Chapter 98: The Three-in-One Citizens and the Woman, Who Would You Choose?
"Kill him! Kill him!"
"Kill him, and the Gu worms in our bodies will be cured!"
"He is a sinner of Dabei, who poisoned and murdered the people. He deserves to be torn to pieces! His life could have saved millions of ours. He should be grateful!"
······
The people spoke fiercely, their expressions violent, and they threw whatever they had at him, regardless of its weight or size.
Dog's father was among them, staring with a wicked yet gratifying gaze at the dying, disheveled, and broken Crown Prince—no, the traitor! The murderer!
From then on, the only infamous, traitorous, and cruel prince in history appeared. His deeds will be passed down to future generations. The descendants of Da Bei will know, criticize, and resent him, because he is a sinner for all time!
The day has finally come! His dog can finally rest in peace!
He looked up at the sky, raised his hand high, pointed at the heavens with a mixture of sorrow and excitement, his whole body trembling, and said in an indignant tone:
"Today is an auspicious day, suitable for offering sacrifices to Heaven, for granting blessings to the living, and for offering sacrifices to the souls of the dead. Everyone, do you see that? There's so much resentment over there! One by one... countless souls of the dead, their resentment soaring to the heavens!"
The people were frightened by his erratic behavior and all looked up.
Indeed, the sky was gloomy and dark clouds kept churning and sinking, getting lower and lower, until they were right above people's heads, as if they could crush people at any moment with a single command.
The old man stared motionlessly at the sky, almost piously. He stretched out his hand, spread his fingers, and waved it repeatedly. His eyes widened, and he began to mutter incessantly:
"He won't leave, he doesn't want to go. He blames me, he hates me, he hates this world, he hates the devil who watched him die and pushed him into hell! Can you hear that? The devil is laughing, the devil is laughing!"
In an instant, layers upon layers of thick, heavy, and strange resentment crashed down from above, pressing down on everyone, making it hard to breathe. It was as if they were covered by a suffocating, boundless, inescapable black iron blanket, making their breathing increasingly difficult.
Everyone panicked and immediately looked at the devil who had caused all this evil.
He's laughing! He's laughing!
They immediately began to smash him, hitting his festering flesh with stones of varying sizes that tore at his skin and ripped his flesh; they smashed at his exposed bones, breaking his ribs, elbows, and knees; they smashed at his fragile head, striking his skull and cheeks.
Despite being smashed in the head and bleeding profusely, Shen Jizhao remained calm as always, without even frowning. Where was the smile on his face?
In the blink of an eye, crisp yet heavy sounds echoed through the streets and alleys of the capital. These were the sounds of different parts being struck. The sound of being struck with bones inside was dull, while the sound of being struck with exposed bones was crisp.
The clanging and tinkling echoed...
The people's eyes grew increasingly vicious:
"Let's begin! Kill him, and our loved ones will be able to rest in peace, and we will be reborn!"
"Crack! Clang! Clang!"
As soon as Jiang Shuifu entered the capital, the sight of the enraged and murderous crowd that greeted her upon stepping through the city gates caught her completely off guard.
Because Shen Jizhao had become the target of public criticism, she could easily spot the man, covered in wounds and with broken bones, on the high platform above the crowd.
The man was bound tightly, his legs bound together, from bottom to top. The ropes wrapped around his entire body, from his trembling legs that were dripping with blood and reeking of decay, to his thin, bony waist and chest, and finally to his neck, which was bulging with black veins.
No place was spared.
His head, devoid of strength, drooped low, hanging limply in front of his chest.
His jet-black hair fell loose, obscuring his face, his eyes, and even his dark veins—a dense, terrifying testament to the Gu poison.
He was now nothing more than a bloodied beggar, a sight that would make even the Empress, who had given him birth and raised him, pause for a moment to ponder.
How could this person, no, this broken and mutilated walking corpse, be the once-proud and talented Shen Jizhao?
Nevertheless, Jiang Shuifu recognized him at a glance. She recognized his casually closed eyes and trembling eyelids; she recognized his superior, upturned nose hidden in the light and shadow; she recognized his tightly pursed thin lips, those thin lips that were so indifferent that they rarely smiled.
