Сун Синчжи жил во времена правления императора Хуэйцзуна

Глава 68

Xi Ri was startled, but her expression quickly turned to disappointment. She said, "He probably doesn't know who I am, otherwise I would be dead long ago. Besides, if he really knew who I was, he probably wouldn't have been willing to shield me from that arrow today." As she said this, Xi Ri became increasingly dejected. If she weren't Ming Lu's friend, he probably wouldn't have treated her this way. In fact, being his friend was something to be proud of.

Long Ming chuckled softly, "I was just guessing." Then she asked, "Are you hungry?"

She hadn't eaten all day; how could she not be hungry? Looking up at the starry sky, she suddenly remembered that same night, the same darkness, when Long Ming had abandoned her on the rooftop, hungry, gazing at the moon and stars, thinking about the sesame pancakes… How carefree she had been then! But now, she was bound by countless shackles: the engagement, the life-or-death friendship with Minglu, Long Ming… She abruptly turned to look at Long Ming, only to see him looking at her too, his eyes like starlight, filled with worry, tenderness, and a love she understood but refused to acknowledge. A sudden, uncontrollable flutter of emotion surged within her. He was right beside her, within reach, his feelings for her crystal clear. How could she not understand? How could she not see it? Suddenly, a sweet feeling washed over her. In truth, with him by her side, it seemed… even the most troublesome things would fade away. She loved the feeling of him being there, she loved…

"If you keep looking at me like that, I'm afraid I won't be able to control myself," he suddenly said mischievously.

Xi Ri couldn't help but blush, forced a cold snort, and turned away.

He suddenly announced, "I've decided to move back in."

Xi Ri didn't react for a moment.

Long Ming said, "I'm moving back here so I can take care of you; otherwise, you always make me worry."

Ha, she makes him worry? It's his living here that makes her worry, okay? She angrily retorted, "I won't allow it! I object!"

"Your objection is invalid."

"Why should I?! This is my home!"

"I'm staying here precisely because it's your home." He declared matter-of-factly!

"Are you a scoundrel?!"

"You're only finding out now?"

What?! I'm going crazy... Ah!

"Oh dear, your nails are so long! Don't scratch my face! Why do you always aim for my face? Are you jealous? Oh dear, be gentle, you're going to hurt me..."

Inside the house, Tian Shuang, who couldn't help but hear the two talking back and forth on the roof, secretly laughed under the covers. After all, they were sitting on her roof right now; it was impossible not to hear them...

This night, which was supposed to be a difficult one, became less so because he was there. And so, dawn finally broke.

Early in the morning, Xi Ri was getting ready in front of the mirror when she suddenly realized her fake Adam's apple was missing. She assumed it had fallen in the yard while chasing Long Ming the night before, so she went to look for it. But she found Tian Yong had already cleaned the yard, and the fallen leaves had been burned. Her Adam's apple was probably burned too. Luckily, she had a spare, so she didn't think much of it.

Last night, Xi Ri didn't sleep a wink, staying up all night with Long Ming until dawn.

Tian Shuang got up very early to fetch water for Xi Ri to wash up. Because she had overheard Xi Ri and Long Ming's conversation on the roof last night, and knew that Prince Ming Lu was on the verge of death, Tian Shuang understood Xi Ri's guilt and worry for Ming Lu. Therefore, she didn't say much, nor did she mention the time she and Tian Yong went up the mountain to see Ming Lu's mother.

After tidying up, Xi Ri hesitated and stepped out of the room, only to find Long Ming waiting outside.

Long Ming changed into another outfit, but it was still gaudy, another dress embroidered with big red flowers, yet it was still damnably beautiful, unreasonably beautiful.

Xi Ri glanced at him and commented in four words: "attracting attention and admirers."

Long Ming said, "I'll go with you."

Xi Ri shook her head and said, "No need." What she had to face would have to be faced sooner or later, and no one could help her.

“He’ll be fine,” Long Ming said.

Knowing he was trying to comfort her, she still forced a smile: "I know."

