Chapter 61: Kiss (3)
In the eyes of bystanders Zhang Ren and Xue Han, it seems that they can more or less sense the meaning behind Zhou Cheng's words. Is this because "a bystander sees more clearly"?
After discussing political affairs, everyone went back to do their own work. Only Shan Zhen couldn't let go of Zhou Cheng's words. He was still worried about them in his subsequent work. This had never happened before. What exactly did Zhou Cheng want to express?
After repeated worries, it was already late at night. When he finished his work, he happened to be in the palace. Unable to let it go, Shan Zhen decided to go find Zhou Cheng. He knew that Zhou Cheng must not have gone to bed yet at this time. The fact was just as he thought. Zhou Cheng was busy with state affairs and was not the kind of person who would go to bed early.
In addition, Zhou Cheng seemed to have been waiting for Shan Zhen to come to him, which was one of the reasons why he had not gone to bed today. After the two met, they fell into a heavy and weird atmosphere. Shan Zhen didn't know how to speak, and Zhou Cheng, who knew he was coming, had been immersed in government affairs . Although he was waiting, he seemed to be unmoved by Shan Zhen's arrival? In this way, both sides remained silent for about a quarter of an hour...
"emperor!"
In some ways, Shan Zhen is a person who doesn't like to drag things out. After realizing that the situation was unusual, he also had some realizations. However, Zhou Cheng's attitude ignored him, and time was running out. Shan Zhen really couldn't remain silent any longer.
"Just speak your mind, I'm listening."
As expected, Zhou Cheng did not act like a king and his subject at all. That was why Shan Zhen became even more worried.
"…Isn't it His Majesty who has something to say?"
After Shan Zhen finished speaking, Zhou Cheng stamped the document with his imperial seal in a moment. It was the last document. After processing it, he put the imperial seal away, raised his head, crossed his fingers, held his chin, and finally began to look Shan Zhen in the face...
"Do I really have anything to say?"
After meeting Zhou Cheng's gaze, Shan Zhen felt the same feeling as during the day again, and was also stunned by Zhou Cheng's words.
"Please forgive my ignorance."
"This isn't like you, is it?"
"If your Majesty has anything to say, please speak directly."
Shan Zhen was not being pretentious, but he really didn't know what Zhou Cheng wanted to express. He might have been able to notice it if it was something else, but this time was different. This was the first time for Shan Zhen to have such a situation.
"I admit that I have been deliberately ignoring your feelings all along. Even if I knew, I pretended not to know. I even used you and almost killed Yin Yin. But I know that I can't avoid this matter forever. For the future, for you, me, and Yin Yin, I want to know what you think."
After hearing Zhou Cheng's words, Shan Zhen fell silent.
"You'd be lying if you said you never hated me, right?"
What Shan Zhen is thinking about now is what Zhou Cheng wants to say. He doesn't want to be deeply influenced by his words. If he does that, he will just be led by him and lose his composure. Once he loses his composure...
"What exactly does the emperor want to say?"
"Nothing, I just want to know why you don't report the 'truth' to me."
"…I just think it's unnecessary."
"Is it really unnecessary?"
Zhou Cheng put his hands flat on the table, which meant that he was more serious. What was going on? Shan Zhen slowly realized what Zhou Cheng was thinking. Rather than saying anything, he felt that Zhou Cheng seemed to be targeting him deliberately? Was it really just like that? Why did he always feel that something was overlooked?
"Not a single word I said during the day was false. I don't think that was just my wishful thinking. You are necessary to me, whether in the past, present, or future. However, I can't deceive myself. What I want to know is the real you, including your feelings for Yin Yin."
So that's how it is. Shan Zhen finally understood that Zhou Cheng was not obsessed with the past. It seemed that Yin Yin's choice was correct. Zhou Cheng, who almost lost control, cheered up again and even became more determined than before. No wonder he felt that Zhou Cheng was different after returning from Weicheng. It seemed that Zhou Cheng had seen through some things.
"Since the emperor has asked, I will speak frankly. My loyalty to the emperor has never changed from the past to the present, and will not change in the future. As a subject, I will swear to be loyal to him until death. But as for me personally, the emperor is already very clear, right?"
"Well, as a man, your love for her is no less than anyone else's."
"Yes, but even so, I know that it is impossible for me to be the only one. More importantly, there are people who need her more than me. No matter who she chooses in the end, I will not give up loving her. This is the only thing that cannot be taken away by anyone, not even you, the emperor."
Only the right to love cannot be deprived. With a simple narration, Zhou Cheng has clearly understood the feelings of Shan Zhen for Yin Yin. It is a kind of love he has never known before. Deeply loving, unforgettable, unable to extricate oneself, and cautious. Shan Zhen's love has long exceeded the imagination of ordinary people. He always silently pays behind the scenes and never expresses his feelings. Perhaps because he is taciturn, his love for Yin Yin is truly unmatched. He always watches and guards silently. When did it start? Zhou Cheng dare not guess, because just trying to think about it makes him feel that the feeling is not something he can bear. However, after so many years, Shan Zhen is still the same as before, without even the slightest sign of regression, and loves her silently...
