novelraw Chapter 169 Opening Your Heart
Chapter 169 Opening Your Heart
"Your Majesty," Song Shuangning looked up at him, her eyes reddening, like a peony wet by the rain, pitiful and charming.
Whenever she apologized, she would gaze at him with reddened eyes.
Even though he saw through her little trick of being three parts genuine and seven parts pretentious, his heart still softened uncontrollably.
Xiao Yan's Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he reached out and pulled her into his arms, gently patting her back.
His chest was broad and warm; even through his thin shirt, I could feel his steady heartbeat.
"I have never thought that way."
His voice fell close to her ear.
I never thought of abandoning her.
Xiao Yan tightened his arms around her, resting his chin on her neck, his breath tinged with a sigh: "You're always like this, refusing to believe me."
Song Shuangning froze in his arms, tears welling up in her eyes, her gaze lingering. She looked up blankly, meeting his deep eyes.
Xiao Yan gently stroked her back with his fingertips.
His voice was deep and earnest, each word striking a chord in her heart.
"If you truly trusted me, you wouldn't have kept quiet about Rong Lian's tampering with the flowers, preferring to secretly plot your revenge rather than let me stand up for you."
"Ningning, you didn't tell me, you kept it from me. Is it because you don't trust me, or do you think I'm unreliable, unable to support you, or unable to stand up for you?"
Song Shuangning stared at him blankly, the tears in her eyes gradually clearing.
It turns out that what the emperor cared about was not her vicious methods, but that she had never given him any complete trust from beginning to end.
Song Shuangning organized her thoughts, structured her words, and carefully considered her tone.
"Your Majesty knows that I did not have a good time when I lived in the Song family."
"My aunt loves and cherishes me, but she herself is like a candle in the wind, her life hanging by a thread. How could she possibly have the strength to protect me? From that moment on, I secretly resolved in my heart to pave my own way out, to protect myself and to keep my aunt safe. The more than ten years I spent in the Song family have made me realize that in this world, you can't rely on others for anything. The only person you can truly trust is yourself."
In this world, only yourself is truly reliable.
Even if others offer temporary assistance, they may not be able to ensure your lifelong peace and security.
"It's not that I don't trust Your Majesty, but I don't want to rely on you for everything, nor do I want to be a parasitic vine that can only survive by depending on you. I don't want to become that kind of person."
After this candid explanation, Song Shuang remained quiet for a long time, calming her turbulent emotions.
She never doubted sincerity, but sincerity can change in an instant.
In a daze, images of past and present lives flashed before my eyes, overlapping.
In modern times, she rose to the position of department director through her ambition and outstanding abilities, but she had no one behind her. Her parents were divorced, and to them, she was just an insignificant person.
During her years in the Song family, she was a concubine's daughter who was looked down upon by everyone.
Human hearts are fickle, and the world is ever-changing; only oneself is the most solid support.
She looked at Xiao Yan, her gaze frank and unwavering: "Rong Lian poisoned the flowers, intending to cause me to miscarry. If I hadn't noticed, I fear I would have lost my child. I hate her, so I won't let her off easily. Does Your Majesty think I'm wicked?"
After listening to Song Shuangning's heartfelt words, Xiao Yan remained silent for a long time, as if he was carefully pondering her confession.
After a long pause, he finally spoke: "I know that you have had a difficult time in the Song family, and I also know that the temperament you have developed in such an environment is the most strong-willed and the most distrustful of others."
He said these words with heartache.
If Ningning could grow up peacefully in the Zhenbei Marquis's mansion, as the beloved eldest daughter, receiving the upbringing of a noble family and enjoying all kinds of care, she would surely be a proud and smiling woman.
They would never be like this now, hiding themselves in a hard shell, having to think carefully before even opening their hearts to each other.
Xiao Yan paused for a moment, then gently pried open her clenched fist.
"But I still want you to try to rely on me and trust me, so you don't have to shoulder everything on your own."
"I never thought that by relying on me, you would become a parasitic vine. Ningning is dazzling in yourself, you are a star high in the night sky, shining with your own brilliance, and you have never shone because of anyone else. I hope that you will rely on me, not to be that vine, but to be the pine tree beside you, standing shoulder to shoulder with you, and weathering the wind and rain together."
These words drifted into Song Shuangning's ears like a gentle key, unexpectedly and softly prying open the lock on her heart that had been sealed for many years.
Her nose tingled, and a thin layer of tears welled up in it.
"emperor…"
"Your Majesty..."
The fingertips on his knees curled up and down, and he couldn't utter a complete sentence.
Xiao Yan held her hand, their fingers intertwined: "If you are willing to learn, I will teach you the art of political maneuvering, the intrigues of the court, so that you will have the confidence to stand on your own two feet, so that you can have someone to rely on and be proudly independent."
Finally, his eyes darkened, and his tone turned cold: "Rong Lian is vicious. After I learned of this, I had no intention of letting her go. I know that what you did was out of necessity, so how could I blame you?"
Xiao Yan addressed her concerns and anxieties one by one.
"Ningning, rely on me, okay?"
At this moment, he was filled with a mix of nervousness and trepidation.
My heart was beating a few beats faster than usual.
I hope Ningning can understand my feelings and be able to trust and rely on him.
To like someone is to accept them completely.
Her good, her bad.
Her radiance and brilliance, her darkness and devastation.
There's no need to delve into it or make any judgments.
As long as it's her, she's enough to surpass all the romance in the world.
Song Shuangning smiled and said, "Okay."
The sound was soft, yet exceptionally clear.
Xiao Yan was so excited that he immediately leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, making Song Shuangning blush slightly.
Song Shuangning said reproachfully, "The ice cream I brought has all melted."
"Let it melt if it's melted." Xiao Yan looked at the bowl of melted shaved ice on the table and curled the corners of his lips.
What melted wasn't just the ice cream, but also Ningning's heart.
Song Shuangning covered her lips and yawned softly.
Xiao Yan noticed: "Are you sleepy?"
"There are some."
Xiao Yan chuckled and carried her to the side hall.
"You go to sleep first. I'll wake you up after I've finished dealing with state affairs."
Song Shuangning smiled softly.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
After this chapter, Ningning will try to open her heart to the Emperor, a true two-way love. Before, her feelings for the Emperor were more guilt and superficial affection. But Ningning will still love herself most. As mentioned in the synopsis, Ningning will repeatedly reveal her flaws later on, and Xiao Yan will love her even more after discovering them. Regardless of whether Ningning loves Xiao Yan or not, regardless of whether Ningning is an innocent flower or a scheming villain, Xiao Yan will love her.
[No spoilers for Ningning's baby yet. But Ningning will eventually become Empress! There are about 20 more chapters left, so please keep up with the updates, everyone!]