But I heard that one sentence clearly: it was a quote from Fuqi: "I don't want anyone else's life, I only want yours."
No one made a sound, only the rustling of armor tightening. Everyone was doing their best to protect him, and a sense of relief suddenly welled up in my heart. He was someone others would risk their lives for, and he was, but he wouldn't use that as an excuse to take someone else's life.
"I'll give you my life, so she can live." His words were calm and even, delivered without the slightest fluctuation. Only the word "朕" (zhen, meaning "I, the imperial emperor") was replaced with "我" (wo, meaning "I"). Just because he wasn't the emperor meant he could abandon everything.
"Your Majesty!" "Your Majesty!" Exclamations of alarm and attempts to stop him rose again, but the first thing that vaguely reached my ears was a clear voice saying, "Brother Jimo!"
That was probably the pretty woman who accompanied him at dawn. Her closeness to him was so obvious, yet his kindness towards her was merely that of an elder brother. I had thought that even a little brotherly affection was better than the fleeting romances of concubines in the harem. But now, as if I knew his heart, I suddenly felt certain that even with such a meager affection, he would not place her among his closest confidantes. Or, I greedily thought, he would never have said those words to her, risking his life for hers, so decisively and thoroughly.
He always talks about his past life, but in reality, I am already content that there is one person in this life who is willing to risk his life for me.
Even if I were to leave right now, I know I would do so with a smile.
As if he had read my mind, he suddenly shouted, "Liao Yan! I won't allow you to do anything foolish!"
My neck froze on the blade.
"Step back, everyone step back." He pushed aside the layers of defenses and descended the high platform, as if he had descended from the heavens. Though his vision was blurred, his celestial bearing and demeanor far surpassed that of Fu Xi and Qiu Niu. In an instant, he was like a god.
"emperor……"
"Step back!" His tone left no room for argument.
"Your Majesty, I obey." Footsteps approached, and those people, truly because of his words, all left. I wanted to grab someone, to drag someone away. Don't go, protect him, surround him, tell him he can't act like this, he can't ruin his future and life for a stranger. His empire has only just been grasped, and he still has to protect it.
His hands, hanging limply, held no strength whatsoever.
For a long time, the surrounding silence was chilling.
"Give me the sword." His voice was very close.
Basilji moved the sword away, but did not hand it to him. He simply waved it twice to signal him to come closer.
He wanted to kill Ji Mo with his own hands! I shuddered; what kind of pain and chilling agony that must have been.
"Very well." He sighed softly. "But I have one more thing to say. Liao Yan, I want you to be my empress. This road will be long and arduous, lacking blessings and filled with hardship, but I will be there for you. Will you agree?"
Even though I know this isn't a hallucination, I still wish it were.
Basiljiyu has already sharpened his sword and is waiting for him. Now, there is no way to avoid it. Today, or the next moment, perhaps he, or perhaps I, will be separated from him forever. In that case, how can we walk such a long and arduous road? How difficult it is to walk a road with no one to bless you alone.
"Liao Yan, answer me." His voice came slowly, without a trace of his usual joking tone.
To say yes or no—it's just a few words, but to me, they weigh a ton. What difference does it make? Ultimately, I'm a coward; that step, no matter what, I can't take. I just want a peaceful life, free from the gaze of others, free from excessive attention—that's all. If I agree, how will I live my life from now on? I'm afraid of others' criticism. I've seen too much; I'm numb to it, yet still afraid.
However, the word "no" stuck in his throat, and he couldn't utter a single sound.
"Ji Mo Dongli, you shameless scoundrel, yet you feign infatuation! I wonder who will believe you. Wait until your next life, then speak such words again!" Ba Si Er Ji Yu suddenly shouted. My body trembled, and I instinctively felt the sword fly out. In a daze, I heard the chilling sound of metal cutting through flesh, the sound of something dripping on the ground, and suddenly, a heart-wrenching scream: "Dongli!"
Even I myself did not expect that the sound would come from my own throat.
When I spoke to him a second time, I still only used those two words.
Suddenly, Basilji Yu's body tilted, almost crushing me beneath him. A sudden warmth spread through my wrist, and I was suddenly plunged into shadow. I desperately tried to see clearly, but all I could see was Ji Mo's chest, gushing blood. Looking back, on the pale blue bricks, a pool of intense blood lay beneath Basilji Yu, clutching his bleeding neck.
"Nightmare, it's over." He gently cupped his hand around my eyes, pulling me away from the crimson stain. "Don't look anymore, it's not worth it."
His body slid down slowly. I was startled, and my hands were too weak to hold on. I bent over and fell to my knees. He placed his head in the crook of my neck, his breath hot and bloody. I hurriedly raised my hand to try to support him, but instead pressed down on the wound in his chest. The painful scream reached my ears, a desolate sound.
I suddenly realized that all the sons of meritorious officials outside this arena should be here at this moment. If I go to call them now, it might still be in time. As an emperor, wouldn't he always have a physician or two by his side?
As soon as he stood up, he pressed him down. His voice was weak but clearly audible: "Don't move, there is light."
Just four words, yet they left me speechless.
His life or death may be just a matter of a moment, yet he still cares whether I'm afraid of the light? I am afraid, but no matter how afraid I am, the sunlight cannot kill me, nor can it make me lose all the blood in my body.
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