"Why are you in such a hurry? Do you know that if you really do this, you'll leave yourself with no way out?" Ji Yundan looked at her as if she were unreasonable, his tone tinged with anxiety.
Seeing Wen Yu didn't answer, he seemed even more annoyed. "Who did you discuss this decision with before making it? Do you trust me at all?"
"And Xun Ying, does he know about your plan? Didn't he object?"
At first, he chose to trust Wen Yu because he saw an unshakable determination in her eyes.
Now, what left him feeling powerless was exactly that determination.
How could she make such a momentous decision all by herself?
Not to mention the consequences if the plan failed, even if she were lucky enough not to be found out, what about Ji Yunqing? Would he let her go?
Ji Yundan knew full well how much Wen Yu loathed Ji Yunqing.
Could she really bear the feeling of having her fate in someone else's hands again?
"What's the difference between this and courting death?" Ji Yundan stood up, losing his usual composure. He paced restlessly around the room. "What on earth are you thinking?!"
As he bombarded her with questions one after another, Wen Yu, rarely, didn't retort. Instead, a faint smile played on her lips.
If Ji Yundan didn't care about her, he wouldn't be this anxious.
She watched him pacing around the room with a calm look in her eyes, but her resolve remained unshaken. "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."
"I don't think this is courting death. On the contrary, I think it's worth a try."
Hearing this, Ji Yundan was momentarily at a loss for words. He took a deep breath and gritted his teeth. "Give me a reason why you have to do this."
"Not now." Wen Yu smiled gently, but her tone brooked no argument.
Ji Yundan felt even more frustrated at her stubbornness. "Do you think that with me around, scoundrels like Ji Yunqing and Li Qilun can live a long life? Do you really have to do this?"
"Or do you think I'm so omnipotent that I can handle any situation and keep you safe no matter what?"
"We have plenty of time. Why are you in such a rush?"
Hearing this, Wen Yu nodded slightly with a smile.
Seeing this, Ji Yundan paused. "What do you mean?"
"I really can't wait any longer." Wen Yu said coldly, and the smile on her lips turned a bit frosty.
She sighed and looked down at the tea set on the table. "Your Highness, do you know how desperate it feels to hate someone so much that you want to skin them alive, but still have to force a smile?"
"Every night when I close my eyes, I dream of killing them with my own hands. But when I wake up, they're still alive, still as disgusting as ever."
"Your Highness can certainly afford to wait, but I can't. Every extra day is a torture for me."
"I'd rather fight to the bitter end. I don't want to endure this slow and painful torture any longer."
Wen Yu spoke softly, her voice like a gentle stream.
Ji Yundan stood there, stunned for a moment.
He looked at Wen Yu for a while, and the confusion in his eyes gradually faded.
He had forgotten that no matter how calm and strong Wen Yu seemed, she was still a mere mortal who could feel pain and get hurt.
If someone else had to go through what she had, they would probably be either dead or insane by now.
The fact that she had remained calm until now was, in a way, more terrifying than going completely crazy.
She seemed to be living in the same world as everyone else, but only she knew that she was trapped in her own personal hell.
All the suffering and pain were hers to bear alone. No one could understand her, let alone share her burden.
Not even anyone had the ability to pull her out of the quagmire.
He had always thought that his relationship with Wen Yu was based on mutual benefit, and that he had provided her with a lot of help.
But in fact, all his actions were nothing compared to what she had been through.
In her eyes, he was still just an outsider standing on the shore, watching coldly.
And his wavering on the matter of Li Qilun was like a hidden hand under the magma, dragging her deeper into the abyss.
Ji Yundan suddenly didn't know what to say to comfort her.
Or rather, at this moment, he suddenly understood why Wen Yu would rather put herself in danger than marry into the Eastern Palace for protection.
In her own personal hell, no one could be a real safe haven in her eyes.
Rather than briefly coming ashore only to be pushed back into the magma, it was better never to leave.
At least after being burned by the magma, her heart could still remain intact.
"But you should have at least discussed it with me, or at least let me know that you couldn't wait."
Ji Yundan looked a bit dejected. He frowned at Wen Yu, his eyes filled with pure concern.
There was no desire, no self - interest.
He seemed to be just a future king, unable to bear seeing his subject walk towards an inevitable end.
Wen Yu looked directly into his eyes. After a long silence, she finally spoke softly, "Your Highness knows very well why I'm being so self - willed."
"Since some things have come to this point, regret is the most useless thing."
"But if Your Highness has even a shred of pity or compassion for me, please find the best medicine for me as I asked."
"As for Xun Ying..."
Wen Yu suddenly looked out of the window. Her silence made Ji Yundan immediately understand.
He nodded weakly. "I'll have someone distract him. You can speak."
Hearing this, Wen Yu showed a hint of gratitude on her face.
"Your Highness already knows that Xun Ying has feelings for me. I don't want him to be involved in this. Otherwise, he won't just stand by and watch me do this."
"Moreover, this matter is indeed extremely risky. I don't want him to see me fail. He can't bear it, and neither can I."
She spoke slowly.
The content of her words was very heavy, but her tone was as calm as if she were talking about an ordinary day of an unrelated person.
Ji Yundan was silent for a long time. He didn't really want to agree, but somehow, the words got stuck in his throat.
Wen Yu was extremely beautiful, the kind of beauty that would be unforgettable at first sight.
Before her marriage, Ji Yundan had also seen her at the Wen family.
He had been trained as the crown prince since childhood, accustomed to being unmoved by anything. He thought that all the earthly pleasures and beautiful things were just ordinary to him.
But he still remembered that the first time he saw Wen Yu, he had gone to the Wen Mansion to discuss matters with Wen Xun.
As he walked through the long corridor of the Wen Mansion, Wen Yu was following behind her elder brother Wen Yanhe, watching him repair the swing for her.
The weather that day wasn't good. Although it didn't rain, everything looked gray, as if all the colors in the world had been taken away.
But when she stood in the courtyard, dressed casually with a light makeup, she made the whole courtyard shine.
Especially her fox - like eyes. As her eyes flitted about, one couldn't help but envy the object of her quiet gaze, even if it was just a somewhat broken swing.
But now, those gorgeous eyes were still as charming, but the clear look in them seemed to be covered by a veil.
When they looked at each other, Ji Yundan only felt that the melancholy in her eyes was telling him about all the pain she had endured over the years.
It stabbed at his heart, making it ache.
As the crown prince, Ji Yundan was convinced that he would never be infatuated with beauty. Even when he first had the idea of taking Wen Yu into the Eastern Palace, it was mainly because he thought she was intelligent and brave.
It was only at this moment that Ji Yundan realized that he was losing control.
He started to feel heartache for her.
His proud self - control was broken by the sorrow in her eyes, and then it collapsed like a building in ruins.
"I'll arrange more people to protect you. If the plan fails, leave without hesitation. Don't come back to Shengjing. Just stay alive. I'll take care of the rest."
Ji Yundan closed his eyes as if in resignation and said tiredly.
"As for Xun Ying, I'll figure out a way to control him so that he won't interfere with your plan."
He used to think that holding onto the position of the crown prince and becoming a wise king in the future was what he had been striving for all his life.
But at this moment, his belief quietly took a step back.
To back up Wen Yu's plan, he had to gamble with his own power.
"Your Highness doesn't have to go this far. Since I've made this decision, I'm ready to face death." She sighed and tried to dissuade him.
But Ji Yundan just looked at her silently. "I've been in a high position, but I've rarely indulged my own desires. Just this once."