"Wanwan."
Yan Zhao's fingers quietly moved up along Ning Yuwans sleeve. Just as they were about to touch her skin, she pushed his hand away.
"Your Highness, care to explain?"
She cast a quick glance at Gu Xiaos back, then sighed softly. "You knew you couldn't save him."
The Fairy Lake was too vast, and the distance from the shore to the cliff was simply too far.
With Yan Zhaos weak body, there was no way he could swim to the shore while dragging another person.
Even if he could swim, it would be an extremely difficult task.
Yet, despite all this, he still jumped off the cliff without hesitation to save the man!
When Servant A and the others brought the two of them back for treatment, Yan Zhao was still tightly clutching Gu Xiaos robe. They couldn't pry his fingers loose.
It was only when Servant E cut open Gu Xiaos robe that they managed to separate them.
It showed just how strong his determination had been at that moment.
Just thinking about that scene still made Ning Yuwans chest feel tight.
If it hadn't been for the National Master, Mo Xun, to rescue them.
If she hadn't managed to save them in time.
They might really have ended up "separated by life and death," just as she'd said in a fit of anger.
Dragons were born with great magical powers, but they didn't have the ability to reverse life and death or bring the dead back to life.
If they did, she would have resurrected the original body long ago.
She wouldn't have had to use all her spiritual power to turn back time and return to the past to replace the original body and start anew.
The dragon girl, who had always been rather detached from human affairs, now understood the pain of loss after falling in love.
She had started to place Yan Zhao deep in her heart and even thought about spending the rest of her life with him.
But it seemed that the future Yan Zhao had planned didn't include her.
At least, when he'd jumped off the cliff without hesitation, he hadn't thought about having a future with her.
If Yan Zhao could read minds, he would surely understand Ning Yuwans disappointment.
He might even immediately protest.
Unfortunately, he didn't have the ability to read minds.
And Ning Yuwans, who could read memories, was in such a bad mood at the moment that she wouldn't use her spiritual power.
Yan Zhao lowered his eyes and coaxed her softly, "Wanwan, I was wrong."
His voice was filled with helplessness and guilt.
It was completely different from his cold and unrestrained demeanor when facing others. When faced with Ning Yuwans anger, he was at a complete loss.
He could only repeat in a low voice, "Don't be angry with me, okay?"
As he'd sunk into the water, countless people and memories had flashed through Yan Zhaos mind.
But only Ning Yuwans and their shared past were impossible to forget. They kept repeating over and over again.
At that moment, Yan Zhao was filled with fear: If he died, what would happen to Wanwan?
Although he always mentioned Ning Yuwans remarriage jealously, when he actually thought about it before death.
Yan Zhao only felt a dull pain in his heart. He didn't want...
He didn't want Ning Yuwans to remarry!
He didn't want to die either!
If...
If he could survive safely, he would surely take good care of his body and live a peaceful life with Ning Yuwans for generations.
Thankfully, the heavens had heard his prayer and given him a chance to live.
The corners of his eyes turned red. Yan Zhao bit his lip and said, "Wife, forgive me one more time, okay?"
The usually cold and terrifying heir to the estate was willing to use his charm to please his wife.
His eyes were filled with tears, looking weak and pitiful. It was truly tempting to the dragon girl.
Tempted by his beauty, Ning Yuwans fingertips involuntarily twitched, and her earlobes gradually turned pink.
Her heart was also itching and tingling. She clearly looked like she couldn't resist, but she clenched her fists to suppress her feelings.
"Turn around!"
Out of sight, out of mind!
Ning Yuwans held her breath and bit her lip, but the coldness on her face quietly faded away.
Yan Zhao obediently turned around. However, this small movement seemed to tug at a wound. He frowned but endured the pain silently.
It was even more tempting!
Looking at Yan Zhaos back, Ning Yuwans sighed and frowned.
Yan Zhao had sharp ears. He quietly reached out and covered her hand, then gently pried open her fingers that were turning white from clenching. He intertwined their fingers.
