Chapter 103:

Ji Heng sent Sheng Anhuai to inform the cabinet and Empress Dowager that he had something important to do, and he ran out of the capital without one of the guards.

Ji Zhao and her party carried the coffin and could not walk too fast. Ji Heng soon caught up with her.

They were only two miles apart. It seemed that they had not seen each other for years when they saw each other again. Their attitudes were strange to each other.

Ji Heng thought she must know something. He wanted to explain at the moment, but he couldn’t speak more.

Ji Zhao wanted to open her mouth to question him many times, but she was afraid that it would be irreparable once she opened her mouth. She can pretend that she doesn’t know anything, but what should she do once she does?

In this way, the two deceived each other to maintain the fragile peace, and their words became less and less, until almost all day later, they had nothing to say. But his eyes always go around her, unable to stay away. He gave up riding and rode in the same carriage with her. When she was sleepy, he carried her to sleep, and she never refused. Once, she dreamt in the carriage that he said sorry to her over and over again. The wind brought up the scarlet plum blossom and dyed his tears red.

When she woke up, she found her eyes were sour, and her face was wet.

In fact, she does not need to talk. Putting all things together is enough to piece together a complete truth. Ji Heng kept saying sorry to her. He sent people to chase down the assassins with the last words of the escaped killer. She found the bones in the cave accurately. These things show that either he is the murderer or he is defending someone.

What kind of person is worth his effort to maintain? Why would he defend someone who assassinates her father?

Probably only the Empress Dowager.

However, Empress Dowager was not a person in power. The imperial concubines constrained her in the deep palace, and Chen Wuyong secretly monitored her. Isn’t it difficult for Empress Dowager to send someone to assassinate her family? Even if she succeeds, it’s will hard for him, as her son.

The most motivated, conditional, and likely killer is actually the only one.

Ji Zhao is wrapping the truth in a tulle. As long as she does not speak, they will never see the sun.

She thought that even if she knew the truth, he was too special for her to revenge.

However, whether he is the real murderer or accomplice, she can’t be with him. She could not face such a person every day.

She loves him, but there is a deep blood feud between her and him. Although she deliberately blurred the hatred, it became less biting, but… she still can’t do it.

Ji Zhao stayed in Gusu for half a month. After burying her parents, she had nothing to do and did not know where to go.

She did not say goodbye to him, so-called tacit. That is, it is difficult to speak. She tidied up her things and left quietly at dawn.

However, Ji Heng just waited for her to leave, waiting for the rabbit.

She bowed her head and remained silent for a long time and finally said, “let’s leave now. ”

Ji Heng had already guessed this and expected her choice. She did know everything. But now, listening to her own words, his heart was still in pain.

Instead of answering her, he took her all the way and ran to Mr. and Mrs. Ji’s grave.

Ji Heng kneels in front of the tombstone and says to Ji Zhao, “up to now, all the evil debts are caused by me. If you want to seek revenge, just come. “Then he took out his dagger and handed it to Ji Zhao.

But Ji Zhao didn’t take it. She said with a wry smile, “why you do that?. ”

“Ah Zhao, you know what I mean,” he stubbornly raised his dagger and looked up at her. “I want to be good with you. ”

“You mean, let me put down the hatred of killing my father and go back with you? ”

“Ah Zhao, I want to use my life to compensate you, is that okay?” He looked at her with a pleading look.

“Not for a lifetime, Ji Heng, don’t you think I didn’t dare. “Ji Zhao said, as expected, she took the dagger and stabbed him under the clavicle. Although she is not strong enough, this dagger is a good weapon. If it goes down like this, it will stab an inch.

Ji Heng snorted. He felt a pain in the wound. Although Ji Zhao did not stab his heart, it was more painful than the wound. He covered the wound, ignoring the blood oozing from his fingers, raised his head, and smiled at her. “If it doesn’t rid of your hatred, you can do more. ”

“No more. “Ji Zhao looks at the red blood on his fingers. She doesn’t know who is fiercer.

“So, would you like to go back with me? ”

Ji Zhao bent over and pulled out a bottle of cold sore medicine from him. She felt relieved, “you can’t die.” then she gave it back to him. “Ji Heng, from now on, I’ll break up with you. I’ll go back to the bridge and go back to the road. I don’t care about your death. “Ji Zhao finished, turned around, and left.

