Chapter 223 Decryption

The fact that Uncle Li had just come made Zhong Min instantly put aside the incident that happened when he met Liu Xin earlier, and he immediately started to speculate secretly.

Zhong Min had a very deep impression of Uncle Li, not only because she had worked in Mo Garden for some time before, but more importantly, this person was quite mysterious, just like Mo Garden, who always made people want to guess.

Before returning to the palace yesterday, Xiao Mingzheng had told her that if she had any questions, she could talk to the housekeeper or Uncle Li. Xiao Mingzheng specifically mentioned Uncle Li, who didn't usually care about other matters in the palace. This was enough to show his full trust in Uncle Li and his importance in the palace.

However, she hadn't had time to bother him with anything yet, but she hadn't expected Uncle Li to come to see her so soon. What could he want from her? Zhong Min was still a little confused. After all, she had just returned, and she rarely interacted with Uncle Li. It had been over half a year since they'd met, so she hadn't expected such sudden news.

"Xi'er, what does Uncle Li want to talk to me about?" Without giving it any more thought, Zhong Min asked Xi'er directly, "Did he say anything?"

Xier shook her head and said, "He really didn't say anything. He hadn't been gone for long. When he came back and heard that you were out, he didn't say anything and just turned around and left. I even chased him and asked him what he wanted, asking him to leave a message for him, but he ignored me and just left without even looking back. What a weird old man!"

After hearing Xier's words, Zhong Min thought for a moment, and quickly stood up and prepared to go out. Seeing this, Xier hurriedly asked Zhong Min where he was going. He had just come back, so why was he going out again before he even had time to sit down?

"I'm going to Mo Garden. Li Bo specifically came to see me about something, so I'd better go over now." Zhong Min said to Chu'er and Xiang'er beside him, "You don't have to follow me. I'll come back after I find out what's going on. Anyway, we're all in the mansion, so nothing will happen."

Chu'er and Xiang'er nodded in agreement and didn't follow. Instead, Xi'er hurriedly grabbed Zhong Min and asked about her morning outing. Zhong Min didn't say much. Firstly, her mind was completely focused on Mo Garden, and secondly, she didn't want to mention Liu Xin's matter to Xi'er and the others. After all, it wasn't a good thing, and there was no point in talking about it.

"Okay, don't worry so much. There's nothing wrong. Just embroider your handkerchief. You may meet the person you want to give it to in a couple of days." Zhong Min deliberately teased Xier, but when the girl heard it, her face turned red and she stamped her feet. She ignored her and sat back to continue embroidering the things in her hands.

After leaving the house, Zhong Min went alone towards Mo Garden. Occasionally, she saw a few servants passing by along the way. When they saw her, they quickly stepped aside and bowed to her. Zhong Min knew that if she married Xiao Mingzheng, she would have to get used to such situations, so she didn't think much about it.

Soon they arrived outside Mo Garden. The bamboo forest was still the same as before, always green and comfortable, and very easy to care for. It was not as delicate as those flowers and plants, which not only took a lot of time to care for, but also withered after a short time of blooming.

The two-story building looked no different than before. Without Xiao Mingzheng, it was exceptionally quiet, especially as one got closer to the building. Zhong Min stopped and didn't rush forward. She had always been a sensible person, never forgetting the rules she should follow.

When I looked up, I found that Uncle Li was carrying something out. He carried a lot at once, but he didn't look tired at all. He gave people a feeling of being very strong, not like those old people of his age.

"Uncle Li." She called out, a smile breaking out on her face. She still remembered the days when she worked at Mo Garden. Although Uncle Li didn't talk much, he always took good care of her. Even now, she still remembered every little bit of help he had given her.

Hearing someone calling him, Uncle Li turned around and saw that it was Zhong Min. He responded and then put the things in his hand on the ground. After dusting himself off, he walked towards Zhong Min.

"You're here." Uncle Li said to Zhong Min, "I went over there looking for you just now, but you weren't there. I just came back a short time ago, and you came here on your own."

Uncle Li had a calm expression, looking at Zhong Min as if he were one of his own juniors. There was no sense of strangeness at all, as if they hadn't seen each other for a long time. Instead, it was as normal as if they met every day.

"I just got back. I heard Xi'er say you were looking for me, so I came right over." Zhong Min pointed to the pile of things at the back and said, "Uncle Li, what are you busy with? You're moving so many things at once. You might hurt your back. Why don't you call a few people to help you?"

