Xie Zhi knelt on one knee and bent over.
He held Yuan Yao in his arms as if she were a precious treasure, his steps steady and slow, as he walked towards Qianhua Palace...
Xie Zhi thought: Little Yao'er is so light.
From a young age, she was small and gentle...
Qianhua Palace was never short of delicacies and various tonics, which were sent in like a flowing stream.
But despite all the years of treatments, she only grew thinner and thinner...
Why did this chubby, adorable baby grow up to be so frail and delicate?
Xie Zhi closed his eyes in pain.
If he had spent more time and effort on her in his younger years, urging her to eat more and exercise more every day, would he have had a better chance?
He was too arrogant!
He thought to himself, he strived to pursue his ambitions, and he tried to grow strong and dazzling...
He thought, give her some time, and when she grows up, she'll be able to spot him at a glance...
But in the end, he was the husband that countless young women in the capital dreamed of, yet he was not hers...
Xie Zhi thought: He's really pitiful.
She was separated from her parents at birth...
His life trajectory in his youth was also planned out for him by others long ago...
As he grew up, the person he deeply loved didn't love him at all...
What can he do?
What should he do?
"...Ninety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-nine..."
Xie Zhi stopped after counting to ninety-nine steps.
Along the long palace path, apart from the palace servants following at a distance, only Yuan Yao, Yun Chan, and Xie Zhi remained.
Xie Zhiyi stopped, and the palace servants also stopped some distance away.
He glanced at the person in his arms: "Little Yao'er, it's time to wake up."
Yuan Yao opened her eyes.
With a complicated expression, she looked at Xie Zhi: "You..."
Xie Zhi didn't look at her again, but placed her in Yun Chan's arms: "Yun Chan, the person in your arms is the one I hold dearest in my heart."
If you dare to bully or betray her, I will personally lead a thousand troops to raze your Chu Kingdom to the ground and take her back!
If she suffers even the slightest injustice in the future, I will repay you and your people of Chu a thousandfold!
I, Xie Zhi, mean what I say!
Yun Chan's eyes were extremely cold, but she still said in a calm voice, "You will probably never have that chance."
Xie Zhi said coldly, "You'd better keep your word!"
His demeanor exuded a chilling and fierce aura, a testament to his long experience on the battlefield.
Yun Chan was not afraid and said calmly, "Yuan Yao is also someone I cherish in my heart. Even if I have to wrong myself, I will not wrong her."
"That's good."
Xie Zhi, his eyes red, gave Yuan Yao a deep look before turning to leave.
Yuan Yao called his name aloud: "Xie Zhi..."
Xie Zhi paused in his steps.
Yuan Yao's expression was complicated: "Xie Zhi, I'm sorry. I..."
"Xiao Yao'er!" Xie Zhi turned around and interrupted her, "Don't apologize to me! Don't pity me! Don't take pity on me!"
Otherwise... it would make me seem especially humble!
I didn't give up my life because I like you...
Yuan Yao's mouth moved slightly.
"That's it then." Xie Zhi glanced at the sky, narrowed his eyes, and hid the tears welling up in them: "Little Yao'er, I'm going to protect the peace and stability of our country."
Protect the peace and security you desire.
After speaking, Xie Zhi turned around and strode down the long palace path...
A beam of orange morning light pierced through a floating cloud in the sky, casting its light onto the long palace path and gilding Xie Zhi's silver hair clip with a golden-pink hue.
Yuan Yao then noticed that Xie Zhi had tied his hair in a high ponytail today.
Underneath the mourning clothes was a neat black outfit with fitted sleeves.
Despite his desolation, his silhouette, bathed in the morning light, still retained the youthful arrogance and exuberance of his younger days…
Only after Xie Zhi's figure had completely disappeared did Yuan Yao press her face against Yun Chan's chest: "Yun Chan, I'm tired."
Yun Chan glanced down at her and said gently, "I'll take you back to Qianhua Palace."
The sun was rising higher and higher.
At Qianhua Palace, the imperial guards and palace servants were busy at work.
The assassin's body had already been removed.
The ground was wet.
The eunuchs and imperial guards worked together, carrying water to flush the ground and then cleaning away the blood...
When Yun Chan carried Yuan Yao into the room, the entire floor of Qianhua Palace had already been thoroughly cleaned by hundreds of imperial guards and dozens of eunuchs.
The imperial guards sprinkled the soaked osmanthus water onto the white jade stone, while the eunuchs, holding soft cloths, knelt on the ground, wiping the water back and forth.
The cleared stone bricks and steps look brand new, exuding a faint fragrance of osmanthus blossoms...
On the stone steps, Xie Ning and He Yin were sitting on cushions... brewing tea.
