Zhou Jingzhi's expression gradually darkened: "Ayang, can't you feel my heart?"

"And what about you, Your Majesty?" Jian Yang said coldly.

Before Zhou Jingzhi could speak, Jian Yang smiled, but the smile looked somewhat forced: "I haven't yet congratulated His Majesty on his wedding. I wonder how the relationship between His Majesty and Empress is? I imagine they are a loving and harmonious couple."

"Do you care?" Zhou Jingzhi asked, staring intently at Jian Yang.

Jian Yang didn't know how to answer. Did she care? It would be a lie to say she didn't care, but what right did she have to say she cared now? She gave a self-deprecating laugh.

There was a knock at the door. Jian Yang got up and opened it. It was Jian Hong who had returned.

"Your Majesty, you..." Jian Hong looked at the emperor's leg injury with some concern.

Zhou Jingzhi shook his head: "It's alright, Jian Jiangjun, please speak."

According to Jian Hong, Zhou Jing'an was furious when he returned to the mansion and found that Jian Yang had been rescued. He scolded Wei Cong and then hurriedly sent people out to chase after them.

Unfortunately, they had already left, and the secret guards were nowhere to be found. Prince Chen had gained nothing and would likely not be able to find this place anytime soon.

Inside the Prince Chen's residence, Wei Cong knelt on the ground with his head bowed. As Zhou Jing'an's confidant, he was rarely treated like this, and Zhou Jing'an was truly furious this time.

"Wei Cong, if you hadn't taken it upon yourself to let Jian Yang go, I would have been able to bring her back by now! Tell me! Why did you do this!"

Wei Cong's expression was somewhat unpleasant. Although he did have some selfish motives, he genuinely wanted what was best for Zhou Jing'an.

“Your Highness, I know I am guilty, but if we hadn’t let them leave, Your Highness’s troops in the capital would have suffered losses, and we might not have been able to stop them. It would have been a losing proposition!” Wei Cong said earnestly.

Zhou Jing'an became even more furious upon hearing this: "Are you implying that I am inferior to that person?" With that, he smashed the teacup in his hand to pieces.

Upon hearing Zhou Jingzhi's name, amidst his anger, Zhou Jing'an suddenly remembered something.

Since Zhou Jingzhi sent me away to rescue Jian Yang, he is most likely not in the palace at this time. If he returns to the palace now, I might be able to find his weakness.

Thinking of this, Zhou Jing'an's eyes lit up. He hurriedly told Wei Cong to get up and prepare. Once he discovered that Zhou Jingzhi was not in the palace, he would immediately give them a signal to invite the elders.

He ran into the palace with great joy, thinking he would find Zhou Jingzhi absent. But as soon as he entered the palace, he saw a bright yellow figure sitting on the throne, seemingly dozing. Who else could it be but Zhou Jingzhi?

"Your Majesty, you've kept me waiting. Didn't I say I had important matters to discuss? Why did you still run off?" Zhou Jingzhi slowly opened his eyes and said, his gaze icy cold.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jing'an felt a surge of anger, but he still pretended that nothing had happened and replied, "Your Majesty, I just went out for some fresh air. May I ask what Your Majesty wishes to discuss?"

"It's nothing, I just wanted to ask Your Majesty, who should I choose for the Ministry of Revenue?" Zhou Jingzhi said with a smile, as if he really wanted his opinion.

Zhou Jing'an gritted his teeth: "It's all up to Your Majesty. Since there's nothing else, I'll take my leave." After saying that, he glared at Zhou Jingzhi and left.

Seeing Zhou Jing'an's discomfiture, the emperor was in a great mood, and even the pain in his leg injury lessened.

On the other side, after Zhou Jingzhi left, Jian Yang was clearly in a bad mood. She was no longer her usual lively and cheerful self, and stared blankly at the tea in front of her with a gloomy expression.

Jian Hong looked at her with some worry: "Ayang, your brother has arranged everything for you. Zhou Jing'an's wolfish ambitions will probably not be so easily satisfied. If you are willing, your brother will send you to the south immediately and never come back."

After saying that, he gently rubbed Jian Yang's head. His precious little sister had really suffered too much.

Upon hearing this suggestion, Jian Yang was taken aback.

Leaving this place and never coming back? Would there be no longer a Jian Yang in this world, only herself? Jian Yang didn't know; if she abandoned everything, would she still be herself?

After a moment of silence, Jian Yang spoke up: "Brother, do you know which family the Emperor... married as his Empress?"

Jian Hong shook his head: "I don't know, I only know that she is a woman from a sixth-rank official's family."

How could a woman from a sixth-rank official family be worthy of the position of empress? Recalling the rumors circulating among the people, Jian Yang felt a pang of bitterness in her heart. Could the rumors actually be true?

After hesitating for a moment, Jian Yang still asked, "It is said... that the Empress and the Emperor have a deep and abiding affection for each other?"

Hearing this, Jian Hong sighed softly. His younger sister, though she didn't say anything on the surface, probably had already fallen in love with the emperor, otherwise she wouldn't have risked her life for him time and time again.

Thinking of this, Jian Hong said seriously, "Ayang, tell your brother the truth, have you developed feelings for the Emperor?"

Jian Yang wanted to shake her head in denial, but found that she couldn't lie to herself. She opened her mouth but didn't say anything.

Recalling the moments that had happened between them, Jian Yang had to admit that she had indeed developed feelings for him, but she couldn't quite figure out how much of it was, since feelings are a matter between two people.

She originally thought that she and Zhou Jingzhi were in love, but she didn't know whether to choose love or freedom. However, recent events have left her uncertain.

Seeing this, Jian Hong had some guesses in his mind, but as his older brother, he was unwilling to let Jian Yang stay in the capital, a place full of dangers. It was too dangerous to be by the emperor's side.

And then there's Zhou Jing'an; who knows when he'll start bothering Jian Yang again. He can't let Jian Yang stay here at everyone's mercy any longer, Jian Hong thought.

"If there are no feelings involved, it's best to leave as soon as possible to avoid any unforeseen complications. Think it over carefully. Your brother will always be on your side." After saying this, Jian Hong gave Jian Yang a deep look, then closed the door and left.

At night, Jian Yang was alone in her room. It was very quiet around her. She lay in bed thinking about what Jian Hong had said and couldn't fall asleep for a while.

One moment she was seeing Zhou Jingzhi's affectionate gaze, the next she was seeing his silence when the new empress was mentioned.

Thinking back on all the moments she shared with him, Jian Yang felt a pang of sadness. Realizing her own hesitation, she slapped her forehead.

Jian Yang, Jian Yang, what time is it? You're still thinking about Zhou Jingzhi. Don't you remember that old saying?

"For the sake of freedom, I can give up both!" With this thought in mind, Jian Yang no longer hesitated and decided to tell Jian Hong first thing tomorrow morning that she had decided to leave.

Once she leaves this place, she can start a new life. Forget about love and career; she just wants to do what she loves.

As she pondered these thoughts, Jian Yang gradually drifted off to sleep.