However, she simply stared at him calmly, clearly gazing into his deep, dark eyes, which were brimming with fury. An Xin thought that if he hadn't been in trouble, or if she had known he was alright earlier, she might have refused Huang Yixuan and then asked Yan Zhen to rescue her parents. But when she agreed to Huang Yixuan's request and he appeared unharmed before her, she had already missed her chance.
The word "miss" might seem a bit sentimental to An Xin, but at this moment, it must be said that while it's sentimental, it's also cruel and reasonable.
When intelligence cannot change the turning gears of fate, there are only two paths: compromise and resistance. Compromise may offer a sliver of hope for a turnaround, while resistance only leads to certain death.
Although she has a fiery temper, she doesn't want to gamble with the lives of her parents, siblings, and other relatives; this is fate.
He stared at her, she looked at him, and silence stood between them like a thick wall being built.
Finally, An Xin spoke, her tone indifferent and distant, even feigning surprise: "How come you're still alive, sir?"
How come the adult is still alive?
These few words, however, felt like a sharp blade piercing Yan Zhen's heart. He didn't believe it was her. Even if it was, he thought that after he saw her, she would explain to him. Then he would pretend to forgive her without her knowing, and trick her into feeling guilty and guilty.
He hadn't expected to hear such a sentence, and in an instant, his heart ached terribly!
"I'm sorry to disappoint you..." he managed to utter five words in extreme pain.
She smiled faintly and said, "I went a little too easy on you. If you had died on the spot, the right wing would have collapsed, and the Emperor's grand plan for the world would have been able to advance even further."
Her laughter stung his eyes, so much so that he didn't have time to ponder the meaning of her words. He almost brutally pressed her against the wall and gritted his teeth, saying, "An Xin, you're good! You're very good!"
An Xin was in a lot of pain; he hadn't been gentle. She took a deep breath and said calmly, "Men and women shouldn't touch each other. Please let go, sir."
Yan Zhen clearly saw the fleeting wrinkles between her brows caused by pain, and his heart felt as if it had been bitten, a sharp pain. He had always cherished and loved her, but he would never hurt her. However, did she know how much pain he was in when she said those words?
Yan Zhen slowly released her hand, but leaned closer to her eyes and brows. Her long, ink-black hair fell in front of her clothes, carrying a faint scent of incense. "Xin'er, I want an explanation."
An Xin felt a dull ache in her heart. He was compromising; if she gave him just one reason, he would forgive her. But how could she expect him to forgive her now? She had already taken this step, and there was no going back.
"I wanted to kill you, but I failed. You're really lucky, sir." He always said he was lucky. He was extremely lucky, and everything seemed to go smoothly for him, while she only brought him trouble.
Yan Zhen gave a cold laugh, and outside came the trembling voices of the sedan bearers: "My lord, it's time to lift the sedan..."
Yan Zhen seemed not to hear her, his gaze fixed on her eyes, as if trying to see through her heart.
"You want to be my enemy?" Yan Zhen slowly uttered a sentence, his face turning slightly pale.
An Xin lowered her eyelashes, then raised them again, her expression unreadable. "Yes." There are ears everywhere; many things are better left unsaid now.
Yan Zhen stared at her, a fleeting glint of moisture in his eyes. He moved closer, their breaths almost audible. An Xin didn't flinch, gazing at him quietly until his lips met hers…
Outside the sedan chair, Huang Yixuan rushed over. When he saw the scene before him, his eyes darkened instantly. The sedan chair bearers were so frightened that they hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed. Their shouts startled An Xin. She was stunned and tried to back away, but Yan Zhen grabbed her by the back of the head. The kiss was so tender and lingering that An Xin was almost powerless to resist.
"An Xin!" Huang Yixuan shouted angrily, but he mentioned An Xin's name.
An Xin raised her hand and pressed it against Yan Zhen's chest. She couldn't help but gently stroke it. Through the fabric, she could almost touch the scar on his chest, which also burned her fingers. Finally, she used some force and pressed it against his chest. The injury was obviously not yet healed. Yan Zhen's body suddenly trembled and he released An Xin.