Because these were the things she had copied day and night, the source of her silly smiles as she secretly gazed at them from under the covers, and the attraction that drew her closer to him while he was asleep.
She knew him so well that she could recognize him even from a faint afterimage.
The people's murderous intent surged higher and higher. Shen Jizhao was surrounded by firewood, and his body was bound with thick dry wood. If a fire were lit, the firewood would quickly ignite and explode, igniting a raging fire that would instantly engulf and bury him.
Seeing that they were about to make a move and were approaching Shen Jizhao, with the torches in their hands about to be lit, Jiang Shuifu immediately rushed forward, pulling aside the fierce and man-eating crowd and tearing apart the layers of encirclement that were determined to kill him.
There were too many people, a sea of people, and a high wall blocked her view.
She could no longer see Shen Jizhao, nor could she see if he was safe. But then, she paused, and she heard him—she heard his painful groans.
It's very light and shallow.
But she still heard it; amidst the bustling crowd, all she could hear was his voice.
She was only a few feet away from him, but it felt like they were worlds apart; he couldn't reach her no matter how hard he tried.
Seeing this, Jiang Shuifu immediately took out a hidden arrow she had prepared beforehand and shot it into the sky. The powerful sound rang out, each word ringing out, intimidating them:
"stop!"
The people were indeed frightened. The arrow that was shot into the sky soared straight up and then quickly fell back down, heading straight for them. The arrowhead was sharp and swirled with great force as it flew towards them. Upon seeing this, they scattered in unison, fearing that they would be shot to death.
Therefore, a narrow path was left open.
In an instant, below the high platform, within his immediate vicinity, there was only Jiang Shuifu.
No one can hurt him anymore.
And she could see him clearly.
Before she could even feel joy at seeing his figure appear before her, her eyes shifted to his dejected face and rotting body. She saw his flesh being devoured by vultures and bitten by flies, piece by piece.
A piece of his shoulder was pecked off in an instant. After the flesh was torn away, flies and gnats immediately flew up and stung, licked, bit, and tore. The smell of decay hit him. Not content with biting and gnawing, they also laid eggs and hatched inside his flesh.
The vultures didn't stop there; they continued to peck at his arms and legs, seemingly used to it.
Because Shen Jizhao offered no resistance.
Upon seeing this, Jiang Shuifu immediately fired another arrow, but the vulture was too cunning and flew away, circling overhead with its eyes gleaming, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
She should have run towards him, but instead she slowed down, taking small steps as she climbed up the platform.
The closer she got to him, the clearer she could see all the wounds on his body.
Shen Jizhao has been tied up for several days. Since he appeared in the capital, he was covered in wounds and could not withstand the hatred and resentment of the people in the capital. He was beaten and smashed by them. After he fainted, he was tied up and left without food, drink and sleep for several days and nights.
At night, he was tormented by vultures scavenging at his food; during the day, he was beaten and cursed by the people, who would slash him and spit on his wounds. This went on day and night, in an endless cycle.
Even today, it is considered an auspicious day by the people, suitable for killing him as a sacrifice to heaven to remove the poison.
The vulture seemed to know that his days were numbered, and licked its drooling tongue, as if it had come specifically for one last meal.
Not to mention, Shen Jizhao has been wandering around for the past few months, suffering countless injuries and hardships.
The freezing cold of the far north, the pain of being hacked and slashed repeatedly—this was only what she knew. How much more was unknown to her?
His body was already riddled with holes, his skin and flesh separated, and his bones exposed.
Shoulders, arms, waist, thighs... all the flesh was gone, only bones were visible, soaking in blood.
Only his chest was still presentable, though he had lost weight, and his robes were much looser on him.
She had no doubt that if it weren't for the powerful Gu poison within him, he would have died long ago and wouldn't have been able to wait for her.
Jiang Shuifu's pace slowed down until she was almost at his feet, then she stopped.
Because she saw his avoidance and resistance.
Shen Jizhao heard her voice and smelled her scent; he knew she had arrived.
He immediately shook his head, his hair whipping around in an instant until it hung down in front of him, obscuring his pale, bloodless face, the terrifyingly bulging black veins on his face, and his panicked, tense eyes.
He instinctively shrank back, tilted his head to the side, and drooped his eyes, closing them weakly as if he were asleep.
