Sure enough, a large number of imperial guards poured into the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and the one leading them was none other than the Emperor, who had originally been "under house arrest"! Upon seeing this, the Second Prince collapsed to the ground, his face ashen.

The situation reversed instantly. The Emperor's majestic voice echoed throughout the hall: "The Second Prince has plotted rebellion and attempted to assassinate the Emperor. Seize him immediately!"

Amidst the chaos, Xiao Xun tightly grasped Xin Jiuwei's hand: "Help me up... it's time to close the net."

Supported by Xin Jiuwei and Qi Huaihe, Xiao Xun struggled to his feet and knelt before the Emperor: "Your subject has fortunately fulfilled his mission."

The Emperor personally helped him up, his eyes filled with relief: "Xun'er, you've suffered. This time, it's all thanks to you discovering your rebellious son's plot beforehand, otherwise..."

Before he could finish speaking, a commotion suddenly arose outside the hall. A group of envoys dressed in foreign attire strode in, the elderly man at the head holding a golden staff, his gaze sweeping across the room like lightning before finally settling on Xiao Xun.

"Twenty years..." the old man's voice trembled, "I've finally found you, Your Highness."

The entire hall erupted in uproar. The Emperor looked at Xiao Xun with disbelief and confusion: "What...what's going on?"

Xiao Xun gave a wry smile and looked at Xin Jiuwei: "It seems we can't hide it anymore."

The old man stepped forward and respectfully presented a scroll of portraits. When unfolded, it revealed a young Qi Mingyue holding an infant, and standing beside her was none other than the former crown prince of a neighboring country!

"The orphaned son of the late Crown Prince, the rightful heir to our throne," the old man proclaimed loudly. "Please return with this old minister to ascend the throne!"

These words struck Xin Jiuwei like a thunderbolt, making her eardrums ache. Xiao Xun wanted to go back... to be emperor?

She instinctively loosened her grip on his hand, but Xiao Xun grabbed it. He turned to the Emperor, his voice weak yet firm: "Father, I will never forget your kindness in raising me. But I have already sworn..." He looked at Xin Jiuwei, "In this life, I will only be Xiao Xun."

The old man grew anxious: "Your Highness! A country cannot be without a ruler for even a day!"

"I have a better candidate." Xiao Xun took out a letter from his pocket. "My uncle is wise and benevolent, capable of shouldering great responsibilities. As for me..." He coughed a few times, "I only want to stay here and protect those I should protect."

Xin Jiuwei's heart pounded like a drum. Xiao Xun... he gave up the throne for her?

The Emperor glanced at Xiao Xun, then at Xin Jiuwei, and suddenly burst into laughter: "Good! Good! Today I not only rid myself of a rebellious son, but I've also gained a loyal and righteous one!" He patted Xiao Xun's shoulder, "Once you've recovered, I will personally officiate your wedding!"

The officiant at the wedding? Xin Jiuwei's cheeks flushed, but she saw Xiao Xun looking at her with a smile, his eyes full of tenderness.

"Wait!" Qi Huaiyu suddenly broke free of his restraints and shouted hysterically, "They can't be together! Xiao Xun is Xin Jiuwei's cousin! This is incest!"

The hall fell silent instantly. All eyes were on Xiao Xun and Xin Jiuwei.

Xiao Xun remained calm and took out the snow lotus jade pendant from his robes. "Young Master Qi, you may not know this," he said, turning to the elderly man from the neighboring country, "but may I ask, were the late Crown Prince and my mother ever formally married?"

The old man shook his head: "The late Crown Prince and Miss Qi only had the de facto relationship of husband and wife; they did not perform the formal wedding ceremony."

"Therefore, according to the rules of propriety, I am merely my mother's son born out of wedlock, and have no blood relation to the Xin family." Xiao Xun looked at the Emperor. "When my father adopted me, he had already verified this fact."

The Emperor nodded: "That's true."

Qi Huaiyu's face was ashen. He tried to say something, but was dragged away by the guards. The Second Prince was also taken away, glaring venomously at Xiao Xun before leaving: "You think you've won? Just wait and see..."

The dust had settled, but Xin Jiuwei was still somewhat dazed. Overnight, Xiao Xun went from a prince to the crown prince of a neighboring country, and then back to Xiao Xun. And finally, there were no longer any obstacles between them...

"What are you thinking about?" Xiao Xun asked softly.

Xin Jiuwei shook her head and supported his swaying body: "You're such a liar."

Xiao Xun smiled and whispered in her ear, "Then are you still willing to marry this liar?"

Xin Jiuwei's ears burned, but she didn't avoid his gaze: "It depends on your performance."

Xin Xiyao and Qi Huaihe exchanged a smile. At the highest point, the red light still shone brightly, witnessing this thrilling struggle and the hard-won happiness.

Three days before the wedding, Xin Jiuwei stood on the highest pavilion in the Xin family mansion, gazing absently at the still-lit red lantern. Half a month had passed since the birthday banquet, all of the Second Prince's henchmen had been executed, and Qi Huaiyu had been sentenced to be executed in the autumn, yet this red lantern remained strangely lit, as if waiting for something.

"Miss, a guest requests an audience," Bitao whispered from outside the door. "He says he's sent by an envoy from a neighboring country."

Xin Jiuwei frowned slightly. Since their parting at the Hall of Supreme Harmony that day, the neighboring country's delegation should have already returned home to report. Why then did they send someone to look for her again?

In the side hall, an elderly man with white hair stood with his back to the door, looking up at the painting "Snow Plum Blossoms" on the wall. Hearing footsteps, he slowly turned around, revealing himself to be the old minister who had addressed Xiao Xun as "Your Highness the Crown Prince" in the palace that day.

"Miss Xin." The old man bowed and took out a yellowed envelope from his robes. "This was left to you by the late Crown Princess... your mother."

Xin Jiuwei took the envelope; it was icy cold to the touch, made of a special kind of silk. The seal was stamped with a snow lotus patterned wax seal. Inside, she found her mother's familiar handwriting:

"To my daughter Jiuwei:"

If you are reading this letter, it means Xun'er has already faced a life-or-death ordeal. He possesses the 'Frosty Jade Blood' unique to the royal family of the neighboring kingdom, a blood that can cure all poisons, but also attracts covetous eyes. The Second Prince is hunting us down precisely to obtain our blood to refine an elixir of immortality…”

The letter trembled slightly in Xin Jiuwei's hands. So that's how it is! Xiao Xun survived the "Seven-Day Soul-Severing Powder" not only because of the snow lotus, but also because of his special bloodline. And his mother, to protect this secret, went to great lengths...

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!