The number one spendthrift woman in the capital actually brings glory to her entire family?

"You've probably seen the report from Tiansheng that our spies brought back. Dayong has dispatched her with her army to join forces with Tuoba Yu to resist Xifeng Lie's attack. Even if you still harbor some hope, you should know that she's currently in Tiansheng and unable to escape. Your Majesty, forgive my bluntness, but I'm afraid there won't be any outcome between you two..."

During this time, Yuan Yun had thought countless times about the distance between Di Beizun and Sikong Jin. There were just too many obstacles between them, not only issues of political stance and social status, but also many more...

With so many problems looming before her, she couldn't help but pessimistically realize that she couldn't see a glimmer of hope.

Di Beizun was suddenly taken aback, and turned his head to look at Yuan Yun again, his expression somewhat strange. After a long while, he said calmly, "Is that how you see it?"

Yuan Yun nodded somewhat dejectedly, a regretful bitter smile appearing on her beautiful face. "Although the situation in the court has been suppressed by your forceful iron fist, the problems will still exist as long as they don't give up. I admit that I personally admire and like Sikong Jin, this intelligent and wise woman, and I know about you two... Alas, I can only be pessimistic about your situation."

The glint of light in Di Beizun's eyes dimmed slightly. He lowered his eyes abruptly, pondered for a moment, and then said in a deep voice, "Pessimism does not mean there is no hope. It just means the chances are smaller and the probability of success is lower."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yun suddenly sighed inwardly, then turned to look at Di Beizun. She saw that a hint of melancholy and solemnity had quietly surfaced on the handsome, cold face bathed in the clear moonlight. After thinking for a moment, she couldn't help but sigh, "Your Majesty, when you got involved with Sikong Jin's problem, you became someone else entirely. I know that your sudden withdrawal of troops and order for recuperation, besides the reasons you gave, was most importantly because of her, wasn't it?"

Yuan Yun suddenly stared quietly at Di Beizun's cold and handsome face, her hands hanging at her sides tightening slightly, not missing any change on his face.

"Oh? What other reasons do you think there might be?"

Emperor Beizun smiled calmly and glanced at Yuan Yun with extreme indifference. "I remember that this matter has already been explained very clearly."

Yuan Yun smiled and shook her head, then sighed, "I grew up with Your Majesty since I was a child. If I didn't understand your personality, then I wouldn't be worthy of being called your elder sister. Such a sudden order to withdraw troops is certainly not your style."

"Lately, you've been trying to drag her into many of my decisions. I've said those things have nothing to do with her, and I don't care whether she comes or not. What's wrong with the whole Great Zhou living in peace and tranquility now? Isn't it good to recuperate and rebuild? What does it have to do with her, Sikong Jin?"

Emperor Beizun finally couldn't hold back in defending someone and started lashing out, refusing to admit anything.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yun was stunned, somewhat unable to react. Seeing that he had already turned away angrily, not bothering to look at her, she couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. After thinking for a moment, she knew that this conversation probably couldn't continue. She could only take out a letter from her sleeve and hand it to Di Beizun along with the bundle in her hand, saying helplessly, "Forget it, I'm finding it increasingly difficult to communicate with you lately. You can take a look at her reply and what else she gave you. I can't control it. Anyway, you're the one who has to bear it. I'll just have some peace and quiet. Out of sight, out of mind. I'm going back!"

Yuan Yun, also annoyed, stuffed the bundle and the letter into Di Beizun's arms and then turned and left.

Di Beizun looked at the things Yuan Yun had stuffed into his arms, then at the figure of Yuan Yun leaving in a huff. His deep eyes flickered a few times, and after a moment of silence, he turned around and walked towards the Imperial Study.

"His Majesty……"

The personal eunuch, Eunuch Xu, hurriedly came forward to greet him.

"All of you, leave. No one is to enter without my permission."

Emperor Beizun waved his sleeves and strode towards the dragon throne, slowly sitting down inside.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Eunuch Xu dared not say more. Having spent decades in the palace, he had long since learned to read people's expressions. Judging from His Majesty's demeanor tonight, he could vaguely sense that the young emperor was probably in a bad mood. Of course, he dared not touch any of His Majesty's sensitive spots, otherwise...

He responded and quietly withdrew, closing the door behind him.

Di Beizun glanced at the bundle, then opened the letter, revealing someone's flowing handwriting...

Naturally, it was her usual tone. After reading the entire letter, it seemed that she couldn't find a single sentence that satisfied her. Di Beizun frowned slightly, and the slender fingers holding the letter tightened slightly for a moment. His eyes, which were as silent as distant cold stars, suddenly dimmed.

After a long silence, he finally snapped out of his daze. Just as he was about to put the letter away, he noticed something vaguely inside the envelope. He reached out and pulled, and another sheet of paper fell out. He opened it; it was still in Sikong Jin's handwriting, but it no longer contained the contents of the letter—

Dedicated to Emperor Beizun:

In the stillness of the night, I gaze alone at the stars in the sky. Every night the stars remain unchanged, shining brightly. I only wish that I, too, would remain unchanged, that I might be as enduring as the stars, shining brightly every night, ever present...

Di Beizun read the letter several times before carefully folding it and clutching it tightly in his hand. A faint light flickered in his dark eyes. He opened the bundle in front of him, and with a 'whoosh,' a large pile of jewels poured out. He fiddled with them for a while, finally finding a gift that satisfied him among the mundane items—

A poorly made sachet, with uneven stitches and crooked lines, yet when held in hand, it faintly exudes the delicate fragrance of roses, just like her...

He inexplicably imagined her struggling with the sachet under the lamp. His usually cold and hard heart suddenly softened in that instant, and his indifferent heart wavered for a moment. He couldn't even admit that he felt a slight joy at that moment.

The expression on her face, which had just been somewhat unpredictable, was now quietly replaced by a gentle, smiling one.

He remembered that she seemed to have told him that even if she didn't come, she would still send him an expensive gift, and he didn't expect that she would keep her promise.

A cool breeze blew gently by, and the faint sound of lively drumming could be heard. He sighed inwardly, his deep eyes suddenly becoming complicated. After a long silence, he finally stood up, walked to the window, and looked calmly at the night sky outside...

Gazing silently at a twinkling, cold star on the horizon, he suddenly tightened his grip—

After more than a decade of military campaigns and the pursuit of imperial power, he now felt none of that mattered anymore. For the first time, he longed to have someone...

I never knew that someone as deep and aloof as him could have such vulnerable emotions.

"Sikong Jin... I've never seen... a woman as hateful as you!"

His calm voice, tinged with a hint of determination, drifted on the night breeze: "You provoked me first, so don't blame me for what happens next."