Chapter 1068: Perplexed and Smitten (128)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
She had long ago prepared to spend the rest of her life together with him.
At this juncture wherein he needed her most, she could not give up on him and surrender.
Even if she could not do much for him, she would not give up.
“Mother, don’t say such things again from now on.”
“You silly child. I know Yun Chen is a good man who treats you well. However, regardless of how well he treats you, he can’t protect you. He can’t even protect himself. How is he going to be responsible for your future together? You two aren’t married yet anyway. I’m sure you’d want him to be alive and well. What can you do when even Ms. An is at a loss for a solution?”
“I… I want to save him.”
“Mo Li, stop spouting such nonsense. Unlike Ms. An, you’re not skilled in martial arts. You’ll only be sending yourself on a path toward death if you go there. That’s another nation. Besides, that princess is Byron’s cousin. If Byron sees you overseas, I’m afraid he’ll…”
“Things were over between me and Byron long ago. We no longer have anything to do with each other. He probably wouldn’t do anything to me. After all, he’s on good terms with Brother Qingyan. Nothing will change even if I sit here and wait. I might as well give it a try,” said Mo Li, who felt like there was no point in waiting aimlessly.
“Do discuss this with Ms. An. She’s more resourceful than you are. You mustn’t go alone, no matter what. Over my dead body will I allow you to go on your own.”
Knowing that her mother was worried, Mo Li said, “Yes, I’ll talk to her about it.”
However, An Xiaoning turned her down after hearing her idea.
“No!”
“Why?”
“That’s enough, I’ll think of a way to handle this. You don’t have to think about the rest anymore. Wait for my news at home.”
“I know I don’t have the ability to save him, but I still want to.”
“I won’t let you go. You’ll be caught easily if you go. By then, No. 8 won’t be the only one in trouble. We’ll have to save even you.”
“I’ll just wait for your news, then,” Mo Li said with a look of dejection.
….
After she left, An Xiaoning called Princess Nicole again.
Nicole said nonchalantly over the phone, “What’s wrong? Ms. An, is there anything you still don’t understand?”
“Why don’t you lay your conditions? Let him go and I’ll do my best to fulfill all your requests, as long as they’re within my means.”
Nicole guffawed sarcastically and sneered, “Hah… I didn’t expect a bodyguard to be of this much importance to you, Ms. An. Well, I’m sorry, but I have everything that you have. There’s nothing I want from you in exchange. Ms. An, you have so many bodyguards. What’s the big deal about losing one? Is there really a need to cause such a stir?”
“He’s my bodyguard, I obviously have to save him. Although he belonged to someone else before I bought him, I still think you should focus your attention on the person who directed him to kill you, Your Highness. Or perhaps you should find out why the mastermind wanted to kill you… what’s the point of abducting a helpless man?”
“That’s my business, you don’t have to poke your nose into it. I just want to make him stay by my side. I won’t be nice if you continue trying to intervene.”
An Xiaoning said coldly, “Don’t be too quick to give me an ultimatum, Your Highness. You’re merely a princess of the extended royal family. It’s better to give yourself some leeway. A bodyguard’s life may not be that important to you, but I believe you’re well aware of how important your life is to yourself.”
“You dare to threaten me?”
“Someone has to suffer the consequences if I don’t get who I want or if I don’t get what I want to get. If I don’t see him in three days, you’ll find out whether or not I meant what I said.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she ended the call and placed her mobile phone aside.
Fan Shixin said, “Young Madam, if she refuses to budge or give in to your threats, are you really…”
“Did you think I was making an empty threat?”
“If your threat didn’t work and instead provoked her to the point of killing No. 8…”
“We can only say that that’s No. 8’s fate, then.”
“…”
She got up from the couch and said, “I’ll go take a nap. Knock on my door and wake me up at 1:30.”
“Okay.”
Feeling weary and exhausted, An Xiaoning lay in bed and soon drifted off to dreamland.
This time, her dream was different from the ones that she had before.
This time, she didn’t take part in the events of the dream and was instead watching the scenes play out as a bystander.
She was just like a ghost that appeared amongst the crowd. She felt like she was watching a movie through the big screen.
The female lead was another form of herself.
An Xiaoning could not figure out why she had become a bystander again.
She walked toward the door and stared at the world outside, only to find that it felt extremely foreign and unfamiliar.
She turned around and tried to speak, but to no avail.
The area seemed to be somewhere inside the palace.
The other form of herself, Hua Jin, was sitting on a round table and remaining still with a straight face, as if her soul had left her body.
The door began to creak, and Xihou Jiaping, who was dressed in the emperor’s robe, stood by the door. Hua Jin maintained her composure, as if she did not hear him at all.
“Are you that upset with staying here?”
“…”
“I’ve already issued an edict today to raid the Prince’s residence. Xihou Ling dared not even show up, and he chose to give up his residence for the sake of his own life. He chose to give you up too. You won’t be happy if you’re in a relationship with him!”
“…”
“Hua Jin, do you really think nothing is going to happen as long as you stay quiet?”
He stepped forward and grabbed her chin to force her to look at him. To his disappointment, she didn’t even bother looking him in the eye.
Xihou Jiaping flew into a rage and pushed her aside. “You foolish woman who doesn’t know any better!”
Hua Jin fell onto the ground and remained still as ever, as if she was just a soulless zombie, devoid of any feelings or emotions.
He zoomed out of the door and said, “Eunuch Shuan.”
A delicate voice answered, “I’m here. Your Majesty, do you have any orders for me?” The chubby eunuch then entered.
“Pass my edict down to everyone and start raiding Xihou Ling’s residence immediately. Order Yin Aiqing to suppress all their souls and never let them reincarnate!”
Hua Jin finally broke out of her deadpan expression and got up from the ground slowly, quivering from head to toe.
She looked down and pulled up her sleeve to gaze at the jade bangle on her wrist. Her teardrops landed on the bangle, drop by drop.
“You once said that unless you’re dead, you won’t leave your people in the lurch, be it your bodyguard, your servant, or your woman… if you’re no longer around, what’s the point of me living…” she murmured.
An Xiaoning watched as Hua Jin stood up and staggered toward the window.
Although An Xiaoning had already found out beforehand that her previous incarnation jumped to her death, she could not help but feel her emotions getting out of control when she witnessed it with her very own eyes.
She tried to stop Hua Jin, only to realize that her hands would simply pass through the latter’s body.
At this very moment, it dawned on her that this place was probably the alleged balcony.