Yang Mengchen didn't defend herself, but lowered her eyes slightly, hiding the bitterness and loneliness in her gaze.

"You say that you and I are from two different worlds, forever without the possibility of intersection. In truth, you think that I am just a prince, not the Crown Prince, and certainly not someone who can become the Emperor, unable to bring you the wealth and glory like him!" Yang Mengchen's silence caused Long Xuanmo's heart to wring painfully.

Over five cautious years of affection, treasuring her with unease, only to realize she already had someone else in her heart, and he was nothing but a complete joke. In a mix of jealousy and humiliation, he spoke out of turn, "Yang Mengchen, I misjudged you! I didn't expect you to be someone so vain and hypocritical!"

Yang Mengchen still didn't clear her own name, but simply took out the Purple Jade Starflower Hairpin and a jade pendant representing Long Xuanmo's identity that he had given her over the years and handed them to him, "Please, Prince, take these back."

Long Xuanmo didn't accept them, looking directly into Yang Mengchen's eyes with self-mockery and regret, "I have never taken back what I have given away!"

"He would be unhappy if he saw that I possessed another man's belongings," thought Yang Mengchen, deciding that if a break was to be made, it should be made cleanly.

With a sorrowful smile, Long Xuanmo snatched the hairpin and jade pendant and threw them out the window, "From now on, I wish to never see you again!" After saying this, he leaped up and disappeared into the vast night.

His heart might be broken, but he was of noble blood, and naturally possessed the pride and dignity befitting his status, never to pester someone tenaciously.

Looking at where Long Xuanmo had vanished, Yang Mengchen smiled mockingly at herself. The teacup in her hand had grown cold, but it was not as cold as her heart.

I'm sorry!

Your love was deep as the ocean when you first fell in love, while I had already gone through countless trials with a heart grown cold and apathetic. In my past life, I resolutely married into a noble family for love, only to end up dying alone and desolate. Now, I no longer possess the courage to abandon all for love.

I know that over these more than five years, you've been guarding me carefully, giving quietly, anxiously waiting, and being both clumsy and sincere, so much like the me from a past life.

How could I bring myself to hurt someone who has been so sincere to me?

I have refused you openly and covertly many times, yet you've turned a deaf ear to all. Have you finally lost hope?

It's better this way. From now on, we are strangers; let's act as if we've never known each other when we meet.

Putting down the teacup, Yang Mengchen stood up and walked slowly to the window, staring into the cold moonlight in the pitch-black sky, her expression indifferent and dazed.

She could almost hear Old Hai's teachings echoing in her ears, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

She was no expert in politics but had read quite a few historical records (unknown to others, after taking her fourth brother as a disciple, Old Hai had begun to stealthily instruct her in history). She understood the cruelty and bloodiness of the struggles in the court throughout the ages.

For those princes who wished to claim the throne, they schemed and stopped at nothing, and Long Xuanmo, being the Empress's legitimate son with military power, naturally became the target of other princes coveting the throne. If she were with Long Xuanmo, her background would become a stain on his reputation.

Of course, the main reason was that, although the Emperor was a wise sovereign and had intentions of passing the crown to Long Xuanmo, he would never agree to Long Xuanmo marrying someone from a lower status with no influence, like the Yue family.

And since the Emperor was suspicious by nature, if he knew that the Yang family was involved with the military, the Imperial Court, finances, and the martial world, bearing substantial influence both within and outside the court, not to mention her connections with several influential officials' families, it was not a matter of whether he would suspect the Yang family of plotting to usurp the throne in the future but also the fear that her marriage to Long Xuanmo could lead to outside families meddling in state affairs.

For the sake of the Long family's empire, she believed the Emperor would certainly lay hidden traps, and once Long Xuanmo's rule was stable, he would annihilate the Yang family.

Then there was Long Xuanmo. He had met her when he first experienced love, and his feelings were indeed genuine. But ten years from now, twenty years from now, when her youth was no more, how long could this affection last?

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