"Stop feeling guilty for something you cannot change nor control, Feng Tianyi. The more you torment yourself, the more Miss Tang would be worried about you. All of it happened in the past. We cannot change any of it even if we want to." He heard Jia Yuntao say.

  "Still, I wasn't aware that this would be the outcome after what I did in the past. For that, I'm truly sorry, Mr. Jia. I shouldn't have let my arrogance and my hunger for power get the best of me. I understand how wrong I was." Feng Tianyi continued to feel ashamed of the things he'd done to other people.

  By now, he wanted nothing to do with his past self, the devil who tricked people with lucrative promises and forced them to do his bidding. Just like Tang Moyu who wanted to shed her empress persona, Feng Tianyi also wanted to be free of the title attached to his name.

  All he wanted to do was to become a better person for his wife and his children's sake. He truly regretted doing malicious things in the past that may pose a threat to his family now. He was willing to be a changed man if that meant he would be able to protect his family, but alas, what he did in the past would continue to haunt him.

  "Just as I said earlier, it's not on you, Mr. Feng. You only took my company, you weren't the one who ruined my life. I might have lost my business to you, but I still had enough money and properties that could support my lavish lifestyle after that. If I didn't lose myself and got an addiction to alcohol and gambling, I wouldn't be here right now. I refuse to believe that this was my fate. This only happened because of my poor choices."

  Feng Tianyi could only nod and accept the older man's explanation. Had he known that these were the outcome of his action, he wouldn't have acted recklessly before. Now, he could only watch his back, hoping his past wouldn't bite him hard in the a.s.s.

  When he met the little buns and fell in love with Tang Moyu, it had been a great wake-up call for Feng Tianyi to be in touch with his reality. He realized that he cannot just stay still and do nothing, wallowing in self-pity.

  He had to accept that the universe doesn't revolve around him and there were people who still needed him in their lives.

  He turned his head towards his wife, who was smiling over something Madam Ning had said. The two women were still in the kitchen, preparing their meals. A small smile appeared on his face, his mood slightly improved upon seeing her.

  Jia Yuntao followed his gaze and chuckled loudly, reminding Feng Tianyi that he had company.

  "You love her." The old man stated in amus.e.m.e.nt. One didn't need half a brain to know that Feng Tianyi was wrapped around the empress's finger.

  "I do." Feng Tianyi didn't bother to hide or to deny what he felt for Tang Moyu. "I think I owe it to her for being able to face my fears and accept that I still have a life to live after my accident."

  "Ah, I did hear about your accident. A nasty one wasn't it?"

  "Yes." Feng Tianyi smiled bitterly. "I was left crippled for years until I met Moyu."

  Jia Yuntao was surprised at that. Of course, he had heard about the rumors about Feng Tianyi and the empress over the past months, but he'd been curious how the two met in the first place, given how their personalities were in contrast to each other.

  "Miss Moyu met you under such circ.u.mstances?"

  Feng Tianyi nodded.

  "Moyu is a wonderful woman. I've never met a woman as patient and understanding as her."

  "I know. She's such a precious person. Although she looks cold and unfeeling, Miss Moyu has a bigger heart than any of us here. I've never heard her once complain over something trivial. She always strives for perfection and works harder than anyone else."

  "That she is. I'm glad that she's willing to change for the better though." Feng Tianyi replied. "She now accepts help from people she trusts, so I don't need to worry about her too much these days."

  Jia Yuntao chuckled and sipped his warm tea.

  "I have to admit I wasn't expecting to see you together with Miss Moyu. If anything, I thought it would be Yun Zhen who would be by her side, not you." He confessed to Feng Tianyi.

  "Moyu and Mr. Yun have nothing personal to do with each other. They are just business partners."

  Feng Tianyi wasn't sure if the old man was teasing him or trying to annoy him by mentioning Yun Zhen. Thinking about it, he hadn't heard any news of that man these past few days. Had he truly given up in pursuing his wife?

  "I see." The older man nodded in understanding. "But I'm happy to know that she's happy with you. I think Miss Moyu deserves to be loved and cherished after all the things she went through in the past. Same to you, Feng Tianyi. So don't dwell on the past and move forward. Only then the two of you could be truly happy."

  Their conversation was instantly put to a halt when the two women came back with trays in their hands. Tang Moyu placed the tray she brought with her and passed the dishes to her husband one by one.

  "What are you two talking about? You both look serious." She asked Feng Tianyi.

  "Nothing, dear. Just talking about how beautiful you are." Feng Tianyi answered her question with a grin.

  Tang Moyu scoffed at that and went to her seat, next to him.

  "Since when did you learn to sweet talk, huh? You aren't trying to hide something from me, are you?" She looked at her husband suspiciously.

  Jia Yuntao burst into laughter upon hearing their banter.

  'Ah, these two would be fine as long as they are always together.' He thought.