Who else could you love besides me

Chapter 97

"Xi'en," Minglu said in a deep voice, forcefully breaking free from Xi'en's hand that was clutching his sleeve. He glanced at the stunned Nalan and Fu Jin below the stage and said, "You both understand my feelings for Fifth Sister. As long as it's something I can do for her, I will do it, even if..."

Minglu turned to Xiri, and said to himself softly, almost as if it were nothing, "Even if... she never loved me at all." A pang of pain shot through his heart, but he resolutely walked out of the execution platform.

Xi Ri opened her eyes upon hearing the sound and saw her third brother walking towards her step by step. Her heart trembled, and she swayed uncontrollably. She wanted to shout, she wanted to stop her third brother, but she couldn't. She could only watch helplessly as her third brother did it for her again... A sharp pain shot through her heart, as if something was about to burst through her chest.

Hundreds of people in the audience all focused their attention on Minglu. Unconsciously, they all held their breath in disbelief.

At this moment, a strong wind suddenly arose on the execution platform, causing everyone's clothes to flutter wildly, mixed with the sand and dust that filled the sky, making it almost impossible for people to open their eyes.

She looked pleadingly at Minglu, begging him not to do that. She was not worthy, she never was... But her acupoints were sealed, so her pleas could not be uttered and no one could hear them. She could only watch helplessly as her third brother walked step by step to the execution platform, his clothes fluttering but his body standing tall and upright.

Minglu said to the insane Ah San, "I know you don't want to die, and I know you're a man who isn't afraid of death. I don't care if you kneel before me, and I'll give you whatever you want! Power, status, even my life!" Minglu paused, then continued, "Everything I did was my own doing; it has nothing to do with anyone else. If you're still a man of integrity, if you're still a true hero, then don't harm the innocent. Release my fiancée; don't hurt her in the slightest!"

Ah San's eyes grew even more crazed as he roared, "Bullshit! It's all bullshit! Kneel down! I want to see you kneel down with my own eyes! Otherwise, I'll kill her right now to avenge the Second Boss and the brothers!"

The dagger trembled in his hand, penetrating even deeper. Xi Ri felt no pain, but instead revealed a kind of desire.

Minglu felt a pang of pain in his heart, closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he seemed to have made up his mind about something. He lifted his clothes and knelt down straight down!

Just as Ah San was trembling and laughing wildly, instinctively pointing his dagger at Ming Lu, who was kneeling before him, three arrows simultaneously pierced his back. His eyes widened suddenly, and he only managed a half-hearted laugh before it turned into a strange gurgling sound. Blood instantly filled his eyes, and he looked back in disbelief. When he saw three archers lying prone on the wall behind him, he collapsed violently.

The sound of her kneeling wasn't loud or heavy, but at that moment, a surge of heat rushed to her throat, and she seemed unable to control herself any longer. Blood spilled from the corner of her mouth as the pressure points that had been restrained were forcibly broken open.

She lost her footing and fell to the ground. She saw Minglu running towards her, and she also saw another person running towards her.

She felt a surge of blood rising up again, and couldn't help but vomit a mouthful of blood. Suddenly, she was pulled into a tight embrace by someone.

She knew who was hugging her, and she knew that there was someone else standing beside her at that moment, but she still hesitated and reached out to hug him back...

Minglu trembled slightly... At this moment, he truly wished time could stop, and that it could last forever...

"Third brother, why...why did you...do this to me? It's not worth it, not worth it..." She was so badly injured that she could barely speak.

He held her tightly, almost crushing her, yet even with such a tight embrace, he trembled slightly with fear, as if letting go would mean losing her. He murmured, "Why?... You've always known why. You're so smart, how could you not know? You just didn't want to face it... You like him... I know... You're lying to me, I know that too... But I don't care, I don't care..."

At that moment, her heart broke...

Just now, she looked to the side, and the person beside her was no longer there. Gone…he’s gone…

The execution of Zhang Guiyi was left to Xi'en, while Minglu, carrying Xiri, left first. Protected by guards, the onlookers made way for them, and nearly a thousand people in the execution ground stared in the same direction... Prince Minglu left carrying his injured fiancée.

In the crowd, Fu Jin, forgotten by everyone as he was still bound, stared blankly as Ming Lu carried Xi Ri away. The moment Ming Lu knelt, he had lost all strength, forgotten to struggle, forgotten to curse, and forgotten the maddening fear within him. He just stared, watching Ming Lu, carrying Xi Ri, gradually disappear from his sight. His heart felt as if something was blocking it, even his breathing became heavy. Something that had always been weighing on his heart was now quietly sinking, until it was buried deep within. He wouldn't think about what it was, nor would he touch it again… He had decided to give up, even though it was still there in his heart, even though it still caused him pain…

Sog also remained among the crowd.

He knew Long Ming and Tian Xiri had a connection, but he didn't know exactly what had happened between them. He knew his cousin Long Ming had extraordinary feelings for Tian Xiri. The moment Tian Xiri was kidnapped, he noticed Long Ming was almost insane. He had never seen the usually aloof and proud Long Ming so agitated. He suddenly understood Long Ming's anxiety for Tian Xiri and hurriedly stopped him. He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately couldn't let Long Ming run ahead. He was young, impulsive, and reckless; a slight misstep could harm not only Tian Xiri but also himself. Moreover, the truth was right there; Long Ming, an outsider, not only had no right to rescue Tian Xiri, but his position was also awkward. That's why he held onto Long Ming tightly, refusing to let go no matter how much he struggled. But when Minglu knelt down, he was stunned and forgot to grab Longming, letting him run onto the stage... When Tian Xiri couldn't help but hug Minglu, he noticed Longming's sadness and the surprise and suspicion in the eyes of others. He regretted not holding on to him.

