Nan Zhiyun did not expect Yu Jingchen to say such a thing. Bolstered by some unknown courage, she suddenly asked, "Then what would Your Majesty do if he encountered such a person? Would you detest them if they were born of noble birth?"
"That is their freedom; I would naturally not interfere," Yu Jingchen replied.
"But many people would find it disgusting and would look at them with prejudice," Nan Zhiyun said, gazing at Yu Jingchen.
"Nan Zhiyun, sometimes, what you believe to be true is not necessarily so. Do not let certain things cloud your judgment," Yu Jingchen said.
Nan Zhiyun did not understand.
"In the story you just told, it is said that everyone knew Xuan Yue was fond of men, yet he remained the foremost qin master in the land. But after the noble young master Xing Yan, whom you spoke of, was with him, he fell from grace. Do you think it was merely because people disliked such matters?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
"Was it not?" Nan Zhiyun did not understand.
"When one stands high, there will always be those who dislike them. They are envious, yet the other's near-flawless appearance leaves them helpless. Once they find what they deem a flaw, they will cling to it relentlessly, stopping at nothing to destroy that person," Yu Jingchen said.
"But Xuan Yue was also like that, yet he remained the foremost qin master," Nan Zhiyun countered.
"What kind of person is a qin master? What is their status? They are merely entertainers, courtesans for hire. Having originated from dust, what attention would their trampling by others provoke? But when a star falls, perhaps even the Imperial Observatory would proclaim it a celestial disaster. Do not feel it is unfair; this world was never fair to begin with."
"People are divided into ranks, and the human heart has never truly possessed absolute purity or goodness," Yu Jingchen said, his gaze growing distant as he recalled something.
Seeing Yu Jingchen like this, Nan Zhiyun felt an inexplicable discomfort. This Yu Jingchen seemed more real, yet this reality also frightened her.
"Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun was afraid again.
Yu Jingchen recovered, the frost vanishing from his brows, his voice regaining its warmth. "What is it? Are you afraid?" he asked.
Nan Zhiyun nodded, but no longer dared to look at Yu Jingchen as she had before.
"Nan Zhiyun, in this world, only when power is in your own hands do you have the right to speak of unfairness. Stories are sometimes not just stories; they can be a microcosm of a certain place. If you wish to change the ending of this story, then you must be the one to set the rules for that place." Yu Jingchen's arm remained around Nan Zhiyun.
Nan Zhiyun remained silent. Yu Jingchen took the book from her hand. "The world within this book is perhaps insignificant compared to reality. Rather than grieving for the people in the book day after day, it would be better to think about how to prevent such things from happening before your eyes. Among so many people in the world, protecting those you care about is no easy feat."
"Then can Your Majesty achieve it?" Nan Zhiyun suddenly asked.
"I cannot," Yu Jingchen replied.
"Why?" Nan Zhiyun asked, having expected Yu Jingchen to say yes, after all, he was the ruler of this land.
"Because many things are beyond control, and no one can guarantee that everything can be held in their own hands," Yu Jingchen said, showing unusual patience today.