Chapter 43: Their skins touched each other, their fingers entangled.

Zhu Hao did not see the young lady next to Song Xieqing, but because of this scrutiny, their eyes met.

She looked composed, but her mind was already a tangle of thoughts, like spilled ink. Zhu Hao looked away and said urgently, "Chunsheng, let's go."

After she finished speaking, she dived into the crowd alone and fled with Song Xieqing on her back.

The main street of Huaicheng was bustling with people. Zhu Hao ran against the flow of people. The wind was gentle, carrying the sweet aroma of various foods and fruits. Cigarettes curled up along the way. Two or three Huai people burned incense and bowed in the direction of Zhe Ezhai. When Zhu Hao calmed down, he realized that Shi Chunsheng had not caught up with him.

Meanwhile, Shi Chunsheng, who was elsewhere, noticed that something was wrong with Zhu Hao, so he followed her gaze - the long street was still lit, with a bright moon hanging in the sky. He looked around but saw nothing unusual. In a trance, Shi Chunsheng seemed to hear her mumbling something. He turned around and saw Zhu Hao leaning over and disappearing into the crowd, with only her silhouette remaining in his sight.

Shi Chunsheng had no time to think, so he just followed his shadow and walked westward.

…

The crowds of tourists on Huai Street made Zhu Hao feel bored, so she had to turn into a secluded alley. Zhu Hao paced back and forth in the alley with her hands on her hips. After she sorted out her thoughts, she felt really confused.

Zhu Hao gritted his teeth and decided that the most urgent thing was to meet up with Shi Chunsheng.

She took a deep breath and stepped out of the alley.

However, the streets were crowded with people, and their clothes were all colorful. It was in vain for me to go back and forth, and I just felt dizzy.

Standing and walking for a long time made her exhausted. Suddenly, a few children were running and playing on the side, bumping into Zhu Hao's waist and legs. The sudden force, coupled with Zhu Hao's sickly condition, made it difficult for her to keep her body steady, and she fell backwards.

Zhu Hao's arms instinctively leaned towards the floor tiles because she lost her balance. She closed her eyes and waited for the pain to come, but someone grabbed her wrists and she leaned over and fell into someone's strong chest.

Song Xieqing didn't wait for her to sort out her confused thoughts, but grabbed her wrist through her clothes and walked towards the east.

As the scenery changed, Zhu Hao's vision was so narrow that he could only see his strong back.

There was clearly a layer of clothing between the palm of Song Xieqing's hand holding her wrist, but the temperature of their skin was as hot as boiling water.

Zhu Hao asked him: "Where are you going?"

"Aren't you looking for Shi Chunsheng? I'll help you find him."

Zhu Hao was silent for a moment, then grasped his wrist. "Chunsheng should have seen me heading west just now. Why are you heading east?"

Song Xieqing paused, his five fingers tightening around her wrist. Zhu Hao pondered for a moment, then continued, "Forget it. The Immortal King knows everything, and he knows everything."

"You..." A smile gathered in his lowered eyes. Song Xieqing turned around and looked at the woman who had dressed up specially for the day. Her lips were slightly pursed, and her lip balm was moist and glossy under the moonlight and candlelight. He stared at her for a moment and sneered, "Do you trust me so much?"

Song Xieqing thought back to what had just happened. Zhu Hao had engaged in a heated argument with the storyteller over a trivial matter that had happened a hundred years ago. His heart felt as if it were being brushed by a reed, making it itchy.

He continued walking forward with her in his arms. "Didn't General Shi Chunsheng tell you that he wanted to go to Qiqu Bridge to watch the fireworks? This bridge should go east. If he can't find you, he will naturally go to the place where we agreed to meet."

Song Xieqing walked slowly, and Zhu Hao followed closely, not feeling tired. Her little finger accidentally touched his palm, "You... aren't with Madam Yu?"

“No.”

