Upon hearing this, Fu Hange wanted to slap her twice to wake her up. If that person didn't love her and was hurting her, why should she stay for him?

Ah Zi's solo performance has come to an end.

In the blink of an eye, Fu Hange saw another scene. Azi was holding a xiao (a type of vertical bamboo flute) and said to Shi Qi, "This was a gift from my mother when I was born. She said that if I ever meet someone I like, I should give this to him."

Shi Qi was stunned and did not accept it: "I'm sorry, it's too precious, I dare not accept it."

"Why?"

"Since it was sent by the Empress, I absolutely cannot accept it."

Fu Hange could clearly sense that A Zi was very flustered at this moment. She hurriedly grabbed Shi Qi's hand and pleaded, "No, you can accept me. When I turn eighteen, will you marry me?"

A long silence filled the air. During those long few minutes, Fu Hange sensed that A Zi's heart was breaking down more and more, and that she was on the verge of collapse.

Finally, at the last moment, she didn't have the strength to shout, but only asked him in a hoarse, tearful voice, "Why?"

Shi Qi remained silent for a long time. Perhaps A Zi could not bear to suffer like this, so she grabbed Shi Qi's clothes and roared at him, "Tell me, why?"

"Because I don't love you."

This is the most dramatic, the most realistic, and the most heartbreaking answer.

Nothing can compare to the four words "I don't love you".

Fu Hange felt a sharp pain in her heart. This feeling was brought by A Zi. She was in A Zi's dream, and Fu Hange could feel her joys and sorrows just like A Zi.

How much love must a girl of noble birth lower herself to beg a man to be with her?

Fu Hange felt very sad. At least she didn't have anyone she particularly loved, and she didn't want to become like that.

Azi squatted on the ground alone, covering her face and crying. Shi Qi wanted to comfort her, but Azi pushed him away.

The scene shifts again, returning to the palace. Azi sits alone, lost in thought. Her eyes have lost their former liveliness. She is like a puppet, motionless, as if even the slightest breeze could blow her away.

She instructed, "Go and get me the medicine."

Seeing this, Fu Hange understood: Azi couldn't bear the blow and wanted to commit suicide by taking medicine.

How she wanted to stop it! But she couldn't. She could only watch Ah Zi die, because she knew this was the ending.

While the maid went to get the medicine, Fu Hange saw the letter that A Zi had written to Shi Qi.

Perhaps you've never cared about me, but I want to tell you that from the moment we first met, you've been in my heart, and no one can replace you ever since.

I allow you to call me stupid, because I am stupid by nature, but I am willing to continue being stupid, so that I can see you again.

But pretending to be stupid hurts too much. I don't want to keep pretending anymore. I want to be happy. From the day I met you, my sky has been gathering clouds, until one day, there were too many clouds, and the gloom wouldn't go away, so it poured down like a bottomless abyss.

I know you don't love me, so I don't intend to force it, but I want you to know that there was a girl like me who once loved you sincerely, passionately, and intensely.

I don't know if I will continue to love you in the future, but I know that until the moment I put pen to paper at the end of my life, I will still love you.

I don't need your love anymore. Maybe this is my fate. I've had too many good years, and perhaps even God couldn't stand it, so He let you appear and destroy all my fortresses.

But you know what? If you were willing to be my fortress, I would feel that it is the strongest love in the world, but you won't, and never will.