Zhong Ming'e stared at Liao Chongwu, and the tears in his eyes kept piling up. Finally, they burst out, and he tightly grasped Liao Chongwu's hand, crying in a suppressed and sad voice: "There is no chance. Liao Chongwu, we have no chance..."
"Why is there no chance?!" Liao Chongwu held his shoulders and shook them vigorously. "Zhong Ming'e, as long as you nod your head and agree, I will take you away. Let's go to a place where no one knows us. Let's forget about this imperial city, and all the people and things in this imperial city. Let's also forget about the past. Let's start over and be a free couple..."
"Don't say it anymore! Don't say it anymore!" Zhong Ming'e collapsed and pushed Liao Chongwu to the ground, crying. "We don't have a chance! No chance at all! Today. I step out of this imperial city. Tomorrow, my mother will be beheaded. There are also more than a hundred people in the Cui family! Not only that, but also the Zou family! How can I bear all these sins?!" Zhong Ming'e howled. Suddenly, he covered his face and sobbed softly, "Liao Chongwu, I am no longer the young prince who is naive and dispensable. Today, I am the Prince of Hui County. What burden do I have on my shoulders? How can you...you not know?"
Liao Chongwu sat on the ground, staring at Zhong Minge, as if he wanted to see that face into his bones. After a while, he turned his head and began to pick up the chess pieces that had rolled on the ground. He picked up each white jade chess piece carefully, put it into the chess box, and then placed it on the table.
"Your Highness," Liao Chongwu walked up to Zhong Ming'e, knelt on both knees and kowtowed to him three times, "Take care."
"You..." Zhong Ming'e looked at the man kneeling in front of him, his lips trembling and he could no longer make a sound.
"Tomorrow, I will set off for the imperial mausoleum. From now on..." Liao Chongwu looked up at Zhong Minge and continued, "I'm afraid it will be difficult to serve Your Highness. The guard Gao who came with me is as skilled as I am and is very respectful to Your Highness. I dare to ask Your Highness to keep guard Gao to serve you personally."
"Okay, I promise you." Zhong Ming'e said in a hoarse voice.
"Thank you for your kindness over the years, Your Highness," Liao Chongwu kowtowed to Zhong Minge again. When he looked up again, his forehead was red, and even his tiger eyes were red. "I'll take my leave."
"Liao Chongwu..." Zhong Minge called, but he didn't know what to say. Yes, what else could he say at this time?
"I'll take my leave." Liao Chongwu stood up and retreated respectfully.
When the broad and tall figure disappeared into the dark night, Zhong Minge sat down on the ground, tears falling down his face, wetting the vermilion carpet.
…
The fourth day of the fourth month in the thirty-third year of Jiasheng
Ningguta.
Meiya got up early. She was going down the mountain today, so she washed and cooked early.
"What's the big deal? Why do we have to go down the mountain?" Zhong Mingwei ate his stir-fried noodles with an unhappy look on his face. "Can't we wait until Pang Yi comes back and do it?"
"It's too late," Mei Ya picked up a piece of tofu with her chopsticks for Zhong Mingwei and said in a low voice with her eyes downcast, "I want to go to the street to buy some paper money and incense."
Zhong Mingwei was startled, and nodded hurriedly, "Yes, yes, yes, I didn't think it through. I must buy this, and buy the best and most expensive one."
Zhong Mingwei cursed himself in his heart. Tomorrow is Qingming Festival, how could he not remember it? Meiya's parents passed away early, so they should pay homage to them on Qingming Festival. He, who lives with Meiya day and night, didn't even think of this. It was outrageous. Meiya must be very angry, right?
Mei Ya didn't get angry, but instead curled her lips and looked at Zhong Mingwei: "What's the difference between good and bad, noble and humble? It's just a gesture of kindness."
"Then we must also do our best and most precious things," Zhong Mingwei was thinking about making amends, and he continued in a hurry, "When we get married in the future, we will build a mourning hall in the house to worship our parents."
"No, burning some paper money on Qingming Festival is enough, I don't care too much about it," Meiya said softly, eating a mouthful of noodles, and then said, "Besides, I don't even know my parents' names, how can I set up a mourning hall? Do I have to offer two empty tablets?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
