595 The Secret About the Past 213 (1/2)
Just as she closed her eyes, she heard a ringing sound in her ears.
An Xiaoning listened closely, only to find that there were no longer any noises.
As much as she was extremely weary, she dared not catch a wink of sleep, for fear that she would miss out on anything important.
She did not hear the ringing sound for the next consecutive days.
However, she heard it again a while later, along with a string of other noises.
Being an intelligent and quick-witted person, An Xiaoning could not help but be reminded of the possibility of a secret chamber after hearing the same, peculiar sound twice.
Could there be a secret chamber in Shi Xiaoyu's bedroom?
An Xiaoning's mind began buzzing with ideas at the thought of the likely situation.
Tuoba Shuo was in love with Mother, and so was Tuoba Rui. Given that Shi Xiaoyu fancied Tuoba Rui and was Mother's half-sister, could it be that…
After some careful thought, she felt a little horrified at the likely possibility.
Besides, she had never eliminated the likelihood of such a situation.
After all, Mei Yangyang and Mei Shuangshuang were always at loggerheads and could not see eye to eye with each other, despite sharing the same biological parents. Thus, it was not impossible that Shi Xiaoyu would harm her mother.
An Xiaoning's initial fatigue vanished without a trace as she brainstormed for the possible outcomes, though she was unsure if she was overthinking.
After tossing and turning in bed, she decided to sit up, put on her shoes, and make her way downstairs.
The temperature was a little chilly at night. After pacing about the mansion for a while, she bumped into Tuoba Gucheng unexpectedly.
Unlike what she had thought, he did not return to his room to sleep earlier on.
Feelings of tension and awkwardness filled the air.
However, An Xiaoning took the initiative to greet him first. ”Your Highness, why haven't you gone to bed yet?”
”You haven't either, have you?”
”It's your big day today, Your Highness. Why do you seem so troubled?”
”Do you know why I'm troubled and upset?” he asked, staring at her calmly.
”No.”
How could I possibly know why he's feeling that way? It's not like I can read his mind.
Tuoba Gucheng gazed at her composedly and said, ”I can't sleep. Take a walk with me.”
”Sure,” An Xiaoning agreed with a nod.
He came just at the right time since she had the intention to try and sound him out, in a bid to find out more information.
The two exited the mansion and strolled along the sidewalk.
”Make a guess. Why do you think the Princess Consort didn't come looking for me even though I'm out so late at night?”
An Xiaoning glanced at him and answered, ”Did the Princess Consort fall asleep?”
”She did,” he answered unhurriedly, sounding rather unconcerned about Lin Shishi.
An Xiaoning was puzzled. Which newlywed bride would be so dull and dense as to go to bed early, alone, on the night of her wedding? Well, unless…
”Are you very surprised? Do you know what it feels like to marry a woman whom you neither fancy nor detest?” asked Tuoba Gucheng, who rarely poured his feelings out to others.
”Please don't ever say something like that again in the future, Your Highness. Most relationships have to be nurtured. After some time, you would definitely develop feelings for them and change the way you think. The Princess Consort seems like a pure and innocent girl who's also rather nice. Your Highness, you'll perhaps see her in a different light once you've spent enough time with her,” An Xiaoning advised.
”Are there really any innocent women in the Autumn Palace? Even if they were pure and naive in the beginning, they would be bound to become scheming once they've been around here long enough,” he scoffed.
An Xiaoning cocked her head toward the side, feeling a little guilty since she could not deny that she was indeed a scheming woman like he had mentioned. She was neither innocent nor naive, and could never be that way.