If you were cold and aloof in your past life, why are you crying in this one?

Including his past and present lives, Wang Jue has lived for over seventy years;

He wielded immense power and influence, achieving success in everything he did, and obtaining whatever he desired.

His only remaining thorn in his heart was his wife, who had died young.

Wang Jue stared intently at Xi Lingxian, unwilling to miss a single expression on her face.

Everyone says that being an emperor is a lonely affair, but he's not an emperor, so why has he fallen to this state?

Xi Lingxian wanted to say something more, but she really had nothing to say.

He repeated those words over and over again, countless times, but it was nothing more than self-deception; he only heard what he wanted to hear.

"Those memories," his voice was slightly hoarse, "were not all fake..."

How could they all be fake?

They were a young couple; she was the wife he brought home in a grand wedding procession with a phoenix coronet and embroidered robes.

No one marries to make enemies, and no one gets married intending to be a resentful couple.

During the time she was by his side, he was clearly very...

She was given a second chance at life by the grace of heaven, but all she wanted was to escape him.

What should he do then?

He suddenly remembered the love potion that Mr. Zhou had prepared for him.

It is said that after using it, she will be forever devoted to him alone, just like in her previous life.

She thinks about him constantly and has nothing but eyes for him.

The thought flashed through Wang Jue's mind, but it vanished in an instant.

Whether you love her or hate her, she is still a living, breathing, and real person.

But if she uses the love potion, will she still be herself?

He'd do anything, he...

He couldn't bear to part with it either.

……

Xi Lingxian never imagined that one day her and Wang Jue's situations would be reversed.

Wang Jue became the one who relentlessly pursued him.

It seems she really did take the wrong path. She should have kept pestering him and annoyed him. Now that she's let go halfway, it has only aroused his terrible desire for control and his deeply ingrained habits. No wonder he's so persistent.

Can this habit be changed? How long will it take him to get used to life without her?

However, out of consideration for the relationship between the two families, she couldn't bring herself to completely break ties with him.

"Peach Branch, do you think there's anything in this world that can make someone forget certain people and events after eating it?"

Xi Lingxian lay in the bathtub, her limbs feeling relaxed and carefree as they soaked in the hot water, which also made her mind wander and have all sorts of wild thoughts.

"What kind of storybook is the young lady reading now?" Taozhi asked, unsurprised.

"No, that Wang Jue guy is clearly still after me. If only there were a way to get rid of him once and for all and make him forget about me."

"...Would the young lady be willing to part with him?"

"Four-legged toads are hard to find, but two-legged men are everywhere. What do I have to be reluctant to part with?"

"Where in the world is there such a medicine? Even if there were, every medicine has some toxicity. Young Master Wang is of such noble status. If anything were to happen to him because of this, we would be guilty of a thousand deaths."

That makes sense.

I changed into a soft, clean nightgown. The room, heated by an underfloor heating system, was as warm as spring.

Xi Lingxian lay on the bed flipping through the book "Records of Strange Things in Southern Xinjiang," and the many records about Gu worms, puppetry, and wooden puppetry in it attracted her interest.

She thought with a wicked sense of humor that if such a thing really existed, she would give one to Xiao Yun and one to Wang Jue.

Let them love each other and never be apart for the rest of their lives, and let them stay away from bothering her.

It might even lead to a romantic tale of homosexuality.

Hahaha.

The next morning, she was awakened by the incessant crackling of firecrackers.

Upon leaving the courtyard, I saw Xi Wen and Xi Song squatting under the plum blossom tree.

"What are you two doing?"

"Sister, look! This is what my sworn brother caught while hunting this morning."

Only then did Xi Lingxian notice a snow cat in the bamboo basket behind them.

"...Did you get this while hunting?"

"Yes, it's in the jungle over at Zhongshan. I was chasing a wild goat deep into the jungle when I unexpectedly saw this little guy in the animal trap." Xi Wen smiled. "I thought this little creature was adorable and that you young ladies would like it."

