Chapter 1297: Chapter 780: Return to Daxuan Kingdom (Part 3)
"Youyou." Anqi’s expression grew more serious again.
An Youyou let out a sigh and admitted, "I do indeed have some... feelings for An Ji."
Anqi wasn’t surprised at all.
She had known it must be like this.
"To be honest, I don’t even know why I fell for An Ji. When we were kids he was all skin and bones, and I just thought he was a bit pitiful. After I grew up and came back to the Imperial Palace, seeing him again, we didn’t really have much to do with each other, but the moment I saw him my heart just inexplicably started racing. And then, facing his feelings for Gao Chaoyang, I felt a bit... heartsick and desolate." An Youyou spoke lightly, without too much sorrow on her face. "I figure with An Ji it’s probably just that my eyes took a liking to him. With some people, you just take one look, and your heart starts to stir."
Anqi nodded.
Youyou actually put it very simply, but sometimes feelings between men and women really are just that simple.
She herself was experiencing love between a man and a woman; her feelings with Xiao Jinyu had also, in the midst of plainness, sparked into flame.
"Does An Ji know you like him?" Anqi couldn’t help but ask.
"He doesn’t." An Youyou hurriedly shook her head. "He doesn’t even know that the one who went to Beiyuan Country to save him was me. I disguised myself, pretended to be a man; he has no idea I exist in that story."
Anqi frowned.
"It’s not that I’m cowardly," An Youyou rushed to explain. "It’s not that I don’t dare to boldly chase after love; it’s just that I can’t bring myself to cut in with a Sword and steal someone away. An Ji and Gao Chaoyang like each other. I don’t want to destroy other people’s relationship. Besides, liking someone doesn’t necessarily mean you have to have them. As long as he lives happily, that’s enough. As for me, I have many pursuits. Love between a man and a woman is only one part of it. Just like my mother, I yearn more for a free and unrestrained, carefree life."
Anqi bit her lip.
Youyou had already said it to this extent; it seemed there was nothing she could say to persuade her.
And judging from Youyou’s manner, she really didn’t seem that heartbroken. Anqi couldn’t help but admire her—Youyou truly was someone who lived with great clarity.
She knew what she wanted.
She knew what she shouldn’t want.
This kind of ease and freedom was something Anqi genuinely admired.
"Ha..." An Youyou yawned, a bit drowsy.
"Sleepy?" Anqi noticed the way she looked and asked with concern.
An Youyou nodded. "Didn’t really sleep while traveling."
"Then hurry and go to sleep," Anqi urged. "I’ll come find you when you’ve had your rest."
"Mm."
Anqi left.
An Youyou lay down on the bed.
In truth, she wasn’t actually that sleepy; she just wanted to get Anqi to leave.
She was afraid that if Anqi stayed in front of her for too long, she wouldn’t be able to keep up the act.
Sometimes she really wasn’t as indifferent as she appeared to be.
An Youyou pulled the quilt up over herself.
Her mother had said that time was the best medicine.
Hopefully.
The medicine would work... a bit faster!
...
An Youyou was woken up by a Palace Attendant.
She had actually been unable to sleep at first, tossing and turning for a long time without drifting off; but once she finally fell asleep, she slept like the dead.
"What is it?" An Youyou asked, bleary-eyed.
The Palace Attendant said respectfully, "Princess, His Majesty specially sent someone to invite you to have supper at Qiankun Hall."
An Youyou stretched lazily.
Thinking that she’d been away from the Imperial Palace for four or five months now, she figured her brother must surely have missed her.
She had the palace maid quickly help her change and dress, then hurried off to Qiankun Hall.
The banquet had already been laid out in Qiankun Hall.
She had originally thought it would just be a meal between her and her brother, but unexpectedly, An Ji was there as well.
She had almost forgotten that her brother and An Ji also shared a deep bond.
Since An Ji had finally come to the Daxuan Kingdom once, her brother would of course want to have a proper gathering with him.
"Youyou, come sit over here inside." Anqi called out to An Youyou.
An Youyou shuffled over.
An Ji, who had been chatting with Xiao Luming the whole time, seemed to glance over at An Youyou.
An Youyou sat down beside Anqi and whispered, "My brother’s having a meal with An Ji; what are we doing here?"
"More people makes it livelier," Anqi said with a smile.
An Youyou was a bit speechless.
The few of them ate the sumptuous supper.
In the palace, there were also quite a few people performing songs, dances, and music.
"An Ji, how long are you planning to stay in the Daxuan Kingdom this time?" Xiao Luming chatted with An Ji as they drank.
"I’ll leave after the Supreme Emperor and the Empress Dowager return and I’ve paid my respects," An Ji replied. "Although Beiyuan Country is now stable throughout the land, I did only just ascend the throne. Being away too long will still affect state affairs."
"I’ve already sent word to Father Emperor and Mother. Once they receive the message, they should set out for home very soon."
