Zong Zheng Xiaoting's long eyelashes were slightly curved upwards in her sleep. Because of the medicine, she was sleeping soundly at the moment. Looking at the person sleeping peacefully and innocently in bed, Situ Xunxiao's lips unconsciously curled up with pleasure.

Every time they met, the two of them were always at loggerheads. Her face was always rebellious, aggressive, or unyielding, like a miser. Even in the cave, she was always alert and didn't sleep well.

A face that sleeps peacefully and innocently like this is something that he has never seen before. Situ Xunxiao's heart moved slightly. Looking at her at this moment, he had an impulse to keep such an innocent expression and give her such a comfortable life.

The slender fingertips could not help but stroke across Zong Zheng Xiaoting's smooth forehead, and very gently brushed away a strand of hair that hung on her forehead. The delicate and smooth touch between the fingertips made him linger a little absent-mindedly.

Perhaps it was the same feeling coming from her cheeks, Zong Zheng Xiaoting couldn't help frowning in her sleep, and her face couldn't help turning left and right. Her red lips were slightly pouted, and she seemed unhappy. She turned her little face left and right, found a comfortable place, and fell asleep again.

Looking at Zongzheng Xiaoting's actions, Situ Xunxiao laughed dumbly, withdrew his hand reluctantly, and let out a long breath from his nose.

At this moment, there was no one to disturb him in the bedroom, which added to the silence. It was this silence that gave him the opportunity to think carefully and sort out his thoughts.

I'm afraid Zong Zheng Xiaoting never dreamed that it was because of such a gap and everything that happened in the palace today that her efforts to dilute Situ Xunxiao's feelings suddenly came to naught. If she knew, I'm afraid she wouldn't do such a venting thing today.

The only sounds left in the quiet bedroom were two breathing sounds, one deep and one shallow.

Situ Xunxiao's always cold face was now cold. His handsome face looked even more handsome because of his soft expression. The tenderness in his eyes kept sliding across the face of the sleeping person.

If it wasn't for today, if it wasn't for her, maybe I wouldn't even know what the feelings that I once thought were just those of youth and recklessness really were.

Liu Jing, the woman he once thought would be the one he loved most in his life, the one who had brought him unspeakable pain, the woman who had stayed by his side for so many years when everyone else was avoiding him. Even though she later betrayed him, he still couldn't bear to hurt her in the slightest.

He once thought that this was love. So when she ruthlessly abandoned herself to pursue fame and wealth, although he was in pain and hated her, he still chose to fulfill her wish and let her go.

Even when Gong Yunluo was making things difficult for her and confronting her everywhere, he still protected her and did not allow Gong Yunluo to bully her.

So he always thought that this was his love. And because of this, he was convinced that he would never be moved or heartbroken by anyone again.

But today in the palace, watching her being pressed step by step and constantly mocked by Zong Zheng Xiaoting, in his heart he only cared about Zong Zheng Xiaoting's anger and resentment. He even felt a little nervous when she asked about his bottom line.

At that time, her eyes that seemed to see through everything were smiling slyly, but he suddenly felt nervous in his heart, fearing that Zong Zheng Xiaoting would find out about their past and have a bad feeling towards him. Even though he knew in his heart that the past was just a young man's pampering of a woman he had a crush on! Even though there was no physical intimacy, even though there was no disrespectful behavior, he was afraid that she would find out, guess, or even doubt.

That was why he indulged her so dotingly, as if this was the only way to dispel the doubts and speculations in her heart.

At this moment, Situ Xunxiao was like a young boy who had just fallen in love. He didn't know what to do as he looked at the sleeping person.

In the palace, when she asked him about his bottom line, his heart and mind revolved around only her, Zong Zheng Xiaoting. It was also at that time, when he saw the fleeting sorrow and hurt in the eyes of the woman he thought he loved, that he suddenly woke up and realized that what he thought was love was not love at all!

Thinking about the details of his and Liu Jing's interactions from knowing each other to falling in love and hating each other, Situ Xunxiao raised a sarcastic arc and muttered to himself: "If the person that day was you, what would I do?"

Yes, if the target was her, Zong Zheng Xiaoting, what would she do?

At that time, Liu Jing chose the emperor, but it was because the imperial power was supreme. She coveted vanity, status, honor, and wealth! She even looked forward to him being angry for her, and overthrowing the imperial power and becoming the emperor when the right opportunity arose! He had always known it, but he did not do it as she wished! So what if it was her?

Situ Xunxiao looked at the sleeping person, his eyes becoming softer. If it were her doing the same thing, perhaps his choice would be different!

But if it were her, she wouldn't be so subtle. She might be arrogant and conceited, not caring about anyone or anything. Or she might be scheming and let people step into the trap she designed step by step to achieve her goal?

Thinking of the Zong Zheng Xiaoting in his memory, that smile of success, that innocent look of pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger, that arrogant and domineering attitude, Situ Xunxiao smiled bitterly. It was a woman like this who disturbed my peace.

Yes! When the assassin tried to kill her that day, he could have jumped off the cliff with her without hesitation, regardless of life or death. So, what was more important to him than his country and the world?

Situ Xunxiao does have great ambitions, but his ambitions are only for the greatest satisfaction and pursuit in his heart.

But he never knew that when she was in danger, his country and the world would be completely abandoned, and his heart would only revolve around her. What he said to Nighthawk was just self-deception. If he was really so rational, why would he always be entangled in whether she would choose her father or Gongsun Zixing?

After all, what he cared about and was entangled with was just the person she loved, whether it was just Gongsun Zixing, and why the person she loved could not be himself!

Thinking of this, a sense of frustration and anger suddenly rose in my heart.

It seems that the biggest obstacle between the two of them is not their country, but Gongsun Zixing!

Thinking of this, he clenched his fists tightly.

(Hello everyone, I have been discharged from the hospital. It will take about a month to recover to normal. I can finally get up and post this chapter. I also want to wish you a happy new year. Thank you for your concern and waiting during this period. Thank you for your continuous voting and rewards during the suspension period. This book will resume updating between 12:05-12:18 am on March 1st, because Yiyi has to go to the hospital for a follow-up examination at the end of February. I wish you all a happy new year in advance.)