How could my childhood sweetheart be the current empress?

Only when you are thinking of someone in your heart, the food you make will be delicious. Xu Chengling was thinking of Ling'er in his heart. The cake he made tasted sweet, but he felt sour in his heart.

Yan Jixue knew that even if Xu Chengling loved her in his heart, that was based on the premise that he loved Ling'er. The person he truly loved in his heart had always been Ling'er.

She really envied Ling'er, envied her for having a man who loved her so much.

And she was just enjoying the love that should have belonged to Ling'er. The more he loved her, the sadder she felt, because this love did not belong to her.

However, Yan Jixue did not dare to break up the current relationship. She became more and more afraid that once the truth was revealed, their relationship would never be the same again.

When Yan Jixue realized her feelings, she had already fallen deeper and deeper, unable to extricate herself. She loved the man in front of her and was no longer willing to leave him.

But how should their relationship be resolved in the future?

Thinking of this, Yan Jixue couldn't help but feel her heart sinking. She wanted Xu Chengling to fall in love with the real her, but she was afraid of losing him from then on... She didn't know what to do.

"Madam, what are you thinking about?"

Seeing that his wife seemed to be worried about something, Xu Chengling couldn't help but ask.

"Ah, nothing's wrong."

Yan Jixue was slightly startled, then shook her head, turned around and went back into the house.

Looking at his wife's departing back, Xu Chengling couldn't help but reveal a puzzled look. What happened to her? Why was she a little unhappy on her birthday today?

Could it be that his birthday cake was not ready?

Thinking of this, Xu Chengling couldn't help but feel a little guilty. It was all his fault. He made his wife unhappy again.

But how could he understand Yan Jixue's feelings at this moment? It all started from a misunderstanding of getting into the wrong bridal sedan, which changed the different destinies of two people.

Back in the house, Yan Jixue sat at the desk, feeling a little heavy.

If it weren't for the misunderstanding of getting on the wrong sedan chair, perhaps she wouldn't have met Xu Chengling, she would still be the almighty empress, she wouldn't have fallen in love with him, and she wouldn't be... so miserable.

Sometimes she would wonder, if she had not gotten into the wrong bridal sedan, if she had not married Xu Chengling, and if she had not been with this man, would her fate have been different?

The answer is yes. If she had not met Xu Chengling, she would still be the empress of Dayan. She would still work day and night for memorials, just wanting to protect the country left by her father.

But is this really what she wants?

Compared to her previous life, her current life made her feel more comfortable. She no longer had to engage in intrigue with people around her, nor did she have to worry day and night about memorials. Most importantly, there was someone she could trust and who treated her well with all his heart.

But the reality is that there is no if, everything has already happened, she is now the empress of Dayan and the wife of Xu Chengling, these are indisputable facts.

But what Yan Jixue really wanted was not to gain that man's love in her identity as Ling'er, but to be with him in her identity as Yan Jixue, and to be with him in her true identity.

But she couldn't do anything...

When Yan Jixue was feeling extremely painful and helpless, a figure slowly appeared behind her.

"Madam, what's wrong with you?"

The sound of summer cicadas rang softly in Yan Jixue's ears.

"Xia Chan, can you listen to me for a few words?"

At this moment, Yan Jixue just wanted to find someone to talk to, and Xia Chan was the best candidate.

"Ma'am, please tell me. I won't spread it around."

Xia Chan nodded. She could see that His Majesty was troubled by his own thoughts.

If she guessed correctly, His Majesty's concerns should be related to the master.

The old master has done so much harm to others that even the once cold and indifferent Majesty has fallen into his trap.

Yan Jixue confided her worries to Xia Chan, and finally, she asked Xia Chan:

"Xia Chan, what do you think I should do?"

"Ma'am, some things are not as complicated as you think."

Xia Chan smiled slightly. His Majesty might not be able to see through some things, but she, as an outsider, could see through them very well.

"Madam, I once told you that no matter who you are now, you are you. The only person the master has loved is you. Moreover, the master is a very gentle and kind person."

Xia Chan smiled faintly, and said to Yan Jixue:

"In my opinion, I think the truly pitiful person has always been His Majesty Ling'er. After all, Madam is able to receive the love that the master has given to you, while His Majesty Ling'er can only accept it all silently and cannot meet his beloved with his true identity. His Majesty Ling'er is the one who has sacrificed the most for this relationship."

Chapter 269: Emotional Accomplice

"But I can't stand it anymore."

Yan Jixue sighed and said with a painful expression.

She gradually noticed that as her feelings for him grew, she wanted more and more to face him as her true self.

She hoped that he would fall in love with her as Yan Jixue instead of Ling'er.

It is precisely because of this that she continues to suffer so much.

Xia Chan, an outsider, saw Yan Jixue's feelings, and she also knew that His Majesty had sacrificed a lot to maintain this relationship.

But no one cares about the master's feelings. In fact, the master is the one who has been deceived the most.

"Madam, please forgive me for being blunt, but have you ever considered the master's feelings?"

Xia Chan sighed softly and continued:

"All along, the master has treated the lady as Her Majesty Ling'er and has invested a lot of affection in her. The master undoubtedly likes the lady, but he has been kept in the dark and deceived. I think the master also has the right to know about this matter."

Xia Chan's words made Yan Jixue fall into deep thought.

Yes, she was right. Xu Chengling always thought that the person he liked was Ling'er, but she was not Ling'er. She had been deceiving Xu Chengling about his feelings for Ling'er.

Yan Jixue couldn't help but look out the window, her expression somewhat depressed. She didn't turn around, but kept looking out the window and asked Xia Chan:

"Xia Chan, what do you think I should do? Should I continue to tell this lie or reveal the truth to him?"