Xi Lingxian paused, thinking of Afu.

That was in her previous life, the second year after she married into the Wang family, on her way to the hot spring resort, when she unexpectedly rescued a little black cat.

She cared for her for over a year until she became too ill to get up. Every day, Afu would meow in front of her bedside.

But when she was about to breathe her last, Ah Fu disappeared.

After she left, I don't know if Afu had anyone to take care of him.

She didn't expect Wang Jue to have the time to take care of the cat. When she said she wanted to raise Afu, he almost cried out.

"Sister-in-law?"

Xi Wen's call pulled her from her wandering thoughts, "Do you... want to keep it?"

Xi Lingxian's gaze fell back on the fluffy, beautiful snow cat, which was entirely white without a single stray hair.

If it weren't for Afu, she would definitely not have hesitated.

but……

If she adopts other cats, will she ever meet Afu again?

Xi Song noticed his sister's hesitation. "Forget it, sworn brother. My sister loves cleanliness the most and definitely can't stand cats and dogs. I'll take care of them; I like them."

Xi Wen laughed again, "It's fine with whoever likes it; it's a blessing for this little guy to be raised by whoever does."

Not far away, the gatekeeper's servant suddenly came running over, carrying something in his hands. "Young lady, this was sent by someone from the Prince's mansion. He said he wanted to give it to you personally."

Xi Lingxian was truly terrified of that bastard!

Everyone says to cut ties completely, is that what they mean by "cutting ties completely" in their family?

"I don't want it, take it back to him!"

The servant looked bewildered and subconsciously glanced at Xi Song.

Xi Song, that impulsive fellow, had already taken it and opened it.

Inside was a forehead band used daily in winter.

The fabric is an extremely soft, dark-patterned plain satin, with a dense border of snow-white fox fur sewn around the edge. The fur is long, fluffy, and soft.

It is adorned with a ring of small, lustrous, white pearls, exuding luxury and elegance.

"It's so beautiful," Xi Song exclaimed. "Sister, this is clearly a gift for you."

"I don't want it, you can wear it if you like."

She turned and ran away.

Xi Song scratched his head. "I can't wear this either."

Xi Wen pondered for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "A-Song, what exactly is the relationship between my sworn sister and Young Master Wang...?"

Xi Song waved his hand, "Don't even mention it, I don't understand it either."

"My sister returned to Jiankang in February, and in March she fell in love with Wang Erge at first sight at the Lanting Gathering. She pursued him relentlessly for two months, but after falling into the water on the Dragon Boat Festival, she suddenly became a different person."

Xi Wen had heard about the drowning incident. "This wasn't without reason. The fact that Young Master Wang saved Miss Xie in such a critical moment shows who he truly cares about."

Xi Song frowned: "Not necessarily."

Xi Wen was very certain. He countered, "If it were you, and your sworn sister and another woman fell into the water at the same time, who would you save?"

"Of course, my sister!"

"But my stepsister can swim, and she's really good at it."

"Then I have to get her out of the water first before I can feel at ease saving others..." Xi Song said, then suddenly fell silent.

Regarding the incident of falling into the water during the Dragon Boat Festival, Wang Jue gave explanations to both Xi brothers, and their accounts were essentially the same.

Xi Song was simple-minded and believed everything he heard.

Before today, he had never thought much about it.

The boy's expression gradually turned serious.

A moment later, Xi Song summoned his personal guard and ordered him to return the contents of the box to the royal family.

After resolving these issues, he paced back and forth in the courtyard for a while, his face grave.

"Wait a minute, he doesn't seem like someone who doesn't care about my sister, so what is he doing now? Just putting on an act?"

"What's in it for him?"

He is the eldest son of the Langya Wang clan, why would he need to be hypocritical in front of them?

Xi Wen lowered his eyelashes and speculated, "My adoptive father holds a very important position in the court. The Langya Wang clan doesn't have absolute power. Perhaps..."

Xi Song suddenly opened his eyes wide, as if something had cracked open in the depths of his eyes.