Chapter 133 Conspiracy As long as you are you, I will always love you. ...
By the time Yue Yining realized she should lie to cover up the past, it was too late.
Her demeanor and expression betrayed her.
Her heart pounded like a drum. Xie Qingyu looked down at her and said in a low voice, "...I apologize to Miss for my aggressive behavior."
“I should have said these things a long time ago, but I’ve hesitated to bring them up. I hope I haven’t frightened you, Miss,” Xie Qingyu said. “I have no intention of threatening you. I will keep this a secret and will not tell anyone else about it. Please believe me, Miss.”
He released his grip, and Yue Yining slowly lowered her hand as well, staring at him blankly.
"you……"
How did you know?
Besides these, how much else do you know about me?
Yue Yining originally thought she had seen through his character, but now she realized that this Xie Qingyu was like a mystery that puzzled her, leaving her feeling lost in a fog at certain times.
Yue Yining, who is usually quick-witted, found herself at a loss for words when facing Xie Qingyu.
Just then, they heard rustling footsteps not far behind them. Yue Yining paused, turned around, and saw an unfamiliar maid in a pink dress.
The maid in the pink dress kept her head down, seemingly oblivious to her surroundings. Only when she was some distance away from the two of them did she gracefully bow and say in a clear voice, "Greetings, Lord Yue. My young lady has been waiting for you in the courtyard for quite some time."
Xie Qingyu's words just now were like a thunderclap, and Yue Yining almost forgot about Sun Qiong's matter.
She panicked and hurriedly brushed away Xie Qingyu's hand, which was still loosely holding hers, and headed towards the pink-skirted maid at the end of the path. "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
The maid in the pink dress kept her head down, strictly adhering to etiquette, and said, "Please follow me, Your Majesty."
Xie Qingyu said softly, "Miss..."
Yue Yining stiffened slightly. She composed herself, pretended not to hear him calling her, and quickly followed.
As she rounded the corner, she glanced back and saw Xie Qingyu's figure motionless, still in the same spot. His tall, slender figure had become a faint ink-like blur in the sky and earth, almost swallowed up by the overwhelming white plum blossoms.
Xie Qingyu stood there, watching her walk further and further away until she disappeared into the depths of the inner courtyard.
A silver shadow suddenly appeared. Yin Yi flashed to Xie Qingyu's side, knelt on one knee, and said in a cold voice, "Young Master, I was guarding the pass, and no one passed by just now."
Xie Qingyu lowered her eyes and composed herself, then slowly turned around. "Let's go back to the main hall."
The bluestone path leading to the inner courtyard of the Sun residence was swept clean, with ancient pines with gnarled branches on both sides. Plum blossoms were piled up on the green needles, like snow, making the scene even more solemn.
Yue Yining pushed open the door and entered. A figure was standing by the window, her back to the door. The woman was tall and straight, wearing a dark red brocade robe with cloud and wild goose patterns. Her dark hair was tied up with a simple silver crown, not a single strand out of place.
The Ru kiln celadon teacup on the small rosewood table by the window had cooled down, with no trace of heat remaining.
Sun Qiong had clearly been waiting for a long time.
Hearing the door open, she turned around, her gaze falling on Yue Yining, a hint of a smile appearing in her eyes: "Lord Yue, please have a seat."
The maidservant served them tea again, bowed, and left.
Sun Qiong picked up her teacup, her gaze sweeping over Yue Yining's calm and composed features. Her smile deepened as she cut straight to the point: "Lord Yue is now a very influential figure in the court. Just a while ago, he told me he was busy with official duties, and now, not long after, I've received a visiting card from Lord Yue. I'm truly surprised."
"If you have anything important to say, please speak frankly."
Yue Yining put down her teacup.
She met Sun Qiong's probing gaze and said in a gentle voice, "I apologize for bothering you, but I do have something to discuss with you. I hesitated for a long time before finally deciding to come to see Lord Sun."
"Oh?" Sun Qiong raised an eyebrow, the lazy smile in her eyes fading slightly. She leaned forward a little, revealing genuine interest. "I'd like to hear the details. What is it?"
