The Foolish Agent

Chapter 116

"Shi Yu, tell me about your situation on the battlefield? Has the army returned? Where is Xing Chen?" Leng Jie broke the awkward silence.

Shi Yu put down his chopsticks, stared at Leng Jie, and replied excitedly:

"Xiaojie, don't try to change the subject. Tell me, what should I do? I waited for you for three years, filled with joy, thinking I could finally see you again. But all I got was the news that you are now the Empress. Do you know how much my heart aches?"

"I'm sorry! You'll definitely meet a better girl than me."

"What does it matter if there are many girls better than you? My heart is already filled with your shadow." Shi Yu said sadly.

“Shi Yu, to be honest, we’ve only been together for a little over half a month. And back then you were just a kid, and I bullied you all the time. When you said you wanted to marry me back in Jianzhou, I always thought it was just a passing fancy. I thought you’d forget about it soon. But I never expected you to actually do it. Tell me, what do I have that makes you so concerned?” Leng Jie asked, puzzled.

The pain in Shi Yu's eyes deepened, and he shook his head sadly, loudly questioning:

"So, in your heart I've always been a child? So, it's all been my wishful thinking all along? But didn't you want to escape the palace? I didn't realize you liked the Emperor back then either?"

"Shi Yu, please don't be like this, okay?" Shi Yu's pitiful expression made Leng Jie's heart ache. She herself had suffered heartbreak, so she knew that pain. She didn't want to hurt Shi Yu, nor did she want to hurt anyone else's feelings. Leng Jie said softly, with a sense of guilt:

"I wish I hadn't explained things clearly back then, giving you false hope and wasting three years of your life. I'm so sorry! Actually, three years ago, or rather, three months ago, I was determined never to marry. But somehow, Xuanyuan had already taken root in my heart. Perhaps this is fate!" Leng Jie stood up and patted Shi Yude's shoulder, speaking like an older sister:

Forget about me! Go and find your destined partner. Believe me, you'll definitely find a good girl who will love you wholeheartedly. Your mother is waiting to hold her grandson!

Shi Yu grasped Leng Jie's soft hand on his shoulder, looked up at her, and shook his head vigorously, saying:

"As you said, if I could forget, I would have forgotten long ago after three years. But I can't forget. The longer the time goes on, the clearer your image becomes, not blurry. Every word and action of yours, every smile and frown, is so real, as if you were right in front of me. Tell me, how can I forget?"

Chapter 143

Leng Jie was once again deeply moved by Shi Yu's emotions! Staring blankly at Shi Yu for a long time, she finally came to her senses. She replied with shame:

"Shi Yu! I can't answer your question, just as I can't divide my heart into equal parts, so all I can say is sorry and I'm sorry! I know these words will hurt your feelings as well, but I really didn't mean it."

You were among the first close friends I met after arriving in this strange world, and I've always considered you all as family. I didn't want any of you to get hurt. But unexpectedly, it was I who ended up hurting you. How can you imagine how I feel about this?

Leng Jie's eyes were filled with self-reproach and regret as she dejectedly stared at the empty bowl on the table. After a sigh, she suddenly looked up and said:

"Here's what I'll do! I'll help you get rid of that shadow in your heart. That way, you won't be troubled by matters of the heart anymore!"

"How do you remove it? Like you removed Xuanyuan's memories?" Shi Yu trembled involuntarily, then violently shook Leng Jie's shoulders, roaring furiously:

"Xiaojie, how could you be so cruel? Do you want to erase all my beautiful memories? If I lose my memories, what's the difference between me and a walking corpse?"

"Shi Yu, please don't get so agitated. I'm just discussing this with you. If you don't agree, I won't use hypnosis on you. I just want to minimize the harm to you. I don't intend to erase all your memories!" Leng Jie explained urgently.

Shi Yu glared at Xiao Jie with a mournful expression and said in a trembling voice:

"You'll never understand. The happiest days of my life were those two weeks I spent with you. Even though we lived in a dilapidated house that reeked of fish and let in drafts every day, it was because of your laughter, the meals you cooked for me, the clothes you prepared for me, the things you said to tease me, and all the little things you did to tuck me in at night..."

As he recounted that memory, Shi Yu's tense facial expression unconsciously relaxed. As he spoke, a look of anticipation for a bright future appeared in his deep eyes. A happy smile unconsciously spread across his tightly pursed lips.

