"Fine, I'll go say it myself!" Feng Ling'er got up and left in the direction she came from.
Wen Yu Xi also got up, intending to leave, but suddenly he frowned slightly and sneered, "Since you're here, why hide? This isn't your style."
Although the season was transitioning into autumn, he still felt a chill. The person before him wore a moon-brocade white robe, exuding an elegant and graceful demeanor, a nobility that he could never feign.
"Yan Jin Chao." Wen Yu Xi slowly uttered the two words.
Yan Jin Chao looked at him for a long time, until Wen Yu Xi felt an inexplicable unease. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Yan Jin Chao withdrew his gaze and said indifferently, "To see if you're worth it."
Wen Yu Xi was slightly taken aback by his words. He suddenly understood and smiled, "I thought you would be indifferent, but it seems you do have feelings."
Yan Jin Chao was displeased upon hearing this, "Why wouldn't I have feelings?"
"If you had feelings, wouldn't you understand His Majesty's affections? And allow me to take the throne?" Wen Yu Xi said sarcastically to Yan Jin Chao.
Yan Jin Chao turned his face away, "There are some things I don't understand."
"What things?" Wen Yu Xi asked.
"Why can't I remember what happened before?"
Wen Yu Xi replied, "Asking me this question is likely useless, because I don't know what happened to you or why you lost your memory."
"Because I don't have those memories, I can't feel the love that you all talk about between me and the Empress. Since I can't feel it, I don't want to lie."
Wen Yu Xi was slightly stunned. He looked at Yan Jin Chao and hadn't expected him to have thought this far.
"Then you haven't made it clear to the Empress," Wen Yu Xi said.
"I'm nothing right now, what right do I have to tell her?"
Wen Yu Xi blinked, "Young Master Yan, even if you say that, I won't pity you, nor will I give up on the Empress because of it. I've waited for this day for a long time."
"I know, and I won't selfishly ask you to give up."
Wen Yu Xi's expression improved considerably. "Then what do you plan to do?"
"I want to participate in the imperial examinations and enter the court as an official," Yan Jin Chao said slowly.
Xue Zi Ning didn't know that such things had happened after she left. However, at this moment, she didn't have the mood to consider Yan Jin Chao, because she was thinking about something concerning Feng Ling'er.
She never imagined that one day she and Feng Ling'er would reach this point.
She regretted agreeing so hastily to Wen Yu Xi. Now, if she wanted to withdraw, Wen Yu Xi probably wouldn't agree.
She saw how much Wen Yu Xi had sacrificed for her. If she chose to withdraw, it would likely hurt Wen Yu Xi as well.
"Your Majesty, Miss Feng wishes to see you!" Xue Yan walked in and said slowly.
"Let her in!" Xue Zi Ning said.
A moment later, Feng Ling'er walked in. She was about to bow to Xue Zi Ning, but Xue Zi Ning quickly stopped her, "It's just you and me here, no need for formality. Sit down!"
Feng Ling'er smiled. "Then I won't be polite."
"Sit down!"
Feng Ling'er sat down. "Your Majesty, I apologize for what happened before."
As she said this, she stood up again and bowed to Xue Zi Ning to apologize.
Xue Zi Ning was truly surprised. "You did nothing wrong, why do you need to apologize?"
"I am at fault. I questioned Your Majesty without rhyme or reason, that is my mistake. As a subject, to question Your Majesty to her face is still my mistake. Am I not at fault?"
"Ling'er, you speak so formally." Xue Zi Ning said slowly.
Feng Ling'er's eyes flickered upon hearing this. "But... but I couldn't control myself. I'm sorry."
Xue Zi Ning frowned, sighed, and got up to take Feng Ling'er's hand, pulling her down to sit. "Ling'er, I've never blamed you. On the contrary, I think I did wrong."
Feng Ling'er shook her head. "You did nothing wrong, how could you be wrong?"
"I truly did wrong. I tried to matchmake you with Wen Yu Xi, making you develop feelings for him. And now, to try and have him again, I truly did wrong."
"You are not wrong. Whether it was before or now, the person Lord Wen liked has always been Your Majesty. Every time I expressed my affection or tested him, it was the same to him. Now I've come to my senses. Since we can't be together, his happiness is important to me too.
I hope he is happy. In fact, Lord Wen has liked Your Majesty for many years, even before I appeared. This liking has continued.
I cannot, because of my own feelings, deprive others of their affections. That would be unfair."
"Ling'er, you..."
"Your Majesty, I truly have figured it out. It's really great that he can get Your Majesty's return. I'm happy for him."
"Ling'er, thank you. I have nothing else to say but this."
"Your Majesty need not blame yourself. This has nothing to do with you. It never has. After many years, his wish has finally come true, and Lord Wen is very happy."
"Ling'er, one day you will find your person too," Xue Zi Ning said.
Feng Ling'er smiled. "You and Lord Wen say the same thing. I hope my person appears soon too."
"He will," Xue Zi Ning said.
"Your Majesty, I plan to return to the palace first."
Xue Zi Ning was surprised. "You're not leaving together?"
Feng Ling'er shook her head. "No."
"That's fine," Xue Zi Ning said. How could she not know that Feng Ling'er just wanted to avoid awkwardness, or perhaps didn't want to see Wen Yu Xi and feel more sorrow?
So she didn't stop her. After Feng Ling'er bowed, she withdrew.
Xue Zi Ning looked at Xue Yan, who seemed to want to speak but hesitated. "If you have something to say, just say it. You've followed me for so long, what can't you say?"
"Your Majesty, you still haven't let go of your feelings in your heart. Since that's the case, why accept Lord Wen?"
Xue Zi Ning smiled upon hearing this, "Didn't you all persuade me to accept him?"
Xue Yan fell silent. After a long while, she looked up and said, "But this servant sees that Your Majesty is not happy."
Xue Zi Ning was taken aback. She was indeed not happy, and she didn't know why.
But seeing Xing Yue and Xing Chen happy, she felt that what she was doing was right.
"Xing Yue and Xing Chen miss having a father. I can only fulfill their need for a mother's love, but I cannot fulfill their need for a father's love. Wen Yu Xi loves them, and this is the love they lack. So, as long as they are happy, I am content."
"Your Majesty, love is not about fulfilling desires."
"Love is about fulfillment, mutual fulfillment."