She spoke calmly, seemingly casually, "You're not planning on keeping the appointment, so you should have told her. How should you have told her?"

"I wrote a note saying..." He smiled, "My wife is jealous, and my upbringing is strict, so it's not appropriate for me to be alone with a woman."

Zhu Hao pinched his palm hard.

Her fingers were caught by Song Xieqing.

In fact, Song Xieqing was too lazy to even pick up a pen to write a note. He casually sent Zhuoshui to the brothel to deliver a message, and politely declined the offer by saying that he wanted to return home to accompany his wife.

The sleeves were slightly lifted by the movements of the two people, and there was no longer any clothing between his and her palms. Instead, their skin was pressed against each other, and their fingers were entangled.

Song Xieqing bent his fingers slightly, glanced at the crowded crowd, and did not let go of her.

Zhu Hao looked a little uneasy, her palms sweating as she asked, "Just now... did you hear everything?"

"Um."

He responded muffledly, his emotions unrecognizable. "Is my temper and patience really that bad?"

When this question was asked, he felt confused.

Zhu Hao's eyes rolled around, and she whispered, "Of course I made it up, just to scare him and teach him a lesson."

The palms of their intertwined hands were slippery. Song Xieqing frowned, and Zhu Hao slowly pulled her hand back. She calmly wiped the sweat from her palm on her clothes.

"Nonsense?" Song Xieqing slowed down. With one hand, he led Zhu Hao toward him, and with the other, he caressed the remaining warmth of their handshake between his fingertips. He gazed into her eyes, probing her. "Why are you so sure he's lying? Zhu Hao, you're in a place a hundred years after I was born. You haven't seen it firsthand. How can you be so sure he's lying?"

She was too easy to believe others. For example, Shi Chunsheng was clearly going west to look for her, and Zhu Hao must have noticed it. However, just because of his casual words, Zhu Hao completely believed that he was really helping her find Shi Chunsheng. And last time, she almost lost her life because she went to Xigao alone for Fang Xuyin, whom she had only known for one day.

Zhu Hao's eyes were bright, vaguely reflecting the bright moon. "Yes, you were born in the Ying Dynasty, and I was born in Dacheng. A hundred years separate us. What later generations write and say is far away from me. But, isn't the person who has experienced it standing right in front of me? Therefore, I believe you. Of course, if you really did do evil things, even if I believe you, it won't erase the slightest trace of your evil deeds, right? What was the truth a hundred years ago? Today, only you know it, and no one else can say anything."

"Song Xieqing, I really want to know." Zhu Hao tugged at his sleeve. The surrounding noise had nothing to do with them. "I want to know what happened to this person I defended with all my heart, and was my defense correct? Will there ever be a day when I can glimpse his life without relying on books?"

The two were in a stalemate and remained silent. After an unknown amount of time, a sharp sound broke the deadlock and shattered the vague noise around them.

I looked up and heard the sound of fireworks streaking across the sky.

Amidst the uproar, someone whispered, "Never."

The woman in front of him was only staring at the colorful fireworks in the sky. Song Xieqing's eyes were obscure and unclear. He said hoarsely, "I have never massacred the people of Huai."

To this day, he always believes that it doesn't matter whether it's true or not, who is right or wrong, how future generations view him, or how they criticize him. He can shut one person's mouth, but he can't shut millions of people's mouths. Even if he shuts everyone's mouth, future generations can still pick up their pens and write down all kinds of crimes for him.

At the end of a chaotic dynasty, there are always people who need to play the villain in the torrent of history.

Perhaps it was because Song Xieqing saw Zhu Hao's angry look in defending him that his mood changed slightly. Other people's arguments and opinions had nothing to do with him. Only Zhu Hao, at least let her know that her protection and defense were by no means wasted.

He was about to leave, but no one responded.

For the first time in his life, he suffered so much because of his daughter's trivial matters. Song Xieqing's heart, which had just felt itchy, was suddenly tightened by her. He must have been thinking wrongly, as he actually wanted to defend himself.