Just as Leng Jie thought the alarm was over, Shi Yu said quietly:

"Because of you, that place became the most beautiful place in the world. That memory became the life goal I dream of."

Suddenly, Shi Yu's expression darkened, and his gaze sharpened instantly. His tone abruptly changed, and he said indignantly:

"But now you're saying you want to erase that part of my memory! Aren't you tearing my heart out?"

Leng Jie was completely overwhelmed by Shi Yu's words, unable to defend herself. She couldn't use the same tactics she would use against an enemy. Being emotionally naive to begin with, after being bombarded with Shi Yu's impassioned and emotional rhetoric, her already dwindling patience was clearly exhausted. She helplessly spread her hands, weakly asking in return:

"Then please tell me what I should do? What do you want me to do so that you won't be sad or upset, and at the same time, so that no one else will be sad or upset? I'll do anything, even if it means going through fire and water!"

He told her? If he knew what to do, he wouldn't feel so heartbroken and powerless! From the moment he learned her identity, he felt a sense of bewilderment and helplessness he had never experienced before! He originally thought that the Emperor might be angry because she had hidden her identity, but in fact, the Emperor loved her just as much as he loved her.

The moment he saw their hearts unite in perfect harmony, his heart shattered! Yet he was still unwilling to accept it! He couldn't believe that the true love he had waited nearly thirty years for was ending before it even began! He couldn't accept this fact, so he needed to vent! He needed to roar! He needed an explanation from her! But now, when she kicked the ball back to him once again, he was once again at a loss!

Seeing Shi Yu's dejected and powerless expression, Leng Jie's heart ached as well. But she knew she couldn't soften her heart now, couldn't give him any more hope. Otherwise, her sins would be even greater. Leng Jie suppressed the pain in her heart and continued:

"Shi Yu, I am a selfish woman. I want to live a happy and joyful life. In my past life, I received various survival skills training from a young age. I never experienced the warmth of family life that my peers enjoyed. As I grew up, my life became monotonous, and work was still just work. My mind was filled with nothing but the gains and losses of the nation and its people. I almost lost myself."

In the summer of my twenty-fifth year, I received an important assignment: to protect a high-ranking diplomat. He was attracted to my work ethic, and I was touched by his tenderness and meticulous care. We naturally got married. However, I couldn't give up my job just because we were married. And he couldn't bear the loneliness of my constant absence. Therefore, he cheated on me with another woman. Unfortunately, I caught him in the act while on an important mission.

I was truly devastated. In your era, where men can have multiple wives and concubines, such things might seem normal. But in our time, monogamy was the norm. If there was truly no love left, a peaceful divorce was perfectly acceptable. Yet, he never expressed any dissatisfaction with me. Just a moment ago, he was whispering sweet nothings to me on the phone. And the next moment, he was entangled with another woman…”

For the first time, Leng Jie spoke her mind, though her heart no longer ached. She spoke with remarkable calm, as if recounting someone else's story. Though a faint sadness lingered, conveying her past pain, it also revealed her current sense of peace. She said softly:

"After the blow, I was completely in a state of anger and shock. I messed up my job for the first time, and as a result, I was shot in the back by a very ordinary petty thief. When I woke up, I found myself inside this stupid queen's body," Leng Jie said, pointing to her body.

Shi Yu listened intently, learning about her life in another world. His heart ached for her. He couldn't comprehend what a twisted world it was, where women had to protect men. He hated the man who hurt Xiao Jie, yet at the same time, he was grateful for the man's infidelity. It was that man's betrayal that brought Xiao Jie to their side, allowing him to meet her… Though bittersweet, he had no regrets and insisted on finding joy even in hardship!

Seeing that Shi Yu seemed to have taken it all to heart, Leng Jie continued:

"After I confirmed that I had been reborn, I vowed never to fall in love with any man again. But matters of the heart are not something you can control. If I hadn't faced the life-or-death decision with Xuanyuan, which made me feel so heartbroken, if I hadn't suddenly felt the urge to die with him, I think I would still be unaware that he had quietly entered the depths of my heart."

After all that talk, this must be what she really meant! He thought he understood the definition of selfishness and happiness she emphasized at the beginning. He loved her; only when she was happy could he be happy, right? Even if he wasn't the one to bring her happiness, he should still wish her well! The sorrow in his eyes deepened, but he forced a smile that was uglier than crying. He said in a slightly hoarse voice:

"Xiaojie, I understand. I respect your choice. I will silently wish you both well! At the same time, I hope we can still be good friends who can talk about anything."

