reputation and stand with me, but I was wrong. You never had that intention. If that is the case, why don't I kill you myself!"
"If the king wishes the minister to die, the minister must die. But I do not wish to implicate others. Release my wife, and I will submit to your will." Song Xiuyuan said, word by word.
"Song Xiuyuan, don't think you can abandon me again," Xue Xingyue stepped forward, looking at him coldly.
"My dear, you shouldn't stay here. You belong far away, in Xingjiu Kingdom. That is your place."
Xue Xingyue trembled, looking at him. "You know my identity?"
"My dear, how could your husband not know?"
"Since you know, you should have guessed that I wouldn't let you go to your death."
Song Xiuyuan looked into the distance. "Actually, I was just nostalgic for people and things of the past, but I forgot that times have changed. My dear, I must leave now."
"Song Xiuyuan..." She looked into his eyes and said.
His gaze was dark and cold, devoid of its former gentleness. "My dear, just this once, allow me!"
She lowered her gaze. "You abandoned me before, are you going to abandon me again this time?"
"My dear, if fate brings us together across a thousand miles, fate ensures we remain strangers even when face to face."
"Alright, I will remember these words. Song Xiuyuan, if you cannot keep your promise, I will find you to the ends of the earth."
She turned and left.
Outside the dense forest, Wuchen was waiting with Xingjiu Kingdom's elite troops. Upon seeing her, he hurried forward and bowed, "Your Majesty, everyone is here. When shall we rescue them?"
"Return to the country!" she said indifferently.
Wuchen was about to speak, but Feng Qing, standing nearby, grabbed her hand. She turned to look at Feng Qing, who shook her head, signaling her not to speak.
A great fire broke out in the Jade Kingdom's palace. The Jade Kingdom's most famous Prime Minister, Song Xiuyuan, perished in the blaze.
Xingjiu Kingdom
"Your Majesty, ever since the news of the Jade Kingdom's fire reached home, you have been working tirelessly day and night on state affairs. At this rate, I fear Your Majesty's health will not hold up," Wuchen said with concern.
Ta Xue sighed. "Although I don't know what Your Majesty has experienced outside, I feel as though Your Majesty has lived a lifetime."
"Love and hate, sorrow and joy!" Wuchen uttered just four words.
Xue Xingyue looked at the memorial in her hand. Only she knew that she hadn't actually read it. Ever since Song Xiuyuan left, she had not been herself.
"Your Majesty, tomorrow night is the Qiqiao Festival. Let's go out together!" Ta Xue pushed open the door and looked at her with bright eyes.
Xue Xingyue could not refuse and nodded, "Alright."
The Qiqiao Festival arrived. Xue Xingyue shed her dragon robes and donned women's attire. As she left the palace, she saw Meng Jiangming. Ever since their separation, Meng Jiangming had not remarried.
"Your Majesty, are you going out?" Meng Jiangming asked.
Xue Xingyue nodded. "Ta Xue insisted I go, so I will go and see. Are you also going, Duke Meng?"
Meng Jiangming smiled wryly. "This humble subject will not go."
"Duke Meng, it's time for you to remarry."
Meng Jiangming trembled, then knelt on the ground. "This subject does not wish to marry."
"Why?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Meng Jiangming lowered his gaze and slowly said, "The past regrets have caused me unbearable pain. I wish to remain unmarried for life, just to watch her."
Xue Xingyue said no more. After a long while, she left.
She knew who Meng Jiangming was referring to, but some missed opportunities can never be reclaimed.
"Miss, over here, over here..." Ta Xue waved at her from a distance. Xue Xingyue smiled.
"My dear, I have finally found you!"
That familiar voice made her tremble. She slowly, slowly turned around. He was there, amidst the shimmering lights...
End of Book!