Chapter 618: The Secret About the Past (236)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Keeping his eyes fixed on her face, Tuoba Gucheng asked, “Are you angry because the Princess Consort is pregnant?”
Um, what?
An Xiaoning could not fathom how silly he was. Does he seriously think that I’m leaving because I’m jealous?
“I’m afraid you’re mistaken, Your Highness. The Princess Consort’s pregnancy is an extremely joyous piece of news worth celebrating. How could I possibly be upset about that?” An Xiaoning answered calmly.
“I’m not allowing you to leave,” said Tuoba Gucheng.
Greatly taken aback by his answer, An Xiaoning said, “Your Highness, I’m not the only bodyguard in the palace. There are thousands of people waiting in line to be your bodyguard. You don’t have to worry about a shortage of manpower.”
“Who said I was worried about that?”
Not wanting to discuss that matter again, An Xiaoning said, “I’ve already made up my mind. Please grant me my wishes, Your Highness.”
“Mu Ning…”
An Xiaoning looked at him earnestly and said, “You once mentioned that you would protect me as far as possible. However, I don’t need you to do that. All I’m asking is for you to fulfill this one wish of mine, that is, to allow me to resign and live life the way I want.”
“Forget about it, I’ll never agree.” Tuoba Gucheng left as soon as he finished speaking.
An Xiaoning was filled with dismay, not expecting him to be such a tough nut to crack.
He’s not allowing her to resign?
Although it was a tall order to leave the Autumn Palace, it was not entirely impossible.
An Xiaoning exited from the room, after which the bodyguards began bombarding her with questions.
“What did His Highness say to you?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
“Did he forbid you from leaving?”
“How is it any of your business?” An Xiaoning hissed, rolling her eyes at them. She then turned around and made her way upstairs with her luggage.
She locked the door from the inside once she entered her room.
She knew that Tuoba Gucheng would definitely hand down instructions to the guards to forbid her from leaving the Autumn Palace.
An Xiaoning opened her luggage again and took all her important belongings and valuables with her, planning to leave her clothes and shoes in the room.
She initially thought that she could leave as soon as she informed him of her resignation.
Yet, to her astonishment, he did not allow it.
Seemed like she had no choice but to come up with another solution.
Thus, An Xiaoning decided to go on a strike, though her efforts were futile.
Tuoba Gucheng still knocked on her door to get her to come out, nonetheless.
She did not bother changing into the bodyguard’s uniform. Instead, she just put on a pair of trainers and followed Tuoba Gucheng around.
“Are you really that reluctant to follow me?”
“Yes,” An Xiaoning answered without hesitation. Contrary to her expectations, he did not get angry and instead chuckled.
“You still have to continue working for me even if you’re unwilling to. Doesn’t this feel horrible? Forget about trying to escape. It’s impossible. I’ve already instructed all the guards,” said Tuoba Gucheng.
An Xiaoning felt like she was choking and at a loss for words. “Why are you acting this way, Your Highness?”
“No reason. I’m just used to having you as my bodyguard. I don’t want someone else following me around,” he answered, looking in front.
“It’s only been a few months, what do you mean you’re already used to it?”
“I just am. So, be obedient and stay by my side. I’ll be doubling your wage, what do you think of that?”
“I want to go out of the palace.”
“I’ll pay you triple of your current wage.”
“…”
She could not communicate with him at all.
Noticing that she was remaining quiet, he said, “I won’t be so distant and cold toward you again. So don’t leave.”
An Xiaoning did not answer him, making him think that her silence meant consent.
In reality, An Xiaoning had actually thought of another solution to leave the Autumn Palace at that very moment.
There was a large lake that connected the palace to the rest of the city. However, that was precisely the reason why there were also guards around the area to prevent trespassers from entering.
There must be a barrier in the lake.
However, An Xiaoning found no harm in giving it a try.
By evening, she had already prepared a snorkeling tube and several other tools, in a bid to leave via the lake.
Before departing, she left a note on the table.
It read: “I’m sorry I can’t promise you to stay. I wish you a life of happiness and bliss. Hope you’ll win the presidential election.”
If she failed to escape, she would keep the note once she returned. However, if she managed to succeed, the note shall be her very last words for Tuoba Gucheng as Mu Ning.
This time, she did not leave by the main entrance or climb through the window.
Instead, she headed to the middle of the second floor.
To be exact, it was higher than the second floor but lower than the third.
It was a tiny room that was only a meter in height.
The windows were sealed and the top was made of wooden planks and tiles.
She carefully removed the wooden planks and lifted up the tiles. She then pulled herself up and made it onto the top.
She returned the planks and tiles to their original position.
Then, she latched her rope onto a nearby tree and tugged it with all her might. After confirming that the rope was secure and tight, she took a leap and landed on the tree, wrapping herself around the trunk. She then climbed down the tree slowly using the rope.
She treaded along the obscure sidewalk toward the lake.
She hurriedly approached the area that connected the lake to the outside world.
An Xiaoning stepped into the freezing water, which was stinging due to the bitter winter.
Once she was fully submerged in the lake, she felt as if she had plunged into a Winterland full of snow and hail.
With a long breathing tube in her mouth, she swam around the lake continuously and soon approached the barrier between the palace and the outside world.
The barrier in the lake was constructed from a network of sturdy steel wires.
On top of that, there was also a cemented wall that had a tiny crack, making it impossible to swim out through the lake.
It seemed like she had made a wasted trip this time.
An Xiaoning swam back to where she came from and climbed up ashore, shivering uncontrollably due to the biting cold.
It was impossible to leave from the other fences either.
The only way out was to leave by the main entrance.
“Mu Ning, why are you drenched?”
“I fell into the water,” she answered.
“When did you go out?” the bodyguard on duty asked.
“None of your business.”
She was still feeling chilly even after taking a warm shower.
She wrapped a blanket around herself and sat on the bed. Just my luck to be so unfortunate!
But was I one to give up easily?
Of course not.
If it didn’t work this time, I’ll just come up with another solution next time.
An Xiaoning began to feel giddy and fell asleep while leaning against the wall.
When Tuoba Gucheng knocked on her door in the morning, she nevertheless remembered to put on her mask, her most powerful tool.
“Why aren’t you up yet?” Tuoba Gucheng asked, noticing that she was flushed red and her eyes were glassed over.
“I’m feeling feeble and lethargic all over. Can I take a break?” As soon as she finished speaking, she turned around and sprawled herself across the bed again.
“Did you catch a cold?”
“I think so,” An Xiaoning answered feebly.
“Take your temperature.”
“Please help me get the thermometer, Your Highness. Sorry to trouble you.”
He did not find it a hassle, however, and proceeded to bring her the thermometer. “Go and accompany the Princess Consort, Your Highness,” An Xiaoning said with half-closed eyes.
“She has gone back to her parents’ home.”
“Oh…”
She did not utter anything else ever since.
Ten minutes later, Tuoba Gucheng entered the room again and said, “Hand me the thermometer.”
An Xiaoning opened her eyes and slowly removed the thermometer from under her armpit before handing it to him. Tuoba Gucheng took a look to see that she was running a high fever of 39 degrees Celsius.
The previous time she ran such a high fever was during her miscarriage. Yet, it was happening again this time. Tuoba Gucheng could not help but feel rather worried at the sight of how weak and ill she was.