Denghuangtai

The older brother was stunned, staring blankly at his arm for a long time before finally asking in a trembling voice, "Where's my arm?"

He turned to look at their father, Pei Xuan, "Father, where's my arm?"

But their father was still as robust as before?

Their father, Pei Xuan, had nothing but his torso above his neck, his hands groping aimlessly in the air.

The elder brother was terrified. He stumbled and fell to the ground. He tried to get up, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't. He lay on the ground and reached for his right leg, but found nothing.

Pei Qingyan heard his brother's heart-wrenching wails.

"My legs!"

"My arm!"

"It hurts!"

"Little sister, it hurts so much!"

Pei Qingyan collapsed to the ground, looking at everything before him, his heart aching as if it were being torn apart.

For the past few months, she had repeatedly longed for her father and brother to appear in her dreams so that she could reunite with them. But for dozens of days and nights, she was greatly disappointed.

She never expected that her father and brother, who had finally entered her dream, would be in such a state. Looking at her "father," who had lost his mind, and her brother, who was wailing incessantly, her heart ached as if it were being torn apart.

All the internal organs were mixed together.

Dreams should be devoid of pain.

But this dream of hers was so painful that it almost made her faint.

She was fully aware that she was dreaming, but she just couldn't wake up.

In the end, she also went almost insane. Her dreams were no longer filled with only her brother's wails, but also with Pei Qingyan's shouts.

Her cries grew louder and more piercing than the last.

"Ah Yan, Ah Yan. Wake up!"

After an unknown amount of time, a new voice began to appear in Pei Qingyan's mind. The voice became clearer and clearer, and the wailing of his brother in his dream gradually weakened. Gradually, light began to appear before Pei Qingyan's eyes.

She opened her eyes and met Yun Zheng's gaze; his dark eyes were filled with concern.

She woke up from her dream in a cold sweat, completely exhausted.

"Yun Zheng," Pei Qingyan said in a hoarse voice, "hug me."

She spoke each of the four words slowly and deliberately, as if she had used up all her strength.

Yun Zheng: "Okay."

He sat on the edge of the bed, gently helped Pei Qingyan sit up, and held her in his arms. Pei Qingyan closed her eyes, rested her head on Yun Zheng's shoulder, and subtly wiped away the moisture from her eyes.

"Ah Yan..."

Pei Qingyan said softly, "Don't say anything."

Although her voice was soft, her tone was extremely forceful. The dignified Grand Minister of Works was so intimidated that he dared not utter another sound.

Pei Qingyan let out a long sigh of relief, and his shoulders and back slowly relaxed.

"Yun Zheng, I'm tired."

She leaned against Yun Zheng, who was so stiff he dared not move, and closed her eyes. "Just let me lean on you like this for a while." Her voice was very soft, as if it were a murmur.

Yun Zheng's heart softened at the sound of her voice. He moved his hand from her back to her shoulder and gently pulled her into his arms.

Pei Qingyan remained motionless, only a damp patch appeared where she had leaned against his shoulder. At this moment, she didn't want to think about hatred or court struggles anymore; she simply stayed quietly.

In just a moment.

In just a moment, she was able to recover from the nightmare she had been living in.

Before this, she really couldn't bear being alone. She wanted someone to be with her, and even more so, she wanted the person she loved to be with her.

Even if this lover is ultimately just a mirage, she is still willing.

Yun Zheng felt that she was pressing all her strength on his shoulder, but it still didn't feel very heavy, light and frightening.

The room was silent, yet at this moment it seemed as if there were sounds.

Yun Zheng felt Pei Qingyan's disordered breathing gradually stabilize, and then slowly change to the breathing and composure of a martial artist. His heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.

"Alright." Pei Qingyan coughed lightly, straightening up somewhat embarrassed. She lowered her eyes, avoiding Yun Zheng's gaze. "I am..."

She wanted to find an excuse for herself, but before she could finish speaking, Yun Zheng gently reached out and pressed her head onto his shoulder.

Yun Zheng gently patted her head, "Let me hug you again."

"Huh?" Pei Qingyan was surprised and didn't understand what Yun Zheng meant. She wanted to look up at Yun Zheng's expression, but he pressed her shoulder down again.

He sighed softly, "Over the years, countless nights I've dreamt of this scene. I dreamt that you never left, that none of this ever happened. You're leaning against me like this, and we're boating in spring, listening to the cicadas in summer, admiring the moon in autumn, and watching the snow in winter..."

He paused, then abruptly changed the subject, "But every time this happens, I wake up suddenly. When I wake up and look at the empty room, I feel a terrible bitterness in my heart."

"Yun Zheng..."

Pei Qingyan wanted to offer comfort, but her throat felt blocked, and after a long pause, she could only utter his name. Yun Zheng's wish was also her wish.

However, years have passed, and they can no longer go back.

The "reconciliation" at this moment is nothing more than a carefully crafted scheme. She used the scheme to deceive Yun Zheng, but she was also backfired by her own scheme.

"No need to comfort me." Yun Zheng lowered his head, intending to see Pei Qingyan's expression, but accidentally placed a kiss on her head. Instantly, his heart softened, and the tenderness in his eyes melted away like snow melting in spring.

"I am a man, and I should bear many things, including protecting you."

Pei Qingyan sighed inwardly. Ever since she reunited with Yun Zheng, she had never truly seen through this old friend.

Yun Zheng never mentioned his father, and it seemed that he never regarded her as the daughter of his "father's killer," but he never brought it up on his own initiative.

Of course, Pei Qingyan understood this perfectly.

No matter how wrong Yun Heng is or how much he violates military discipline, he is still Yun Zheng's father, and a son should not speak ill of his father.

Yun Zheng couldn't very well say to her, "Ayan, I don't hold a grudge against you, nor do I hold a grudge against your father. My father violated military law and deserved to die."

How could he say such a thing?

However, if he didn't bring it up, Pei Qingyan would always have reservations. She always felt that there was still a huge gap between them.

Even though she wanted to make the act real, she didn't dare to easily give her heart away again.

This was also the lesson Ronghua taught her: feelings can be given away freely, but the heart cannot. A woman must guard her heart and hold it firmly in her own hands. Otherwise, once the relationship breaks down, she will also fall into despair.

When Pei Qingyan first heard Rong Hua's reasoning, he suddenly understood. He instantly realized why his relationship with Yun Zheng had ultimately left him physically and mentally exhausted.

Without a heart, without feelings, that's how miserable it is.

Pei Qingyan had already stumbled once, and dared not make the same mistake a second time.

She frowned, ignoring Yun Zheng's expression, and retorted with dissatisfaction, "What have you wronged me about? Even though you are a man, there's no reason for you to take on all my responsibilities. Besides, I have hands and feet, martial arts skills, and the ability to protect myself. I don't need your protection."

As she spoke, she raised her fist, and Chong Yunzheng raised it as proof of her ability.

Yun Zheng's eyebrows curved slightly, his eyes filled with a smile. He cupped her fist with his other hand. "Yes, you are capable. But I still want to protect you. Or you can charge into battle on the front lines, and I'll be your support. How about that?"

"That's more like it."

Pei Qingyan closed his eyes, completely satisfied, and affectionately nuzzled against Yun Zheng's neck. Such a warm and beautiful moment was too rare. It felt like a dream.

"If this is a dream, let me wake up a little later," she thought to herself.