“Young Master, aren't you coming?”
Yan Jin Chao shook her head. “Even if I followed, I would just be a most familiar stranger to her…”
What she wanted was certainly not this him, but him with his full memories.
As the carriage moved further and further away from Beijiang City, Xue Zi Ning rested her chin on her hand. When Wen Yu Xi entered the carriage, he saw her in this state. “If you want to see him, why don't you?”
“What if I see him?” Xue Zi Ning looked up at Wen Yu Xi, who was slightly taken aback.
The corners of her lips curved into a half-smile, “It’s good like this. Knowing he’s doing well is enough.”
Wen Yu Xi heard this and said, “You two confuse me. If you both have each other, why separate?”
Xue Zi Ning looked into the distance. “Perhaps, it’s because we haven’t fully possessed each other. He doesn’t have all of me, and I don’t have all of her. Our hearts can still hold many people and many things. This impurity is why we must separate.”
“Forget it, I don’t understand,” Wen Yu Xi shook his head.
“Time will tell.” Xue Zi Ning leaned against the carriage. Through the carriage window, she saw the girl galloping on her horse. She couldn’t help but smile, “Feng Ling is a good girl. Treat her well.”
Wen Yu Xi’s body stiffened, and his expression grew somber. “Your Majesty, you cannot simply arrange marriages.”
“Wen Yu Xi, I hope everyone around me can be happy…”
Wen Yu Xi’s gaze flickered. He turned his face away and said faintly, “Your Majesty, you just need to worry about yourself. I do not require your concern.”
After speaking, he chose to leave.
Xue Zi Ning narrowed her eyes. “Is Wen Yu Xi angry?”
Xue Yan beside her heard this. “Your Majesty, are you asking what you already know?”
“What do you mean?” Xue Zi Ning didn’t quite understand.
“You know who Wen Yu Xi likes, yet you arranged a marriage for him. It’s no wonder Lord Wen isn’t happy.”
Xue Zi Ning’s gaze flickered as she looked elsewhere. “I cannot reciprocate, but I wish him happiness.”
“Your Majesty, happiness is not defined by others, but by oneself.”
“Is that so? It seems I was mistaken…” Xue Zi Ning said with a wry smile.
She hadn’t expected her good intentions to backfire.
After a day of travel, the carriage suddenly stopped. Wen Yu Xi’s voice came from outside, “Your Majesty, I’m afraid we will have to spend the night here.”
Xue Zi Ning lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the seemingly endless forest outside. “Alright, you make the arrangements.”
“Yes, Your Majesty…” Wen Yu Xi instructed the guards to set up camp.
Xue Zi Ning alighted from the carriage and saw Feng Ling attempting to pull Wen Yu Xi’s sleeve. However, Wen Yu Xi pulled his hand away, his voice cold. “Miss Feng’s task here is to protect His Majesty.”
Feng Ling was stunned, her face turning somewhat pale, perhaps having never heard such a cold tone from Wen Yu Xi.
“I have Xue Yan and Feng Wu with me, which is enough. You take her with you!” Xue Zi Ning said.
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Feng Ling said happily.
For some reason, Xue Zi Ning felt Wen Yu Xi’s gaze on her, and she couldn’t decipher it. It seemed as if some emotion was flowing within it.
She dared not probe further and withdrew her gaze.
Watching Wen Yu Xi leave, she couldn’t help but ask, “Xue Yan, am I being a bit willful again?”
Xue Yan heard this. “Your Majesty, didn’t you see Lord Wen’s expression?”
Xue Zi Ning rubbed her temples. “I just feel that Ling’er is lively and spirited, and she would be a good match for him.”
“Your Majesty, what you perceive as a match might be perceived as entanglement by Lord Wen.”
“I won’t interfere anymore,” Xue Zi Ning decided not to meddle anymore.
“Hey, can’t you slow down?” Feng Ling bit her lower lip. Ever since the Feng Yin clan submitted to His Majesty, she had found Wen Yu Xi extremely indifferent to her.
The figure in front indeed stopped, and her heart leaped. She quickly flew forward. Before she could even land steadily, she heard a cold voice, “If you can’t keep up, you can go back.”
Feng Ling was stunned and a little angry. She stepped forward and grabbed his sleeve. “Wen Yu Xi, explain yourself. What do you mean by this? Are you disgusted with me?”
“Miss Feng, you misunderstand…” His reply was still indifferent.
Feng Ling bit her lower lip tightly. “Are you trying to shake me off?”
“Miss Feng, I am looking for food and am not in the mood to chat with you here.”
Wen Yu Xi said this and headed in one direction.
“I know you like the Empress, but the Empress has someone else in her heart. Shouldn’t you forget her? You…”
Suddenly, a cold gaze fell upon her, filled with biting chill, making her tremble uncontrollably.
“Miss Feng, my affairs are my own. You do not need to comment on them.”
Feng Ling stamped her foot. “But she doesn’t like you. Shouldn’t you give up? Must you continue like this? She…”
A cold glint suddenly appeared, and the tree behind her fell with a snap. She shivered.
“I said, my affairs do not require commentary. Miss Feng, do you not understand what I am saying?”
“You… you wanted to kill me just now?” Feng Ling looked up at him and asked word by word.
“I apologize. I didn’t control my emotions just now,” Wen Yu Xi said.
Feng Ling took a step back. “I will not meddle in your affairs anymore. Farewell!”
After speaking, she ran away.
Wen Yu Xi sighed deeply, gazed at the retreating figure, his eyes flickered, then he withdrew his gaze and walked inside.
When Wen Yu Xi returned, it was already dark. “Your Majesty, I caught two wild rabbits and picked some wild fruits.”
He handed these to Xue Yan.
Xue Zi Ning looked up at him and asked, “What happened between you and Feng Ling?”
Wen Yu Xi stiffened and slowly said, “It’s nothing, Your Majesty need not worry.”
“Ling’er has been crying since she returned. Wen Yu Xi, I can see that she…”
“Your Majesty, I am a bit tired and will go rest now.” Wen Yu Xi bowed and then turned to leave.
Xue Zi Ning sighed softly. When Xue Yan returned, looking at the fruits, she took a few. “Share the rest with them.”
“Does Your Majesty want to see Miss Feng?” Xue Yan asked.
Xue Zi Ning nodded and walked towards Feng Ling’s direction. “Not happy?”
She handed over the fruit. Feng Ling looked up and saw her, pouting. “Your Majesty…”
“You can call me sister too,” Xue Zi Ning said.
Feng Ling blinked her eyes, a layer of mist forming in them. “Can I really?”
“Yes,” Xue Zi Ning nodded.
“Sister,” Feng Ling called out softly.
Xue Zi Ning sat down and reached out to touch her head. “Wen Yu Xi is actually a cold-hearted and unfeeling person. You need more patience.”
Feng Ling shook her head. “I know. I always thought that with patience and perseverance, it would be enough. But sister, the person in his heart has been there for many years. I cannot replace her easily.”