CHAPTER 695: CHAPTER 281 PERSUASION (FIRST UPDATE)

"It’s alright." Song Yanqing’s voice was weak.

Ye Qichi looked at him.

Looking into his eyes, she saw that he actually had little desire to live.

For someone who was indifferent to death, appearance really didn’t matter much anymore.

Ye Qichi didn’t say much more, and stated bluntly, "As I said just now, the King wishes for your allegiance."

Song Yanqing shook his head and replied, "I appreciate the King’s kindness, but I am well aware that I am a criminal subject and have no face to serve His Highness again."

"Whether you are a criminal or not is up to Xiao Jinxing alone, you are overthinking it."

"I simply no longer have the will to serve the court."

"So, you are intent on death?" Ye Qichi raised her eyebrows.

Song Yanqing chose to be silent.

Silence is acquiescence.

"Have you thought about your family?" Ye Qichi asked.

Song Yanqing’s eyes flickered slightly.

Definitely.

Ye Qichi could pinpoint the other’s vulnerability sharply, ready to exploit it.

"I’ve heard that you secretly sent your parents away. And I can tell you very clearly that the King has not ordered the execution of your parents. You know why, don’t you?!" Ye Qichi said bluntly.

Song Yanqing obviously knew.

If the King truly wanted to investigate his responsibilities, he would certainly not let the Song Family off the hook.

"Of course, I’m not saying that if you don’t submit to the King, he will kill you or your parents. What I mean is, if you die, have you considered what your parents would endure? The tragedy of parents burying their children is the most sorrowful in life. Do you wish to let your parents experience this?"

Song Yanqing’s Adam’s apple moved noticeably, his emotions clearly fluctuating.

"I’ve heard that Xie Ruilin has died." Ye Qichi didn’t wait for Song Yanqing to answer, but asked on her own.

Song Yanqing gave a slight nod.

"So, you want to die along with her?"

"It’s not Xie Ruilin." Song Yanqing denied.

"So, it’s Xie Ruotong?" Ye Qichi’s tone sounded assertive while phrasing it as a question.

Song Yanqing pursed his lips, without denial.

"If it’s Xie Ruotong, then you should all the more submit to the King. Let me put it this way, given the current situation, Xiao Jinxing certainly desires talented individuals, and Xie Ruotong has exceptional abilities. Xiao Jinxing highly values her now, and will surely keep her by his side at all times. If you submit to the King, you would be able to stay by Xie Ruotong’s side..."

"I never thought that I could be by her side again." Song Yanqing’s tone was faint, laced with sarcasm. "Unworthy of being in front of her."

"The grievances between you and Xie Ruotong..." Ye Qichi trailed off, "It’s not really appropriate for an outsider to comment, but I must say, Xie Ruotong has indeed been deeply hurt by you. Reconciling with Xie Ruotong won’t be easy. But time is the best healer; over time, many wounds on the body will heal."

"They won’t heal." Xie Ruotong would surely not forgive him.

And most definitely would no longer have feelings for him.

"Song Yanqing..."

"The esteem and affection the King and Princess have for me, I’m profoundly grateful, but I really have no interest in court affairs anymore, I’m afraid of failing the King and the Princess," Song Yanqing still refused.

Sometimes, when a person’s heart is dead, it is truly difficult to revive his spirit.

Song Yanqing really saw through life and death too clearly.

He had completely lost the desire, the desire to go on living, and to live well.

Ye Qichi suddenly became somewhat silent.

Song Yanqing was really not as easily persuaded as she had thought.

Without a word from Ye Qichi, Song Yanqing wouldn’t start a conversation either.

The two of them stayed quiet for quite a while in this manner.

"So, what are your plans next?" Ye Qichi asked, using retreat to advance, with a counter question.

"Your servant has no plans. If alive, your servant will go find my parents; if not, I will accept my fate." Song Yanqing didn’t hide anything from Ye Qichi.

"Not going to seek out King Chu?" Ye Qichi asked deliberately.

"The moment King Chu and your servant parted ways, our paths diverged. King Chu and your servant no longer have any relation."

"If there’s no relation, why have you been concealing King Chu’s whereabouts all this time? Even with Xie Ruotong treating you that way, torturing you, you’ve said nothing?!"

Xiao Jinxing fell silent for a moment, then said, "Your servant is loyal to King Chu. Even after our paths have diverged, I cannot betray King Chu. That is your servant’s bottom line."

"But you know, even if you did disclose King Chu’s whereabouts, we actually wouldn’t be able to capture him and bring him back." Ye Qichi spoke bluntly.

Song Yanqing looked at Ye Qichi.

In his gaze, there was a hint of scrutiny.

"King Chu has gone to Beimu Country, hasn’t he?" Ye Qichi affirmed.

Song Yanqing pursed his lips.

So, King Chu believes he handles everything impeccably, but in reality, everything is under Prince Chen’s control.

The coup was a grave pit he dug for himself.

Even now that he has escaped, it’s still never possible to turn the tide.

"Why not tell Xie Ruotong?" Ye Qichi asked again.

"It’s just, I cannot say." Song Yanqing answered.

"Is it that you cannot say, or you do not want Xie Ruotong to take risks? If you were to tell Xie Ruotong that King Chu has gone to Beimu Country, she would most likely head straight out of Daxuan’s borders to hunt down King Chu. After all, King Chu murdered her grandmother, and she would seek revenge for that even at the cost of her own life! You are well aware that once Xie Ruotong leaves Daxuan, she would be in peril. You don’t want Xie Ruotong to act recklessly out of hatred, you’re afraid she might get hurt, or worse, die."

Song Yanqing looked at Ye Qichi.

In his eyes, there was clearly surprise.

He hadn’t had much deep contact with Princess Chen.

He therefore didn’t know how insightful she could be.

Now, he truly felt humbled by her.

He thought that aside from himself, no one knew what he was thinking.

However, Princess Chen, she was just so transparently clear.

"Perhaps there is another reason," Ye Qichi said, "you want Xie Ruotong to take revenge on you. You know very well if you remain silent, Xie Ruotong will torture you, and in this way, you can atone for the past injuries and debts you owe her."

Song Yanqing remained silent.

Not arguing was an admittance of the truth.

"Now that you’ve atoned, what else is there to worry about?" Ye Qichi continued to question him.

"The past injuries I inflicted on her, they are beyond amends."

"If they’re beyond amends, then there’s even less to worry about." Ye Qichi asserted confidently.

Song Yanqing looked at Ye Qichi.

"Many things are but demons of one’s own heart. In your mind, you probably feel you owe Xie Ruotong too much. But in Xie Ruotong’s heart, perhaps she has long since written off the grievance between you, and simply doesn’t love you anymore."

Song Yanqing’s gaze fell.

The corners of his mouth curled into a self-deprecating smile.

Princess Chen’s words were indeed concise and to the point, striking the heart.

Xie Ruotong simply doesn’t love him anymore.

Not in love.

Meaning, there would no longer be any love or hatred, any emotional entanglement.

Not in love.

And thus, there’s no relationship left.

And his entanglement, even his self-reproach and guilt, were all but his own wishful longing.