Seeing Yun Chan carrying Yuan Yao into the room, Xie Ning immediately stood up: "What happened to little Yao?"
Yun Chan glanced at the palace servants and imperial guards sweeping the area and replied, "She fainted from excessive grief."
Upon hearing this, Xie Ning helped He Yin to her feet and said to Yun Chan, "Quick, carry her inside!"
The Nine Thousand Years Old and Shadow have returned.
The Ninth Prince was sitting on a soft chair.
He wore several layers of ornate black clothing, a cape, and a cloak.
Nearby, Ying was locking a black iron box.
Yuan Yao quickly got down from Yun Chan's arms: "Father, are you... leaving?"
Upon seeing Yuan Yao, the Ninth Prince beckoned: "Little Yao, come here."
Yuan Yao's eyes reddened as she walked over, saying, "Father..."
The Ninth Prince gently stroked her head and said with heartache, "You've really had a hard time these past few days."
Yuan Yao shook her head: "Yao'er is not suffering!" She pressed her face against the palm of the Ninth Prince and rubbed it gently: "As long as Father is alive, Yao'er feels that Yao'er is not suffering at all!"
The Ninth Prince reluctantly tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and said softly, "Little Yao'er, Father is afraid we will have to part ways for a while."
"What?" Yuan Yao looked up abruptly.
"Listen to what your father has to say first." The Ninth Prince placed his hands on her shoulders and said in a gentle voice, "Your father will leave the capital first with your uncle, Uncle Heyin, and Ying."
You, however, need to stay in the capital for a while longer.
I grew up alongside the Emperor, supporting him through half my life...
But my body won't allow me to stay and see him off on his final journey.
Therefore, Father hopes you can help him on this journey.
Besides, he is your own uncle, and this is the last time you can see him off in this lifetime.
After seeing the Emperor off, I will personally return to the capital to fetch you.
"Daddy promises I won't keep you waiting too long."
Yuan Yao: "..."
She suppressed her reluctance and said in a hoarse voice, "Okay!"
Father, you must leave the capital to recuperate as soon as possible.
But she really can't leave right now.
She needs to finish her business before she can leave in peace...
Looking at the bright daylight, Yuan Yao roused himself and said, "Father, shall I see you off out of the capital?"
"Hmm." The Ninth Prince nodded.
The gates of Qianhua Palace were tightly closed.
Two horse-drawn carriages were parked in a quiet alley.
Wearing a cloak, Yuan Yao stood outside the carriage and said reluctantly, "Father, you must recover soon and come to pick up Yao'er!"
The Ninth Prince smiled and said, "Alright..."
Yuan Yao was still worried, so she instructed Ying, "Uncle Ying, if anything happens, immediately send a message back to Yao'er in the capital."
It's getting cold, so remember not to let Dad catch a cold. He must wear thicker clothes during the day, and don't turn off the charcoal fire at night. Also, no matter how hot it is, don't let him kick off the blankets.
Ying nodded: "I've got it."
Yuan Yao thought for a moment and added, "If you're using charcoal, remember to open a window for ventilation! Don't let him feel stuffy..."
"puff……"
Laughter came from another carriage.
Xie Ning lifted the curtain of the carriage window: "Xiao Yao'er, don't worry, we're here. Your brother will be safe and sound!"
You little girl, you're so young and beautiful, why are you so talkative?
"Just wait, when he comes to pick you up, your father will surely have recovered to the healthy and youthful appearance of a young gentleman!"
Yuan Yao: "..."
Yuan Yao's eyes reddened slightly: "It's not that I... can't bear to part with Father!"
Although she has grown up, in her father's eyes, she is still a child!
"Alright." Heyin spoke up at the right time: "Yao'er, you can rest assured to entrust your father to us."
"With me and your uncle here, he'll be fine."
"Hmm..." Yuan Yao forced a smile: "Thank you, Uncle Heyin. I'm entrusting my father to you now!"
Heyin nodded slightly.
Yuan Yao then looked at the Ninth Prince: "Father..."
"Silly dumpling." The Ninth Prince opened his arms: "Come here."
Yuan Yao rushed over, feeling extremely aggrieved.
The Ninth Prince patted her head gently: "After your father leaves the capital, you mustn't cry secretly. It's getting cold, so remember to take good care of yourself, and..."
His narrow eyes turned and landed on Yun Chan.
Yun Chan cupped her hands in greeting to him.
The Ninth Prince curled his lips, his voice cool: "I know that young people are bound to be hot-blooded, so... just don't cause a death."
Yuan Yao: "!!!"
She looked up.
The Ninth Prince pulled her back into his arms and sighed with a touch of sadness: "Alright, Little Yao'er, hug Daddy one more time, Daddy has to set off soon."
Yuan Yao wanted to cry.
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