967 Perplexed and Smitten 27 (1/2)
”It's made of superior ironwood. A lot of effort was put into constructing this door, and it's exceptionally heavy. However, I've embedded something inside the door.”
”You've embedded something? What is it?”
”Make a guess,” he said with a look of tenderness.
”Would I have asked you if I could guess it? Just what is it?” she probed.
He lowered his head and whispered into her ear, ”Something that I had written.”
”What is it?”
”I doubt you can see it. It's already sealed inside this door, it won't be easy to retrieve it. I wrote it for you,” he said softly.
”Why did you…”
”I wanted to keep a unique memento and place it somewhere only we know.”
Smiling, she looked up and gazed at him, revealing her straight rows of pearly whites.
His heart fluttered upon seeing her smile and he said, ”You just have this power to make me infuriated yet happy.”
The air was filled with a joyous atmosphere that would have persisted on if the Princess Consort hadn't showed up.
What a pity that she did.
”Oh, how times have changed,” the Princess Consort gibed while striding in gracefully with Xiao Liu behind her. It did not cross An Xiaoning's mind that Xiao Liu would become her maid.
”Greetings, Princess Consort,” said An Xiaoning, who felt it was only appropriate to follow the rules.
”Don't say that, Miss Hua Jin. You're no longer who you used to be. You're now the goddaughter of the Gu Nation's prince, not the little lass who used to be at everyone's beck and call a year ago. In hindsight, it must have been tough for His Highness to have to watch you get beaten up and punished so severely. I really thought that you had died from the beating and was randomly buried somewhere. Turns out, His Highness was so remarkably intelligent and hid everything so well. I'm no match for him at all,” she sneered.
There was a blatant animosity in her sarcastic remark that she did not try to hide at all.
”Please leave if there's nothing else you have to say,” he said coldly.
The Princess Consort was at a loss for words.
She had initially wanted to say something, but to no avail.
”I'd like to invite His Highness and Miss Hua Jin for a meal together. How does that sound, Your Highness?”
”Sure.”
An Xiaoning was rather awkward and tense throughout the meal. She mimicked the actions of others and chewed slowly, taking one small mouthful of food at a time. She decided to keep quiet because she had no idea what to say around the Princess Consort.
However, the Princess Consort could no longer tolerate it further and sneered with a smirk, ”There aren't any outsiders here. May I ask, when did your relationship with His Highness begin? Was it when you climbed onto his bed when you were still a maid?”Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please clickfor visiting.
An Xiaoning turned to look at Jin Qingyan, only to discover that an austere expression had formed on his face. ”Don't you know what to ask and what not to?” he snapped.
Feeling extremely disgruntled, the Princess Consort said, ”I married Your Highness and I've been a virtuous wife in every aspect. I just don't understand, what's so great about her? Why are you so in love with her? Please tell me, Your Highness. I'd like to have some of your love too.”
”You'll never have her attributes, no matter how hard you try. You don't have to waste your efforts.”
An Xiaoning looked down and remained quiet.
After breakfast, she returned to her room to get some rest. Just as she was about to fall asleep, she felt a sudden burning sensation in her throat.
Someone was calling her name, over and over again.
It was a familiar and alluring voice.
She opened her eyes again to see that it was the present-day Jin Qingyan. She was suffering from a splitting headache, and her lips were dry and cracked.
”You're finally awake. Have some water, quick,” he said while handing her a bottle of mineral water that he had already opened.
An Xiaoning took it from him and chugged half the bottle in one go to quench her immense thirst.
”Where is everyone else?”
”Near the tent. You were sleeping when I arrived.”
”What time is it now?”