"Thank you! We've always been good friends, haven't we?" Leng Jie nodded excitedly in response.

Shaking his head and giving a wry smile, Shi Yu suddenly said seriously:

"However, if the Emperor cannot give you happiness, or if he betrays your feelings, I will not hesitate to take you away from the palace."

“You…” Leng Jie was speechless. She didn't want his blessing, but rather for him to give up on this fruitless relationship. But after all that talk, hadn't he just gone back to square one? Just as Leng Jie was about to try again, another affirmative answer came from the doorway:

"Give up on that idea now! I won't give you that chance."

Leng Jie turned around in surprise to look at the doorway, where she saw Xuan Yuan, with an arm dangling from his chest, and Qing Feng, holding two empty bowls, both looking at her with pity. Needless to say, they had overheard what she had just said. Leng Jie immediately went to him and took his arm.

"Xuanyuan! How could you get out of bed and run around like that?"

Her words of concern turned into a stern interrogation. Then, before Xuanyuan could respond, Leng Jie looked at Qingfeng and said reproachfully:

"Senior brother, how could you let him get out of bed?"

Before Qingfeng could respond, Xuanyuan looked at Xiaojie with affection and answered with a smile:

"Don't worry, I didn't hurt my leg. If I hadn't come, how would I have known that I had unknowingly entered Xiaojie's heart?"

Leng Jie rolled her eyes at the smug-looking Xuan Yuan and deliberately retorted coldly:

"I'm not worried about you! I'm afraid you'll reopen your wound and I'll have to go through the trouble of re-bandaging it."

"Really? Then why did I just hear someone saying they were heartbroken because of me?" Xuanyuan said with a half-smile. He then turned to Shi Yu and Qingfeng and said:

"Shi Yu, Qing Feng, Xiao Jie has made her feelings clear. Now you should both accept your defeat wholeheartedly, right?"

"Hmph! You better not give me an excuse to take Xiaojie away!" Shi Yu sneered.

Qingfeng gazed intently at Xiaojie for a moment, then turned to Xuanyuan and solemnly said:

"As long as Xiaojie is happy, I have nothing to say. But if I find out that you've made Xiaojie suffer, don't blame me for not showing brotherly loyalty!"

The last sentence clearly carried a stern warning. It truly shook Xiaojie's heart; her nose involuntarily stung, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes. Unable to contain herself, Leng Jie threw herself into Qingfeng's arms, choking back sobs as she said:

"Senior brother! I'm sorry! Although I always bullied you, you never held it against me. I'm really sorry!"

Qingfeng paused slightly, his heart trembling. He couldn't help but tightly embrace Xiaojie, who was sobbing softly in his arms. Gently stroking Lengjie's hair with his chin, he spoke softly in a tender, affectionate tone:

"Don't cry, darling. You haven't done anything wrong to us! On the contrary, you've brought passion and fun to our stagnant lives. It's because of your excellence and beauty that we were irresistibly attracted to you! That's why we fell in love with you without realizing it. All of this was our choice, and it has nothing to do with you. Don't feel guilty, and you certainly shouldn't feel ashamed because of it."

"Senior brother..." Suddenly raising her eyes, tears of emotion welled up in her eyes, and her voice became hoarse and trembling as she called out.

"You just need to be happy! Because only when you're happy will we be happy!" He interrupted Xiaojie, gently wiping away her tear-streaked face with his sleeve. His deep, affectionate eyes remained fixed on Xiaojie's misty eyes, filled with love and tenderness.

Leng Jie's heart trembled uncontrollably. She was nothing more than a selfish and self-centered woman. What did she do to deserve such sincere, passionate, and selfless love from some of the best men in the world? She no longer knew how to express her gratitude and guilt. At this moment, tears seemed to be her only outlet for her emotions.

Xuanyuan was also moved by Qingfeng and Shiyu's love. He knew their love for Xiaojie was no less than his own, but he couldn't guarantee they could be as selfless and devoted as they were. He suddenly raised his hand and swore:

"Rest assured, I swear in the name of the thirteenth ruler of the Xuanyuan clan: in this life and the next, in every lifetime, Xiaojie will..." He wanted to say that Xiaojie would always be his only love. But before he could finish, he was interrupted by the excited Shi Yu:

"No, you can't make such a vow. In the next life, I will never back down again!"

