Feng Chu Chu suddenly felt a wave of drowsiness wash over her. She could no longer hold on and fell asleep.
Two more people suddenly appeared in the room. Xue Zi Ning said to Liang Yi Han behind her, "Come out. She won't wake up again."
Liang Yi Han walked forward and said, "Brother..."
Liang Yi Zhi felt someone calling him. He opened his eyes and looked at the person who had arrived. For a moment, he was stunned. Once he accepted reality, he quickly got up and looked at Liang Yi Han, saying, "You... why are you here?"
"If I didn't come, how would I know my brother had married the daughter of an enemy?" Liang Yi Han questioned.
Upon hearing this, Liang Yi Zhi explained, "Yi Han, brother has his reasons."
"Reasons? Marrying an enemy's daughter is a valid reason?" Liang Yi Han questioned.
Liang Yi Zhi stiffened, "Yi Han, I..."
"Young Master Liang, what is your plan? Can you tell me?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
It was then that Liang Yi Zhi remembered Xue Zi Ning was also there. He looked at her, "Madam, you believe me?"
"I think Lieutenant Liang is a loyal person, and his children are not cowards."
Liang Yi Zhi said, "Thank you, Madam, for believing in me."
So he recounted his conversation with Feng Chang Shan.
Xue Zi Ning was shocked. She hadn't expected Feng Chang Shan to know that the imperial envoy was a fake. No one outside the capital knew about this matter. So who exactly had informed Feng Chang Shan?
Xue Zi Ning thought the capital was a closed cage, only to realize she had been too naive.
"Madam, my engagement with Miss Feng is just an act. We both know it, so I'm not afraid of being exposed. Now, the only way is to gain Feng Chang Shan's trust."
Xue Zi Ning nodded, "You are right. Don't act rashly. We will discuss and solve any problems together."
"I will have to trouble you with Yi Han, Madam," Liang Yi Zhi said.
"You are too kind, Young Master Liang. Yi Han and I get along well. She will stay with me for now."
Liang Yi Zhi agreed. He had always planned for his sister to live a normal life someday, not having to live precariously with him and constantly strategizing for revenge.
If his sister could stay with Madam, that would be the best outcome.
Liang Yi Han didn't say much. She knew her brother's intentions. Since they had reached this point, she could only try her best not to cause trouble for her brother, allowing him to have no worries.
"Young Master Liang, please take care. Feng Chang Shan is not a simple person."
"Madam, please rest assured!" Liang Yi Zhi said.
After leaving Prefect Feng's residence, Liang Yi Han couldn't help but cry in the carriage.
Xue Zi Ning reached out and patted Liang Yi Han's back. "Don't cry. Your brother is doing this for a reason. Let's not overthink it."
Liang Yi Han nodded, "I... I just feel sorry for my brother. He carries too much on his own."
"Yi Han, everyone has their own responsibilities, whether it's your brother or you. Everyone does. We just need to do our part."
Liang Yi Han nodded, "Okay, I understand, Madam."
Back at the inn, Xue Zi Ning recounted the events to Yan Zhao. Yan Zhao said, "This is actually easier."
Xue Zi Ning looked at Yan Zhao and asked, "Do you also think Liang Yi Zhi is doing the right thing?"
Sensing Xue Zi Ning's slight displeasure, Yan Zhao stepped forward and hugged her. "That's Liang Yi Zhi, not me. I will never betray you, A'Ning. You may not trust anyone else, but don't not trust me."
Xue Zi Ning leaned her head against him. "Yan Zhao, sometimes I wish we could be like this forever."
Yan Zhao smiled. "When Xing Chen grows up, we'll hand over the Chang Jiu Kingdom to him and let him run it. We'll live in seclusion in the mountains, alright?"
"Wouldn't that be a bit irresponsible?"
"No."
Far away in the imperial palace, Xue Xing Chen sneezed. Xue Xing Yue beside him asked, "What's wrong, Brother? Are you sick?"
Xue Xing Chen shook his head, "I just had a dream."
"What did you dream about?" Xue Xing Yue asked with interest.
Xue Xing Chen scratched his head. "I dreamed that Mom and Dad gave me Chang Jiu Kingdom when I was thirteen and went into seclusion."
Xue Xing Yue's lips twitched. "Brother, I think that's quite possible, so we need to grow up slowly. Don't grow up too fast."
"Okay, we'll grow up slowly," Xue Xing Chen said.
He didn't want his mother and father to leave him and his sister.
"Brother, let's go to sleep. I'm so sleepy," Xue Xing Yue murmured a few words and fell asleep.
Xue Xing Chen looked at his sister, who had kicked off her blanket, and sighed. He got up and pulled the blanket up. Although it was difficult, he managed to move it.
He still needed to grow up quickly. That way, he could protect his sister and give his parents peace of mind about them.
In the outer hall, Wen Yu Xi sat in the courtyard drinking. After a while, he said, "Since you're here, come and sit down for a couple of drinks with me."
Under the moonlight, a solitary figure finally walked out. Feng Ling Er walked up and sat down.
Wen Yu Xi smiled. "I thought you wouldn't want to see me."
Since that day he had spoken those words to Feng Ling Er, he hadn't seen her again. Although he could sense she was indeed in the imperial palace, he couldn't see her.
He knew perhaps she simply didn't want him to see her.
Feng Ling Er looked at him. After the Empress had been gone for only a few days, he had become noticeably more haggard and tired. She suddenly reached out and snatched the wine cup from his hand. "Stop drinking. You've already had so much. Don't you care about your health?"
Wen Yu Xi chuckled lowly. "Is there anyone who cares about me anymore?"
Feng Ling Er bit her lower lip. "Are you asking what you already know?"
"Really? I hurt you so much, and you still don't hate me?"
Feng Ling Er turned her head away. If she could hate him, if she could be indifferent, she wouldn't have appeared here.
"Ling Er, I'm sorry," Wen Yu Xi suddenly said.
Feng Ling Er was startled. "You don't have to apologize to me."
"No, I owe you an apology," Wen Yu Xi said.
Feng Ling Er said slowly, "Wen Yu Xi, you know, what I want is not this apology."
"Ling Er, I can't lie to you. I can't give you anything else. Even if the Empress doesn't have me in her heart, I still can't be with you, because you are not in my heart."
"That's a cruel thing to say!" Feng Ling Er said with a bitter smile.
"Because I don't want to lie to you, and I don't want to end up not even being friends with you because of this."
Feng Ling Er sighed deeply. "So now we can be friends?"
"I want to, but I know it's impossible."
"Yes, it's impossible. My liking you is my business. You can refuse me, but you have no right to tell me whether I should like you or not."