Chapter 71 (1/2)

Chapter 71: Determination

Qi Chen sat down on a stone stool under the tree. There was a faint smile on his face as he asked, ”How did brother Feng's family pa.s.s away?”

Jun Huang didn't expect this to be Qi Chen's question. She thought that someone had seen Nan Xun entering the manor; for that she had come up with an excuse. This she didn't have a ready answer for.

Noticing her hesitation, Qi Chen scoffed. Feng Baiyu really is hiding something from me.

”They died on the battlefield…”

That day, the palace of Western Que fell into the enemy's hands. It was transformed into purgatory before her eyes. One after another, people were slaughtered like animals. To this day, she still couldn't stop herself from shaking when she thought back to that night. There was a stabbing pain in her temples.

The once prosperous imperial city became blood soaked overnight. Anywhere she went, all she saw was red.

Qi Chen watched her closely. He could see the pain in her eyes. He shouldn't continue to interrogate her, but he had always been mistrustful. How could he not get to the bottom of Jun Huang's secret? He took a deep breath. ”Is that so? So it's not an excuse you came up with to turn Wan'er down?”

The garden was silent. Jun Huang's head snapped up and the bird on the tree was startled into fleeing, flapping its wings hard. She twisted her lips into a bitter smile and laughed. ”Without family, I have no roots. Without family, I have no home. This gentleman will never use the deaths of my parents and siblings as an excuse for anything. Does Your Royal Highness really think of me as someone so shameless?”

Qi Chen was rendered speechless. He didn't know what to say in response. Jun Huang seemed like she was speaking from the bottom of her heart. He sighed. ”It's not that I don't trust you, but there are… rumors about you. I hope you won't hold that against me.”

She nodded.

Someone came to tell Qi Chen that Nan Guyue had woken up and was waiting for him to have breakfast. Qi Chen didn't think it would help to drag this conversation on. He gestured at Jun Huang to leave first. She walked away after making a salute.

Blinding sun kissed the green meadow and the red flowers in the garden, adding an attractive glow to them. Jun Huang walked into the nature's embrace, surrounded by a refres.h.i.+ng fragrance. With her eyes closed, she could imagine that she was back to the royal garden in Western Que. There, pleasant smell filled the palace all year long.

She felt drunk without drinking. Her dark hair flew in the air, framing her delicate features. From a distance, she looked like a G.o.d that accidentally fell into the mortal realm. No one knew when she would ascend back to the heavens.

She was far from carefree, however. Too many tragedies had struck. Her smile had turned bitter, and she was tired of dealing with Qi Chen's suspicion.

She let out a soundless sigh. She had to be more careful. One wrong step could pave the path for a descent into h.e.l.l. She may forever lose her control over her life.

Back to the side building, Jun Huang felt no urge to eat. She asked the servants to leave her and sat on her own in trance. She suddenly remembered how Nan Xun had looked last night. His light-color robe made him seem softer than usual. The candlelight added a touch of warmth to his sculpted features.

She remembered how Nan Xun had been focusing on Wan'er in their conversation. It puzzled her. She knew that the royal siblings weren't as close with one another as they appeared to be. And Nan Xun didn't bear the last name of the royal family. He was under a lot of scrutiny for holding control over the military. Jun Huang couldn't figure out why Wan'er would get close to Nan Xun. She must know that her brother dreaded Nan Xun's influence.

She couldn't find an answer. In the end she decided to ask Nan Xun about it. She was stopped the moment she left the door.

The people here are becoming more and more troublesome! Annoyed, she pulled a long face at the unwanted visitors.

The men knew that they were intruding, but they were under Qi Chen's order. In their eyes, Jun Huang was merely an honored guest. Even though she had been offering advice to Qi Chen, she was still an honored guest. Nothing less, nothing more.

Jun Huang had met enough sn.o.bbish men like them to know what they were thinking. ”What do you want?” she asked harshly.

The leader of the group could see her annoyance. He gave her a wide smile. ”Please don't be offended, gentleman Feng. We're only the prince's messengers. He said that princess Wan'er is going to the temple to express her grat.i.tude to the deity for fulfilling her wish. The prince however, is unavailable to accompany her. He therefore asks you to keep the princess company.”

Jun Huang paused. She thought she had made herself clear. She didn't expect Qi Chen to create an opportunity for the two of them to be alone again. However, she was unable to decline. She nodded and said that she would leave shortly.

When the men were about to leave, the leader of the group added, ”The prince also said that the gentleman should explain to the princess your feelings in person. It's best if you are able to convince her to give up on you.”

Jun Huang stood rooted to the spot for a long time even after the men had left.

Wan'er didn't know that Jun Huang would be going to the temple with her. She sat in the coach, dangling her legs in boredom. She pouted as she thought about Jun Huang.