Yue Yining stared into Sun Qiong's eyes, as if trying to catch the most subtle emotional fluctuations in her, and slowly said, "Does Lord Sun know how General Sun Cheng, the Lieutenant General under the Dingyuan Army in the Northern Border, is doing these days?"
“Sun Cheng?” A hint of surprise flashed across Sun Qiong’s eyes, as if she didn’t understand why Yue Yining would suddenly ask about this person. Then she frowned slightly and began to recall, “He is my distant cousin, and he has been guarding the Black Tiger Gorge in the northern border for five years.”
"When we held a family ancestral worship ceremony before the New Year, my third uncle mentioned that he had received a letter from home before the New Year. The letter mentioned that small groups of Di and Rong tribes were roaming around the border and constantly harassing us, but the Black Tiger Gorge City was strong and well-equipped, and they were able to deal with it. Didn't the imperial court's gazette and the Ministry of War's report also say that although there were unusual movements in the northern border, the defenses of each fortress were well-managed and the defense line was solid?"
Yue Yining stared intently at Sun Qiong, noticing the direction of her facial muscles and the way she looked and acted when she spoke.
She could tell that Sun Qiong wasn't lying.
Therefore, the Sun family is unaware that Sun Cheng is dead.
Having made up her mind, Yue Yining got straight to the point: "I have come here today to represent the Eldest Princess and His Highness the Third Prince to discuss a cooperation with the Sun family."
Sun Qiong raised an eyebrow: "You want to cooperate with the Sun family?"
"Is Lord Yue joking? The Sun family supports the Fourth Prince. If you really intend to cooperate with us, aren't you afraid we'll turn against you later?" Sun Qiong leaned back in her chair with her arms crossed, a half-smile on her face. "Furthermore, I've heard that the Princess has quite a few upright female officials under her command. Lord Yue, you've only just arrived at the central government, yet you're already inseparable from the Left Attendant. It seems the Left Grand Secretary also intends to befriend Lord Yue."
Yue Yining paused, slightly surprised: "How did you know?"
She and Zuo Xulin are inseparable? What kind of strange rumor is this?
Sun Qiong smiled slightly at her and said meaningfully, "The people of Yue are really too slow-witted."
Yue Yining also understood the meaning behind her words.
It turns out that she has become one of the people closely watched by various forces.
Indeed, she had always served the Third Prince and the Eldest Princess in public, achieving outstanding political results and rising through the ranks quickly. Coupled with her status as a Taoist priestess, she attracted considerable attention. Now, the struggle for the throne had reached a fever pitch, with various factions sending people to gather intelligence on other factions and planting spies everywhere. It's likely that her affair with Zuo Xulin was leaked by some officials in the Ministry of Personnel or the Secretariat.
Yue Yining couldn't help but think of Xie Qingyu.
Will he also send people to inquire about her? If he knew she was closely associated with Zuo Xulin, would he...?
Yue Yining lowered her eyes, trying to sort out the chaotic thoughts in her mind.
"...Lord Sun, you are too kind to me." She smiled wryly. "My interactions with the Left Attendant are mostly official. After all, he is a Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat, while I am a Director of the Ministry of Personnel. How could there be any personal feelings between us? Even if the rumors outside are true, they are false."
Sun Qiong scrutinized her features and chuckled, “That’s what the Yue people think, but Zuo Xulin probably doesn’t think that way.”
Yue Yining was surprised by her keen insight, but then she realized it made sense. She said, "Why is Lord Sun so certain that Zuo Xulin has improper thoughts about me?"
Sun Qiong didn't speak, but Yue Yining wasn't waiting for her answer anyway. She asked in a clear voice, "Is it because the Sun family also has a partnership with the Zuo family?"
Upon hearing this, Sun Qiong paused slightly, the playfulness in her eyes vanished, replaced by a look of weighing and inquiry.
She looked at Yue Yining, her eyes shifting repeatedly, before finally speaking slowly: "I really underestimated Lord Yue."
Yue Yining: "Isn't Lord Sun curious how I knew that?"
