Chapter 1187: The Princess Consort Whose Memories Were Altered (62)

Yan Huo stared fixedly at Tang Guo's face. Seeing that she was genuinely smiling, with not the slightest trace of sorrow in her expression, he found himself stunned.

The loneliness, helplessness, and heaviness she had carried moments ago had vanished without a trace.

So what was going on?

Blinking, he waved a hand before her eyes and muttered softly, "Could it be that you've gone mad?"

System: ...

"Well, it makes sense. They've hurt you too deeply. Being able to endure until now was already your limit. It's alright. As long as I'm here, you'll recover."

Tang Guo no longer wanted to tease this fellow. In this world, he was still as adorable as ever. Very good. Very much to her liking.

So she smiled and said, "I'm not crazy, Young Master Yan."

"You're not..." Yan Huo froze. "You remember me?"

Resting her chin on one hand, Tang Guo smiled merrily. "Of course. Aren't you that Young Master Yan from Northern Yan who sold stones? That batch of rough stones was quite excellent. I cut out quite a few treasures from them. Young Master Yan, you're not really a merchant, are you? If all merchants did business like you, they'd be selling their homes within two months."

Yan Huo still hadn't fully recovered from his shock. After carefully observing her, he finally confirmed that she retained her own memories, and delight welled up within him.

"Weren't your memories replaced by Daoist Yang?"

"He did try to replace them, but he failed."

Yan Huo was a clever man. In an instant, he grasped the key point.

"You knew?"

She had known about Shangguan Jing's schemes. She had known about the conspiracy and had prepared herself in advance.

But then why hadn't she resisted? Why had she allowed herself to be manipulated and placed in such a passive position? Now she'd even been gifted away by Shangguan Yi.

Could it be...

Had her heart truly turned to ashes? Did she no longer wish to live?

"Young Master Yan, what strange thoughts are running through your head now?"

Yan Huo blurted out, "Life is actually wonderful. Even if they don't care about you, someone in this world does. If they won't treat you well, then someone else surely will. Miss Tang, you're truly wonderful. There's no need to give up on yourself for two people who aren't worth it. If Southern Shu has no place for you, then Northern Yan welcomes you everywhere."

"Aside from my father and mother, no one has ever treated me well. Young Master Yan, I don't see this person you're talking about—the one who would treat me better."

"What about me?"

Yan Huo was no fool.

Since she had retained her memories and had even deceived those two men, she certainly wasn't foolish either. Since she had asked him directly, if he didn't seize the chance to confess, then he would be the fool.

"I'm that person. Whether you believe it or not is another matter."

Tang Guo glanced at him and laughed softly.

"Young Master Yan is indeed a good man. But don't you think you should reintroduce yourself? I've just been abandoned and suffered heartbreak. I haven't quite recovered yet. So, if you're really trying to recommend yourself for the position..." Her lips curved slightly. "You ought to be a bit more honest."

Her words were bold, but Yan Huo saw nothing wrong with them.

He simply assumed she'd suffered too much and that her temperament had changed.

"Actually, my name isn't Yan Huo. I truly am from Northern Yan. My name is Beitang Huo, and I am the Emperor of Northern Yan."

Sneaking a glance at Tang Guo, he found her completely unsurprised, which puzzled him. Nevertheless, he continued.

"I have no consorts. Besides Miss Tang, I've never expressed affection for any woman. Before meeting you, I thought I'd spend my entire life alone."

"I came to Southern Shu because I'd heard of its abundant resources. I intended to investigate and establish imperial merchants dedicated to purchasing goods from Southern Shu."