Chapter 199

After saying that, he leaned forward, grabbed Shen Qingnian's hand, and forcibly pressed it against his chest.

Shen Qingnian felt her palms burning against the man's chest. She could feel his scorching body temperature and his increasingly rapid heartbeat.

The distance between them suddenly closed, and she could almost smell the faint scent of ambergris.

Song Xuan's eyes stung with tears. He said, slowly and deliberately, "Shen Qingnian, you left so decisively, without any regrets. Do you know how much I regretted my ascension to the throne that day? I really want to cut open your heart to see if it is truly cold and hard!"

These few words contained countless bitterness in Song Xuan's heart. In the past three years, he had not had a moment without regret or guilt.

The coldness emanating from the man before her was gone, replaced by resentment and grievance. He was no longer the aloof emperor he once was.

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingnian's heart trembled, and the walls in her heart finally crumbled. Tears welled up in her eyes, and her expression, which could no longer be gentle, became sad and sorrowful. Tears slid down her face, wetting her green dress.

She said sadly, "You are His Highness the Crown Prince, the future Emperor, the most honorable person in the world, and the most upright person. How could I dare to reveal the truth? I... I have no face to tell the truth..."

Besides, we're fundamentally different. I schemed against you, I used you; I don't have the confidence that you'd forgive a liar.

She had thought about it, but as soon as the thought popped into her head, she would desperately suppress it. She simply didn't have the capital to gamble; one wrong step would mean utter ruin.

The grievance and resentment on Song Xuan's face turned cold. He released Shen Qingnian's hand and said sarcastically, "You don't believe me, and you don't believe my feelings for you either."

He could convince himself to forgive her for taking advantage of him, but he couldn't get over the fact that she had deceived him.

In Song Xuan's view, the two had a deep friendship and should tell each other the truth; otherwise, it would be a betrayal of their friendship.

He could be honest with her, offer her the position of empress, and give her everything she wanted. Just because she couldn't shake Shen Zheng's position didn't mean she couldn't.

But why doesn't she speak up, why isn't she honest...?

Shen Qingnian had anticipated Song Xuan's attitude. She smiled faintly, looked at the lanterns drifting on the river, and said softly, "Your Majesty, the lanterns in the river may look bright, but they are already soaked in the river water, mixed with a lot of filth and mud. The river is turbulent, and it's difficult to break through..."

"You were born a person of nobility, and should not associate with the filthy lanterns inside."

Having said that, she knelt down, her expression returning to meekness: "It was this sinful woman who dared to act so recklessly. This sinful woman's crime is unforgivable. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."

Song Xuan looked at Shen Qingnian, and after a moment, he spoke coldly: "Of course you must atone for your sins."

After saying that, he turned and walked through the cabin to the other end of the ship.

Shen Qingnian felt the slight swaying of the boat as the man left, and only looked up when the boat came to a stop.

Looking through the narrow cabin, the man was already standing at the other end of the boat, holding an oar and rowing forward.

Just then, little Shen Xi's sweet, childlike voice rang out: "Mommy, Mommy, we've caught up with you!"

Two little ones, Shen Xi and Yan Qing, were peering at her from the side of the boat, while Xiao Ju and Liu Yu Rou sat behind them, holding them in their arms to prevent them from falling into the water.

Shen Qingnian immediately stood up and said nervously, "You all sit still. The boat is small, be careful not to capsize!"

As soon as she opened her mouth, the two little ones sat up straight obediently, their eyes sparkling.

Little Shen Xi made a request: "Mother, I want to play on your boat. I don't want to stay with Brother Jin anymore!"

Jin Yi had disobeyed Xiao Shenxi's instructions to row the boat earlier, and she held a grudge.