Rebirth and Rewriting Fate

After a moment of silence, Gu Ruoxiao spoke up, "You all speak."

"Since the Prince left the capital, Miss has taken on the responsibility. During the day, she manages the miscellaneous affairs of Shili Pu and the Prince's Mansion, and at night she studies and researches. She has sorted out all the people in the court, noting who has great ambitions but little substance, who is humble and modest, who is brave and resourceful, and who is all brawn and no brains. She annotates each one and then presents them to the Emperor. She says, 'Since you are not at home, I will take on this responsibility for you and teach the Emperor how to use people.' Many times, Miss has stayed up until the middle of the night."

Gu Ruoxiao couldn't help but recall those days before his memories returned, when everything seemed so unfamiliar and hazy. Back then, he had found those booklets in his study drawer, filled with densely packed records of court officials' names, positions, personality traits, and even some unknown secrets and weaknesses. At the time, he even suspected Yun Chu of some conspiracy, wondering if all these predicaments were a carefully orchestrated scheme by her. He couldn't help but blame himself for doubting her.

"You and Miss lost contact through letters. Although Miss was worried, she didn't show it too much. She said you must be stuck somewhere and that you would definitely come back. Later, when the capital was attacked, Miss stood alone in front of the rioting people and said that since you, the Regent, were protecting the safety of the people at the border, she was standing here with the people of the capital. She wanted to protect the capital and the imperial city for you."

“Miss, a frail woman, stood on the city wall, commanding with such composure, but I know she was actually terrified inside. She had no choice but to step forward. To outsiders, Miss always appears strong; she only shows weakness in front of you. So I think Miss must have been waiting for you to return, to tell you about her fears and anxieties. Yes, she waited for you to return, but what did you do? You stabbed her with your sword, said she wasn't a princess, and even brought the Ye family to humiliate her.” Zhu Ling choked up as she spoke.

Gu Ruoxiao's face darkened as he pondered what he had done.

Nan Rao continued, "The city wall is extremely dangerous. Miss wouldn't let us go up, but she went up herself. If it weren't for Lord Lin taking an arrow for Miss, the Prince might never have seen her again."

Gu Ruoxiao's eyes widened suddenly, as if pushed open by an invisible force, his pupils flashing with disbelief. He abruptly raised his head, his gaze piercing through the dim, flickering candlelight in the study, and shooting straight at Nan Rao.

However, what shocked him even more was that when he turned his gaze to Nan Rao's side, Zhu Ling and Mo Han, the two people who usually accompanied Yun Chu, also showed extremely surprised expressions. Their eyes were filled with shock and lingering fear.

Even they didn't know... This realization struck him like a hammer blow, causing him an instant, suffocating pain. His hands instinctively clenched on the table; he had almost lost her again.

“Sometimes I think bitterly, it would have been better if Your Highness hadn’t come back and had continued to disappear. When you disappeared, Miss was worried and anxious, but at least she wasn’t sad or hurt. But after you came back, all the injuries and illnesses Miss suffered were caused by you. You unleashed all the storms and hardships upon her. But if you don’t come back, it would be a betrayal of Miss’s kneeling and begging at Qianyan Temple.” Zhu Ling sobbed softly.

Qianyan Temple? Gu Ruoxiao frowned. He still remembered the words she whispered in his arms when he held her sick that day.

“It must have been Miss who pleaded with Qianyan Temple that allowed you to return safely. From then on, Miss waited earnestly for your return. She never cried in front of us until she received Chiwu’s letter saying that he had found you. Only then did Miss dare to cry out loud in front of us. How scared she must have been, suppressing it all in her heart. She kept hoping for you, but what did she get back?” Nan Rao questioned.

The study fell silent for a moment.

“Actually, when you stabbed Miss, she didn’t blame you.” Mo Han, who had been silent all along, spoke up. “When you brought the Ye family members to her, she didn’t blame you either. She said you just didn’t remember her. She said she was just very sad.”

Miss, she doesn't like waiting, yet she's been waiting all along. She's waiting for you to fall in love with her, waiting for you to come back, waiting for you to think of her again.

Your Highness, haven't you noticed? You never say no to Miss.

She confessed her feelings to you, you rejected her, and she stopped bothering you. You professed your love to her, and she accepted. You asked her to marry you, and she agreed without hesitation. Even after you caused her so much pain and hurt, she readily agreed when you casually said, "Forgive me."

The young lady can still refuse them, but with just one word from you, she will surrender.

Yes, you took care of her for a long time while she was in a coma. But from the very beginning until now, Miss owes you nothing.

That day I told the young lady that in her relationship with you, she loved too humbly.

But she said that she had waited a very long time for your affection, and she was afraid that one day you would stop liking her. And her fears came true.

She said that perhaps the person who falls in love first often loses the most.

But, Your Highness, is everything you've done truly worth Miss's suffering?

Mo Yan, who had never spoken so much before, lowered his head and a tear fell.

"Yes! You even let that Miss Mu climb into your bed!" Zhu Ling said angrily.

The study fell silent, filled with a heavy and oppressive atmosphere, and everyone remained quiet.

Chiwu and Chengfeng wanted to defend their master, but were astonished to find that everything the three women standing in front of them said was true. Every word they uttered was irrefutable, like a sharp blade that accurately struck at the heart of the matter, leaving them speechless for a moment.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment, and a long silence fell over the study. After a very long silence, everyone heard their master's deep and firm voice, "I understand."

Then, he slowly got up, walked out of the study with firm steps, and returned to his bedroom without saying another word or looking back.

He gently walked to the bedside, his gaze tenderly falling on the person sleeping soundly on the bed. She slept so peacefully, her breathing even and steady, undisturbed by any external disturbances. Her sleeping posture was exactly the same as when he left, without the slightest change, which stirred up an indescribable sorrow and pity in his heart.

He thought she must be extremely tired to sleep so soundly and peacefully. She had endured so much during this time, both physically and emotionally.

He took off his shoes, lifted the covers, and got into bed. Then, he gently wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into his embrace. He leaned on her shoulder, pondering everything that had happened to him these past few days.