The two of them just looked at each other.
Bai Mowan’s expression visibly darkened.
Early in the morning.
A woman erged from Xiao Jinxing’s room.
Her face and body seed to bear injuries.
These injuries, no matter how they were viewed, seed... unusual.
The coldness in her eyes was unmistakable.
Moreover, she felt as if she had seen this woman before, creating an inexplicable sense of aversion.
Though upon closer inspection, there was nothing that seed familiar about her.
"Who are you?!" Bai Mowan coldly questioned An Ning.
An Ning paid her respects, "I am a common woman here to heal His Majesty. Now His Majesty has asked to leave."
So.
This woman knows Xiao Jinxing is the Emperor?!
So she wanted to seduce Xiao Jinxing?
And then got hurt by Xiao Jinxing?!
Bai Mowan sneered with disdain.
She should also see what kind of person she is; does she think Xiao Jinxing is soone who can be easily seduced?!
She glanced again at An Ning.
Her face was mottled with red and purple marks, and there were traces of broken skin. It was impossible to discern her real appearance.
"Go!" Bai Mowan no longer considered An Ning worth her attention.
She directly walked into the room.
An Ning also did not linger and left imdiately.
At this mont, she thought, since Xiao Jinxing was convinced she wasn’t Ye Qichi, and Bai Mowan had personally co to take him back to the palace, Xiao Jinxing would soon leave.
Although the past few days had been unpleasant.
The ending was what she desired.
She even thought that, with soone like Xiao Jinxing, upon realizing he had mistaken her identity, he would never set foot in Xuzhou again.
This lifeti, they would never et again.
An Ning walked away with composure.
After just a few steps.
Her steps suddenly halted.
A man in white appeared in the courtyard, still standing as he did the first ti they t, gracefully in the wind, with delicate features, as light as the breeze.
An Ning’s throat moved slightly.
The man in front of her was speaking with Xiao Wu.
They seed to be inquiring about Xiao Jinxing’s situation in Xuzhou.
He did not notice anyone else.
As An Ning walked past him, he still didn’t glance back.
An Ning thought.
This ti they would simply pass by each other.
Seeing him remain unchanged was enough.
She didn’t pause her steps.
But at that instant.
"Wait." A familiar voice echoed in her ear.
An Ning’s heart fluttered.
Gu Xingchuan strode over and grabbed her arm.
At the mont he grabbed her arm, his fingers seed to be trembling.
He had co with the Imperial Concubine to Xuzhou to see the Emperor, indeed because the Emperor had been away from the palace too long, drawing much criticism from the ministers. It was truly hard to explain to the civil and military officials! Previously, the Imperial Concubine had sent soone to invite the Emperor back, yet the Emperor showed no intention of returning, prompting them to co in person.
When word spread that he was heading to Xuzhou, the Imperial Concubine privately decided to accompany him.
Upon arrival, the Imperial Concubine went directly to see the Emperor while he inquired with Xiao Wu about the Emperor’s circumstances in Xuzhou.
By rights, the Emperor is not one to act so willfully. He couldn’t be unaware that he should return to the palace after such a long ti, yet he remained in Xuzhou, knowing sothing happened. Therefore, he needed to understand the situation thoroughly to effectively persuade the Emperor to return.
He had just spoken a few words with Xiao Wu.
Suddenly, he noticed a familiar figure passing by.
His heart suddenly skipped a beat.
In the next mont, uncontrollably, he grabbed that person’s arm.
Then, his hands trembled incessantly.
An Ning pursed her lips.
She turned to face Gu Xingchuan.
And curtsied, saying, "Sir, is there sothing you wish to discuss with this common woman?"
Gu Xingchuan’s eyes, already tinged with red, just focused on that unfamiliar face.
The repressed emotions within his heart, the overwhelming emotion, seed to... solidify at this mont.
No.
She wasn’t Ye Qichi.
He had mistaken her.
He slowly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, the redness and complicated emotions in his eyes had vanished, leaving only a cold indifference.
"Sorry, I mistook you for soone else." Gu Xingchuan released her.
Still humble and polite.
An Ning smiled slightly, "Then I shall take my leave."
And she curtsied.
And left Gu Xingchuan’s presence.
As Gu Xingchuan watched her leave, his eyes tinged with redness once more.
Though she looked different, the feeling was astonishingly similar.
In an instant, he seed to understand why the Emperor had not returned to the palace.
"It’s her." Xiao Wu, observing Gu Xingchuan’s gaze, quickly said, "The Emperor has taken a liking to her, which is why he’s reluctant to return to the palace."
"The injuries on her face?" Gu Xingchuan frowned.
"Probably because with the Emperor..." Xiao Wu’s face turned red, "Most likely from resisting the Emperor’s forcefulness."
Gu Xingchuan pursed his lips.
He felt inexplicably uncomfortable knowing she was bullied.
Even if the person before him wasn’t Ye Qichi.
But in the end, he showed little emotion.
He turned back to continue speaking with Xiao Wu.
Then waited for the Emperor to summon them.
...
Inside the room.
Xiao Jinxing sat on the bed, feeling his completely collapsed inner world, trying desperately to endure.
His fists clenched tightly, his eyes bloodshot, full of hostility.
Losing soone.
Ti and ti again, losing soone.
It truly hurt.
So much pain, as if the heart and liver were torn apart.
He was imrsed in his sorrow.
Completely unaware of the person entering the room.
Bai Mowan could see Xiao Jinxing’s distress. She hadn’t seen such emotions on his face for many years, now completely unmasked.
Was it because of that woman just now?!
The gentle expression Bai Mowan had assud fell once again.
So many years.
She would never allow any woman to take advantage of this vulnerability of Xiao Jinxing.
She cald her inner emotions and spoke softly, "Your Majesty."
Xiao Jinxing seed not to hear.
At this mont, he couldn’t hear anything.
His mind was entirely filled with images of Ye Qichi as she was back then, an image he dared not forget, could never forget.
"Your Majesty." Bai Mowan called out to him again.
Seeing no response.
Bai Mowan bent down to sit beside Xiao Jinxing and reached out to grasp his hand.
"What happened..."
"Get away!" Xiao Jinxing’s cold voice was laced with murderous intent.
Bai Mowan’s hand hovered stiffly, close to his fingers.
Over the past five years, Xiao Jinxing, though distant, had never lost his temper with her like this.
Just for the sake of that woman, he would treat her this way?!
A glint of cruelty flickered in her eyes.
The next mont, she returned to normal.
She withdrew her hand.
She knew very well that she could not rush with Xiao Jinxing.
Having waited for five years, she certainly wouldn’t let it all fall apart today.
She said, "Both I and Lord Gu have co today to escort Your Majesty back to the palace. Your Majesty has been away for over twenty days, and the ministers have expressed their concerns. May Your Majesty prioritize state affairs!"
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