Chapter 21: Life hangs on a thread (2)
"It was right to suspect him at first, but I don't think he would do such a thing as a crown prince with great power. He only saved Yinyin once, and was later involved in Ru Ting's disappearance. Although the blame was later pointed at Yinyin, I think there must be something behind it. He rushed to the scene when Yinyin fell off the cliff that day, and it is an indisputable fact that he sent people to search for Yinyin's whereabouts after the fall. Since the old King Zhao became seriously ill, he seemed to have given up returning to the country to govern the government. On the day of his wedding last year, it should have been two years since he saw Yinyin. It was really hard to believe. I believe that he would arrange for her to assassinate Shuji, who had just become his concubine, in order to put Yinyin to death. Although Yinyin was later rescued by Yan and caused a dispute between the two countries, I believe you also know what happened afterwards. Zhao Ziheng did not really want to put Yinyin to death. Moreover, when the assassin captured Yinyin, he rushed to chase after her without hesitation. Although he paid a heavy price in the end, putting all these together, do you think he would pay so much for someone he wanted to kill? It is obvious that he paid everything for a talent that cannot be lost, even his life——"
"You mean King Zhao to Yin Yin?"
"I don't know, but if he had something to lose, he wouldn't have done such incomprehensible things!"
"…Your Majesty is right!"
It seems that Zhou Cheng is not just a name, his wisdom and ability have been recognized by the world since he ascended the throne. He can analyze Zhao Ziheng so calmly and thoroughly, there must be no one else but him, right?
"In order to get more clues, I want you to investigate a few things!"
"Yes, please give the order!"
Not only Zhou Yan and Zhao Ziheng, now Zhou Cheng has also begun to act. What kind of earth-shattering conspiracy is hidden behind the scenes? Why would innocent people be implicated and their lives be taken at any cost?
When Yinyin woke up and looked dazed, Zhou Cheng ignored everyone's obstruction and dragged his injured body to see Yinyin. How envious would the concubines in the inner court of the palace be of such behavior? Xia Ningshuang was the same, envious and jealous...
When meeting Yin Yin, how could Zhou Cheng allow anyone else to be present? He naturally dismissed everyone and spent time with Yin Yin alone!
"I've heard everything. Does it matter now?"
Still so gentle, even though his face was expressionless, it was known that Zhou Cheng would only show his gentleness when he was with Yin Yin. This was also the gentleness that he would naturally show whenever he faced Yin Yin after he found out that he had fallen in love with her. Even he couldn't control it...
Yin Yin looked like she was still not fully awake and was troubled by something?
"What's wrong?"
Zhou Cheng was worried and wanted to reach out and touch Yin Yin's face. At this moment, Yin Yin finally responded and slowly raised her head to look at Zhou Cheng. Zhou Cheng stopped reaching out and retracted his hand...
"Your injury—"
Zhou Cheng's heart was drawn to the sound of lack of energy coming from Yin Yin's mouth.
"It's no longer a big deal!"
After hearing Zhou Cheng's words, Yin Yin's eyes showed a little remorse...
"Why do you look so sad and self-blaming? Do you think I'm hurt because of you?"
Zhou Cheng guessed Yin Yin's thoughts completely, and Yin Yin could only remain silent because it was the fact.
"Don't get it wrong, the assassin's target was me, and it has nothing to do with you!"
It didn't matter if it was consolation or lying, as long as it didn't make Yinyin sad and blame herself, Zhou Cheng was willing to give for her. This was the first time in his life that he wanted to give for someone at any cost, even if there was no reward...
Yin Yin seemed to know that Zhou Cheng was speaking for her, so she didn't quite believe what Zhou Cheng said.
"As the ruler of a country, there will naturally be countless people who want to assassinate me. This is just one of them. No matter how you think about it, you should be able to think that since you have never shown up, it is impossible for someone to want to kill you, right?"
Zhou Cheng did not expect any reward and just took all the responsibility on himself. How could such words not be convincing?
"But--"
"There is no but. If there is a but, it can only be said that you just happened to be there. This matter has nothing to do with you. Even if you were not there, I would have been assassinated, so you don't need to blame yourself at all!"
Having said that, the news of this incident was that Zhou Cheng used his body to protect her. Although Yin Yin was not particularly clear about the situation at that time, in her opinion, Zhou Cheng was protecting her, just like Zhao Ziheng...
