"I know."

“I knew exactly what he was going to do that day.”

"I didn't stop him."

Because at that time he was also really tired of the most willful one in the palace, the endless provocations, and the repeated assassination attempts.

He never had much patience, and he reserved it only for those who deserved it.

He had already tolerated Princess Mingyi, whom he had never met before, for long enough; his patience had long since run out, and he didn't want to waste any more time with her.

He even scoffed at the royal family's ungrateful and disloyal behavior. If it weren't for his efforts to turn the tide over the years, most of Jiang Kingdom's territory would have been devoured by the people of the northern border.

Once the rivers and seas are cleansed and the corrupt elements inside and outside are eliminated, there will be no room for his powerful influence.

However, it is understandable that one should not allow others to snore on one's side-lying bed.

Princess Mingyi was quite intelligent. A dynasty never needs meritorious officials who overshadow the emperor, especially since his prestige among the people was already high enough for him to overthrow the entire dynasty.

Princess Mingyi's foresight and decisive preemptive strike showed far more courage than her muddle-headed and incompetent father.

But that's all we can do.

He could only sigh in his heart that the princess was ruthless enough; if she were a man, she would surely have accomplished great things.

When he killed the person who harmed her with his sword, how could he not know that the one who truly deserved to die was himself?

It was his tacit approval.

It was his silence.

He didn't say anything to stop it.

As dusk approaches and night falls, the fading afterglow resembles the setting sun.

When Zhou Ji spoke these words, his tone was so casual that it was impossible to discern his true emotions; only the bloodshot lines in his eyes deepened.

"By the time I found out everything, it was too late."

She lay there quietly, blood still on her face.

He wiped the blood off her face with a handkerchief, but still felt it was dirty and didn't clean it properly.

No matter how many times she wiped it, it seemed like there was still blood on her face.

Jiang Yue didn't want to listen at all, but it felt like her feet were rooted to the spot, and she couldn't move her feet no matter what.

My nose feels sore, and my eyes feel sore too.

She curled her lip and said coldly, "You don't need to recount the murderer's crime scene to me."

This statement is clearly made with anger in it.

It's okay to be angry.

It's better to be angry than for her to be cold and indifferent, as if she were going to turn her back on us.

Zhou Ji lowered his eyes and looked at her quietly, as if she could do whatever she wanted and say whatever she wanted.

Jiang Yue felt as if he were looking at her with such a gaze, as if he were extremely sad, heartbroken as if his whole being was about to shatter.

Who is he trying to impress with this pitiful act?

She refused to be soft-hearted.

I refuse to pity him!

Jiang Yue took a deep breath, pretending not to see the broken tenderness in his eyes, and turned to leave decisively.

Something else.

She didn't ask any of them.

Perhaps she had already cleverly guessed that her awakening a thousand years later was due to the price he paid for his ruthless methods.

…

When Jiang Yue returned home, her eyes were still visibly red.

Qin Zhao knew that she had gone out to see Zhou Ji and came back with rabbit eyes. He didn't believe there wasn't something fishy about it.

But she has always been strong and rarely gets angry.

Qin Zhao didn't want to rub salt into the wound rashly, so he said gently, "If you're not feeling well, lie on the sofa for a while. It'll be time for dinner soon."

Jiang Yue returned to the living room in a daze.

She couldn't see or hear what was on TV.

While his mother was asleep that afternoon, Zhou Zhengchu assembled a Lego castle. The boy focused intently on completing this big project, wanting to give it to his mother as a gift.

He climbed onto the sofa, gently grasped his mother's finger, and secretly kissed her when she wasn't looking. Then he said, "Mom, I have a gift for you."

Jiang Yue has received many gifts from children.

Sometimes it was candy he brought back from kindergarten, sometimes it was a card he used to store his New Year's money. The boy would solemnly hand her the card and tell her to buy a bag.

Because I think my mom likes bags.

Therefore, they wouldn't hesitate to hand over the money.

He already has enough toys, and he has nothing to spend money on.

Jiang Yue snapped out of her daze and was led by the hand to the French windows. The magnificent castle, covered with expensive carpets, looked as if a princess really lived inside.

The boy blushed slightly, his face and ears turning red. His dark, watery eyes looked at his mother, and he asked softly, "Mom, is it pretty?"

Jiang Yue nodded.

The boy's ears burned even hotter, and he looked at her with expectant eyes: "Does Mommy like it?"

Jiang Yue looked at the small face that resembled Zhou Ji's, paused for a moment, and then nodded: "I like it."

The boy, like a proud kitten whose fur had been stroked, grunted and then said earnestly, "I will give Mom a better, bigger, and prettier one in the future."

Jiang Yue didn't take the child's casual remarks seriously. She smiled, and her gloomy mood seemed to be brightened by the sunshine, quietly opening up a lot. "Okay."

She ruffled the boy's soft hair. "Then I'll wait."

…

After dinner.

The Zhou family's butler came to pick up the young master and take him back. Zhou Zhengchu was naturally reluctant to go back. He preferred to stay with his mother, and even if they did nothing, he was happy.

But I have class tomorrow.

And he is still young, so he can't make decisions for himself in many things.

Even if they were unwilling, they still had to hold the butler's hand and be taken back.

The boy had reached the door, but then stopped, turned around, and looked at his mother with earnest and persistent eyes. "Mom, if you have time, please pick me up from kindergarten."

The boy was wearing delicate black leather boots, white calf socks, a shirt, and shorts, looking like a cartoon character. His serious expression made him even cuter.

Her eyes were round and black, and her skin was white and soft.

It looks easy to squeeze.

Jiang Yue said, "Okay."

After seeing the child off, Jiang Yue returned to her room. She didn't even check her phone; she took her medicine and fell asleep.

I slept very well.

I slept without any dreams and was not awakened.

The bad thing was that when she woke up the next day, her cold seemed to be worse. She had tonsillitis and was in so much pain that she couldn't speak. Her eyelids were also swollen, but this might be related to the fact that she had cried the day before.

When you get sick, you become lazy.

Jiang Yue had originally remembered Zhou Ji's grandfather's birthday banquet and planned to buy the old man a suitable gift.

She had already promised him she would go, and she had no intention of changing her mind at the last minute.

It's not that she owes Zhou Ji anything, so why should she hide from him?

Zhou Ji didn't even intend to avoid her.

Jiang Yue just hadn't figured out how to face him in a short time. She couldn't be completely without resentment, and she didn't seem to have reached that level of deep hatred.

She didn't know how to let go of it.

No one taught her.

She never wanted to experience that love-hate feeling again.

In short, it's all Zhou Ji's fault.