The sun sets in the west, the orange sky is gradually shrouded by the approaching night, and under the dark sky, everything is covered with a 'yin' shadow and a somber edge.

  When Nan Yi Kou opened the door and came out, he saw Nan Li standing in the courtyard with his back to him, looking at the dense kapok tree. Under the dim twilight, his pale figure was even more distinct, and his straight back revealed his tenacity.

  He just didn't understand why his brother's figure looked so lonely. It was as if for a moment, the whole world had only him in it.

  "Big brother!" Nan Yi Ke couldn't help but call out to him, "You're still here?"

  Nan Qi paused for a moment, turned around to look at him, and his handsome face was vaguely visible in the dim light of dusk. Although it was not clear, he could still sense his smile. He looked at Nan Yi Xun who was hurrying over with quick steps and smiled faintly: "You're out too." When he left the bedroom, Xiao Er was still comforting Lao Jiu.

  Looking up again at the sky that was almost as dark as night, I realized I had been standing outside for a long time.

  Nan Yi lightly sighed and walked up to him: "Big brother, I hope you won't blame Lao Jiu..." Regardless of whether big brother liked Meng Ya or not, Lao Jiu's straightforward and sudden words would inevitably make big brother lose face! He knew that Lao Jiu was too rash, but he couldn't go so far as to blame him.

  Nan Qi seemed taken aback by his sudden words, and after a slight pause, he saw the sincerity in Nan Yi Xun's eyes and smiled slightly: "I naturally won't blame Old Ninth."

  Why would he blame Lao Jiu?

  Lao Jiu's every move is a testament to his guilt towards himself and his inability to control his love for Xia Tian Miao.

  Although he didn't understand what love was, he also knew it was extremely rare and uncontrollable.

  The servants in the general's mansion saw that the sky was already dark, and began to light candles for the lanterns in the corridor. The originally pitch-black courtyard suddenly lit up with lanterns, and the red lanterns swayed slightly, adding a warm color to the night scene.

  The image reflected on Nan Qi Jun's face brought him a few points of warmth. Nan Yi Xun looked at Nan Qi like this, sighed, and scratched the back of his head with some annoyance: "Big brother, Lao Jiu wants to see you." He knew that Lao Jiu wanted to personally clarify things with Big Brother, but he didn't know what Big Brother was thinking in his heart right now. He also couldn't ask directly, so he could only say, "Big Brother, no matter what happens, we are brothers forever!"

  He didn't want Big Brother and Old Nine to be unhappy because of anyone, let alone Meng Ya.

  He doesn't want anyone to be sad.

  Nan Qi just smiled slightly and nodded before walking into the bedroom.

  It wasn't until the door was closed that Nan Yi Kou touched his chin anxiously, wondering what Emperor Father had called Meng Ya for. Hopefully, Emperor Father wouldn't blame Meng Ya because of this matter!

  This reminded him of his father's reaction earlier. When he heard Lao Jiu's confession, he was silent for a while before calling Meng Ya and walking away with her.

  This is completely different from the father emperor of the past, as if he has become too cold-blooded.

  He still didn't understand why his father's attitude towards Meng Ya had changed suddenly.

  But...the answer to this question doesn't seem important anymore. What's important is Father Emperor's attitude.

  Dividing line----

  Fang De Lin glanced at the servant who was carefully lighting the lamp, and with a hint of fatigue, he yawned and changed the direction of the dusting cloth in his left arm. He looked again at the eunuch and maidservant bowing their heads below the steps, and couldn't help but start to wonder. The Emperor had called Miss Xia into the study for a conversation more than half an hour ago, yet he hadn't heard any sound from outside, but even so, he could sense the eerie atmosphere inside.

  Luckily, the walls of the study were inlaid with night pearls, so he was spared the sin of going in to light the lamps himself. Who knew what the Emperor and Miss Xia were discussing? If it was something that shouldn't be heard, he would lose his head for sure!

  Shaking off the absurd thoughts in her mind, she covered her mouth and let out a yawn.

  The atmosphere in the study was indeed very eerie.

  Wei Wei sat in the chair, staring at Xia Tianmeng who stood still on the spot, looking down at the ground with his head bowed. His right hand gently tapped the armrest of the chair, and his eyes were filled with complex emotions that kept changing as he looked at Xia Tianmeng.

  "Meng Meng." Wei Wuji opened his mouth to speak, only to find that his throat had become dry and hoarse. However, he didn't mind at all and continued to call out to her, "It's been years since we last met, you've grown so big now." He also knew that he was speaking nonsense, but at this point, even talking to her felt awkward.

  Xia Tian slightly moved her foot and fell into silence again.

  The emperor was taken aback by her behavior and suddenly remembered how as a child, she would always face the wall in silence whenever she did something wrong.

  Small, soft, and sweet when smiling.

  "Moe moe." Wei Wuji couldn't help but speak up, "Are you really going to never speak to Emperor Uncle again?"

  Xiatian Meng slightly raised her head to look at him, the 'delicate' and small face full of pain, she squeezed out a bitter smile in response to his shocked eyes: "Emperor uncle? I naturally remember. But... Emperor uncle had long since disappeared, forever disappearing from the moment I came to my senses!"

