338

Yan Wenli sighed softly and said, "It's hard for even a fair official to settle domestic disputes. As the king of a nation, you still have to agonize over such matters."

"Isn't that the truth?" Zhong Daolong poured himself a cup of wine, gently swirling it in his hand. "As a father, I must constantly strive to consider my children's thoughts, account for their feelings, and maintain their dignity. But who cares about my feelings?"

"The one who suffers the most from this is me—does anyone care about my thoughts and feelings, or think about... think about taking some of my worries instead of tearing at each other?"

"It's not that serious, it's just the children squabbling amongst themselves. Children in ordinary families argue, let alone those of the royal family." Yan Wenli spoke up in consolation.

Zhong Daolong looked at Yan Wenli and said, "You have it easy, not having to worry about all these messy affairs."