Chapter 41: Wanqing Is My Master
Han Luo stared at Anning for a few seconds without saying a single word, then he slapped a hand over his forehead and took a step away from her.
"Master has requested that you come to his chambers the moment you wake up," Han Luo said, his voice lacking any of that soft tone from earlier.
Anning blinked the moment those words left his mouth. If Han Luo was talking about Master, then did that mean Wanqing’s father?
The General?!
"Why is he asking to see me? I did nothing wrong and I’m pretty tired right now," Anning said, laughing awkwardly.
She didn’t even give Han Luo time to respond. She took a step backward, her hand moving to the door, but just as it slid open, Han Luo suddenly grabbed her other arm.
"Don’t. Just do as you’re told," he said coldly, then paused before adding softly, "Please."
Anning glared up at him before slapping his hand off hers.
"Honestly, I don’t get what your problem is. One moment you’re reminding me of my place and the next you’re acting nice." She yelled, using her index finger to poke Han Luo in the chest. "Tell me, what the heck do you want from me?"
"You’re being delusional," Han Luo said firmly. "I’m not being nice. It’s just how I am."
Anning stared at Han Luo without saying a word. This time... she could argue. Why? Because he had just said that while staring directly into her eyes.
Anning nodded once before taking a step away from him. She stared down at herself for a few seconds and missed the brief flicker of emotion that passed through Han Luo’s eyes.
Anning wasn’t wearing the clothes she had on yesterday, so she chose to assume someone had simply helped her change. She didn’t want to think about who or why. She just needed to fix things... one at a time.
"Let’s go," she said.
Han Luo nodded and proceeded to start walking while Anning followed closely behind him.
The corridor where Wanqing’s room was located was currently empty, but the moment they took a turn into the next hallway, the first thing Anning noticed was the change in decor. Everything seemed more... extravagant.
Not that it was anything less before, but these ones literally screamed, Hey, look at me.
The maids weren’t gossiping as they walked past her. They were completely immersed in their jobs and didn’t even pause for a brief second.
Walking further down the hallway, Anning noticed that a few maids had suddenly stopped what they were doing to stare at her.
Like blatantly stare.
At first, she chose to ignore them... until she heard what they were whispering about.
"I can’t believe she had the audacity to call the young miss hers. Who does she think she is?"
"It’s mostly the young miss’s fault for bringing such a slave into the residence. Unacceptable."
"I now see the reason why the imperial princess is visiting," the person scoffed before adding, "I hope she gets returned to whatever slum they brought her from."
Yes. Anning could feel whatever self-control she had shattered into pieces.
She suddenly stopped walking and turned toward the small group of maids.
"Excuse me?" she said enthusiastically, waving at them. "Are you talking about me?"
The maids looked flabbergasted for a few seconds, but they instantly schooled their expressions and nodded in unison.
"Yes. You’re just a filthy slave that doesn’t know her place. How dare you even speak to us?" one of the maids said, taking a step forward.
Anning shook her head, wondering who or what she had offended to end up in a place like this.
She didn’t speak for a moment and turned her head toward Han Luo, who was also staring at her.
"I’m about to do something really stupid. Ha!" she chuckled to herself. "Be my witness, Luo. I think I really tried."
Without waiting for a response, she calmly approached the maid who had just spoken.
"I’m a filthy slave, right? A filthy slave that will and always remain above you." Anning sneered, placing her hands on her hips.
"That’s the problem you have. You think you’re better than everybody. But you won’t be so confident when the imperial princess arrives," another maid said, sounding less confident than the first.
Anning cocked her head to the side at her words, reaching up to touch her hair as she said, "If I don’t fear the young miss, why should I be afraid of the imperial princess?"
"You whore!" the maid who had spoken first yelled out. "You don’t speak about royalty in such—"
SMACK!
The maid didn’t get to finish her words as Anning moved faster, delivering a swift slap across her cheek.
"Whore? Whore? Come on, keep talking!" she yelled, reaching over to grab the girl by her collar. "Keep talking. I fucking dare you!"
"L-let go of me, you lunatic!" the maid screamed, struggling to pry Anning’s hand off her clothes.
Han Luo took that as his sign to finally intervene.
"Anning, that’s enough."
Anning’s grin only grew wider at his words. She shoved the girl she was holding onto to the floor and then turned toward Han Luo.
"I told you to stand there and watch. I didn’t ask you to intervene, Han Luo," she screamed, her hands beside her body curling into fists.
Anning could feel her anger increasing. Even after dying, she still couldn’t control her temper, but at that moment, she didn’t care.
"Watch it," Han Luo spat coldly, taking a step forward.
"Watch it? What the fuck did I do wrong to be treated like this? Because I’m a slave?" Anning asked.
When Han Luo didn’t respond, she scoffed and threw her hands into the air in disbelief.
"You heard them say I didn’t deserve Wanqing or whatever? Let me make it clear to you or any other living being in this place. Wanqing is my master. She owns me and talking about deserve? She doesn’t deserve me."
"What is going on here?"
