Chapter 158 Emotional Breakthrough
PS: Thank you Xiaoyu for the sachet and cherry balloon, and thank you daixi01 and *懒* for casting the pink votes.
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In reality, how could Zhong Min not understand Xiao Mingzheng's intentions? The situation in the capital was chaotic, and Li Jin'er's identity was already a nuisance. Going there would be extremely risky in every way. Xiao Mingzheng was worried about her safety, so he wanted Luo Jiaxing to send her to a safe place. How could he be willing to let her go to the crisis-ridden capital?
However, Zhong Min felt that she and Xiao Mingzheng's group were already on the same page. Even if she wanted to completely distance herself from them, those who wanted to capture Xiao Mingzheng would never let her, an "accomplice," go. If Xiao Mingzheng were executed as a traitor, how could she, an "accomplice," escape responsibility?
A safe place? The world is vast and belongs to the emperor. Without the protection of Xiao Mingzheng, it's unsafe to stay anywhere, and there are risks wherever you go. So, instead of hiding away in some farmhouse, it's better to head straight to the capital and do something for your own complete and true safety in the future.
As the saying goes, the small hide in the forest, the great hide in the city. The more dangerous the place, the safer it is. Who says going to the capital is necessarily the most dangerous?
"Since it's not about money, then there's no reason to disagree," Zhong Min said in a deep voice. "I know the prince is doing this for my own good and doesn't want me to put myself in danger. But going to Yujiazhuang isn't guaranteed to be safe. Even if it's safe for now, what about the future? You can't hide like that forever, can you? Besides, going to the capital isn't necessarily the most dangerous either. It all depends on how you handle it."
"But……"
"Your Highness, please listen to me first!" Zhong Min interrupted Xiao Mingzheng and continued, "Your Highness must be well aware of my character. When you are in trouble, it is absolutely impossible for me to remain alone. Therefore, even if Your Highness does not allow me to enter the capital, I will not go to Yujiazhuang. Even if you force me to go there, I will still come back. Besides, I am a person who cannot sit still. The more challenging the things, the more interested I am. If Your Highness trusts me, then let me go. If Your Highness does not trust me, then of course it is another matter."
After that, she stopped talking and just looked at Xiao Mingzheng with extra determination, waiting for his reply. The room suddenly became very quiet. Luo Jiaxing also did not speak. Like Zhong Min, he stared at Xiao Mingzheng, as if secretly guessing what he was thinking.
After a while, Xiao Mingzheng finally made a move. He did not immediately answer Zhong Min's words, but looked at Luo Jiaxing and said, "Jiaxing, you go back first."
Hearing this, Luo Jiaxing naturally understood what Xiao Mingzheng meant. He wanted to say something more, but he swallowed it back. Well, he knew Zhong Min's personality well. Once she made a decision, nothing could change it. Furthermore, with her personality, it was impossible for her to leave alone to protect herself at this time.
He stood up and bowed slightly to Xiao Mingzheng, then looked at Zhong Min again before retreating.
After Luo Jiaxing left, Zhong Min said excitedly, "Your Majesty, do you agree?"
Xiao Mingzheng stood up and slowly walked towards Zhong Min, stopping only when he was beside her. "Min'er, this trip to the capital is no small matter. You must think it through."
Zhong Minyi stood up and met Xiao Mingzheng's deep gaze. He pretended to be relaxed and said, "I've thought it through a long time ago. It's something I'm interested in, there's a lot of money to be made, and I can help you a little bit. Of course I'm going."
"Min'er, you silly girl!" Xiao Mingzheng said as he reached out and hugged Zhong Min into his arms, his heart deeply moved. This stubborn girl still said this, refusing to admit her feelings. How could he not know what she was doing?
This time, Zhong Min didn't resist Xiao Mingzheng's hug. After a moment's hesitation, she took the initiative to put her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek against his chest. She didn't know how long it would take before she saw him again, so she just thought of it as a goodbye hug for herself.
Feeling Zhong Min's response, Xiao Mingzheng was even more excited. He increased his strength and hugged her tightly. This was the first time this girl responded to him while awake. He was extremely greedy for this warmth and even felt that at this moment he already had everything.
"I'm not stupid, I'm just doing what I want to do." She said quietly with a warm smile on her face.
After a moment, Xiao Mingzheng finally let go of the person in his arms. He put his arm around her shoulders and said word by word, "I want you to promise me that no matter what, no matter when, no matter what happens, your safety will be my priority. Do you understand?"
"Of course. How can we complete the mission and earn money if we lose our lives?" Zhong Min nodded with a smile. Xiao Mingzheng's worry made her particularly happy.