An Xin said calmly, "Please have some self-respect, sir." After saying that, she got up and was about to get out of the sedan chair, but he blocked her outside. His lips were even more dazzling because of that kiss. It was because of his beautiful lips that his smile was so beautiful.
Yan Zhen raised his hand, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her out. Then he put his arm around her waist, raised his eyelashes, and glanced at Huang Yixuan, saying, "Your Majesty, I was unaware of your arrival and have failed to greet you properly."
Huang Yixuan said calmly, "Right Prime Minister, release her."
Yan Zhen raised an eyebrow and said casually, "How could I possibly let go of my fiancée?"
Huang Yixuan's face darkened, and he suddenly looked at An Xin, the threat in his eyes growing stronger. An Xin's fingers tightened, and then she sighed softly, "I... don't want you anymore."
Yan Zhen's body suddenly trembled, and she abruptly stared at An Xin.
"Does my lord not know that from beginning to end, all I've felt for you is disgust?" An Xin avoided his gaze, her voice cool and indifferent. "Since I attempted to assassinate you, how could I possibly be your fiancée? You've always been exceptionally wise; how could you possibly take those verbal agreements seriously?"
The hand on her waist trembled slightly. An Xin felt a pang of pain in her heart, but she still took advantage of his momentary lapse in attention to avoid him. She walked slowly to Huang Yixuan, curtsied, and said, "Your Majesty, I've kept you waiting."
Huang Yixuan's heart pounded violently as he gritted his teeth and said in a low voice, "An Xin, if you go back on your promise to me, you know the consequences!"
An Xin lowered her eyelashes and said, "I know."
Huang Yixuan clenched his fist and said, word by word, "Alright, I will serve you tonight!"
An Xin replied calmly, "Yes."
Yan Zhen's face turned pale instantly. He loved her, doted on her, and wanted to give her everything. He wouldn't even touch her if she didn't want to, and now she was going to serve Huang Yixuan in bed!?
Huang Yixuan gave Yan Zhen a deep look and said, "Right Prime Minister, if you have nothing else to do, go back to your residence and rest. The affairs of the court have been entrusted to the Left Prime Minister."
Yan Zhen stared at An Xin's back, his heart aching as if being stabbed, so much so that he could hardly breathe. He seemed not to hear what Huang Yixuan said at all, and walked straight toward An Xin, grabbed her wrist and walked forward.
An Xin was stunned. Huang Yixuan immediately reached out and grabbed An Xin's wrist, saying coldly, "Does the Right Prime Minister intend to disobey the imperial decree this time?"
Yan Zhen seemed to finally come to her senses, raised her long eyelashes and stared coldly at Huang Yixuan, saying, "Let go!"
Those eyes, which always shimmered with the brilliance of the morning sun, were now as deep and dark as a still pool, making Huang Yixuan's heart tremble. His face darkened, and he said coldly, "Right Prime Minister, do you know who you are talking to?! It is the Emperor. If the Emperor tells you to let go, you must let go!"
Yan Zhen raised an eyebrow slightly, a sarcastic smile playing on his lips as he said coolly, "Oh? The Emperor? Is His Majesty certain?"
Huang Yixuan's expression suddenly changed.
"I put you in this position not so you could cause me trouble, understand?" Yan Zhen's almost domineering words shocked An Xin into a daze. Yan Zhen, how could he... Even if he had immense power, he couldn't completely turn against Huang Yixuan. Huang Yixuan was the emperor! In this dynasty, disobeying the emperor wasn't about the power within the court, but about the resistance of the people!
Huang Yixuan felt as if he had been doused with cold water, a chill running through him. He knew that secret?! How could that be! Anyone who knew this secret had already been secretly dealt with by him, even An Youwei.
He detained her... Could it be her?! Huang Yixuan's eyes narrowed slowly.
Yan Zhen's arm jerked, and Huang Yixuan's hand instantly broke free from An Xin's wrist. Without even looking at An Xin, he pulled her behind him, opened his folding fan to cover his lips, and said indifferently, "Your Majesty is sixteen years old now, isn't he? Your wings are not yet fully grown, be careful not to be tripped up by others. Since the affairs of state have been handed over to the Left Prime Minister, I can take a break. As for this assassin who tried to kill me, whether to kill him or torture him is entirely up to me!"
---Aside---