Chapter 144: Walking Together

Chapter 144

Walking Together

Mu Rongying had no idea how much time had passed, but in her mind, it felt like an eternity. She was tied up in a dark room of a house where someone had died, awaiting whatever cruel fate awaited her. During this time, memories of the past flooded her mind—of her childhood with her mother, the escape from the Mu family manor that cost the life of her loyal servant Uncle Zhang, the time she was imprisoned in Baihua Brothel, and how she later met Nie Shuang and Kang Wang.

She had endured many hardships, but she was fortunate to have encountered these good people. Even if she couldn’t escape this time, the short period she had lived had been filled with everything she had ever desired. There was nothing left for her to regret—except perhaps Kang Wang. If she were to die, he would surely be heartbroken. However, even if she lived, nothing could ever happen between them. Maybe it was for the best that things ended this way.

She had no sense of how long it had been when she finally heard the sound of a door opening. The figure in black stepped inside. The sky outside, once pitch-black, was turning gray. Soon, the sun would rise, and her waiting would end. Life, after all, was only so long—a journey full of colors. Mu Rongying felt a strange calm. If the thief untied her, she would draw the hidden dagger. If she couldn’t stop him, she would end her own life.

“Yingying...”

Mu Rongying thought she was hearing things. Perhaps she had been thinking of him so much that she imagined the thief’s voice sounded like Kang Wang’s. She raised her head but could only see a shadowy figure. The person stepped toward her, his warm hand gently caressing her face to check if she was real, then kneeling and pulling her into a tight embrace.

"Yingying...It’s such a relief that you’re safe."

His voice trembled with exhaustion. It felt like a dream to Mu Rongying. Was the person who hugged her really Kang Wang? How had he found her? She wanted to ask but had been silenced by a pressure point. Kang Wang pulled away from the embrace to check if she was injured. Then, he drew his sword and cut the ropes binding her hands and feet.

“Yingying, I’m taking you home.”

Her hands and feet were numb, but she nodded. He lifted her in his arms and came out of the house. Then, with a few light steps, he soared over the walls back to her sleeping quarters. At the front door, Chunmei was weeping in distress. When she saw Kang Wang carrying her young miss back, she collapsed to the ground, kowtowing in gratitude.

“Thank you, Your Highness. Thank you so much.”

If Kang Wang hadn’t stopped her, Chunmei would have continued to bow until her head bled.

"Take care of your mistress now."

The mansion was still eerily silent, with the guards still fast asleep at their posts. Chunmei quickly stood up and followed Kang Wang inside. He gently laid Mu Rongying down on her bed and then turned to Chunmei.

“Keep tonight’s events a secret. Your mistress’s reputation could be ruined if word gets out. The criminal has realized his plan has failed and has fled the city. The authorities are chasing him, and I’ve sent some of my guards as well. He won’t escape.”

Chunmei obeyed the command without question. Even if Kang Wang hadn’t told her, she had no intention of spreading the news. Despite her young miss returning safely, one could only imagine what kind of rumors might spread. It was better to let people believe the thief had successfully kidnapped Young Miss He. Kang Wang turned back to glance at Mu Rongying, who was sitting by the bed, and then prepared to leave. However, she tugged at his sleeve, stopping him.

She looked up at him. She hadn’t said a word earlier, and he assumed she was in shock, so he didn’t think much of it. Now, he had realized that she had been silenced by pressure points. When he finally released the points, Mu Rongying still didn’t let go of his sleeve.

“Your Highness...”

She whispered as tears began to stream down her face. Seeing that her young miss clearly needed to speak privately with Kang Wang, Chunmei left the room. As soon as the door closed, Mu Rongying rushed forward, throwing herself into his arms, hugging him tightly. She had tried so hard to be strong, to suppress her fear, but now all her emotions came pouring out. Her body trembled as she cried, soaking the front of his clothes with her hot tears.

Kang Wang was stunned but held her in return. They embraced each other tightly, overwhelmed by deep emotions. Mu Rongying had feared she would never see him again, and Kang Wang had been terrified he wouldn’t reach her in time. Hearing her sobs now, he felt a deep sorrow. He kissed the top of her head gently and spoke softly.

“Yingying...I’ve made up my mind. I don’t want anything else. I only want you. I don’t want to be above anyone. I don’t care about power or greatness. If I have to live without you, then everything else is meaningless.”

Mu Rongying looked up at him, seeing the determination in his beautiful eyes. He had never expressed such desires to her, but she knew the path he had been on was one that led to greatness—a long, arduous journey that required many sacrifices. She didn’t dare hold him back. Could she really be worth so much to him?

“Your Highness, this might just be a passing emotion. Please don’t make promises to me yet. In the future, when your feelings fade, you might come to regret this.”

