Ling Shuang dismissed all the palace maids and eunuchs, and even refused to let Ling Ran accompany her, walking alone under the long corridor.
Her eyes were red from crying, and she looked much more haggard.
"Sixth Brother, where should I look for you?" She cried as she walked, letting her tears ruin her makeup.
She didn't know how long she had walked, but when she looked up, she was stunned by what she saw.
"There's such a remote place in the Lanyi Palace."
The surroundings were desolate, overgrown with weeds, and a dilapidated house was covered with cobwebs. A musty smell filled the air.
Is anyone there?
She looked back at where she had come from and was momentarily lost.
"Is anyone there?" she called out, somewhat frightened.
Suddenly the door creaked open, and a plaque above the door slammed heavily to the ground with a crisp sound, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Startled, Ling Shuang fell to the ground with a thud.
"ah!"
My heart was pounding wildly; I was terrified.
Just as she was wondering what to do, the door suddenly opened, and a black, furry creature emerged, its tail wagging.
She looked and realized it was a black cat.
The cat seemed unafraid of her, swaggering up to her and rubbing against her leg.
Ling Shuang was immediately drawn to the adorable cat, and her sadness and grief were temporarily forgotten.
“Kitten, what are you doing here? Where is your home?” she asked.
"Meow!!!" The wind cat snuggled affectionately against her.
Looking at the house covered in cobwebs, Ling Shuang suddenly had the urge to go and take a look.
Clutching the cat tightly in her arms, she mustered her courage and went inside.
As soon as I reached the window, I was startled by a pair of bright red eyes staring straight at me.
"ah!!!"
Ling Shuang was so frightened that she fell to the ground with a thud, and the cat in her arms was also frightened and ran away in all directions.
"I didn't expect you to be such a coward!" A familiar teasing voice rang out from behind.
Ling Shuang suddenly turned her head and saw Nangong Liuli looking at her with a sly smile.
"How did you get here?"
Ling Shuang found his arrival quite unbelievable.
"What, you're the only one who can come but I can't?"
"Pfft!!" Ling Shuang laughed at his words, temporarily forgetting what had frightened her just now.
"When I see old friends again, I just feel a little warm and familiar."
Nangong Liuli raised an eyebrow, delighted by her words: "I never imagined I would become Princess Lingshuang's friend. It is truly an honor."
She then remembered the red eyes she had seen inside, and hurriedly grabbed his hand, mustering her courage to walk to the window: "I just saw a pair of red eyes here."
Nangong Anren's mind was completely on the hand holding his, and he was so excited that he didn't hear a word the other person said.
Seeing that he was lost in thought, Ling Shuang angrily shook off his hand and said, "Did you hear me talking to you?"
He then realized what was happening and looked away somewhat guiltily, saying, "Are you seeing things? There's no one else here besides you and me."
Ling Shuang mustered her courage and peeked out again. Sure enough, the room was filled with dilapidated things and a strong musty smell.
"Strange, could it be that I really saw it wrong?"
"But you, how did you get into the Lan Yi Imperial Palace here?"
What are you planning to do here?
He raised his eyebrows and his eyes darted around; it was obvious he was plotting something wicked.
He slowly lifted her chin with his long, slender fingers, his eyes shining like obsidian as he stared into her clear eyes and said, "I am your personal bodyguard. Have you ever seen a bodyguard who abandons his post?"
With that magnetic voice and alluring eyes, Ling Shuang was momentarily at a loss for words.
"Are you crazy?!" She rudely slapped his hand away and turned her head away to hide her face, which was as red as the sunset.
"Princess Ling Shuang, I remember you said that you liked that guard named Ling Ran, so why are you now willing to come here for a political marriage?"
He suddenly changed the subject, as if remembering something, and asked, "Could it be that you've taken a fancy to that high and prestigious position?"
"If I had a choice, why would I have come here?"
"I have been here for half a month, and I have not seen the Lord of Lanyi, nor have I seen my future husband."
"It even...it even caused my sixth brother to lose his life." She choked up as she said this.
"If I had known that coming here would cost Sixth Brother his life, I would have rather died than let him come along."
Seeing that small, tear-streaked face filled with sorrow, his heart ached along with it.
"Crown Prince Nangong must be a gentle and kind person. He will definitely fulfill any wish you have!" he said as if making a vow.
"Really?"
She looked at him through teary eyes, a few teardrops clinging to her long eyelashes, making her look pitiful and incredibly beautiful.
"I want to go home, I don't want to marry him, I want to be with the person I love, I want my sixth brother to come back, can he do all of these things?"
Every word she spoke felt like a needle piercing my heart.
His heart was already riddled with wounds, but he still had to smile and comfort her, saying, "I heard that Crown Prince Nangong has someone he likes, so he should let you go!"
His desolate eyes held a hint of humility, as if he were trying to cheer her up like a child.
Hearing his words, Ling Shuang felt somewhat comforted.
"Thank you for telling me this."
"Thank you for the opportunity to meet you again."
"Nangong Liuli, I always felt a sense of familiarity with you, which is why I wanted to save you when I first met you!"
So, don't get hurt.
As she finished speaking these words with deep emotion, Nangong Liuli was somewhat moved.
Then an untimely sound interrupted it!
Is anyone inside?
Ling Shuang replied, "Yes!"
When she turned around again, Nangong Liuli had already disappeared, like a gust of wind leaving no trace, as if she had never been there at all.
"Nangong Liuli is gone!" she muttered softly, somewhat disappointed.
"Princess, what are you doing here?"
Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be A-Yue, the palace maid arranged by Nangong Anren to take care of her.
"I was just wandering around when I had nothing to do, and I never expected to end up here."
"Did the princess encounter anything strange?" A-Yue asked.
She shook her head: "No!" She didn't mention a word about encountering those red eyes or Nangong Anren.
...
Nangong Anren looked at Doctor Sun, who was kneeling at his feet and trembling, with a serious expression. The atmosphere was extremely tense.
Although Dr. Sun had his head down, he could still feel the scorching gaze from above that could kill him.
"I am guilty, and I beg Your Highness to punish me."
Rather than being killed by a glance, Doctor Sun would rather take the initiative to plead guilty; that way, dying would be a quicker and more painless end.
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