Keep your voice down. Are you trying to look glamorous dressed as a forced lover?

Song Qinian's heart burned with passion for a moment because of Li Qingyan's words, but turned ice-cold the next moment.

She was willing to be honest with him, she was willing to give him a chance, and he was happy, but she could also go find someone else.

He could sense perfectly clearly that she was close to him only because she needed him. She might have some liking and admiration for him, but it wasn't love; it was more about using him.

But he fell in love with her.

He repeatedly built up his defenses to avoid wavering, but if he continued to be in contact with them, or even closer, he would only sink deeper and deeper.

Then he could never get out of it.

With her current intelligence and wisdom, she will soon be able to extract and absorb everything he knows, and even squeeze out all the value he has.

After all, the more times you come into contact with it, the less effective it becomes.

Previously, a hug was effective for at least an hour, but gradually it became only an hour, and now it's only half an hour.

If they spend too much time together and it becomes pointless, she'll get tired of him, have completely used him, achieve her goals, and might not even need him anymore, starting to look for new people and new excitement. What will he do then?

He is only human, and even knowing her purpose, he is still extremely swayed. He dares not gamble or take risks.

Song Qinian backed down.

"I am willing."

He spoke the truth, or rather, it was his indirect confession.

But Li Qingyan took it as mere politeness, because he continued, "It's just that my body is not cooperating, and my constitution is not in harmony. I don't know if it will flare up halfway through. If it does, I'm afraid it will affect Your Highness's plans."

Li Qingyan nodded: "We really can't be careless about a person's physical condition; it could be life-threatening if it gets too serious."

When Song Qinian heard her agree, he was momentarily at a loss for words and simply nodded slightly.

Seeing him nod, Li Qingyan knew there was no room for negotiation. She took a deep breath and said, "I understand Consort Song's attitude. I know what to do next."

I wouldn't say I was too disappointed, because I already knew he was the most difficult person to deal with.

Her calmness, and the fact that she didn't try to fight back, made Song Qinian's heart sink even further.

All his little schemes and tricks to attract her these days were useless.

Because she didn't like him, all her efforts to seduce him were in vain.

She liked his secret hope, and in the end, she only focused on his extravagant wish, which truly became an extravagant wish.

He thought he was right to refuse.

He still wanted to leave the palace. He didn't want to regret it. By refusing, he was also warning himself that he had cut off his own way out.

He kept telling himself that Li Qingyan had also thrown herself into busy work again.

The two were still holding hands, incredibly intimate, but an invisible chasm stood between them.

The closest, yet the most distant.

"Thank you for your hard work today, Consort Song."

As dusk approached, Li Qingyan took his leave after a busy day.

Today was supposed to be Song Qinian's turn to rest, but Li Qingyan left.

Unless she decides to take the forceful route, she should give up on Song Qinian.

Thinking of this, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Because she had troubled Song Qinian to deal with the Left Prime Minister and his group before, last night when she was on night watch, she looked at the bamboo bookmark that the emperor usually used. It had only a small inscription on one side, simple yet with a unique charm.

She inexplicably felt that she and Song Qinian were a good match, and on a whim, she made a bamboo bookmark herself.

Making them herself was really just a bit of physical work; she polished the bamboo skewers until they were smooth and warm. Thinking of his long, fair hands, and how he held the bamboo skewers after writing so many words for her these past few days, she felt motivated and polished them for quite a while.

Then I learned to add small characters on one side.

The text I mentioned was something I'd seen by chance before; the original text was "I trouble you to always guide and protect me, day and night, never to be apart."

She was expressing her gratitude for the gift, so she changed it herself to "May the year be prosperous and may you always guide and protect me."

She felt very proud of herself after making the changes, and she thought that Song Qinian's name would definitely be liked by him, or at least he would feel her sincerity.

To prevent her handwriting from looking messy, she practiced several times.

She felt she had almost finished writing before actually putting pen to paper, and she thought the result was quite good, so she brought it over today. However, she didn't give it to him in person, but instead tucked it into the Buddhist scripture he had been enjoying reading recently, intending to keep it as a surprise for him.

But after talking to her today, she felt it was inappropriate for her to stay any longer.

Besides, it would be a pity if he saw it and threw it away after all the effort she put into making it.

After spending so much time and effort writing it, she decided to erase the characters and turn them into a landscape painting for her own use!

Thinking this, Li Qingyan turned back.

In the study.

As Song Qinian listened to Li Qingyan's departing figure, his heart suddenly felt empty.

Even in a split second, he regretted it.

He almost chased after her, disregarding everything else, and accepted her suggestion, regardless of whether she was using him.

He dug his fingernails into his palms to calm himself, and under the worried gaze of Xingzhi, he picked up a Buddhist scripture to calm his mind.

But I just couldn't calm my mind.

"Young Master, you and His Highness have been getting along quite well lately, so why are you...?"

"It's not good."

Song Qinian denied it, saying that if there were real feelings between them, that would be great, but there weren't.

"Our relationship is destined to be one of exploitation."

He wanted to use her, and she wanted to use him.

He thought that if things continued like this, he would definitely go crazy.

"All I want now is to end this absurd situation as soon as possible and get her away from me." To stop her from swaying him.

He really cannot be swayed.

Li Qingyan returned to the study door and overheard this sentence.

She couldn't help but scoff.

Thankfully, she came back.

Song Qinian noticed a slight change in her expression: "Your Highness."

His actions even subconsciously seemed to want to explain on behalf of his young master: "Your Highness, the young master didn't..."

Li Qingyan didn't look at Xingzhi, but only at the Buddhist scriptures in Song Qinian's hand.

"I suddenly wanted to read some Buddhist scriptures, so I came here to borrow them. I didn't expect to overhear Consort Song's inner thoughts. I'll remember that and I won't bother Consort Song again."

Fortunately, she has a good learning ability and can probably get the hang of it, and she can also learn from others.

Compared to before, her situation has changed a lot, and she can now look for other people.

Song Qinian gripped the Buddhist scriptures tightly, his fingers turning white from the force.

He thought this was probably God's will, to make the gap between them grow wider and wider.

"Your Highness, please don't misunderstand. I will still fulfill my responsibilities."

His voice was full of bitterness. He looked down at the Buddhist scripture in his hand, flipped the cover back over, and was about to hand it over when he suddenly noticed a bamboo slip in the corner.

He reached for the book in confusion, but Li Qingyan saw it and quickly grabbed it.

She took the book.

Song Qinian, however, pulled out the bookmark.

Song Qinian recognized her handwriting at a glance. These past few days had been enough for him to become familiar with her handwriting and get used to her style of writing.

May the year be prosperous and the harvest abundant; may you always guide and protect me.

With just one glance, his pupils trembled.

Because he had read the original text: "I trouble you to always protect and care for me, and to never leave me day and night."

At that moment, he even absurdly thought that she might also have some feelings for him.

He liked everything, whether it was what he read or what she wrote.

He even likes bamboo skewers.

His heart skipped a beat, and just as he was about to look up, Li Qingyan suddenly reached out to snatch it.

He took it back without a second thought.