Chapter 135 (1/2)

Chapter 135: A Woman's Love

Seeing Jun Huang's frown, the housekeeper a.s.sumed that Jun Huang was unwilling to stay in Pince Nan Manor. He went on to say, ”The gentleman must know what's at stake here. Please keep the big picture in mind.”

Jun Huang quickly recovered and gave him a proper smile. ”Don't worry. I understand. I will do it”

Jun Huang was about to leave when Nan Xun visited her. There was a faint smile on his face.

”How can you be sure that Qi Chen will agree?” Jun Huang asked. She'd been wondering about this for a while.

Nan Xun gave her a smile in response. Jun Huang put aside her confusion and followed him. This time, she was able to go with Nan Xun without arousing anyone's suspicion.

Inside the palace, Wan'er sat in her garden, watching servants putting up lanterns with a bored expression.

The old matron who had been taking care of her ever since she was little gave her a fond smile. ”It's windy outside, princess. You should stay indoors. You're turning sixteen in a month. It's considered bad luck if you catch a cold at time like this.”

”I want to leave the palace, granny,” Wan'er looked up at the grey-haired woman and said.

The old matron startled. She didn't know Wan'er had been down because she wanted to go out. The old matron looked around and only let out the breath she had been holding when she saw there was no one near them. ”This is not a good time for you to do so,” she said quietly. ”You are a princess. You can't just leave the palace at will. If the emperor know of it, there will be severe scolding…”

”There is someone Wan'er must see,” Wan'er said earnestly, her eyes br.i.m.m.i.n.g with tears. ”The longer I stay in the palace, the more I miss him. If I don't do anything, I will fall ill before my sixteenth birthday.”

The old matron had watched Wan'er grow up. She couldn't bear to see Wan'er in pain. She sighed. ”If so, the princess must be careful. Remember to take some personal servants with you.”

Wan'er nodded. A hint of smile broke through her gloom. She happily changed into a pink dress. The old matron curved her lips at the sight of Wan'er's obvious joy.

Wan'er claimed to be leaving the palace to visit Qi Chen. Once outside, she took a deep breath and felt her body relax instantly. The inside and the outside of the palace belonged in the same world, but inside, the air was heavy and constraining, very much unlike the liberating air around her now.

Wan'er set out for Jun Huang's place. When she arrived, however, she only saw a page boy at the door. No one else seemed to be around. She frowned.

”Please notify gentleman Feng that Wan'er is here to visit him,” she said after putting on a proper smile, her voice gentle.

The page boy was a clever one. He kept a mental list of every visitor to the manor. He remembered Wan'er from her last visit. He didn't know who Wan'er was, however. He a.s.sumed she must be from an important family.

”You just missed the gentleman, my lady,” the page boy said respectfully. ”He's left and won't return until a few days after.”

Wan'er leaned in, trying to get a look inside. She wasn't convinced. ”Are you telling the truth? Or maybe… he just doesn't want to see me?”

”That's not true,” said the page boy. ”Gentleman Feng is away. Do you have a message for him? If so, this servant can pa.s.s down your message to gentleman Feng when he returns.”

Wan'er looked away. In the end she shook her head with a rueful look in her eyes. ”Perhaps this means we are not meant to be together. Forcing this relations.h.i.+p will never be a possibility. Perhaps this is the sign telling me to give up.” She excused herself and turned around. In her rush, she stumbled and almost fell. Fortunately her personal maid was able to catch her.

”Are you alright, princess?” the maid asked worriedly.

Wan'er shook her head, her eyes unfocused. It took some time for her to regain control of her own mind. A trace of sadness crept into her heart.

She had intended to ask again if Feng Baiyu felt anything for her, if there was any chance that he would like to marry her, but she didn't even manage to talk to him in person. Maybe their fates were never meant to cross.

The maid didn't know what Wan'er was thinking about. Worried that Wan'er might be feeling ill, she helped her up into the sedan chair and left for the palace.

The page boy was shocked when he heard the maid call Wan'er princess. He realized that Wan'er's visit could have significant repercussions. He asked another servant to take his place before rus.h.i.+ng to Prince Nan Manor himself.

Jun Huang was in Nan Xun's garden appreciating the quiet view when a servant told her someone from her house had come. She straightened up and saw that it was the page boy watching her door.

Before the page boy could say anything, Jun Huang asked, ”What happened? Why are you in such a hurry?”