She didn't eat anything. She went out and walked step by step toward the Ming Prince's Mansion. It was only two streets away, not a long distance, but it took her a very long time... She was worried, but also afraid.

At the Prince Ming's residence, servants hurried to and fro. A servant led the way for her, behaving with utmost respect. She wanted to ask, but dared not, only occasionally overhearing whispers from passersby: "Your Highness, he hasn't woken up. The imperial physician is afraid..."

He's still asleep...

Could it be that Minglu never woke up?

Her heart grew heavier and heavier. Minglu, do you really want me to feel guilty for the rest of my life and owe you for the rest of my life?

Outside the bedroom door, a servant went in to announce their arrival, and the concubine, her eyes red, came out to greet them, saying, "Young Master Li, you've arrived."

"The Prince... him?" Seeing Madam Ru's expression, Xi Ri couldn't bring herself to ask.

Lady Ru forced a smile and said, "Young Master Li, please go in and take a look. The imperial physician is here too. The Prince hasn't woken up at all last night." As she said this, Lady Ru burst into tears again.

On that day, I was shocked, feeling as if a heavy stone was pressing on my heart.

Xi Ri entered the room, her steps faltering, and she nearly fell at the threshold. She saw that Ming Lu's seven wives were all in the outer room, and Fu Jin had also arrived, anxiously looking into the inner room.

The imperial physician had just finished checking the prince's pulse and came out of the inner room when a group of people immediately surrounded him, sighing as they said to the ladies, "Ladies, Prince Ming's condition is not very optimistic, I'm afraid..."

Upon hearing this, one of the ladies fainted on the spot. The other ladies also swayed precariously.

"What do you mean, 'I'm afraid of'?!" Fu Jin suddenly became furious, grabbed the imperial physician by the collar, and roared fiercely.

Lady Ru immediately rushed forward to advise him, but Fu Jin wouldn't listen. He grabbed the imperial physician by the collar and dragged him out of the room, shouting, "What are you afraid of? What are you afraid of?!" The other ladies followed him anxiously. Then, they heard Lady Ru cry out, "Young Master Fu, please let the imperial physician finish speaking! I beg you, I beg you!" The other ladies echoed, "Young Master Fu, we beg you!" Fu Jin released her grip, and the imperial physician immediately moved far away. Lady Ru asked again, "Please let the imperial physician finish speaking, His Highness, he, he..."

The imperial physician said tremblingly, "Forgive my bluntness, but ladies, please accept my condolences..."

The imperial physician hadn't finished speaking. All the ladies wept, some fainted, while Fu Jin remained motionless, staring blankly at the ground… as if he had suffered a tremendous blow. He wanted to cry but couldn't, wanted to be angry but couldn't, wanted to grieve but couldn't…

Xi Ri also heard the imperial physician's words at that moment. She looked into the inner room and walked in step by step...

On the bed, he was pale and weak, his breath faint. His once bright and beautiful phoenix eyes were tightly closed, as if they would never open again. She stood by his bedside, quietly watching him.

Suddenly, she knelt down beside his bed, tightly grasped his hand resting on the bedside, and tears fell onto it drop by drop.

“Minglu, I’m telling you, I have to tell you! I’ve been deceiving you all along. I’m not Li Yu at all, I’m Tian Xiri, do you hear me? I’m your fiancée, Tian Xiri. I never wanted to marry you because you have three wives and four concubines, you have seven wives, you’re a womanizer, you’re arrogant, you’re not the person I wanted to marry. I didn’t want to marry you, I wanted to break off the engagement, but I was afraid of taking responsibility, so I wanted you to break off the engagement. I approached you, I deceived you, I’ve been deceiving you all along. You mistook me for a friend, a friend you’d entrust your life to, but I was just using you! I was just deceiving you all along. Are you really going to die like this? Are you at peace? Don’t you hate me? Wake up! Wake up and take revenge on me! Wake up…”

She grabbed his hand, shaking it, crying, sobbing...

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry..."