Chapter 490 With her by my side, anywhere is home.
Xiao Nanyan leaned over and kissed away the tears on Xiyan's cheeks, whispering in her ear:
"Yanyan, in the first half of our lives, I forced you to do too many things you didn't want to do. It was my fault. From now on, I won't do that again."
He sighed softly:
"This prince knows that you miss Nan Zhao. After all, you were reunited with the Southern Emperor and the Southern Empress not long ago, but were forced to separate again because of this prince's force.
Therefore, I have submitted my resignation during this morning's court session. I will lead the Xiao family army to Jing'an City in eastern Xinzhou to garrison the border. It is far from the Central Plains, but very close to Southern Zhao. You can visit your father, the emperor, and your mother anytime you wish.
Xi Yan suddenly looked up, her eyes full of shock:
"You...you want to give up your identity and status as the Regent of Apocalypse?"
She couldn't believe it: "Helian Feng agrees?"
"There can't be two tigers in one mountain." Xiao Nanyan stroked her hair gently, his tone calm:
"Although Helian Feng and I are on the surface harmonious now, I am extremely powerful. Staying in Yandu is ultimately a sword hanging over his throne, making him uneasy. Besides, people always change, and I don't want to repeat the mistakes of Xiao Beicheng and Helian Cong."
He paused, stroking her cheek with his fingertips, his eyes gentle:
"I don't want you to be involved in the disputes between the court and the country like my mother did back then. How could I not know Helian Feng's feelings for you? But I am a selfish person and will not allow anyone to covet my wife, not even my own brother."
"But Helian Feng..."
"He naturally refused, but since I withdrew forcefully, he had no choice but to accept."
Xiao Nanyan smiled:
"Who among the ancient emperors didn't want to unify the imperial power? He is more reluctant to part with you. I have already petitioned him to remove the Xiao surname and hand over the position of the Great General of the Nation to Fu Yunqing. His ability is not inferior to mine. If Helian Feng is truly magnanimous, he will know how to identify and employ people."
Xi Yan stared at him blankly, and suddenly grabbed his hand:
"If you remove the surname Xiao, what will your surname be from now on?"
Xiao Nanyan lowered his head and kissed her lips, his eyes full of doting:
"Of course, my surname is Xie as well as yours. In Nan Zhao, wasn't I recruited into your Xie family as a son-in-law through the ritual of marrying into the family?"
"What?"
Xiyan was completely stunned and stared at him with wide eyes.
"Silly Yanyan."
He kissed her lips, his voice becoming more and more affectionate:
"From now on, there will no longer be Xiao Nanyan, the Regent Prince of Tianqi, in this world. There will only be Xie Yan, the Prince Consort of Nanzhao and the Jing'an Prince of Tianqi. From now on, you can only call me Ayan."
Xiyan looked at Xiao Nanyan's handsome eyes and eyebrows, and her heart seemed to be blocked by something, sour and bitter.
His political tactics were unparalleled, and he could stir up trouble with a wave of his hand. But now, for her, he had to hide his edge and retreat to the world of Jing'an City.
The mountains are high and the emperor is far away. It is said that he is guarding the border, but in fact it is no different from withdrawing from the court.
Although he was a vassal king, for a world-class talent like him, his glory was ultimately diminished.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say, "You don't have to do this for me," and trying to persuade him to keep this tremendous power.
After all, fame, wealth and power are what many people pursue throughout their lives. He has them at his fingertips, but he throws them away for her.
Seeing that she was hesitant to speak, Xiao Nanyan had already seen through her thoughts.
He smiled and leaned over, gently covering her lips and silencing her unspoken words with a gentle kiss.
When her breathing became a little disordered, he leaned against her forehead and whispered:
"Yan Yan, this king has no ambition to serve in the imperial court. If he truly desired these powers, he would have ascended the throne and become the emperor himself."
He stroked her cheek with his fingertips, speaking calmly:
"Returning government affairs to Helian Feng is also what my father wants. This will not only protect the peace of Tianqi, but also the peace with the Helian family. After all, the blood of the Helian family flows in my bones."
When he mentioned the past, his eyes darkened slightly, but soon warmed up:
"The reason I didn't return to my ancestral home is because I didn't want my mother to be burdened with the stigma of having an affair with my brother-in-law and bearing a child, and to bring shame to the Helian clan. So, let all the grudges and hatreds of the past fade away with my departure."
He raised his hand to wipe away the tears that fell from the corners of her eyes, his voice as light as a sigh:
"Wouldn't it be better if we could spend the rest of our lives together, wandering freely across vast oceans and mountains, and finding our place?"
Xiyan looked at the clarity and expectation in his eyes, and suddenly couldn't say a word of dissuasion.
She knew that he never made this decision on impulse.
What he longed for was not the loneliness at the pinnacle of power, but the warmth of being with her.
To him, those court disputes and family feuds were nothing but shackles. Now that he could break free in the name of guarding the border, it was actually a relief.
She sniffed, wrapped her arms around his neck, buried her face in the crook of his neck, and her voice was nasal.
"You've thought it through, what else can I say?" She just felt sorry for everything he had given up, and was even more grateful for the safe world he had created for her.
Xiao Nanyan felt the trembling of the person in his arms, and tightened his arms to hold her tighter, as if he wanted to rub her into his bones and blood:
"Don't worry, with the Xiao family army here and Jing'an City as a barrier, no one can hurt you and your child in the future."
Xiyan nodded in his arms, but her tears flowed even more violently.
It turns out that there are people in this world who can give up the power that others are vying for for the one they love, just to protect her lifelong peace.
What else is she not satisfied with?
Thinking of this, she hugged his waist tightly, her voice choked with sobs:
"Ayan..."
This call was as soft as the spring water in the south of the Yangtze River, instantly melting all the sharpness of Xiao Nanyue.
He tightened his arms, holding her tightly in his embrace, gazing at the starry sky and the lights on the water, a satisfied smile rising at the corners of his lips.
In the years to come, with her by my side, everywhere will be home.
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