Chapter 56: The Price For Your Attitude
The moment Anning finished speaking, Han Luo moved faster than Anning could react.
He stepped on, wrapped his hand around her wrist and yanked the blade away. Her fingers stung from the force he used and with a sharp metallic click, he slid the sword back into its sheath.
"Anning!" He called out sharply, his voice carrying a clear warning. "It is not appropriate for someone in your position to point a weapon at someone of higher status."
Anning rolled her eyes so hard it almost hurt. Potato potato. Everything in this place always came down to status and it was starting to get a bit pathetic.
She shot a glare at Yufang, who still looked frightened. The woman’s face had gone pale, one hand pressed against her chest like she was trying to keep herself from getting a heart attack or something.
If Anning was given five minutes alone with her, she would be glad to help get rid of this nuisance for the Gu family.
"She touched me first," Anning said, pushing a few strands of hair behind her ear. "Why should I be the one to apologize?"
Han Luo pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling as though he had turned older ever since Anning appeared. Yufang let out a long tired sigh and ran a hand down her face.
When she looked at Anning, her expression was a bit strange... like she was staring at some unstable relative she had to deal with or at some wild animal.
"Don’t worry about it," Yufang muttered.
Her eyes lingered on Anning for a moment too long, a mix of disbelief and defeat in them, before she walked past Anning and Han Luo.
Anning watched her go, as her lips stretched into a satisfied grin.
’Serves her right’ she thought inwardly.
Han Luo glanced at yufang’s back as she walked away, then brought his gaze back to Anning.
"Go inside and speak to the Young Miss before I change my mind." He said, then stepped forward and slid the door of the chamber open for her.
"Thank you." Anning said stiffly.
She slipped past him and stepped into the room, the door slid shut behind her with a soft thud.
But the moment she turned around, the darkness hit her right away. It wasn’t just dim... It was almost pitch black, with thin rays of sunlight slipping in through the paper screens.
The faint smell of smoke that hung in the air was strong enough to make her wrinkle her nose in disgust.
"Young miss?" She called out, waited for a few seconds but didn’t get a response.
She took a few careful steps forward, her hand gripping the hem of her skirt as she said, "Gu Wanqing?"
Still no response.
She allowed her eyes to slowly adjust to the darkened until she finally spotted a figure standing motionless by the window. Tall and utterly still, holding something long and narrow between her fingers. A thin trail of smoke drifted upward from whatever that was.
"You smoke?" She blurted out before Anning could even stop them.
Wanqing didn’t even flinch at her words and that had Anning clicking her tongue in annoyance.
"That thing is terrible for your lungs. If you’re going to do it, at least open the window. The room smells like..."
"Shut up."
Wanqing voice echoed through the room, cold and sharp. It made Anning freeze for just a moment as she realized Wanqing’s voice sounded weird.
Usually there was a hint of arrogance or irritation behind it, but now it just sounded like she was tired.
"What’s wrong with you?" Anning found herself asking.
Wanqing scoffed, the sound dry and humorless. "Didn’t I tell Han Luo not to let anyone in? What the heck is wrong with everybody today?"
Anning folded her arms under her breasts then responded. "Well, apparently he liked me more than he liked you right now."
She paused, waiting for some kind of sharp reply, but Wanqing just stayed quiet. Only the faint crackle of the pipe echoed through the dark room.
Anning noticed something else, the way Wanqing was breathing felt like it was forced? Or like she was having difficulty in breathing?
She couldn’t quite figure it out.
"You look terrible," Anning said, taking a step further into the room.
"I always look terrible." Wanqing replied.
"No. This is different." Anning said, already closing the distance between her and Wanqing.
She chose to ignore whatever tension was hanging in the air. The darkness hid most of Wanqing’s face, but her shoulders were tense and she couldn’t even look Anning in the eyes.
"What happened after you left? Did the imperial princess do something or was it your father?" Anning asked, stopping a step away from Wanqing.
"That’s enough." Wanqing said firmly, her grip tightening around the pipe she had in hand.
Her words had come out harsher than she expected and it made Anning stop. The room fell silent once again but after a few seconds, she lifted her hands in surrender.
"Fine. You don’t want to talk about it, I understand." She said, her gaze moving the the window just behind Wanqing.
Even though she hates Wanqing right now, she couldn’t just let her die from lung cancer or something.
Just as she moved towards the window, her fingers brushed against Wanqing’s back. Although the contact was brief, she felt something wet rub her hand.
"Don’t open it." Wanqing ordered as though she knew exactly what Anning wanted to do.
Confused but determined not to pry. She pushed open the nearest window despite Wanqing’s protest.
Cold air rushed into the room, and the warm glow from the evening sun flooded the chamber.
Anning looked down at her hand and froze. Her fingers were coated in warm thick... Blood?!
"What the hell?!" She half yelled, her heart already racing in her chest. She stared at her hand, then at Wanqing, then back again. Panic surged through her as she stepped closer to Wanqing. "You’re hurt. How? What happened?"
Wanqing said nothing. But that didn’t stop Anning from grabbing the front of her dress and trying to pull the robe aside, sadly Wanqing caught her before she could do any of that.
"Can you just stop?" Wanqing asked, sighing.
"No." Anning snapped, her voice rising. The way she was panicking surprised even her. "You’re bleeding and you look so indifferent about it."
Wanqing stared at her in the room that was now bright. For the first time, Anning saw real pain etched across her face... she wasn’t even looking arrogant at that point. She was in pain.
Wanqing slowly released her wrist and let out a soft, bitter chuckle.
"This...is the price I pay for your attitude. For having you as my slave." Wanqing finally said.
"Excuse me?" Anning blurted out, with a frown on her face.
Wanqing looked out of the open window, sighing out several times before she finally dropped the bomb, Anning never expected.
"My father had me whipped."
