Chapter 49: Meaning Of This
The metallic scent of blood filled Anning’s nose after a few seconds. She simply stood there, one hand pressed against her forehead as the warm liquid trickled down the side of her face. It slid past her eyebrow and threatened to spill into her eye.
Anning quickly wiped it away with the back of her hand. She stared at the bright red stain left behind for a second longer than necessary.
She didn’t know if she should cry or walk over to Wanqing’s mother and slap a bit of sense into her.
At that point, either of those options sounded reasonable. The silence in the room wasn’t even helping matters at that moment.
.
Couldn’t they at least apologize?
Anning let out a short laugh in disbelief before lifting her head. Her gaze immediately moved to Wanqing.
The woman was still seated beside Xiao Qingyue (not that she cared anyways). Usually, Wanqing looked all cold, indifferent and even detached. It was like the world and everything happening around her had nothing to do with her.
But right now? She looked annoyed.
Anning couldn’t tell if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but she still felt weird and upset.
"Young miss." She finally said, breaking the silence.
Just as she did that, eyes turned toward her instantly. But, Anning chose to ignore them all.
"I would like to go take care of my wound. Consider your mother almost blinded me."
Even though she spoke calmly, everyone in the room realized the accusation hidden beneath her words.
Wanqing finally turned to look at her, her black eyes settling on Anning’s face. For a moment, neither of them said a word.
Anning suddenly felt nervous under her gaze. She hadn’t been nervous when speaking to the imperial princess or even General Gu, but Wanqing?
Wanqing made her feel things she didn’t want to feel.
But that same woman refused to show any emotions. Yet somehow, that expressionless face of hers felt far more terrifying than when she actually had an expression on.
Wanqing’s eyes left her face and slowly moved to the blood that was now smeared across Anning’s cheek before moving back to her eyes.
She rose a brow slightly at Anning, not saying a single word.
And somehow that made Anning feel embarrassed and even more uncomfortable by this situation.
Wanqing had just opened her mouth to respond but Xiao Qingyue beat her to it.
"You’re free to go." She said lazily running a hand through her blonde hair. "Take care of your injury but you are to return right after."
"Excuse me?" Anning muttered before she could stop herself.
Qingyue’s eyes curved slightly as she responded, "If you think about running away, I’ll send one of my guards to nicely bring you back."
Anning felt her irritation and anger rise, and there she went again. Every time this imperial princess opened her mouth, Anning found a brand new reason to dislike her.
Well, authority did make people insufferable. But she still managed to force a smile onto her face.
"Thank you, your Highness. For your immense kindness."
This time, she didn’t even bother to hide the sarcasm in her words. It should have made things worse, but Xiao Qingyue didn’t even react.
Anning straightened and glanced toward Wanqing one last time. At least expecting her to say something, but once again...she got nothing.
What had she been expecting? Had she been expecting Wanqing to treat her differently now that they kissed?
With a small almost bitter smile on her lip, Anning turned and calmly walked toward the door.
Anning stepped out of the room, the second the guards pushed open the door for her.
The second she disappeared, the atmosphere in the receiving room changed. The smile on Xiao Qingyue’s face dropped.
She tapped her fingers lightly against the table as she spoke, "So, I’m serious about my offer."
Many of them had thought the imperial princess had just said that as a joke, but hearing her say it personally... sounded weird.
When no one spoke her eyes drifted toward General Gu, "Hand her over."
General Gu sighed. "Your Highness. As much as the Gu family would appreciate receiving a Feifa. I doubt his Majesty would be pleased if you suddenly returned to the palace with a foreign slave."
The way he spoke still remained respectful as he added, "it’s simply not worth the trouble."
Qingyue didn’t respond. At that point, no one seemed eager to join the conversation.
Yufang sat beside her mother, examining her fingernails as though the discussion had absolutely nothing to do with her.
Han Luo and the imperial warriors remained expressionless. Even Yuelan had to keep her gaze lowered at all times.
Wanqing took that exact moment to move. She picked up a goblet, filled it with wine and then drank the entire thing in one go.
The sharp scent of alcohol lingered briefly in the air. When she finally set the goblet down, a sneer appeared on her face.
"I never knew you could be this greedy." Wanqing finally said, making Xiao Qingyue turn toward her.
Wanqing laughed softly, the sound held no amusement. She just couldn’t believe this was happening.
"You see something that belongs to someone else and suddenly, you want it." She paused, staring into her empty goblet. "If you want a slave so bad, go buy one."
She narrowed her dark eyes before adding, "Preferably one with silver hair."
"Wanqing!" General Gu yelled but Xiao Qingyue raised a hand, stopping him.
She didn’t appear offended, not even the slightest. Though the smile on her face was nowhere to be seen at that point, she didn’t even look amused.
She silently placed her own goblet onto the table and then moved her attention elsewhere, toward Gu Ruiqing.
The woman frowned the moment their eyes met.
"My Lady." Qingyue called out softly. The title sounded strange coming from royalty, yet Xiao Qingyue said it smoothly.
It sounded like she was mocking the poor woman, but who could question royalty?
"I find you stupid and utterly annoying."
Gu Ruiqing’s face darkened instantly, but Xiao Qingyue had no plans to stop.
"If Wanqing eventually decides to hand that slave over to me and I find even a single scar on her face..." A small pause. "The entire Gu family will pay for it."
Gu Ruiqing nearly rose from her seat at her words, humiliation flashing openly across her face.
Before she could respond, Wanqing suddenly let out a cold, sharp chuckle before pushing herself to get feet.
"Get out." She said coldly, allowing her gaze to sweep across the room.
At first, no one moved till General Gu immediately rose to his feet. His wife and Yufang followed without any form of hesitation.
The three of them bowed respectfully toward Xiao Qingyue. General Gu glanced at Wanqing one last time before leaving the room.
Their servants followed quickly behind them. The imperial warriors exchanged brief glances between themselves and even Yuelan didn’t move immediately.
That was until Wanqing shot them one cold glare. They lowered their heads in unison before leaving the room as she ordered.
The receiving room had gone quiet once more, the door had slid back into place and only two people now remained in the room.
Gu Wanqing and Xiao Qingyue.
Wanqing didn’t speak immediately, she picked up the wine jug and then refilled her goblet.
Before saying, "What is the meaning of this?"