Shi Yu knew all too well how effective the oath of the Xuanyuan Emperor was. He conceded defeat in this life, but he could still see hope in the next. If Xiao Jie was truly destined to be Xuanyuan for all eternity, then he would be filled with despair.

Leng Jie released her arms from Qingfeng and stepped out of his embrace. Turning back to look at Xuanyuan, she said earnestly:

"Xuanyuan, don't make curses and oaths so easily. Feelings can't be bound by a vow. Today you inexplicably fell in love with me, and tomorrow you might inexplicably hate me. I've figured it out; these things are all normal. The most important thing is that when you no longer love me, you must remember to tell me, so we can part amicably..."

"Xiao Jie! How could you say that?" Xuan Yuan interrupted Leng Jie loudly, her words making him panic! He pulled her back to his side, looked down into her eyes, and asked in a trembling voice:

Are you insecure about love, or insecure about me as a person?

Leng Jie shook her head at him and replied:

"No, don't overthink it. I'm just stating an objective fact. I'm not saying that you'll definitely stop loving me one day. But you can't guarantee you'll always love me like you do now, can you? Similarly, I can't guarantee you'll always be in my heart. The future is full of unknowns. We can't control it. The only thing we can do is cherish the present and live each moment happily!"

“Xiao Jie is right. If you ever change your mind, remember to let us know first. We will take her away before you hurt her,” Shi Yu said, pursing her lips.

Xuanyuan's right hand, which was wrapped around Xiaojie's waist, unconsciously pulled her closer. He glared fiercely at Shi Yu and said decisively:

Keep dreaming! That day will never come.

"Alright, Xuanyuan, you should go back and rest. In a few days, the victorious army will arrive in the capital. If you, as the emperor, cannot attend the victory banquet, the soldiers will feel extremely regretful." Qingfeng easily changed the subject. He didn't want Xiaojie to get entangled in this complicated and messy emotional entanglement any longer.

"Oh yes! The army is about to return to the capital. Shi Yu, you still haven't told me what the situation is like at the front." Leng Jie was immediately drawn to Qingfeng's topic.

When the topic of war came up, Shi Yu suddenly became animated, and he replied with great enthusiasm and spirit:

"The situation ahead is that my 150,000-strong army has already razed Xiping to the ground! We have captured the King and two princes of Xiping alive, and killed three generals..."

"How many troops did you withdraw? How many troops did you leave behind in Xiping?" Leng Jie asked seriously.

"One hundred thousand troops were withdrawn, and fifty thousand returned to the capital. Fifty thousand troops were left to maintain order within Xiping territory," Shi Yu reported truthfully.

"How did you deal with the King and Crown Prince of Xiping? Who is in power in Xiping now?" Leng Jie continued to press.

"They are prisoners of war, so of course they are being escorted back to the capital with the main army. Since Xiping Kingdom has no king, it naturally obeys the orders of the general who stayed behind to guard the city," Shi Yu replied matter-of-factly.

"So that means the 50,000 soldiers you left behind were scattered! How much food and fodder did you leave behind? How long will it last them?" Leng Jie's tone was somewhat urgent.

“Yes! The major towns have 10,000 troops, while the smallest towns only have a few hundred. The provisions are enough for them for more than two months. Is there anything wrong with that?” Shi Yu sensed Leng Jie’s concern and answered in detail while asking a question in return.

"It's not just inappropriate, you're practically playing with the lives of 50,000 soldiers!" Leng Jie exclaimed excitedly.

"Do you really think that defeating a country is as simple as destroying its royal family?"

"Isn't that right? Are we really going to massacre the entire city? But the common people are innocent!" Shi Yu asked, puzzled. Qingfeng and Xuanyuan looked at Leng Jie with the same doubt, waiting for her insightful opinion. Now that they knew her background, they had even less reason to doubt her views.

Leng Jie shook her head repeatedly, saying resentfully:

"Massacre! How could you even think of that? The most important thing in a country is its people, not any emperor or crown prince. Do you really think that by taking their king away, the people of Xiping will obediently submit to the army's rule? Moreover, once you leave, those soldiers who remain will think they have become the masters of Xiping. Do you think they won't oppress the people? If that leads to a civil unrest, do you think your 50,000 scattered outsiders can compare to the millions of local people of Xiping?"

"Xiao Jie is right. If someone takes the lead in causing trouble, things will get out of control." Xuan Yuan also began to show worry. He did not want to sacrifice tens of thousands of soldiers in vain at the moment of victory.