Knowing he couldn't leave today, Wei Yutang sat down beside Chu Qing, picked up a fan and began to fan him, whispering:
“If a child is really that innocent and naive, he will never grow up on the grassland.”
In other words, a child who grows to this size could absolutely not be a good person.
"Fine, go and talk to Xiaxia. I really don't know how to say these things to her."
If it were merely because of their identities, Chu Qing naturally wouldn't want to ruin their relationship.
As people grow older, their needs increase, making it harder to find true happiness.
There aren't many things we like in our lives, and it's even more difficult to meet someone who likes us back.
If you're not satisfied with the person who likes you, being with someone you like is also a good option.
Judging from Wei Yutang's words, it was clear that the little prince was in the wrong, so Chu Qing was no longer willing to stop him.
"I'll go ask Xiaxia first. If you're taking a nap later, don't sleep for too long. I'll have Xiaozhu wake you up."
After stepping down, Wei Yutang focused all his attention on Chu Qing, becoming even more talkative, wishing he could personally take care of everything related to Chu Qing.
"good."
Chu Qing did feel a little sleepy and wanted to rest for a while, so she nodded gently.
Wei Yutang went to Xia Xia's place. It just so happened that Sa Yu didn't come today. When Xia Xia saw that it was her father, she hurriedly put down what she was doing.
"Father, what brings you here?"
There's something I'd like to talk to you about.
Previously, it was his fault for not having enough time to think things through and arrange things properly when Xiaxia was still young. Who would have thought that his relationship with Sa Yu would change?
Wei Xia could vaguely sense what her father wanted to say to her. After having a cup of tea served by the eunuchs around her, she dismissed all the servants.
"You should know that people from the grasslands cannot become empresses, not even concubines."
Wei Yutang made his purpose clear from the start, leaving Wei Xia, who was pondering how to tell his father, stunned.
Wei Xia moved her lips, wanting to explain that he didn't have such thoughts, but after a long while she couldn't come up with a complete explanation, she could only give a soft "hmm".
"I understand, Father."
Although she verbally agreed, Wei Xia was still somewhat unwilling.
“Father, who knows… he might be different from others? Sayu isn’t as heartless and ungrateful as those people on the grasslands.”
Wei Xia's defense of Sa Yu made Wei Yutang pick up his teacup, take a sip, and his expression became somewhat solemn.
When Xiaxia started subconsciously defending him, it was enough to show that this relationship had truly entered his heart.
"Xiaxia".
Upon suddenly hearing his father call him that, Wei Xia clenched his fist tightly in his sleeve.
"Father... is there really no exception?"
He had been reluctant to face his true feelings before, mainly because Wei Xia knew all too well that the conflict between the grasslands and them was irreconcilable.
All these years have passed, and it's still the same.
Rather than revealing everything and ruining their friendship, it's better to leave things as they are.
An ambiguous relationship, love that is not yet love.
"Xiaxia, when you asked that question, you already had the answer in your heart, didn't you?"
Wei Xia's appearance is more like Chu Qing's, especially that delicate and fragile quality. He usually keeps a cold face in front of outsiders, coupled with his strong aura and the fact that he is an emperor, so no one notices it.
Now, in front of his father, the emperor, Wei Xia no longer needs to be as cautious as before, and all his vulnerability is laid bare.
For some reason, Wei Yutang was reminded of the child who had clung to him, crying and saying he wanted a father.
"I understand, Father."
Chu Qing left the capital with Wei Yutang in the autumn. Before leaving, Chu Qing gave Xia Xia a long and private pep talk.
He knew that this child was stubborn and unwilling to give up on many things, even if they were under a little pressure.
As a father, he felt a pang of heartache seeing this.
Unfortunately, being born into an imperial family meant that these were responsibilities he was expected to bear.
"Father, I will take good care of myself, you don't need to worry too much."
Wei Xia looked much thinner, and the few remaining traces of her former childishness had completely faded away, leaving no trace of her past.
"We'll come back to see you next year."
"Okay, Father, the journey is long and arduous, take care on your trip."
Wei Xia personally saw them off from the capital. On the way back, he saw Sa Yu, whom he hadn't seen for a long time, standing in front of him with his arms crossed, his brows furrowed and his face full of dissatisfaction.
Ignoring the presence of so many people, he directly questioned:
"You haven't come to see me for so long, and now that I've gone to find you, you won't even see me?"
"No."
"You are busy with state affairs, it's time for you to return to the grasslands."
After saying that, Guard Xia left without looking back. Since he knew there was absolutely no possibility between them, he might as well cut everything off completely as soon as possible.
