Xuanyuan Yue interrupted her with a smile, saying, "Your Highness need not explain, I trust Your Highness."
Mei Zhixuan stared at her eyes in astonishment for a moment, never expecting that even though he had been pretending to be cold and indifferent to Xuan Yuan Yue, she would still trust him so much.
A faint sense of apology welled up within her, but a hint of guilt lingered in her eyes. She said in a low voice, "I'm sorry, I've left you alone in your room since our wedding. It's because... I wasn't ready!"
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuan Yue quickly reached out and gently placed two slender fingers on his lips, softly saying, "Your Highness, never say the words 'I'm sorry' to me in this lifetime. That night at the Sihai Tea House, if it weren't for Your Highness's timely arrival to save me, I'm afraid I would have already..."
For countless days, whenever she thought of that incident, Xuan Yuan Yue always felt that it must have been a destiny that had been preordained by the heavens for the two of them.
Their encounter was destined to be more than just a fleeting moment to reminisce over for the rest of their lives. Rather, it was the right person they had been searching for for a long time in this vast sea of people, the one they would spend their lives with and never tire of looking at.
After a pause, she said with deep gratitude and affection, "Moreover, even though Your Highness witnessed my shameful act before the wedding, you did not hold a grudge against Western Qin, nor did you abandon me. I am already deeply grateful to Your Highness, so how could I have any complaints?"
Mei Zhixuan gently reached out and grasped her delicate, slender hand, slowly pulling it away. He was surprised to find that the hand he touched was so soft and slender that he suddenly felt a greedy reluctance to let go. Staring blankly into her gentle eyes, he exclaimed in surprise, "So, you already knew all along!"
Xuan Yuan Yue was also caught off guard and touched the warmth of that strong and powerful hand that she had longed for for so long for the first time. She felt that it was so warm, and that warmth could instantly spread throughout her entire body.
She stared intently at her own hand, which was cold and tense, now held tightly in his chest. She could almost feel his strong heartbeat. Her face flushed red, as if even her own heartbeat had suddenly slowed down.
The two stood there silently, their eyes meeting, and the atmosphere in the room suddenly became more ambiguous than ever before. A strange, unprecedented feeling began to flow slowly through their hearts.
Suddenly coming to her senses, Xuan Yuan Yue smiled faintly and nodded slightly, shyly pulling her hand away from his large, well-defined hand.
She walked slowly to the candle on the desk, gazing intently at its faint light, and said, "Your Highness's features are already deeply etched in my heart. How could I not recognize you just because of a mere veil?"
Upon hearing this, Mei Zhixuan felt even more shocked and ashamed, but he could only helplessly lower his head and stare blankly at the phoenix painting on the table.
What should he do? What should he do with her? What should he do with this beautiful feeling that is gradually making him lose himself and will eventually devour his mind?
He suddenly seemed unable to recall how this woman had come to his side step by step and become his woman in name only.
He knew, he always knew, that deep down he had some feelings for her. But precisely because of this, for her sake, he had to distance himself from her.
He always thought he was protecting her. But he never expected that one wrong step would lead to a series of wrong steps.
Because of his agreement to the marriage, everything that followed became so uncontrollable for him.
The Western Qin Kingdom has already launched a fierce attack on the Northern Lie Kingdom, and it is likely that the Eastern Ning Kingdom will be next soon.
When that time comes, will they part ways? How will they cope with their own fates and tribulations?
...
After a long while, he sighed deeply and praised her, saying, "I always thought you were a smart, beautiful, noble and extraordinary princess. You are kind and have a rare sense of justice that is hard to find in women."
He suddenly stopped speaking, looked up at her slender back as if deep in thought, and said, "You should have had better choices, you could have lived a happier and freer life. But I don't understand, why would someone like you give up fighting for everything, obey fate's arrangement, choose a marriage alliance, leave your home and marry into this strange place to suffer with me, a mere illegitimate prince whom no one in the royal family cares about, who has no backing whatsoever? You are the most noble legitimate princess of the Western Qin Kingdom!"
Xuanyuan Yue listened attentively, her face still smiling faintly. Seeing that the candle in front of her had been burning for a long time and the long wick was showing, she went over and picked up a pair of golden scissors. While trimming the excess wick, she said with a satisfied expression, "Because Your Highness is worth all this."
"Am I worthy?" Mei Zhixuan stared in surprise at her retreating figure, puzzled.
As Xuanyuan Yue continued what she was doing, she said, "The best decision I have ever made in my life was choosing Your Highness as my husband. From the moment I first met Your Highness on the streets of Western Qin, there has never been room in my heart for anyone else."
