Chu Fan looked at Liu Ruyan's slightly melancholic face, a faint smile curling his lips. He spoke to her in a relaxed and slightly teasing tone, "Emperor Ruyan, you seem a little unhappy today. I wonder who has upset you so much? Is there something bothering you, or someone you're unhappy with?"
Liu Ruyan couldn't help but sigh slightly at Chu Fan's teasing. Although she once had the opportunity to become the empress of the Canglan Empire, such a supreme position, she gave it up for the sake of freedom and not wanting to deal with the various troubles within the Canglan Empire. She gave the throne of the Canglan Empire to Liu Mengli.
Now she is just an ordinary woman, and she can't help but ask herself, what right do she have to feel dissatisfied and unwilling?
At this moment, a faint smile appeared on Liu Ruyan's face again. She replied to Chu Fan, "Your Majesty, there's actually nothing special. It's just that Your Majesty once promised to let me stay by your side and assist you in handling government affairs. But now it seems that Your Majesty doesn't even want to let me know about government affairs. Perhaps my ability is limited and I haven't met Your Majesty's expectations, which has disappointed Your Majesty?"
Chu Fan was also taken aback by Liu Ruyan's question at this time. But he knew in his heart that Liu Ruyan was not a simple person, and she was just trying to get information from him.
However, to expect him to reveal confidential information easily would be to underestimate his own vigilance. After all, he did not intend to let the Royal Government Affairs Office spread the things he discussed with Chu Anping, even to the court ministers of Wei, let alone tell Liu Ruyan, who was not from Wei.
Chu Fan smiled and said to Liu Ruyan calmly, "Ruyan, you're worrying too much. It's not because I don't trust your abilities, but because this confidential information is too important. It's the highest secret of the Wei Kingdom. I don't even intend to disclose it to the Wei court ministers. Therefore, it's entirely natural that you don't know."
Liu Ruyan was in disbelief after hearing Chu Fan's words. She couldn't believe that Chu Fan, who usually acted like a good man and almost always agreed to her requests, would now so explicitly reject her request. For a moment, Liu Ruyan couldn't accept this fact, and a complex mixture of emotions swirled within her.
However, Chu Fan, Qiu Ya, and the others paid no particular attention to Liu Ruyan's current distress. They all knew her character well and knew she wasn't someone easily defeated. Furthermore, Liu Ruyan was known for her deep scheming, and her current display of distress was likely a trap to gain sympathy. Therefore, they weren't fooled by her outward appearance, but remained alert and calm.
Chu Fan was no longer dwelling on Liu Ruyan's question. Instead, he asked Eunuch Li a question that concerned him deeply: "Little Li, how long will it take for Liu Xueyu to reach Kaifeng City? After all, our wedding is coming up soon. If she doesn't arrive in time, she might miss the auspicious day."
However, Eunuch Li's reaction at this moment seemed a little abnormal. He did not directly answer Chu Fan's question, but seemed a little hesitant.
Eunuch Li's unusual behavior made Chu Fan suspicious. He frowned and his tone became serious. He asked again, "Little Li, tell me, has Liu Xueyu encountered any misfortune again? What is her current safety situation?"
After hesitating for a moment, Eunuch Li finally made up his mind and answered Chu Fan: "Your Majesty, the Third Princess of Shu is not in any danger at the moment. She is expected to arrive in Kaifeng City tomorrow. However, the Third Princess of Shu once mentioned..."
Eunuch Li suddenly stopped narrating when he reached the key point. He knew very well that the following words might bring great shock and pain to Chu Fan, so when he first heard the news, he did not rush to tell Chu Fan.
Chu Fan stared into Eunuch Li's eyes, feeling a surge of nervousness and uneasiness deep within. He urged him urgently, "Go on. No matter what the news is, I am ready and can accept it."
Eunuch Li took a deep breath and then continued slowly, "The Third Princess of Shu Kingdom came here not to hold a wedding with Your Majesty, but simply to watch Your Majesty's wedding ceremony."
Chu Fan nearly lost his balance after hearing Eunuch Li's words. He couldn't believe Liu Xueyu would actually say such a thing. Was everything, including her feelings, just wishful thinking?
Meanwhile, Qiuya, Qiuyue, and the other four palace maids frowned, their hearts filled with confusion, wondering why Liu Xueyu would make such a decision. After all, Liu Xueyu had spent most of her time in the imperial palace during her time in Wei. If she said she had no feelings for His Majesty, Qiuya and the others would never believe it. But why would she make such a choice? What was the reason behind it?
Chu Fan sighed deeply. He didn't say much, but deep down, he was even more resolute to return to Blue Star. He knew that only his parents truly cared about him. Everything else, whether it was power, wealth, or relationships, was just fleeting and could not compare to the warmth of family love.
Despite this, Chu Fan had no intention of canceling the wedding of Mu Xi and the other women. After all, they had clearly expressed their desire to marry him, and when he told them about the upcoming wedding, the sincere emotions in their eyes could not be faked, which made him feel that he had a responsibility and obligation to fulfill this promise.
However, in the dead of night, Chu Fan lay alone on his bed in his bedroom, his thoughts drifting back to the time he had spent with Liu Xueyu. Those beautiful memories had now turned into bitterness in his heart, leaving him with waves of sadness.
Every moment he experienced with Liu Xueyu was like a sharp blade, mercilessly piercing his heart.
Just when Chu Fan was half asleep and half awake due to excessive grief, he suddenly felt someone climb onto his bed and hug him tightly. At first, Chu Fan thought it was Qiu Ya or one of the other palace maids, because he would play and joke with them on weekdays, and hugging them was a common occurrence.
But when Chu Fan touched her, and felt that her figure and aura did not match those of the palace maids he was familiar with, he was startled and opened his eyes immediately. In the dim moonlight, he was surprised to find that it was Liu Ruyan, a woman he was not very familiar with, who had quietly come to his bed in the middle of the night.
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