"I can accompany you wherever you want to go," Xiao Shijing said with a forced smile.

"You know that's not what I meant." Si Yue looked at him. They hadn't seen each other for a long time after Xiao Shijing got drunk.

It wasn't that he was avoiding her, but that she didn't want to see him.

"Actually, when you asked me if I was willing to come to the capital with you, I shouldn't have agreed.

… It's just that as a person, it's hard to avoid being greedy and wanting more and more things.

At first, I wanted you to look at me more, but then I gradually developed some delusions that I shouldn't have … I want to be with you forever. "

"But look at me like this." She lowered her head. "… It's just like what that princess said. I'm not good enough for you." Her voice was low, as if she was sighing beside his ear.

"You're really daydreaming. You're just a prostitute, yet you want to climb to the top in one step." She then smiled and raised her hand to brush her eyes.

He wanted to go forward, but Si Yue stepped back and didn't let him get close.

"Ruan Ruan …" He wanted to say something to her, but he couldn't.

"Ah Shi, you've already repaid my parents' kindness by redeeming me. It's enough." She stood a few steps away and looked at him fixedly, as if she was trying to comfort him.

"I used to resent you. When I was about to starve to death and be beaten to death, I wondered why you didn't come to save me.

Why didn't you come to my side when I was in trouble like when I was young? "

"In the end, I thought too highly of myself. Who can revolve around one person for their whole life?

I'm just a childhood playmate. It's ridiculous to take those naive thoughts of a young girl seriously. "

She tilted her head, as if she was recalling her appearance many years ago. Her slightly tilted face had a smile, relieved and a little melancholy.

When Xiao Shijing heard her words, his heart ached. It was as if a pair of hands were clutching his heart tightly and forcefully.

There was a bitter taste on the tip of his tongue. "Ruan Ruan, I will protect you for the rest of your life … Trust me, okay?" He said with difficulty and reached out to hold her.

She didn't avoid him this time and let him hold her hand.

He squeezed her hand very tightly, and his palm was burning hot.

She didn't answer him.

She took his hand and brought it to her eyes, carefully caressing every callus and scar.

He could see the slight heartache in her eyes. Her movements were slow and gentle, as if she was afraid of hurting him.

"Big Brother Ah Shi is really amazing. He really became a great general just like he said when we were young."

She didn't answer him, but pressed her face against his hand. "I remember every word that Brother Ah Shi said back then. You said that you would be the best general in the Cheng nation."

She looked up and her pretty eyes curved into crescents. "So don't delay yourself for me. It's not worth it."

Xiao Shijing looked at her in a daze, as if he had fallen deeply into her smiling eyes. She looked at him so innocently, hoping that he would be fine.

"You don't have to worry about that …"

"Ah Shi, it's okay." She shook her head. "You don't have to trouble yourself to make me a promise."

Si Yue pursed her dry and pale lips, pressing them until they were a little rosy. She smiled. "It's okay. I want to go out and take a look.

Didn't you say that I should go out and take a look more often? "

She looked as if she really wanted to go out. She smiled brightly in front of him and said to him in a light tone, "I've read many of the books you found for me. There are many places that I want to see with my own eyes."

She counted with her fingers the places she wanted to go and told him one by one, as if she had already planned for it.

Xiao Shijing didn't say anything. He only looked at her as she told him about her plans for the future.

Her eyes sparkled like the radiance of the stars in the sky. There was a gentle joy in her eyes, and he couldn't bear to interrupt her no matter what.

He listened attentively to every word she said, and then clearly understood that he was not included in any of her visions of the future.

His Ruan Ruan had grown up …

His Ruan Ruan had grown up and didn't want him anymore.

He understood this matter with great clarity.

***

"What right does he have to be angry with me over a prostitute? Who does he think he is?"

"Xiao Shijing, you're just relying on the fact that I like you. If one day I dislike you …"

"I must …"

Duan Linlang had a headache as he looked at the drunken Jiaping.

He saw her lying on the ground, her wide and beautiful robe sprawled all over the floor, showing messy creases.

People who had always been arrogant and self-restrained were no different from ordinary people when they were drunk. They were all in a daze.

At this moment, her eyes were red. He didn't know if it was because of the alcohol or some other reason, but it made people feel pity for her.

"What do you want?

Do you want to chop him up? "

Duan Linlang looked at her and continued her words as he pulled this little devil up. "How much did you drink? You're suffocating me." He used a hand to pinch his nose as he complained.

"Don't chop him up!"

