Traveling through another world to stir the emperor's heart

Feng Qingyue crossed her arms and looked at Jun Lingyuan with a scrutinizing look in her beautiful eyes. At this moment, her heart was filled with anger after being deceived.

Jun Lingyuan took a deep breath, as if mustering up great courage, and then slowly said: "Actually, I could hear what you were thinking from the first time I saw you."

Feng Qingyue's eyes widened in disbelief. A series of images flashed through her mind like slides, and then, as if suddenly remembering something, she hurriedly asked, "Was it when my father took me to the palace banquet?"

Jun Lingyuan shook his head gently and said calmly, "It was only after I caught you when you fell from the tree that I began to hear your inner voice."

Feng Qingyue frowned slightly, a bad feeling forming in her heart. She asked tentatively, "Did you already know that I wasn't the original Feng Qingyue?"

Jun Lingyuan was silent for a long time, and finally nodded slowly and replied in a low voice: "Yes."

Feng Qingyue suddenly felt a surge of anger rising from the depths of her heart. She couldn't help but think of how she had been living in fear and carefully pretending to be herself in front of Jun Lingyuan for a long time, fearing that he would find out that she was not the original Feng Qingyue, and afraid that he would dispose of her if he was unhappy. But he was so kind, since he knew about this all along, wouldn't all her previous worries and disguises become a huge joke? She said angrily, "Then all my hard work has been in vain? Why did you keep pretending not to know?"

Jun Lingyuan looked at Feng Qingyue's furious expression and hurriedly explained, "Qingyue, listen to me. When I first heard your inner voice, I found it very strange too. After hearing your inner voice, I even wondered if I was sick. I even called in the imperial physician and the state teacher, but they all thought I was overworked, which was why I was hallucinating."

Jun Lingyuan paused for a moment, then continued, "But I know very well in my heart that this is not an illusion. So I kept testing you, and only then did I discover that this is a real situation. But think about it, this kind of thing is too bizarre. If I tell others, they will definitely think I'm talking nonsense, and they might even think I'm crazy. That's why I haven't told you yet." "Besides, I'm also worried that you will be hurt by this." Jun Lingyuan sighed softly, "The hearts of people in the palace are unpredictable. If this matter gets out, you will definitely become the target of public criticism. So, I decided to keep it secret. I wanted to wait until I found the right time to tell you, but I didn't expect to make things worse and let you misunderstand. I'm sorry, Qingyue..."

Feng Qingyue snorted coldly and said disdainfully, "You're just trying to find an excuse for yourself by saying this now. Who knows if you really mean it?"

Feng Qingyue became angrier and angrier as she thought about it. She then recalled what happened during dinner and asked, "Then why were you angry during dinner just now?"

Jun Lingyuan lowered his eyes, a trace of loneliness in his eyes, and whispered: "Because I heard you say that you were afraid that I would kill you, and then you would go find someone to back you up. I... I don't want you to be so afraid of me that you still want to seek shelter from others."

Feng Qingyue sneered, her tone filled with sarcasm as she said, "You already know I'm not the original Feng Qingyue. Isn't it normal for me to be afraid of you killing me? Who knows what you're thinking? You might find a reason to get rid of this fake me at any time."

Jun Lingyuan hurriedly took a step forward, trying to grab Feng Qingyue's hand, but she nimbly dodged. He said helplessly, "I've never had such a thought. I've always known you as Feng Qingyue. In my heart, you are you, unique and special."

Jun Lingyuan looked at Feng Qingyue helplessly and continued, "I know you might not believe anything I say now, but what I say is the truth. Ever since I realized you weren't the same Feng Qingyue, I've been paying attention to you silently. I've noticed that you're different from everyone else, and slowly, I can't help but want to pay attention to you."

Feng Qingyue didn't believe him at all. She turned around abruptly, her back to Jun Lingyuan, and said coldly, "How can I believe you? You've deceived me for so long, and now you're just saying these things to coax me."

Jun Lingyuan looked at Feng Qingyue's stubborn back, his heart filled with regret. He knew that this incident had dealt a heavy blow to Feng Qingyue, and he wanted to make amends, but he felt he had no idea where to start. He said softly, "I know I was wrong, and I shouldn't have kept it from you. But I really don't mean any harm. I just don't know how to handle this strange situation."

Feng Qingyue heard Jun Lingyuan say that he had never thought of getting rid of her. Although she didn't believe it in her heart, she couldn't help but ask again: "Since you can hear my thoughts, what did you hear?"

Jun Lingyuan replied, "Besides knowing that you are not the original Feng Qingyue, I also heard you mumbling something that I couldn't hear, that's all."

Feng Qingyue frowned, pondering his words carefully, but she still found Jun Lingyuan's explanation hard to believe. She felt that Jun Lingyuan might be hiding something. After all, this matter was too bizarre, and he had kept it secret for so long. But she didn't want to argue with Jun Lingyuan any further at this moment. She just wanted to be alone and quiet for a while, so she said, "Your words are useless now. I need time to think carefully. Please leave my room first."

Jun Lingyuan opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but looking at Feng Qingyue's resolute back, he finally just sighed softly and said in a low voice: "Then you have a good rest, I'm leaving first." After that, he slowly turned around and walked out of the room with heavy steps.

As the door gently closed, Feng Qingyue's heart was like a whirlwind of emotions, a tangle of mixed emotions. She was furious that Jun Lingyuan had concealed the fact that he could hear her thoughts and had long known she wasn't the original owner. Yet, beneath this anger, there was a faint, inexplicable joy.

She stared quietly at the ceiling of her bed, her thoughts slowly drifting away. Jun Lingyuan had long known she wasn't the real Feng Qingyue, yet he hadn't troubled her, nor had he taken any action that would harm the General's Mansion. Did this mean that, in this seemingly perilous situation, she actually had a certain freedom? Did it mean she no longer had to live in constant fear, desperately trying to disguise herself to avoid being discovered as the original Feng Qingyue?

The more she thought about it, the more she felt this might be a turning point. She had never belonged here in the first place, and had always dreamed of finding the right time to return home. Now that Jun Lingyuan had laid it all out, couldn't she live more freely, the way she pleased, until the time came to return home? The thought of this made the corners of her mouth curl upwards unconsciously.

But then, as if suddenly remembering something crucial, her brow, which had just relaxed, furrowed tightly again. She realized a serious problem: what if Jun Lingyuan knew she was determined to go back, and he refused to let her go? This sudden worry was like a dark cloud, instantly burying the lightheartedness she had just felt, and she fell into deep distress again.

After Jun Lingyuan left the room, he didn't go far. He stood quietly under a tree in the courtyard, slowly raised his head, and looked out the window of Feng Qingyue's room, his eyes filled with complicated emotions. He had never imagined things would develop to this point. Originally, he was just afraid of losing her, but now it seemed to push her further away.