Chapter 774: A Million Times for You (136)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Upon hearing Tuoba Gucheng’s words, Tuoba Danxue immediately thought of Jiang Feng, who had died an innocent death because of her, and fell silent.
Tuoba Gucheng’s personal mobile phone began vibrating continuously in his pocket. He whipped it out and took a look at the caller display before exiting to answer it.
“Hello.”
“I’d like to meet your mother,” said An Xiaoning, who sounded hoarse, as if she had gotten a cold.
“Where are you?”
“Outside the main entrance of the Autumn Palace.”
After pondering for a brief moment, he asked, “What do you want to see her for?”
“I have something important to show her. Please, Your Majesty.”
“I’ll send someone to bring you in.” He switched off his mobile phone and returned inside.
“An Xiaoning is here.” Tuoba Gucheng adjusted his blazer and looked at Shi Xiaoyu. “She said that she has something important to show you,” he continued.
“What is it? Did you let her in?” Shi Xiaoyu asked with a frown.
“Yes.” He seemed to have already guessed An Xiaoning’s reason for entering the Autumn Palace.
However, why did she come to see Mother? Just what does she want to show Mother?
More than ten minutes later, the bodyguards entered with An Xiaoning.
She was wearing a pink cardigan that had long tassels at its hem, coupled with a pair of black leather trousers and high-heeled stilettos that produced a crisp click-clack sound whenever she took a step. She appeared rather aloof and stern.
She stood in the middle of the living room and began speaking with a straight face. “I received a call this morning from my biological mother, Shi Qingzhou. I heard that Madam had sent her subordinates to kill my mother last night, is that true?”
Tuoba Rui was shell-shocked and almost began to wonder if he was hallucinating and hearing things. Unable to contain his emotions, he asked, “Who did you just say…”
“Shi Qingzhou. I suppose you still remember her, don’t you?” An Xiaoning answered.
“You mean she’s still alive?”
“Yes, she’s still alive. I came here today, not to acknowledge my family but to show Madam something. I believe you’ll start to exercise self-control once you see it,” An Xiaoning said simply.
Tuoba Rui zoomed toward her and questioned agitatedly, “Where is she now!?! Xiaoning, where’s your mother?”
“Sit down first. I’ll answer you after I make my purpose for visiting clear,” An Xiaoning said in her ever-so-calm voice.
“Okay…” Tuoba Rui retreated backward and returned to his seat.
An Xiaoning took out a video player from her purse and pressed a button on the small device with her slender fingers, after which a video began playing. The volume was loud and clear enough for everyone to hear.
“There are no sounds here to disturb you now. Apart from my voice, there’s nothing you can hear and it’s completely silent around you. Imagine that you’re floating on the surface of the ocean, how peaceful and relaxing. You’re paddling along the waves using your hands… Is the ocean vast?”
“Yes.”
“Continue to paddle forward and you’ll see your family calling out to you from another boat. Take a look at them, who do you see?”
“Father, Mother…”
“Is your sister there, too?”
“She’s not my sister!”
Shi Xiaoyu scrambled toward her in a frantic state and reached her hand out in an attempt to snatch the player away from An Xiaoning’s hands. However, An Xiaoning raised her hands high above her head and glowered at Shi Xiaoyu. “Madam, we’re not finished yet. Why are you in such a hurry?”
Tuoba Rui pulled Shi Xiaoyu away and said, “Continue.”
The video was resumed.
“Could you tell me what she looks like now?”
“Her clothes are tattered and torn, with bloodstains all over them. She’s shackled to chains, and her hair is unkempt and dry like weeds. She hasn’t brushed her hair in ages. What’s the use of being pretty…”
“…”
They continued to watch the video until the very end. “As you can see, this is a video of Madam being hypnotized before I rescued my mother. When I was bringing my mother away, she was so frail and emaciated that she appeared to be on the verge of death. She was locked up like a prisoner for three whole decades…”
An Xiaoning stared at the three siblings with an icy cold look in her eyes before continuing, “It’s been quite some time since she was rescued, and the only reason I haven’t told your father was that my mother doesn’t wish to see him or let him know that she’s still alive. I decided to abide by her wishes. I’ve never thought of acknowledging my biological father anyway. However, your mother is bent on killing my mother, who’s now injured. I’m leaving this video with you guys and I’ll pretend not to see anything that happens here now. If the three of you don’t wish to see your mother’s scandal being reported on the news all across the globe or cause the entire S Nation to be humiliated and become a global laughingstock, then you’d better keep your mother in check! Otherwise, the citizens are really going to be disappointed in your family. Don’t let your mother get out of hand and wreak havoc again! Since I dared to show up here today, I’ve already prepared everything beforehand. If I end up dying here or if I don’t make it out in three hours, this scandal will be exposed all over the media. Just you wait and see!”
Tuoba Danxue stared at the petite An Xiaoning, who seemed to have just released all her pent-up anger and emotions.
“Mother, were you planning to talk to my brothers about this?”
Seething with exasperation, Shi Xiaoyu slammed her hand down onto the table and glowered at An Xiaoning. “An Xiaoning, it seems like you haven’t gotten a clear idea of where you stand. How dare you give us an ultimatum and threaten us!?!” she screeched.
“I don’t know where I stand? Did you forget that I’m my father’s biological child? I’ve already gotten a DNA test done to verify that. I’m a pureblood from the Tuoba family too! Although I’ve never wanted to return to this family or reunite with my kin, that doesn’t mean my identity can be denied, does it?” An Xiaoning retorted furiously, almost daunting. She had lost her rationality the moment she heard that Shi Xiaoyu had sent some hitmen to kill her mother.
Pointing at Tuoba Rui, Shi Xiaoyu sneered, “So what if you are? Do you really think he’ll stand up for you? He’s no longer the president now. The president is now my son! How are you so stupid as to not realize that?”
“So what if your son is the president? He has a conscience and a mind of his own. He’s not your puppet whom you can manipulate. I believe he won’t allow you to go about your unruly ways and bring shame to him and his nation.”
“Well said,” Tuoba Gucheng interjected. He then said to the bodyguards, “Bring Ms. An to my office.”
Tuoba Rui immediately stopped An Xiaoning from leaving and asked, “Your mother… where is she now?”
“With my father. That’s right, the father I’m referring to is your brother. He’s earned enough of my respect for me to consider him my father. Don’t think of seeing my mother again because she doesn’t wish to see you at all.”
An Xiaoning turned away from him and continued to walk away.
Just as she was about to reach the door, she heard a melancholic voice. “Xiaoning, Father has let you down,” said Tuoba Rui.
Despite having no attachment toward him at all, An Xiaoning could not help but tear up.
However, she did not turn back and continued to walk out of the door.
Soon, she vanished.