“These days, I feel like I’m living in a dream. Maybe you think I’m too conflicted and always worried about gains and losses, but I’ve lost too much in just a few years.”

“My father died, and my mother took my younger brother back to our hometown, leaving me alone in the capital. The attitude of everyone in the Xu family towards me changed drastically.”

“Xu Jingxiu was never very friendly to me. He only married me to climb the social ladder, but he didn’t expect my father to be such an upright official who never helped him. We were just a couple in name only.”

"Later on, he met his true love and schemed to force me to give up my position as his legal wife. If I really gave it up, I would have no face to see my father."

"After many twists and turns, we finally got divorced. As you know, I even had trouble making a living. If I hadn't met you, I might have died in the village without anyone knowing."

Yan Heng didn't speak, but he could hear a faint sob in Jiang Tian's voice.

He instinctively hugged Jiang Tian, ​​trying to ease her grief.

Then, he noticed Jiang Tian kiss his lips: "You have given me so much kindness. I am afraid that one day your affection will be taken away and I will be back to having nothing."

Her hand gently caressed Yan Heng's face: "I never met anyone good before, so I just drifted along. But after meeting you, I can't bear to lose you again."

"...In that case, we have no choice but to use some clumsy methods to prolong our time as much as possible."

Her voice trailed off, as if she were mocking her own foolishness.

Yan Heng's heart was filled with turmoil.

Although Jiang Tian didn't say the word "love" once, every word she uttered expressed her reluctance to part with him.

For his sake, she didn't even dare to reveal her affairs in the palace to Xu Jingxiu...

Indeed, her methods were quite clumsy, but Yan Heng felt a secret joy rising within him.

As he was thinking, Jiang Tian stopped talking and just buried her face in his chest, weeping.

The coolness of the tears awakened Yan Heng's senses.

Yan Heng lifted her up, and Jiang Tian pressed herself even closer to him.

"I haven't even said anything yet, and you've already planned so much. Those palace servants often say that once other concubines enter the palace, you'll have no place left. I don't think so."

"With your tendency to think ten steps ahead for every one you take, you're sure to live a very good life."

Jiang Tian's voice still carried a hint of hoarseness: "You're wrong. I only chose to plan step by step because I care about you. If you fall in love with another concubine in the future and discard me like trash, then I will no longer force you and will let others do as they please."

Yan Heng's expression changed: "So, you mean if I fall in love with another woman, you won't want to live?"

In the darkness, Jiang Tian's tone became more unreasonable and argumentative.

Yan Heng's revelation of her thoughts seemed to have led her to choose a path of self-destruction.

"Yes, I don't want to live anymore. When my father married me off to Xu Jingxiu, he promised that I would be the only one for him. Later, he found a new lover, and I was disgusted by him. Just seeing him standing there made me feel uncomfortable all over."

"You are the ruler of a country, so I would never presume to ask anything of you alone."

Jiang Tian wrapped her arms around his neck, her voice slightly hoarse: "At least you'll be mine for this year. After a year, once your poison is cured, if you fall in love with someone, just give me a drink."

Yan Heng was so angry at Jiang Tian that he almost laughed.

How could she say something like that!

"Do you know that a jealous woman is detestable?"

Jiang Tian didn't care at all; she simply asked, "Do you now dislike me?"