Chapter 58: Confrontation (4)
"What's wrong?"
Wang Ye asked when he noticed Zhao Ziheng was staring at him.
"I'm thinking, and I still can't believe that you are the same person as the one I first saw on the island."
"Why do you say that?"
"Haven't you noticed? When you were on the island, you were just an ordinary doctor. I don't know if it was because you were good at hiding yourself or because you were disguising yourself. But now, you always exude wisdom and seem to know everything, yet you are unpredictable. Which one is the real you?"
"How should I put it? Simply put, both of them are me. Life on the island is ordinary but suits me very well. I spend my days treating patients every day and I am very leisurely. I thought I would spend my whole life in this peaceful life. However, as if it was destined, when you and Miss Wang were sent to me, I knew that you two had extraordinary backgrounds and that this would disrupt my peaceful life. However, I didn't expect that your identities were really beyond my expectations. The villagers on the entire island also died because of this. I just happened to save you from falling into the water. From then on, I guessed that there would be no such peaceful life waiting for me in the future."
"...I'm sorry about this. I never expected that it would lead to such a situation. They only saved me and Shu'er, but they died just to keep their mouths shut. For this, I can't make up for them even if I die. What's more tragic is that even if I know who the murderer is, I can't avenge them. Think about it, I am a bit of a coward as the king of a country."
When talking about previous topics, Zhao Ziheng seemed very self-blaming.
"Your Majesty is not unwilling to avenge them, but he has been enduring because he wants to save more people, right?"
"…Killing someone and paying with one's life is a matter of course. It's fine for adults, but he even killed babies. Every time I think of those people who died for Shu'er and me, I want to chop the murderer into pieces to appease their souls. But this is just my way of escaping reality. I can't put all the blame on the person who ordered the massacre. I am also the murderer who killed them. If it weren't for me, they might not have died."
Wang Ye understood Zhao Ziheng's feeling of self-blame, which was understandable.
"You don't need to blame yourself too much. What you are facing is far more important than these. I don't want you to forget them, but at least don't think about them now. Their deaths are God's will and have been predetermined. You also have your own destiny. The upcoming destiny will threaten the lives of more people, and your choice will determine their life and death. There is no need to dwell on the past. Put this love in the future. Many people are waiting for you to lend a helping hand."
The past is past, and what has happened cannot be changed. The future is full of infinite hope. Clinging to the past will only blind one's eyes and prevent one from seeing things that should have been clearly seen. It is not about forgetting, but temporarily forgetting and concentrating on the future. As the king of a country, this is even more true. He must be stronger than others and can only move forward, not retreat. He can have compassion, but he is not allowed to show it...
"Speaking of which, according to the information sent back by Xiuying, Miss Wang seems to be more energetic than when she was in the palace?"
Wang Ye didn't want Zhao Ziheng to feel too guilty, so she changed the subject. Speaking of Yin Yin, how could Zhao Ziheng not have any feelings?
"Is this okay? Being next to that person——"
"Nothing. Shu'er hasn't remembered it yet anyway. He can give Shu'er the greatest tolerance and freedom, and also give her strict protection. He just needs to not force Shu'er to do anything she doesn't want to do."
"If Miss Wang regains her memory, what will she think?"
"...She will understand, and when that time comes I will be the first to welcome her back."
"Come back? Come back to you?"
"She is mine, so naturally she will come back to me."
“Hmm—”
Zhao Ziheng's words made Wang Ye fall into a moment of contemplation. Zhao Ziheng seemed not to notice it, because he was busy dealing with government affairs, and his workload did not decrease every day. It was inevitable. After leaving Zhao State, more things piled up and Zhao Ziheng had no time to rest. Wang Ye could help with some things, but some things still had to be handled by Zhao Ziheng himself.
"Got it. I will definitely complete what I promised. Please let me contribute my part when the time comes."
Hearing Wang Ye's words, Zhao Ziheng couldn't help but look up at him with a curious look on his face.
"Is there anything on my face?"
"……No."
After the bland response, Zhao Ziheng continued to bury himself in government affairs. Looking at him, Wang Ye smiled again. Only when the topic of Yin Yin was brought up did he feel that Zhao Ziheng was also an ordinary person. This was Zhao Ziheng's most emotional side, and also the side that threatened him the most. If someone threatened Zhao Ziheng with Yin Yin, Zhao Ziheng would nod no matter what the request was, right? Even if it meant risking his life...
The promised time has arrived. Compared with the others, Wu Yao was the last one to come back. According to statistics, he took a total of 502 buckets of water. The number of buckets of water taken by the other punished people was also more than 50, which might have been influenced by Wu Yao.