He resisted her approach and didn't want her to see him in this state.
However, upon closer inspection, one would notice that his eyes were not completely closed; they were slightly open, revealing her white skirt and warm, furry cloak.
It seems she is doing well and is safe.
Jiang Shuifu did not grant his wish. She took another step and this time walked directly in front of him, less than a foot away.
He hung his head and body so low that she didn't need to look up to see his face.
Her eyes were fixed on him, on the deep, furrowed scars and dark veins on his face, on his eyes that avoided her gaze. She stared for a long while before slowly and deliberately uttering each word:
"You don't want your life anymore? You want to die here? Die right in front of me? Shen Jizhao, tell me!"
Shen Jizhao felt her breath, warm and fresh. He straightened his bent legs, which had been slumped over, and straightened his knees. It took a lot of effort, and sweat beaded on his forehead.
He finally straightened up, becoming half a head taller than her, trying to distance himself from her so as not to touch her or breathe her.
He will soil her.
Jiang Shuifu watched him quietly as he writhed and tried to escape like a maggot in a sewer.
She didn't say anything, but stared intently at him. With that gaze, he felt that she had seen through him, inside and out, and that there was no point in trying to hide.
He gave up. If he saw through her, so be it. Once he saw it, she could leave.
Perhaps her scrutiny was too relentless and clingy, for he also opened his eyelids and looked at her with his eyes half-closed.
With just one glance, his weary eyes were laid bare, filled with a deathly grayness and profound silence. Only when he saw the woman before him did his broken eyes begin to flicker slightly, like a pool of stagnant water reflecting moonlight, quietly shimmering in the shadows.
The dark veins on his face were all exposed, stretching across his entire face and weaving a dense, intricate net that obscured all his expressions and emotions.
He expected her to be frightened as before, showing incredulous surprise and bewilderment, and then retreat and run away.
But she didn't. She kept looking at him, at the terrifying, disgusting black veins unique to zombies, symbolizing that the poison had penetrated their lungs and heart. She looked at the face that she used to love and praise as beautiful, now completely stained with indelible dark blood, turning it into an extremely ugly face that was too disgusting to look at.
She wouldn't like such a face; she would despise it.
So Shen Jizhao wasn't surprised. She looked away, her gaze finally settling on his eyes.
But his eyes were even uglier; his bluish-red pupils were extremely abnormal, more terrifying and disgusting than the monsters and fairies in storybooks, making one want to vomit.
He knew he had scared her.
So he straightened his head again and raised his chin. This time, he was a head taller than her.
I'm further away from her now.
She would never see his horrible eyes again.
I will never see his terrifying face again.
Jiang Shuifu raised her head, looked at him, and gazed into his eyes. His eyes reflected her expression—her resolute look, her firm tone:
"I want to hear you say the words you didn't say that day! I'll listen as long as you say them!"
That day?
He knew it referred to her birthday; it turned out she had overheard it.
He was speaking so softly, yet she still heard it; she's really clever.
A woman with sharp hearing and keen eyesight shouldn't be involved with him; she shouldn't have come.
Shen Jizhao remained silent, his lips still tightly closed. The man with the thin lips was ruthless, as if he intended to carry out this statement to the end.
Jiang Shuifu refused to give up. Even though he didn't say anything, she just kept looking at him, waiting for him, hoping he would eventually back down.
Because she saw love and respect in his eyes, both that day and today.
After she leaves, he will gaze deeply and restrainedly at her back, staring at her neck which he is holding, observing whether she is seriously injured. At this moment, when she looks at him, he will hide all his emotions and feelings, glancing at her lightly and casually.
In short, she saw two words in his eyes: restraint. She thought, this is what women call love.
Her head, held high for a moment, trembled slightly as she softly called his name: "Chen Jizhao..."
The air suddenly seemed to freeze, and breaths jerked up and down. Just as she had predicted, the man lowered his head, his terrifying head covered in wounds.
His eyes were fixed on hers, which were burning with intensity. So he looked down again, his gaze falling on her wrist once more—an empty wrist, devoid of anything.
From the moment she appeared and approached, his lowered gaze caught sight of a fair wrist, a smooth wrist without a single mark.