Sun Qiong smiled indifferently, "Aren't you a Celestial Master? You have many ways to investigate, how could I possibly guess? If you know, you know. Anyway, the cooperation between the Zuo family and the Sun family ended a long time ago."
Yue Yining, however, was not so easily fooled. Rather, when she learned that Sun Qiong was unaware of Sun Cheng's death, many previously scattered clues began to connect and form a coherent whole in her mind.
"Lord Sun, if my investigation is correct, the one who initially advocated for the 'reform of the border troops' and spoke out first in court, arguing forcefully, was an official from the Sun family. The Grand Secretary Zuo Yingfeng strongly endorsed and supported the policy at a crucial moment, ultimately leading to its implementation."
Sun Qiong's hand, holding the teacup, froze in mid-air. Yue Yining, however, hadn't finished speaking, giving her no chance to catch her breath, and continued to throw out even more crucial information: "The reason why the Sun family was chosen to take the lead, rather than the Zuo family acting on their own, is because the Left Grand Secretary was trying to curry favor with His Highness the Fourth Prince at the time. The Fourth Prince's faction has deep roots in the Ministry of War and many supporters. If the border army reform was proposed by the Sun family, who support the Fourth Prince, and then carried out internally within the Ministry of War, there would be the least resistance, and the implementation would be the smoothest."
Who could have imagined that the aristocratic families and the poor families could sit down and discuss cooperation in a calm and peaceful manner, and even cooperate so well?
"The Zuo family's seconding of the proposal not only demonstrates the magnanimity of the common people but also cleverly bestows the credit for promoting the reform upon the Fourth Prince's faction. As for the Sun family and His Highness the Fourth Prince's people, you will naturally also get a share of this massive reform project. The procurement of military equipment, the transportation of grain and fodder, and even the positions vacated after the layoffs of redundant personnel... I don't need to elaborate on the benefits involved."
A deathly silence fell over the hall. The smoke rising straight up from the incense burner seemed frozen in the heavy atmosphere. Sun Qiong's usual flamboyant and bright expression vanished completely, replaced by a deep and unfathomable look.
She leaned forward slightly, her gaze like a blade tempered with ice, scraping across Yue Yining's face inch by inch.
The air was like a fully drawn bow, suddenly taut to its limit.
After a long pause, she suddenly burst into laughter: "Lord Yue, you truly have excellent methods and great courage!"
Sun Qiong smiled at her leisurely, "But what are you planning to do by saying all this to me? You said you were here to cooperate, but now I feel like it's more like a threat?"
However, Yue Yining remained calm and composed. She even picked up her teacup, took a small sip of the warm tea, and then put it down.
She looked up and stared directly at Sun Qiong, her tone calm and even reassuring: "Lord Sun, you misunderstand. I am not risking saying these things today to provoke you or to be your enemy. I hope to use this opportunity to seek cooperation with the Sun family, so naturally we need to be frank and tell each other what I know. If there is any misunderstanding, we can clarify it."
Sun Qiong shook her head. "Your Excellency still doesn't understand. What I mean is, I can't agree to this cooperation. I have worked with Your Excellency before, which is why I'm willing to offer this kind advice: Your Excellency should seek a more suitable alternative."
Yue Yining took out a copy of the document from her sleeve and said calmly, "Lord Sun, there's no need to rush to refuse me. Why don't you take a look at the contents of this document first and then consider it carefully?"
Sun Qiong raised an eyebrow, clearly not believing that Yue Yining could offer anything that could influence her decision.
She spotted the document at a glance, picked it up, and began to read it page by page. At first, her movements were rather casual, but the more she read, the slower she turned the pages, and her expression gradually changed.
Yue Yining observed her, her voice calm and composed: "This is a file I compiled recently after reviewing old documents and records from the northern border in the Ministry of Personnel, checking military supply dispatches, personnel rotations, and other matters. I believe that Lord Sun will be able to notice the various suspicious points in it."
“A month ago, General Sun Cheng’s seal and handwriting stopped appearing on all grain and fodder receipts, arms requisitions, and even routine military reports.
