568 The Secret About the Past 186 (2/2)
She craned her neck outside to take a look and happened to make eye contact with Tuoba Gucheng, who was sticking his head out of his window next door.
An Xiaoning greeted, ”Your Highness…”
”Hey,” he answered.
”May I go out for a walk?”
”Go ahead.”
Thus, she did not say anything else and closed the windows before going out of her room.
After exiting the mansion, she subconsciously turned around to look at the window on the second floor and discovered that he was still there.
An Xiaoning looked away and continued walking slowly.
She was wearing a long dress and a long-lined cotton cardigan, paired with some sandals.
She left Tuoba Gucheng's yard and headed to Tuoba Shuo's mansion.
An Xiaoning had yet to meet him privately as he had requested in the note he'd given her previously.
An Xiaoning realized that this evening would be her last chance to meet up with Tuoba Shuo privately since she would have to begin her night duties in Tuoba Gucheng's room tomorrow.
Thus, she arrived at Tuoba Shuo's mansion.
The guards outside the mansion allowed her to enter, as if they did not see her at all.
”How's your wound?” Tuoba Shuo asked.
”There's nothing too serious about it now, except it hasn't healed completely yet. I only had the chance to come see you today. From tomorrow onward, I'll have to be on duty at night. I'll be taking the night shift and resting in the day.”
”Night shift? You'll be on duty at night?” Tuoba Shuo asked.
”Yes, in His Highness's room.”
”Oh, I see. Are you able to sit?”
”Yes.” She sat down slowly onto the praying mat opposite him.
”What's wrong with your eyes? Are your eyes swollen?”
”You could tell? But it's nothing much, I just haven't slept well lately.”
”I can tell even when you're wearing a mask. I reckon you must be clueless about where to begin now, but I received an important piece of news a few days ago,” said Tuoba Shuo.
”What news?”
”My mother said that I was aware of Qingzhou's execution. But now, it seems your mother was…”
He paused and continued only after noticing that An Xiaoning did not have a change of expression. ”Your mother was saved by your father and gave birth to you. It's very likely that she's still alive. Maybe, she's just locked up somewhere. After all, her death can't be announced. Thus, we can't eliminate the possibility that she's not dead. Also, we can't question your father about this yet at the moment. It won't help in finding Qingzhou since he might possibly hide her even more obscurely once he knows that I still suspect that she's alive.”
”You have a point. Where could they possibly hide her if she's still alive?” An Xiaoning asked in confusion.
He answered without hesitation, ”A secret chamber. I'm sure your father wasn't the one who sent you away back then.”
”How are you so sure?”
”He's not that heartless. So, I'm guessing that Shi Xiaoyu knows about this too. She said that your mother's ashes have been scattered into the sea after she was cremated. That could be true or false. We can't be too sure about that yet.”
”If he wasn't the one who sent me out of the palace, why didn't he come looking for me? He should be well aware that he has a child.”
”I don't know about that.”
”What color of clothes did my mother enjoy wearing the most?”
Tuoba Shuo recalled his memories and answered, ”Red. She had a penchant for red-colored clothing. She had fair, porcelain skin, a svelte figure, and an average stature. She looked exceptionally vibrant and lively whenever she was dressed in red. From what I remember, red was her favorite color.”