Amor bajo las estrellas lejanas

Capítulo 72

Minglu slowly opened his eyes and glanced at her.

She was secretly startled. Minglu looked at her as if she were a stranger. Minglu had never been so cold to her before. What had happened today? Xi Ri suppressed her doubts and smiled, "Your Highness wants to hear me play the zither, but surely you wouldn't stop eating and drinking? Is my zither playing really so captivating that it can make Your Highness forget to eat and sleep?"

She was actually laughing?! An unmarried young lady, a woman already engaged, openly living with a man she had no relation to—how could she laugh at such a scandalous act? And what about him?!

He slowly narrowed his eyes, concealing his almost uncontrollable anger, yet said with utmost calmness, "From now on, you shall call me Minglu directly."

"I wouldn't dare, given my status as a subordinate..."

"Is it that you dare not, or that you are unwilling?" He interrupted her, his voice revealing an unyielding sternness.

Xi Ri was secretly startled. Ming Lu was indeed different from usual today, with a hint of sharpness and even some anger. She sensed it keenly; he seemed to be targeting her today.

However, perhaps she was overthinking it? She calmed herself, thinking to herself: No matter what, he's a patient, and hasn't eaten or drunk anything all day. She's here to comfort him. With that thought, Xi Ri smiled and said, "Alright, Ming Lu, from now on, I'll call you Ming Lu. Just like Fu Jin and the others, I'll call you Ming Lu. I'm really honored, and you're really unworthy. When you recover, you can't make excuses that this was just your delirious ramblings during your illness and doesn't count. In short, you can't go back on your word!"

Hearing this, Minglu felt a pang of tenderness in his heart. Even though he knew she was saying it on purpose, trying to please him, he still couldn't suppress the turmoil within him. What should he do with her? What was he supposed to do with her? Could just a word from her influence him so much? Was he truly beyond redemption?

Seeing that Minglu's expression had softened, Xiri walked to the zither table, plucked the strings a few times, and said with a smile, "Minglu, what brings you to listen to me play the zither today?"

Minglu didn't answer immediately. He looked at Tian Xiri, seemingly lost in thought. After a long while, he sighed and said gently, "Brother Yu, to be honest, I've never been bedridden for so many days before. I can't move, I can't go anywhere, and I can only stare at the ceiling every day, like a useless person. I'm so incredibly bored. Alas, today I suddenly remembered your music. If I could hear your music every day, how wonderful that would be..." His voice revealed a hint of loneliness and melancholy, and there seemed to be a trace of longing.

Upon hearing this, Xi Ri smiled, but a sense of guilt towards Ming Lu arose in her heart once again.

He was injured because of her. Even if she were to give her life right now, she wouldn't complain, let alone just want to hear him play the piano. After all, she owed him.

She remembered that night, when he teetered on the brink of death, and she was filled with anxiety, guilt, and self-reproach. At that moment, she wished it was her who had died, not his. She didn't want to owe Minglu anything, especially since she had deceived him first, and he had risked his life for her afterward.

Even knowing that his death would mean no marriage, even knowing that it would achieve her goals, she still refused!

If it required her life to achieve her goal of breaking off the engagement, she was willing to use her own. Minglu had never owed her anything; on the contrary, she now owed him far too much…

A decree of marriage, which bound two unrelated people together by fate, was not his fault. On the contrary, she knew it. He didn't want it either (as seen in the somber mood when Nalan and Fu Jin mentioned the decree of marriage in Xuezhu Pavilion), he didn't like her (as seen in Minglu's feigned politeness towards her when meeting the Empress Dowager), and he was only forced to marry her out of necessity.

So, on the night Minglu was on the verge of death, she made up her mind that if Minglu came back to life, she would treat him with sincerity and never deceive him again. Even if it meant breaking off the engagement, she would do it openly and honestly.

However, the imperial physician said that Minglu should not be agitated at this time, so she decided to postpone it for the time being. She would tell Minglu the whole truth once his injuries had fully healed!

Even if the consequences are unimaginable, even if he hates her, even if he seeks revenge, even if the attempt to break off the engagement fails, she will never deceive him again. She will bear all the consequences herself, even if the price is too high, she will have no regrets. She knows she was foolish, stupid, and impulsive; she simply doesn't want to make another grave mistake and live with guilt…

Seeing him, who was used to being in charge and free to do as he pleased, lying in bed for many days unable to move and having to endure physical pain, it's normal for him to feel irritable and depressed.

If he just enjoys listening to her play the piano, what's wrong with that? She immediately laughed and said, "Playing a few pieces for you every day is no problem. After all, your injury was caused by saving my brother. Even if you asked me to go through fire and water, I would do it without hesitation."

Minglu smiled. He never thought of putting her through extreme hardship; he only wanted to keep her by his side for life.

Since she had said so, he decided to go with the flow and said, "Then why don't you move into my residence for the time being, Brother Yu? Besides being able to play the zither for me every day, you can also spend some time with me. What do you think?"

"This..." Tian Xiri thought to herself, "I'm afraid that won't work." Her own identity was too special, and living in Minglu's residence would inevitably be inconvenient, especially with Long Ming still around. How... how could she refuse?

“I can have someone prepare a separate courtyard for Yu Di. Yu Di can bring his entourage and move in together. I will make sure that Yu Di will not feel any inconvenience.”

*********************

She remained silent all day. Emotionally, she should agree to Minglu's request, but logically, she should refuse. But seeing Minglu's expectant eyes now, she couldn't speak, nor could she find a reason to refuse. In the end, she could only nod in agreement.

