Chapter 85 Halfway to the Exposure: The disguise is very thin and will soon be completely exposed.
In the end, Mu Meng did not knock on Zhe Qing's door, but returned to his own room.
She was stunned by the absurd and terrifying thought in her mind. Such emotions were not suitable for seeing anyone, so she could only return to quiet reflection.
Mu Meng slowly sat down in the chair next to the desk. She leaned back in the chair, looked up at the ceiling beam, her gaze somewhat vacant, but her mind was much more active than her expression.
Yes, what if?
Don't worry about how absurd this idea is, or how fantastical this idea is. Don't think about how Mu Qingheng survived, or how different the personalities of Zhe Qing and Mu Qingheng are.
Yes, none of that matters.
I just wonder if there's any possibility—could Zhe Qing be Mu Qingheng?
Mu Meng stared blankly for a long time, then suddenly realized that no matter how many excuses she made, no matter how desperately she refuted them, she had to helplessly admit that Zhe Qing might indeed be Mu Qingheng himself.
Upon their first meeting in the northern frontier, he frantically tried to escape, clinging to a bamboo stick, but fell to the ground in a disheveled state. Ze'er helped him up, but he mumbled incoherently that he was dirty.
So self-loathing, yet so pitiful, "It's just that I'm not presentable enough, young lady, you don't need to take it to heart."
She mistook him for an enemy and pinned him against the wall, but he looked distressed as if she had touched something dirty. "I'm sorry... would you like me to wipe it off?"
In the dark cave of the snake venom, the immortal cultivators of the human realm were angry with her because of Mu Qingheng's matter, but he quietly helped her out of the predicament.
When asked his name, he sadly shook his head, saying, "I'm sorry, I can't say."
Within Yunze territory, he risked his life to protect the entire Yunze clan, standing bravely in front of Yun Jiuyan, saying so earnestly and sincerely, "No need for thanks, this is what I should do."
In the Heavenly Granary, he wanted to kill Lou Qingshuang, who had revealed the secret. "This person is talking nonsense and is disrespectful to the Heavenly Emperor. It would be better to just kill her."
A gentle night breeze blew as he whispered, "Since Mu Qingheng's crimes are unforgivable and she truly deserves to die, exposing this matter would damage the very foundation of the Heavenly Clan and destroy the bond between father and daughter. It would bring nothing but harm, so why hold onto this matter in your heart? Forget about it, just forget about it."
In the desolate graveyard, she kissed him passionately, but he was so heartbroken he almost cried: "How could you like me? How could you like me?"
He said, "Do you know that I was once a wicked person who did all sorts of evil things?"
He said, "I'm just atoning for my sins."
He said, "How can the light of a firefly compare to the clear glow of the moon? You are the pure light of the sunset, untouched by dust. Why are you so unwilling to associate with the mud?"
He said, "Your Highness, I am but an insignificant passerby in your life. Please do not show me such pity."
He said, "I'm not worthy."
He said, "I don't deserve it."
He denied himself time and time again, loathed himself, and even took the blame for something he hadn't done. It turns out he wasn't humiliating others; he was actually trampling on himself.
His shrill, desperate laughter still faintly echoed in my ears: "Mu Qingheng, he really is—he really is a despicable villain..."
Is he Mu Qingheng?
Isn't he Mu Qingheng...?
This is the most absurd thing in the world.
But... it is also the most normal, reasonable, and expected thing in the world.
If Zhe Qing is indeed Mu Qingheng, then all his contradictions, self-loathing, and endless melancholy and suffering can be clearly explained.
Mu Meng raised his hand and rubbed his temples in a daze.
She suddenly stood up and strode towards the door, but stopped abruptly the moment her hand touched the latch.
Go find him now? What should you say? Are you going to ask him who he really is? Is he Mu Qingheng?
What's next?
So what if it is, so what if it isn't? That's not the most important thing for me right now.
Rather, it's about—whether he is Zhe Qing or Mu Qingheng, what kind of feelings does she actually have for him?
Admittedly, she liked Zhe Qing; in fact, she could say without exaggeration that she deeply loved him. She loved his courage and integrity, as well as his sensitivity and insecurities.
But then what? What if Zhe Qing is Mu Qingheng?
Mu Meng's hand, which was on the door latch, slowly drooped down.