"I'm sorry for giving you bad memories—"
He was so nonchalant. You know, that arrow almost killed him, but he was still able to save himself. If it weren't for Yin Yin, Zhou Cheng wouldn't be so considerate, right? Obviously, she couldn't get away from it, so Yin Yin couldn't accept Zhou Cheng's apology...
"So, can you tell me what you want me to do?"
"Huh??"
"That day, I want to know what else you wanted to say later--"
Zhou Cheng successfully changed the subject. Yin Yin stared at him blankly. Didn't she expect Zhou Cheng to bring up what she said at that time? She didn't expect him to guess that she didn't say her real purpose at that time, and now...
Thinking about what she wanted to say at that time and what happened later, Yin Yin lowered her head again...
"What's wrong?"
Zhou Cheng's voice kept echoing in her ears. It sounded so gentle to Yin Yin. Because of this, Yin Yin felt even more guilty and clutched the quilt tightly with both hands...
"Why are you suddenly so gentle to me?"
Yin Yin’s words left Zhou Cheng silent.
"Weren't you the one who got married first? You treated me well after that just to make up for it. Until what happened with Miss Jiang, you had nothing to repay. Why are you so gentle to me three years later?"
This time, Yin Yin did not deliberately mention the past as she did before, but instead mentioned it naturally.
Should I answer? Zhou Cheng was struggling internally...
--quite a while--
"I don't know either. I should hate you. From the beginning to the end, I can only blame myself for not realizing my feelings earlier. From Ru Ting's death three years ago to when I pushed you to the brink of despair and even freed you with death, every day after that I would dream of your expression and the scene at that time. I kept blaming myself, thinking that I would never fall in love with anyone again, let alone my enemy. But two years after I thought you were dead, when I heard the news that you were still alive in Gray Valley, my heart began to become confused. Watching you being kidnapped by the assassin and forced off the cliff again, I could no longer deceive myself. What I haven't been able to erase you from my memory for three years is not the hatred for you, but the attachment to you that I can't forget in my heart. I didn't realize it when I divorced you because I was with you too often. I guess this is why the closer the distance, the less you can detect your feelings, and by the time you realize it, it's too late—"
When Zhou Cheng realized his feelings, he also knew that Yinyin already had someone in his heart. Is this what is called too late? It is an indisputable fact that he regretted the marriage, or maybe it was Yinyin who changed unilaterally? Is it that he missed it, or that the other party changed her heart? There is no actual basis at all...
"...So, you're treating me well because you found yourself in love with me? Even if it means killing Ru Ting?"
Zhou Cheng's silence also indicated his acquiescence. He had indeed thought so in his heart. Thinking back to before, after knowing that Yin Yin was still alive, Master Jiang had repeatedly asked Zhou Cheng to severely punish him for Ru Ting's matter, but Zhou Cheng had to bear it repeatedly. It was because of this that he realized that loving someone really meant giving everything for her and tolerating everything about her, even if it meant becoming a sinner for all eternity...
"I'm sorry. I obviously noticed it. I clearly wanted to use your feelings to achieve my own goals, but I couldn't do it. If you were a little bit worse, if you were a little bit more selfish, maybe I could deceive myself and use you--"
No matter how much Yin Yin wanted to take revenge on Zhou Yan , she could never take advantage of a man who truly loved her and silently gave to her. She could never do it!
Listening to Yinyin's inner thoughts and her helpless look, Zhou Cheng even thought that it didn't matter if he was being used. The kiss at the hunting ground had already made him feel that he could give everything for Yinyin, even if it was a lie or a deception. But the result made him more determined in his belief. The heart that deeply loved Yinyin was unshakable and irreplaceable...
"help me--"
I don’t know if it was because she was talking incoherently or she had reached the limit of her patience, but Yin Yin started to cry for help!
"Please, let me be free . I can't suppress myself anymore. Although I tried my best to endure and forget, I still can't forget and endure. He killed the person I loved the most and committed an unforgivable crime against me. I don't know what to do anymore—"
Tears flowed like a spring. Zhou Cheng was deeply moved by the helpless, sad, heavy expression and tone. He really didn't know what had happened to Yin Yin. He only knew that since he discovered his feelings, he had decided to give everything for her.
"help me--"
Hearing the heartbreaking cries for help, Zhou Cheng could no longer suppress his desire. He stretched out his arms and hugged Yin Yin tightly, letting her cry and vent without restraint. He secretly swore in his heart that he would do anything to keep her away from pain...
