Eternal Love: A Love Story

Chapter 73 - Ming, Please Wake Up.

Ji Dynasty.

Ji Cheng was in his study chamber, drowning himself in alcohol. The room was dark and he has drink 2 bottles of alcohol. He was trying to forget his pain with alcohol. Today is the full moon day and as he promised the Empress Dowager, he has to give the position of Empress to the Xiao Li if Zhao Ming didn't wake up. He doesn't want to make anyone else Empress. Only she can be an Empress, 'his Empress'.

Moreover, he still doesn't know when she will wake up, or if she wakes up or not. He was in remorse for not clearing all the misunderstandings before, when she was beside him.

.....

When he saw her for the first time in the palace, when they were young, he fell in love with her. At that time, he don't have many friends and always studied in his room, because being a prince is not easy. He studied everything, politics, maths, economics. But in the palace, the thing that is hard to learn is 'emotions and love'

Before seeing her, he never knew about the word love. But when he saw her playing in the garden with flowers and butterflies, he felt something abnormal inside him. The feelings that he felt was foreign to him. Her smile, makes him smile. His heart started beating fast. He cannot remove his eyes from her.

He fell in love with her, at first sight. Oblivious to everything, Ming was busy playing with butterflies.

When she went to meet the Emperor with her father, Ji Cheng also followed. He went there to meet his grandfather when he saw her there as well. His eyes shone with brightness. He never thought that he will also see her there.

While the Emperor was talking to her father, he was busy looking at her from behind. He thought his gaze went unnoticed, but there was a person who was seeing everything. And that person was his grandfather.

When the Old Emperor saw him looking at her like this, he smiled. Finally, that man is becoming a human being. Because Ji Cheng's mother was very strict with his academics and always wanted to make him the best choice as a successor. Not just because he was the son of Empress Dowager but because he has the capability to take this throne. He wanted to prove to everyone, that her son is capable to take over the throne.

She doesn't want him to get weak in front of palace politics or competition. Because taking over the throne, is not an easy thing to do.

When Old Emperor noticed his gaze, he decided to enthrone Zhao Ming with Ji Cheng. They will get married when they will reach the marriageable age.

When Ji Cheng heard the news, of his enthronement with Zhao Ming, he was happy. He never thought, that his grandfather will fix his engagement with the girl, he likes.

He wanted to spend time with her, but the very next day he was sent for his military training.

A boy who just fell in love was sent far away for the ruthless military training. And oblivious to his feelings, Zhao Ming was happy because she also liked Ji Cheng. When she saw him at the chamber, she found him very handsome and well mannered. Not knowing anything, she was also taking glances at him. She thought that only she was the one, who likes him herself.

She heard the news of him going away for military training, but she couldn't meet him. She was upset but thinking that they will get married after he comes back, she was happy.

...

When he came back after 7 years, he has become a young man from a boy with muscles and his ruthless attitude. He was now 22 and the training in the military has made him cruel and emotionless. After coming back when he saw her for the first time, it was for their marriage rituals. He kept looking at her, she was now a young woman who is 17 years old and she had grown so much.

She became more beautiful, he almost didn't recognize her. He kept looking at her, his mother noticed his behavior. She did not like Zhao Ming as she is not from a rich family. She has no idea why the Old Man wanted her son to get married to this poor girl. She has no status, no etiquette, no Palace manners and more importantly, this marriage was not beneficial for him at all. She was not happy with her, and now her son also liked her, this became the strongest reason for her hatred towards Zhao Ming.

After their marriage, he took over the throne after his grandfather's death. He didn't get any time to talk with her properly. He never gets a chance to tell her, his feelings.

After a few weeks later, he went to war, from which he came back after a year later. He came back with Xiao Li, who he married for strengthing his power. In that one year, his mother has made Zhao Ming a statue. Now she was no longer his Zhao Ming, who always smiles and spread happiness wherever she goes. His mother made her life like a prison. She was now an Empress but not his Zhao Ming. she was a graceful woman with calm composure but she wasn't happy. She was just following the palace norms without any emotions in her. The only emotion she has now was pain and sadness.

When he saw her pale face, with all the accessories and heavy clothes but no smile, he frowned.

'What had she experienced in this whole year.'

He wanted to go to her, but his mother always makes anything to stop him, from going to her. His mother wants him to take care of Xiao Li as she was from a prestigious family and helped him in strengthening his position. He didn't get time to spend with her because he was busy in his work as he just came from a war and there were others matters to attend. He was so busy that he doesn't even go to Xiao Li's chamber, but he didn't know that Xiao Li is not as simple as she looks.

When his mother tells him that Zhao Ming cheated at him with a guard, he was so angry. First, he didn't believe, but when he saw that guard going to her room and coming after 2 hours, with clothes disheveled and she also came from that room later, he frowned. He never thought that she will do this with him, he thought that she also loved him.

What he don't know was, that the guard and Zhao Ming were tricked by Xiao Li and what they saw was her plan. She made Empress Dowager believe her words and she told the Emperor. Due to which, he killed that guard for rebel, if not he has to kill Zhao Ming for cheating the emperor. Because it was the biggest sin that one can do, and she doesn't have any evidence to support her words.

....

Back to the present, he still doesn't know about Xiao Li's trick but he believes that Zhao Ming couldn't do this to him. Because when he saw her eyes, they were screaming that she was innocent. He couldn't bear to hurt her more. So he kept distance for some time, to calm his anger. He doesn't want to hurt her because of his anger.

But he never thought, that she would attempt suicide and he will saw her in this state before they could clear anything. He wanted to tell her that he loved her, but never get a chance.

He was drinking alcohol to forget all his pain. He just wanted her to wake up.

He cried out loud, " Ming, Please Wake up."