He smiled faintly, a smile that was almost imperceptible. There was no disappointment, no melancholy. He maintained his distance, unwilling to get closer to her. He slowly raised his head, his gaze meeting her eyes.
Shen Jizhao gazed at her face, at the woman's rosy complexion and delicate cheeks, evidence that she was eating well, sleeping well, and taking good care of herself.
He was very happy.
She was as beautiful and healthy as ever, but he…
He couldn't see himself, so he could only slightly raise the corners of his mouth and slightly curve the corners of his eyes, not daring to make the movements too big. He thought that he would look better this way.
With a look of astonished reverence and a smile in his eyes, he opened his lips and spoke, word by word.
But he hadn't spoken for so long that his throat was extremely hoarse, and he couldn't manage to speak for a long time.
Only after he coughed and cleared his throat did his hoarse, low voice finally emerge, broken and hesitant:
“及, 笄, 快乐”
He wished her a happy coming-of-age ceremony!
It was a blessing that was five years late!
The blessing that she, a young girl, waited for until the sun set in the west was never received!
It was the response she had been waiting for and hoping for since she was just beginning to experience love!
This is the blessing a young girl most hopes to receive during one of the most important moments of her life!
He was making up for his arrogance and disdain for her when he was young!
He was making up for his indifference and heartlessness towards her when he was a teenager!
He was wishing her happiness, not just for her coming of age!
The man's voice had improved considerably. He lowered his head again and solemnly wished her well:
"Shen Jizhao, the ninth young master of the Shen family, wishes Madam Jiang Shuifu a happy fifteenth birthday. May you have many more birthdays like this one every year."
He had no noble status, no title of prince, and was simply a young master of the Shen family.
An ordinary young master of the Shen family.
Extremely simple words.
Young Master Shen wishes Lady Jiang a happy birthday and a happy coming-of-age ceremony.
She was very happy; she was blessed by the man she had been hopelessly in love with since her youth, a man she had liked for five years.
She was happy for her younger self.
She heard it and accepted it.
Along with his paintings and longevity noodles.
She knew he made it from the very first bite of the longevity noodles.
The young woman in the painting, now of marriageable age, is innocent and charming, her eyes full of laughter.
It turns out that when she etched herself into his heart at first sight, she also occupied his entire mind, every smile and frown etched into his very bones.
Jiang Shuifu smiled, a bright smile, but her eyes uncontrollably welled up with tears, her eyes sparkling and shimmering.
Suddenly, she stood on tiptoe, hooked her arms around his neck, cupped his face, and kissed him.
She kissed the corner of his mouth.
He kissed the dark veins that he found ugly.
There was not the slightest bit of disdain.
For him, it was a mark of inferiority; for her, it was a heart-wrenching affection.
A tear fell from her eye onto their pressed lips, flowing into his mouth and burning his tongue.
It's piping hot!
Scorching hot!
He swallowed her tears, his body boiling, his blood surging.
Her tears disappeared.
The kiss, though light, made her lose her balance. Her hand slid down his neck, trying to support his shoulder, but his shoulder was covered in wounds. She then turned to his chest, but he subtly avoided her.
She was afraid of hurting him, so she didn't insist.
Jiang Shuifu's kiss signifies that she has forgiven him. She forgives the cold-hearted boy who let her sink into depravity and only stood by and watched, the boy who used her for his own selfish reasons, and the man who used rules to oppress and punish her every day.
Because she saw his sincerity.
He may have been heartless before, but now she sees it.
Jiang Shuifu didn't say a word, but the man who was kissed understood her heart and saw through her heart, just as she saw through all his emotions. He didn't need her words. He knew that she had turned back and was going back to him, this hateful and despicable old grass.
Under the soft glow of Shen Jizhao's gaze, there were pure white pearls, the pearl bracelet she had hidden in her sleeve, the gift he had given her on her coming-of-age ceremony.
She wore it on her wrist and wore it for a long time; it still retained her body heat.
This kiss, though only a few breaths long, felt to him like a rewind of time, from his pursuit of his wife across a thousand miles, his forced imprisonment, his demand for her return, to her resolute and ruthless actions at the time of their divorce, to her tenderness and affection before she left, her eyes filled with adoration, finally settling on that first moment when they met:
"You are very beautiful, and we are a perfect match."