Sun Qiong had finished reading the last page, her eyes filled with unmistakable shock, and she couldn't recover for a long time.
Sun Qiong raised her head, and their eyes met in mid-air, each seeing the emotions churning in the other's eyes.
Sun Qiong parted her lips slightly: "You mean... Sun Cheng is very likely already dead?"
"Yes." Yue Yining nodded and said in a low voice, "According to the contents of the files I have compiled, General Sun Cheng passed away a month ago. Just in case, I also calculated General Sun Cheng's fate, and he has indeed passed away. It's just that for some reason, the news of his death has not been able to reach the capital."
“General Sun Cheng must have died in an encounter battle, most likely when foreign enemies attacked Black Tiger Gorge. General Sun Cheng led his troops to fight back, but met with misfortune. This battle was not recorded and reported to the court, but according to the list of lost weapons, it did happen,” Yue Yining said. “I don’t know much, and I can’t deduce exactly what happened at the time, which is why I came to see you, Lord Sun.”
Yue Yining paused, glanced at Sun Qiong's expression, and continued, "To be honest, when I first brought up Sun Cheng's matter to Lord Sun, it was to test whether the Sun family was aware of it. If you know about Sun Cheng's death and don't care, I will no longer seek cooperation with the Sun family."
“But now it seems that the Sun family is also a victim. Sun Cheng was one of your people, but he died for no reason. Now we haven’t even seen his body, and the Sun family doesn’t know the real cause of his death,” Yue Yining said. “At present, it seems that the mastermind behind all this is most likely the Left Grand Secretary. Only he could do it and has a reason to do so.”
"If I'm not mistaken, the Left Grand Secretary used the Sun family's people as sacrifices in his plan. In that case, I think the Sun family has no reason to continue cooperating with the Left Grand Secretary."
Sun Qiong gradually recovered from the huge shock. She looked at Yue Yining and moved her lips, "...Yue Yining."
"You said these are all just your guesses."
"But you are clearly a Taoist master, can't you figure out who killed Sun Cheng?"
Yue Yining looked at her and shook her head: "I can't calculate the cause of death. I can only calculate whether a person is alive or dead, and where they were at the moment of death."
Divination is not a panacea; the more you try to investigate, the greater the cost.
The cause of death is the most difficult to determine. Often, we can only get a rough idea. As for the conspiracy behind the cause of death, whether it was murder or a careless mistake, the influencing factors are complex and difficult to calculate.
Looking at Sun Qiong, who was gripping the teacup tightly in her hand, Yue Yining said in a low voice:
"...What I can tell Lord Sun is that General Sun Cheng died for his country. The divination shows that he stayed in Black Tiger Gorge until his death and never left."
Sun Qiong closed her eyes, and Yue Yining watched as the knuckles of the fingers pinching her brow turned white.
When she opened her eyes again, her eyes were filled with a deep, dark black.
Sun Qiong said with certainty, "So, you think it was Zuo Yingfeng who had his men intercept the intelligence being sent back from the border."
Yue Yining: "Yes, I believe that regardless of whether it was his own intention or not, he must have been aware of it, or at least tacitly approved of it. Doesn't Lord Sun think so?"
Sun Qiong slowly spoke: "No. I think the same as you. Right now, he's the only one in the Council of State, so naturally, he's the only one in Dongxi who can control everything."
Yue Yining: "But we still have no way of knowing why he concealed this report. What worries me more is, besides General Sun Cheng, who else has died on the border, but whose deaths have been covered up?"
Sun Qiong understood Yue Yining's meaning. Factional strife is still factional strife, but when it involves matters of national importance and the safety of the court, there is no room for maneuver.
“You’re right, that’s the key point.” Sun Qiong looked at her. “When did you find out about these things?”
Yue Yining: "Seven days ago, I first told Her Highness the Princess about my findings and conclusions. This matter is of great importance. The true situation at the border is almost unknown in the capital, and it could very well lead to a disaster. We sent trusted people to the border in secret, both to investigate and to provide support."
