Everything in the world can be sacrificed for Zhi Wei. 

Gu Nan Yi sat silently in the corner, thinking about the little face that accompanied him day and night, and silently whispered to himself: Zhi Xiao, Zhi Xiao.

——-

The silence was actually quite short but because of the complicated turmoil in her heart, it felt like a lifetime. 

After what was probably a lifetime, Gu Nan Yi heard Feng Zhi Wei’s voice, which was still so lazy and leisurely.

“Father of the empire? No, she is my empire.” She smiled and said solemnly, “If I have her, I have my empire. If I lose her, I will have nothing.”

When she said this, she was looking at Gu Nan Yi. Those words were said on behalf of the man who would never make any demands of her. 

Master Gu pursed his lips, wanting to nod to show that he agreed, but suddenly felt his neck was a little stiff, or rather, his whole body was a little stiff. It didn’t feel like his body was being confined, but rather, it felt too warm, as if he was wrapped up in a warm ocean, with the waves pressing down gently and silently. He couldn’t move and didn’t want to move, he just wanted to sleep forever in such gentleness. And his heart that had been perpetually calm, felt as if it was on fire and pounding with excitement. Different from the pounding excitement that came from long entanglement of hugs, but this was warm and long lasting excitement, like fine wine, intoxicating the heart. 

He took a deep breath and felt the skin on his face was dry and a little tight, but his eyes felt hot, and something was moist in the corners of his eyes, like spring rain, melting the dryness of winter. 

The room felt silent again. Feng Zhi Wei smiled in the shadows. The expression in Lu Rui’s eyes changed as he stared at Feng Zhi Wei with mild disbelief. He thought that he understood Wei Zhi. This young man, from the first step he took out of Qingming academy, had proved his ambition with every step he took. He was never as mild as he appearance might suggest, nor was he ever indifferent to fame and fortune. Wei Zhi, is someone who has great ambitions, with dreams that are as lofty as the high heavens. Yet, now that such a glorious condition is placed in front of him- success, then there will be endless benefits.  Failure, it would only cost Gu Zhi Xiao’s life. He could make it so that he himself would not be harmed at all. To someone as ambitious as Wei Zhi, sacrificing an adopted daughter for his great cause, what’s the big deal? 

He had always thought he had read Wei Zhi correctly but now, he is a bit confused. 

How could such a kind-hearted person climb to his current position in the most corrupt court? 

“Grand Marshal wants to drag us into this mess before Zhi Xiao’s identity is even certain, isn’t that being too hasty? Besides, whether to accept her birthmother or to take back the throne is a matter Zhi Xiao has to decide for herself.” Feng Zhi Wei ignored Lui’s scrutinizing gaze, put down the tea cup in hand, stood up and started to leave, “Thank you, Grand Marshal, for telling me such a wonderful story today. It was really worth the trip but I still have something important to attend to, goodbye.” 

She walked out without a backward glance. Lu Rui stared at her back as expressions of hesitation, inner struggle, anger…all kinds of complicated emotions flashed across his face. After a moment, he shouted in a low voice, “Stop!”

Along with his shout, there was a clang sound. Suddenly, even though the room was devoid of people, long swords popped out from the two sides of the door forming a giant “X” shape. The swords were extremely long, with sharp blades on both sides, emitting a cold formidable aura in the light. It was obvious that no one could get past it through the gap because the knife is not fixed and even if someone attempts to shrink their body to sneak through, the moving “X” would cut the person in half. 

At the same time, iron plates popped up from all sides in front of Lu Rui’s chair, protecting him tightly inside. The iron plates were tightly covered and it seemed that he was very familiar with Gu Nan Yi’s martial arts so he was fully prepared. 

A dull sounding voice came through the iron plates. 

“This secret room might look like a wooden structure, but it is made of iron. The only way out is through that knife door which are made of hundred-refined snow iron. No matter how high your martial arts skills are, you won’t be able to break it so don’t waste your energy trying to figure a way out. Of course if you insist on going through it– then I don’t mind collecting up the four cut-up pieces of your bodies.” This was the first thing Lu Rui said. 