"Nothing, just some books from the library, I moved them out to get some fresh air. It was so humid the past few days, and I was worried they'd get damaged." Uncle Li smiled and replied, "No big deal, I can handle it myself. With such a small amount of weight, I won't hurt my back or anything. You really underestimate Uncle Li!"

When Zhong Min heard this, he couldn't help but smile. This was true. Uncle Li's physique was not inferior to that of an average young man. It was even better. I wonder how strong he was when he was young.

"Uncle Li, what did you want to talk to me about just now?" Zhong Min stopped asking about the trivial matters of moving books and turned to the main matter. "Xier said you came back without saying anything, so I was afraid it was something urgent, so I came to see you right away."

"Girl, let's go sit in the pavilion over there for a while." Uncle Li pointed to the pavilion at the edge of the garden and motioned Zhong Min to go over and sit down before talking.

Seeing this, Zhong Min knew that Uncle Li must have something important to tell her, and it was not something that could be explained in just a few words, so she immediately nodded and followed Uncle Li to the pavilion.

After sitting down, Uncle Li asked the guards guarding the Mo Garden to step back temporarily and told them that no one was allowed to approach without his orders. Seeing this, Zhong Min became even more curious, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she sat there quietly, waiting for Uncle Li to start.

"Girl, although we haven't seen each other for a long time, we're pretty familiar with each other, right?" Uncle Li saw that there was nothing to worry about, so he said to Zhong Min, "Today, Uncle Li has something to say to you and some questions to ask you. I hope that no matter what questions you have, you will keep them until I finish what I want to say. Can you hold off on asking any more questions for now?"

Uncle Li's expression was very serious, without a trace of joking. He seemed to be telling Zhong Min how important what he was going to say next was and that it could not be questioned at all.

Zhong Min was also infected by Li Bo's seriousness. She nodded solemnly and agreed, and as expected, she didn't say another word.

Seeing this, Uncle Li sighed slightly. He looked up at the distant sky, as if reminiscing, or perhaps searching for the best entry point. After a moment, he slowly opened his mouth and spoke, "Twenty years ago, the prince was only five years old. The late emperor was still alive, and his mother was still alive. That year, I was a palace guard, assigned to serve by the prince's side. From then until now, I have never left his side. Over the past twenty years, I have witnessed everything the prince has experienced. No one knows his past better than me, and no one understands his difficulties better than me!"

Uncle Li's words startled Zhong Min. She had never imagined he'd once been a palace guard, and had always followed Xiao Mingzheng. No wonder everyone in the palace treated him with such respect, even Xiao Mingzheng. Even more surprising was that Uncle Li would actually bring up Xiao Mingzheng's past with her. This both surprised and excited her.

She did not interrupt Uncle Li and listened quietly to the old man telling her. She didn't understand why he suddenly mentioned all this to her, but the reason was not important. What was important was that she was indeed very curious about Xiao Mingzheng's past.

Uncle Li spoke slowly, sometimes calm, sometimes excited, sometimes angry, and sometimes sad. As he spoke, Zhong Min's heart also rose and fell, and there was always an indescribable heaviness.

She had always known that Xiao Mingzheng must have had a past that was different from that of ordinary people. After all, being born into a royal family always meant that many people would experience sorrows that they couldn't imagine. However, she had never imagined that Xiao Mingzheng's past would be so difficult.

Xiao Mingzheng's biological mother, Wang, was a high-ranking official. Among the three thousand concubines in the harem, she was ranked a Noble Consort, second only to the Empress. This clearly demonstrated that Wang was unique. Before entering the palace, Wang had once, by chance, encountered the late Emperor. They fell in love at first sight, though Wang had no idea at the time that the man she loved was actually the Emperor.

Soon after, Wang was summoned directly to the palace by imperial decree and appointed a concubine. It wasn't until she met the late emperor that she learned the truth. Upon entering the palace, Wang was extremely favored, and soon became pregnant with a prince's child. The late emperor, overjoyed, appointed her a consort that very day and ordered the Imperial Hospital to fully nurture the pregnancy and ensure the safety of both mother and child. While the late emperor's favor ensured Wang's immense protection within the palace, it also made her a thorn in the eyes of the other concubines. Many sought to eliminate her, but the late emperor's foresight prevented any such attempts.

