Ling Shan was stunned.
On the round rosewood table in the palace hall, a full table of meals was laid out. They smelled quite fragrant, but they didn't look very delicate.
Why did everything seem so strange?
"Your Majesty..." Are you in a bad mood?
A trace of hesitation flashed through Ling Shan's mind. Although Jun Wuyuan in front of her had gentle eyebrows and a faint smile on his lips.
However, Ling Shan could see the sorrow and grief hidden in his gentle eyes.
What on earth had happened?
It couldn't be because of her, could it?
Ling Shan walked closer somewhat guiltily, placed her hand on his, and sat down beside him.
It shouldn't be, right?
"It's okay. Shan Shan, don't worry. I've been too busy these days and feel a bit exhausted."
Jun Wuyuan spoke in a gentle tone, reaching out to hold Ling Shan's hand. There was a hint of apology in his eyes.
"Has Shan Shan been angry with me? I haven't had time to accompany you these days. It's my fault."
Ling Shan: "......"
"No."
Ling Shan held Jun Wuyuan's hand back and replied softly:
"Your Majesty has been so busy that you've lost weight. Shan Shan feels so heart - ache for you. How could I be angry with you? Your Majesty should stop worrying."
The intimate and slightly complaining tone warmed Jun Wuyuan's heart that had been covered by clouds, dispersing them and revealing the warm sun.
Jun Wuyuan's eyes softened even more, filled with deep affection.
But he didn't hug Ling Shan and kiss her passionately as he used to.
A thought flashed through Ling Shan's mind, and a trace of doubt crossed her heart.
But soon, Ling Shan knew the reason for Jun Wuyuan's strange behavior today.
It was the first time Ling Shan had seen Jun Wuyuan drunk.
In comparison, Jun Wuyuan was even more silent today. He ate and drank with an undeniable sense of pain.
Ling Shan didn't say much. She just quietly accompanied him.
One after another, the wine pots were emptied and fell to the ground. They started at the round table, and somehow ended up beside the small couch by the window.
Ling Shan was sitting on the small couch. Jun Wuyuan's face still looked normal, except that his eye - sockets were a bit red.
He held a wine pot in one hand and propped his head on the other as he leaned against Ling Shan's lap. The alcohol was taking effect, and the layer upon layer of ice - cold alienation was gradually melting.
Ling Shan frowned as she watched Jun Wuyuan take another big gulp of wine. He drank too fast and was suddenly choked, coughing violently.
"Your Majesty."
A look of deep worry appeared on Ling Shan's face. As soon as she reached out her hand, Jun Wuyuan grabbed it.
"Shan Shan, do you like tonight's dinner?"
"Yes."
Ling Shan didn't struggle. Instead, she used her other hand to hold a silk handkerchief and gently wiped the wine from his lips and chin.
There was a hint of drunkenness in Jun Wuyuan's eyes. He just tilted his head up silently and let Ling Shan do as she pleased.
Ling Shan lowered her eyes slightly. As her eyes shifted, she suddenly met those peach - blossom eyes filled with a circle of glistening water.
Jun Wuyuan looking at her like this added a bit of cuteness. Somehow, it made Ling Shan's heart soften.
"Shan Shan likes Your Majesty's cooking. It's unique in the world."
Ling Shan's eyebrows and eyes were gentle, and there seemed to be boundless tenderness flowing in her eyes.
Jun Wuyuan's heart skipped a beat.
He couldn't help but show the most sincere smile of the day to Ling Shan. He subconsciously rubbed the back of her hand.
"Has Shan Shan guessed?"
His tone carried a hint of ambiguous intimacy, as if referring to the table of meals, but also as if referring to something else.
"Yes. Shan Shan has seen Your Majesty's feelings."
Really?
Jun Wuyuan's eyes darkened. He hooked the corner of his lips, patted her hand, and then tilted his head back to take another big gulp.
"My mother was a gentle and kind woman."
Ling Shan listened to Jun Wuyuan talk about his birth - mother with drunkenness and nostalgia. She drank a few sips with him from time to time. Before they knew it, they were both a bit more drunk.
"Shan Shan, I've thought a lot these days. If I could have let Mother out of the Cold Palace earlier and let her live a good life back then, would I not have to regret it so much now?"
"Your Majesty, you've done a great job. Mother in the sky would only feel proud of having such an outstanding son!"
"Shan Shan."
Jun Wuyuan lay on Ling Shan's lap on his side, with his eyes closed in drunkenness. His tone was hazy:
"If I could, I'd rather stay in the Cold Palace for the rest of my life. As long as I had Mother, even if I had to wear coarse clothes and eat rough food and never achieve anything in my life, I'd be willing."
The son wants to support his parents but they are no longer alive.
The greatest pain in Jun Wuyuan's heart was that now that he had ascended to the supreme position and was in control of the political power, and was just one step away from eliminating the treacherous officials who were in power.
But unfortunately, the birth - mother who deserved to enjoy the blessings the most had long passed away. Wasn't it a kind of painful regret?
"Shan Shan, it hurts so much here."
Jun Wuyuan reached out and pulled Ling Shan's hand, placing it on his chest.
After all these years, it was the first time he showed such a soft and 'weak' emotion.
"Your Majesty, I'll accompany you. Mother will also accompany you in another way!
We'll all always be with you and never leave you!"
Ling Shan felt that she must be drunk too. Otherwise, why did her head feel so dizzy, as if it was filled with boundless affection, making her heart soften and sink involuntarily.
A sly glint flashed through Jun Wuyuan's drunken peach - blossom eyes. He hugged Ling Shan's waist and indulged in the moment again, living for the day.
After this, a lot of feelings were poured out, but as a result, Ling Shan was dead drunk.
On the contrary, Jun Wuyuan, whose peach - blossom eyes had originally shown a hint of drunkenness, stopped drinking after quietly fishing out the hidden words of the little fox.
He silently apologized to his mother in the sky in his heart. For the sake of his son's happiness and his grandson's bright future, he had to make use of his mother.
It was really a sin.
However, thinking of the 'worries' that the little fox in his arms had finally revealed.
Jun Wuyuan thought his mother would understand him.
Otherwise, even if he racked his brains, he would never have thought that Ling Shan actually had such thoughts in her little head.
No wonder he felt that Ling Shan had been so cold and hot recently, so unpredictable, alienated and strange.
It turned out that...
Jun Wuyuan stood up holding the person in his arms. His eyes were full of helplessness that was both funny and exasperating, as well as a bit of 'resentment' for hating iron for not turning into steel.
He had almost dug out his heart and presented it in front of Ling Shan, but he didn't expect that she still hid so many worries and insecurities.
Jun Wuyuan couldn't help but reflect on himself. Was it that he hadn't done enough?
Or was it that his affection needed to be expressed boldly and directly?
But that would be so embarrassing!
"Let me go..."
No way!
Now that he knew the root cause of the problem, he couldn't let it go.
The best way was to prescribe the right medicine and untie the knot in her heart.
Otherwise...
Jun Wuyuan held the person in his arms and made a decision in his heart.