Chapter 187 Choice
Xiao Mingzheng's hands were so strong that he tightly held Zhong Min who turned to leave. At this moment, his heart was really panicked. He knew that if he let this stubborn woman go like this, then from then on, he might lose her forever and never see her again.
Originally, in his opinion, although what he did was inappropriate, it was not so unforgivable. But now he completely understands that in the eyes of this woman who cannot tolerate any grain of sand in her eyes, love is even more so.
Although he didn't really do anything to hurt her, this behavior was no different for a person who could not tolerate any sand in love. For her, when he had this idea and made this decision, he was destined to cause harm to her. Deception and distrust are indeed terrible things in love.
He had to admit that this time he had completely shot himself in the foot. He should have thought long ago that a special woman like Zhong Min could not be treated with ordinary people's standards.
"Don't go!" He spoke very quickly, revealing unprecedented emotion: "It's so late, where are you going?"
"The world is so big, there's always a place for me. Your Highness should still remember what you said before, right?" Zhong Min didn't turn around, but just glanced back at Xiao Mingzheng: "Your Highness said that if one day I still insist on leaving, you won't force me. Could it be that you lied to me too?"
There was a hint of anger in her eyes that she herself didn't even notice. She wanted to see how many times this person who once said seriously that she would not force him would lie to her.
Looking into those eyes, Xiao Mingzheng's heart surged like a storm. Zhong Min's words left him breathless. He couldn't decide whether to stay or not. Not staying would completely go against his heart, but staying would mean he would be breaking his promise to her and facing the charge of deception for the second time.
"Min'er, I promise I will never..."
Before he could finish his words, Zhong Min interrupted him and asked, "What's your guarantee?"
Zhong Min's voice suddenly turned cold, and her entire demeanor shifted from the previous fury. She sighed softly and spoke calmly, "Actually, we're not the same kind of people. You can't completely change yourself for me, and the same goes for me. You're destined to stand on the highest peak, looking down upon the world, while I want to be a simple, ordinary citizen. If two other people, Yun and Ni, were to be together, one would have to give up their original self, abandoning many of their principles for the other. But neither of us is that kind of person. So, it's best for Yun and Ni to each live their own lives."
"Who says we're not the same kind of people?" Xiao Mingzheng took two steps forward and stood in front of Zhong Min. He said with great seriousness, "Even if we don't agree on some things, so what? Min'er, give me some time, please. There are some things I'm willing to try to change!"
Zhong Min was startled by Xiao Mingzheng's words, but she quickly recovered from the temptation. Looking into those sincere eyes that were beyond reproach, she suddenly asked, "So, are you willing to put aside your current status, the power struggles you're in, and become an ordinary person?"
Xiao Mingzheng was stunned at this, but he quickly recovered, frowning slightly, with an expression of indescribable helplessness: "Min'er, you have to understand my situation. Even if I am willing to give up everything, others will not allow me to do so."
"I know you have your limitations. It's precisely because I know this that we're not a good match." Zhong Min's voice softened, yet it held an indescribable resolve. "Mingzheng, you know better than anyone that this limitation will stay with you for the rest of your life. Even if you reach the pinnacle of your career, there will always be new limitations. If your limitations conflict with mine, what will you choose?"
She didn't say anything more, her heart twitching again. The so-called sacrifice of small matters for the greater good, the greater good for the lesser details—in a conflict like this, she would always be the loser. For a man, especially a man like Xiao Mingzheng, the temptations of the world were far greater than a woman could ever hope to match. It was all because she was too greedy.
Xiao Mingzheng remained silent, his gaze fixed on Zhong Min. He could no longer discern any strange emotion between them, and it was unclear what he was thinking. He still didn't let go of her hand, nor did he move his tall frame even a bit, towering over Zhong Min like a mountain.
Seeing this, Zhong Min took a deep breath and continued, "You don't have to worry about me. I'm not a child, and I don't need anyone's protection to survive. If... if you really want to do this for my own good, please respect my choice and let me leave to live the life I want."
After saying that, she reached out and took Xiao Mingzheng's hand away, preparing to leave again. She knew in her heart that this was not the time to get involved, otherwise she would not be able to control her heart so firmly.
"It's already late and you haven't eaten yet. You should leave tomorrow morning." Xiao Mingzheng didn't try to pull Zhong Min away, but his voice became hoarse.
