Her words were insincere. She was fearless, yet in the end, she had to admit that she was terrified, acting according to the nature of this body. Was she playing someone else's role or her own?
At this moment, An Xin felt suffocated, a suffocating sensation that made her lips turn pale.
Looking at her expression, Yan Zhen felt a sudden tightness in his heart, as if a small hand had clenched it. He pulled her into his arms and said, "It's my fault. It will never happen again..."
An Xin thought he would never do it again, never abandon this body again… What about her? If one day she traveled back in time, Yan Zhen would still be devoted to this body, while she would be as if she had never existed in this world…
He held her tightly, but An Xin was still a little cold. She suppressed her voice and said, "Yan Zhen... what if I disappear? What if one day you find out I'm not me?"
Yan Zhen kissed her forehead and said, "Silly girl, how could you disappear when I'm here? No matter what you become, I'll always be here."
An Xin wondered why she had asked such a foolish question. Yan Zhen was right; she was really stupid. What kind of answer did she expect from him? She was no longer herself; could he still say that he didn't like her because she wasn't herself?
"Yan Zhen..." An Xin called out, but could no longer utter a word. Love is such a tormenting thing. The two people are always arguing with each other. She seems to be even more miserable than that kind of arguing. Now she is arguing with her own body. How ridiculous.
****
The night was as dark as ink, there was a wind, and the moonlight was pale.
Zhou Xiruo adjusted her robes and walked quickly through the woods. When she saw a figure not far away, she suddenly trembled and stopped in her tracks.
"You're here." The voice was as cold as ice and snow, yet as beautiful as heavenly music.
"Why are you looking for me at this time?! Once people find out, our affair will be exposed sooner or later!" Zhou Xiruo said in a low voice.
"Our business? Is it your business or mine?" He stood in the dark shadows, and Zhou Xiruo could only see his back and his black hair being blown by the wind.
His voice was neither angry nor hot, but it was enough to embarrass her.
Zhou Xiruo slowly clenched her fist and said in a cold voice, "Back then, we made a promise: you would help me with that matter, and I would help you with something in return, and then we would be even. But did you mean we would never see each other again?"
"Hehe..." His laughter was extremely pleasant to hear, though it was still chillingly cold, it always gave people a strange sense of beauty.
"What are you laughing at!" Zhou Xiruo frowned, a deep-seated fear always lurking within her towards the person in front of her.
"Yes, you must get this done." He turned his head slightly, and Zhou Xiruo only caught a glimpse of him in the dim light before her eyes darkened.
"What is it?" Zhou Xiruo asked instinctively, feeling a little uneasy.
"Have An Xin assassinate Yan Zhen." The voice carried a chilling undertone.
Zhou Xiruo's expression suddenly changed drastically: "Assassinate Yan Zhen?! Are you crazy?! I would never do that!"
"Don't you understand Yan Zhen's true strength?" He seemed to raise the corners of his lips towards the void, his voice as cool as the night, slowly saying, "Whether it succeeds or fails, it doesn't matter..."
Zhou Xiruo's face turned pale. "I won't do it, I won't do it..." How could she, how could she hurt him again?! She loved him!
"Won't? If Yan Zhen knew what happened back then, would you still do it?" The chuckle was cold, yet it carried a chilling threat!
Zhou Xuan's body suddenly went limp, and he froze in the vast darkness of the night.
If Yan Zhen knew… all her waiting, her efforts, everything she did, had become the very force that pushed her into utter ruin! No! She had to have him! She would stop at nothing! Even if it meant reaching out to kill him again…
Chapter 101 Assassination
When An Xin met Jing Lan again, it was during the return of all the officials to the capital and the grand banquet held by Huang Yixuan in the palace. An Youwei's family had "died tragically." An Xin's expression was indifferent, and it was understandable that she was "disheartened."
Because the "murderer" was Yan Zhen, An Xin's gaze would always fall on Yan Zhen with extreme hatred, which made some people happy and some worried.
Some were happy, like Mingjiao, while others were worried, like Ling Xiyao. Even though An Xin didn't know why he was worried, his gaze was always full of sorrow when he looked at her.
Huang Yixuan coughed and said, "An Xin, Lord An and his wife died tragically. I will definitely find the murderer for you, so that Lord An and his wife can rest in peace."
A fleeting look of sorrow crossed An Xin's face as she said calmly, "This is my parents' fate. They were destined for this calamity, and there's no way to escape it."
“I heard that you saw the murderer when you went back that day, Anxin. Just tell me, and I will definitely stand up for you.”
An Xin raised her eyelashes and glanced at Yan Zhen with a slightly evasive look, then turned her head and said, "This humble woman did not see anything. This humble woman is physically and mentally exhausted, and please allow this humble woman to take her leave first, Your Majesty."
Huang Yixuan's eyes flashed with a dark light as he said, "Granted."
An Xin rose and slowly retreated under the watchful eyes of everyone in the hall.
As An Xin left the main hall, she slowed her pace and stopped at a covered walkway. Looking up, she saw Jing Lan standing at the end of the walkway, smiling and talking to someone.
The man is like jade; even just a profile view makes the surrounding scenery seem like mere background.
An Xin glanced at the person speaking to Jing Lan, her eyes flashing. The shy and timid woman was none other than Fu Ruyue. When did Fu Ruyue become so delicate and pitiful? Truly, appearances can be deceiving...
Fu Ruyue glanced up and saw An Xin, and her expression immediately changed. Jing Lan paused, then turned to look at An Xin.
An Xin had originally intended to leave quietly, just as she had come quietly, but now, leaving quietly was clearly not an option.
"Miss An," Jing Lan called out, then walked over to An Xin.
Fu Ruyue's venomous gaze at An Xin left An Xin bewildered. After all, An Xin had no connection with Ling Xiyao now, and even if she disliked her, she shouldn't act this way…
"How have you been these past few days?" Jing Lan's long eyelashes trembled, her gaze lightly falling on An Xin's face, a hint of worry and a touch of bewilderment in her eyes.
An Xin said calmly, "It's alright."
Looking at her indifferent expression, Jinglan felt a sudden softening in her heart and said softly, "If you are physically and mentally exhausted, you may return to the manor to rest. You can leave your father's matter to me."
An Xin's gaze fell on his hand, on an embroidered pouch. A faint lotus fragrance wafted from it. An Xin raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly. This embroidered pouch was probably a gift from Fu Ruyue. This woman... has fallen for someone else?
"Thank you, sir. This embroidered pouch is indeed exquisitely made." An Xin changed the subject with a faint expression, but Jing Lan thought she was unwilling to mention those painful things.
"My birthday is in a few days, Princess, you are very thoughtful." After saying that, Jing Lan smiled slightly and glanced at An Xin with her eyelashes.