An Ning and Xiao Jinxing confronted each other.
Neither would compromise.
Xiao Jinxing’s expression was as grim as it could be, and he glared fiercely at An Ning.
He looked at the stubbornness in her eyes.
Did she really think, that no matter what she did, he could tolerate it, would be indifferent!
She did not love him, would rather die than love him.
She left him, left without hesitation.
Now that she returned for Gu Xingchuan, should he pretend nothing happened and deceive himself to start over with her?
Yes.
When Gu Xingchuan rebelled that day, before he knew An Ning was forced to return because of Gu Xingchuan, he indeed wanted to let go of everything, no matter her reasons, as long as she could co back he would act as if nothing happened.
But now, after all they’ve been through, knowing her real intentions, he couldn’t be so selfless either.
Moreover.
Wasn’t she always yearning for her freedom?
He then resolved to grant her her freedom.
Never to see each other again!
"Everyone else, leave!" Xiao Jinxing suddenly ordered.
In the end.
He still compromised for her.
In the end, whatever she wanted, he always obliged.
But there were so things beyond his capacity, things he couldn’t provide her.
Eunuch Ping hearing the Emperor say so, felt imnse relief.
He knew too well the personalities of both the Emperor and the Empress.
If the Emperor did not compromise, the Empress would never yield either.
Fortunately, the Emperor wasn’t completely indifferent to the Empress.
He quietly called Feng Xiyun, "Little Imperial Physician Feng."
aning she should leave quickly.
Feng Xiyun glanced back at Xiao Jinxing.
Seed to gauge the look on his face.
Xiao Jinxing pursed his lips, slightly nodded.
Only then did Feng Xiyun rise and follow Eunuch Ping out.
The two walked out of the great hall.
Eunuch Ping said, "Little Imperial Physician Feng can return, soon I’ll attend to the Emperor’s al."
"Then I’ll leave it to you, Eunuch Ping." Feng Ximing smiled warmly.
"This is my duty." Eunuch Ping responded promptly.
Feng Xiyun also bowed and then turned to leave.
Eunuch Ping watched Feng Xiyun’s retreating figure and nodded.
He thought, Little Imperial Physician Feng indeed understood her place.
All this ti at the Emperor’s side, she had not once overstepped any boundaries, nor shown any inappropriate intentions towards the Emperor.
Had she not spoken about the Empress waiting outside, he wouldn’t have known when to broach the subject, letting the Empress suffer more of the cold.
His impression of Little Imperial Physician Feng grew fonder.
...
In the great hall.
Xiao Jinxing abruptly laid down his chopsticks.
Apparently, he had lost his appetite.
An Ning stood up.
Without his permission, knowing that at this mont Xiao Jinxing wouldn’t stop her, nor would he undermine his own authority.
She said directly, "Your Majesty should eat first."
"I have no desire to eat," Xiao Jinxing replied coldly.
"Is it because I’m here, not Little Imperial Physician Feng, that you’ve lost your appetite?" An Ning asked him.
Xiao Jinxing tightened his lips.
His eyes coldly locked onto An Ning.
"Then I’ll keep it brief," An Ning was indifferent to Xiao Jinxing’s attitude towards her.
As if over the years, she had grown used to it.
Since the ti when Xiao Jinxing was just Prince Chen, she was never so afraid of him.
Even after he beca Emperor, it seed she never changed.
She asked, "Did Your Majesty co to my palace today because there was sothing you needed from ?"
"I am the Emperor; everything under the heavens is mine, including your palace. Wherever I choose to go, I need not explain to anyone!"
Clearly, he wasn’t intending to answer her question.
An Ning fell silent for a long mont.
She truly couldn’t fathom what Xiao Jinxing was seeking from her?!
She slowly asked, "Is Your Majesty here without any specific matters, just to ask to accompany you for the night?"
Xiao Jinxing’s eyes narrowed.
An Ning remained calm.
"So, for Gu Xingchuan, you would use any ans, is that it?" Xiao Jinxing mocked coldly.
An Ning bit her lip.
Xiao Jinxing indeed would not go easy on Gu Xingchuan.
In fact, anyone would find it impossible to be lenient with soone who had betrayed them.
"What, nothing to say?" Xiao Jinxing looked at her.
Noticing her sudden silence.
Perhaps being exposed so suddenly, she didn’t know how to smooth it over.
"Can we peacefully discuss the matter of Gu Xingchuan?" An Ning asked calmly.
Regarding Gu Xingchuan, she never intended to fall out with Xiao Jinxing.
Understanding that this wasn’t just about their personal grievances, but concerned the entire nation, she wasn’t trying to make it hard for Xiao Jinxing, but hoped he could stand by her.
"Peacefully?" Xiao Jinxing sneered, "For soone who seeks to kill and overthrow my regi, should I have any compassion?!"
"Gu Xingchuan rebelled because of ," An Ning said softly, not wanting to anger Xiao Jinxing, "I hope considering I ultimately chose to help you and plotted against Gu Xingchuan, you could spare his life."
"An Ning, are you truly helping , or are you just acting for the people of this land?!" Xiao Jinxing asked her coldly.
An Ning looked at Xiao Jinxing, yet to respond.
Xiao Jinxing continued, "You know that once power shifts, those who will suffer are the common people. And because you feel compassionate, you chose to pull back Gu Xingchuan from the brink. When did you ever choose ? When did you truly consider ?"
"And didn’t you?" An Ning countered.
Xiao Jinxing’s eyes remained icy.
"When Gu Xingchuan asked you to choose between and your realm, didn’t you choose the realm?" An Ning challenged Xiao Jinxing.
Xiao Jinxing laughed again.
Laughed with helplessness.
And with irony.
He said, "Yes, I chose the realm. My greatest wish in this life, besides revenge, is this supre power. Anyone who tries to topple my regi will be shown no rcy! Just as it was with Bai Mowan, so will it be with Gu Xingchuan. So, Empress, no need to waste efforts pleading for Gu Xingchuan; I will not forgive him, I am not so magnanimous, and my realm cannot be so wantonly desecrated!"
"Xiao Jinxing..."
"If the Empress ets only to plead for Gu Xingchuan, then the Empress should not see again. Once winter passes, court will resu, and I will consult with my civil and military officials on how to deal with Gu Xingchuan. The Empress can just wait for the outco." Xiao Jinxing’s words were cold.
An Ning silently gazed at Xiao Jinxing.
Looking at the distance between them, as if no matter how hard she tried, she could never close it.
She asked, "Xiao Jinxing, are we really destined to keep missing each other like this?"
Xiao Jinxing’s fingers twitched slightly.
Yet his emotions remained concealed.
"When once you wanted to stay, I chose to leave. Now when I want to truly be with you, you ruthlessly push away. Are we truly, as they say, having fate but not destiny?" An Ning calmly, coolly, sincerely asked him.
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