Ji Feiyu didn't intend to forgive him, but neither did she want to see him trapped in the Northern Cold Region. She was well aware of Yong Yaxuan's significance to the Great Yong Empire, and she couldn't bear the guilt of being the one responsible for his misfortune. Since he was reluctant to leave, she had no choice but to be ruthless and force him to go.
She walked towards the door again, but was suddenly grabbed by Yong Yaxuan. "Yu'er, don't go!"
He grabbed her so hastily that when he came to his senses, he was afraid of hurting her. Instantly, he stood there like a child who had done something wrong, hesitating whether he should let go of her hand.
At this moment, Ji Feiyu shook off his hand and demanded, "What on earth do you want?"
He released her hand and stared at her familiar figure with slightly red eyes. "Yu'er, I've finally seen you. How... have you been?" He stood there at a distance, as if the person in front of him was a priceless treasure. Taking one more step closer would be a desecration.
During the days when he couldn't see her, he missed her every single day. But now that she was right in front of him, he didn't dare to get closer.
He was so afraid that if he got closer, she would disappear just like in his dreams.
But this wasn't a dream. It was the real Ji Feiyu, the one who had always been on his mind.
Her red dress was like a raging fire, resembling a red lotus emerging from the clear water, gorgeous yet elegant and transcendent.
Yong Yaxuan just stared at her blankly.
His gaze made Ji Feiyu feel extremely uncomfortable. She turned around and said coldly, "Whether I'm doing well or not has nothing to do with you."
Yong Yaxuan knew he was in the wrong. Seeing that Ji Feiyu didn't want to talk to him, a scenario he had long anticipated, he said softly and cautiously, "Yu'er, don't be angry. It's all my fault. I didn't handle things properly..." He spoke each word very slowly, looking at Ji Feiyu as he did.
Yong Yaxuan's voice was unusually gentle, but it made Ji Feiyu feel uncomfortable. What had happened to him? How could he have changed like this?
Ji Feiyu felt a bit vexed in her heart, as if a lot of thoughts had escaped from a deep corner of her heart. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. But for some reason, she just couldn't calm down after seeing Yong Yaxuan.
Yong Yaxuan took a step forward. Looking at her, he couldn't help but get closer to her. He pleaded softly, "It's too dangerous here. Let me take you back first, okay?"
Feeling his approach, Ji Feiyu suddenly felt a surge of nameless anger. She whirled around and said sharply, "Yong Yaxuan, listen clearly. I don't like you anymore, and I won't go back to you! Your queen is already dead, burned to death in the fire in the Cold Palace!"
After saying that, Ji Feiyu's eyes turned red.
She didn't want to recall those old memories. Just thinking about what had happened before made her heart ache. But now she had to force him to let go, so there were some things she had to mention.
She took a moment to compose herself and said in as calm a voice as possible, "We're strangers now. You don't have to care about my life and death anymore. This is my own choice, and I'll bear the consequences myself."
Hearing this, Yong Yaxuan's tears welled up and fell. He rarely saw her cry, and he knew she was really heart - broken. Wasn't he the same? She was his wife from the start. They had gone through so many ups and downs together. Why had it come to this when they met again?
His heart ached as if it was being wrung. He knew it was all because of his wrong decision back then that had led to this irreversible situation.
He was so sad that he could hardly breathe, but he still wanted to hold her back. He really couldn't bear to let her go. For more than five years, over two thousand days and nights, they had been together.
"Yu'er, give me another chance, okay? I... I..." He was in so much pain that he couldn't go on. His eyes were already filled with tears. "I've already found out the mastermind behind the incidents in the Cold Palace. The culprit has been executed. I promise you that when we go back, I'll clean up the harem and won't let anyone frame or wrong you again... If you don't like me going to other concubines' palaces, I won't go. Please don't say you don't like me anymore, okay? I really can't stand it..."
Seeing him cry, Ji Feiyu felt a strange sense of relief. She smiled faintly and said sarcastically, "Yong Yaxuan, don't you understand? I've fallen in love with someone else. I came to the Northern Cold Palace voluntarily. It's meaningless for you to come after me."
Hearing this, Yong Yaxuan's mind went blank with a loud buzzing sound. He felt that something important was slipping away from him, but he just couldn't catch it. At that moment, he was extremely scared and shook his head desperately. "No, no, you're lying to me."
Ji Feiyu retorted, "Why would I lie to you? Seeing is believing. When you saw me coming out of the Northern Cold Palace, didn't you see everything? I walked with him all the way. Did you see any sign of reluctance from me?"
When she came out of the palace, she had behaved as if she was on a pleasure trip with her lover, calm and natural. Yong Yaxuan had seen it with his own eyes at that time and kept telling himself that it was all an act. His Yu'er would never change her heart. Even now, he still believed so. He forced a smile and looked at her. "Yu'er, I trust you. You're not such a person. You must have your own difficulties."
Ji Feiyu couldn't help but find it funny. He hadn't trusted her when he should have, but now he insisted on believing her when he shouldn't. So she said, "No, I am such a person. Yong Yaxuan, you're so ridiculous! Why have you become so self - deluded? Weren't you very opinionated before? Weren't you extremely angry when you saw me looking at someone else? Why have you suddenly changed?"
Yong Yaxuan felt as if there were several holes in his heart, and it was empty inside. Ji Feiyu's voice kept echoing in his empty heart. He couldn't help but plead painfully, "Yu'er, stop talking, stop talking. I know I was wrong before. I won't be like that anymore. Trust me just this once, okay?"
Ji Feiyu also wanted to trust him, but after going through all those unbearable things and losing so much, she didn't want to take another risk. So she ignored him, closed her eyes, and said indifferently, "Let me out."
How could Yong Yaxuan let her go at this moment? The second prince's pursuers must have been ready by now. They were just waiting for the order to start a carpet - style search for them.
Yong Yaxuan didn't want to lose her again. Looking at her cold expression, he knew he had hurt her too deeply. He was in a dilemma again. He didn't know what he could do to make her change her mind. He lowered his stance and whispered, "But I've just found you..."
Ji Feiyu couldn't understand Yong Yaxuan's sudden change in attitude. Before in front of Lotus Town, when he chased after her on horseback, he was so determined and confident. But now, no matter what she said, he didn't refute. He just kept admitting his mistakes. It made her feel as if her anger was hitting a sponge, which made her very unhappy. She couldn't help but say, "Yong Yaxuan, what on earth has stimulated you? You've become such a nuisance. If it were before, you would have left in a huff. What's wrong with you today? Are you really going to pick on me?"