"I'm sorry, I apologize. You can tell me what you want, but don't do it this way, and especially don't use this tone and attitude. I don't like it," Yu Jingchen said bluntly.
“I’m not saying you can’t do it because I don’t like it. It’s just… sometimes I can’t control myself, and if I do something else, neither of us will feel good, do you understand what I mean?” Yu Jingchen told her.
Nan Zhiyun did not respond.
“Nan Zhiyun, I admit, my feelings for you have changed. I also admit that the hurt from the past is indelible, it will always remain, and I owe you a lot. And those things can never be changed, and I have no right to regret them. But you need to know… as long as I don’t agree, you will never have the right to truly leave me, and you can never truly leave. So instead of continuing to suffer like that, it’s better to accept what comes next. I will give you what you want, but it must be within my bottom line.” Yu Jingchen spoke very frankly; rather than hiding things, this honesty was much more convenient.
“I know you might not be able to accept this, and I know you feel wronged and there may be a lot of unfairness, but some things cannot be measured by fairness. I’m not trying to make excuses for myself, nor am I saying that I’m not wrong; I just want to tell you about the reality. You can think about it carefully: without my permission, can you really guarantee that you can leave the palace unscathed?” Yu Jingchen tried to talk to her properly.
Every word he uttered was completely honest and straightforward, because he wanted Nan Zhiyun to see things clearly; this was the only way to achieve effective communication.
Nan Zhiyun remained silent and still in his arms. She was well aware of what Yu Jingchen had said, but she couldn't convince herself not to think about it, not to care about these things. She didn't want to stay in the palace, didn't want to continue being by his side.
"Even if we put all that aside, it's still the same thing I told you last time. Do you really think you can live a good life if you really leave the palace? Let me tell you, with Nan Su around, you can never truly have peace."
Even though he has relinquished his military power, who can guarantee anything in the officialdom? And... do you know how many people he has killed on the battlefield over the years? Do you know how many enemies he has made? There are countless people who want revenge, and probably too many to count. Now that he has lost his military power, what do you think the consequences will be for him? Can he really protect himself?" Yu Jingchen spoke very clearly, without any exaggeration, just the facts.
But it was precisely this cruel reality that made Nan Zhiyun feel even more aggrieved; no one could truly understand this sense of powerlessness in the face of reality.
“Nan Zhiyun…you are really naive, but this world is not as kind as you think. On the contrary, it is cruel everywhere. If you are not ruthless, others will only devour you, because there are man-eating wolves everywhere.”
"Human hearts are never as simple as you think, and the world is never as innocent as you imagine. But to this world, you are truly incredibly fragile, because you have no deterrent power over anyone and pose no threat to anyone." Yu Jingchen's words were quite serious, but Nan Zhiyun couldn't find any point to refute them.
"So for you, the palace is actually the safest place. This isn't the first time I've told you this. But you don't seem to have taken it to heart, still clinging to wishful thinking that the outside world isn't so cruel. But do you have the resources to take this gamble? I'm the safest person here. As long as you don't keep thinking about leaving, as long as you behave and don't do anything that crosses my bottom line, I can give you anything you want."
"Having status and power means I can protect you and everyone you care about. You can throw tantrums and be capricious. You can have your own ideas, your own life, and your own hobbies. But there are only two things: take care of your health and stay obediently by my side. This is the best choice for you," Yu Jingchen continued, every word he spoke based on reality.
Some might find these words outrageous, arrogant, or self-centered, but unfortunately, given that he is an emperor and the current state of the world, his words are reasonable.
“Nan Zhiyun, it might sound cruel to say this, but it’s an inescapable fact and a problem we have to face. Even if you feel resistant to it, they really do exist. However… I didn’t say you’re bad at all, nor did I say you’re really that terrible.” Yu Jingchen looked at the person in his arms and gently patted her body, hoping to ease her anxiety in this way.
"You are kind and innocent, possessing the most precious qualities. Your kindness will be rewarded, and your life will become simpler. Although I often say that kindness and innocence are the most useless things, if this world truly lost its innocence and kindness, it would only become more terrifying. Therefore, your kindness will become a ray of light illuminating this world, and a clean and gentle place in this dirty world." Yu Jingchen knew that his words might be cruel, which was why he thought of comforting her in this way.
“If you don’t like the world I just described and want to change it, there’s only one way: strive to become powerful, reach the highest position, and control the life and death of others. Only when you have power will you have a voice, and at that time, you can try to make the world whatever you want it to be.” Yu Jingchen patted Nan Zhiyun’s head, but Nan Zhiyun still didn’t respond.
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