He took a deep breath, and his gentle and humble smile returned to his face. This smile was like a spring breeze, giving people a warm and welcoming feeling.
However, behind that smile lies an unknown sinister intent and scheming.
He spoke slowly, his tone gentle and steady, as if every word had been carefully considered before uttering.
Like a finely carved jade piece, smooth yet substantial: "As my father often said, King Zhao is indeed a man of great ambition and concern for the world. I sincerely admire him."
However, a vast empire requires long-term protection, and the warmth of family is the foundation of a peaceful life. May King Zhao, while busy with state affairs, also take a break and not cause his family any worry.
As the Crown Prince, I am deeply aware of the immense responsibility on my shoulders and am always mindful of my own shortcomings.
We only hope to work together with King Zhao to protect our land and ensure the warmth of family bonds endures, so as not to fail our country and the people's hearts.
The moment Qin Qianluo caught the hidden threat in Ning Yuancheng's words, her previously calm heart was instantly thrown into turmoil, as if a boulder had been thrown into it.
The hand hidden in the sleeve clenched suddenly and unconsciously, the knuckles turning white from the force, the nails digging deep into the palm like sharp blades, leaving dark red crescent-shaped marks.
It was as if the piercing pain was an attempt to forcibly imprison the surging anger and resentment deep within the heart.
She slowly raised her eyes, her gaze like two cold beams, shooting straight at Ning Yuancheng, who still had a smiling face.
That smile, in her eyes, was like a carefully crafted mask, concealing a chilling conspiracy and scheme, which quietly gave rise to a bone-deep coldness in her heart.
It felt like the cold wind of the dead of winter, rushing up my spine, making my blood feel like it was about to freeze.
However, her face remained as calm and undisturbed as a deep, unfathomable pool.
Her expression was calm and composed, as if the subtle threat from before was merely a gentle breeze that brushed past her ear, leaving no trace in her heart.
She nodded gracefully, her voice steady and gentle, like a babbling brook in spring.
He replied calmly, "Your Highness is absolutely right. It was my previous thinking that was biased. Thank you for your guidance."
She paused slightly, her gaze gradually becoming unfocused, as if lost in fond memories of bygone days, a barely perceptible hint of sadness and loneliness flashing deep within her eyes.
It was a deep regret for missing countless warm moments with family, and a profound self-reproach for long-term neglect.
After a moment, she sighed softly, a sigh that seemed to carry endless regret, and continued slowly, "In the past, I only thought of my country and the people first."
Always thinking that "only with a country can there be a home," they temporarily set aside the warmth of their own families.
She shook her head gently, her eyes filled with regret, and her tone grew increasingly heavy, as if every word carried the weight of a thousand pounds.
"Now that the country is at peace and the seasons are favorable, upon reflection, I realize that I have failed my family and relatives in many ways."
She took a deep breath, as if gathering all her courage, and her gaze became firm and bright again as she looked directly at Ning Yuancheng.
He slowly said, "From now on, I will do my best to accompany and care for you while fulfilling my duties to the country, so as to make up for this neglect and guilt."
Qin Qianluo paused abruptly, as if time had frozen, and a subtle tension seemed to spread in the quiet air.
She narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze like a deep, dark pool, within which countless thoughts surged endlessly.
It's like having a deep, soul-searching dialogue about past experiences and future choices, or like an indestructible force secretly gathering deep within one's heart.
She keenly noticed the slight movement at the corner of Ning Yuancheng's lips, a sign that he was about to speak, but she did not intend to give him that chance.
He then said again in a calm and confident manner: "In the future, I will take care of my family more often in my spare time from state affairs, and add more companionship and warmth to them."
She paused slightly, her originally gentle expression instantly becoming more solemn and dignified, as if a sacred sense of mission arose spontaneously from the depths of her soul.
Her eyes revealed an unwavering and steadfast belief.
Like the brightest and most dazzling star in the deep night sky, it shines brightly, illuminating the way forward and guiding the direction.
Her voice became even more steady and powerful, resounding like a great bell throughout the silent palace.
It seems that every word carries immense weight, brimming with a deep love and responsibility for the nation and its people: "Only when the nation and its people need protection, and the land is in danger."
In my heart, the idea of "the nation as the foundation and the people as the cornerstone" is still stronger—after all, if the country is not at peace, the stability of a small family is as precarious as duckweed.
If a choice needs to be made at that time, I believe my family will be very understanding.
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