Reborn Spoiled Girl Tames the Regent

Chapter 172 The Aftertaste of a Heartbeat

"...If I had killed you that day, I wouldn't have been able to undo the Spring Bitterness Powder!" Her whole body tensed. "Xiao Hengzhi, I know everything. You are a Red Slave, of lowly birth, and even your identity as a prince was obtained by killing Wu Ke and seizing the Golden Silk Jade Talisman. But I don't care whether you are a Red Slave or not, and your identity is irrelevant to me."

Xiao Hengzhi gripped the railing tightly, watching her scream in anguish, "What I care about is why you used the Spring Bitter Powder on me! Why do you have to humiliate me like this in both my past and present lives! Is the love you keep talking about just a means to destroy me?!"

"You are reaping what you sowed."

She retreated step by step, her voice carried on the cold wind: "The doctor said you don't have much time left, so why not do a good deed..."

"Xiao Hengzhi...we're even now..."

After saying that, she turned and ran away, never looking back.

"......don't want......"

Xiao Hengzhi reached out in vain, only to grasp at empty air.

Blood kept gushing from his chest and the corners of his mouth, spreading large, glaring, and ferocious red patches on the snow.

He slid slowly down the railing and crashed heavily into the cold snow.

That small figure gradually disappeared from his sight.

At the top of the tower, the wind whipped up snowflakes, which landed on his face, which was gradually losing its warmth.

Another magnificent burst of fireworks rose into the dark sky, their brilliance illuminating the dark bloodstains spreading beneath him.

Today is his birthday.

It's Yuan Day.

It was a night of bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new, a night of celebration for all.

He lay alone in the cold snow, feeling his life slowly draining away from the hole in his chest.

The deafening roar of the fireworks was just like the lingering echo of his heartbeat finally breaking.

In the distance, the lights of thousands of homes shone warmly.

The faint sounds of children's laughter drifted up.

He still remembered that day at the Snow Pavilion, when Jiang Mian said, "I want Your Highness to live a good life."

It turns out that she had measured the location of his heart from that time onwards.

Jiang Wan, as expected, never loved him.

Fireworks exploded overhead, the roar drowning out everything.

And finally, it drowned out his last faint breath.

......

The bustling street was packed with people.

Laughter, hawking, and blessings filled the air.

Jiang Mian stumbled and ran against the flow of people, like a ghost in a panic.

She finally squeezed into a deserted, dark alley, leaning against the cold, slippery wall, breathing heavily.

The scabbard in his sleeve was still warm; it contained his heart's blood.

Without thinking, she tilted her head back and poured the thick, scalding liquid down her throat.

Warm blood flowed down her throat, and she frowned deeply.

A fishy smell and a nauseating sense of guilt, akin to that of plunder, welled up inside me.

She bent over and gagged, but nothing came out.

In her panic, she grabbed a handful of dirty snow from the ground and stuffed it into her mouth.

The cold snow mixed with blood and foam temporarily suppressed the horrifying smell.

She was trembling all over and breathing rapidly.

My mind is a complete mess.

Soon, a commotion arose outside the alley.

Someone screamed, "Someone's dead—blood's dripping from the tower! Lots of blood—!"

The shout was like a needle piercing her eardrum.

Someone died...

Xiao Hengzhi... is dead...

he died.

Jiang Mian suddenly felt a tightness in her throat, and large tears rolled down her cheeks, leaving small puddles on the snow.

She raised her hand to wipe away her tears, only to find her hands covered in dark red stains that had partially solidified.

She reacted as if she had been scalded, frantically scrubbing herself with snow until her fingers were frozen red and stiff, and her skin stung.

"He forced me to do it... He poisoned me first... He deserved it..." she repeated over and over, as if trying to convince herself.

"He killed Cong Shuang, he killed Ning Zhi... He deserved it..."

But the tears flowed even more fiercely, and no matter how much she wiped them away, they wouldn't stop.

"Why are you crying!" Jiang Wan wanted to slap herself.

She didn't know why she was crying.

She clearly hated him so much she wanted to tear him to pieces, and dreamed of killing him.

But now all I can think about is his shattered chest and the broken light in his eyes.

The sounds outside the alley grew louder, mixed with running and shouts.

Jiang Wan covered her ears tightly, buried her face in her cold knees, and repeated over and over again, like chanting an exorcism spell: "Your Highness...go find Your Highness..."

After an unknown amount of time, the noisy voices outside the alley were dispersed, replaced by a panicked silence.

The fireworks display had stopped, and only the cold wind howled mournfully as it passed through the alleyway.

She was so cold that she almost lost all feeling in her body. She held onto the slippery wall and tried several times before she could barely prop up her weak and trembling legs.

Can't stay here any longer.

Not far from the north entrance of Hualing Street, she headed in that direction.

He gritted his teeth and tried to keep his expression calm.

It was past midnight, and the cold wind was howling in the streets.

Inside the inn at the city gate, Lu Fang stood guard at the door and said, "Your Highness, there are hardly any people left on the street. Shall we wait?"

"Wait a little longer." Ning Zhi looked out the window; the snow was falling heavier and heavier.

"But none of the people I sent out have responded. I'm afraid Miss Jiang didn't recognize your handwriting and didn't go out today."

Ning Zhi lowered his head in deep thought.

He used this handwriting occasionally when writing to Jiang Mian before. If she remembers it, she will know that this letter was sent by him.

Could it be that Xiao Hengzhi has noticed?

Or perhaps she simply didn't want to see him...

"Your Highness!" Lu Fang exclaimed, "It's Miss Jiang!"

He looked at the street outside the inn.

A small figure is approaching in this direction.

Ning Zhi's face lit up with joy, and he quickly went downstairs to greet him.

Amidst the swirling snow, he spotted a slender figure approaching through the snow from afar.

He ran over quickly and draped a thick blanket over her.

"Your Highness?" Jiang Mian was freezing cold, her lips trembling.

"Don't speak yet, come inside."

The cold wind, carrying snowflakes, lashed against the paper windows of the inn.

Inside, the charcoal brazier was burning brightly. Ning Zhi placed a cup of warm water into Jiang Mian's frozen, pale hands and then wrapped her tightly in a thick blanket.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Jiang Wan held the cup, her icy body gradually regaining some feeling.

"I thought... I wouldn't be able to wait for you today."

Ning Zhi sat down beside her.

Jiang Mian lowered her head and sipped some warm water. "I recognize Your Highness's handwriting." Her voice was a little hoarse. "No matter what, I must come to see you."

Ning Zhi's eyes warmed even more: "Actually, today..."

"I have something to tell you," the two said at the same time.

Ning Zhi smiled: "It seems we both have important matters to attend to tonight. You go first."

Jiang Mian shook her head: "Your Highness, please speak first."

"Then I'll get straight to the point." Ning Zhi took a deep breath, his expression solemn. "Miss Jiang, that day at Yunxiao Tower, you said you wanted to be the Crown Princess. Are you still willing now?"