"Now that things have come to this, would Lord Sun be willing to reconsider my initial proposal?"
Sun Qiong remained silent for a long time, and when she looked up at Yue Yining again, her expression was completely different from before.
She looked at her intently and said, "I had always heard people say that the people of Yue were insightful and quick-witted. Now I have truly witnessed it for myself. It is indeed true."
The person before her had a gentle, fair complexion, and her curved eyebrows were like pools of spring water—a face that captivated her at first sight. Not only was she beautiful, but she also possessed a clever and insightful mind, making her like her even more.
Yue Yining had no idea what Sun Qiong was thinking: "Lord Sun is joking again."
Sun Qiong tapped the table with his fingers, and after only three taps, he made up his mind: "I agree to your request. However, I must make it clear in advance that I cannot control the wishes of several elders in the clan, but at least as the heir of the Sun family, I can use the people and connections I have to make to your advantage and act according to your plan."
Sun Qiong looked at her: "Tell me, what do you want me to do for you?"
Yue Yining: "I hope that the Sun family can continue to cooperate with the Left Grand Secretary and not break off relations with him. We should use this relationship to lower his guard and secretly investigate the truth. If possible, I also ask the Sun family to send people to the border to provide support."
......
The jade is thin and fragrant, the sandalwood is deep and the snow is scattered.
Xie Yunying felt incredibly stifled sitting in the regular seating area. She barely knew anyone sitting in the nearby seats, but everyone there recognized her and started chirping quietly right in front of her.
"Is that Miss Xie, the second young lady of the Xie family?"
"She really does have a fierce and menacing look, it's terrifying..."
"Isn't that right? I heard she has a terrible temper and will whip people if she's even slightly dissatisfied."
"I doubt anyone would dare marry a lady from such a prestigious family."
Xie Yunying could no longer pretend to be deaf.
System: "Host, why don't you go out for a walk? If you stay any longer, you'll go out of character."
Xie Yunying: "Huh? Why am I out of character?"
System: "Because if it were really Xie Yunying, she would have lashed out with a whip the moment she heard someone chirping about a cricket."
Xie Yunying: "......."
Xie Yunying stood up, holding her breath. The surrounding noise immediately subsided, but she ignored it and strode out of the hall.
The wind that came at her stung her face. Xie Yunying wrapped her crimson silver fox cloak tighter around herself. Before she could figure out which way to go, she heard the system's notification: "Host, Yuan Nanjie is in the pavilion in the plum blossom grove to the north."
Xie Yunying stopped in her tracks, her face full of surprise: "Has he been hiding there the whole time?" Besides, it's so cold outside, what is he doing staying outside all the time?
System: "Perhaps he's looking for some peace and quiet. He is the eldest son of the Yuan family, and therefore a distinguished guest of the Sun family. If he doesn't want to take a seat, he doesn't have to."
Xie Yunying: "Then why bother coming all this way? Just for show?"
The system said solemnly, "Host, this is the adult world, filled with formalism and unnecessary trivialities."
Xie Yunying: "...?"
Xie Yunying followed the red dot marked by the system into the plum grove. All around her were old plum trees with gnarled branches, their trunks drooping under the weight of snow, yet stubbornly blooming with tiny red plum blossoms, like solidified, unextinguished beads of blood, burning brightly in the gray and chaotic world, exuding a poignant and beautiful charm.
The wind swept across the plum branches, and the petals twirled and fell.
Deep within the shadows of the plum blossoms, Xie Yunying saw Yuan Nanjie.
A solitary ebony wheelchair sat beneath a few of the most vibrant white plum trees. The person in the wheelchair was wrapped in a dark blue cloak that didn't appear particularly thick. Their shoulders, knees, and even the top of their dark hair were covered with glistening white plum blossoms, like accumulated snow.
Yuan Nanjie was resting with his eyes closed in his wheelchair when he suddenly heard a joyful voice: "Yuan Nanjie!"
He suddenly opened his eyes, and Xie Yunying came skipping and hopping over. Her crimson dress dyed her face with a vibrant color. The surrounding scenery was frigid, but she was as joyful as a little bird from spring. She fell headfirst into his arms.
