The next day, when Xu Zifeng returned from the County Yamen's prison, he noticed dark circles under his aunt's eyes. It seemed she had slept poorly yesterday, probably worrying about him all night.
He went up to her and said with concern, "Auntie, I'm sorry I made you worry. But you can rest easy this time. I'll stay home and won't cause any more trouble."
Xu Zifeng refused to believe Lin Yue'e could come into his own home to arrest him.
Ji Lianyu had merely slept poorly last night. That did not mean she was unhappy now.
For the first time in all her years, she had tasted sweetness. Combined with Li Chen's relentless coaxing yesterday, it had begun to change her heart.
Li Chen had reviewed her records. The Ji Family had abandoned her in the Imperial Capital, and she had endured plenty of gossip because she was a widow.
All of this had left her life terribly dreary. Her world seemed painted in shades of gray.
At a time like this, what she needed most was someone to lean on-or, rather, a reason to keep living.
Feeling that she could help Xu Zifeng gave Ji Lianyu a little comfort, so she had kept helping him.
She feared being abandoned and craved the feeling of being needed.
Naturally, Li Chen had targeted precisely that. Last night, he had pointed out that the Prince of the South was merely a vassal king. The Previous Emperor had left him alone out of affection for their old ties, not because he could not deal with him.
She should not assume the Prince of the South was as formidable as he looked. Wasn't his fear of the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty's surrounding army groups precisely why he had never dared rebel?
Li Chen now