Dusk was falling.

After leaving Chaoyang Palace, Su Tiyue walked along a winding path for quite a distance.

The moonlight cast long shadows of the two people.

The night was silent.

Zhou Tingyue followed her silently the whole way, without making a sound.

Perhaps others can express their affection and longing in words, but Zhou Tingyue is the only one who cannot.

It wasn't possible before, but what about now?

The person in front suddenly stopped, turned around, and glanced at Zhou Tingyue.

Her eyes were filled with tenderness, and her lips parted slightly: "Your Majesty, this road... is almost over. How much longer will you continue?"

Actually, Su Tiyue's words didn't refer to this road.

Rather, it's about their past relationship.

Zhou Tingyue was well aware of this.

Their relationship is just like that of the two people now.

She kept moving forward, but Zhou Tingyue was still unwilling to give up and wanted to accompany her for a while longer.

It's not so much entanglement as reluctance, but simply a feeling of being unwilling to let go.

...

In fact, Su Tiyue has always been very clear-headed. Ever since she entered the palace and became the late emperor's concubine, she had already made up her mind to have no more contact with Zhou Tingyue.

He's the one I can't let go of, and only him.

"I don't want you to misunderstand what happened tonight. Consort Shu, when Father Emperor was the emperor, I was unable to protect you and let you get into trouble. I feel guilty."

Zhou Tingyue took a deep breath and continued, "Now I can protect you from all worries, and you no longer need to rely on others."

Su Tiyue curved her lips into a smile, her voice clear and crisp: "I know."

"I don't expect you to come back to me, but I will grant you the freedom and stability you desire."

“I know that too.” Her brows relaxed, and a faint smile appeared on her delicate face. “Your Majesty need not say any more, for I know everything.”

Su Tiyue walked slowly toward him: "Tonight, His Majesty only wanted me to see Xiao Zhangyin's true character, and didn't want me to sink deeper into this quagmire, right?"

Zhou Tingyue nodded, his eyes resolute, and replied, "Yes."

"But this is the path I chose myself. Whether it's fortunate or unfortunate, only I know if it's hot or cold. Your Majesty, I'm fine... You don't need to worry about me. From now on, you only need to think about one thing, which is how to be a wise ruler, so that the people have enough to eat and wear, and the Northern Liang Kingdom prospers and the world is at peace."

Zhou Tingyue asked, "You want me to become that kind of person, don't you?"

“Yes.” Su Tiyue nodded with a smile and said, “It’s not hope, it’s that you are that kind of person. You will be a good emperor, and Zhou Ziqi is not the only one waiting for you to save…”

The point has been made very clearly and plainly.

Su Tiyue's expectations of him seem to have never changed.

She wanted him to be a wise ruler, to save those who were suffering, and even to save the world, but she never asked Zhou Tingyue to save her.

In Zhou Tingyue's eyes, Su Tiyue is clear-headed and rational, with a soft yet extremely resilient heart.

She understood that the former Crown Prince had a noble cause and a path he had to walk.

She understood even more that Zhou Tingyue, now that he had ascended to the throne, was burdened with the fate of the nation, so even though she was imprisoned, she was unwilling to make things difficult for him.

Since it was her wish, how could Zhou Tingyue let her down...?

"Alright, I understand."

He looked at Su Tiyue, his deep and affectionate eyes filled with longing and reluctance.

In his final, selfish and willful act, Zhou Tingyue made one last request: "Can I hug you...?"

He said 'I', not '朕' (the imperial "I").

He asked her for a final embrace, not as an emperor, but as an ordinary person.

...

Love is a long and difficult journey, and perhaps for Su Tiyue, this journey has already ended.

But for Zhou Tingyue, he has never let go.

After tonight, Zhou Tingyue will gradually let go of that relationship.

Just as she had thought, she did her best to be a good emperor.

"sure."

Su Tiyue's eyes sparkled, like stars in the sky, twinkling...

So far yet so near, yet so bright.

She took the initiative to approach Zhou Tingyue, then gently wrapped her arms around him and patted his back lightly with her palms.

Su Tiyue's hug was warm yet measured.

Zhou Tingyue lowered his head, buried his face lightly in her neck, and closed his eyes tightly.

My heart is at peace and serene.

After a long while, he slowly released Su Tiyue, then took a step back, creating some distance between them.

Zhou Tingyue lowered her head and was about to turn and leave.

Looking at this nearly broken figure, Su Tiyue finally couldn't help but say, "May Your Majesty have a long and prosperous life."

Zhou Tingyue's long, narrow eyes tilted slightly upwards, and a smile touched his gentle, jade-like face.

It was as if he had let go of it.

He said, "Okay."

He also said, "Thank you."

Then, the two parted ways.

They went their separate ways.

...

Zhou Tingyue is a very, very good person, so... he will definitely meet a very, very good woman in the future.

Su Tiyue firmly believed in this.

*

As Su Tiyue walked from Chaoyang Palace to Nanyuan, and then to the entrances of Tingyu Tower and Yelan Pavilion, she felt a little hesitant.

She stood between the two doors, unsure of which way to go.

After all, what Xiao Heye had just said to the emperor had made her flustered.

Su Tiyue knew Xiao Heye's character and was well aware that he had always been arrogant and disdainful of others.

But the way he acted just now clearly showed that he didn't take the emperor seriously.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!