“There happens to be a good friend of you two in Jincheng (the city they are in) right now who very much would like you dead. I don’t want to kill innocent people, but he probably doesn’t mind. Half an hour, I will give you half an hour to consider this matter that have only great benefits to you two. Remember to give me an answer in half an hour, otherwise this iron room will become your iron coffin.” This was the second thing Lu Rui said. 

“Also, I have been reminded that I have something else to do. Please allow me to leave for a moment.” There was a smile in Lur Rui’s third sentence. Then there was a clanking sound followed by countless sharp blades popping out of the roof. The roof slowly sank and pressed towards the ground. 

Lu Rui’s voice disappeared behind the iron wall. The sharp blades above their heads sank downward. The speed was very slow. It was obviously the blade won’t reach them for at least half an hour. Lu Rui’s intention wasn’t to kill them after all. 

Feng Zhi Wei let out a sigh and was silent for a while before finally turning around and said to Gu Nan Yi with a smile, “Isn’t it unbelievable? Our Zhi Xiao is actually royal…”

Before she could finish her words, Master Gu suddenly walked towards her in big strides, stretched out his arms and without saying a word, pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. 

Feng Zhi Wei’s remaining words were immediately cut off by the embrace. 

Surprised, she stood there and could feel that Gu Nan Yi’s arms were wrapped around her very tightly with a lot of strength, seeming wanting to pull all of her right into him. His face was tightly pressed against the top of her head, also in a gesture that seemingly want to also pull himself into her. His unique clean breath enveloped her. Seemingly familiar and foreign at the the same time. Familiar because the person is him. Foreign because the emotion that Master Gu is giving off right now, the strength and the heat, is no longer the forever habitual distance but for the first time, completely giving her his heart and soul, hoping to merge with her. 

On the receiving end of this complete openness and devotion, Feng Zhi Wei’s own heart started to tremble as well. Remembering the jade-carved ice-like boy she first met in the Imperial Capital, it seemed like a lifetime ago. She suddenly wanted very much to raise her hand to touch his hair and eyebrows, but her arms were tightly held by the young master. He used so much strength, as if he was afraid that if he loosened his hands, she would fly away from his arms. 

Then she felt her head getting heavier. Master Gu gently rubbed her hair with his face. His voice, which always comes off flat, seemed to have softness and intonation at the moment as he whispered, “You are so good…”

A hint of smile appeared at the corner of Feng Zhi Wei’s lips. Thinking about this simple sentence. Many people will hear it countless times in their lives, but for him, for her, this seemed to be the first time. You are so good, you are so good. It is the simplest and most sincere words. People who are not in the midst of it, will never understand the weight of those three words. 

This is him expressing, him opening up, his most straightforward reaction to the understanding of his heart. 

The young master was still rubbing against her hair slowly, seeming finding the silky touch very smooth and comfortable. He was reluctant to let go and muttered, “…I want to be good to you too.” 

“You’ve been good enough to me.” Feng Zhi Wei sighed and said softly, “Nan Yi, I hope you understand all the realness and beauty of this world, but I don’t want you to bear any burden because of it. Just be yourself.”

But Gu Nan Yi didn’t seem to be listening to her and just stubbornly repeating in a low voice again and again, “…be good to you…”

Feng Zhi Wei thought the tone was a little strange. Just when she was about to ask, Gu Nan Yi had already lowered his head, slid along her hair to her cheek. Their slightly cool and smooth skin pressed together. Their skin had both been slightly cool just now, but in an instant they started to feel slightly warm. The warmth frightens the heart. Somehow, one of them tilted their head, and there was a warm and soft touch between their lips. 

It was like lightening that swept across the sky, splitting that deep dark abyss or like a jade stone thrown into the center of the waves, spreading infinite ripples. It seemed like a corner of the heart trembled and the universe was opened, and a string resonated somewhere, making a trembling sound. 

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