Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
He did not wish to continue being trapped in her dungeon any longer and yearned to escape this agonizing purgatory.
He wanted to be freed from the sorrow and misery she had caused him to feel as soon as possible.
Every second of the mere ten minutes of pain felt like years.
Jin Qingyan slowly began to ease up as the pain he felt gradually faded. Jin Qingyan took a deep breath and sat up straight. It seemed his plans to take an afternoon nap had been foiled.
—
Tuoba Rui was in high spirits over finally being able to sit down for a meal with all his family members.
Shi Xiaoyu had been extremely troubled because of the fact that Shi Qingzhou had been rescued. She had no choice but to send her subordinates to investigate in secret. However, there had yet to be any news even until now.
Her prisoner actually managed to escape right under her nose.
I wonder which capable fellow had managed to carry out such a difficult act , Shi Xiaoyu thought.
Shi Xiaoyu found it hard to bring herself to smile with joy, since she was plagued with woes that weighed her heart down.
During the meal, Tuoba Shuo said, “I mentioned a couple of months ago that I’m planning to move out to life live on my own after staying here for a while. Brother, Sister-in-law, do you guys still remember?”
Shi Xiaoyu nodded and asked, “Shuo, are you thinking of leaving now?”
“Yes, I’ve been living in the Autumn Palace for so many years and I’m not getting any younger either. How much longer do I have to live an idle and carefree life? I’d like to go out and experience life the way I want to,” Tuoba Shuo said calmly.
“Since that’s what you want, you may leave the palace. I’ll cover all your expenses for the rest of your life,” Tuoba Rui agreed.
“Thank you so much then, Brother,” thanked Tuoba Shuo, who did not think that Tuoba Rui was doing him a favor by covering his living expenses since the money was what he rightfully deserved.
“Shuo, where are you thinking of going?” Shi Xiaoyu asked.
“I’d like to go to a place near the mountains and lakes where I shall spend the rest of my life,” Tuoba Shuo answered with a smile.
At this juncture, Shi Xiaoyu was not suspecting that Tuoba Shuo was the one who had rescued Shi Qingzhou.
That was because she was well aware of where Tuoba Shuo’s abilities lay. If he was truly so capable, he would’ve managed to rescue Shi Qingzhou right from the start.
Secondly, she knew that Tuoba Shuo had already informed them of his plans to leave the palace a few months ago, when he moved out of the mansion at the entrance. Thus, it was not too sudden for him to bring it up again. Besides, it had been more than a month since Shi Qingzhou was rescued. Hence, Shi Xiaoyu was not in the least bit suspicious.
“Uncle, when do you plan to move out?” Tuoba Danxue asked.
“Within the next two days. I’m getting sick of living in here,” Tuoba Shuo answered.
“Uncle, will you attend my wedding in December?”
“I’ll give you a red packet for your wedding in advance. I’ll attend the wedding if I can make it, but I’ll be giving it a miss if I’m too far away,” Tuoba Shuo answered.
In fact, he did not plan on returning to the Autumn Palace again, unless absolutely necessary.
There was indeed nothing in the palace worth reminiscing about.
“Will you come back when Grandma passes away?”
“Of course. Do you think I’m such a heartless creature?” said Tuoba Shuo, who knew his priorities.
“Then you must attend my wedding too. I won’t allow it if you’re absent,” Tuoba Danxue insisted.
Tuoba Shuo nodded and conceded, “Fine, I’ll just come back, alright?”
“Yes. Now that I think about it, it’s going to happen very soon. There’s only about less than two months left until the wedding.”
An Xiaoning felt more relieved after eavesdropping while standing by the door. Once Tuoba Shuo and her mother had left, it would be her turn next. She wanted to get a place ready for them to move into once they were out of the palace.
She had yet to take a day off in October.
Reminded of that fact, An Xiaoning took the opportunity to request for a day off from Tuoba Gucheng after his meal.
Tuoba Gucheng answered with the same reply, “Go ahead since you’re allowed one day off every month.”