Looking at this face that was deliberately relaxed, not wanting to make him worry too much, Xiao Mingzheng smiled gently, then looked into her eyes steadily and said again: "Min'er, if there is no other woman by my side in the future, will you stay for me?"
After hearing these words, Zhong Min was stunned. She looked at Xiao Mingzheng in disbelief, not sure whether what she had just heard was true or false, or whether she had misunderstood the meaning.
It took her a while to come back to her senses. She felt as if she was a little light-headed, and even her voice seemed to be lost.
"Xiao Mingzheng, do you know what you're saying?" She reminded him, using his full name, that such words were not to be spoken lightly. Once spoken, there would be a great price to pay.
Xiao Mingzheng nodded solemnly, stroking his long black hair and saying seriously, "Min'er, give me some time, I will take care of everything. When the time comes, will you marry me and be with me forever?"
"If you can really do it, I'm willing," she replied with a smile, but tears welled up in her eyes. She had originally thought they would never reach a consensus, like two parallel lines that could never intersect, but she had never imagined that Xiao Mingzheng would actually compromise and give in one day.
She couldn't lie to herself at all. She liked him, had liked him a long time ago, but she had forced herself to ignore this feeling because she foresaw the end. But now that he agreed to her conditions, what reason did she have to reject that love?
Hearing Zhong Min's unhesitating reply, Xiao Mingzheng's joy was indescribable. He said nothing, simply hugged her tightly once more. The warmth in his arms made him truly feel happy and satisfied. At this moment, he finally understood what it meant to wish for a devoted partner and stay together until old age. At this moment, he knew even more clearly that as long as she was by his side, any price would be worth it.
"Mingzheng, you're not lying to me, are you?" Zhong Min murmured, "I'm a stubborn person. If you lied to me, I would never forgive you."
Only she knew what love was like. Once she gave it without hesitation, it would be so strong that it would overwhelm her. Therefore, she never dared to love seriously, let alone give her all. But now, knowing that Xiao Mingzheng was willing to not have other women for her, how could she not be moved? How could she not give him all her love?
"Silly girl, how could I lie to you!" Xiao Mingzheng hugged her tightly, wishing he could take out his heart and show it to her: "Except for you, I will never have any other woman in the future."
"I've taken note of everything you said!" Zhong Min took a deep breath, broke free from Xiao Mingzheng's arms, pointed at her heart, and said seriously, "If you ever find another woman again, I will leave this place forever, and we'll never see each other again, whether alive or dead!"
Xiao Mingzheng couldn't help but be startled by her seriousness. How could he not understand what such concern meant? He used to think she was so difficult because she didn't love him enough, but now he truly understood that it was precisely because of love that she could not tolerate even a grain of sand in her eyes.
He said nothing more. At this moment, any promises he had made were meaningless. He simply reached out and took her hand, then firmly placed it over his heart. From now on, he would prove to her with his actions that he would never let her regret her choice.
After clearing the last obstacle, the relationship between the two grew even sweeter. They sat together, leaning on each other, talking from time to time. No matter what they talked about, the expressions on their faces were so gentle and intoxicated.
"Your idea is quite good, killing two birds with one stone." After listening to Zhong Min's suggestion, Xiao Mingzheng said softly, "This way, Jiang Xiyan will no longer have any doubts, and you can also enter the capital smoothly. However, you will have to suffer for a while."
"If you think it's okay, then you can start preparing now. It's better to do it as soon as possible. It's getting late. I'll go back and prepare first." Zhong Min leaned on Xiao Mingzheng's arms, and a little bit of reluctance gradually arose in her heart. Thinking that the two of them had just resolved their misunderstanding, and were about to face separation again, it really took time for good things to come.
Xiao Mingzheng was no exception. He sighed softly and said helplessly, "Min'er, after this separation, I don't know when I'll be able to see you again. Let me hug you again."
Zhong Min felt a lump in his throat and stopped talking. He just hugged her back tightly with his hands, closed his eyes and continued to indulge in the warmth in the embrace.
When Zhong Min returned to his own courtyard, Xi'er came up to him anxiously and asked, "Jin'er, are you okay? I just heard that the prince called you into his study and scolded you for a long time. What did you do to make him so angry that he even smashed the inkstone in his study?"
Zhong Min looked at Xier with a frustrated look on his face, without saying anything. He just sat down without saying a word.
"Hey, why don't you say something? Zi Yan, Chu Er and Xiang Er were just called away by Butler Liu. It doesn't look like something bad happened. The person sent to deliver the message looked very fierce!" Xier became even more anxious and told Zhong Min about Zi Yan and the others.
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