At this point, Zhong Mingwei paused and kissed Meiya's slightly sweaty shoulder. He continued, "Sometimes I would think, even if I got the gold nugget, what would it matter? Wouldn't it be like repeating my father's life now? My wife is not my wife, my son is not my son's. There are so many women and children in the harem. But he is just a lonely man, what's the point? But more often, I would think. I must be the crown prince, I must aspire to be the emperor, because only in this way can I get rid of all the shackles imposed on me. I don't want to be a puppet of the Xu family, and I don't want to be a thorn in the eyes of the princes who want to kill me, so I can only persist all the way. I know that this is not a good way. I also know that I may not be interested in the endless scenery at the end. But I really have no choice. Who made me born in the royal family? And the only legitimate son of the emperor and empress. Maybe others have choices, but I really can't choose. At that time, I only knew that if I want to live, I have to be cruel. If I want to live well, I need to stand at the highest point."
Zhong Mingwei's lips gently lingered on the scar on Meiya's neck. Maybe it was because he had sweated too much just now, but the scar was not as dark red as usual, but was faintly pink, like peach blossoms falling on the snow. Zhong Mingwei lay there and kissed her again and again. He was really addicted to it. Until Meiya moved uneasily again, he stopped. While taking a handkerchief to wipe Meiya's sweat, he continued to chatter: "But, I'm not the only prince, and I'm not the only one who wants to climb to the top. So over the years, people have hurt me, and I have hurt others too. I've long been used to it. It is said that people are inherently good, but this does not apply to the royal family. People in the royal family are born to hurt others. I have ruined dozens or hundreds of lives with just a few words. Girl, if it weren't for you..."
Having said this, Zhong Mingwei could not continue. He stared blankly at the candle on the table for a long while, then sighed silently.
Girl, without you, my life would have been lived in vain.
Mei Ya seemed to be sleeping restlessly. She turned over and leaned into Zhong Mingwei's arms again. Zhong Mingwei looked at her flushed face and the small light pink scar on her chin, lost in thought. After a while, he leaned over and kissed the scar again. When he spoke again, his voice was so gentle: "So how could a wicked person like me meet a lovely person like you?"
Zhong Mingwei gently rubbed the scar with his fingertips, from the chin to the neck, and from the neck to the arm. The scars that Meiya never wanted to show in front of him were now all in front of him. The more he looked at them, the sadder he felt: "You must have been in so much pain at that time? For a stranger like me, you almost risked your life. How could there be a girl as stupid and nice as you?"
Zhong Mingwei's eyes were a little moist as he looked at the long scar. In the flickering candle flame, he seemed to see how the girl had gone through the sea of fire to pull him out on New Year's Eve that year, how the girl had endured the severe pain and washed clothes with fear, and how the girl had secretly shed tears while looking at the scar in the mirror...
It's all for him, from beginning to end, it's all for him, no matter this ugly scar, or the inferiority and cowardice over the years, it's all because of him.
Zhong Mingwei's heart had never hurt so much before. He hugged the little girl in his arms tighter, not leaving any gap between them, and just held her tightly.
"Girl, you made me live such a good life," Zhong Mingwei said softly, while gently rubbing Mei Ya's face, "Just wait and see how I treat you in the future."
The person in his arms snorted a little irritably. Zhong Mingwei didn't dare to say anything anymore. He just stared at the little girl in his arms without blinking, sometimes smiling foolishly, and sometimes wiping his eyes in a cowardly manner, until the candle burned out, Zhong Mingwei fell asleep in a daze.
…
May 20, 1934
Ningguta.
Nanshan Villa.
Just after the fifth watch, Grandma Chen got up. She didn't go home yesterday and stayed at Nanshan Villa. Gu Qingtong didn't leave either. She got up with Grandma Chen yawning. While washing up, she asked Grandma Chen: "Grandma, why are we getting up so early? Meiya is not going from her parents' home to her husband's home to hold a wedding at home. Why is it necessary to be so formal?"
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