After realizing that Ning Yuwans didn't completely reject him, he raised his left hand with three fingers up. "I swear, from now on, I'll think about the consequences before I act. I won't let my wife worry or be sad anymore."
In the past, he had been alone, and he had known that he wouldn't live past twenty.
So he had always acted freely and unrestrainedly. After all, his life wasn't long anyway.
But now, he had a beautiful and charming wife.
He had even become a little afraid of death.
Ning Yuwans pouted and said, "I won't be sad! I can't wait to remarry tomorrow!"
"Wanwan."
Yan Zhao covered her mouth with his left hand and kissed the back of her hand and palm urgently. He pleaded in a low voice, "Don't remarry! Don't remarry!"
He would cherish his life and find all ways to survive.
So...
"Wanwan, you can only belong to me. Don't remarry, okay?"
Ning Yuwans had never seen such eagerness and regret in Yan Zhaos eyes before.
Just one more look, and all her anger seemed to disappear.
All that was left was a soft sentence, "There won't be a next time!"
"Okay."
Yan Zhao gently pulled her to his side and hugged her carefully. "I swear, there won't be a next time."
It wasn't for any other reason that Ning Yuwans easily forgave Yan Zhao.
It was just that on the night she met Gu Xiao, Yan Zhao had told her more of the hidden story.
Yan Lin had been a born general, brave and skilled in battle.
The Yan family army under his command had been even more fearless and invincible.
So the Emperor of Chu had been jealous and envious of him. He had wanted to bypass Yan Lin and directly command the Yan family army.
Unfortunately, soldiers had always only obeyed the orders of their general.
Even the emperor couldn't give orders without the general's seal.
The Emperor of Chu had used a trick to cause Yan Lin's accidental death. But he had found that the whereabouts of the general's seal were unknown.
So he had taken back the residence of the Protector General of the State and searched for it privately, but still couldn't find it.
Without General Yan Lin,
all the soldiers of the Yan family army had claimed to be ill and retired.
The Emperor of Chu, out of his own whim, had destroyed the most valiant army and the Yan family.
After Yan Lin's death, fifteen-year-old Yan Zhao had shouldered all the responsibilities of the heir's estate.
Overnight, the once high-spirited young man had become dejected and helpless.
The noble families and ministers who had seemed to be on good terms with him before had all kept their distance.
Only Gu Wu had frequently visited him, just as he had before, treating him sincerely.
He had cooked meals with his own hands and drunk with Yan Zhao.
He had told Yan Zhao about the battles he and Yan Lin had fought on the battlefield to defend the country, and they had shed tears of grief.
Before getting drunk, he had told Yan Zhao to hide his thoughts, restrain his edge, and be strong and patient if he wanted to avenge his father.
The next day, Gu Wu had requested permission to leave the capital and retreat to Xiaoshan.
Before leaving, Gu Wu had told Yan Zhao that if he ever figured things out, he could go to Xiaoshan.
Sure enough, as Gu Wu had hoped, Yan Zhao had gradually grown up. He had secretly traveled to Xiaoshan and learned martial arts from Gu Wu.
He had also obtained an important piece of information.
It turned out that, having seen what had happened to Yan Lin, Gu Wu had known that as someone who also held military power, he would be the Emperor of Chu's next target.
So he had simply retired and chosen to be just the Marquis of Wuan.
The Yan family army hadn't really retired. They had all followed Gu Wu and hidden in Xiaoshan. Naturally, the general's seal was also in Gu Wu's hands.
The only pity was that the Yan family army didn't recognize Yan Zhao.
It wasn't because Yan Zhao's abilities were inferior. On the contrary, after five years of training, Yan Zhao's mind and methods were even better than those of Yan Lin in the past.
It was because of Yan Zhao's health. He wouldn't live past twenty.
The loss of Yan Lin had already been a great grief for the Yan family army.
Naturally, the Yan family army wouldn't choose Yan Zhao, who they knew wouldn't live long.
"Uncle-in-law has been kind to me, and Gu Xiao is my relative. I couldn't just stand by and watch him die."
Pressing his forehead against Ning Yuwans, Yan Zhao explained in a low voice.