Yuan Nanjie's face immediately turned red. "Thank you, Miss Xie!"
Xie Yunying wrapped her arms around his waist, tilted her head up from his embrace, and blinked her eyes: "What's wrong?"
"Get up quickly! My servants are right under the pavilion. What will happen if someone sees you behaving so frivolously?" Yuan Nanjie's earlobes were so red they looked like they were about to bleed.
He bent down and pushed her off him, but Xie Yunying was very unhappy with his actions and grabbed his arm, so Yuan Nanjie, who was stuck in the wheelchair, could not move again.
"Don't push me away!" Xie Yunying looked at him with a pitiful expression, almost in tears. "I was already in a bad mood today, and you treated me like this. I'm so sad..."
Yuan Nanjie's movements indeed froze, his arm stiffened in mid-air, and he stopped pushing her.
Xie Yunying pretended to cry, but secretly lifted one eyelid to see his reaction, and was secretly delighted.
Xie Yunying: "Host, I feel that Yuan Nanjie is really a good person."
System: "What do you mean?"
Xie Yunying: "Every time I try to play the victim, it works! If it were Xie Qingyu, even if I cried all my tears, he probably wouldn't even give me a second glance."
System: "..." That's true.
Yuan Nanjie sighed, gently gathered her arms around his knees, lowered his eyes to look at her, and asked softly, "Why are you in a bad mood?"
Xie Yunying had only made it up on the spot, but she didn't expect Yuan Nanjie to ask her questions, so she stammered, "Because...because my elder brother...he always says things about me! Yes! That's why!"
Yuan Nanjie frowned slightly. "Is your elder brother Xie Qingyu?"
Xie Yunying was stunned. It was the first time she had heard Xie Qingyu's name from Yuan Nanjie's mouth. "Ah...right."
Yuan Nanjie could no longer recall many details of his previous life, but he remembered that the eldest son of the Xie family was a gentle and dignified person who never spoke harshly.
Yuan Nanjie: "What did he say about you?"
Xie Yunying deliberately shifted the blame onto Xie Qingyu, so she intentionally smeared him: "Isn't it because he's been busy with official duties lately? Don't be fooled by his gentle and refined appearance in front of outsiders; behind closed doors, he's more ruthless than anyone else. He'll yell at people for the slightest thing! The whole court is focused on the three princes vying for the throne, and he's involved in it too. He's under a lot of pressure, and he relieves it by yelling at me!"
Yuan Nanjie wasn't stupid either. He watched Xie Yunying shout angrily while her eyes darted around nervously, and he gradually understood.
He didn't find Xie Yunying annoying; on the contrary, he found her quite cute.
However, a struggle for the throne?
Yuan Nanjie asked, "Which prince does your elder brother support?"
Xie Yunying was suddenly interrupted, her mind still reeling: "Huh? Oh...it seems to be the Seventh Prince."
"The Seventh Prince?" Yuan Nanjie repeated, his expression changing slightly, but he said nothing. He simply lowered his head and murmured in a very low voice, "How could this be..."
Why would Wei Xueyu vie for the throne?
Xie Yunying didn't hear what he was saying, and instead rested her head on his lap, looking up at him.
Among the men she had ever met, Yuan Nanjie was a rare beauty. Even though his face was always pale, almost transparent, his handsome features could not be hidden. His dark blue eyebrows, like distant mountains, slanted towards his temples, possessing a natural sharpness and aloofness that seemed to keep people at a distance. His eyes were slightly upturned at the corners, and when he looked at people, there was always a faint gentleness in them, yet a quietness that made people uneasy.
"...I've told you I like you so many times, but you've never told me even once."
Yuan Nanjie was still lost in thought when suddenly, the girl's low voice came over, sounding like a complaint or a hint of frustration.
Yuan Nanjie realized what she had just said, and his already thin face showed signs of turning red again. He hurriedly said, "I..."
Xie Yunying: "What do you mean, 'you'?"
“…Miss Xie,” Yuan Nanjie said with difficulty, “really, please stop teasing me.”
