Chapter 160: Jia'er's Sincere Intentions

Inside the Heir's Manor in the capital, after sitting in the cold silence for half a day, Chen Pingwu felt the anger in his chest subside somewhat, yet it still tasted bitter and difficult to swallow.

From the moment the incident occurred until now, he felt as though everything had become terribly unfamiliar.

Chen Pingwu sat slumped on the steps of the front hall, tilting his head back to gaze at the sky. Beneath that vast expanse of blue, it seemed impossible to find even the slightest trace of warmth or comfort anywhere.

"Jia'er, do you think the struggle for power is truly that important?"

Not knowing how to offer comfort, Wang Jia had stood quietly beside Chen Pingwu in the front hall all this time. Having stood for so long, her legs had grown completely numb.

Hearing Chen Pingwu's sighing inquiry, she snapped back to her senses in a hurry. Yet, the topic of power was far too immense for a frail young woman like her.

Unsure of how to respond, Wang Jia stood in a daze, remaining silent.

Seeing that no one answered from the side, Chen Pingwu turned his head in confusion and looked over, only to notice Wang Jia standing in place, her delicate face revealing a hint of distress.

"Jia'er, what is wrong?"

Chen Pingwu hastily stood up, walked over to her, and asked with concern.

A look of embarrassment crossed Wang Jia's face. It was she who had wanted to come and comfort Chen Pingwu, yet now the roles were reversed and he was worrying about her instead.

"My... my legs have gone a bit numb, and I can't move."

Wang Jia lowered her head, speaking softly as she offered a trace of an embarrassed smile.

Looking at the innocent and lovely Wang Jia before him, Chen Pingwu couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head as he said, "You stubborn girl, why must you be so steadfast? Even if you didn't want to leave, you could have sat over there. Come, let me help you over."

Feeling Chen Pingwu's tender care, a shy blush bloomed across Wang Jia's previously embarrassed cheeks.

"I just wanted to keep you company. Are you feeling better now?"

Supported by Chen Pingwu, Wang Jia sat down on a nearby chair, and the numbness in her legs began to subside slightly. Seeing Chen Pingwu laugh, Wang Jia finally spoke up to ask.

Upon hearing Wang Jia's question, the heavy emotions that Chen Pingwu had just managed to lay to rest welled up within him once more. His brows slowly furrowed into a frown, and he remained silent.

Noticing Chen Pingwu's expression, Wang Jia immediately realized she had said the wrong thing. Overwhelmed by helplessness, she began to blame herself with profound self-reproach.

"Jia'er is so useless. I couldn't comfort Brother Wu, and instead, I've made you dwell on these things all over again."

Looking at the self-reproaching Wang Jia, Chen Pingwu shook his head slightly and replied in a gentle voice, "You needn't blame yourself; this matter had nothing to do with you to begin with."

Wang Jia watched as Chen Pingwu turned and sat down on the chair next to hers, sighing heavily to himself. The pity in her eyes deepened appreciably.

"Brother Wu, Jia'er does not know just how important power truly is, but Jia'er's late father met his violent end precisely because of power. Now that Jia'er has no remaining family, Brother Wu is my only reliance."

At these words, tears welled slightly in the corners of Wang Jia's eyes.

Beside her, Chen Pingwu felt his own heartstrings tugged by what she said.

Indeed, the Prince of Pingyi had been destroyed by power, and how was his own father any different now?

Before Chen Pingwu had come to the capital, he still had not forgotten the conversation between the Prince of Beichang and the Prince of Changwu.

At that time, when Chen Sinian told Chen Pingwu that he could only trust himself, was that not also driven by the lust for power?

In this world, was there truly no one left whom one could trust?

Chen Pingwu turned to look at Wang Jia, who was immersed in sorrow, and listening to her words, his heart rejected that answer.

If one truly could not trust a single soul, why would Wang Jia place her trust in him?

Power, after all, was a terrifying, heaven-devouring beast concealed deep within the human heart. If one allowed oneself to be controlled by it, it would slowly consume all emotion.

It would undoubtedly devour every person close to one who cared and deserved to be trusted.

Amidst Chen Pingwu's deep contemplation, Wang Jia suddenly turned her head, looked at him, and said with absolute sincerity, "Brother Wu, promise Jia'er that you will live well."

Though Wang Jia was merely a young girl untried in the ways of the world, from the expression Chen Pingwu wore when he first entered, coupled with his words just moments ago, she could naturally guess at least a part of the truth.

She had already lost her father. If Chen Pingwu were now to leave her because of these entanglements, she feared she would truly have no lingering attachment left to this world.

Hearing Wang Jia's plea, and looking at the tension, care, and faint trace of supplication in her eyes, Chen Pingwu felt a profound stirring in his heart, yet his conviction only grew firmer.

He could not allow his vision to be blinded by power. Perhaps everything would gradually improve; at the very least, up to now, Feng Yewu had not yet discovered any clues regarding his father.

If he could persuade his father to abandon the uprising, then they would not repeat the tragic fate of the Prince of Pingyi.

"Rest assured, Jia'er. I promised the Prince of Pingyi that I would look after you properly. You are my sister—my own younger sister."

Chen Pingwu smiled faintly, offering this solemn promise to Wang Jia.

A younger sister!

Although Wang Jia had heard the reassuring answer she was meant to hear from Chen Pingwu's lips, she had simultaneously heard the sound of her own heart shattering.

Did you truly regard me as nothing more than a sister?

The question arose in Wang Jia's mind, yet she dared not voice it. She was terrified of knowing the answer, and yet, vaguely, she had already guessed the reply she least wished to hear.

Comforted by Chen Pingwu, Wang Jia slowly lowered her head. Her dark tresses fell forward, shielding her tearful, pitiful eyes as she asked in a soft whisper, "Brother Wu, do you truly think of me as your sister?"

Hearing Wang Jia ask this, Chen Pingwu was momentarily taken aback. Assuming she still doubted him, he burst into a hearty, open laugh.

"Silly girl, the very first moment I laid eyes on you, I acknowledged you as my little sister."

Acknowledged her as his little sister from the very first glance.

Wang Jia no longer dared to speak, nor did she dare continue listening to the promises spoken in Chen Pingwu's doting, affectionate tone.

As it turned out, her feelings had been entirely unrequited all along.

"Then... does Brother Wu already someone in his heart?"

Unable to hold back any longer, Wang Jia finally posed the question. Her eyes gently closed behind the curtain of her hair as she silently begged the heavens, praying with all her might that Chen Pingwu would tell her he had no one.

"Ah, you noticed that too?"

Chen Pingwu looked at Wang Jia, who was questioning him with her head bowed, unable to read her expression. Believing that his lingering affection for Feng Yewu had been detected by her, he scratched the back of his head with a trace of bashfulness and asked with a smile, "I never imagined it was so obvious."

Upon hearing Chen Pingwu's final words, every ounce of expectation and hope in Wang Jia's heart vanished instantly into thin air, torn into irrecoverable fragments.

Seeing that Wang Jia remained silent, Chen Pingwu hastily reached out to gently shake her unmoving form, asking with puzzlement, "Jia'er? Jia'er? Are you alright?"

Roused by the shaking, Wang Jia hurriedly blinked away her tears. She raised her head, forced a strained, reluctant smile upon her face, and stood up to leave.

"Jia'er is feeling a bit unwell. I am going to rest now."