Chapter 72 Misunderstanding

  Xuanyuan dusk took the Anming pearl to the front hall, and heard that it was still a wine feast. These two days, the two of them have been together frequently. Although I mind, what can I say? Xuanyuan dusk has said before, this is just acting.

  I hid in the swing among the flowers and looked at the fabric in my hand, on which the dark red bloodstain was so clear.

  "What is a 'human skin book volume' after all? Is it a book or just like in dreams, a piece of human skin?"

  "Mei Lingxue?" A familiar voice sounded, and Princess Yuqing appeared at the corner, with two consorts following her.

  I hastily put the cloth into my bosom, stood up and bowed: "Your Highness!"

  "Why didn't you go to the front hall?" Princess Ruqing was not very tall and still lived in the East Palace, with her two concubines who usually followed her closely.

  "There are many people serving beside the prince, why didn't the princess go?"

  "They've all been drinking and it's no fun, so I left early. I heard Father Emperor say that after the Double Ninth Festival, a wedding ceremony will be held for Imperial Brother?"

  "Ah, yes! This time Anmingzhu can be happy, after planning for so long, it finally came true!" The woman in the pink dress said with a sarcastic smile, looking at me with a mocking gaze.

  "It's true, when it comes to schemes and plots, none of us can match her. She knows how to get what she wants by using people from the side, and those who are being used don't even realize it. In this imperial palace, it all comes down to favor and grace. Without that favor, we women are nothing!" Another consort spoke up in response.

  Obviously, they were talking about me, but was I being used? Originally, I didn't have the ability to be as calm and composed as Mingzhu, and I even wondered what made Xuanwu like me. I'm gloomy and introverted, not talkative or smiling, and I'm also very stubborn, this kind of person should be disliked by others, right?

  If I hadn't gone to the Ghost Bamboo Forest and jumped into Xuan Yuan's stone coffin, would he still like me? He was probably just grateful. Most of the time, I was more like his lifesaver than his lover.

  Whenever I think of An Mingzhu being with him, his smile keeps appearing, and my heart feels like it's been pricked by a needle.

  "Princess, I'll go back first!" I really don't like this feeling and have no mind to face these women.

  "I still want to stay with you for a while longer, these past few days I've been dreaming about you!"

  Princess Yōsei mentioned dreams, which reminded me of her sleepwalking: "If the princess doesn't rest well, she can go to the imperial hospital and have the imperial physician take a look. Having more examinations would be beneficial."

  "How dare she be so rude" One of the consorts glared at me with her eyes.

  Relying on the crown prince's favor, she thinks she can get away with anything. After An Mingzhu became the crown prince's consort, she would be punished sooner or later!

  I've walked a long way, but I can still hear their conversation. I couldn't help but sigh in my heart, when will I be able to leave this palace? When will I no longer have to face these women's right and wrong judgments?

  I walked alone to and fro, passing by An Mingzhu's residence, saw that An Auntie had returned, she was a person beside An Mingzhu, seeing me walking by, her face turned somewhat unpleasant.

  At this time, I heard a vague voice, among which Xuan Yuan's voice made me listen to it at once, my heart was in a mess, and I walked towards the door.

  "Miss, wait a minute! Although we slaves have no right to stop you, but you really can't go in!" An'gugu blocked my figure, her face flushing red.

  "Today, I just want to go in. Who dares to stop me?" My brain was hot, all thoughts were gone, staring at my aunt in front of me.

  The woman was taken aback, then took a step back, and I walked in with big strides.

  I pushed the door open with force, and I saw Xuan Yuan Mu pressing down on An Ming Zhu's body. The two of them fell onto the table surface, their clothes half-removed, An Ming Zhu's legs wrapped around his waist, both of them looking like they were in a state of intense passion...

  My head suddenly exploded, and then a buzzing sound, nothing could be heard.

  Xuanyuan saw me coming in, pushed Anmingzhu to the ground, turned around to tidy up her clothes, and came to my side, saying something to me? But I couldn't hear anything, nor did I want to.

  An Mingzhu saw me standing at the door, stared at me for a moment, shook her body and walked to the bedside, fell on it and fell asleep.

  I turned around and walked out, feeling that I had humiliated myself. I shouldn't have come in here, no matter how strange the voice was, I shouldn't have rushed in...

  "Snow, snow......" Xuan Yuan Mu grasped my body.

  I turned back to look at him, his eyes were somewhat dull.

  "She's drunk, we're not like what you think..."

  At last I made out what he was saying, nodded and continued walking back.

  "I'm worried about you like this, are you overthinking? She's just drunk!"

  "Yes, I know you're just pretending!" My gaze returned to Xuan Yuan Mu, but my heart was icy cold. These past few days of inseparable companionship were all an act, the preparations for marriage were also an act, and even the two of us, a lonely man and woman, half-undressed and embracing in one room, was just an act.

  Am I too stupid? Or is this really a play?

  If I live within high walls, let me live inside them. Please don't come and breach them, or else in the world you burst into, how can I protect myself?

  Back in the room, Xuan Yuan came over to hug me, but I couldn't accept his touch and dodged him.

  Xuanyuan's eyes turned cold, and he looked at me with an icy gaze: "What exactly do you want me to explain?"

  I lowered my head and didn't want to hear anything: "Today is the Double Ninth Festival, His Highness the Crown Prince has finally had a chance to rest, so I won't disturb your rest!"

  After finishing speaking, I turned around and walked out.

  "Mei Ling Xue!" Xuan Yuan Mu heard this and shouted violently, stepping forward to grab my arm: "Where do you think you're going? You can't go anywhere."

  "Yes!" I am a slave, whatever Master says is what it is?

  "Don't be like this, okay? She just got drunk and suddenly... then..." Xuan Yuan Mu suddenly couldn't continue, his eyebrows furrowed tightly as if he couldn't explain.

  I looked at him silently, did those things matter? From the beginning I should have understood my own status, a miss who was not even treated as well as a maid.

  "Today is a holiday, I want to go back to Zuo Xiang Fu to take a look, after all, that was the place where I used to live." I really want to leave here, any reason will do.

  "Let's go back together!" Xuan Yuan Mu looked at me with a somewhat urgent gaze.

  I shook my head and bowed down: "I hope Your Highness agrees to let me return home alone, I'll be back by tomorrow morning!"

  "Mei Lingxue, why are you so stubborn? I've already explained it to you, how can you still be like this? Don't you ever know the kindness of others? Is there no way for me to enter your heart no matter what I do?" Xuan Yuan shouted, his eyes turning yellow.