Embrace (continued)

To put it simply, the Emperor is speaking from the heart; just listen and that's it.

Don't get carried away by a little kindness; you really think the emperor is some kind of benevolent elder.

We must show the utmost respect and reverence.

One must maintain a proper sense of proportion and not make a single mistake.

"Thank you for your guidance, Father." Gu Wanning smiled at him.

Gu Yuanshi was taken aback.

He seemed to see his wife in her youth.

This is their daughter.

He was filled with countless emotions, but he didn't show it on his face. He waved his hand and said, "Go."

Children and grandchildren have their own blessings.

He can't control that much, and he doesn't want to.

Aside from his concern that he might not be able to complete the reforms in his lifetime and his desire for his eldest son to inherit his father's legacy, which led him to be stricter with him, he had no objections to his other children, as long as they did not commit crimes, earned their own living, and chose their own partners.

"What's wrong?"

Back home, Gu Wanning had Er Ya serve tea, then gestured for her to leave before asking Xu Weibei a question.

Xu Weibei very strangely.

"I feel very sad," Xu Weibei said.

Gu Wanning never expected him to reveal his vulnerable side so directly in front of her.

He must be in great pain.

Then there's only one thing left.

He can't.

Why.

This matter is probably unavoidable.

No matter how she claimed she didn't care, Xu Weibei knew he did care.

She stood up and sat down beside Xu Weibei, taking his hand solemnly and saying, "No matter how many times I tell you, you won't believe I don't dislike you. But I still want to tell you again, I love you, Xu Weibei. I accept everything about you, including your imperfections. Don't exaggerate the importance of that thing to me just because you lack it. If I say it's not important, then it really isn't important; there's no embellishment. If I need to, I will tell you honestly."

The Third Concubine had no man, and she never wronged herself in this matter.

There are always more solutions than problems.

And she genuinely felt that it wasn't important, not important at all.

A tall and handsome figure, immense wealth, and unwavering, sincere love—what woman wouldn't be overjoyed to have all of these?

"I really disliked it, and I strongly resisted it," Gu Wanning said frankly. "I'm different from others; I have a bit of a trauma..."

As a child, she accidentally witnessed a scene she shouldn't have seen.

She felt a little nauseous.

Xu Weibei: "..."

How I wish these words were just empty words, meant only to comfort him.

But Gu Wanning looked directly at him with her big eyes, her expression as sincere as could be.

That's enough.

Xu Weibei, due to his health condition, had never acted impulsively, so this matter did not seem to be that important to him.

As long as he's a complete man, that's fine.

Whether or not he uses it, the right remains with him.

He can choose not to use it, but it cannot be ineffective.

Since Gu Wanning doesn't like it, then forget it, he thought.

He just didn't know that hormones are incredibly rebellious.

Of course, that's a story for another time.

Xu Weibei had no romantic thoughts today.

Because of Gu Wanning's resistance, he avoided the topic to prevent her from worrying that he would force her.

Xu Weibei and Gu Wanning talked about the old battles between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and the regret of his father dying alone in the Northwest.

Gu Wanning understood.

Although she wasn't particularly bright, she still sensed the anger, heartache, inner turmoil, and bewilderment reverberating within Xu Weibei's chest...

On one side is his mother, who gave him life and the earliest beautiful memories of his life; on the other side is his grandmother, who gave everything to raise him to adulthood. What should he do? What can he do?

His mother was gone; how could he face his grandmother?

It seems that siding with either side is a betrayal of the other.

"Don't think too much about it," Gu Wanning said. "Just do as you please. Both your mother and the Grand Princess are of one mind: they want you to be happy. They don't want to see you suffer."

Moreover, his birth mother had passed away many years ago, and they were now separated by death. All his love and hate had been sealed away in his memories.

"Don't be so hard on yourself," Gu Wanning said softly. "People are inherently complex."

Everyone has their own karma and their own tribulations to overcome.

Whether they were doomed or managed to escape by sheer luck, no one should feel sorry for them again.

"Treat those who treat you well, and you'll treat them well in return," Gu Wanning said. "Listen to opinions you're willing to hear, and ignore those you're not. Don't dwell on right and wrong. If... Xu Weibei, it's already difficult enough for us to walk our own paths; don't add more burdens to ourselves."

Excessive empathy will only make you feel burdened.

Let things happen, and be the best version of yourself.

"I'll stay with you," Gu Wanning added. "Regardless of who was right or wrong, that's all in the past. If either your mother or your grandmother had a choice, they wouldn't put you in this difficult position between them."

Wasn't the Marquis's affair enough to make them sad?

"The Grand Princess is so old, how much longer can she stay with you? Don't worry about the past, just be filial to her as you should be in the future, so you won't regret it after she passes away. She forced your will, you should resist if you should, don't let filial piety control you... You will handle it, you can do it."

Their predicaments are actually quite similar.

But even an upright official finds it difficult to settle family disputes, so let's not try.

Stop thinking about things you can't understand, accept the past you can't change, and let life flow by naturally.

This is a reconciliation with reality.

Xu Weibei reached out and pulled Gu Wanning into his arms, resting his chin on her shoulder, and remained silent for a long time.

Sunlight streamed through the window, bathing the figures embracing intimately in a golden glow.

Tranquil and warm.