Xuesong's words were like a nail piercing his heart. He felt a pang of discomfort, but then he thought, what did their affairs have to do with him?
"You may leave!" Yan Jin Chao said.
Xuesong retreated and went into the courtyard. Xue Yan hurried forward and asked, "How is it? Is your young master showing any abnormalities?"
Xuesong replied, "Other than asking about Lord Wen's affairs, I don't think there's anything unusual."
"Nothing?" Xue Yan sounded disappointed.
"Is the young master being somewhat angry considered an abnormality?" Xuesong asked.
"It is and it isn't."
"Then what should we do?" Xuesong was at a loss.
Xue Yan said, "You go back. I'll go check on His Majesty."
Inside the room, Xue Yan walked in and saw Wen Yu Xi playing with the two young princes, while His Majesty was looking at news from the capital sent by Lord Shen.
Xue Zi Ning felt a gaze from the doorway. She looked up and saw Xue Yan, saying, "Come in!"
Xue Yan walked in and approached her. "Your Majesty."
"What is it? You seem unhappy?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
Xue Yan said with some frustration, "Today I had Xuesong test Young Master Yan, but there were no results."
Xue Zi Ning knew that Xue Yan did everything for her, but when she heard that Yan Jin Chao remained unmoved, her heart ached.
Perhaps, in his heart, she had truly become a complete stranger.
Her heart ached. She had waited for so long, only to get such a result.
Was she willing? Of course, she was not.
She still had her responsibilities, and things she needed to do. She couldn't stay in Jiangnan forever.
Perhaps trying one more time would allow her to have no regrets!
"Wen Yu Xi, I agree." Xue Zi Ning suddenly said, looking up.
Wen Yu Xi, who was playing with Xue Xing Yue and Xue Xing Chen, trembled all over. He looked up at the woman before him.
On her clear and beautiful face, her eyes were exceptionally clear, holding a radiance he couldn't comprehend.
"You... could you say that again?" Wen Yu Xi couldn't help but ask again.
"I agree with what you said during the day," Xue Zi Ning said slowly.
Wen Yu Xi's expression changed, and he stood up. "Really?"
"My word is my bond," Xue Zi Ning replied.
Wen Yu Xi felt as if he were dreaming. He couldn't believe it.
"Really? Mother, you really agreed to Uncle Wen?" Xue Xing Yue said happily.
"Yes. Are you very happy?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
Xue Xing Yue exclaimed, "Of course, I'm happy! Uncle Wen is really nice. I like Uncle Wen. If Father were Uncle Wen, I think it would be very good."
"Uncle Wen, what should I call you from now on?" Xue Xing Yue asked, smiling brightly.
Wen Yu Xi's gaze softened considerably. "Your Highness, please continue to call me as you did before."
Although he was eager for things to become reality, some matters still required a gradual approach.
Xue Xing Yue, holding Wen Yu Xi's hand, happily asked him to go look at the stars outside with her.
Xue Zi Ning walked to the doorway and watched Xue Xing Yue sitting on Wen Yu Xi's shoulders, displaying a smile she had never seen before. A complex feeling arose in her heart.
She had failed them in providing paternal love.
"Mother, is this what you truly feel?"
Xue Zi Ning was slightly startled. She looked down at Xue Xing Chen and bent down to pick him up. "What is it? Do you think Mother is forcing herself?"
"I just think Mother must really like Father," Xue Xing Chen said.
"I do like your Father very much, but liking and being together are ultimately different things. Xing Chen, I know you think more than Xing Yue. You're afraid Mother is doing this for you, but quite the opposite, I'm doing it for myself.
I want to try one more time, the very last time, to see if he remembers me. If he still doesn't remember, I might have to take you back to the capital. There are responsibilities that belong to me there. I am the Empress of Chang Jiu Kingdom, and I cannot simply do nothing forever. Xing Chen, one day you will understand."
"Mother, I just hope you are doing this for yourself. I want Mother to be happy, whether you end up with Father or not."
"Silly child, I will be happy. We all will be happy."
Xue Xing Chen finally brightened up.
"Mother, I also want to play with Uncle Wen," Xue Xing Chen said, seeing how happy Xing Yue and Wen Yu Xi were playing. He also wanted to join them.
"Go ahead!" Xue Zi Ning put Xue Xing Chen down.
"Your Majesty, actually, Wen Yu Xi is very suitable to be the father of the two young princes."
Xue Zi Ning replied, "Indeed, in terms of being a father, Wen Yu Xi is very qualified."
"Your Majesty..."
Xue Zi Ning looked up and saw Yan Jin Chao not far away. Xue Yan also saw him. "Your Majesty, this..."
"Wen Yu Xi," Xue Zi Ning suddenly called out.
Wen Yu Xi, who had been happily playing with Xue Xing Yue and Xue Xing Chen, looked up upon hearing Xue Zi Ning's voice and asked, "Your Majesty, is there something?"
Xue Xing Yue, with sharp eyes, saw her own father and whispered, "Uncle Wen, it's Father. Mother is asking you to help save the situation."
Upon hearing this, Wen Yu Xi turned back and saw Yan Jin Chao at the doorway. He smiled, picked up Xue Xing Yue and Xue Xing Chen, and walked towards Xue Zi Ning. "Your Majesty, I've had the household staff prepare some late-night snacks. Would you like to have some?"
Xue Zi Ning nodded. "Alright."
Wen Yu Xi walked in. Xue Xing Yue naturally hopped down, holding Wen Yu Xi's hand with one hand and Xue Xing Chen's with the other. Xue Xing Chen held Xue Zi Ning's hand. The scene was beautiful.
"Young Master Yan, actually Lord Wen is very well-suited for Her Majesty." Lin Shi Shu also walked over.
Yan Jin Chao felt, for the first time, that this perfect scene looked utterly incongruous.
Everyone said it was good, but only he knew that he felt it wasn't good, very not good.
Watching them chatting and laughing together, he felt it was glaring, so glaringly unpleasant, and his heart ached, making it difficult for him to breathe.
Even so, he still didn't want to leave, didn't want to admit that this scene was beautiful.
"Young Master Yan, the Empress is not suited for you. She is suited for people like Lord Wen."
Yan Jin Chao turned to look at her. "Why am I not suited?"
Lin Shi Shu met his gaze. "Only I am suited for you, Young Master Yan."
Yan Jin Chao glanced at her and then walked away.
Lin Shi Shu looked at Xue Zi Ning and Wen Yu Xi's scene. She felt a pang of envy. If one day she could have such a scene with Young Master Yan, even if she were to die immediately, she would be content.
Xue Zi Ning looked towards the doorway. Yan Jin Chao was no longer there. Indeed, no matter what decision or choice she made, it meant nothing to him, right?
"Your Majesty..." Wen Yu Xi, sensing her abnormality, couldn't help but ask.
"It's nothing. In a few more days, let's return to the capital," Xue Zi Ning said.
Wen Yu Xi blinked. "So soon? Your Majesty doesn't need..."
"No, I don't," Xue Zi Ning replied calmly.