After ten months of pregnancy, Wang gave birth to a prince. The late emperor was overjoyed and immediately announced the event to the entire nation, celebrating the occasion. He also appointed Wang as a noble concubine, second only to the empress. This favor aroused the jealousy and resentment of the empress and her family, and planted a catastrophic potential for Wang.

Following the Empress's instructions, the Empress's clan secretly selected stunningly beautiful young women from across the country to bring into the palace, hoping to divert the late Emperor's exclusive favor towards Lady Wang. They found several women, and while they also gained the late Emperor's favor, none matched Lady Wang's. Finally, someone unknowingly found a woman from a different ethnic group and presented her to the late Emperor. This woman was not only stunningly beautiful but also skilled in seductive techniques. More importantly, she secretly obeyed the Empress's orders.

The foreign woman soon gained the favor of the late emperor, while Wang gradually lost her former glory.

If that were all, it would be fine, but the foreign woman contacted other concubines to frame Wang, intending to completely bring her down. Although the late emperor no longer favored Wang as much as before, he still had feelings for her. In addition, the son she gave birth to was smart and lovely, so naturally he trusted and protected Wang at the beginning.

But as rumors and negative news continued to spread, the late emperor gradually distanced himself from Wang. Wang had only risen to prominence due to the late emperor's favor, and her family's influence was no match for the empress and other concubines. As the late emperor's attitude began to change, her life in the palace gradually changed as well.

By the time Xiao Mingzheng was six years old, Wang had completely fallen from favor. The emotional blow she had suffered from the previous emperor had left her in a state of profound sadness. Furthermore, she was constantly on guard against those within the palace who might harm her and her son. This left her mentally exhausted and her health declining day by day. She then accidentally caught a cold, which only worsened with each treatment. She never recovered from the illness, and several months later, she passed away.

After Wang's death, the late emperor was sad for a while. Out of guilt towards Wang, he valued Wang's child Xiao Mingzheng more and more. Not only did he let him live in his own palace, but he also personally taught him various skills.

The late emperor's prior favor for Xiao Mingzheng, like his previous special favor for Wang, soon put the young Xiao Mingzheng in an extremely dangerous position. After all, for some, a favored prince was far more terrifying than a favored concubine. Although Xiao Mingzheng had no support from any powerful forces, if the late emperor intended to pass the throne to him, then it was understandable.

Historically, the crown prince of the royal family has always been a virtuous and capable person. The talent shown by Xiao Mingzheng at such a young age and the love of the late emperor for him were enough to make many people lose sleep.

Despite the late emperor's protection, how could anything be absolutely safe within the imperial palace? Xiao Mingzheng quickly became a target, nearly dying several times in accidents. Even at such a young age, he lived a life on the brink of death. This situation made Xiao Mingzheng more mature and sensible than the other princes at an early age, and his mind was also more hardened.

Gradually, the late emperor seemed to realize this problem. In addition to protecting Xiao Mingzheng as carefully as possible, he began to look for a safer way of survival for him.

Later, when Xiao Mingzheng was twelve years old, the late emperor personally sent him to the military camp for training. Led by the late emperor's most trusted general, he began an extremely difficult military career at a young age.

At the age of seventeen, Xiao Mingzheng had already established himself in the military camp. At the age of nineteen, he had made many military achievements and was named King Mu by the previous emperor. He was granted the fief of Muzhou and was sent to guard the northwest border.

Not long after Xiao Mingzheng was crowned king, the late emperor died suddenly of a serious illness. The empress and several of the emperor's close ministers then produced the so-called will, saying that the late emperor had passed the throne to the eldest prince. Not long after that, the current emperor officially succeeded to the throne.

After the new emperor ascended the throne, Xiao Mingzheng, far from safety in the northwestern border, faced a constant stream of assassination attempts over the past few years. Rumors circulated that the late emperor had intended to pass the throne to Xiao Mingzheng before his death, but that the Empress and others had tampered with his will. The emperor, fearing Xiao Mingzheng would one day learn of this, sought to eliminate him, a desperate attempt to ensure his own safety.

However, over the years, not only was Xiao Mingzheng not killed, but his power grew stronger and stronger. The emperor and the court were never at peace and used all kinds of tricks. Finally, they completely broke off relations and issued an order to capture and kill Xiao Mingzheng, forcing him to rebel.