If Zhe Qing is Mu Qingheng, then his past is no longer a blank to her. When he stands in front of her, he finally becomes a complete person—past and present.
She knew perfectly well what made him who he was and what changed him.
So now, if Zhe Qing is indeed Mu Qingheng, do you still love him?
She asked herself.
Mu Meng lowered her eyes silently, her long, raven-feather-like eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath her eyes.
...
The first rays of morning light streamed into the room through the curtains, casting soft shadows and tiny dust particles floating in the light.
Mu Meng didn't sleep a wink all night.
Although she hadn't rested, she still looked great, her fair, porcelain-like skin glowing with a faint rosy blush. She gently pushed open the door and walked out step by step.
Zheqing's room wasn't very close to her. As she walked, she passed through the winding paths and flower groves in the courtyard. A faint fragrance lingered in the air, and the soft, beautiful scenery filled her eyes. However, Mu Meng had no time to look at it and just walked straight ahead.
Turning the corner of the corridor and pushing open the gate, Zheqing was standing in the courtyard.
In the morning sunlight, he was like a tall cedar tree covered with dew—even though his appearance was not particularly outstanding, his posture and demeanor were unparalleled, like a timeless and freehand ink painting.
A faint melancholy still lingered between his brows, and the humility and purity in his expression almost made one want to reach out and smooth away those sorrowful lines.
He noticed the movement and turned his head slightly to look at her.
Mu Meng gazed into his beautiful, clean, dark pupils, as if from there his entire outer shell was constantly peeling away, gradually transforming into the image in her memory.
But soon everything vanished with the wind, and after the sandstorm, Zhaiqing still stood quietly and calmly in the same place.
Mu Meng smiled and walked towards him with firm steps, gently taking his hand and saying, "Zhe Qing."
Her voice was very soft, as if afraid of disturbing anyone. Her beautiful eyebrows and eyes were filled with a gentle smile with tiny sparkles of light. The sunlight shone on her delicate and charming face, which seemed more stunning than ever before.
Zhe Qing was slightly taken aback.
The next moment, he nervously withdrew his hand. But his gaze remained fixed on the beautiful girl before him, drawn in with a devout look.
"Mengmeng..." he called softly, his lips moving, but he swallowed back the words that were about to slip out.
You look beautiful today.
Today, the mist seemed to possess an extra layer of dazzling, soul-stirring light. It shone like a pearl, radiant and captivating, and even seemed to carry a scorching heat.
It makes people want to get closer, yet they are also afraid of tarnishing this pure beauty.
Mu Meng casually took his hand again, quietly tightening her grip. She smiled and asked softly, "Zhe Qing, are you feeling better? Yesterday you seemed lost in thought, and I didn't know what I could do to comfort you. I wanted to go and keep you company, but..."
She paused, then smiled, "But then some things happened that I haven't been able to resolve. I finally finished dealing with them just now. Will you be upset that I came too late?"
She spoke very slowly and softly, her tone as gentle as the holy light emanating from her.
Zhe Qing shook her head, somewhat flattered. "Of course not, Mengmeng. Actually, you don't need to pay attention to me. I lost my composure yesterday, I..."
Suddenly, Mu Meng interrupted him: "Zhe Qing, do you like me?"
Her topic changed too quickly, catching him off guard, and was completely unrelated to what had happened before. Zhe Qing was stunned for a moment, then murmured in confusion, "What?"
"Do you like me?" Mu Meng asked. "I don't want to feel it myself, and I don't want to see you run away. You're not allowed to beat around the bush, and you're not allowed to give me a bunch of complicated twists and turns. I just want to hear your answer: Do you like me?"
Her expression was somewhat stubborn, completely blocking any possible escape routes and leaving only two unavoidable answers: "Like it, or don't you like it?"
Zhe Qing had no way out. He closed his eyes and whispered, "I like it."
"Then are you willing to give up some things for me?"
"willing."
"To what extent can you do anything?"
Zhe Qing smiled slightly, her gaze devout and earnest as if looking at her only faith: "Whatever it is, I will do it willingly as long as you ask."
Mu Meng's gaze was incredibly gentle, like a clear, shallow stream, pure and transparent, brimming with love untouched by any impurities. She grasped Zha Qing's wrists with both hands, holding his cold, even somewhat crippled, large hand in her own small one:
"Zheqing, promise me you'll let go of your hatred for Mu Qingheng, okay?"
