Chapter 36: Hypocrite
Anning stared at Yuelan for a few seconds, wondering why her expression had suddenly changed. Just moments ago, it had actually looked like they had become friends.
Well not friends but they got to talk like civilized people.
Moments ago they had been smiling and speaking normally, but the second Gu Wanqing’s name left her mouth, her entire face seemed to darken.
Anning lowered her eyes to the goblet in her hand before taking a small sip. The taste settled over her tongue almost immediately and this time, she finally realized why it felt so familiar.
First, it tasted like the rice wine she drank back home but with a little twist. It wasn’t exactly sweet and it definitely wasn’t what she had been hoping for, but there was something strangely comforting about it.
As the liquid slowly slid down her throat, she felt warmth slowly spread through her body and the tightness in her chest from earlier seemed to ease little by little.
After not saying anything for a few seconds, Anning lifted her head and asked cautiously, "So, what you’re trying to say is... You don’t like my young mistress?"
Yuelan blinked at her words and then asked, "Gu Wanqing?"
Anning nodded firmly. For a moment, Yuelan didn’t respond. Her green eyes slowly moved around the room and only then did Annig notice that the servants nearby were staring at them.
She knew some were definitely eavesdropping on their conversation while others just pretended not to stare.
Yuelan let out a small chuckle at the sight. Without warning, she reached over, grabbed Anning by the wrist and then pulled her toward the exit.
Anning stumbled at the sudden movement, she straightened herself while quickly glancing at her goblet. "Ya! Wait!"
Anning called out, her heart beating loudly in her chest. She had been specifically told to stay put.
But it wasn’t as if she did something wrong. This time, if something went wrong then it absolutely wasn’t her fault. She wasn’t the one who decided to go wander, she had been kidnapped into doing this.
And more importantly... She now had someone else she could blame.
By the time they stepped outside, the sounds of chatter coming from inside the servant hall stopped completely. The hallway looked more quiet and it also looked like a few torches had been put out. Why? Anning had no idea.
The guards still remained in their usual position, backs straight but with the servants occasionally passing by with trays. They now had small bite sized snacks in hand.
They walked a few feet away from the guards before Yuelan finally released Anning’s hand and then leaned against the wall.
"I only brought you out here because I couldn’t speak there. The walls have ears after all." Yuelan explained softly.
Anning stared at her blankly, raising one of her brows in confusion. "You mean people were actually eavesdropping on our conversation?"
"Yes, they were and they always will."
Anning nodded, understanding slowly crossing Anning’s face before her gaze shifted toward the guards standing nearby.
Yuelan followed her eyes and when it landed on the guards, she laughed.
"No, no, not them." She said, waving lazily. "I’m friends with them and they’re really trustworthy."
One of the guards glanced over and nodded slightly at Yuelan.
Anning ran her tongue over her lower lip. Being friends with guards was the one thing she would never do.
And this decision was made because of Han luo.
She took another sip from her goblet, allowing that comforting warmth spread through her chest again. Whatever feeling of nervousness that had been bothering her since arriving here soon started disappearing.
Her shoulders felt relaxed and even her thoughts felt clearer now. Nice, this was very nice.
Yuelan folded her arms beneath her chest and stared ahead.
"You asked whether I dislike Gu Wanqing." She began, her expression slowly changing. "I wouldn’t say I dislike her."
Anning glanced at her and it was at that moment, she noticed how pale the poor girl looked.
"Well, it doesn’t matter whether someone liked her or not. The entire kingdom fears her." Yuelan explained, her voice dropping slightly.
"Maybe the imperial princess could compare to her in some ways... though Her highness is naturally far more compassionate."
Anning smiled at her words, it seemed as though Yuelan truly liked this so-called Imperial princess.
Yuelan swallowed before continuing, "People who have ever spoken about Gu Wanqing or the Gu family in total disappear right after. One day they’re there and the next..." She paused, licking her lips. "They’re gone."
Anning’s fingers tightened around her goblet, at that moment, she didn’t even know what to say.
"And Gu Wanqing, I’ve seen her literally behead someone in the market place before." Yuelan said, letting out a small bitter laugh.
Anning froze, remembering what had happened minutes before they left the Gu residence. But telling a person she just met today about that, was just inappropriate.
"She didn’t even hesitate, she wasn’t even guilty." Yuelan drawled out, fear flashing through her eyes.
But that fear slowly turned to anger and then uncertainty. All at once.
"I just can’t see myself licking people like that."
The moment she finished speaking, silence followed right after.
Anning looked into her goblet and slowly swirled the drink around. She hadn’t known Wanqing for long. Honestly, if someone asked her to describe her mistress.
The perfect words would be arrogant, overbearing and someone who loved throwing her power around.
Actually... That sounded surprisingly accurate.
Anning let out a small sigh, raised the goblet to her lip and then took a huge gulp of the alcohol.
By the time she finally swallowed it, her throat felt weird and her cheeks had turned slightly pink. Then, she lazily turned to Yuelan.
"Just because I asked you if you disliked my young mistress, you thought it was okay for you to stand here and spew rubbish?" She demanded, placing one hand on her hip.
Yuelan blinked but Anning wasn’t done with her...yet.
"If you’ve heard stories about people disappearing after talking badly about her, you still have the courage to stand here and run your mouth?" She scoffed. "Do you want to be next?"
Yuelan stared at her, speechless. For a few seconds, she said absolutely nothing and then—
"Excuse me?" She blurted out, looking utterly bewildered.
"You wench, you were the one who brought this whole topic up." She began, pointing at Anning.
Anning frowned and then asked, "...I was?"
"Yes!"
Yuelan looked at her as though she had lost her mind.
"If you think you can go around telling people this, then you must be dreaming. If I get punished because of this, I’m dragging you down with me." She said firmly, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "I genuinely thought you disliked Gu Wanqing."
She took a step backward, sounding utterly betrayed
"But within a blink of an eye, you turned on me and suddenly defended her."
Yuelan stared at her for a few seconds before shaking her head. "What a hypocrite."
Anning opened her mouth to defend herself but Yuelan didn’t give her that chance as she cut her off once more.
"People with our status should have each other’s backs."
There was disappointment in her voice now.
With that said, Yuelan turned around and walked away.
Leaving Anning standing there with her goblet in hand and a confused expression on her face.
After a while, she blinked.
Then frowned.
"...Wait."
Her eyes slowly widened.
"What do you mean by our status?"