I'm not kidding you.
Xie Yunying tentatively lifted her eyes to look at him: "I really want to hear you say that you like me too."
Yuan Nanjie moved his lips: "...And what about you?"
"Me? Of course I like you. If I didn't like you, why would I be around you all the time?"
"Seriously, Yuan Nanjie, do you like me even a little bit now?"
Faced with Xie Yunying's relentless pressure, the man in the wheelchair looked disheveled, avoiding her gaze, "I..."
Xie Yunying looked at him for a long time, then pouted and said, "Looks like you still don't like me."
Just as she was about to remove her hand from his lap, Yuan Nanjie suddenly reached out and firmly grasped her wrist.
Xie Yunying was stunned for a moment, looking at him with some surprise.
"...a little."
The moment those three words were uttered, it felt like Yuan Nanjie was about to die. The faint blush that had started as a blush gradually deepened and intensified, and along with the man's trembling eyelashes, it all spoke of his utter helplessness.
If he hadn't been dressed so warmly and covered up today, Xie Yunying would have been able to see that his face was red all the way down from his neck to his chest.
Xie Yunying chuckled, her voice clearly filled with joy and delight, "Really?"
Yuan Nanjie's hand was held by her, and he responded softly, his face still flushed, "...Mmm."
Xie Yunying was so happy that she hugged his waist and molested him for a while.
"Yuan Nanjie, Yuan Nanjie, have you been thinking about dying lately?"
Yuan Nanjie stroked her hair, his movements pausing slightly upon hearing those words. Xie Yunying lay on his lap, her voice clear and melodious, her eyes bright and expressive as she looked at him.
“…I don’t really want to think about it anymore,” Yuan Nanjie replied.
"You don't think about it much anymore, but you still think about it occasionally, right?"
"..."
"Don't die, okay? At least live until you fall in love with me and we get married," Xie Yunying said softly. "After that, if you still want to die, I won't stop you."
Xie Yunying snorted, "Once I've paid my respects to heaven and earth with him, I can go straight home and live a life of luxury. Who cares about him then!"
System: "The host is right."
Yuan Nanjie's throat tightened.
Whenever this person expressed his love, he would feel flustered and at a loss. He couldn't understand why such an inexplicable love, so pure and innocent, would be received by someone like him.
Yuan Nanjie asked in a low voice, "...Why do you like me?"
Xie Yunying paused for a moment, then seriously began to think about it. "You ask why... but liking someone is something that happens without any reason."
“…No.” Yuan Nanjie said softly, “Love has a reason, and so does hate.”
His past life taught him that everything he received had a reason, and that nothing in this world is obtained for no reason.
As he was thinking this, his waist was hugged tightly again, and that furry head came closer, pressing against his chest.
Xie Yunying said, "You need a reason to say you love me. You're such a person who's always worried about losing something."
“Then there must be a reason. The reason is that you are Yuan Nanjie.” Xie Yunying’s voice was muffled, coming through a layer of clothing. “As long as you are you, I will always love you. No reason is needed.”
Yuan Nanjie's arm froze, and then his heart, which had been silent for a very long time, began to beat wildly.
The unfamiliar force and the fresh thrill both told him how truly alive he was.
-----------------------
Author's note: I feel like many people have already guessed it, so saying it now shouldn't be considered a spoiler... That's right, Yuan Nanjie is the Crown Prince. You can understand it as the Crown Prince's soul entering Yuan Nanjie's body when he died.
Therefore, the romantic relationship between these two is really important!! In this timeline, only the reborn crown prince knows the royal secrets (the eldest princess is unaware of what happened between the emperor and empress). He will eventually be redeemed by Yun Ying and will become a great help to the female lead, playing a key role in the final battle.
So this couple's romance had to be developed; it's not that I wanted to write a side couple [laughing and crying with facepalm]. Besides, once it's revealed that Yuan is the Crown Prince, a lot of suspense will disappear...
When I wrote about them and got criticized, I didn't know how to explain it; it felt like any explanation would spoil the plot.
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