The flowers of the capital cannot bloom on the grasslands, and the little prince who roams freely on the grasslands should not be confined to the harem.
They were never a good match from the start; he should have controlled his feelings from the beginning.
Over the past two years, Chu Qing suddenly received a letter from the capital, delivered by Xia Xia, hoping that they could return to the capital.
Chu Qing rarely saw Xia Xia like this with him, so he quickly packed his luggage, said goodbye to his maternal grandparents, and headed to the capital.
On his way back, Wei Yutang had already learned the gist of the matter from others.
Wei Xia killed Sa Yu with his own hands.
When Chu Qing heard these words, his heart clenched uncontrollably. He couldn't imagine what kind of feelings Xia Xia had when she killed Sa Yu with her own hands.
Previously, both he and Wei Yutang hoped that Xia Xia would be vigilant.
Unexpectedly, the final solution was so tragic.
"What's the matter?"
Wei Yutang asked about the guard. This guard was someone Xia Xia had personally chosen and trusted very much. He was still serving by her side to this day.
This time, he was the one who handled it again.
"His Majesty instructed before he came that if you ask, he would tell you personally after we return to the capital."
Since that's the case, neither Wei Yutang nor Chu Qing intended to ask any further questions.
"good."
Wei Xia has always preferred all kinds of black clothes since he was a child, and since the emperor's dragon robe is black, it just so happens to satisfy his own preferences.
However, when they met this time, they were unusually dressed in plain colors, and they looked much thinner.
"Xiaxia".
Chu Qing stepped forward first and couldn't help but call out.
"Father, you're back."
"Um."
"You've had a long and tiring journey, take a rest first."
Chu Qing could tell that Wei Xia didn't really want to bring up this topic with them, and since the journey had been quite tiring, she left with Wei Yutang first.
It wasn't until the next day that they learned that Wei Xia had killed Sa Yu with his own hands because Sa Yu had tried to steal their military defense deployment map.
When Chu Qing heard the news, she looked at her son with unbearable heartache.
Betrayed so ruthlessly by someone you truly love; no one could bear it.
“Xiaxia…”
"Father, I'm fine, I just miss you all a little."
Wei Xia said she was fine, but her voice was a little hoarse, and she looked disheveled and tired.
His sincerity was completely betrayed, and he should have felt resentment. But after he killed him himself, waves of reluctance and regret kept surging up from his heart.
Chu Qing was afraid that her son might do something foolish, so she stayed by his side and stayed in the capital for three years.
Sa Yu's body was secretly sent to the imperial mausoleum by Wei Xia's orders, and he will be buried with her as the Empress a hundred years later.
Wei Xia resented his betrayal and couldn't remain indifferent after he did such a thing.
As an emperor, he needs to be responsible for his people and do his best without hesitation.
Killing Sa Yu was a decision made by an emperor, while sending him to the imperial mausoleum was a selfish act by an ordinary person.
Wei Xia wore plain-colored clothes for three years, making it seem as if nothing had happened. Three years later, she changed into a flamboyant bright red.
The harem remained empty. He ignored the ministers' memorials and couldn't be bothered to pay attention. Chu Qing was reluctant to urge him, and Wei Yutang had little say. Wei Xia continued to live a lonely life by himself.
For Wei Xia, Sa Yu's existence was truly extraordinary.
He was by my side when I was young, accompanying me through that stage of my growth, and he was there for me every step of the way.
As Sa Yu accompanied her through her growth, she also witnessed his growth and maturity. The two of them had long since become inseparable.
Since only Wei Xia and Sa Yu were present at the time, no one else knew the specifics.
Enraged, Wei Xia took out the dagger that Sa Yu had given him. It was said that Sa Yu was a gift from his father when he was eight years old and had hunted down the wolf king.
Enraged, Wei Xia threatened to kill him. Sa Yu then grabbed Wei Xia's hand and personally plunged the dagger into his own heart.
Many years after Sa Yu's death, Wei Xia often saw him in his dreams. The scenes before Sa Yu's death repeated again and again in his dreams, becoming clearer with each dream.
"If there is an afterlife, and you are still an emperor, I do not wish to be born on the grasslands again. Even if I am born into an ordinary family, please remember to come find me and take me with you."
“My father doesn’t love me; he loves my elder brother. I never got anything when we were little. Remember to buy me things in the next life.”
"If you are not an emperor, then how about becoming my wife?"
Wei Xia dreamed once again of the words Sa Yu had said to her before he died, and reached out to cover her heart, which was throbbing and numb.