Anning’s face was full of disappointnt and sadness.
She looked at Madam Xie, tears continuously falling: "I have always missed my mother, but she didn’t co specifically to see . She always said she loved , but it turns out it was all a lie."
After accusing Madam Xie, Anning began to bla Xie Anchang: "Little brother just pays lip service, saying he would take care of , love , but what happened? He is closer to our cousin than to . I know what you are all thinking; you want our cousin to ascend the throne, thinking about the wealth and honor of the Xie family. Each of you is blinded by wealth and glory. Is wealth more important than ?"
In fact, what Madam Xie thought in her heart was indeed more important than you, but she dared not say it.
Seeing Anning so agitated, she dared not provoke her further.
"I also love and care for you, but you can’t... your cousin has always been ambitious..."
Anning was not listening, she shook her head continuously: "I don’t want to hear, I don’t want to hear, you’ve never deceived , you all lied to , even my cousin lied to . In front of , he pretends not to care about those mundane duties and only wants to be with , which is not what you told ."
She despairingly took several steps back, her expression blank and sorrowful: "So, I have been living in lies all along. The people around have been deceiving . I’m so foolish."
Anning self-directed this big scene, showing everything a true naive, sweet girl should display.
Her face showed extre sadness, but inside, she was laughing wildly.
Watching the constipated expressions of Madam Xie and Xie Anchang, the devil in Anning’s heart was rolling with laughter.
Not just her, An Xin was also laughing.
Who made the Xie family specifically cultivate Xie Anning into a naive, sweet girl?
They taught Anning to study, encouraged her to embrace poetry and painting, taught her music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but never taught her about worldly wisdom or told her about the dangers of the world. This led to Xie Anning being naïvely deceived by Feng Chengxi to Jin Country, resulting in such an outco.
Actually, thinking back, initially neither the Xie family nor Feng Chengxi thought of letting Xie Anning beco the Crown Princess Consort of Lu Country or the next Queen.
Upon seeing Xie Anning’s beauty, they probably thought about maximizing benefits, contemplating sending Xie Anning to another country to beco a favored concubine, to charm a foreign king.
It’s just too bad that Xie Anning was too naïve to realize this.
Now, Anning let Feng Chengxi and the Xie family shoot themselves in the foot, leaving them infuriated to the point of spitting blood but helpless.
What does it matter to her?
After all, Anning is now in the Royal Palace of Jin Country. Apart from the Xie family scolding and accusing her, what else can they do?
At worst, she would just defy them with the support of Prince Jin.
"My child, it is my fault, I was wrong. Let’s not talk about your cousin. Tell mother about how you are doing instead."
Finally showing more composure, Madam Xie quickly changed the subject upon seeing Anning’s state, and soon started talking about Anning’s life in Prince Jin Palace.
Anning also cald down, sat back down with a dreamy smile, shyly speaking: "I am doing very well. Your Majesty treats very well. Whatever I wish for, he has soone find it for . He is more anxious than anyone when I am sick, and Your Majesty also has a particularly good temper, being very gentle with everyone."
As she said this, Anning grabbed Madam Xie’s hand: "Mother, Your Majesty is really, really good."
Just as she ntioned Prince Jin, Prince Jin arrived.
Before entering, the sound of his footsteps was heard.
He walked very fast; just after hearing the footsteps, Prince Jin had already entered.
Madam Xie and Xie Anchang hurriedly stood up to pay respects.
Prince Jin, however, appeared quite amiable: "No need for such formalities, please be seated."
Then, he sat down with Anning, showing particular concern for her after sitting.
He reached out to rub Anning’s forehead: "You were tossing and turning last night, unable to sleep, and you woke up with a headache early in the morning, is it better now?"
"Much better."
Anning smiled and said: "Today, because I am eting mother and little brother, I didn’t accompany Your Majesty in the early morning assembly. I will definitely accompany Your Majesty tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Madam Xie’s gaze dimd slightly.
She looked at Xie Anchang without any noticeable expression, and Xie Anchang also felt a bit shocked.
They had just arrived, and hadn’t had the chance to inquire about the affairs of the Royal Palace, not knowing that Anning accompanied Prince Jin to the morning assembly every day.
Now hearing this, both felt very uneasy.
To know, Anning was rely a Noble Consort, not the Queen, and yet, being able to appear at the morning assembly as a woman showed how much she was favored.
"Your health is important."
Prince Jin spoke to Anning gently, but his expression turned cold when he saw Madam Xie and Xie Anchang.
"Your Majesty." Anning leaned against Prince Jin, cooing softly: "Your Majesty, why don’t you take a walk outside first, my mother, little brother, and I still have quite a bit to talk about."
Madam Xie was startled.
She hadn’t expected Anning to be bold enough to directly send Prince Jin away.
And Prince Jin, not getting angry at all, said: "Okay, then I will return to Qingzheng Hall first, and co back to accompany you later."
After Prince Jin left, Xie Anchang took a mont before asking Anning: "I rember little sister never had such a heart condition, how co now when hearing about the drought in Jin Country, she feels unwell?"
Anning blinked her eyes: "I have always been this way, it’s just that these past few years Lu Country has been rather harmonious, without any significant issues. Besides, even if there were a disaster sowhere or soone died, you wouldn’t tell , I wouldn’t have heard about it, so how could I fall ill?"
Um?
How was Xie Anchang supposed to respond?
Madam Xie coughed and said: "This illness? Is it really that severe?"
With furrowed brows, Anning’s delicate and perfect face showed a worried expression, she sighed deeply: "I have always been like this, I fear it won’t get better, but luckily Your Majesty still cares for , and he promptly handles the disaster situation knowing I’m ill, otherwise, I’m afraid I would be lingering on a sickbed."
Xie Anchang felt utterly depressed.
He glanced at Madam Xie.
Madam Xie then leaned in close to Anning and whispered softly: "You also know that Jin Country is powerful, keeping other states from rising up, and our Lu Country still has to pay tribute and swear allegiance to Jin Country. Actually, our King has long intended to break free from Jin Country’s control, this drought is actually a great opportunity for Lu Country. If the drought in Jin Country becos uncontrollable, it would be a perfect opportunity for Lu Country’s developnt."
Xie Anchang nodded: "Next ti, if such a thing happens again, little sister, please don’t urge Prince Jin to manage the disaster. It would be best to confuse the Prince into only caring about leisure and not involve himself in court affairs."
"Ningning, we are all in Lu Country. If you don’t listen, our Xie Family will be despised by King Lu, and we will have a hard ti. If you don’t want your old grandfather to worry in his old age, and don’t want your parents to be interrogated, it’s best to be obedient."
Madam Xie, thinking that since coaxing and appealing to familial affection did not work on Anning, decided to use a harsher approach, threatening her with her family’s lives.
Who knew, upon hearing this, Anning cried again.
She shook her head, her face in disbelief: "Your Majesty actually thinks this way? I thought he was a good person, yet he, he wants to kill our family, this can’t happen...and also, whether it’s the citizens of Lu Country or Jin Country, they are all people, how can I ignore the life and death of citizens for my personal gain, I...I won’t commit this sin..."
While speaking, Anning pushed away Madam Xie’s hand and ran.
She cried bitterly, running very fast, which caused Madam Xie and Xie Anchang to quickly chase after her, but Anning had already run out of Qifang Palace.
Many Palace Attendants stood outside Qifang Palace, so Madam Xie and Xie Anchang did not dare to do much. Anning then found an opportunity and ran towards Qingzheng Hall.
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