Every time the prince opens his eyes, he sees

Xie Qingchen didn't show up for several days in a row.

That day, Lu Yaoyao leaned against the windowsill, listening to the conversation of several maids who were tending to the flowers and plants in the backyard:

"Have you heard? Prince Heng, who was punished to be imprisoned in a remote place, will be returning to the capital soon."

"I heard that the Emperor had originally ordered him to never enter the capital. Back then, he was a popular candidate for the crown prince position, but the Crown Prince discovered that he had embezzled public funds to raise secret soldiers, a major offense against the Emperor, and that's why he was banished to Zhongyou."

"Who knows? The situation is ever-changing. As long as the crown prince doesn't ascend the throne, the choice of the throne may change."

"Hush, keep your voice down. Don't let anyone hear us. If the prince hears, we will be beheaded."

That Xie Qingyu, is he coming back?

With Xie Qingchen's current means and abilities, it is impossible for such a thing to happen unless he takes the initiative to let him come back.

Weren’t the crazy things he said when he was drunk that night really crazy things?

What does he want to do?

Lu Yaoyao did not immediately send a message to Xie Qingchen to ask him to come over and interrogate him. She knew about it, but she turned a blind eye as if it was none of her business.

Maybe this was just a sad drama directed and acted by Xie Qingchen himself, a sad drama that made her forgive him.

But it doesn't matter whether he understands it or not, whether he forgives him or not, because they are strangers now and there is no possibility for them to be together again.

She didn't ask about it, and Xie Qingchen didn't come to see her, but news about him and Xie Qingyu frequently reached her ears.

After Xie Qingyu returned to Beijing, the emperor restored his status as Prince Heng.

Xie Qingyu was diligent in government affairs and often offered good advice to help the emperor relieve his worries and work. The emperor was very pleased and rewarded him with ten thousand gold coins and granted him Yongchengxuan to live in.

Xie Qingchen handled the case of Zhang Nanfu's corruption improperly and was suspected of shielding and condoning it. The emperor was furious and ordered him to be separated from the Ministry of Personnel and taken over by Prince Heng.

Xie Qingchen frequented brothels and spent a fortune on his top prostitute, which was unbecoming of his status as a prince. The emperor ordered him to kneel in the ancestral temple for one night as punishment.

Xie Qingchen was late for court many times and was lazy in government affairs, so he was reprimanded by the emperor.

There are too many things like this. One or two of them may not seem too serious, but when they are added together, the emperor becomes increasingly disappointed, Prince Heng also begins to compete with Xie Qingchen, and Xie Qingchen's position as the crown prince is in danger.

The people in the Eastern Palace were in a panic, and they were all saying that the prince might be deposed and the emperor would appoint a new crown prince.

Lu Yaoyao couldn't remain calm anymore. This madman Xie Qingchen was really courting death!

"Ai Xiang, find a way to invite Master Qingfeng over. I want to see him."

"Yes, Princess."

The maid left quickly. When Qingfeng heard that Lu Yaoyao wanted to see him, he also rushed over as fast as he could.

"Qingfeng, why don't you try to persuade the prince and let him do whatever he wants?"

Qingfeng already knew that she was the former He Yaoyao, so he didn't shy away from her. "Miss Yaoyao, the prince is no longer the prince he used to be. Apart from you, I'm afraid no one in the world can shake his heart."

"He did it on purpose." Lu Yaoyao's tone was full of anger.

"Then it depends on whether Miss Yaoyao is really willing to completely ignore him."

In the phrase.

Lu Yaoyao had nothing to say.

Yes, she couldn't be as crazy and ruthless as Xie Qingchen.

She couldn't bear to watch the position of crown prince that he had worked so hard for many years being snatched away by the defeated subordinates who had once harmed and persecuted him.

"Master Qingfeng, go back to the Crown Prince and tell him to come over in the evening."

Qingfeng bowed solemnly to Lu Yaoyao.

Although he knew it was shameless to let Lu Yaoyao go against her conscience and do something she didn't want to do, she was the only one who could bring the prince back to his senses at the moment.

So he had to bow and thank her.

As night fell, the East Palace was silent, broken only by the occasional footsteps of patrolling guards.

Lu Yaoyao sat in front of the dressing table, looking at her slightly pale face in the bronze mirror. She sighed softly, then stood up and walked to the window.

Just as I glanced at the sky outside, a light knock sounded at the door, followed by the guard's polite announcement, "Princess, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived."

Lu Yaoyao took a deep breath, turned around and sat back at the table, "Come in."

The door was gently pushed open, and Xie Qingchen's figure came into view. He was wearing a black long gown and a jade crown to tie his hair. He looked simple, but Lu Yaoyao could tell at a glance that he had dressed himself carefully.

There was a barely perceptible glimmer of anticipation in his slightly tired eyes.

"You're here." Lu Yaoyao's voice was calm and cold, but it was difficult to conceal the complex emotions in it.

"Hmm." Xie Qingchen hesitated for a moment, as if he had done some psychological preparation before mustering up the courage to slowly step in. His gaze lingered on Lu Yaoyao for a moment, and a bitter smile curled up at the corner of his mouth. "You must think this is another one of those self-torture tricks I've devised to force you to surrender, to force you to face me, right?"

"Is not it?"

She raised her eyes, as if to say, isn't your presence here the best proof?

"I really am not." Xie Qingchen bent one knee in front of her. Xie Qingchen, who had never had to kneel to anyone except his parents and the empress dowager in his life, bent one knee in front of Lu Yaoyao.

Lu Yaoyao was startled, her eyes fixed on Xie Qingchen's half-kneeling body, and an indescribable emotion surged in her heart.

She didn't expect that he would go to such an extent.

Even if it's acting, there's no need to go to this extent!

"Xie Qingchen..." Her voice trembled slightly, expressing both surprise at his actions and confusion at his deep affection. "Do you think that if you do this, I'll be shaken and want to be with you again? Don't dream! No matter what you do, we can't go back to the past, so forget it!"

Xie Qingchen looked up, his eyes filled with sincerity and pain. "Yaoyao, I don't believe it. If you can be so resolute, why don't you look me in the eye and say it? I want you to know that everything I did was not to force you to come back to me, but to prove to you that I am willing to give up this powerful position for you. I only ask that you give me a chance and let us start over."

Lu Yaoyao's heart was gripped tightly. She looked at the man in front of her, the man who made her love and hate him, and now he was begging for her forgiveness and acceptance in such a humble manner.

She felt sad, but also more confused.

There is no possibility for them, so why bother to struggle and make things difficult for both of them?

She even tried to persuade him with righteousness, "Xie Qingchen, do you know that the Great Jin is no longer something you can let go of whenever you want? Every move you make, every decision you make, affects the fate of countless people. Do you think I can still view the relationship between you and me as simply as I did before?"

Xie Qingchen's eyes flashed with pain when he heard this, but he did not retreat. Instead, he said more firmly: "I know, I know everything. But I know even more clearly that without you, this position of power means nothing to me. I am willing to use everything I have in exchange for your return."