The drunken person suddenly straightened up and shouted at her fiercely and domineeringly. As soon as she finished speaking, she fell down again.

Duan Linlang was startled by her shout, but he quickly reacted and hurriedly caught her.

"Okay, okay, okay. I won't chop your general. Just be quiet." Duan Linlang comforted her.

No one responded for a while. When he looked again, he saw that the person who had been arguing with her had already closed her eyes and fallen asleep.

Duan Linlang dragged her to the bed and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"You …" She pinched her sore hands. "Of all people to like, you just had to like Xiao Shijing. It would be fine if he had feelings for you, but he has never cared about you."

After Duan Linlang left, Jiaping, who should have been sleeping soundly, opened her eyes.

There was still some clarity in her eyes.

Her face was flushed red from the alcohol, making it even more beautiful. Her already flamboyant appearance added an indescribable beauty.

But her gaze was dispirited, making her appear aloof and indifferent. It was hard to get close to her.

Her usually straight back relaxed at this moment, as if she hadn't had enough. She picked up a jug of wine and poured it into her mouth. The wine overflowed from her mouth and slid down her chin, drenching her clothes. She didn't care. When the jug was empty, she shook it and threw it to the ground with all her strength.

The jug made an ear-piercing shattering sound, like a sharp knife stabbing into a person's heart. There was a sudden pain.

Her body swayed unsteadily because of the alcohol. She used too much strength and staggered a few steps. She hurriedly raised her hand to support herself on the table so that she wouldn't fall.

Her hair was slightly messy. A few strands of hair fell on the side of her face, half covering her expression.

"Your Highness?

Did something happen? "A maid outside the closed door heard the commotion and called out worriedly. It seemed like she wanted to come in.

"Scram!" She suddenly shouted angrily.

"Yes, yes … Your Highness, please calm down …" After hearing Jiaping's voice and knowing that she was fine, the maid calmed down and didn't dare to offend her again. She quickly retreated, afraid that she would be punished if she was late.

The footsteps outside the door gradually became lighter and the surroundings quieted down. Only her rapid and slightly panting breathing could be heard.

She felt that her head was heavy and uncomfortable. Her entire body was like a fish without water. She was very thirsty and very sad …

"Xiao Shijing …"

She let go of her hand and let herself slide to the ground. She didn't care about the wine stains on her dress as she laid on the ground without a care for her image.

She held her head and muttered his name, as if she was hoping that someone would respond to her in the silent air.

But other than her heavy breathing, there was no other sound.

"Why can't you like me …"

She was like a child who didn't understand anything, stubborn and pitiful.

She was born with unparalleled wealth and enjoyed all the glory in the world, but she had to fall for a man.

She put down her pride and offered her heart, but she still couldn't obtain it … She was about to become someone who wasn't like herself anymore …

In the past, she didn't care how he treated her. She didn't care if he was cold to her since she had never seen anyone that he could get close to. She could still comfort herself that it was because of his personality and that she shouldn't be too sad.

But now she knew that he could truly love and care for someone.

From the beginning to the end, it was just her lying to herself that he would be moved by her and fall in love with her.

This matter really … really … made her feel very sad.

She thought in a daze. Her drunken mind was starting to lose its ability to think.

All that was left was a simple and straightforward feeling of grievance and tiredness.

Sleep, everything will be fine after a good night's sleep.

She said to herself, and then slowly closed her eyes, allowing herself to sink into endless darkness.

***

Xie Yu didn't know what to do with this woman. "What do you want me to help you with now?"

Duan Linlang pulled on his sleeve in a flattering manner. She smiled when she heard his words, like a little fox who had succeeded.

"You have a relationship with Xiao Shijing, don't you?

Can you help me invite the girls from his residence to come and play with me? "

"Could it be that you want to stand up for Princess Jiaping and teach her a lesson?" Xie Yu cast a sidelong glance at her, clearly seeing through her thoughts.

"Aiya, of course not. I'm just curious …" She still wanted to talk nonsense, but she was defeated by his half-smile. "Alright, that's what I mean."

"Xiao Shijing chased out Jiaping because of that girl. Can't I get my revenge?"

She said. Thinking of Jiaping, she became even more self-righteous. "Jiaping wasted so many years because of him. What is he doing?"

"It's a matter of mutual love. How can you force it?"

Xie Yu said. He knew very well that if Xiao Shijing didn't like Jiaping, then no matter how long she waited for him or how much she sacrificed, it would be meaningless to him.