Zhong Min subconsciously stopped, feeling an indescribable sadness in his heart: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but forget it. I have to leave sooner or later."
"Aren't you going to go back and say goodbye to Xi'er and the others?" Xiao Mingzheng added, "Perhaps they will all be willing to follow you forever."
Zhong Min shook her head slightly. She knew what Xiao Mingzheng meant. He was still worried about her, so he wanted the people who had been assigned to protect her to continue to stay with her. However, if that was the case, it didn't seem to make much of a difference.
"Your Highness, please apologize to them for me." She didn't look back, controlling her inner ups and downs, and finally said, "You, take care!"
After saying this, she no longer hesitated and walked away. Her speed was extremely fast, and she ran all the way to where Qin Ke had rested earlier. Soon, the guide who had brought her in appeared from nowhere. Seeing Zhong Min coming out so quickly and looking very strange, he immediately hurried forward and followed, asking, "Sir, where are you going?"
"Go find the person who came in with me just now." Zhong Min didn't stop, but said to the man, "Please help us lead the horse we rode earlier to the door."
The man was stunned when he heard this. It was so late, were they still going back? He didn't dare to ask any more questions, so he just said yes and quickly retreated.
The man did not immediately prepare the horse as Zhong Min instructed, but turned back and walked towards Xiao Mingzheng's residence, obviously wanting to confirm something with his master. Zhong Min knew what was going on, but he didn't say anything, pretending to know nothing and went straight to Qin Ke's residence.
Qin Ke was quite surprised to see Zhong Min coming over so quickly. He was about to speak when he saw that she looked pale and seemed to be in a bad mood.
"What's wrong with you?" He couldn't help but help her and let her sit down first, then handed the cup of tea in front of him that was still untouched and at just the right temperature to her.
"I'm fine." Zhong Min took a few sips of tea, calmed himself down, looked at Qin Ke and said, "Brother Qin, let's go."
"Now?" Qin Ke was even more surprised when he heard it. He paused and said, "Is there something urgent that needs to be dealt with in the capital right away?"
"No, I won't go back to the capital." Zhong Min shook his head, and for a moment he didn't know where he could go.
"If we don't go back to the capital, then where should we go?" Qin Ke sat down beside her, becoming increasingly confused. What had this girl just seen and learned? Why had she suddenly become so strange?
He originally thought that it was Xiao Mingzheng who came, wasn’t it?
After hearing Qin Ke's words, Zhong Min looked at him carefully and said, "Brother Qin, from now on, Prince Mu's affairs will no longer have anything to do with me. Therefore, I don't have to go to the capital to manage his intelligence network. The capital is not a place I like either. From now on, I will be truly free. I can go anywhere. I just need to find a quiet place where no one will disturb me and live my life in peace. As for you..."
She glanced at Qin Ke's empty left arm, and felt guilty again: "You don't have to run around for me anymore. You should also live your own life."
As soon as these words came out, Qin Ke fell silent. He did not rush to say anything, but just stared at Zhong Min, trying to guess what had just happened.
After a moment, he finally spoke and said to Zhong Min calmly, "Min'er, was the person you just met Xiao Mingzheng?"
He knew clearly that Zhong Min was not an impulsive person, and her sudden decision was definitely not accidental. After much thought, he realized that the only person who could make her suddenly give up what she was doing in Jingcheng and truly agree to give her freedom was Xiao Mingzheng.
Zhong Min was not too surprised that Qin Ke guessed this. She didn't say anything, just nodded and didn't deny it.
"Did you ask him about the poison?" Qin Ke tried to ask again.
Given the relationship between Zhong Min and Xiao Mingzheng, apart from this incident, he really couldn't think of anything else that could make Zhong Min decide to leave without hesitation.
Zhong Min still didn't say anything, but nodded.
At this moment, Qin Ke understood everything in his heart. He said again: "So, he admitted that he did it?"
Zhong Min nodded again, his expression already becoming empty.
Seeing this, Qin Ke stopped asking questions. He had long since gotten to know Zhong Min's personality. He thought that this girl must have forced herself to leave, and Xiao Mingzheng was afraid that he had no right to detain her any further.
"Have you really decided?" Qin Ke paused for a moment before speaking seriously to Zhong Min, "You won't regret it?"
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