frightfiction Chapter 981 [Fragrant Honey: Zhou Shengru Gu 7]
Chapter 981 [Fragrant Honey: Zhou Shengru Gu 7]
Meng Lan carefully led Zhou Shengchen to the yard, and then quietly waited outside the gate. Zhou Shengchen walked slowly into the yard alone, his heart full of doubts and worries.
When he finally saw Youyou, he paused abruptly, complex emotions revealed in his eyes, and asked anxiously: "Why? Why do you want to marry Nanxiao?" There was a hint of anxiety in his voice that was hard to conceal.
Youyou had a faint smile on her face and answered softly: "Why does King Nanchen ask this? Aren't you happy for this princess? Besides, this marriage is a good thing for both Zhongzhou and Nanxiao." Her tone was surprisingly calm.
Zhou Shengchen frowned, took a step forward, and asked, "But if they want to marry, there are obviously many other suitable candidates, why did they choose you?"
Youyou raised her head slightly, with a faint smile still on her lips, and said nonchalantly: "It is Nanxiao who specifically asked me to go and marry them. Besides, my marriage has never been decided by myself. In this case, why not choose a more favorable destination? I will be the second prince's consort this time, and the emperor of Nanxiao thinks highly of the second prince. In the future, the second prince is very likely to become the crown prince of Nanxiao. Then it will be natural for me to become the future queen of Nanxiao." When she said these words, there was no ripple in her eyes, as if this was just an ordinary transaction.
Zhou Shengchen's face darkened when he heard this, and he said in a deep voice: "If you don't want to marry Nan Xiao, I can definitely find a way to help you cancel this engagement!"
However, Youyou shook her head slightly and responded firmly: "Thank you for your kindness, Prince Nanchen, but I personally agreed to this marriage. I hope Your Majesty will not worry about this matter anymore."
"Why? You obviously don't like the Second Prince, but you grew up in Zhongzhou!" Zhou Shengchen frowned, looking at Youyou in front of him with confusion, and his voice unconsciously raised a few degrees.
Youyou lowered her eyes slightly, a barely perceptible sadness flashed across her eyes, but she soon regained her composure. She took a deep breath and said slowly, "Why? For the peace between the two countries. This is my responsibility and mission, I have no other choice."
Zhou Shengchen retorted eagerly: "How can there be no other choice? You are not the only princess in the royal family. Why should you be sacrificed in exchange for peace?"
Hearing this, Youyou suddenly raised her head, looked directly into Zhou Shengchen's eyes, and asked without flinching, "Zhou Shengchen, I only have one question for you, are you willing to marry me?"
For a moment, the air seemed to freeze. Zhou Shengchen opened his mouth, but found that he could not make any sound. In the end, he could only remain silent.
Seeing his reaction, Youyou's heart instantly sank to the bottom. She smiled sadly and said self-deprecatingly, "Okay, very good, Zhou Shengchen, since you don't want to, then just pretend that I never said this today. From now on, I will be the Second Prince's Consort of Nanxiao, and you will still be the high and mighty King Nanchen. From now on, we will go our separate ways and have nothing to do with each other anymore."
Zhou Shengchen felt a sharp pain in his heart. His lips moved and he uttered three words with difficulty: "I'm sorry."
Youyou's face became paler and paler. She bit her lower lip and said coldly, "You know, the words 'I'm sorry' are what I hate to hear the most in my life. King Nanchen should not mention it in front of me again. Menglan, show him out!"
As soon as the voice fell, Meng Lan walked in quickly and made a gesture to Zhou Shengchen to invite him in. Zhou Shengchen looked at Youyou helplessly, then turned around and followed Meng Lan out of the room.
After Zhou Shengchen walked out of the room with a weak step, he seemed to have lost his soul, his eyes were dull, and his whole body seemed to have been drained of energy and spirit, becoming listless. He returned to his bedroom in a daze, and then slammed the door shut, isolating everyone outside. From that day on, several days passed, and Zhou Shengchen never stepped out of the bedroom, but just drank to drown his sorrows, getting drunk.
During this period, several disciples heard about this and came to persuade Zhou Shengchen, but they were all turned away without exception. Zhou Shengchen didn't want to see any of them at all, and seemed to just want to immerse himself in his own world and bear this pain alone. However, Xie Chong vaguely guessed the reason why Zhou Shengchen was so depressed. So, he walked into Zhou Shengchen's bedroom resolutely despite the obstruction.
When Xie Chong stepped into the room, a strong and pungent smell of alcohol hit him. Zhou Shengchen looked haggard, with messy hair and untidy clothes, sitting at the table drinking alone. Seeing this, Xie Chong couldn't help but say distressedly: "Your Majesty, you can't continue like this! Xiaoyu and Fengqiao are worried about you all day long."
Hearing this, Zhou Shengchen slowly raised his head, looked at Xie Chong with a dazed and sad look, and murmured to himself: "Military Advisor, you tell me... am I really a coward? I can't even say a simple word "willing". In fact, I don't think so in my heart at all, but I just don't have the courage to express it." After that, he sighed heavily, raised his head and drank another glass of strong liquor.
Xie Chong frowned slightly and asked softly, "My Lord, is it because you love Princess Changle that you are so hesitant and dare not express your feelings?"
Zhou Shengchen was shocked when he heard this, and after a moment of silence he did not answer.
Seeing this, Xie Chong immediately asked: "Your Majesty, could it be that Princess Changle said something special to you that caused you to become like this?"
Zhou Shengchen's face was as pale as paper, his lips trembling slightly. He slowly lowered his head and murmured to himself: "Don't blame her, this is all my fault! I am sorry for her... I obviously love her deeply, but why don't I dare to propose to her? Just let her wait foolishly, and missed so many years of good time in vain. And now, she is going to marry someone else. This is all my fault!"
Xie Chong, who was standing nearby, looked at the sad man in front of him and couldn't help but feel pity in his heart. He comforted him softly, "Your Majesty, don't blame yourself too much. Since things have developed to this point, we still have to look forward and try to think more positively."
Zhou Shengchen raised his head and stared into the distance with empty eyes. After a moment of silence, he took a deep breath, as if he had made a great decision, and said to Xie Chong: "I understand, military advisor. Please tell Xiaoyu and the others that I will no longer be depressed and self-pitying like before. I will cheer up and take on my due responsibilities and obligations."
Hearing what Zhou Shengchen said, Xie Chong finally showed a relieved smile on his face. He nodded quickly and responded: "Your Highness, it's great that you think so. I believe that as long as you can let go of the past, the future will definitely get better and better." After that, he turned and left, and went to notify others as Zhou Shengchen instructed.
But whether he had let go or not, only Zhou Shengchen knew.