The soft light in Zhe Qing's eyes froze for a moment, replaced by an almost childlike bewilderment.
When Mengmeng asked him to do something, even though he had thought of a million possibilities, he couldn't think of this one.
Seeing that Zhe Qing remained silent for a long time, Mu Meng smiled and said softly, "You promised me just now."
Zhe Qing seemed to awaken from a dream. His thin lips parted slightly for a long moment before he uttered a few words in a low voice, "Why?"
Mu Meng knew that this sentence was not merely a pale and powerless statement; it had many layers of meaning.
Finally, she said, "Because I don't want to see you living with hatred for him."
"But……"
“Zheqing, you live in this world for yourself, not for him.” Mu Meng’s tone was firm yet gentle. “If you really like me, then let it go, for the sake of me asking you to.”
Zhe Qing remained silent, his head bowed, his expression one of deep pain.
Mu Meng took his hand, turned around, and led him into the house. They sat together on a bench. She didn't rush to ask Zhe Qing for an answer, but instead carefully looked him up and down before saying gently, "Zhe Qing, I've never asked you before, how did you hurt your leg?"
Zhe Qing said softly, "I tripped and fell."
Really? So casually. Mu Mengwei didn't press the matter further, gently stroking his hand. "And your fingers?"
"Hand..." Zhe Qing hesitated for a moment, but still answered truthfully, "It was cut off."
"How did you get the injuries on your face?"
Zhai Qing's long eyelashes trembled slightly as she murmured, "Mengmeng, you never used to ask me these things."
Yes, the past is the past. He was just covering up his bruises before. These are his past scars. How could she bear to touch them?
But things are different now. Perhaps... he is no longer just about covering his face.
Mu Meng's tone softened, "Tell me, how did you get the injury on your face? Don't try to fool me with something like you were scratched by a tree branch."
Zhe Qing had no choice but to honestly admit, "I... I drew it myself."
Mu Meng smiled helplessly, raised her hand and gently stroked his face. The half of his face not covered by the mask had more scratches. "Zhe Qing, can I see what you really look like?"
Zhe Qing gently bit her lower lip, her expression growing even more sorrowful—not because of anything else, but because she was saddened by being rejected: "I'm sorry, Mengmeng, I'm sorry, I... I can't..."
"That's alright."
Mu Meng immediately reassured her, "Even as you are now, I think you're fine. If you don't want me to see your true face, then I won't. Zhe Qing, I will try my best to fulfill all your wishes because I like you very much. What about you? Can you fulfill my wish?"
Finally, Zhe Qing slowly closed his eyes, and he grasped Mu Meng's hand in return. This was the first time he had taken the initiative to do so.
"Mengmeng, I will do my best to fulfill any wish of yours."
Going all out. The fact that Zhe Qing uttered the phrase "going all out" suggests that this matter must have been incredibly difficult for him.
Mu Meng understood that he loathed himself deeply, but each time she felt something, it was as if she was pushing the boundaries again, constantly touching on just how unforgivable he was of himself.
But all of this will surely pass one day. Mu Meng smiled and said, "Since that's the case, then put aside your hatred and stay with me."
Zhe Qing did not speak immediately.
His profile was gentle and delicate, his handsome features were even more striking, and his eyes and brows revealed a deep tenderness.
However, the next moment, his long eyelashes drooped slightly, obscuring his bright, star-like eyes and concealing the painful contradiction rising within them.
He seemed to be being mercilessly torn apart by two conflicting emotions.
No, no.
Knowing it's wrong, yet unable to resist one's instincts.
His heart, his soul, constantly yearned to touch and possess that dazzling treasure, yet he bound it all to a cage, forcing himself to stay away.
However, even though he had already surrendered and nailed himself to the cross, his most precious girl was relentless. She unlocked the chains, tore apart the cage, and freed him from his bondage. She looked at him with those gentle and bright eyes and told him that she liked him.
He had no way out.
There were no weapons left to suppress them.
The entire world, the four corners of the earth, everything was firmly in her hands. He could only submit to her, completely powerless, and had no choice but to give up his true heart.
Zhe Qing moved his lips as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't say a word. He stretched out his arms and silently hugged Mu Meng tightly.
Her body was petite and warm, yet when held in my arms, it felt heavier than the entire world. The thorns that covered my chest vanished instantly, and the cold, boundless wilderness was swept by the warmth of spring, blossoming into a vibrant sea of flowers.
