Wen Nuan nodded, and Xue Zi Ning found a chair to sit down. Xue Xing Yue also got down from her arms and then pulled Wen Nuan's hand.
"Wen Nuan, do you have something to say?" Xue Zi Ning asked using her internal energy.
Wen Nuan nodded. "Your Majesty, I have an impudent request."
"Speak," Xue Zi Ning said.
Wen Nuan said slowly, "I hope Your Majesty will never abandon him alone. Even if you don't like him, please treat him kindly, because he truly likes you."
Xue Zi Ning was slightly taken aback. She knew that the "him" Wen Nuan was referring to was Wen Yu Xi.
"Wen Nuan, everyone has their destined person. I may not be able to interfere with his life."
"Your Majesty, his life is you. Don't you realize that yet?" Wen Nuan asked.
Xue Zi Ning paused. "Wen Nuan, you..."
"You may not know that he has liked Your Majesty since he was Lin Yan Zhi. So many years have passed, and he has not changed, waiting for you in the same place. Yet you have fallen for someone else. For so many years, he has watched you grow up, watched you get married, and even watched you have children, step by step reaching this day."
"Wen Nuan, why are you telling me this?" Xue Zi Ning was somewhat confused about Wen Nuan's purpose.
"Your Majesty, I can no longer accompany him, nor can I watch him truly leave your heart. I hope that in my absence, Your Majesty will be with him."
"Wen Nuan, where are you going?" Xue Zi Ning quickly asked.
Wen Nuan smiled. "To a place you cannot yet reach."
"Wen Nuan, don't do anything foolish."
"Your Majesty, are they still fighting?" Wen Nuan suddenly asked.
Xue Zi Ning nodded. "Yes."
"Are they at the entrance?"
"Yes," Xue Zi Ning said.
"Your Majesty, please grant my request," Wen Nuan pleaded.
"Alright," Xue Zi Ning replied.
"Wen Yu Xi, I hope you are happy every day from now on."
Wen Nuan's voice suddenly resounded through the place, and it seemed everyone could hear her.
Using the last of her remaining internal energy, she lunged towards Wen Ling, who looked at her and opened his arms to her.
"Wen Ling, I'll take you away..."
Wen Ling retracted his sword and nodded. "Okay, Sister, take me away!"
Wen Nuan embraced Wen Ling and leaped from the rooftop.
"Wen Nuan..." Wen Yu Xi lunged forward, trying to grab Wen Nuan, but he was ultimately a step too late.
He flew down. "Wen Nuan..."
"Sir, take care of yourself!" Wen Nuan pushed him back with the last trace of her internal energy.
"Wen Nuan..." Wen Nuan tried to go down again but was bound by Xue Zi Ning's silver whip and pulled back.
"Let me go down. I promised her I would take her back. Let me go down..." Wen Yu Xi pounded the ground fiercely with his hands, roaring.
Xue Zi Ning walked forward, knelt down, and suddenly held him in her arms. "Yan Zhi, cry if you need to."
Wen Yu Xi trembled, then reached out and held her tightly, his tears soaking her clothes.
After an unknown amount of time, Wen Yu Xi stopped. "Your Majesty, I want to call you A Ning."
"Okay," Xue Zi Ning said.
"A Ning, please don't leave me, okay?" Wen Yu Xi held her tightly.
"Okay," Xue Zi Ning said.
"How can that be? You still have Yan Zhao," Wen Yu Xi said with a bitter smile.
"I can be by your side as a friend, and never be apart."
Wen Yu Xi's gaze dimmed. He did not want to be just a friend, but he knew that if he harbored such thoughts, he might not be able to control them later.
He liked her, but he never wanted to hurt her. Never.
"This minister is alright now," Wen Yu Xi said.
Xue Zi Ning escorted him. "Yan Zhi, everything will get better."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Wen Yu Xi's expression returned to its usual demeanor.
"Sir, we did not find Wen Ling and Wen Nuan's bodies below," Wen Yu said.
"It seems they are not dead," Xue Zi Ning said with relief. She did not want Wen Nuan to die, even if she had to live like that.
Wen Yu Xi's gaze softened slightly. "Let this place be dismissed."
Xue Zi Ning shook her head. "Instead of dismissing it, why don't you take over? Continue to sort out what Wen Ling has been doing all these years. I need to depart for Jiang Nan."
Wen Yu Xi nodded. "Alright. If there is anything you need, Your Majesty, you can send word. This minister will always be at your service."
Xue Zi Ning nodded, picked up Xue Xing Yue, and asked, "Do you want to come with me, or stay with your Uncle Wen?"
"I want to see my younger brother," Xue Xing Yue said.
Xue Zi Ning nodded. "Okay, let's leave now."
Yan Residence
"Daddy, Miss Lin has come to bring you soup again," Xue Xing Chen said faintly.
Before, he thought Miss Lin was merely infatuated with his father. He believed she would naturally retreat after experiencing his father's coldness. However, he never expected that some people would have such perseverance. No matter how cold his father's expression was, it couldn't deter Miss Lin's persistent spirit. He felt Miss Lin was somewhat... too shameless.
"Daddy?" Xue Xing Chen walked over.
Yan Jin Chao looked at the little fellow and picked him up. "You don't like her?"
Xue Xing Chen bit his lower lip and suddenly asked, "Daddy, if I say I don't like her, will you think I'm disobedient?"
"Why would you not liking her be disobedience? Little one, you also have your own thoughts. Disliking and liking someone are naturally parallel, not interchangeable things."
"But the Grand Tutor said that in the future, when I occupy that position, I cannot show my likes and dislikes. It would be detrimental to my reign."
"How old are you now? It's still a long way until you personally govern. By then, you will know what you should do. For now, you just need to be yourself. You can express both your likes and dislikes."
"Daddy, I understand. I dislike Miss Lin, very much so," Xue Xing Chen finally expressed his feelings.
"Then go out and tell Miss Lin that both you and I dislike her very much and ask her not to come again."
Upon hearing this, Xue Xing Chen frowned. "Daddy, won't that hurt Miss Lin's feelings?"
"If she's not hurt, you won't be happy. Is your happiness more important, or her being hurt?"
Xue Xing Chen fell into thought. "Daddy, I don't know."
He truly didn't know.
"Then let nature take its course."
Xue Xing Chen tilted his head. "Let nature take its course?"
Yan Jin Chao carried him to the doorway and pushed the door open. Lin Shi Shu stood outside. When she saw him, her eyes lit up. "Young Master Yan, this is my..."
"I don't drink it," Yan Jin Chao said faintly.
Lin Shi Shu was stunned and quickly said, "Then I'll come again tomorrow."
As she spoke, she bowed and was about to leave. Yan Jin Chao suddenly asked, "Miss Lin, why do you demean yourself like this?"
Lin Shi Shu trembled and shook her head. "Young Master Yan, what are you saying? I don't understand."