The matter was becoming increasingly bewildering.
"Mother, what are you talking about?"
Ye Qingluan let out a sigh.
Then she said, "There are very few people who know the truth about this matter."
"Are you... sisters?"
Ye Qingluan nodded.
Zhao Shuning took a step back.
So, did that mean Xia Qingyan was also like her elder brother?
"Mother, how could this be?"
"I thought you had discovered this problem on your own."
"Mother."
"Because your eyes are so similar to your sister's. Before, people always said that the children took after the concubine. Later, when you grew up, your eyes and the look in them were exactly the same as your sister's."
"So?"
Zhao Shuning asked timidly.
"Grandfather chose to hold his birthday banquet in the Sea Spirit Country not because of my suggestion, but because he wanted to go to the Sea Spirit Country to see Xia Qingyan."
Ye Qingluan nodded.
"But, but mother, Gu Qingqing, her surname is Gu, not Ye."
"Because at that time, the king of the Cangwu Country, Gu Yuan, was your grandmother's good friend. At that time, the people in the Cangwu Country were not united. Your sister was extremely capable, so she was entrusted with a heavy responsibility to help Gu Yuan fight against the Qin family and gain a foothold in the court. But if she had entered the palace of the Cangwu Country without permission, she might have invited gossiping. And she didn't want to submit herself to the king of the Cangwu Country, so she could only become the eldest princess of the Cangwu Country in the name of the king's younger sister."
Zhao Shuning understood.
This could explain everything.
No wonder.
No wonder her eyes were so similar to Gu Qingqing's.
No wonder.
No wonder she felt familiar the first time she saw Xia Qingyan.
No wonder.
Before, when grandfather mentioned Gu Qingqing, there was regret and pride in his eyes.
He said that Gu Qingqing was an extraordinary woman, because in fact, Gu Qingqing was his daughter.
He hadn't held a birthday banquet for many years and was tired of the outside world. How could he give up his years - long insistence just because of her persuasion?
It was because she said that the birthday banquet would be held in the Sea Spirit Country.
And grandfather didn't even hesitate when he heard about the Sea Spirit Country. He agreed because of Xia Qingyan.
Because Xia Qingyan was also his grandson.
Grandfather was really good at pretending. He always had a smiling face. Even she hadn't discovered the secret hidden behind his smiling face.
"Yan'er, why are you asking these questions?"
"Nothing, mother. Don't tell grandfather about this. He's currently in seclusion and won't come out for three to five years. I may have to go to the Sea Spirit Country again."
"What's wrong?"
"Xia Qingyan is in trouble—"
"Ah!"
"Mother, I won't talk anymore. I still have some things to sort out. I hope you won't tell anyone about what happened tonight."
"I know, Yan'er. Take good care of yourself."
"Okay."
Zhao Shuning's mind was in turmoil.
It took a long time for her to calm down.
Xia Qingyan's life was both lucky and tragic.
The environment he grew up in, countless people told him how elegant and gorgeous his mother was and how much his father loved his mother.
But only he had witnessed his mother's death and his father's betrayal with his own eyes.
How much harm this must have brought to the young him at that time!
Zhao Shuning admitted that she had her own selfish motives.
Gu Qingqing was also related to her by blood. If she had the ability, she would never have left Xia Qingyan alone.
Half of the reason why Xia Qingyan had become like this was because of his dependence on his mother, and the other half was because of her.
Zhao Shuning changed her clothes.
She went to the high pavilion to find Yan Ruyu.
Hearing the knock on the door,
Yan Ruyu showed a smile and said, "Come in."
"Bu Ran—"
"Come here and drink the medicine."
Zhao Shuning took the medicine and drank it all in one gulp without frowning.
"Where do you want to go?"
"The Sea Spirit Country. How do you know I want to go out?"
"I can tell from your expression."
Zhao Shuning smiled.
Really.
No matter when, only Master understood her best.
"Can I go?"
"Ling'er, I don't want you to go."
"But if I don't go, I may regret it for the rest of my life."
"What about your body?"
"Bu Ran, I know my own body. If she is really on the verge of death and I can do nothing but wait to die here, even if I live a long life, my heart will be no different from being dead."
Yan Ruyu put away the medicine jar in his hand with a heavy heart.
"Bu Ran, please let me go, okay?"
Yan Ruyu didn't say a word.
At this moment, the air pressure in the high pavilion was extremely heavy.
"Bu Ran—"
The man in green clothes turned around.
Zhao Shuning couldn't see his expression at this moment.
She could only continue to plead.
"Please let me go, okay?"
"Even if I don't let you go, you'll still go, won't you?"
Zhao Shuning said, "Bu Ran—"
Yan Ruyu said, "Ling'er, sometimes I even doubt that you keep saying you love me. You know how I feel about you now. I don't want you to go, don't want you to take risks, and don't want you to leave me. But you still want to go. Ling'er, think carefully. Is there really a place for me in your heart?"
Zhao Shuning was stunned.
A smile appeared on her face.
In this time period, it was the first time he had admitted his feelings for her, right?
Master, you don't know that my love for you is far more than just love.
If there is really someone in this world that I am reluctant to leave, it can only be you.
But now, with my weak body, what can I use to love you?
"If you ask me this question a hundred times, my answer will still be the same."
Yan Ruyu's back was so close to Zhao Shuning.
But Zhao Shuning felt that he was so lonely.
Master must be in great need of a hug from her now.
To tell him that she would choose him firmly.
"Master—"
Tears welled up in Zhao Shuning's eyes.
Actually, she could feel that her body was gradually failing. So, she could only take advantage of the last moments to seek a place to survive for herself in the future.
"You're calling me like this again."
A clear tear rolled down Zhao Shuning's face.
It's just that Yan Ruyu couldn't see it.
"I should have called you like this all along."
"Have you made a firm choice, then?"
The man's voice was deep.
Zhao Shuning reached out to wipe the tears from her face.
She said with a smile, "You said, if I changed my body or my appearance, would you still recognize me?"
"Ling'er—"
"Bu Ran, I'm sorry. I have to go to the Sea Spirit Country."
Yan Ruyu didn't turn around.
Then he heard the sound of the door closing behind him.
The medicine jar in his hand fell to the ground and shattered.
I've lived for five hundred years. For the first time, I feel what it's like to be firmly chosen by someone. It was you who brought this feeling to me, but it's also you who made me feel for the first time that I'm nothing special in your eyes.
But I will be heart - broken because of your one choice.
Ling'er, your body won't last for a few more months.
Won't you even leave the last moments for me?