"Moreover... my heart for Your Highness will never waver until death!" Mei Zhixuan was stunned as she suddenly turned around and gave him an incredibly firm look.
Once he came to his senses, Mei Zhixuan said bitterly, "Why...why did you do this?"
Xuan Yuan Yue put the golden scissors back in her hand, then slowly returned to Mei Zhi Xuan's side, staring intently into his deep, dark eyes, and said, "As long as I'm with the person I love, no matter what his status or position is, no matter where he is, or what he does, I will only feel that I am doing the happiest thing in the world, and that I am the happiest woman in the world. In that case, how could I feel bitter?"
Seeing that Mei Zhixuan's initial surprise and doubt softened and even became somewhat dreamy after hearing her heartfelt and affectionate words, she realized that his gaze towards her had changed from one of surprise and doubt to one of tenderness.
Xuanyuan Yue continued confidently, "As long as I can stay by Your Highness's side, like now, and see Your Highness every day, I will be more than content. Your Highness said that you are not ready to accept me yet, but I can wait. And no matter how long it takes, I will wait forever."
Xuan Yuan Yue spoke with a firm gaze and a tone as solid as a rock.
Mei Zhixuan was already deeply moved and captivated by her, yet unaware of it. After staring at her for a long while, he said, "Throughout history, in so-called marriage alliances between two countries, the parties involved were merely used as political pawns. We both know this perfectly well. So even if, even if..."
A moment of hesitation flashed through his mind. It was a forbidden zone that he had kept tightly locked in his heart, a place he would never want to discuss with her face to face. Yet, at this moment, he finally opened it open, leaving it raw and bleeding.
"I imagine you're already aware of the war between Western Qin and Northern Lie. Western Qin has dispatched such a massive force this time—160,000 elite troops! It seems they're determined to take Northern Lie this time. This continent has been divided for far too long; as the saying goes, 'The world, after a long period of unity, will inevitably divide; after a long period of division, will inevitably unite.' I think your Western Qin ultimately doesn't just want to swallow up a small Northern Lie, does it?"
Seeing Xuan Yuan Yue's deeply furrowed brows and serious expression, she seemed lost in thought about her own words, unable to extricate herself from them for a long time.
Mei Zhixuan paused, half-closed his eyes, and stared longingly at the candle flame that Xuan Yuan Yue had just trimmed, which now shone quite brightly. He said blankly, "So, even if one day in the future, if that day really comes... you will still feel that your choice today was worthwhile, and you really won't have the slightest regret?"
In Mei Zhixuan's view, the young and naive Xuan Yuan Yue, who was just beginning to experience love, undoubtedly made a mistake that all young girls in the world would make.
Because of a fleeting moment of infatuation, she secretly gave her heart to the wrong person. Afterwards, she was willing to pay any price to get him back.
However, without careful consideration of the long-term situation between the two countries, can a decision made on impulse really withstand the bond of blood?
So, as soon as he finished speaking, Mei Zhixuan slowly withdrew his gaze and turned it back to Xuan Yuan Yue, waiting for her to answer.
After waiting for a long time, Xuan Yuan Yue remained silent with her head down and did not give any response.
Seeing this, Mei Zhixuan seemed to think that she had just predicted it, so he turned around, picked up a cup of wine that had already been filled on the table, and drank it all in one gulp.
He then closed his eyes tightly, looked up at the air, and let out a cold laugh. He then opened his eyes again, sighed deeply, and finally turned his back to her in utter disappointment, saying silently, "Don't worry, if that day really comes, I will definitely not make things difficult for you. You can leave the Dongning Palace at any time and return to your motherland for protection. I will never stop you."
Before she could finish speaking, Xuan Yuan Yue suddenly raised her head and stared intently at his lonely back. She said each word firmly and resolutely, "Yes, Yue'er will never fail Your Highness in this life. I swear to stay by Your Highness's side until death, never leave you, and will never regret the choice I made in the past!"
Upon hearing this, Mei Zhixuan suddenly turned around and stared into her eyes, stunned: at this moment, she actually called herself the free "Yue'er" instead of "your concubine," the invisible shackles that bound the two of them by their marriage.
For a long time afterward, the room was silent, as if even the surrounding air had stopped moving, and a strange atmosphere was quietly brewing and fermenting...
After an unknown amount of time, Xuan Yuan Yue finally broke the deathly silence by speaking first: "So, Your Highness's claim that you are not ready is because of this?"
She looked away, and instantly understood everything...
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