"Le Zi, are you free right now?"
Ju Zi approached gracefully and offered a warm, straightforward invitation.
"Of course." Xiao Zi nodded readily and followed her to a secluded spot.
Ju Zi took a deep breath and came straight to the point. "I'm sorry. I owe you an apology for what happened back then. If I hadn't brought Wang Shaojie and the others to test you, the attack in the Jingyang Mountain Range wouldn't have happened."
Warm tears slid down her cheeks, only to be quickly wiped away by her soft, delicate hands. Their captivating fairness made Xiao Zi's heart tremble.
They sheltered beneath a tree, where the space felt a little cramped for two. Yet Ju Zi carefully edged closer and nestled into his arms, her head pressed against his shoulder as she sobbed softly.
Xiao Zi did not resist. His expression was gentle, but his thoughts remained perfectly clear.
Perhaps Xuan Ziwen and the others could not tell, but he knew she was the crown prince's confidante. In the original story, when Wang Shaojie took Huo Yuhao away for interrogation, it was her intervention that prevented a disaster.
It seemed that, for some purpose, Xu Tianran had still arranged for Ju Zi to leave the academy early and join the army.
Xiao Zi's feelings toward this "Empress War God" were somewhat complicated.
Although they had not spent much time together, he had developed a quiet fondness for her. In particular, during their days adventuring together in the Jingyang Mountain Range, Ju Zi's gentle serenity had left a profound impression on him.
As they spent more time together, Xiao Zi found that she was becoming less and less able to conceal her true nature. Although this girl harbored deep hatred, her innate kindness remained. It was merely hidden away,