Chapter 568: The Secret About the Past (186)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“Seems like she had committed a grave mistake.” Ling Ciye gave him a pat on his back and said, “Try not to dwell on it.”
“I can’t.”
Noticing Jin Yiheng’s head between the crack of the door, Ling Ciye waved at him and said, “Little Imp, come in and comfort your father, quick.”
“What’s wrong with my Daddy?” Jin Yiheng asked as he entered the room.
“Your father is lovesick.”
“Uncle, can that be treated? Which hospital can treat his condition?”
Ling Ciye patted his head and said, “Only your Mommy can fix him. Hurry and comfort your Daddy. Uncle is going home now.”
After Ling Ciye left, Jin Yiheng leaned towards his father and said, “Daddy, are you feeling uncomfortable in your heart? You’ll be fine after I ma.s.sage you.”
Jin Qingyan lay down again and said, “Give Daddy a ma.s.sage then.”
He reached out his tiny hand and sat near his father’s chest to give it a gentle rub. “Why did Uncle say that only Mommy can fix you? Daddy, are you missing Mommy already? She’ll be home very soon.”
Jin Qingyan remained silent, feeling as if his son’s words had comforted him greatly.
Staring at his son who looked almost identical to him, he picked him up and pulled him into an embrace.
“It’s your birthday tomorrow. Do you remember the instructions I gave you?”
“I have to spend the entire day with you,” Jin Yiheng answered.
“Yes, you have to stay by my side throughout the entire day tomorrow morning. Daddy will accompany you.”
“What about Mommy? It’s Mommy’s birthday tomorrow too. Who will accompany her?” Jin Yiheng asked.
“Someone will be there to accompany her,” said Jin Qingyan, striking a sour note within himself.
“Who is it?”
“I have no idea either.”
Just as he finished speaking, he received a text message on his mobile phone.
He picked up his mobile phone to see that it was a message from Xiao Chi’s mobile number. Ever since their last conversation, An Xiaoning had tried to call him multiple times but to no avail. Although he had read all the messages she sent him, he did not change his mind about the matter.
Well, to him, she was just trying to cover up by explaining.
This time, An Xiaoning was not the one who sent the message, but rather, Xiao Chi.
He reported something to Jin Qingyan.
The text message read: “I just received the latest news. From tomorrow night onwards, His Highness wants Young Madam to guard his room every night instead of following him around in the day. Also, Young Madam’s wound in her back has not healed yet.”
Jin Qingyan pursed his lips tightly and stared at his screen before replying to Xiao Chi: “You don’t have to report to me about your Young Madam anymore from now onwards. You don’t have to let her use your phone to contact me either.”
Soon, Xiaochi replied: “Yes.”
Jin Qingyan put his phone away and closed his eyes with a heavy heart.
However, he was not the only one being devastated about the fact that their marriage was on the rocks. During the past five days, An Xiaoning had never once rested well, especially since she could not reach him at all. Panic and anxiety consumed her.
She had no appet.i.te and could not sleep well at night either.
However, she did not regret entering the Autumn Palace even though her decision to do so had caused her to be mistaken and wounded, because she had never actually crossed the line.
Why doesn’t he believe me?
Doesn’t he understand what kind of person I am?
It was An Xiaoning and Jin Yiheng’s birthday tomorrow, right smack in the middle of July.
She got out of bed and stood in front of the window before opening them.
She craned her neck outside to take a look and happened to make eye contact with Tuoba Gucheng, who was sticking his head out of his window next door.
An Xiaoning greeted, “Your Highness…”
“Hey,” he answered.
“May I go out for a walk?”
“Go ahead.”
Thus, she did not say anything else and closed the windows before going out of her room.
After exiting the mansion, she subconsciously turned around to look at the window on the second floor and discovered that he was still there.
An Xiaoning looked away and continued walking slowly.
She was wearing a long dress and a long-lined cotton cardigan, paired with some sandals.
She left Tuoba Gucheng’s yard and headed to Tuoba Shuo’s mansion.
An Xiaoning had yet to meet him privately as he had requested in the note he’d given her previously.
An Xiaoning realized that this evening would be her last chance to meet up with Tuoba Shuo privately since she would have to begin her night duties in Tuoba Gucheng’s room tomorrow.
Thus, she arrived at Tuoba Shuo’s mansion.
The guards outside the mansion allowed her to enter, as if they did not see her at all.
“How’s your wound?” Tuoba Shuo asked.
“There’s nothing too serious about it now, except it hasn’t healed completely yet. I only had the chance to come see you today. From tomorrow onward, I’ll have to be on duty at night. I’ll be taking the night s.h.i.+ft and resting in the day.”
“Night s.h.i.+ft? You’ll be on duty at night?” Tuoba Shuo asked.
“Yes, in His Highness’s room.”
“Oh, I see. Are you able to sit?”
“Yes.” She sat down slowly onto the praying mat opposite him.
“What’s wrong with your eyes? Are your eyes swollen?”
“You could tell? But it’s nothing much, I just haven’t slept well lately.”
“I can tell even when you’re wearing a mask. I reckon you must be clueless about where to begin now, but I received an important piece of news a few days ago,” said Tuoba Shuo.
“What news?”
“My mother said that I was aware of Qingzhou’s execution. But now, it seems your mother was…”
He paused and continued only after noticing that An Xiaoning did not have a change of expression. “Your mother was saved by your father and gave birth to you. It’s very likely that she’s still alive. Maybe, she’s just locked up somewhere. After all, her death can’t be announced. Thus, we can’t eliminate the possibility that she’s not dead. Also, we can’t question your father about this yet at the moment. It won’t help in finding Qingzhou since he might possibly hide her even more obscurely once he knows that I still suspect that she’s alive.”
“You have a point. Where could they possibly hide her if she’s still alive?” An Xiaoning asked in confusion.
He answered without hesitation, “A secret chamber. I’m sure your father wasn’t the one who sent you away back then.”
“How are you so sure?”
“He’s not that heartless. So, I’m guessing that s.h.i.+ Xiaoyu knows about this too. She said that your mother’s ashes have been scattered into the sea after she was cremated. That could be true or false. We can’t be too sure about that yet.”
“If he wasn’t the one who sent me out of the palace, why didn’t he come looking for me? He should be well aware that he has a child.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“What color of clothes did my mother enjoy wearing the most?”
Tuoba Shuo recalled his memories and answered, “Red. She had a penchant for red-colored clothing. She had fair, porcelain skin, a svelte figure, and an average stature. She looked exceptionally vibrant and lively whenever she was dressed in red. From what I remember, red was her favorite color.”