Chapter 351 The reason she got all these injuries is actually like this!
Zhou Zhining silently shed tears as she watched his retreating figure and asked, "Brother Xingzhuo, do you regret it?"
Her voice was hoarse, dejected, and lifeless.
She was awaiting another trial—his trial of her.
Do you regret loving her?
Do you regret sticking to your principles and protecting her?
Zhan Xingzhuo didn't turn around. He clenched his fist tightly, took a deep breath, and calmly answered her, "I regret it."
This is also a trial for his past years.
She exploited his longing for family affection, driving him to fulfill her wishes; while he was blinded by the vulnerability she created, always believing that she needed him and that he was the hero who saved her from her predicament; he thought that everything she did was to repay her for taking care of him when he was a child, but in fact he was leading himself into an abyss.
Because of her, he was trapped in their little world; he didn't know how to accept others or how to love.
He hurt an innocent woman, rubbing salt into her already painful life; he lost his beloved and was not qualified to be the father of her child.
He disregarded his own family ties until he saw the Grand Princess enter the palace and kneel before the Empress Dowager all night to plead for him. He then realized that he was loved by his mother.
Zhan Xingzhuo regretted it, regretting that he realized it too late.
He has almost lost everything, and now he only has the life that the Grand Princess begged for.
He would never want to have anything to do with Zhou Zhining again in his life.
The Grand Princess is right. He shouldn't have tried so hard to pull someone who was jumping into the abyss; that would only have dragged him down with him.
He used to think he was just too deeply in love and that he was the hero who saved her, but now he realizes that he was just foolish.
Fortunately, he survived and can spend the rest of his life protecting the people he truly should protect.
Zhan Xingzhuo didn't linger and quickly walked out.
As I stepped out of the prison gates, I was greeted by bright sunshine.
The suffocating feeling pressing on his chest vanished instantly in the sunlight. He gasped for breath, clenched his fists, and slowly shed tears.
Zhou Zhining's gaze followed his retreating figure all the way.
Just as she was about to disappear from sight, her calm acceptance of death suddenly surged violently. She pushed Xiao'er off her, grabbed the railing, and strained to peer out, calling out loudly, "Brother Xingzhuo! Zhan Xingzhuo!"
But the man ignored her, his steps unwavering, moving further and further away from her. Zhou Zhining frantically shook the railing, screaming, "Zhan Xingzhuo, save me! You can't ignore me!"
However, even after she screamed, the man simply walked towards the light coming through without looking back.
Later, Zhou Zhining slumped to the ground, seemingly oblivious to the child's cries, her mind filled with only one thought—there was no one in this world who cared about her anymore.
Even the last man who held her tightly and protected her left her.
Why?
What did she do wrong?
Was she wrong to be born into the Zhou family?
No, she was born superior to others. She was the eldest daughter of the Zhou family. At least, she lived a life of comfort and ease in the first half of her life, receiving praise and flattery from others.
Whenever she sat in the carriage and passed through the streets, the wind would blow through a corner of the curtain, and the poor people would look at her as if she were a fairy.
She has worn the best clothes in the world, eaten the best food, been surrounded by countless people, and slept with the most handsome man.
What regrets do I have in this life?
Those who cling to life will face endless suffering in the future!
"Hehe...hehe...hahahaha..." Zhou Zhining laughed to herself, and gradually, her laughter became manic.
She suddenly grabbed some dirty grass from the ground and stuffed it into her mouth.
Xiao'er was so frightened that she forgot to cry and ran out of the cell.
He doesn't want his mother anymore; this person isn't his mother.
"Father, Father..." He ran towards Zhan Xingzhuo and never looked back.
...
Meanwhile, Lin Shiyuan, carrying a food box and holding a child, went to visit Yao Qingling.
She was locked in the same cell she had been in before, with a clean bed, clean food, and clean water.
Lou Yuetao and her maids were all there, and after being treated by the doctor, their wounds were healing.
Xiao Pingfeng was imprisoned in another cell and received preferential treatment; his life was not in danger.
Yao Qingling held Zhao'er in her arms, pressed her face against the child's, and her eyes welled up with tears.
As a mother, how could she bear to leave her child? Heaven knows how much she missed and worried about him these past few days.
Lou Yue ate some of the food Lin Shiyuan had brought and asked, "How is Xia Chan? Why didn't she come?"
Lin Shiyuan frowned slightly, as if there was something he was reluctant to say.
Yao Qingling said, "At this point, what is there that can't be said? Even if she dies, I will accept it calmly."
Lin Shiyuan shook his head: "She's not dead, she just doesn't dare to come see you."
Qingling: "What do you mean?"
Lou Yue quickly asked, "Is it because she felt sorry for us for not going to jail with us?" As she spoke, she took a bite of the steamed bun in her hand, "She's really stupid."
Lin Shiyuan glanced at her, then turned his gaze back to Yao Qingling and slowly said, "Do you know how Prince Xin discovered your relationship with Sheng Dahe?"
Yao Qingling frowned slightly: "Could it be that he had someone investigate and find out?"
The docks are crowded and chaotic, and people's hearts are not entirely united. Although Qingling and Shengdahe have been purged several times, no one can resist the temptation of a large sum of money. Prince Xin is rich and powerful, so it's not surprising that he would target them and they would be reported.
Lin Shiyuan asked, "Is Xia Chan in close contact with a lowly prison guard?"
Yao Qingling's eyes widened: "Him?"
Lin Shiyuan nodded: "That man is one of Prince Xin's men. When you were in prison last time, Prince Xin arranged for him to get close to you. Xia Chan associates with him. Although Xia Chan is very cautious, she can't help but be investigated by those with ulterior motives."
Qingling opened her lips, unsure of what to say.
Lou Yue suddenly became furious: "No wonder she didn't dare to come see us! Who would have thought that she betrayed all of us! Miss trusted her so much, and she actually got run off with a man!"
She exerted too much force, and her broken ribs suddenly started to hurt. She could only clutch her waist and breathe softly, but she was still angry.
So this is how she got all these injuries!
Lin Shiyuan took a deep breath and said, "You can know a person's face but not their heart. When you were in prison, that jailer delivered books to you and tipped you off. Didn't you speak well of him before?"
Lou Yue pressed her lips together, wanting to say something, but couldn't.
She also thought the jailer was kind and only did this torturous job for a little bit of money.
Yao Qingling was silent for a while: "And then? I don't believe that Xia Chan would betray us and go with that man because of this."
If Xia Chan initially followed her with the intention of living a better life and pursuing a brighter future, after spending so much time together, she didn't think Xia Chan was just a profit-driven person.
Lin Shiyuan said, "You arranged for her to keep an eye on Sheng Dahe. After Sheng Dahe started his rebellion, he tied her up."
"It was that man who sneaked into the dock and rescued Xia Chan. She's been trying to find a way to get you out, but with so many people arrested at the time, she didn't know what to do."
"She didn't dare to show her face. To avoid being captured by the soldiers, she burned her face with fire and then managed to contact Nie Yun, who then found me."
"She gleaned some information about Prince Xin from the jailer and told me everything she knew."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
