Chapter 106: Understanding Your Heart (1)
On the way back to the mansion, Zhou Yan kept thinking about Zhou Xinxin's words. He didn't think it was because they hadn't seen each other for a long time, but Zhou Xinxin's change was so obvious. Was she really changed? Or did he never understand?
Zhou Yan admitted that he had neglected a lot because of Yin Yin's affairs. He had never thought about how much he had neglected. Now it was Zhou Xinxin. After returning to the mansion, Zhou Yan had to face another person. This person occupied a place in his heart without Zhou Yan himself knowing. The purpose of coming back this time was also for this purpose. However, Zhou Xinxin's affairs were beyond Zhou Yan's expectations, but it also forced Zhou Yan to pay attention to how to face it next.
As he was thinking, Zhou Yan had returned to the gate of Prince Jing's Mansion. The guards hurried forward to hold the reins for Zhou Yan, and Zhou Yan immediately jumped off the horse and walked towards the mansion with big strides. As for Zhou Yan's sudden return, everyone in Prince Jing 's Mansion had already learned about it from Zuo Yu who had just returned. The mansion was suddenly bustling with people welcoming back their master, even in the middle of the night.
"How's it going?"
Zhou Yan strode towards the inner hall and asked Zuo Yu who came to meet him.
"Everything has been arranged. We can set off at any time."
"Very good, give the order, Tianming——"
Zhou Yan stopped talking before he finished speaking and stopped walking. At this time, they were in front of the inner hall.
"Your Majesty?"
Even Zuo Yu rarely saw Zhou Yan stop before finishing a sentence, so he was curious.
"...Where is the princess?"
"It should be bedtime by now."
Zuo Yu answered like this, and it made sense. It was already the middle of the night, so why would he be awake?
"Got it. That's it. Let's have a good rest tonight. We'll have enough energy to set off at any time."
"yes."
"Go down."
"Yes, I will take my leave."
Zuo Yu never asked too many questions to Zhou Yan. Even though he lost an arm , his work was not affected at all. He was still efficient and effective and Zhou Yan's most capable subordinate.
Before taking another step, Zhou Yan subconsciously looked towards Han Ji's bedroom. Although he was not affected by Zhou Xinxin's words, he still felt inexplicably heavy . If he asked himself, Zhou Yan could be unmoved by anything he did, but he could never let go of Han Ji. Perhaps he owed her too much. Zhou Yan took a rare step with a sigh. It was getting late, and he should have a good rest.
Zhou Yan, who was going to his bedroom, had no idea that the person he wanted to see was still awake. Even if he knew, he would never come so late. On the contrary, Han Ji was the same. She had been waiting for Zhou Yan ever since she knew he was coming back. Although she didn't know when Zhou Yan would return to the mansion, she was still waiting. Now it was too late at night. Even if she knew Zhou Yan was coming back, she would naturally not disturb him, because she was concerned about Zhou Yan's health.
The second day.
When Zhou Yan woke up, he felt like he was back to the familiar and warm scene before. Facing the person he hadn't seen for a long time and looking at her somewhat thin figure, Zhou Yan's guilt rose again. Being alone with Han Ji made him not know how to start the conversation for a while. After breakfast, Zhou Yan invited Han Ji to visit the garden.
Walking in the garden, the two walked together, seemingly strolling, but in fact they had their own thoughts. Zhou Yan was thinking about how to start, and Han Ji was thinking about why Zhou Yan was looking for her. As they walked, the silence was about to be broken. They had walked more than half of the garden and entered the pavilion to rest...
"I'll have some refreshments brought up."
"Need not."
When they first arrived at the pavilion, Han Ji's considerate voice was heard, but was immediately covered by Zhou Yan's voice. Having been rejected, Han Ji knew that she couldn't speak again, so she just found a random seat and sat down. She knew that Zhou Yan had something to ask her, so she could only wait...
"How are you these days?"
"Um."
"You seem to have lost a lot of weight since last time. Is it my illusion?"
Zhou Yan's way of speaking is always different. Fortunately, Han Ji has long been accustomed to it. She smiled and understood: "Maybe I haven't had a good rest recently."
"how?"
Obviously, Zhou Yan was not concerned about this issue, but was inexplicably shocked by this issue. As for the reason, Zhou Yan could only guess as he looked at Han Ji.
"How should I put it? I just can't sleep."
Perhaps she didn't expect Zhou Yan to ask further questions, so Han Ji gave an answer reluctantly.
"What... do you want?"
Zhou Yan spoke with some hesitation, thinking about something. It seemed that he did not intend to make things too difficult for Han Ji before telling the main reason.
"What do you want? This... I think I've never thought about it before."
She had never thought Zhou Yan would ask this question, nor had anyone ever asked it before, so Han Ji seemed a little overwhelmed.
"So what kind of life do you want?"
"This... there's nothing wrong with the way it is now."
Accustomed to repression and the constraints brought by her identity, Han Ji seemed to have long been numb and didn't seem to feel anything about what kind of life she lived. But now, Han Ji wanted to know why Zhou Yan suddenly asked these questions. Was Zhou Yan planning to compensate her?
"Now?"
Han Ji's answer seemed to give Zhou Yan a question. He could feel Han Ji's life in the palace without having to guess. How could she be happy in the royal family? Moreover, she was sent to marry, and he treated her... Suddenly, Zhou Yan felt that he could not continue to think about it. He only knew that Han Ji could not be happy.