Quietly watching Minglu walk away without relying on others, holding Tian Xiri with immense tenderness, he suddenly recalled that brightly lit night, the fragrance of clothes and hair swaying in the breeze...

Thinking back to him, he had been fighting on the battlefield since he was fifteen years old, and had made countless military achievements.

For many years, he had led 800 cavalrymen in a night raid on the enemy's supply lines, earning the greatest merit. This ultimately restrained the enemy's 100,000-strong army, preventing them from making any rash moves. He had also captured an enemy prince alive and used him as leverage to acquire two cities without losing a single soldier. He had also led his troops north, defeating an enemy army of 300,000, striking fear into the hearts of the enemy, who surrendered and submitted to his rule…

He fought on the battlefield, commanding thousands of troops and killing countless enemies, yet he was never defeated.

He believed that a man's life should be one where he can lie drunk on the battlefield, laughing at the enemy's fear, and drink the enemy's blood while singing loudly; that is the true nature of a man who stands tall and upright.

But he never expected, nor could he have imagined, that what he had just seen was real...

Minglu, he had often heard from the old ministers in the court that among the new generation of brothers, Minglu and he were the most outstanding. Minglu and he were one civil and one military, but both were capable of both and could be pillars of the country.

Some say Ming Lu is cold-blooded and ruthless, with decisive and clean methods; others say he is smooth-talking and shrewd, avoiding offending anyone. But one thing is certain: Ming Lu is loyal and righteous. Many people are unwilling to offend him, and even consider it an honor to be his friend. Therefore, he has many friends, the most common being Xi En, Nalan, and Fu Jin. Because the four of them are often together, they are jokingly called the Four Young Masters of the Capital. In his impression, Ming Lu is a reserved and profound person. Even when he and Fu Jin had a conflict over the bamboo forest, Ming Lu never directly antagonized him. But today, when he witnessed Ming Lu kneeling before a thief in front of so many people at the execution ground, he no longer understood Ming Lu. Strangely, he didn't feel humiliated; instead, he was deeply shocked by Ming Lu's actions.

I remember two years ago, the border wars had been quelled, all the worlds had submitted to the emperor, and my father had passed away for half a year. He was summoned back to the capital to inherit the title of Prince. The emperor, out of consideration for his recent loss of his father and his lack of marriage and offspring due to years of fighting abroad, kept him in the capital, bestowed upon him the title of Prince, and intended to arrange a marriage for him.

At that time, he was only twenty years old, but he had already made great military achievements and was respected by many. He was always surrounded by beautiful women, so it was inevitable that he was full of pride and high spirits.

That night, the emperor held a banquet for him. When he entered the palace that night, he encountered many officials who came to attend the banquet. The officials greeted him with smiles from afar and said many nice things to him. He smiled and was polite in every way, which earned him a lot of good reputation.

Prince Minglu also took the initiative to chat with him. Just as he was exchanging pleasantries with Minglu, his attendant appeared in front of him in a disheveled state, carrying many letters. He did not expect that the women in the palace would be so bold, and he was indeed quite surprised at the time.

He still clearly remembered that Prince Minglu casually picked up a letter from among them, and coincidentally, it was a letter written to him by Tian Xiri.

Minglu's jealous look at that time is still fresh in his memory.

Tian Xiri, daughter of the Emperor's brother-in-law, the Empress Dowager's most beloved niece, and the most beautiful woman in the capital—even he, who had only returned to the capital a few days earlier, knew this. Receiving a letter from her made someone like Ming Lu jealous, and a strange sense of pride welled up inside him.

He opened it casually.

Perhaps he was too proud, perhaps it was Minglu's jealous gaze that made him act deliberately, perhaps he was destined to lose this marriage. He just happened to look at that one letter, and only that one.

That night, he sensed the Emperor's probing tone and saw the satisfaction and expectation in the eyes of the Imperial Uncle, Lord Tian. However, he still refused the marriage. Although he had only said it jokingly, he had already offended the Imperial Uncle and was enough to refuse the marriage that had not yet taken shape.

For some reason, he wasn't happy that night. He drank a lot, feeling stifled and annoyed by the occasion, and finally found some free time to breathe. He unintentionally walked to a pond. It was summer, and the pond was cool and breezy at night. He had come seeking this tranquility and coolness, only to unexpectedly find someone already there. Judging from her back, it was a woman, seemingly burdened with worries. He didn't know who she was, nor did he care to know.

But just over two years later, at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, he returned to the pond in search of his sister and saw that figure again. This time, he knew that the woman was Tian Xiri…

He never regretted it, nor did he ever look back to pick up something he had already discarded.

But at this moment, he couldn't help but think of many things...

He recalled her desolate figure after rejecting the marriage proposal two years ago, the carefree woman reclining on the rooftop of Suzhou, her triumphant stomp on Long Ming, the perfect match they both abandoned, her composure after saving her sister Ningxiang, her proud provocation as she flicked her 'Jiaowei', the mask that made him both laugh and cry, the fragrant spring breeze that almost cost him his life, and her making faces at him… Some things are like addictive poisons; once you've tried them, you can't stop after just a taste.

Looking at Minglu, whom I cherished so dearly, I felt a strange, piercing pain.

He suddenly wanted to know. When did Minglu start to love Tian Xiri so much?

Li Yu once asked him, "Prince Xi, did something smash your head two years ago?"