Qi Chenxuan persistently asked: “Then tell me, what do you mean by your own world? Returning to the palace to continue being a laundry maid, or returning to the countryside to be a village girl?”
Are these two identities better than being a concubine in the Prince’s Manor?”
I bit my lip and shook my head: “You misunderstood. I want to leave here, not because of my identity, and not because of you, but because this place simply doesn’t belong to me!”
Qi Chenxuan’s hand rested on my shoulders, his gaze cold: “Then tell me, where do you belong?”
I frowned in confusion: “Isn’t this something the Prince shouldn’t be concerned about? You just need to know I can help you marry Qinghan. As for where I’ll go after your marriage, that’s my own business…”
“What if I don’t agree?” Qi Chenxuan looked at me directly, the seriousness in his black eyes made me feel dazed.
I forced a calm laugh: “I don’t think you’ll give up the chance to marry Qinghan because of me! Someone who has been faithfully waiting for another for three years, now finally has a chance to be together – only a fool would give that up, right?”
Qi Chenxuan withdrew his gaze, his expression revealing a hint of melancholy: “Actually, she and I are already in the past!”
I still pointed out directly: “But you’ve never forgotten her, have you?
That guy answered with a deep meaning: “Some people, some things, just need to be remembered, not necessarily possessed!”
I didn’t understand, so I honestly shook my head and said: “I don’t understand. Could you please explain it more clearly?”
He said seriously: “You don’t need to understand. This is between me and her. I hope you won’t interfere anymore! As for letting you leave the Prince’s Manor, I absolutely won’t agree!”
“Why?”
I couldn’t help but exclaim: “We clearly had a bet. How can you go back on your word?”
Qi Chenxuan answered expressionlessly: “Because I don’t want to let you go. That’s the best reason!”
“Why?” I became more puzzled: “You wouldn’t have fallen in love with me, would you?” What’s wrong with these ancient men? Are they all crazy?
Just as I was lost in these thoughts, Qi Chenxuan’s face darkened, coldly interrupting me: “You’re thinking too much!”
……
Keep me company and go out for a walk, okay?
That’s right!
How could I, Fei Xiaoran, possibly have so many men liking me?
Even if someone truly likes me, I must stand firm and never easily accept! The emotional wounds from the past were already enough…
I lightly pulled at my lips, smiling calmly: “That would be best. I also don’t want someone to be so blind as to fall in love with me – it would be more painful than falling in love with Miss Qinghan!” Because one day, I will leave, and we will never meet again…
To make her willingly stay, I even specially sent people to investigate her identity. Even though I knew she was from the Jing Yue Kingdom, knew she came to steal the jade pendant from me, and knew that Jing Yue Kingdom might have some conspiracy, the persistent young me still stubbornly kept her!
“Then why did you ultimately let her leave?” I didn’t understand. If he cared so much and was so persistent, there was no reason to eventually let her go!
“At the beginning, I threatened her with her identity, saying that if she dared to escape, I would tell my father the emperor about the assassination, which would inevitably lead to a war!”
“However, although she was forced to stay in the Cherry Garden, she became more and more melancholy and unhappy! My young and passionate self thought that with my charm, I could definitely move her heart. So I made a promise that within three months, if I couldn’t make her fall in love with me or willingly stay, I would personally hand over the jade pendant and promise to let her leave unconditionally!”
……
Forever Only One Person
“But…
Qi Chen Xuan’s expression darkened, and he interrupted again: “I don’t want to hear these things. Let’s talk about you!”
“Me?”
I blinked again in confusion.
“Tell me why you’re so eager to leave here. Tell me about your so-called original world and what it’s like.”
“I want to leave because I know I don’t belong here. Life in the royal mansion is too boring. My hometown is a beautiful and harmonious place, full of surprises and fun, unlike here, where every day is dull and monotonous!”
Qi Chen Xuan frowned, looking at me in doubt: “Does such a place really exist?”
“Of course it does!”
I got excited and continued: “In our world, we advocate democracy and peace, without your class system. People are equal to each other, especially in marriage. Although some men might have lovers, a wife legally can only be one person forever…”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
” Qi Chen Xuan coldly interrupted me: “How could our Cheng Yin Kingdom possibly have such a place?”
I rolled my eyes: “I didn’t say it was Cheng Yin Kingdom. I said it was my original world!”
Qi Chen Xuan narrowed his eyes, looking at me warily: “So you’re not from Cheng Yin Kingdom? Then why are you here? How did you get into the palace, and what is your purpose?”
Hearing his interrogative tone, I immediately glared back: “Hey, what’s with that look and attitude? You don’t think I’m a spy or an agent from another country trying to infiltrate your nation, do you? Please, don’t be so imaginative!”
Qi Chen Xuan continued with a stern face, his gaze sharp: “Then tell me, why are you in the palace?”
“You really want to know?”
I couldn’t help but hesitate, wondering whether to tell him the truth that I’m not actually me! I didn’t know if he would believe or think I’m crazy when hearing about soul transmigration!
Qi Chen Xuan, seeing no further explanation, impatiently gave me a sideways glance and urged: “Are you going to say something or not?”
“Okay, okay!”
Facing his unpredictable personality, I could only innocently curl my lips: “Since you want to know, I’ll tell you! But you must first promise not to doubt the truth of what I’m saying, because what I’m telling you is 100% fact, yet something that sounds unbelievable!”
“Get to the point!” he coldly spoke again.
Although I was upset inside, I obediently answered: “Actually, my name is Fei Xiao Ran. To be precise, my body is called Yan Xi Mo, and my soul is called Fei Xiao Ran!”
“I come from the 21st century. Because I was struck by lightning while riding a Ferris wheel, my soul transmigrated here, possessing Yan Xi Mo’s body and becoming a small palace maid in the laundry department!”
“I know this sounds unbelievable to anyone, but it actually happened to me. The reason I’m eager to leave the royal mansion is to find a way to return to the modern era!”
I finished speaking in one breath, then carefully observed his reaction: “Hey, you’ll believe me, right?”
Unexpectedly, he responded expressionlessly: “How ridiculous! Since you say you were struck by lightning to get here, why bother looking for a way back? Why not just get struck by lightning again?”
I couldn’t help but mumble: “I’d love to, but there’s nowhere high enough around here…”
Unexpectedly, that guy coldly spoke: “Back then, the former emperor, in order to make a beautiful woman smile, spared no expense and hired over a thousand craftsmen to build a Star-Picking Tower about a hundred stories high on the western mountain top of the capital!”
Star-Picking Tower?
I instinctively looked up and gazed westward, and indeed, a tall tower could be vaguely seen piercing the clouds.
But why would this guy tell me this?
Could he really want me to get struck by lightning again to prove his innocence?
I couldn’t help but withdraw my gaze, looking at Qi Chenxuan and said: “Don’t worry, I’ll make you believe everything I say! But since you say the tower was specially built by the former emperor for someone he liked, ordinary people probably can’t enter, right?”