Ji Heng didn’t expect that. He hugs her leg. “Ah Zhao, don’t go, please don’t go. “There was a lot of blood flowing out of the wound, but he didn’t care.

Ji Zhao wants to break him free. Although he is hurt, his strength is great. He holds her leg tightly. She did not have the heart to kick him with all her power, and the two were deadlocked.

Ji Zhao’s eyes were sour, and finally, she cried, “Ji Heng, don’t be too hard on me.”

“Ah Zhao, don’t go. “He lost a lot of blood. His lips became white, like a layer of frost. He knelt on the ground, holding her leg stubbornly, his face pressed against her leg. Even for an ordinary person, this gesture is somewhat humble, not to mention that he is an emperor.

Ji Zhao took a deep breath and said, “you killed my parents, but you want me to marry you. Is that too crazy? ”

Ji Heng looks like he’s been chopped by a thunderbolt. He looks up at her in shock. “Me? Mr. Ji? Where does this start? How can I kill Mr. Ji?! ”

“You didn’t kill it. You sent someone to kill it. ”

“No, not me! Ah, Zhao, Mr. Ji is the one I trust the most. How can I harm him? ”

Ji Zhao squatted down and looked at him directly. “Well, why do you want to send someone to assassinate the murderer? Why do you find my parents’ bones but have never mentioned them to me? Why bother to find someone to pretend to be a guide to take me to the cave? ”

Ji Heng thought about it quickly, and he probably understood. Someone must have told Ji Zhao something terrible about him, and the liar said it half right and half false. Ji Heng is well versed in deception, which is the most difficult to guard against. “It’s really not me,” he said with a flash of his eyes. “I’ll explain to you later. First, tell me how you found the cave. ”

“You’re not the real murderer. Who else? Your mother? ”

“Yes -” he said a word and was suddenly interrupted by a voice.

“It’s a perfect scene.” Ji Zheng walked out from behind several trees nearby and smiled.

Ji Zheng made every attempt to make Ah Zhao misunderstand him … Ji Heng looked at Ji Zheng fiercely.

When Ji Zhao saw Ji Zheng, he was a little surprised, “how did you come? ”

“I’m worried about you.” Ji Zheng looks at Ji Zhao with gentle eyes.

After Ji Zhao knew his heart, she didn’t adapt to his gentleness. She turned away from him. Her eyes fell on Ji Heng’s wound, and she frowned unconsciously. The injury is not fatal. Now the blood is running less, but it still makes her worry.

“Ah, Zheng, don’t waste your energy,” Ji Heng said. “You must not know who ah Zhao’s real enemy is. ”

“It’s you, my brother. ”

“No, it’s our father. ”

Ji Zhao looks at him in surprise.

“It’s unbelievable, isn’t it? “Ji Heng smiled bitterly.” I couldn’t believe it at first. ”

Ji Zheng sneers, “you are shameless to plant this on father to avoid responsibility. ”

“You deliberately slander and frame me to get ah Zhao. You’re the one who shameless ”

Ji Zhao looks at Ji Heng and Ji Zheng. She believes that Ji Zheng is involved in this matter. Otherwise, the people sent by Ji Heng will not disappear. But the question is, how much does Ji Zheng know? Did he send the assassin who ran into her? If so, then all testimony can be falsified. If the murderer is really the former emperor, it can be explained why Ji Heng did so many things without her knowledge. Can the former emperor really do this? It seems to be more realistic than the Empress Dowager buying murderers.

She shakes her head left and right for a moment. Her heart is full of doubts. She doesn’t know which one to believe.

“All the people who participated in the assassination were dead. Now only Song Hai and I know about it. I don’t have enough material evidence. If you don’t believe me, It’s up to you, “Ji Heng said to Ji Zheng, turning to Ji Zhao,” but I think you will believe me. ”

Ji Zhao actually believed him at the beginning but later was forced to lie by many facts. She thought about it from the beginning to the end and asked Ji Zheng, “you should have arrived long ago, but you didn’t show up. It was when I discussed the real murderer with him. Why? ”

Ji Zheng pulled down his face. “Don’t you believe me? ”

“I believe in the truth. ”

“Ah Zhao, he has been investigating you. He has known your origin for a long time, maybe earlier than me, so he has the conditions to arrange everything in Liaodong.” Ji Heng cuts in and turns to Ji Zheng. “Ji Zheng, you are my brother. I always thought that you were also used in that year, so I never criticized you. Now it seems that I have tolerated you too much. You are just as insincere, ruthless, and unscrupulous as your mother. ”

“Shut up! “Ji Zheng is angry and suddenly points his sword at him.

