Oops, the princess is surrounded by the male protagonists

Chapter 532 Our fate in this life is shallow, making it difficult to walk the same path by your side

"From that fleeting glimpse of you, standing amidst a sea of ​​flowers, turning back with a gentle smile, I knew that I had fallen for you forever."

The words on the letter seemed to reflect Zhuang Wuzheng's state of mind back then.

"However, though my heart is filled with thunderous thoughts, my words come out as gentle breezes. The identity of the young master of Hero Manor is both an honor and a shackle. My father's earnest expectations and the heavy responsibility of the family weigh me on my shoulders. I do not have the courage to break free from this cage and pursue what my heart desires."

Shen Xingmian's tears slid down her cheeks, dripping onto the letter paper and spreading tiny ink marks.

She remembered that spring day when she was picking flowers on a flowering tree and happened to bump into Zhuang Wuzheng, who was dressed in white, as she looked down.

He stood under the flowering tree, his eyes shining brightly, but in the end he only said indifferently, "Miss, watch your step."

It turns out that his feelings for her were already so deep back then, but she never realized it.

"In the end, I obeyed my father's command and inherited the position of the manor lord, and also... married Lanxi."

The handwriting in the letter paused slightly, as if the writer was hesitant at the time.

“One wrong step leads to another. I have failed Lanxi and betrayed my own heart. My elder brother resents me for inheriting the position of the manor lord, and Lanxi hates me because I have someone else in my heart. All these bitter fruits were sown by me alone. I don’t blame anyone but myself for being too cowardly back then!”

Upon reading this, Shen Xingmian could no longer hold back and covered her mouth, bursting into tears.

She finally understood why Zhuang Wuqiu betrayed her and why He Lanxi poisoned her.

The root of all this was Zhuang Wuzheng's lifelong regret and cowardice.

But how could all of this be Zhuang Wuzheng's fault? She only regretted that she hadn't seen through the struggle in his eyes back then, and hadn't given him even a sliver of courage.

"In this life, I have no face to speak of anything else. The tragedy that befell the manor was the retribution for my cowardice. I only wish to use this crippled body to uphold the last shred of dignity of Hero Manor!"

At the end of the letter, the handwriting became increasingly heavy.

"Xingmian, in this absurd and laughable life of mine, the only light has been you. If there is an afterlife... if there is a next life... please allow me, a sinner who has been cowardly all my life, to stay by your side."

"Our fate in this life is shallow, and I cannot walk the same path with you. If there is an afterlife, I wish to hold your hand and spend the days and nights together."

Zhuang Wuzheng, his last words.

The handwriting on the letter had long since blurred, making it impossible to tell whether it was Zhuang Wuzheng's tear from back then or Shen Xingmian's tear falling now.

She clutched the letter tightly to her chest, her whole body trembling violently like a leaf falling in the autumn wind, even her breathing was broken and choked with sobs.

She never knew that her carefree brother harbored such feelings.

All those years of his gentle greetings, silent protection, and the way he gazed at her from afar—now all had their answers.

It turns out he didn't treat her like a younger sister, but rather cherished her dearly in his heart, keeping her hidden away for a lifetime.

Overwhelming grief, coupled with a belated realization, engulfed her instantly like a surging tide.

"Wuzheng... Brother Wuzheng... You're so silly..."

She burst into tears, her voice hoarse and full of pity.

"Why are you so stupid!"

The grief made her forget everything around her, forget the dangers in the cave, forget the unknown plots.

Through her teary eyes, she looked at Zhuang Wuzheng's body, which remained upright and lonely until death, and only wanted to give him this belated response.

Even though he was already oblivious, she wanted to hug him and make up for the warmth he hadn't received in his life.

She staggered forward, stretching out her arms, her fingertips almost touching the cold fabric, when just then, a low, urgent warning suddenly rang out!

"careful!"

A dark figure appeared out of thin air like a ghost. With a crisp clang, a small, dark arrow, gleaming with a cold, eerie blue light, was precisely struck by a flying stone and embedded itself in the nearby stone wall with a "thud," its fletching still trembling.

The figure in black didn't stop moving, and took the opportunity to reach out and wrap his arm around Shen Xingmian's waist.

He quickly pulled her away from Zhuang Wuzheng's body, holding her firmly behind him, his broad shoulders forming a solid, unbreakable wall.

The whole process happened in the blink of an eye. It wasn't until Shen Xingmian was firmly protected behind them that everyone reacted, and a layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on their backs.

If it weren't for this person's intervention, Shen Xingmian would probably be injured by now!

"Ming... Brother Ming?"

Shen Xingmian looked up at the tall, straight back in front of her. The familiar silhouette made her call out to him subconsciously.

The person who came was Ming Jingxing. He only glanced at Shen Xingmian behind him out of the corner of his eye to make sure she was alright before his deep gaze locked onto a dark corner like a hawk's.

"Hiding your head and revealing your tail, using sneak attacks—what kind of skill is that? Since you're here, why not show yourself!"

From there came a hoarse, low laugh, like the cry of an owl, piercing and sinister.

"Hehe... I never thought that the invincible Tianyi Old Monster would actually fall at the feet of Princess Shiliu of the Hundred Flowers Kingdom."

A figure slowly emerged from the shadows. It was a thin old woman, dressed in a dark purple Wuren robe. Her skin was well-maintained, with few wrinkles, but her eyes shone with a terrifying light, like those of a venomous snake.

"Aunt Wu'an?! You...you're still alive..."

When Zhuang Xiaoye saw the old woman's face clearly, his pupils suddenly contracted, and his face was filled with disbelief and shock. But before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by the other party raising her hand.

The old woman's sinister gaze swept past Ming Jingxing's shoulder, fixing fixedly on Shen Xingmian, before a malicious smile curled at the corner of her lips.

"Hehe... Princess Shen, as expected of the golden branch and jade leaf of the Hundred Flowers Kingdom, a pearl-like figure, so many years have passed, but her charm has not diminished in the slightest."

Her voice was hoarse, like it had been ground against gravel, and every word was laced with intense jealousy.

"No matter when, there will always be men willing to serve you and protect you from disaster. First it was Brother Wuzheng, and now it's Old Monster Tianyi. You are really lucky!"

Shen Xingmian was taken aback by this sudden surge of hatred, her brows furrowed slightly, and her eyes were full of confusion.

She was certain she had never met this person before, let alone had any grudge against him, yet the way he looked at her was as if they were mortal enemies.

"Madam, please don't misunderstand."

Zhuang Xiaoye hurriedly stepped forward, his tone urgent, with a hint of barely perceptible fear.

"This is Aunt Zhuang Wu'an, the old master's younger sister..."

"Sister?"

Zhuang Wu'an let out a sharp, piercing laugh, filled with sorrow and self-mockery.

"Hahaha... She's just a half-sister! Xiaoye, why do you have to put on such nice words and flatter me?"

Her face was contorted with agitation, her eyes churning with decades of pent-up resentment and anger as she stared intently at Shen Xingmian, accusing him word by word.

"My birth was merely a tool for the Zhuang family to maintain this forbidden bee colony. In this world, only Brother Wuzheng truly considers me family..."

Zhuang Wu'an's gaze shifted to Zhuang Wuzheng's corpse, filled with affection, dependence, and an almost twisted possessiveness that entwined him like vines in a frenzy.