  Wei Wei looked at Xia Tian Meng and was speechless, wanting to comfort her but didn't know where to start.

  Xia Tian Meng couldn't help but laugh at his flustered appearance, her tears falling rapidly. Her voice was trembling: "When I was young, I really regarded you as a father figure and took great pride in it. But the truth gave me a hard slap! It's all fake! Everything is fake!"

  She took a step back, her eyes flashing with anger and hurt: "How can you understand my feelings? In your mind I'm still an ignorant child! But I understand everything now. I'm not that little girl who can be bought off with just one smile!"

  "Mei mei..." Wei Wu Ji saw her like this and couldn't help but want to comfort her, but she sternly stopped him: "Shut up! How can you still so naturally call me Mei Mei? Do you think I'm still that silly little girl who only knows how to smile foolishly? I already knew everything when I was thirteen... in the imperial study..."

  Wei Ai's eyes widened in shock as he stared at Xia Tian Meng, his eyes filled with astonishment.

  "You... you actually..."

  "You still thought I knew it was last year?" Xia Tian Meng sneered, her pretty lips slightly curled up, and her delicate face was full of mockery. "Actually, I've known for a long time... earlier than you think."

  The Emperor's hands clenched slightly as he looked into her eyes, which were filled with gloom and melancholy: "You knew it since you were thirteen years old, yet you've been pretending in front of me all along?"

  He was actually deceived by her for a whole year and thought she was that innocent little girl.

  She had known about such an ugly thing all along!

  In the summer, Meng saw him retreat a few steps with a bitter and painful expression on his face. He covered his chest with both hands and looked at him: "Don't you feel guilty? Haha... Of course not, you're the emperor, the ruler of the world, you can do whatever you want!" Seeing that Wei's intimidation only moved his lips but didn't make a sound, she continued to say, "So you can be so unrepentant, even though you are the one who caused my mother's death! Even though my mother died because of you, you don't have any guilt!"

  Wei's intimidating gaze petrified his son, and a bitter look appeared in his eyes.

  He had been learning the art of emperors since childhood, and didn't know what shame or unease was. But when he saw Xia Tianmeng's lifeless body in the mourning hall of the Taishi Mansion, he felt a pang of guilt! That's why he wanted to treat her even better!

  But he couldn't say any of these things.

  Xia Tian Meng sneered at him, her eyes filled with sorrow: "Even if Mother died, even if Father never remarried, can you stand together with Father openly and honestly? Can you face the world's scrutiny? Are you willing to give up your throne?"

  "No! Not dare! Not to part!" Xia Tian Meng didn't let him finish, but instead laughed mockingly, "You have too many things you can't bear to part with, so the distance between you and your father is too far! Even if you were together when you were young, even after all these years have passed, as an emperor, you can only watch helplessly as he marries and has children."

  The emperor leaned back in his chair with some exhaustion, and his eyes became hazy.

  He recalled the scene of his first meeting with Ashen.

  Xia Ying Shen, who had just entered officialdom, still carried the youthful characteristics of being inexperienced and arrogant, relying on his talent to look down on others, not understanding what humility was. He was impeached by several careful historians.

  He had just ascended to the throne and disliked those officials with long sleeves who were good at dancing, but instead valued this solitary minister.

  He summoned Xia Yingxin to the imperial study for a conversation, but he was instead 'overwhelmed' by Xia Yingxin's youthful and arrogant demeanor.

  He never knew a person's eyes could shine so brightly when talking about the fate of the world, more dazzling than all black onyx.

  He wants to see such eyes forever.

  He disregarded others' opinions and appointed Xia Yingchen as Taifu, discussing state affairs together every day after noon.

  Xia Ying Shen does not know how to be reserved, nor does he know what humility is. He will only forever propose things that benefit the people, and he knows Xia Ying Shen is truly dedicated to the country with all his heart.

  But I don't know when it started, every time he faced Ashin, his mood changed.

  No longer cherishing talent, but with an inexplicable sense of possessiveness.

  He invited A Shen to compose poetry and paint together, play the zither and chess, sleep on the same bed, and lie with their feet touching.

  Until one time Ashen accidentally intruded on him while he was bathing in the bathroom, he couldn't help but intercept Ashen and pour out his heart.

  He didn't even have a chance to refuse before he was pinned down on the dragon bed.

  He didn't want to hear any bad answers and forced Ashen into a dead end.

  He wants all of himself in those bright eyes. He wants to get all of him.

  In order to cover up for Ashen, he personally chose a virtuous wife for him.

  Even if he couldn't sleep all night in the Qianqing Palace on his wedding night, he knew it was a necessary step to take.

  Afterwards, Ashen's wife became pregnant and gave birth to a 'daughter' who looked very much like Ashen.

  He loves that 'daughter' as much as Ashen does.

  Love me, love my dog.

  He likes it when they call him "Emperor Uncle" in a cute and spoiled manner.

  I like Ashin's gentle smile at himself.

  He thought it could go on like this forever.