Chapter 905: Ning Jing, you’ve los (2/2)

“It’s already getting late,” Han Yunxi intoned next. “As things still haven’t settled down at the auction and gambling houses, the elders should hurry up and busy yourselves. Ning Jing, take me to see Tang Li first. We can discuss details together again tomorrow, alright?”

Han Yunxi asked them so politely that none of the elders dared to say no. Once they were gone, Ning Jing finally let her temper loose.

“Han Yunxi, you lied! You’re clearly involved with Long Feiye! Otherwise, why would you help him hide the truth about the Tang Clan? Why didn’t you tell my big brother!”

“And what about you?” Han Yunxi arched her brow. “Ning Jing, you say I was colluding with Long Feiye? Could it be that you and Tang Li are deeply in love as well? That’s why you’ve hidden the truth about the Tang Clan and Long Feiye too?”

“I did not!” Ning Jing denied.

“Then why did you betray your big brother and the Di Clan?” Han Yunxi laughed coldly. “Ning Jing, why don’t you think about your own actions while you’re finding fault with mine?”

“I, I…” Ning Jing had never felt so irritated in her life. “Han Yunxi, I’m different from you! We’re not the same!”

Han Yunxi only had a so what expression on her face. “We’re both traitors, so what’s the difference?”

Ning Jing suddenly grew alarmed. “Han Yunxi, why did you come back? You want to help Long Feiye against us?”

“I said it already, you don’t have the right to question or criticize me,” Han Yunxi said icily.

Ning Jing rushed in front of her and almost raised her hand. “Han Yunxi, I’m telling you now, I’m not the same as you! I’ve only betrayed my brother once! Just once! But you, as the West Qin princess, has been betraying your clansmen and loyal subjects the entire time! You did it more than once!”

“Is there a difference between once and multiple times?” Han Yunxi laughed. “Ning Jing, it only takes one betrayal to make things irreversible.”

Ning Jing’s heart gave a lurch. Han Yunxi’s words were like a knife that stabbed into the weakest part of her heart. But she still insisted on fighting back. “Han Yunxi, at least I’ve stopped betraying them now! But what about you?”

Han Yunxi stared at the woman before her. She was once the sharp and capable president of Cloud Realm Trade Consortium, but when had she turned so unreasonable?

“Ning Jing, when did you ever stop your betrayal?” Han Yunxi only shook her head. “You still haven’t admitted your guilt to the Di Clan, so how can you make such claims? You’ve been betraying them all this time!”

Ning Jing was struck speechless. She backed away step by step and began to shake her head. It wasn’t clear whether she was denying Han Yunxi’s words or herself. She had once comforted herself with the fact that she’d only betrayed Ning Cheng once--just once. It’d taken her massive effort to convince herself to choose to run away, because that meant she could stop her betrayal. But Han Yunxi’s words today shattered her own self-delusions!

That’s right, a betrayal is a betrayal! What’s a whore doing painting herself with a chaste heart?

But she never wanted to pretend in the first place! If she didn’t hide the truth of Long Feiye’s relationship with the Tang Clan, then both her and Tang Li would be in danger! If the Di Clan knew the truth, they wouldn’t trust any of Tang Li’s excuses or let him leave. She would have to face the elders’ questions and face disaster. If they locked her up for a month or more, her growing stomach would be obvious! She wouldn’t be able to shoulder the consequences then!

The Di Clan would never let her give birth to a scion of the East Qin camp. They’d never accept it!

Ning Jing gradually began backing away until she ran into the wall. She suddenly wanted to cry. She had no idea what to do now. Before Han Yunxi showed up, she was still rational enough to think of ways to deal with Myriad Merchant Hall’s troubles until Ning Nuo arrived. Then she’d just leave. But how was she supposed to escape now if Han Yunxi knew her secrets?

Was she supposed to beg her? Was she supposed to betray the clan with her? She couldn’t do either of those things! How could she do that now in this state?

After a few moments, Ning Jing finally met Han Yunxi’s questioning gaze. She coldly retorted, “Yes, I did betray the Ning Clan. What do you want to do now?”

But Han Yunxi abruptly asked, “Ning Jing, you’ve taken a fancy to Tang Li?”

Ning Jing gave a start before she viciously denied the claims. “What a joke! Han Yunxi, respect that mouth of yours!”

Such a violent reaction only made Han Yunxi’s eyes dance with amusement. She didn’t argue with Ning Jing, but only gave her a meaningful look. Ning Jing’s conscience twinged as she avoided her gaze. Finally, Han Yunxi had figured out Ning Jing’s “selfish motive.” It wasn’t a personal desire at all, but a compromise, a sense of helplessness, remorse, reluctance, contradiction, grievance, and silent, burdened loneliness!

Both of them were solitary wanderers in this wide, wide world. Han Yunxi understood Ning Jing’s inner conflicts all too well. Thus, she was now certain that Ning Jing had hid the truth about the Tang Clan and Long Feiye because of Tang Li!

Her voice suddenly softened as she said, “Ning Jing, I love Long Feiye. Even though I’m prepared to fight against him in the battlefield, I still love him. What about you? Do you love Tang Li?”