After hearing this, Zhong Min fell silent. Although such things might not be uncommon in the royal family, for Zhong Min, the person who had experienced such a growth experience was none other than Xiao Mingzheng, so he could empathize with it even more deeply.

Although Uncle Li didn't go into too much detail, not enumerating the hardships and sufferings endured by Xiao Mingzheng and his companions, it was enough to make her feel sorry for him. Xiao Mingzheng's journey had not only been difficult, but also extremely lonely. Now, she could fully understand why he had been so aloof when she first met him. After such a growth process, no one would appear heartless all day long.

"Girl, do you know why I am telling you these things today?" After saying that, Uncle Li asked Zhong Min.

Zhong Min sighed slightly, calming herself down. She shook her head, not really knowing. She looked intently at Uncle Li and said, "Uncle Li, please tell me."

Seeing this, Uncle Li paused and continued, "You could say I've watched the prince grow up. Before the Imperial Concubine passed away, she repeatedly told me to protect the prince. Over the years, I've never forgotten the Imperial Concubine's words. Now that the prince has grown and become stronger, I no longer worry about his abilities, ambitions, and future, nor do I have the ability to help him. But there's still one thing that worries me."

Uncle Li glanced at Zhong Min and spoke word for word without hesitation, "I know the prince's temperament very well. He's been aloof and aloof all these years, and I've never seen him care about anyone. It wasn't until you started working at Mo Garden that the prince slowly began to change. I can see that he's devoted to you. He's always been lonely and helpless, but now he finally has someone who makes him feel warm and happy. I'm really happy for him. He's young, but he's never had a truly happy day since he was a child. Now, he has someone he truly loves and cares about. Seeing him happy because of you is really comforting. But..."

At this point, Uncle Li looked very worried. He sighed and continued, "However, feelings, if not handled properly, can easily hurt people. During the six months you were away, you didn't get to see what the prince was like. Aside from some necessary remarks regarding official business, I hardly ever heard him say a word. His expression remained the same day after day, so cold it was painful to look at. He was like a walking corpse, devoid of any warmth."

Zhong Min's expression grew increasingly distressed. This was the first time she'd heard about Xiao Mingzheng's situation over the past six months. Although Xi'er had mentioned it before, she'd only mentioned that he often visited her room and stayed there for most of the day. Now, hearing Uncle Li's account, she realized how much of an impact she'd had on him.

For a moment, she felt an indescribable sadness in her heart. It seemed that Xiao Mingzheng had never said the three words "I love you" to her, but his quiet and deep love had always flowed by her side, never leaving her. Now, after going through so many changes, what reason did she have not to cherish such a relationship?

Seeing Zhong Min's gloomy face, Uncle Li adjusted his tone slightly and said softly, "Girl, I'm not blaming you for saying this. I don't want to ask about what happened between you and the prince, or why you left so suddenly. Maybe the prince did something wrong, but you have to believe one thing: no matter what, he really cares about you, very, very much. He doesn't even care about his own life. He values ​​you more than anything else!"

"If he did something wrong before, I hope you can see his good side. Now that you're back, don't leave so easily anymore. Don't let the prince endure such loneliness alone. I hope you can stay with him, make him happy, make him joyful, let him live a fulfilling life, and no longer let him live like a walking corpse. Of course, I believe in the prince. The prince will definitely treat you well and will not treat you unfairly! With his personality, he will either not be moved, or once he is moved, it will be for life!"

"Uncle Li, don't worry. Unless he no longer needs me, I will always stay by his side and take good care of him!" Zhong Min was deeply moved. She didn't say much, only this one sentence, but this sentence was her most sincere promise from the bottom of her heart.

After hearing Zhong Min's words, Uncle Li didn't say anything else. After a long while, he nodded, expressing his relief. In fact, he knew very well that love was not something that an old man like him could have any effect on. However, he hoped that Zhong Min could know more, so that he could be more fair to the prince.

"Okay, nothing happened, you can go back." Uncle Li stood up and said, no longer paying attention to Zhong Min, and walked towards the small building on his own.

Zhong Min sat there for a long time before he stood up. He glanced at Uncle Li who was still busy there, and a warm smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

PS: Thanks to Xiaoyu, Chenchen, Zhou Xiaoxi for casting the pink votes. Today's update is a bit late, please forgive me.