Shen Jizhao also wanted to praise her:
"You are also very beautiful. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, the most beautiful woman in the world. I felt that way the first time I saw you."
He just wasn't good enough for her.
He Beiqing, standing at the city gate, smiled slightly upon seeing this scene, his eyes filled with blessings.
He gave her the garnet-shaped gemstone hairpin she had lost. He had despicably kept something that didn't belong to him. Before returning to the capital, he saw the confusion in her eyes dissipate, and they became crystal clear. He knew then what her decision was. So, it was time.
It's time to return it to its rightful owner.
He sincerely wished them well, hoping they would stay together until their hair turned white.
The people below were utterly shocked by what they saw, craning their necks to get a better look, their eyes practically popping out of their sockets.
Many of those present recognized Jiang Shuifu and began to chatter amongst themselves:
"Isn't this the woman of the traitor, the former Crown Princess? He abandoned her and even tried to kill her, holding her by the throat, and yet she still comes looking for him?"
"That's not all! She even kissed the traitor! She's been kissing him for so long, and she's no good either. She's in cahoots with the traitor. She even defended him in public before, pleading for him, trying to mislead the people into continuing to be loyal to him. She's a complete scoundrel, and she wants our lives!"
"She's a witch! Witches and traitors must both be killed! They're all sinners! Sinners who bring disaster to the country and its people! They can't be spared!"
Every word they uttered caused a stir, and it was impossible for the men and women on the platform not to hear it.
Jiang Shuifu released Shen Jizhao, and some color returned to the corner of Shen Jizhao's mouth; it was from her bite.
His gaze was fixed on her, enveloping her: "Don't be afraid."
He won't let her get hurt.
She understood the implication of his words, but she moved a few inches away from him and shook her head.
"A sinner? Who is the sinner, you or me? How did you gradually become the sinner they speak of? A traitor who has fallen from grace and is hated by everyone?"
Her expression was sorrowful, and she had lost all color in her body, her face pale.
Shen Jizhao's pupils dilated, his eyes rippled, and a deep, shimmering light flickered within them.
She found out?
Indeed, at this moment, Jiang Shuifu heard the familiar conversation again, the conversation that repeatedly appeared in her dreams, the complete conversation:
"Shen Jizhao, you actually came, hahaha! This is the first time you've fallen into my hands. So you have a weakness, a fatal flaw. Let me guess, it's because of her, isn't it? I really guessed right!"
The Fifth Prince, Prince Yu, grabbed Jiang Shuifu by the neck. With a forceful squeeze of his five fingers, he easily left five whitish marks. Looking up, her face was flushed and her breathing was almost stopped.
Shen Jizhao stood a few feet away, his hands clenched into fists, his palms bleeding from the grip. His eyes were bloodshot, frighteningly so, with blood gushing from their sockets as he stared intently at the woman whose neck he was choking.
But he was powerless to save her, because he was surrounded by Prince Yu's men, all of whom were pointing their bows and arrows at him and Jiang Shuifu.
All of this was a scheme orchestrated by Prince Yu.
Prince Yu knew that Shen Jizhao had taken Su Yang down. He originally thought Su Yang was there to destroy his territory, but he didn't expect that Su Yang was there to pursue his wife. She was just a woman, no matter how alluring her body was, she was nothing to worry about. At first, he didn't take her seriously. But slowly, his intelligence told him that Su Yang valued this woman very much and was willing to expose his whereabouts for her. After Su Yang eloped, he not only didn't kill her to vent his anger, but also went down the mountain to learn cooking skills, just so he could go back and cook for this woman. He secretly watched the once extremely proud Crown Prince wash his hands and cook soup, his hands getting blisters from the burns, and laughed so hard that his hands trembled. This was the funniest thing he had ever seen in his life.
What shocked him even more was that he didn't sleep with her!
If I don't sleep with her, it's not for her body. If it's not for her body, then what is it for?
Hahaha, he laughed loudly for a long time, finally finding a flaw and a weakness.
It's her, Jiang Shuifu, the former Crown Princess of Shen Jizhao!
