Liu Qingyun took things lightly.
She had always been like this, a person who saw things clearly.
It was okay. Maybe it was a good thing that she hadn't managed to leave.
She had the chance to do something beneficial to the people.
It would be worth the half - life of luxurious and comfortable life that this title had brought her.
Yu Chi saw that she was in a daze and knew that she hadn't been listening to him at all.
Thinking that things had come to this point and it was useless to say more, Yu Chi sighed. He ordered someone to bring in some tea and pastries and then withdrew.
Not long after Yu Chi left, Ji Shijian, who had received the news, lifted the curtain and walked in.
Seeing this nominal husband, Liu Qingyun's calm expression finally showed a slight crack.
"I didn't expect you to come and see me. Why? Do you still miss the old days as a couple?"
Ji Shijian forced a smile.
"What kind of couple are we?"
"Indeed. We've both cuckolded each other. No other couple could be more extreme than us."
Hearing this, Ji Shijian felt even more embarrassed.
Actually, when they were in the Ji Mansion, he didn't mean to neglect Liu Qingyun. It was her temper and her identity that made him have to do so.
Back then, the new emperor, who was still the crown prince at that time, their sworn elder brother Liu Baiyu, had already started to make plans.
When they opened the treasury of the Wu State and found that the once - prosperous treasury was actually empty, Liu Baiyu knew that the Wu State would surely make a comeback.
The Princess Anning of the Wu State, who had been left behind as a surrender chip, would be the tool for them to restore their country.
So, Liu Baiyu asked the former emperor to bestow a marriage and marry Liu Qingyun into the Ji family.
Only when she was in the Ji family, under the watch of the person he trusted most, could Liu Baiyu feel at ease.
At that time, Ji Shijun was missing. Ji Shisu had a marriage contract with the Zhao family, and Ji Shihuan was too young, just a newborn baby. The only one who could marry Liu Qingyun was Ji Shijian.
Although at that time, Ji Shijian and Lu Qu were in love with each other.
Of course, Liu Qingyun was also aware of Ji Shijian's old relationship with Lu Qu.
They were all just chess pieces forced together, so Liu Qingyun had never blamed Ji Shijian.
Of course, she had never loved him either.
She stopped teasing him sarcastically and said calmly, "I know you've reserved the position of the main wife for Lu Qu. It's a pity that Lu Qu lost her child."
Ji Shijian was stunned.
He wasn't surprised that Liu Qingyun knew about his relationship with Lu Qu.
Back then, he had defied the whole family for Lu Qu, and the matter had been widely spread. It would be strange if Liu Qingyun didn't know.
What surprised Ji Shijian was that Liu Qingyun even knew about the child!
This was a secret he had planned to take to the grave!
The child in Lu Qu's belly was purely an accident.
That time, Ji Shijian had forced himself on Lu Qu, and he had always felt guilty about it.
Only he, Lu Qu, and Ji Shisu knew about this.
To cover up this secret and not cause trouble for Ji Shisu and himself, Lu Qu had aborted the child with medicine on her own.
"Life is short. Don't care too much. Look at how many people have scolded me behind my back, but I'm still living well. Lu Qu is a good girl. Although she doesn't say much, you should understand her and cherish her. If she hadn't married Ji Shisu back then to make you give up, but had really eloped with you, both you and the Ji family would have been destroyed."
Liu Qingyun was speaking up for Lu Qu and also advising Ji Shijian not to bear the pressure of the world. If there was still a chance, he must cherish Lu Qu.
Ji Shijian lowered his head. Liu Qingyun indeed saw things clearly.
He had been really reckless back then.
At that time, marrying the princess of the Wu State meant that Ji Shijian couldn't marry any other woman.
After all, Liu Qingyun was a princess. According to her status, Ji Shijian, a commoner, was like a son - in - law.
If he had married another woman right after getting married to the princess, it would have been like slapping the former emperor in the face - the former emperor had just promised the king of the Wu State that he would treat the princess well.
So, marrying Liu Qingyun meant that he had to let Lu Qu down, and Ji Shijian of course wasn't willing.
For this reason, he had even contradicted Liu Baiyu.
Thinking about it now, he still felt scared.
Back then, seeing how much he had been making a fuss, Liu Baiyu had even relented and told Ji Shijian to be patient for a few more years. After the matter of the Wu State was over, he could take a concubine.
But Ji Shijian didn't agree.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say that it was Ji Shijian himself who had forced Lu Qu into marrying Ji Shisu.
Lu Qu had tried to escape before, but he had always found her.
No matter how Lu Qu tried to reason with him and even said that she could follow him without a proper status, Ji Shijian didn't agree.
He just refused to marry the princess and only wanted to marry Lu Qu in this lifetime.
Finally, after Lu Qu married Ji Shisu, he gave up.
Lu Qu understood him.
She knew that in this world, the person he respected the most was Ji Shisu.
She knew that only by marrying Ji Shisu could he give up.
Looking back now, the Ji Shijian back then was like an immature child, thinking that he was going through fire and water for his lover and fighting against the whole world.
Later, he realized that even the way he loved was wrong.
The Ji Shijian now was no longer the Ji Shijian of the past.
So, what Liu Qingyun had advised him about, he had already figured out.
Ji Shijian nodded and said, "Don't worry. I will respect her choice."
This time, he wouldn't force Lu Qu anymore.
As long as Lu Qu was still willing to be with him, he wasn't afraid even if they had to leave the Ji family.
If Lu Qu wasn't willing.
He wouldn't bother her.
But the position of his main wife would be reserved for Lu Qu for the rest of his life.
Hearing this, Liu Qingyun felt relieved.
At this point, all her concerns were resolved.
She felt extremely carefree.
She looked up and said seriously, "Ji Shijian, thank you. I think we shouldn't have been this lousy couple. It would have been much better to be friends."
Ji Shijian also nodded.
"Yeah, it would have been much better to be friends."
Liu Qingyun was also a sensible person.
Although he didn't love her, it didn't stop him from admiring her.
"Since you've said so, don't worry. No matter how the situation changes, I will protect you. Not in the name of a husband, but as a friend."
Liu Qingyun smiled.
She had a hunch that Ji Shijian's words were probably just empty promises.
If a real war broke out, not only Ji Shijian but even Ji Shisu might not be able to protect her.
However, Liu Qingyun still curtsied and said, "Then, thank you in advance."
Liu Qingyun's guess was right.
A great war soon broke out.
After several unsuccessful sneak attacks, Sima Feng finally lost his patience.
He finally declared war officially - in the name of rescuing the princess.
This war wasn't easy for either side.
Although the Sima Villa had almost gone all out to attack Shiguan Pass, Ji Shisu's army wasn't to be underestimated either.
The two sides fought back and forth.
The Sima Villa didn't gain any advantage, and Ji Shisu's side wasn't having an easy time either.
Under the crazy offensive of the Sima Villa, the casualties were extremely heavy.
The flames of war spread everywhere, and Shiguan Pass was almost an empty city.
The guards protecting Zhao Luoning no longer just stayed in the shadows. They really surrounded her tightly in layers.
The whole Shiguan Pass was in a state of full - scale alert.
Zhao Luoning was very anxious. On the one hand, she was worried about Ji Shisu, and on the other hand, she was worried about Liu Qingyun.
She didn't know if Ji Shisu could withstand the pressure.