“I will never regret it. Just having you in my arms, I know this is the right choice.”

He replied, then gently helped her sit back down on the bed. After everything she had endured that night, she was clearly exhausted. When Mu Rongying noticed the blood on her dress, she looked at Kang Wang in alarm.

“Your Highness! You’re hurt!”

“It’s just a small wound. Don’t worry about it.”

His voice was gentle, but how could Mu Rongying not be concerned?

“I’ll send for a doctor!”

Kang Wang stopped her and sat down beside her.

“There’s no need to worry. It was my own doing. For the past few nights, I’ve been hiding on your rooftop because I didn’t believe the Blossom Thief was really targeting Young Miss He. He never gives warnings before striking, so I suspected it was a diversion and assumed that his real target was you. After he studied the layout of the mansion and the patrol routes, and tonight, he was ready to act. I was careless and didn’t anticipate that he would use the method of sprinkling sleeping powder in the incense burners to put the guards to sleep. When he made his move, I almost lost consciousness.”

“You hurt yourself like this?”

Mu Rongying’s eyes filled with tears. He was dressed in dark clothing, making it difficult for her to notice his injuries earlier.

“I’ll dress your wounds,”

She attempted to stand, but Kang Wang caught her arm.

“I don’t feel the pain anymore. I exerted myself too much earlier, which caused the blood to seep out again. After I managed to stay conscious, I sent up a signal flare to call the guards. They treated the wound while I expelled the drug’s effects through my internal energy. Although some of the guards split off to search for you, by then, you were already gone.”

At this point, Kang Wang’s eyes reddened.

“I never knew I was this afraid of losing you. In that moment, I realized I couldn’t live without you, no matter the cost.”

His words were firm, a declaration he wouldn’t make lightly unless he was certain. Suddenly, Mu Rongying felt she had been selfish.

“Your Highness...you don’t have to do all this for me,”

Yingying embraced him as tears streamed down her face. Her nose and eyelids were red. Kang Wang gently stroked her face.

“You did nothing wrong. It’s I who chose to walk this path with you.”

Mu Rongying didn’t want Kang Wang to abandon everything for her. She herself still chased after her dreams, so how could she accept him giving up his own aspirations? At that moment, she knew she had to make a decision as well.

“Your Highness, I’ve already fulfilled my dreams. I’ve left the Mu family, escaped the cycle of power struggles, and lived a happy, free life. Even if I were to die today, I have no regrets. You saved my life, and my life should belong to you. Why would you need to abandon your own goals? Please continue on your original path, no matter where it leads. Yingying will gladly follow you, Your Highness.”

Hearing this, Kang Wang was overjoyed.

“Really!? You’re willing to be my wife?”

Mu Rongying shyly nodded.

“But Yingying wasn’t expecting such a thing. I know there are reasons you haven’t spoken of this before. I was born into the Mu family and understand those reasons well. I never held them against you. I only wish to follow you without asking for anything in return. All I ask is that you allow me the same freedom as before.”

“Yingying, you don’t need to live like this. I’ve chosen you. We can live happily here in Huangjing. I’ll let go of the court’s politics and just focus on governing Nan Fang province well.”

“Can Your Highness really leave Consort Xian Fei to fight in the palace alone? Can you ignore the expectations of the Zheng family? I can do this because I have nothing left in the Mu family after losing my mother. But Your Highness still has your mother and the relatives ready to support you.”

Kang Wang gazed at Mu Rongying in surprise. She was no longer the impulsive girl she once was. The months she had spent learning from Nie Shuang had shaped her into someone much more thoughtful and composed.

“What do you mean?”

“Yingying will wait for the day you are ready to bestow the title of princess consort upon me, Your Highness. And even if that day never comes, I’ll be fine with that too.”

Mu Rongying spoke softly, then gently pulled Kang Wang down for a kiss. Kang Wang was overwhelmed with joy, completely unprepared for the sudden affection. Her kiss was tender and sweet, and in just a moment, the tension of the night’s events faded away. The room filled with only the sound of their breathing as the sorrowful atmosphere, once tinged with tears, transformed into something as fiery as a flame. The sturdy wooden bed creaked in protest as thunder roared and spring rain began to fall. Chunmei, who had been waiting outside the room, blushed deeply. She had initially been concerned about her young miss and had intended to help clean her up and stay by her side for the night. But now, it seemed that was no longer necessary. She quickly tiptoed back to her own room, her thoughts wandering to Xiao San.Xiao San had once told her that when the General returned home, the Young Furen’s bedroom practically became a restricted zone. It seemed Chunmei would need to learn a few things from Xiao San if she was to properly serve such a loving couple in the future.