Xue Zining blinked, then a look of joy appeared on her face. "Really? I sent him to Nanling Pass to investigate matters back then, and he hasn't replied to me for so many years. Now I finally have word."
Xue Yan nodded. "Feng Wu will be back before your wedding."
"How is he now?" Xue Zining asked.
Xue Yan said, "The letter didn't go into detail, but he is now a general of Nanling Pass, so it's probably not something that can be explained in a few words."
Xue Zining nodded. "The process must have been very dangerous, but as long as he's safe, that's what matters."
"Your Majesty, shall we get up?" Xue Yan asked.
Xue Zining nodded. Xue Yan stepped forward to help her up. She was not attending court today. Xue Yan styled her hair in a simple bun, put on the imperial crown, and wore a vermilion dress as she walked out.
Her slender, tall figure was both cold and noble.
The grand wedding was set for the beginning of next month, and preparations were already underway in the palace.
"Your Majesty..."
Xue Zining saw Wen Yuxi walking towards her. His official robes concealed his naturally handsome features, lending him an air of composure.
"Your Majesty, these are the memorials that could not be processed in court today and require your seal," Wen Yuxi said, holding out the memorials.
"Xue Yan, take these to my sleeping quarters. I'll look at them later," Xue Zining said.
Xue Yan took them and left.
Wen Yuxi stepped forward. "The empire is at peace, and the people are prosperous. The court officials hope Your Majesty will expand the harem and bear imperial heirs as soon as possible."
Xue Zining frowned at this. "These stubborn old fools. They urged me to marry when I wasn't married, and now that I'm married, they want me to expand the harem and bear heirs?"
Wen Yuxi smiled. "Your Majesty, this is your duty as an emperor."
Xue Zining turned to look at Wen Yuxi, then after a pause, said, "You should find someone too."
Wen Yuxi was taken aback, his gaze calm. "This subject has not yet met someone with whom he can spend his life, and he does not wish to settle."
"Lord Lin has been urging you, hasn't he?" Xue Zining asked.
Wen Yuxi smiled. "He urges me every day, even presenting me with portraits of all the unmarried young ladies in the capital. Does he think marriage is that simple? If we cannot find harmony, I would rather live a solitary life."
"Please don't say that. Your mother has been complaining to me recently and wants me to issue an imperial decree for your marriage," Xue Zining said, rubbing her forehead.
"Your Majesty, being together without an emotional foundation will only lead to separation in the end. Why bother?"
Xue Zining looked up at Wen Yuxi. At this moment, his eyes were dim and lifeless.
"Wen Yuxi, don't think like that. How can you know if it's not possible without trying?"
Wen Yuxi chuckled softly. "Your Majesty, being so intelligent, you must know who is in my heart."
Xue Zining was slightly taken aback, then smiled faintly. "I once said I would take you into the harem. You didn't agree?"
Wen Yuxi also smiled, looking at her with eyes that seemed to shine. "My heart is very small, and I only have eyes for one person. That person must feel the same. Can Your Majesty abandon everyone else for me and only have me in your life?"
Xue Zining smiled. "I cannot do that."
Wen Yuxi shrugged, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "Therefore, I cannot enter Your Majesty's harem."
"Wen Yuxi, why must you be like this?"
Wen Yuxi chuckled softly, his gaze filled with a dim silence. "Your Majesty, why must you insist on only the Crown Prince of Xue?"
"The world as a betrothal gift, and a promise to cherish only one out of a thousand rivers of weak water. Who could resist such a betrothal gift and vow?" Xue Zining looked at Wen Yuxi and said slowly.
Wen Yuxi was slightly stunned. "As expected, this is something I cannot do."
"Therefore, it must be him." It wasn't just for these reasons; she knew that the devoted love of three lives and three worlds awaited her nod of approval.
Wen Yuxi lowered his gaze, his eyes looking like dead ashes at this moment.
"Your Majesty, how should we deal with Lord Tingwei An?" Wen Yuxi changed the subject.
"He did not commit any major crimes. Dismissal from office is unavoidable."
Wen Yuxi nodded and said, "Your Majesty, I feel something is amiss with this matter. I will send someone to investigate."
"Very well," Xue Zining said.
To be honest, she had learned from An Ling that Concubine Yue had some means and did not seem like someone content to remain in the domestic sphere.
"Official An, did you not rest well last night?"
An Ling looked up and saw the woman who had been appointed as an official in the Jiaofang Directorate along with her by His Majesty.
It seemed her name was Xiu'er before, but the Empress had bestowed upon her a new name, Xuelian, and she was known as Official Lian.
"Official Lian, I'm fine. Perhaps I didn't rest well." An Ling touched the medicine bottle at her waist, finally feeling relieved.
"Then go and rest quickly. I'll be here," Xuelian said.
She had been a maid before and didn't understand many things. She needed to learn well from Official Li.
An Ling nodded. "Thank you. I'll go back to my room then."
Xuelian nodded and left.
An Ling returned to her room and took out the medicine bottle from her waist, placing it under her pillow. She had to ask the Empress for permission to visit her brother in the Tingwei prison. She absolutely could not carry anything with her, or she might be discovered.
After all, the Empress had many skilled individuals around her.
When An Ling went to request permission from Xue Zining, Xue Zining also noticed her poor complexion.
"An Ling, are you troubled by something?" Xue Zining asked.
An Ling quickly shook her head. "Your servant is fine."
"Go ahead!" Xue Zining did not ask further.
Tingwei Prison
An Ling met her brother, An Yi.
Before, her brother had never allowed himself to have a beard, nor did he permit the clothes he wore to be more than a day old.
But now, in just a few days, his beard had grown as long as his fingernail, and his prisoner's clothes had not been changed for days.
Perhaps her brother had never imagined such a day would come.
"Brother..." The rest of her words were choked back. She was sobbing.
An Yi was also startled to see her. After a moment, he stepped forward and said through the cell bars, "What are you doing here? Hurry back!"
"Brother, I've come to see you. Are you well?" An Ling asked, her voice choked with tears.
An Yi glanced at her, then turned his head away. "How good can it be here? You've seen, now go back!"
"Has Concubine Yue visited you even once?" An Ling asked.
She clearly noticed a slight change in An Yi's expression and couldn't help but ask, "Brother, do you regret it?"
An Yi turned his face away and said, "What's the use of saying that now?"
"Then I will tell you, brother, if you hadn't brought her into the mansion, this wouldn't be the situation today," An Ling said sternly.
An Yi lowered his gaze. "What has happened has happened."
At this point, he also understood that Concubine Yue was not truly devoted to him, but only because of his status. Now that his status was gone, she might be looking for the next identity.
An Ling desperately wanted to tell her brother everything, but the words caught in her throat. She decided to bear it all alone.
Her brother didn't need to know. The more people knew, the greater the danger.