Having watched Xie Rang grow up almost by eye, Yun Qing found it hard not to feel sympathy for him after observing him for so long.
If she hadn't had the chance to talk to him before, it wouldn't have been so bad, but now that she has the chance, she can't say anything, which is undoubtedly a sad thing.
This means that no matter what Xie Rang does, he will still end up in the predetermined fate.
She didn't want to see it.
Xie Rang clearly saw the disappointment on Yun Qing's face, and his heart clenched. Perhaps it was because he knew that this person had always been by his side, even though he couldn't see her, that he still had some other thoughts.
"If you can't say it, then so be it." Xie Rang carefully raised his hand and patted her shoulder. He was still a young boy, but he had already learned to comfort others. "Fate is predetermined. I believe what you said. I will become a very powerful emperor."
They didn't discuss this topic in detail. In any case, it was something that would happen in the future, and since it was something they couldn't say about now, discussing it further would be pointless.
Yun Qing hugged him, her voice firm: "It will definitely happen."
She thought that by staying by Xie Rang's side, even if she couldn't say anything about the predetermined course of history, she could at least offer some subtle suggestions, which might bring about some change.
...
The following years were a bit easier.
Yun Qing could only be seen by Xie Rang, and relying on this, she could occasionally help Xie Rang with small favors.
The emperor's health has been poor these past two years, and the situation in the court has likely changed somewhat. The concubines in the palace are all feeling insecure. Those with princes are busy planning for their children, while those without children are trying to avoid the limelight as much as possible. As a result, no one pays any attention to the Cold Palace anymore.
This made all of Xie Rang's actions much easier.
Yun Qing would find a time when the imperial kitchen was unguarded and have Xie Rang sneak in to steal some food.
Of course, no one would really be willing to do this unless they were truly starving and destitute.
Although history cannot be discussed, surprisingly, things about modern times can be talked about. Whenever she has free time, Yunqing will tell Xie Rang some stories about modern times.
Xie Rang always listens patiently.
"In our society, everyone is equal, but this was achieved gradually over many years of development. We certainly can't reach that level now; it's still more than a thousand years away."
Yun Qing never fantasized that she could change the status quo of society through Xie Rang, the future emperor. After all, her history teacher had also said that each dynasty had its own development laws. Ideas that transcend the times may be achieved in later generations, but they are unrealistic in the present.
The young boy looked at her, his eyes dark: "And how did you get here? Was it also through those amazing technologies?"
These were the words he heard from Yun Qing.
“No.” Yun Qing was also confused. She frowned. “I don’t know how I got here, and I probably can’t go back for the time being.”
Her intuition has always been accurate; if she's had this thought, it's probably true. She just doesn't know if her parents will worry…
"I don't want to think about it anymore, let's take it slow."
Yun Qing smiled, not really caring about the matter. She figured she might as well make the best of it. If she really couldn't go back, there was nothing she could do on her own.
Xie Rang asked in confusion, "So, you'll never grow up either?"
When he first saw Yun Qing, Yun Qing looked just like this, and now that he's grown up, Yun Qing still looks just like this.
"Perhaps it's because the soul can't grow?" Yun Qing couldn't quite put her finger on it. She glanced at Xie Rang and smiled, "But no matter what, you should call me 'sister,' right?"
Regardless of their past or future lives, at least at this moment, she and Xie Rang are in the same time and space, and she feels that there is absolutely nothing wrong with saying that.
"Me!" Xie Rangyu choked, her ears turning half red as if her hair had been bristled, and she turned her head away. "I don't want to!"
Seeing his rather reluctant attitude, Yun Qing said regretfully, "Alright."
Overall, although life in the cold palace was boring, the two of them had some fun together. No one bothered them, and they were safe and sound. Before they knew it, four years had passed.
The arrival of an imperial edict shattered the rare peace.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The sixth son of the Emperor, Xie Rang, is of the utmost benevolence and filial piety, possesses the purest and finest qualities, and is tireless in his love of propriety. I am greatly pleased. Therefore, I respectfully inform Heaven and the ancestral temples that he is hereby established as the Crown Prince, to ensure the continuation of the imperial line for ten thousand years, to expand the empire, and to govern both the inner and outer realms. This decree is hereby issued!"
The leading eunuch was Liang Zhigong, the current supervisor of the Eastern and Western Depots, a powerful eunuch wielding immense authority. He looked at Xie Rang with a half-smile, his voice soft yet high-pitched: "Your Highness, receive the decree."
He didn't take this little prince, who was born in the cold palace, seriously. He had never attended school and was barely literate. Even if he was temporarily made crown prince, he wouldn't be a threat to his position. In the future, he would become a puppet emperor and be completely at his mercy.
Xie Rang lowered his head and did not accept it.
Liang Zhigong scoffed, "You don't know what's good for you!"
He didn't seem to want to have much interaction with Xie Rang. He put away the imperial edict, turned around, and left. The few eunuchs behind him, who looked down on him, spat at him several times.
Although he was the crown prince in name only, it was clear that no one had ever thought of changing Xie Rang's palace, let alone anything else.
Xie Rang raised his eyes and looked at Yun Qing: "Is this how my fate came to be?"
Yun Qing nodded: "Are you... are you sad?"
After spending more time together, she was able to sense some of Xie Rang's emotions, but she wasn't sure if she was right about it.
"No." Xie Rang shook his head, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "At this moment, he does remember me, but unfortunately..."
Unfortunately, this was something Xiao Yuan had waited her whole life for but never got. Xie Rang didn't care for it; he just found it funny.
Yun Qing opened her lips, but couldn't say anything to comfort him.
The boy's expression softened: "It's alright, I'll be out soon, won't I?"
"But I'd rather you didn't go out."
Yun Qing did not laugh, because she knew clearly what fate Xie Rang would face. She did not think it was something that could be changed, but it would be too cruel to watch Xie Rang walk towards the predetermined point of his fate.
"I know I might not be able to avoid it, but I hope you'll be alright."
For Yu Yunqing, her relationship with Xie Rang was never one-way, but two-way. She knew clearly that the only way to change this young man's character was after he left the Cold Palace.
Out of selfishness, she did not want him to become a tyrannical emperor, nor did she want him to repeat the fate of dying young in history.
Yun Qing floated over, gently hugged him, and repeated, "I hope you can be alright."
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