Chapter 50: Anning Isn’t A Thing
Wanqing stared down at Xiao Qingyue waiting for her to respond.
The soft crackling of the lanterns hanging from the walls was the only sound that could be heard in the room. Outside, the sound of footsteps occasionally approaching echoed in the air but gradually turned distant after a few seconds.
Wanqing calmly lowered herself back onto her sitting cushion. She wasn’t in the mood for this conversation, but knowing how petty Qingyue was...they were definitely having it.
Across from her, Xiao Qingyue looked too relaxed. The imperial princess lazily swirled the wine in her goblet before taking a small sip.
Her pale cheeks were now slightly flushed as she played with a loose strand of her platinum blonde hair.
Unlike Wanqing, she didn’t really have anything bothering her.
As though she hadn’t just walked into another person’s home and shamelessly asked for a human being.
"I don’t understand why you’re behaving like this." Said Qingyue, finally breaking the silence.
Wanqing didn’t respond. She reached for the wine jug and poured herself another cut. Qingyue watched her for a few seconds before continuing.
"You want something that isn’t easy to acquire or produce. The Feifa is unique..." She drawled out, propping her chin against her hand. "So naturally, you have to offer something unique in return."
Wanqing let out a cold laugh and for the first time since they started speaking, she looked directly at Qingyue.
"Anning isn’t a thing." She calmly said, making Qingyue raise a brow at her.
"The Feifa might be an object. Yet, here we are." Xiao Qingyue muttered, shrugging slightly.
Wanqing leaned back slightly, staring up at the ceiling as she said, "I’m not handing over my slave to someone like you."
There wasn’t even a little hint of hesitation in her voice. Her words were blunt and definitely final.
Xiao Qingyue stared at her for a few seconds before slowly running her thumb over her lower lip. Then, she scoffed.
"Did you just say someone like me? Wanqing, have you forgotten who you are speaking to?" Xiao Qingyue asked, sounding serious now.
"I know who exactly I’m speaking to. But do I look like I care?" Wanqing asked coldly.
Qingyue shook her head, placing her goblet down before saying, "You’re really funny. You know why? Because both of us are practically the same person."
Wanqing rolled her and that only seemed to amuse Qingyue even further.
"We’re both selfish, we’re possessive of what belongs to us. We take whatever catches our attention." She paused, spreading her hands dramatically. Tell me, what exactly changes if Anning stays with me instead of you?"
Wanqing pulled out a few pins from her hair, allowing her silky hair fall smoothly over her shoulders. The frustration she had been suppressing all morning had finally begun showing on her face.
Her hands that were now placed on her laps curled into fists, the muscles in her neck tensed.
"Drop it." She said finally, her voice sounding dangerously low. "No matter what you offer me, I’m not trading her."
She said, staring directly into Qingyue’s eyes. Qingyue was speechless at that point as she actually took a moment to carefully study Wanqing.
When they were younger, Wanqing had always been difficult to read. Even after years of knowing each other, Qingyue still occasionally found herself wondering what exactly was going through this woman’s head.
Wanqing rarely smiled. She hardly got angry and even if she felt any of these emotions, she hardly allowed them to show.
She was in absolute control over every situation she found herself in, not to forget how she’d perfectly calculate everything that might happen.
People came and went from her life without much difficulty. To Wanqing, everyone was replaceable.
Or at least that was what Qingyue had always believed.
Yet right now? Wanqing looked utterly frustrated, angry, tired and strangely even defensive.
All because of a slave. Xiao Qingyue stared down at her nails for a moment before asking, "What is so special about her?"
Wanqing didn’t answer and that alone made Qingyue smile. Then she asked the one question that had been bothering her since Anning left this room.
"Are you perhaps in love with her?"
Wanqing squinted her eyes at Xiao Qingyue, shooting her a sharp glare. For a moment, Qingyue genuinely thought she might throw her wine cup at her.
Instead, Wanqing slowly and carefully spoke, "I can’t fall in love with a slave, Xiao Qingyue."
Her expression remained cold as she then added, "Stop making assumptions and can you stop talking about her?"
Qingyue blinked, she never expected Wanqing to answer her question. Normally, Wanqing would’ve ignored the question entirely.
She would’ve neither agreed nor disagreed or she would’ve simply brushed the question aside. But this time? She actually answered.
And that made her feel worse.
"If you don’t, then explain..." Qingyue started, sitting up straight. "I saw you stealing glances at her and I saw the way she kept looking at you."
She pointed one finger toward the place Anning had been standing earlier.
"And don’t think I didn’t notice something happened between the two of you before you stepped into this room." said Qingyue, pointing toward Wanqing this time. "As if the tension wasn’t obvious enough."
Wanqing remained silent and Qingyue took that as her sign to continue. "You know what I think?"
She leaned forward slightly, poking Wanqing in the chest. "I think you’re lying and I hate it."
That finally caught Wanqing’s attention, she slapped Qingyue’s hand away from her.
"You know I always believed I was perfect. There isn’t a person in this kingdom who understands you the way I do." Qingyue muttered, her gaze softening slightly. "So imagine how surprised I was to hear rumours about you and some foreign slave."
She smiled bitterly but that bitterness disappeared as quickly as it came and then she shrugged.
"But that doesn’t mean I don’t want her."
Wanqing felt the corner of her lips twitch and Qingyue could only laugh.
"I don’t want her because I love her, or because she’s beautiful. I want her because anything you like becomes infinitely more interesting."
The smile that followed after that made her look like someone that had mental issues. "And the troubles that comes with taking it become even more satisfying."
Wanqing didn’t interrupt her as she spoke, she just wanted her to finish. She didn’t argue, didn’t defend herself...she simply chose to listen.
Then, she calmly pushed herself off the cushion and to her feet. Her standing had been so sudden that Qingyue stopped talking immediately.
Wanqing adjusted her sleeves, brushed a few strands of hair from her face. Then looked down at the imperial princess.
"You shouldn’t be speaking to me that way, Your Highness. You are royalty, and I’m just a mere noble." Wanqing said calmly "Anning is mine and no one can change that. Not even you."
