The story of a bullied daughter's rise to power

Chapter 381: Garden Encounter

Under the moonlight, a man in white stood at the other end of the garden. The moonlight shone on him, making him look as cold and lonely as the moon itself. He wore a faint smile, but the inherent aloofness between his brows pushed him even further away from others.

"Why are you here?" Situ Yaorao looked at Tan Tai Yun Yi and asked. Tan Tai Yun Yi was helpless when he heard this. "Same reason as you. I don't want to see their faces. When the Crown Prince disappeared, everyone ran away faster than the other, but now that the Crown Prince is back, they've all returned, having long forgotten what they did. I don't want to deal with that bunch of rubbish, so I came here. When I came here, I was thinking, maybe you would come here too. Sure enough, we're so connected."

"Aren't you Tan Tai Wu Yue's right-hand man? It's impossible for you not to want to deal with those people, right?" Situ Yaorao said half-jokingly.

Tan Tai Yun Yi didn't care and just said, "There are many people helping the prince, and I am just one of them. So, there is no need for me to do anything. And... if I was willing to face those people's disgusting faces, I would have formed my own faction long ago." Tan Tai Yun Yi was not worried that Situ Yaorao would tell Tan Tai Wu Yue what he said.

Situ Yaorao had no intention of telling Tantai Wuyue what he had said. She looked at him and said, "You're really strange. You seem more tactful than anyone else."

"Maybe it's because I'm so good at disguising myself. So, how about it? The night is so beautiful, would you like to tour the palace with me?" Tan Tai Yun Yi's voice was very gentle, and Situ Yao Rao looked at him in return. Perhaps because he was too boring, or perhaps because his gentle appearance was so attractive, she nodded unconsciously. And as she walked with Tan Tai Yun Yi, through every corner of the palace, she suddenly realized that she had done something she hadn't intended to do.

The night was perfect, but Tan Tai Yun Yi's heart was filled with gloom.

Returning from Luocheng, he saw a scene even more different than before. The ugly faces of the ministers, the ridiculous nature of his followers, and... this ridiculous imperial power.

What they had been fighting for was nothing more than a joke from their father. The person chosen by their father was still out there, at large. Perhaps, in Liu Wuchen's eyes, they were nothing more than clowns. Because of this, Tan Tai Yun Yi's faith was almost shattered. He almost didn't know why he had worked so hard to befriend the court officials. Was it just to be a clown and please his father?

This is really ridiculous.

He has known how to read other people's expressions since he was young, but because of this, he understands people's hearts better than anyone else. He has a clearer understanding of everyone's changes.

And precisely because of this... he felt even more pain.

It was as if he had been deceived by the entire Lanlin. But he couldn't leave Lanlin. In Lanlin, he was Prince Yun Yi. What if he left the Lanlin Dynasty? Who would he be?

Maybe no one will know?

No one would recognize him, no one would remember him. He would grow old alone, and no one would even know the day he died. He actually envied Xue Ming. Xue Ming was a surly man, yet he was remembered by many. Such a distinct personality, such an eccentric temper, and such incredible medical skills. Anyone who met him would never forget him.

He lived in the Snow Mountain, and the people there would never forget Xue Ming for generations. His reluctance to acknowledge what Xue Ming wanted him to acknowledge was probably due to jealousy, wasn't it?

Watching those conversing with the Crown Prince within the palace, Tan Tai Yun Yi's self-loathing reached a new level. For the first time, he even felt the urge to escape. It was for this very reason that he chose to flee the palace. However, in the garden, he encountered Situ Yaorao. If one were to say, in this Lanlin Dynasty, filled with deception, the only thing that felt real to him was perhaps the woman before him.

That's why I want to be with her. At least at this moment, everything is real.

"Do you remember? We met here." When they arrived at a quiet courtyard, Tan Tai Yun Yi stood outside, not going in, but just spoke.

"Ah, I remember, I was framed at that time, and I was really in danger of death here." Situ Yaorao said.

Upon hearing this, Tantai Yunyi couldn't help but smile. "But it was only after that that I truly got to know you. The Crown Prince's vision has always been better than mine. Sometimes I wonder, if I had known you earlier than he did, would anything have changed? Would I be the one accompanying you now?"

"There are no ifs in this world, so don't overthink it. You are Tan Tai Yun Yi, and only Tan Tai Yun Yi." Situ Yaorao looked at him seriously. Somehow, she felt that there seemed to be something strange about Tan Tai Yun Yi today.

"I just want to be myself. But... gradually, I don't recognize myself anymore. Hey, can you promise me one thing?" Tan Tai Yun Yi looked at Situ Yao Rao and pleaded.

"Tell me, if you don't want to borrow money, I would agree to it." Situ Yaorao said half-jokingly.

"Don't forget who I am now. I'm afraid I won't even recognize myself in the future. The most terrifying thing about this change of imperial power isn't who wins or loses, but how it changes people's hearts. The person I am now might be completely discarded in the future. Otherwise, I won't be able to survive." Tan Tai Yun Yi's voice was filled with pain. Situ Yao Rao looked at him, unsure of what to say. She simply said, "Okay, I won't forget you right now."

"That's good." Tan Tai Yun Yi breathed a sigh of relief. He leaned against the wall. Situ Yao Rao imitated him and leaned there. "It's rare to see you so melancholy. What happened today? Were you forced into marriage?" Situ Yao Rao asked with a smile. Tan Tai Yun Yi couldn't help but smile when he heard this. "If I was forced into marriage, I might be happy. But I just found out that I'm not that important. And what I thought I could do, in the end, was just a joke."

"You sound serious, but isn't it true that people should do what they like while they are alive? You don't even want to fight for the throne. If you still can't do whatever you want, wouldn't that be a big loss?" Situ Yaorao asked back.

Upon hearing this, Tan Tai Yun Yi asked himself, yes, I have already given up what others think I want most, if I still can't do what I want, isn't that too much of a loss?

"As long as you remember who you are, nothing else matters. You were born noble, possessing wealth that countless people in this world desire but cannot obtain, and power that everyone envies. Your parents also gave you a beautiful appearance. So, from the very beginning, you had it all. People are always like this. After having everything, they feel that they actually have nothing. But they don't realize how much others envy you. Amidst the envious gazes of others, you still refuse to live a good life. What are you thinking?"

Situ Yaorao continued to ask.

As Tantai Yunyi listened, his smile deepened...