An Xiaoning had long gotten used to his coldness and aloofness. “Thank you, Your Highness,” she said while smiling at him, which was rather rare of her.
Tuoba Gucheng was bewildered. It’s just a day off, must she really get so thrilled about it?
“Yes.”
He walked in front while An Xiaoning followed behind.
After walking a distance, he asked abruptly, “What do you guys think of my relationship with the Princess Consort?”
The bodyguards were quick to answer.
“Great!”
“Very loving!”
“Your Highness and the Princess Consort are very compatible, especially since both of you are so good-looking.”
“You guys are a perfect match.”
“…”
An Xiaoning was the only one who did not give her opinion.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” he asked.
“They’ve answered with everything I wanted to say. My vocabulary is limited, I have no other comments.”
In fact, she did not want to make any comments on their relationship. What did their personal life have to do with her?
Her opinions were not that important.
Tuoba Gucheng looked away into the distance and did not probe further.
——
The next day, An Xiaoning drove toward A City after exiting the Autumn Palace.
She parked her car in the car park of the Gu Corporation office building and hitched a ride in Gu Beicheng’s car back to the Gu family mansion.
Well aware that Shi Xiaoyu had planted moles to keep watch around the Gu family mansion, An Xiaoning ducked her head low when the car approached the mansion.
Mrs. Gu had prepared a sumptuous spread for lunch to welcome her home after a long time.
Everyone was glad to hear that An Xiaoning had managed to find and rescue her mother.
She was about to leave the Autumn Palace very soon. But before that, she requested Gu Beicheng to help her with something.
“Speak.”
“Find a standalone mansion in a district in M Nation where security is tightest. Get one that comes with a garden or yard suitable for growing flowers and veggies. I’d like to let them move there. Do also arrange for twenty-odd bodyguards to protect them. Could you help me with that?” An Xiaoning asked.
“Easy peasy. I’ll get it settled for you within two days. Whose name do you want the house to be registered under?” Gu Beicheng asked.
After some thought, An Xiaoning answered, “Yours.”
Just as he was about to agree, An Xiaoning changed her mind and said, “Forget it, we’ll leave it for later to settle the name. Let’s buy the house first and transfer it under Tuoba Shuo’s name after they’ve moved in. Otherwise, it’s going to implicate the Gu family if Shi Xiaoyu finds out about it. The only reason I want them to move overseas is because it’s much safer there, since Shi Xiaoyu is the president’s wife. She can’t go about her tyrannical ways overseas.”
“You have a point. But she’s way too vicious. If only you killed her that night.”
“Perhaps it was Heaven’s will. I didn’t have enough time to kill her. It’d be hard to lay a finger on her again in the future. But I don’t have plans to deal with her just yet. I’m really exhausted after staying in the Autumn Palace for so many months. I’d like to get some good rest once I’m out of there,” An Xiaoning said frankly.
“It’s really time you get some rest. Look how thin you’ve gotten. You must’ve had a tough time lately, with so much for you to worry about constantly. It’s a blessing to be able to acknowledge you as our daughter. Your Grandpa really had impeccable foresight, now that I think about it,” said Mrs. Gu, helping An Xiaoning to the food.
An Xiaoning smiled and said, “You’re flattering me, Mother. I’m only doing what I should.”
“In my eyes, you’re splendid. It’s tough being a woman,” said Mrs. Gu.
After lunch, An Xiaoning and Gu Beicheng sat on high chairs on the balcony, each holding a glass of wine in their hands.
They clinked glasses to produce a crisp sound. “What has Sis-in-law been busy with lately?”
“The fitness gym has officially opened. She’s been extremely busy ever since and we’ve been seeing each other just once a day. You may be smiling, but you don’t seem to actually be happy,” said Gu Beicheng.
An Xiaoning swallowed the wine in her mouth, which strangely burned her throat. “Misery is only temporary. It’ll pass very soon. When you’re older, you tend to lower your standards and expectations when it comes to men,” said An Xiaoning, unsure if she was merely comforting herself.