Thus, he successfully reached an agreement with the Wusu Kingdom, with whom he had been secretly in contact for a long time, and obtained the Gu poison. He first chose Suyang as the place to cultivate the Gu poison, and then gave Shen Jizhao a medical book, telling him that only a rare flower growing on the Tianshan Mountains could eradicate it. He fueled the flames and accelerated Gou'er's death, forcing Shen Jizhao to make a public oath, giving the people hope. After he picked the rare flower, he seized his weakness and dragged him in front of him.
"How about this, Your Highness, let's make a deal. I can release her, but what can you offer me? How much sincerity can you show?"
Shen Jizhao watched as Jiang Shuifu, who had been unconscious, was gradually roused by being choked. She opened her eyes and began to struggle desperately, trying to break free from the large, strong hand of the adult man around her neck.
He took a few steps forward, his footsteps shaking the entire mountain, and immediately warned him again:
"Release her! Otherwise, I will take you down with me! We will both perish! Don't test my limits!"
Prince Yu had no doubt that he would really kill him, but instead of being angry, he was very obedient and loosened his grip so that the woman could breathe.
His smile was wicked:
"Alright! Now we can talk! I don't want your life, nor will I kill you. I only need you to make a choice between your people and the woman you love. Choose your people or your woman? I won't force you; I'll give you the chance to choose. Who will you choose?"
Prince Yu stared intently at Shen Jizhao, not missing a single expression. He was eager to know the answer to this decision; he was really looking forward to it.
Jiang Shuifu was dizzy and still felt extremely uncomfortable even after being released. Her mind was in a state of confusion and dizziness, and she was in unbearable pain. Her vision was also completely blank. She needed a long time to recover, but the man who had grabbed her did not give her much time. The next moment, she heard this choice.
The choice is between her and the common people.
Jiang Shuifu smiled with difficulty. The man who captured her was too stupid. One life or countless lives, which one should she choose? Did she still need to hesitate?
Her relationship with Shen Jizhao was truly tangled and complicated; she would be bound to him for the rest of her life.
She loved him, but he broke her heart. She ran away, but he went to great lengths to pursue her. She spent the best years of her life entangled with him. They must have been enemies in a past life.
In her final moments, she reassured him:
"Shen Jizhao, remember to cook plenty of food for me. I'm used to being pampered and can't stand hardship, but I won't blame you. You're a diligent and caring wife..."
Before she could finish speaking, Shen Jizhao's icy voice clearly filled the entire mountain and her ears:
"Let her go!"
Let her go!
He chose her!
He actually chose her!
Her life was worth more than that of millions of ordinary people.
Was he out of his mind, just like her?
She felt increasingly dizzy, and just before she closed her eyes, the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved upwards.
He chose her. It turns out that she could also be chosen by him with unwavering resolve. This is what it feels like to be chosen with unwavering resolve.
Prince Yu was stunned. Hearing his choice, he paused for a moment, then burst into a sarcastic laugh:
"Hahaha, hahaha, I really made the right bet, absolutely right! The Crown Prince, who always manipulates the court with absolute power and shows no mercy, has actually fallen for a woman's love. She is indeed beautiful. If you hadn't chosen her, I would have liked to try her out, to taste what it's like to have a woman you chased after from afar! It must have been extremely intoxicating!"
As he spoke, Prince Yu reached out and touched Jiang Shuifu's face. He was extremely curious about what kind of pleasure this woman could bring to a man, that could make him so happy that he would lose his mind and willingly become her defeated opponent.
But before he could even touch it, a sword came slashing down, nearly severing his arm.
Prince Yu's eyes turned sinister. He pulled out an arrow with a backhand and thrust it into Shen Jizhao's body with all his might, piercing through his entire back.
Shen Jizhao caught the woman who had fainted from the pain. He had been struck in the back by an arrow and staggered to the ground. He held her in his arms and treated her like an extremely precious treasure, patting her back to help her breathe and gently stroking her reddened neck.
He stroked her neck for a long time, until it returned to its normal color, before reluctantly looking away and reaching out to Prince Yu, who was watching the scene unfold:
"The antidote! And... don't let her know."
Prince Yu didn't hesitate, tossing him the medicine. He was beaming with excitement.
