That day, Chu Wang stayed in Chu Jiangnan's sleeping quarters. There wasn't much to talk about, as Chu Jiangnan had always been a man of few words.
Chu Wang also had little to say today, so for the most part, the two sat in silence.
They simply drank tea.
Drinking tea together, looking through memorials.
Until Feng Yexuan arrived.
"A portrait?"
Chu Jiangnan was somewhat surprised. At this time, why would his disciple bring him a portrait?
"Painted by your own hand?"
This was even stranger.
Although after Chu Jiangnan, Prince Xuan was capable in both martial arts and literature, his painting skills surpassed many renowned artists.
But at this moment, how could he be in the mood to paint?
"Whose portrait is it?"
Chu Wang was also very curious. What was going on with Little Xuanzi today that he had the inclination to paint?
"Master and Uncle, you'll know when you see it."
Feng Yexuan walked up to the two, raised his hand, and the figure in the portrait instantly became clear before their eyes.
With a clang, the cup in Chu Jiangnan's hand fell onto the table.
The tea in the cup, not yet finished, splashed everywhere.
As for Chu Wang, he suddenly stood up, completely unable to suppress his shock: "Sister Mingyue?"
How could this be?
Little Xuanzi, painted Mingyue?
"Chu Wang!" Chu Jiangnan called out in a deep voice.
Chu Wang also wanted to calm down, but he was not the Emperor, lacking his elder brother's composure. He truly couldn't calm down.
Moreover, his elder brother had dropped his own cup; his elder brother couldn't calm down either!
"Little Xuanzi, you... why did you paint her?"
"Didn't Uncle want a portrait of Long Xiyue? Why didn't you ask me? I've met Long Xiyue in person."
Feng Yexuan stared at their faces. "However, why do you call Long Xiyue... Mingyue?"
"She is Long Xiyue?" Although he had long suspected it was Long Xiyue, seeing the portrait, Chu Wang's hands trembled with shock.
"She really is Long Xiyue?"
"Naturally."
"Elder Brother..." Chu Wang turned, wanting to see Chu Jiangnan's expression.
To his surprise, Chu Jiangnan had already stood up and walked directly behind the screen.
He gave them no opportunity to pry into his inner world. As the ruler of a nation, he should not excessively display his emotions in front of others.
But at this moment, he truly couldn't help himself.
Yue'er, she was actually Long Xiyue.
Although he had been thinking in this direction for the past two days, the visual impact of Long Xiyue's portrait presented before him was overwhelming.
Yue'er, Long Xiyue.
Long Xiyue...
That Xi Yue Princess, who was framed, slandered, and forced to leave the Long Teng Kingdom, wandering aimlessly, was actually his Yue'er.
How difficult and desperate Yue'er must have been back then!
No one helped her; in fact, everyone was harming her.
And he, he was truly damned!
If only he had told Yue'er his identity earlier, then when Yue'er had no way out, she would at least have known to come to Nan Ming to find him.
If Long Xiyue had come to Nan Ming, perhaps her fate would not have been so tragic.
It was all his fault!
It was he who left Long Xiyue isolated and helpless. It was he who, when Yue'er needed him most, was trapped in the Nan Ming Imperial Palace, unable to break free, unable to protect her under his wing!
It was all his fault!
"When did you... see her?" The man behind the screen's voice was unspeakably hoarse.
Feng Yexuan said, "When she arrived in Bei Ming and appeared under the name Long Qianyue."