Yan Jixue actually knew in her heart that truth would come out sooner or later, and her and Ling'er's lies would be exposed sooner or later, unless they never changed back and lived on with their own identities.

But that would be too pitiful for someone who truly loves Ling'er.

Xia Chan pondered over Yan Jixue's question for a long time, because she was not the person involved, but just a bystander, or an accomplice.

She thought for a long time, then slowly opened her mouth and said to the melancholy-looking woman in front of her:

"This matter was caused by Madam and His Majesty Ling'er. If you want to resolve this matter, you must understand His Majesty Ling'er's intentions. After all, both of you are "accomplices". Please discuss it with His Majesty Ling'er and then go together to face the master."

According to Xia Chan's idea, both Majesties were wrong in this matter and they were accomplices. This matter was caused by the two Majesties and should be ended by the two Majesties.

She has always been by the side of Her Majesty Ji Xue, so she can understand Her Majesty Ji Xue's intentions, but she has no idea what Her Majesty Ling'er's intentions are.

If Her Majesty Ling'er does not want to continue this lie, then she might as well confess everything to the Master, clear up the misunderstanding, and at the same time resolve their concerns.

"Xia Chan, do you think he will forgive me if he knows the truth?"

Yan Jixue turned around and asked with a somewhat uneasy look.

She has deceived Xu Chengling for so long. If he knew the truth, he would definitely be very angry. After all, the person he has always liked is another woman.

And once the truth is revealed, where should she go?

Should she continue to stay in the Xiangguo Mansion, or return to the Imperial Palace to be her empress? These are all unknown constants.

Because these are all unknown, she feels scared and she doesn't even have the courage to tell the truth.

Xia Chan walked behind Yan Jixue, gently placed his hand on her shoulder, and then asked her a question:

"Madam, do you think the master likes you?"

This question does not seem to need an answer.

Not to mention bystanders like Xia Chan, even Yan Jixue, who was in the middle of it, could clearly feel his affection for her, which was definitely not fake.

She had been married to the Xiangguo Mansion for a year, and he had not taken a concubine for a year;

After she came to the Xiangguo Mansion, he handed over all the affairs of the Xiangguo Mansion to her;

She proposed nine house rules, which he readily accepted.

If she doesn't come back one day, he will find her at all costs.

He had only one reason, because she was his wife.

Aren’t these the best reflections of how much he loves himself?

"So that's how it is... So this is what I meant."

Yan Jixue woke up as if from a dream.

Yes, she finally figured it out. She was actually reluctant to give up his kindness to her, reluctant to lose his love, and reluctant to return the feelings that originally belonged to Ling'er!

It turned out that all along, she had just been taking this feeling that did not belong to her as her own.

But how could she be worthy of Xu Chengling's love?

Yan Jixue couldn't help but reveal a trace of pain and confusion, and murmured:

"I,...I'm sorry Ling'er."

Seeing the once high-spirited Majesty so entangled and in pain, Xia Chan couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking that the master had really done a lot of harm to people.

Xia Chan walked up to Yan Jixue and said to her:

"Madam, this is not your fault. This result was chosen jointly by you and Her Majesty Ling'er. Even Her Majesty Ling'er must have accepted this result after careful consideration. Even if there is a mistake, it is the fault of both of you, not just one person."

Xia Chan didn't want His Majesty to take all the responsibility on herself. After all, they were "accomplices" in this matter. No one was right or wrong, and if anyone was wrong, they were all wrong.

After a long time, Yan Jixue slowly said:

"Thank you, Xia Chan, I have figured it out."

With Xia Chan's comfort, Yan Jixue's emotions gradually calmed down and her eyes gradually became firm.

She figured it out: this matter was caused by her and Ling'er, and it should be ended by her and Ling'er together.

But before that, she still had an important thing to complete, and after that was completed, she would end this lie.

Xu Chengling's birthday is coming soon. She had promised herself that she would make delicious noodles next time.

Now that Xu Chengling has fulfilled his promise, she must also fulfill her own promise.

At least, she wanted the other person to eat the longevity noodles she made herself one more time, so that she could leave without any regrets.

Xia Chan, who was standing by, couldn't help but feel happy when she saw His Majesty cheer up and regain his former confidence.

Sure enough, the confident Majesty is the most charming, and this is the Majesty she wants to follow forever.

"Xia Chan, I need to trouble you for something."

Yan Jixue suddenly spoke.

……

Late at night, the palace.

In the imperial study, there were two small mountains of memorials piled on a table, one of which had been read and the other had not been read.

Yan Qiaoling had dark circles under her eyes and looked tired. Her hands mechanically turned to the next memorial and took a closer look at its contents.

During this period, she could more or less understand her sister's situation. She worked day and night for internal affairs. When she was tired, she would sleep directly in the imperial study. When she woke up, she would continue to review and approve memorials.

As several important reforms were introduced, Dayan's treasury gradually became full and the country's strength grew.

But what followed was a large number of related memorials, which had to be reviewed and approved personally by Yan Qiaoling in order to find out what changes the reforms would bring, as well as how to formulate relevant policies and decrees to implement the reforms.

She didn't want to disappoint Xu Chengling's expectations of her, so she had to work harder.

"Your Majesty, thank you for your hard work. I have something for you."

Xue Yuan's figure appeared behind Yan Qiaoling, holding something in her hand.

She placed the half-eaten cake on the table, smiled slightly, and said to His Majesty:

"Happy birthday, Your Majesty."

Chapter 270 Assassinating the Empress