Hearing Shen Nian's tone, which insisted that he had come to seek justice from her, Ertai felt like crying inside.

He wouldn't seek justice from her; in his eyes, everything she did was right. Besides, he wouldn't dare say a harsh word to her, so how could he possibly be seeking justice from her?

Not to mention that this whole thing was his brother's fault, and he was even worried that she would hate him.

Today, he finally received news from Qing'er that Chen Nian wanted to go for a stroll in the Imperial Garden, so he packed his things and came to find her. Little did he expect that he would be misunderstood as someone seeking justice. He was so wronged.

Ertai was internally weeping violently.

"So what are you here for?"

He asked the question in a dry, contemplative tone, but his heart, which had been pounding with anxiety, had also calmed down considerably.

But Ertai, who understood Shen Nian, could not help but notice the change in Shen Nian's tone, and the anxiety that had been weighing heavily on his heart for the past few days finally subsided.

"I heard that someone doesn't like to eat, so I'm bringing food to that person who doesn't like to eat."

...

Ertai spoke with a helpless tone as he listened to what Qing'er and Xiao Yanzi were saying. Because of the medicine, Chen Nian had a poor appetite and was getting thinner and thinner. He had searched outside the palace for a lot of food and asked Xiao Yanzi to bring it to Chen Nian.

Hearing that she could eat, he breathed a sigh of relief, but he was still worried. However, she didn't leave Cining Palace, and he could only hear about the situation from Xiao Yanzi and Qing'er. He still couldn't put his mind at ease until he saw her with his own eyes.

Upon looking at her, he realized he hadn't fed her enough. Xiao Yanzi and Qing'er's words weren't true at all; they must have lied to him. Her little face was all thin; she didn't look like she was eating properly at all.

Qing'er, Little Swallow: ...

He still needs to find more good food to feed her; he has to make up for it.

"sit."

Since she wasn't seeking justice, Shen Nian's panic disappeared. Looking at Ertai's aggrieved and helpless expression, she curled the corners of her lips. She felt that she had succeeded again.

She hadn't implicated Ertai; her anger was only directed at Fu Erkang and Xia Ziwei.

Moreover, after so many days, her anger towards the two of them had dissipated considerably. Hearing Ertai beat up Erkang, her anger subsided even more.

"Okay, are you hungry?"

I brought you some delicious food, would you like to eat some?

I heard from Xiao Yanzi that you like milk tea, so I went to the imperial kitchen to get you a milk tea with lots of taro balls in it.

On the other side is the soup my mother made. Which would you like to drink? Milk tea or soup? Or both?

Ertai took out the items one by one, sat down next to Shen Nian, and patiently introduced them to her.

"Second Master Fu, I just caused your brother to get a beating. Are you sure your brother won't be so angry that he'll die if he sees what you're doing?"

"Your brother said that you've been so good to me, yet I still tormented Ziwei. Your sister-in-law said I have no conscience."

You should take these things back. I'm afraid if Uncle Fu finds out, he'll come after me again, saying I'm tormenting his sweetheart and then his brother.

He spoke jokingly, with a hint of probing.

Although Ertai's attitude pleased her, she still wondered if Ertai had been affected by the matter of Fu Erkang and Xia Ziwei.

Call her sensitive and suspicious, distrustful of Ertai, or even pretentious—she doesn't argue; that's just who she is.

She has low self-esteem and is sensitive. She needs complete trust before she dares to give her heart. She doesn't want to end up with nothing and be left alone to clean up the mess.

Ertai caught her eye, and she cared about him. She didn't want the two of them to become estranged because of his brother and Xia Ziwei.

"Chen Nian, if you keep saying that, I'm going to get angry."

Listening to the teasing yet hurtful words of the petty person in front of him, Ertai kept comforting himself: He spoiled him, he spoiled him, he gave him confidence, he couldn't be angry, he couldn't be angry.

That heartless brat would probably be so angry he'd bang drums and gongs to send him off to his funeral, and might even jump on his grave a couple of times.

He was at a disadvantage in this matter; his brother had ruined him.

The fact that she could still stab herself shows that she hasn't developed any estrangement from him because of his brother, which is a good sign.

Answer me.

She stared intently at Ertai, wanting an answer.

“Chen Nian, my brother is my brother, and I am me. I am not the same as my brother. This matter was my brother’s fault. I will not only not implicate you, but I will also regret why I did not arrive in time and leave you to face my brother’s accusations alone.”

You don't need to worry that my brother's situation will affect our relationship.

On the contrary, I should be worried that you might develop a rift with me because of my brother.

Shen Nian, do you know how panicked I was when I heard your distant tone today? I was thinking about how to make amends and how to make you trust me again.

Shen Nian, you can't deny me just because of my brother, and assume that I'm the same way. That's not fair to me.

I hope you'll treat me the same way you treated me before, giving me orders and instructions as needed, without worrying that I'll get angry or dissatisfied.

Ertai sighed; he knew what she was thinking and what she was worried about.

She never needed to test his attitude towards her; she was the bright moon hanging in his heart, a ray of pure white moonlight he wanted to cherish deep within his soul.

He knew her before his brother, and he trusted her completely. He wouldn't listen to anything from the outside world; he only listened to what she said.

He wasn't good with words, and he didn't know if she would find him unpleasant.

After speaking, he nervously awaited Chen Nian's reaction.

"Meditation?"

Unable to get a response after a long wait, Ertai became restless and couldn't help but call out.

Why not sentence him to death? If it's the death penalty, he'll have to figure out how to regain her trust.

"I want soup, give me some."

Ertai's words startled Shen Nian. Hearing the voice, she glanced at the tense person next to her, paused for a moment, and then spoke.

She took her medicine this morning but didn't eat much.

"Okay, I'll serve you some."

Hearing Chen Nian change the subject, Ertai knew that this ordeal was over, and the living torture was over. A smile finally appeared on his face. Heaven knows what he was going through while waiting for the sentencing.

They even came up with a hundred ways to remedy the situation.

Only then did the anxiety that had been building up inside finally subside.

"Do you want to try it? My mother just made it today. I brought it with me as soon as it was ready. Be careful, it's hot."

Ertai ladled out a bowl, placed it in Chen Nian's hands, and carefully gave her instructions.

"You? Mother? Made the soup?"

Upon hearing Ertai's words, Chen Nian's hand trembled, spilling some soup. She didn't even care about the pain from the scalding soup splashing on her hand; she had felt there was something wrong with what she had heard earlier.

But then my attention was diverted by other things, and I forgot about it, and now...

(Detail-oriented Ertai VS Confused and absent-minded Chen Nian)