Who will listen carefully?

The fireworks gradually died down, and the sound of bells and drums came from the Seven-Curve Bridge not far away. A sedan chair carried by eight people slowly swam from the head of the bridge, followed by believers with fangs, green faces, narrow waists and wide robes.

Song Xieqing lowered his eyes, watching Zhu Hao's comical appearance as he strained to stand on tiptoe and crane his neck. He silently gestured at the back of Zhu Hao's head, until she was barely at his neck. Song Xieqing didn't quite understand her. For example, what was there for her to defend against the world's scorn and abuse? Could she clear his name with a few words and a few witty jokes? If it was a futile effort, why bother? And for another example... what was so interesting about the parade?

However, he was no longer aware of some of his recent actions.

Zhu Hao didn't know how many times she stood on tiptoe, but the spectators in front were as strong as iron walls. She was so tired that she was out of breath and could hardly get a glimpse of the Seven-Curve Bridge. Zhu Hao took a deep breath and put her hands on her hips, intending to take a break. Suddenly, she felt her feet hanging in the air. She screamed and lost her balance.

Song Xieqing passed his hands through her elbows and lifted her up. Zhu Hao thought that was the end, as she just wanted to take a look. Unexpectedly, Song Xieqing lifted her up to the same height as his shoulders with ease. Song Xieqing asked Zhu Hao to sit on his left shoulder. To reassure her, he put one arm around Zhu Hao's waist and the other hand on her neck.

Zhu Hao's vision became wider. A jade statue that somewhat resembled Song Xieqing was sitting cross-legged on a sedan chair carried by eight people. On the jade statue was still the headband embroidered by her own hands. Zhu Hao's thoughts were pulled back to a year ago. She recalled the scene of Fang throwing the hydrangea at the jade statue of Song Xieqing, and the time when they first met, when someone used empty words to threaten her.

Zhu Hao naturally put her arms around his neck, and the soft fragrance and delicate skin of a woman leaned against him, making Song Xieqing stiff for a moment.

"Since they don't believe you, then I will believe you."

She heard every word clearly.

These words sounded like alms to him.

Song Xieqing's fingertips brushed across her neck, and his hands loosened suddenly. Zhu Hao lost her support and fell backwards. The world was spinning around her, and she seemed to hear someone laughing from the side. She was about to fall to the ground, but Song Xieqing caught her steadily and carried her back to the flat ground. Zhu Hao's vision was once again obscured by the onlookers in front of her. She just thought Song Xieqing was tired and did not investigate the reason.

Zhu Hao took a deep breath and said, "As for you, you're usually too dull. You don't really care about anything that happens. As long as you can get by, you think it doesn't matter. This won't work, Song Xieqing. You were born with a mouth to speak clearly. Why don't you just have a mouth for nothing? It's a pity for those who were born mute but still want to speak."

He knew what she was referring to and said nonchalantly, "No one believes it, so I'm too lazy to argue."

Zhu Hao was forced to take a step forward by the surging crowd behind her. She was almost close to him. She patted her chest and said firmly, "That's because I'm not here. If I were born a hundred years ago, I would definitely believe you. Besides, if they don't believe you, will you remain silent? Are you willing to be regarded as a traitor by the people? If everyone keeps silent like you, wouldn't the government office that redresses injustice be useless?"

"You clearly don't know the whole story. What if I deceive you?"

"Your Majesty has helped me a lot, and it was also my own fault that I trusted you. If you bully me, I will have no choice but to admit it. However..." She paused, putting on a vicious expression, "If you really bully me, I will..."

What could she do? Usually, behind these words were harsh words like "cutting off all ties." But if it was a clean break, what relationship had she severed with him? And now, what relationship did she have with him...?

The man looked indifferent, but with a smile on his face, "What does it have to do with me?"