Meeting Li Qiyu's gaze, Song Jiaye finally mustered up the courage and said, "I'm sorry."
This apology was what he owed to Li Xiyu.
At the time of their marriage, he already knew that Li Xiyu was exhausted both physically and mentally, caught between her father and her ideals. He should have cared more about her.
Li Qiyu and Song Jiaye seemed to have a sudden understanding. Just by saying "sorry", Song Jiaye let Li Qiyu know what he was apologizing for.
However, this apology was for Li Xiyu. Li Qiyu thought she had no right to forgive Song Jiaye on behalf of Li Xiyu. So, she said, "I accept your apology, but I can't decide whether to forgive you or not."
Song Jiaye nodded dejectedly.
But Song Jiaye was well aware that his momentary dejection was nothing compared to the long - lasting suffering Li Xiyu had endured back then.
Li Qiyu didn't want to dwell on this topic. After all, it was a matter between Song Jiaye and Li Xiyu.
She said, "So, what happened later?"
"Before that, I want to tell you something."
This time, Song Jiaye chose to be completely honest.
Seeing Song Jiaye looking so serious, Li Qiyu also nodded seriously.
"I often have a dream about the same girl. To be honest, I like that girl. Whether you laugh at me for being infatuated or stupid, I can't forget her. And because of her, I really can't accept anyone else. If I were with someone else, I'd feel like I was being unfaithful."
Since Li Qiyu came from ancient times, most of the storybooks in ancient times were about scholars and spirits. Moreover, Emperor Ming of the Tang Dynasty and Concubine Yang still longed to meet each other outside the Hall of Everlasting Life. Falling in love with someone in a dream was a rather clichéd plot in the storybooks.
Ancient people, not yet influenced by modern ideas, would add their own fantasies to many things they didn't understand. So they were more romantic than modern people. In Li Qiyu's eyes, Song Jiaye's situation was romantic, though others might think he was crazy.
"You and that girl must have an unfinished fateful bond from your past lives, which is why you still miss her so much."
Song Jiaye had already prepared himself for Li Qiyu to look at him like he was a crazy person. But he didn't expect that the woman he thought was the least likely to understand him in this world would be the one who supported him the most.
"Do you really think... what I'm doing is normal?"
"Falling in love with someone is your freedom." It didn't matter if that someone was a man, a woman, or a girl in a dream.
This was what her father had told her in ancient times. After all, when Prince Song Jiaye wanted to marry her, there were many doubts. Many people thought she was not suitable to be the prince's consort, and some felt it was a pity. With the status of the eldest daughter of the Li family, she would even be more than qualified to marry the crown prince.
Even Song Jiaye's adoptive mother, the future empress dowager, didn't quite agree to this marriage.
But her father had said to her, "My daughter, you have the freedom to love whoever you want. No one has the right to interfere. Daddy will fully support you."
Later, her father really fought hard to defend her until his death.
After expressing his innermost feelings, Song Jiaye felt much lighter. Li Qiyu was a smart girl. After Song Jiaye said that, she understood.
"Li Xiyu... was the former me. I loved you, but you didn't love me, so I went crazy, right?"
Li Qiyu understood the pain of loving someone who didn't love you back.
She just didn't expect that both the ancient Li Qiyu and the modern Li Xiyu would fall for the same unpromising man.
However, the modern Song Jiaye was at least an honest person. It was okay to be friends with him.
As for the ancient Song Jiaye, he wasn't even worthy of being a friend. Back then, Song Jiaye and her brother had a good relationship. But what happened in the end? He still had the entire family executed. Being friends or a couple with him was a matter of life and death.
"I'm sorry."
Song Jiaye apologized again.
Li Qiyu waved her hand generously.
This time, she decided to make an exception and forgive Song Jiaye on behalf of Li Xiyu.
Because loving was Song Jiaye's freedom, and not loving was also his freedom. After she traveled through time and learned about Li Xiyu's past actions from the people around her, she really thought that this girl was too obsessive.
But she could understand Li Xiyu's thoughts.
After all, she used to be Li Xiyu.
In ancient times, she also thought that Song Jiaye didn't love her and that he was sorry for her devotion. Later, after experiencing the great change in her family, she realized that nothing was more important than having her family by her side.
She used to think that love was everything, but later she knew that family affection was.
Not to mention that the ultimate destination of love was family affection, and love wasn't unique. A man could have multiple wives and concubines. He could be a family member to many people. Even a woman could choose to divorce and remarry.
However, the selfless and unwavering devotion of blood relatives was something that was hard to find again once lost. That was the most unique feeling in the world.
"Alright, I understand. Song Jiaye, don't worry. You can leave whenever you want. I won't stop you, and I won't have any inappropriate thoughts about you. Just as you said, let's still consider our contract valid, but it will end in half a year."
After Song Jiaye's long - winded explanation, Li Qiyu could almost guess what he wanted to say.
Song Jiaye also felt much more relaxed. In fact, both of them had been in pain before. He had even prepared to just spend his whole life with Li Qiyu.
But unexpectedly, a near - drowning incident made Li Qiyu more open - minded and also helped him grow a lot.
"Then, happy cooperation, partner."
"Thanks for your care, partner."
Song Jiaye and Li Qiyu looked at each other and smiled. Song Jiaye felt an unprecedented sense of relief.
He also let go of the high wall he had built in his heart against Li Xiyu and seriously asked, "Do you really think that the girl in my dream and I have a fateful bond from our past lives?"
Song Jiaye rarely discussed the girl in his dream with others. He had only talked to his mother about it when he first started having those dreams and felt confused.
"Yeah, that's what the storybooks say. The unforgotten past will resonate in this life."
"Storybooks? Are they comics?" This was now in Song Jiaye's knowledge blind spot.
"They are the storybooks for operas. It's like this..." Li Qiyu stood up, pinched her throat, and started singing. After all, when she was bored in the palace before, she could only listen to operas every day. Although her singing wasn't as good as those professional opera singers on the stage, since she had started singing, it wasn't bad.
Song Jiaye looked at the energetic girl in front of him. From her, he seemed to see a ray of light.
He thought of the Ultraman that both Li Qiyu and Li Tong liked.
Yes, one should believe in light.