Yu Mingyue met his gaze, and Xie Jiayan did not flinch. He calmly added Yu Mingyue's favorite dishes to the pot.
The Sage summoning him back to the capital at this time felt ominous, especially since she now knew his true origins.
"I will be leaving the capital in the next two days," Xie Jiayan said, his tone unhurried, betraying no emotion.
Yu Mingyue instantly understood. "Will you never return to the capital again?"
Xie Jiayan's hand, which was serving food, paused slightly before resuming its natural movement. "Yes!"
It seemed that secret could no longer be hidden. He would inevitably be exploited by those with ulterior motives in court, which would be detrimental to Da Wei.
In recent years, he had harbored only two wishes: one, to rescue his mother from Qianshan Temple and restore her freedom; the other, to resolve the conflict between the Sage and the noble clans, promote the imperial examination system, and recruit talented individuals. Neither wish had been fully realized.
There were countless capable and talented individuals in the court, and the border crisis would eventually be resolved.
The people of Huihe and Tubo lived nomadic lives, and this was their most difficult season. With shortages of food and clothing, their emotions were easily stirred. Come spring, after experiencing the bitter hardships of war, they would be eager to return home to herd their livestock, their morale weakened. Da Wei would then be able to swiftly turn the tide of the war.
The most dangerous threat now was the naval battle. Da Wei lacked generals with experience in maritime warfare and had to consider the coastal populace. Currently, everything depended on the soldiers' morale. However, even if they won, it would be a pyrrhic victory.
"Where are you going, Brother Jiayan?" He possessed great ambitions and extraordinary talent. It would be a true pity if he were to live a life of despair solely because of his origins.
In the storybooks, Xiao Che placed great trust in Xie Jiayan. It was precisely through their cooperation as ruler and subject that they ushered in an unprecedented era of peace and prosperity.
"Yangzhou!"
"Brother Jiayan, are you participating in the naval battle?" Yu Mingyue exclaimed in surprise.
In the storybooks, that naval battle had been a prolonged stalemate, resulting in heavy casualties for Da Wei's soldiers. Brother Jiayan had indeed participated in that battle. Because he was resented by the noble clans, he had been severely wounded, nearly losing his life.
Now that Brother Jiayan was going, wasn't it precisely as written in the storybooks?
"In fact, I have always been in Yangzhou. If not for the Sage's urgent summons, I would not have returned to the capital at this time."
It was good that he had returned. Some matters had to be settled sooner or later.
Yu Mingyue felt a pang of heartache. He had been separated from his mother since birth and had lived in obscurity. Yet, he harbored no resentment, but instead cared deeply for the world and its people. He had never harbored the slightest desire to usurp the throne.
If he had wanted that position, he would not have helped the Sage promote the imperial examination system to replace the noble clans. After all, he was the legitimate son of the Empress, the rightful heir in the eyes of the people.
Why was it that even after his considerable compromises, the Sage still refused to let him go? She had now become wary of him, and it was impossible to predict when she might harbor murderous intent again.
"Is it worth it?"
Were all his efforts worth it?
"It is worth it!" Xie Jiayan replied without a moment's hesitation. "Some things must be done by someone. There is no such thing as worth or not worth it. One simply walks the path they must take."
Xie Jiayan had specially prepared wine, which was now perfectly warm. He poured a cup for Yu Mingyue. "This is what I brought back from Jiangzhou. Have a taste."
Although her tolerance for alcohol was low, she was fond of drinking. This fruit wine was not intoxicating, and even those with little tolerance could drink it.
It carried a fruity aroma, and one could tell it was good wine just by smelling it. However, she was not in the mood to drink at the moment. But since he had already poured it, she did not refuse.
"Brother Jiayan, will you take me with you when you leave the capital?" Yu Mingyue looked at him intently and finally asked the question.
His previous refusal had been due to his origins. Now that it was no longer a secret to the Sage, she wanted to accompany him, not wanting him to live alone and in solitude.