"I still want to thank you. Thank you for the extremely lively and grand scene you are about to present to me. I am very much looking forward to seeing how all your subjects will react after they see you destroy their life-saving antidote. Will they continue to kneel before you, or will they wish they could kill you? It's so hard to guess! It's really so hard to guess!"
Shen Jizhao knew what was about to happen and that he was about to fall into an endless hell, but he only had this one choice. It was only natural for the people to want to kill or torture him. He was not a qualified crown prince, nor was he a crown prince who cared about the people.
The only thing he cared about and couldn't lose was her.
She is his destiny.
······
As the sound in her ears ended, Jiang Shuifu was already in tears, one after another sliding down her cheeks, falling to the ground, and landing at Shen Jizhao's feet.
This scene had appeared countless times in her dreams over the past few months. She had long since recalled that the reason she felt dizzy was because of the medication she had taken; each time she felt dizzy, her memory would return a little.
After learning the truth, she cried every time she dreamed of it.
He really did choose her.
It turns out, all his crimes were because of her!
He risked countless lives to save her!
She is the culprit!
All the political achievements and reputation he had built up over the past twenty-odd years through hard work, countless falls and rises, vanished because of her.
No one knows better than her how much he wanted to hold onto that position and how much effort he put in to get it!
But because of her, all his efforts and hard work were wasted, and he became a traitor who was described by people as having no virtue, no heart, no shame, no bottom line, and despicable evil!
She used to complain that he always put everything before her, that in his eyes she was the least important one.
She didn't understand why all the choices were prioritized over hers.
But now, he has actually chosen her over the people of the country!
She knew how difficult this was for him, how much it went against his instincts, his principles, and his rules.
For members of the royal family, the most taboo word is disobedience, as it signifies loss of control and incompetence.
And she was his incompetence.
He could never control himself; he would uncontrollably chase after her, uncontrollably gaze at her, and uncontrollably protect her.
She believed that as long as he had the ability, he would never lower his noble head or give up his esteemed status. Who would be willing to do that?
It's probably because of incompetence.
Love can separate mountains and seas, but it cannot overcome powerlessness.
He was already carrying a heavy burden, and now, because of her, he was on the verge of death, barely clinging to life.
She admitted that she felt sorry for him and worried about him, and she didn't want him to be like this.
Jiang Shuifu didn't want to cry like this in front of him, so her tears kept falling, but she didn't pout or arch her eyebrows. She just looked at him calmly, and her tears fell for as long as she looked at him.
Her eyes were bloodshot, like a rabbit's, yet she stubbornly refused to wipe them, just like a civet cat.
Shen Jizhao didn't want her to cry, because...
"Don't cry, I can't catch your tears."
He once said he would collect all her tears, but now he can't do it.
He couldn't catch her tears.
Jiang Shuifu's tears fell even faster, like dripping water droplets. Her eyes were swollen from crying. She looked so pathetic and must look terrible.
"Shen Jizhao, I don't want to shed tears for you, I don't want to become ugly for you. I'm ugly and dirty now, all because of you. Tell me, how are you going to make it up to me?"
The people, seeing the two so reluctant to part and so full of affection, started making a ruckus. Dog's father was the first to speak:
"The auspicious time has arrived; it's time to send them to their deaths!"
Then many people echoed this sentiment:
"Kill her! Kill the witch! The witch came to save the traitor! We can't let her succeed! Since she dared to come, kill her too! To comfort all the souls in heaven!"
"Yes! Yes! Yes! Kill her, kill them!"
Shen Jizhao's eyes sharpened as he surveyed the crowd below, then turned back to the woman who was still crying and spoke gently:
"Don't cry. This is what I deserve. I have let them down and betrayed them, causing so many people to suffer and lose their lives. They are right. I am a sinner and deserve to die. As for you, it was my choice and has nothing to do with you. Even without you, I would not have escaped this calamity."
He looked into her eyes, let out a long sigh of relief, and smiled with sudden relief:
"Kill me. If I must die today, then I hope I will die by your hand."
If you die at her hands, she won't die.
She killed the criminal, so she was a meritorious official.
She once had no doubt that people are selfish, and that no one would be selfless when faced with the choice of whether he or she dies.
But he said he wanted her to kill him?
She didn't believe it.