Zhe Qing held Mu Meng in his arms, his hands resting on her thin, frail back. He gently opened his left hand and looked at the red line that ran from the tip of his middle finger through his entire palm until it melted away at the cuff of his sleeve.
He thought he would find a way.
He couldn't help but hug Mengmeng. He couldn't let her shed another tear. He wouldn't allow any sadness or sorrow to appear on her face because of him.
Mengmeng liked and loved him so much that he wanted to repay her with all her love, not with a cold body that would grow cold after a few months or a year.
But before that, there was something he had to say.
Looking to the future, now that they've reached this point, he can no longer simply be "covering up the green" (a metaphor for protecting the innocent).
No matter how Mengmeng reacts or what decision she makes, it is all his cause and effect, and he has no regrets—because of her profound love, he will surely repay her a thousandfold.
Zhe Qing composed himself, took a deep breath as if to encourage himself, and slightly parted his lips, his voice still trembling slightly: "Mengmeng, actually I... I have something to tell you."
Mu Meng's voice held a hint of a smile: "What is it?"
"It's about my body..."
"Thump—"
Suddenly, a deep, thunderous sound came from the horizon.
Mu Meng was startled, then immediately stood up and walked outside. She pushed open the door and looked at the horizon in the courtyard.
Zhe Qing followed closely behind her, his expression more solemn than ever before.
"Thump—thump—thump..."
After a long while, the deep, loud rumbling sound of the earthquake on the horizon finally disappeared.
“Nine short and five long sounds—that’s Father’s decree. He has something to announce to the Six Realms.” After the booming sounds subsided, Mu Meng said in a low voice with a stern expression.
She silently counted the sounds in the sky, such a grand announcement to the six realms, yet she had no idea what important matter her father had encountered.
In this world, only the Heavenly Emperor has the right to proclaim his decree to the six realms. He will use the Heavenly Tremor to remind every living being in the world, and among these, the nine short and five long tremors are the highest-level Heavenly Tremors. After that, all things and everyone in the world will hear his decree.
Soon, his heavy, sorrowful voice came—
"A Proclamation to All Living Beings: I am the Emperor of the Celestial Clan. For many years I have occupied the throne and concealed my blatant evil deeds. Now I hereby issue this edict of self-reproach, to publicly confess the heinous crimes I have committed."
"My first sin is that I am Mu Gechuan, the eldest son of the late Emperor. I willingly fell into demonic ways and once led demonic troops to invade the human world, causing widespread suffering."
"Second crime: When the Heavenly Emperor Mu Ciyue raised an army to annihilate the rebellious Demon Clan, I still showed no remorse. I lured the Heavenly Emperor to the heart of the Demon Clan's desolate tomb, and took advantage of his severe injuries to kill him in one fell swoop. Then I transformed my appearance and returned to the Heavenly Clan as the Heavenly Emperor, took the throne, and commanded the Heavenly People."
"The third crime is the mistreatment of Mu Qingheng, the true son of the Heavenly Emperor. He was the last descendant of the Heavenly Emperor and a pure descendant of the Heavenly Clan, but he was falsely accused of being a demon and suffered endless torment. He was wronged, his soul was shattered, and he fell off the endless cliff."
"These are my three great sins, each one unforgivable. Fortunately, Heaven has opened its eyes, and the true son of the Heavenly Emperor, Mu Qingheng, fell from the Endless Cliff but did not die. He has now returned to the Heavenly Clan. I have held the Heavenly Clan's throne for many years, and now I relinquish this seat, abdicating to Mu Qingheng in the presence of all the Heavenly Clan members. I am willing to fall into the Heavenly River to cleanse myself of my endless sins."
All sound disappeared, but the lingering echo seemed to still resonate in my ears.
This was so sudden.
Mu Meng's mind went blank for a while before she regained the ability to think. Why would her father suddenly say these things? And what he said...
He proclaimed the truth of what happened back then to the six realms, but this was clearly not the whole truth.
He also said that Mu Qingheng had returned to the Celestial Clan? He abdicated the throne to Mu Qingheng in front of the Celestial Clan members?
Mu Meng turned slightly to look at Zhe Qing beside her.
If Mu Qingheng has already returned to the Celestial Clan, then who is the person beside her?
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