Seeing that she agreed, Minglu's expression softened even more, and he smiled and said, "Brother Yu, why don't you move in tonight? I'll have someone prepare a place for you right away. I wonder if you still remember that little building by the camellia grove? How about staying there?"

"tonight……"

Before Xi Ri could finish speaking, Ming Lu interrupted him: "I will have someone fetch your things, Brother Yu. Your attendants will be brought into the manor soon, so you don't need to worry about it. Brother Yu, you haven't eaten yet tonight, have you? I haven't been in the mood to eat all day, but I suddenly feel a bit hungry. Please ask the servants to bring in your meal."

Minglu seemed to have thought everything through for her. Xi Ri felt increasingly that Minglu was targeting her today, and she gradually became hesitant. But then she thought again that he hadn't eaten all day, and after all, a patient couldn't go hungry. So she said, "I'll have someone prepare it right away."

The meal had already been prepared. Xi Ri had given the order before leaving, and the butler, who had been anxiously waiting outside, immediately beamed with joy and hurriedly ordered it to be brought up.

Xi Ri was ultimately forced to stay by Ming Lu, without even a chance to go back and explain. Xi Ri felt somewhat uneasy, especially thinking of the troublesome Long Ming, and had a bad feeling. But now that she had agreed to stay, there was no room for regret.

After the meal, Fu Jin and Nalan arrived.

The four chatted in the room for a while. Minglu mentioned that Yudi would be moving into the manor. Nalan nodded in agreement and said, "It's good for Yudi to move into the Prince's manor. Asan and the others have not yet been apprehended. It's dangerous for Yudi to be out alone. Xi'en and I originally discussed sending some people to protect Yudi, but we were afraid that Yudi would find it inconvenient. Minglu's idea is more comprehensive. With Yudi moving into the Prince's manor, his safety will be guaranteed."

Xi Ri hadn't expected Nalan's words. She looked at Ming Lu, who smiled and said, "Nalan, it's not just for that reason. The main reason is that I'm too idle every day, and I want Yu Di to come and keep me company."

Xi Ri pondered: Could it be that Ming Lu's decision to let her stay at the Prince's mansion wasn't because he was bored or restless, but rather out of concern for her safety? No wonder he'd tried so hard to keep her here all day. Was he afraid she'd feel awkward accepting his favor again? Or was he afraid she'd refuse? Perhaps that's why he insisted on her staying? After all, if she stayed at the Prince's mansion because she was needed, rather than because she was being protected, she'd feel more comfortable. Had Ming Lu even considered this? Thinking this, Xi Ri felt a pang of sadness. Regardless, he was now seriously injured and bedridden, yet he still worried about her safety. He truly treated her as a friend. She felt increasingly indebted to Ming Lu…

Upon hearing this, Fu Jin thought to himself, "Yu-di is going to move in here? I really want to move in too! What should I do? What should I do?" Just then, he suddenly saw the "Green Zither" placed to the side, his eyes lit up, and he immediately shouted, "Minglu, you have ulterior motives! You say you want to protect Yu-di, but actually you want to listen to Yu-di play the zither every day, don't you? You want to enjoy it all to yourself? No way! I want to listen too, I want to move in too, so I can listen to the zither every day, and with me here, it will be more lively!" He finally found a reasonable excuse, and he was quite pleased with himself.

Nalan smiled after hearing this.

Upon hearing this, Minglu shook his head helplessly and laughed, "If you want to move in, then move in. Just don't steal Master Chen's wine, otherwise, if you get chased and attacked again, I won't care even if you're chased to my bedside." Minglu's expression at this moment seemed to say: Look at me, even if I wanted to help, I'm powerless to do so. You'd better watch yourself.

A smile on a cherished day.

Nalan burst into laughter, as if he had remembered something amusing.

Fu Jin, however, said with considerable dissatisfaction, "Don't worry, even if I wanted to steal it this time, I wouldn't be able to find it. Didn't you say that he had moved the wine he buried? Even you can't find it, let alone me. But speaking of which, the wine brewed by Master Chen, who you keep in your mansion, is indeed the best in the capital. However, he's just too stingy! Last time, I only drank half a jar of his wine, and he actually chased me with a kitchen knife for half an hour! I searched the entire Prince's mansion. Was it really necessary? Is my life worth less than half a jar of his wine?" Fu Jin became indignant as he spoke of this, and his voice grew louder and louder: "That old man is really stubborn, like a stubborn donkey, yes, just like a stubborn donkey! If it weren't for the fact that his wine is so delicious, his dishes are so tasty, and his soups are so fragrant, I would really suggest you kick him out of the mansion. That stubborn old man, every time he sees me, he blows his beard and glares at me. He guards his few jars of wine like he's guarding his unmarried virgin, afraid that I'll lay a finger on her!"

Fu Jin spoke with such excitement that everyone wanted to laugh more and more. Ming Lu laughed twice, but then coughed, which aggravated his wound and made him frown.

Nalan smiled and stopped Fu Jin from continuing, saying, "It's late today. Minglu is injured and needs to rest early. Let's call it a night."

He nodded in agreement.

Fu Jin also shut his mouth and said to Ming Lu, "Ming Lu, you don't need to worry about me. I'll go find the steward Zhang Xi to prepare accommodations for me. You should rest early and recover from your injury quickly. I'm still waiting for us to participate in the winter ice football competition at Taiye Pond. This time, I heard that Suo Ge is also leading a team to participate. Humph, we must beat him to a pulp!"

Nalan said, "Alright, Fu Jin, stop nagging. Minglu needs to rest."

Minglu smiled and nodded to Fu Jin, then said to Xiri, "Brother Yu, your accommodation has been arranged. Someone will take you there. If you need anything, just tell the steward Zhang happy."