Shen Jizhao looked at her, and finally traced her face in his mind again and again, hoping to remember it for a long time, a very long time:
“Let’s do it. They’re right. I am the mother Gu. Only when I die can they live and my sins be washed away. I don’t want to live any longer, and I don’t want anyone else to die because of me. The debts on my body are too heavy. I can’t bear them anymore.”
Therefore, he did not resist or struggle.
He could pay off his debt with his own life; it couldn't be more worthwhile.
Jiang Shuifu's tears stopped falling:
"None of us are guilty, but someone has to bear the blame. So, is it me, or you?"
Shen Jizhao smiled, a beautiful smile, without a trace of coldness, like a gentle spring breeze. This was one of the few times he smiled.
"The pomegranate hairpin in your hair is dazzling..."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Shuifu glanced up and slowly reached for her hairpin, removing it. The sharp hairpin gleamed under the firelight burning among the people.
Her eyes gradually dimmed, became vacant, and turned empty, with only the slender, sharp hairpin in her hand in her gaze.
But in the next instant, under his tender gaze, she unexpectedly thrust herself into him, into his chest.
In an instant, blood flowed freely, covering her hands and fingertips.
His fingertips trembled, and his knuckles cracked.
Blood trickled down her knuckles, flowing to her wrist and staining the white pearls red.
She stared in disbelief at the scene before her, at the large patches of red on his chest.
That shade of red looks so familiar, so very familiar!
She reached out her hands, wanting to touch it, but she didn't dare; she lacked the courage to get close.
The blood made the large expanse of red even more alluring, turning it into a dark red rose in the night, captivating and mesmerizing.
Shen Jizhao looked down at the hairpin stuck in his chest. His blood surged and flowed, staining the treasure he cherished.
He almost instinctively reached for his treasure to move, but he forgot that he was bound and unable to move; any struggle would be futile.
As he struggled, he spat out a mouthful of blood, which sprayed onto his chest, completely soiling his manhood.
No place was spared.
His eyes gradually dimmed.
However, Jiang Shuifu clearly saw his treasure because of his struggle.
It's his pajamas!
It was a nightgown she made for him by hand!
It was his patched-up, tattered, and damaged nightgown!
It was his nightgown, which he wore again and again and refused to throw away!
No wonder he wouldn't let her touch his chest!
No wonder he was covered in wounds everywhere except for this one spot!
No wonder when we were in the far north, people said that we could cut him down, but we couldn’t get even a hair’s breadth closer to his chest!
It turns out that the treasure hidden in his chest was her hard work and her love.
Her love was enveloped by his pounding heartbeat and locked in by his lingering warmth, making it impossible for her to escape.
Her heart was clenched, aching and itchy, making it hard to breathe, as if someone was choking her and she was about to suffocate.
Feeling the weakness in his body and the loss of warmth, Shen Jizhao raised his eyes and expressed his wish:
Actually, I want to see you.
The only thing that kept him going until now was wanting to see her.
Thankfully, it worked.
Another tear welled up in her eyes, this one, the size of a bean, fell straight to the ground, leaving no trace on her cheek.
But she could feel her heart pounding wildly, jumping up and down, with perfect clarity.
She felt this feeling called "heart fluttering" for the first time in a long time, and she felt flustered and at a loss.
The man in front of her had actually captured her heart twice.
She shed tears for him once again; she admitted that she would cry and laugh for him too.
So she thought she loved him.
At that moment, thunderous applause erupted. The crowd below the stage was overjoyed. They were celebrating that she had killed him, they were accepting her heroic act, they were gratified by her reformation.
When chaos reigned, people clamored, and the ugliness of human nature was laid bare, she realized that all his coldness, aloofness, and ruthlessness were actually his way of protecting her.
He "abandoned" her, "left her behind," and choked her—all on purpose.
The farther away she was from him, the better. Only by completely severing ties with him could she hear these cheers, see the recognition and acceptance of her, and be one of his own, not a traitor or a sinner.
His move was to make her "mind her own business".
It turns out that, unbeknownst to anyone, he had been wholeheartedly and painstakingly protecting her.
As a result, his most cherished reputation collapsed one after another, turning into ruins and never to exist again.
Just then, another voice from the dream appeared, clapping and cheering:
"Excellent! I love this scene! It's so moving!"
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