Ji Zhao stopped in front of Ji Heng. “Ji Zheng! Do you want to kill your brother?! ”

Ji Heng said coldly, “he even wants to covet his elder sister-in-law. It’s no surprise that he can kill his brother and usurped the throne. ”

Ji Zheng’s grip on the sword tightened.

Ji Zhao caught a flash of killing in his eyes and said, “if he dies, I will die too. ”

“Ah Zhao, if you say that, I’ll be worth it.” Ji Heng smiled, “but don’t worry. He can’t kill me. “Ji Heng’s wound was not fatal. He had a lot of strength, but he had to win Ji Zhao’s sympathy just now, so he pretends to be so weak.

Ji Zhao doesn’t know that. She turns her head and tells him to “shut up.” This time, it’s not suitable to provoke Ji Zheng. Ji Heng watched her protect him fearlessly with such a weak body, and his nose suddenly became sour.

“How wicked I am in your eyes.” Ji Zheng took back his sword without expression.

Ji Zhao raised a heart and put it down.

“Ji Zhao, I just want to ask you a question. If you first met me, would you like me? ”

“I just want to ask you, is that assassin sent by you? ”

“Don’t you already have an answer? Why ask me again. Now answer me, if you meet me first, will you like me. ”

“No. If a person harms me in the name of liking me, then I will never love him. ”

Ji Heng secretly congratulated himself after her. Fortunately, he didn’t force ah Zhao.

Hearing this, Ji Zheng looked gloomy and said, “I’m sorry.”. ”

“You don’t have to apologize. It’s me who blinds. ”

Her original intention was not to see the truth in her eyes, but in Ji Zheng’s ears, it was like she scolded him.

He bowed his head in dismay and said nothing.

Ji Zhao no longer paid attention to Ji Zheng. She helped Ji Heng up and left.

* * *

“That’s all it is. I’m sorry, ah Zhao. I lied to you. “As soon as Ji Heng is bandaged, he can’t wait to explain to Ji Zhao,” I’m sorry, I’m afraid you’ll leave me.”

Ji Zhao helped him lie down and covered him with a thin quilt. “Take a rest first. ”

He grabbed her by the hand and said, “tell me your answer. You’ll come back with me, won’t you?”? ”

“Take care of the injury first. ”

“Tell me. ”

“I love you. “Said, Ji Zhao.

Ji Heng seems to be suddenly hit by a burning arrow in the chest, with a sharp pain in the heart.

“But we can’t be together. I can’t marry the son who killed my father. She held back her sour eyes and bowed her head to break his hand.

Hearing this, his heart seemed to be broken. His whole body was loose, and Ji Heng lost his strength. She broke his heart so easily.

He had long known that she would answer that way.

Ji Zhao has no more words. She goes out to help him with the decoction.

Ji Heng is lying on the bed, his eyes vacant. He didn’t know what to do next. Although he was powerful, he couldn’t control her thoughts. She’s a soft person. But once she has the determination, she will do it. What’s more, in this matter, it was his fault.

After a few days, Ji Heng’s wound was almost healed, and Ji Zhao had to leave.

When she left, Ji Heng went to see her off. Spring has come, the grass outside the city is green, willows are green, and clouds are like smoke. Ji Heng stood under the weeping willow and stepped on the grass and wildflowers to say goodbye to her. They were like ordinary friends.

Ji Zhao turns to leave. Ji Heng suddenly squints, raises his right hand, and patted his left chest. Ji Zhao goes out for a few steps. Suddenly, she hears a faint voice behind her. She turns around and sees Ji Heng fall to the ground.

She hurriedly ran over, and he fell to the ground, pale and bloodstained. She couldn’t just leave him like this, so she had to take him back to the room.

When he returned to his room, Ji Heng coughed twice more. Ji Zhao asked the doctor to come and see him. The doctor said he was ill. Some medicine has been prescribed.  Ji Zhao needs to take care of him for some time. Ji Heng was so sick. The two of them dragged on for nearly half a month.