“It was me who gave her such a good idea, pity you still escaped,” he suddenly gripped my wrist tightly. “But as long as I’m here, you’ll never have peace. I’ll turn Jiang Yun Qiao against you and help her ascend the throne. By then, you and An Jin will be nothing more than ants in my hand.”
Xia Zhiyuan looked at me triumphantly, as if he had already crushed us.
I forcefully pulled my arm away and slapped him. His head turned, hand covering his cheek, his expression stiff.
“You’re only relying on Yun Qiao’s infatuation!” I sneered. “Do you think this infatuation can last? She’ll wake up and will no longer let you use her.”
His face darkened, then he forced a smile: “I hope you and An Jin get to see that day. And about this slap—” he touched his face, eyes full of hatred, “I’ll add it to the account you owe me.”
Xia Zhiyuan slowly put his veil hat back on. At that moment, someone pushed open the door – it was Jiang Yun Qiao. She looked worried but relaxed upon seeing him.
She had probably heard I was meeting “Bai Chen” alone and feared for his safety. Seeing her like this made my anger rise again.
“A Yao,” she smiled at me. “Why did you come alone without calling me?”
I stepped forward, grabbing her arm. “Come with me.”
I pulled her until we entered a deserted alley before releasing her. She stood behind me, asking, “A Yao, what’s wrong?”
“Who is Bai Chen?” I asked sharply.
She tried to appear calm. “Didn’t you already know? He’s the one I love.”
“You won’t tell the truth?” My anger surged. “He is Xia Zhiyuan! The former Eastern Palace heir of Qi Kingdom, one of the main culprits who caused my family to be destroyed! Do you think he’s really that unblemished youth in the snow?”
She lowered her head. “I know all of this. But those harms were caused by the previous Qi Emperor.”
“You believe him?!” I lost my rationality. “Yun Qiao, he is not the person you love.”
