Chapter 17 - Live Happily
While sleeping, Xie Ming heard a voice, " Zhao Ming."
When she heard a voice in her dream, she subconsciously mumbled while sleeping, " Yes."
Her eyes were closed and was sleeping peacefully because of the injection. Her breathing was also normal.
….
Zhao Ming who was wearing a traditional Chinese dress with a long robe and her hair was folded in a bun, which was decorated with a hairpin entered a room following the voice which called her.
The room was pitch black and she couldn't see anything. She called out, " Who is this? where are you? Why did you call me?" she questioned while trying to find something and trying to see in a dark room.
Suddenly a mirror came in her sight which white light was emanating from above.
She went in front of the mirror and stood in front of it. She could see her reflection in the mirror.
She could recognize herself in the mirror because she was wearing a gown that she had worn when she was crowned as the Empress also she was wearing the hairpin that Ji Cheng's grandfather had given her.
The hairpin was not only an ornament but it also represents the current Empress in the rule.
Suddenly the reflection in the mirror changed and a girl wearing a hospital gown could be seen in it.
Zhao Ming was startled and shocked because the reflection in the mirror was changed to Xie Ming's.
The reflection was different from her. The girl looked pale and tired.
The girl in the reflection was Xie Ming who has called her out earlier.
Zhao Ming looked at Xie Ming and said, " Why did you call me?" her voice trembled when she cautiously spoke.
Xie Ming in the reflection looked at Zhao Ming and smiled lightly.
Zhao Ming trembled to see her smile.
" I called you because I had no choice. I can't go back to my body. But you are in my body, that's why I came to meet you for the last time." Xie Ming said with a bitter smile on her face.
Zhao Ming intently looked at her.
" I know you must be flustered seeing yourself in my body. But I was equally flustered to see that I can't go back to my body. Maybe this was the end for me." she said while lowering her head.
" I won't take my body from you. You can live as Xie Ming if you want but only on one condition."
" What is it?" Zhao Ming asked in a low voice.
" Don't live like me. I have hurt many people around me just because I was hurt. Especially Liwei. Though there was no love between us however we could have worked out our marriage but because of my stubbornness and some people's cheap tricks my life crumbled."
" Just try to live happily. You must have suffered in your life too that's why you came to my body to run away from all the painful memories. "
" Also, don't let people trample on you just because you're kind. You can see what result of kindness you get. Death. So don't let something similar happen to you twice."
Zhao Ming looked at Xie Ming and could see the pain in her eyes.
Till the end she was prideful but Zhao Ming could see her strong aura and charisma. There are so many things behind her words that she doesn't know yet.
This girl seems like she has experienced so much but her strong character does not allow her to be weak in front of anyone.
After a while, Zhao Ming spoke, " I know I've have taken your place, but I never wanted to take anybody's place. After all, I am myself an unwanted empress, who has been abandoned by his husband. "
"In my past life, my reputation was also no good, though I have not done anything wrong. But I understood your words. I will not be weak and try to live this new life happily and strongly."
" I won't let anyone trample on me just because I am kind. I will treat people like the way they will treat me." Zhao Ming said with a smile.
"This life and death experience has changed me a lot. Now I am not the same weak and kind Zhao Ming anymore. I have become the better version of myself"
Xie Ming smiled lightly and said," it's good to hear that you've changed. Now I will give you my memories so that you can live easily. Don't let my sacrifice fail. Live happily. Goodbye "
After saying that, Xie Ming's reflection in the mirror disappeared, and Zhao Ming who was standing in front of the mirror started to have a piercing pain in her head which made her whole body tremble.
Many images and scenes were started filling in her head, it's like transferring files from one computer to another. She started seeing scenes and people who were unfamiliar to her yet has some familiarity.
There was so much information that filled in her mind which caused her head to feel heavy and painful.
Due to extreme pain, her whole body trembled as tears flowed from her eyes. She held her head tightly and squat down on the ground while crying in pain.
…
In the middle of the night, Liwei was sleeping beside her while his one hand on her waist and another was made as her pillow. He was sleeping while holding her.
He would have never thought that in this life he will ever sleep with her and that too with his consensus. And not being affected by any drug.
While sleeping, he held her tightly in his arms, but suddenly he was forced to wake up because of her struggles and movement.
When he woke up, he saw her pale face, which was covered in sweat and she was crying and shivering in pain.
Her eyes were closed but still crying. It's like she was in pain but at the same time, she was asleep. Tears were flowing from her eyes.
He got startled seeing this condition of her, he sat up and tried to wake her up. He patted her face and called her name, 'Xie Ming'... 'Ming'.
On the other hand, Xie Ming was in pain and her body was trembling.
In her pain, she tried to move but all she could see was darkness and nothing.
Then suddenly she heard someone calling her name, 'Ming'.
She searched for that familiar voice and saw a light and she went to that source of light. She stepped out of the darkness towards light and her body disappeared once she stepped in the light.
Suddenly Xie Ming opened her eyes, in her daze she saw Liwei, beside him panicked and looking at her in a concerned way.
She blinked her eyes to have a clearer look and saw that Liwei was holding her in his arms and looking panicked and startled.
She unknowingly reached her hand to touch his face, while in a dazed state and softly called his name, "Liwei".