1000 Perplexed and Smitten 60

Fang Erlan was instantly dumbfounded. She stared into his eyes in bewilderment, unsure why he had said that.

"Why aren't you saying anything? Didn't you say that your intuitions have always been accurate?"

"Wouldn't I be embarrassing myself if I make a wrong guess?" said Fang Erlan.

"Just guess according to your intuitions. It doesn't matter even if you get it wrong."

She smiled gleefully and said, "Lots of men want to make me theirs. I won't be surprised if you harbor such intentions too."

He too smiled and began eating slowly.

"Is it your birthday tomorrow?"

"Yes…"

"Is there anything you'd like as a gift?"

"Don't tell me, you're thinking of giving me a present?"

"It was just a casual question. I don't plan to give you anything."

Pursing her lips, Fang Erlan said, "I knew it. I no longer want the things that I used to yearn for when I was younger, yet I can't get the things I want now just by making a birthday wish. It's not worth mentioning."

Seeing that she seemed reluctant to tell him, he did not probe further and they both continued eating leisurely.

Having had her fill, Fang Erlan proceeded to brush her teeth. She then suggested that they take a walk outside.

"We just ate so much food. I'll gain weight easily if I don't move about after eating. Shall we take a stroll outside?"

Reminded of something upon seeing that he did not answer, Fang Erlan continued, "Oh right, we're going to end up on the tabloids again if we get caught by the paparazzi. I'll just do a simple workout in the room. You should go back to get some rest too. Thank you for supper."

After a moment of silence, Yan Ge said, "Come straight to my apartment once we return to the city tomorrow. I've already called the sales office. There's a two-bedder available and it's priced at about 39 thousand dollars per square meter."

"Alright," she agreed.

Yan Ge stopped in his tracks the moment he exited her room. Sensing that something was amiss, Fang Erlan looked in his direction, only to see that Yu Caiwei was standing right outside his door and pressing the doorbell incessantly.

"I was wondering why you didn't answer the door even though I pressed the doorbell so many times. Yan Ge, it's a rare coincidence that we've bumped into each other. Is this really how you're going to treat me?"

Pursing his lips, he walked toward her. Both Fang Erlan and Yu Caiwei thought that Yan Ge would be opening the door to let the latter enter. To their surprise, Yan Ge walked into the room and closed it right as Yu Caiwei was about to follow him inside.

Fang Erlan craned her neck to take a look. She could not help but find the scene that just took place before her to be rather amusing. She also entered her own room and closed the door.

—

Thinking to herself that Mysterious Xiao should be dropping by tonight, An Xiaoning sat in the living room to wait for him after having her dinner.

Just like she had expected, he showed up at about nine o'clock in the evening with his back facing her, as usual.

"Arrange for the corpse to be moved to the museum as soon as possible, preferably within the next two days. Also, tell the curator to put it up for exhibition in the long run, and tell the media to report about it. I want high-definition photos of the corpse to be taken and published on the news, especially her features."

"No problem." An Xiaoning agreed, though she had no idea what his purpose was. However, she knew that he definitely had his reasons for asking these things.

"I shall tell you about your previous lifetime, like I promised earlier. First things first, I'm only going to tell you what I know. The rest is up to you to imagine. After all, there's no way for me to tell you something that I have no idea about."

"That goes without saying. Just tell me everything that you know."

"Xihou Ling was the Emperor's third son who was never doted on much ever since he was a child. From what I know, there are a few reasons behind the lack of love the Emperor had for Xihou Ling. Firstly, it's because Xihou Ling's mother was from a poor family that could not back them up. Secondly, it was also because he didn't have a favorable personality and never liked to curry anyone's favor. Thirdly, it's because he was guilty of hiding you."

"Hiding me? What do you mean?"

"You were the daughter of a criminal, and everyone in your family was executed. You were the only one who survived, but that's only because Xihou Ling had saved you. Back then, the late Emperor had given him an ultimatum and made him choose between succeeding the throne and saving your life. He chose the latter. Hence, he was denied the chance to become the emperor. I heard that the late Emperor was infuriated and berated Xihou Ling for lacking what it takes to be an emperor. He was flabbergasted that Xihou Ling had chosen you over the throne. I know about this because he had told me about it. You must be curious about how I'm related to Xihou Ling. There's no harm in telling you anyway. I was his junior, and we were both the only disciples my master had. We got along very well because we were friends ever since we were children. Hence, I knew more about your affairs."

"Since you're his junior, shouldn't you be showing me a little respect since I'm your senior's wife?"

Mysterious Xiao answered, "That should be the case, but Senior cut off ties with my master later on and my master forbade me from calling Xihou Ling my senior. Hence, I addressed him by his name from then on. He's a year older than me."

"Why did he cut ties with your master?"

"It's again because of you, troublemaker. He married two women because of a political arrangement. His wives were from the Tian clan and the Mu clan, respectively. Miss Tian's father was the grand chancellor while Miss Mu was Chi Dan's favorite princess. Xihou Ling insisted on keeping you in his residence so he could protect you. But at the same time, he didn't want you to be treated unfairly by making you his concubine, though he didn't want to let you leave either. However, both his wives were scheming and not to be trifled with. Miss Mu was much more cunning and arrogant compared to Miss Tian. She could not tolerate you at all. Hence, Master advised him to send you out of the residence first. However, Xihou Ling was afraid that you would be assassinated when you're not in his sight. After all, there were many people who wanted you dead. Seeing how insistent and stubborn he was, Master ended up having a tiff with him because Master was afraid that he would end up ruining himself because of you. Master wanted to protect him, but he wanted to protect you, so…"

An Xiaoning was dismayed to hear his words. Just what did I do to deserve his unconditional love?

"What happened to your master afterward?"

"Master never wanted to see him again and thought that all his efforts put into teaching him had gone in vain."

"When was the last time you saw Xihou Ling?"

"He was already ill-stricken the last time I saw him. He was pale and ghastly, and I heard from his bodyguard that he frequently vomited blood. He'd been struck with a huge emotional blow. I also found out that you had left, but I didn't know where you went."

"Why did I leave?"

"I think it was because you were fighting for his love."

"Fighting for his love?" she asked in puzzlement.

"I'm not sure about the details, but I know that he showed up in public with Miss Mu rather frequently. He probably hadn't favored her much. However, at that time, it was no longer up to him to decide and he was in a disadvantageous position. He needed Chi Dan's help."

"Do you know where I went after I left?"

"I found out later that you were imprisoned in the palace by the Emperor, and you were denied contact from the outside world. There were guards watching you every single day. I was thinking then that he must have died elsewhere since he had gone missing. However, he was in a poor state of health when I saw him again."

An Xiaoning immediately imagined the scenario of Jin Qingyan vomiting blood and teared up involuntarily. "What about me? Was I released from the palace?"