The Prince Wants to Assassinate Me Every Day-Chapter 1049 - 640: Lingering Attachment (Third Update)

Chapter 1049: Chapter 640: Lingering Attachment (Third Update)

Inside the carriage.

An Ning was in a daze.

She felt as if she was in a somewhat familiar embrace.

She shifted her body.

Feeling that her sleep was slightly uncomfortable.

Yet she did not strongly resist.

Xiao Jinxing felt An Ning’s movement, and his body stiffened.

He wondered if, when An Ning awoke and found herself in his arms, she would show disgust.

The space was silent.

Somewhat tense.

The moment Xiao Jinxing anticipated An Ning would wake up, he seemed to hear her steady breathing.

She still leaned against his chest, merely changing her position slightly before falling back asleep.

Was she truly that drunk?!

To feel so at ease and docile in his arms.

The carriage arrived at the Imperial Palace.

They reached Fengqi Palace.

Palace attendants were already waiting at the entrance.

When everyone saw the emperor carrying the empress back, they immediately bowed and paid respects.

"Rise," Xiao Jinxing’s voice was deep, with an unyielding aura, "Do not wake the empress."

The palace attendants didn’t dare make a sound, not even a breath.

Xiao Jinxing carried An Ning into the inner chamber and laid her on her bed.

As he placed her down, the fleeting sense of loss in his heart made him, for a moment, want to recklessly pull her back into his arms, but just as his fingers trembled, he repressed all his desires.

He had no right to be this close; every moment now was borrowed time.

He quietly commanded, "The empress has drunk; take good care of her."

"As you command," the palace attendants responded respectfully.

They assumed the emperor would leave now.

After all, the empress was drunk, unable to awaken, and thus couldn’t accompany the emperor.

But, as they waited for a long while, the emperor showed no intention of leaving. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

He stood not too far, not too near the empress’s bed, continuously gazing at her.

Watching her rosy cheeks and the restless look as she slept, looking deeply at her.

The palace attendants dared not ask much.

They just braced themselves and, under the emperor’s gaze, started removing the empress’s uncomfortable outer garments, gently taking down her hair accessories, and then wiping her body, trying to make her sleep more comfortably.

Just as they finished everything, as they carefully tucked the empress into the quilt, the empress suddenly opened her eyes.

"Empress..."

"Ugh." An Ning dry-heaved.

The palace attendants knew the empress was about to vomit and quickly fetched a basin.

As soon as it was brought over, An Ning retched profusely.

She vomited a lot.

As if she wanted to throw up bile.

"Empress, are you feeling better?" The palace attendants asked nervously.

After vomiting, An Ning felt her stomach was a bit more comfortable.

She softly said, "Bring me some tea."

"The servant will bring you some tea right away."

The palace attendants quickly had someone pour some warm tea and helped her sit up to drink it.

An Ning’s eyes moved slightly.

As if she saw a figure, slipping away behind the screen.

As if it was an illusion.

The palace attendants looked in the direction the empress was, quickly saying, "Empress, His Majesty was just here... not sure why he left just now..."

An Ning lowered her gaze and drank the tea.

Perhaps.

They wished to avoid further awkwardness.

So.

Was she brought back by Xiao Jinxing from the General Mansion?!

Song Yanqing really would stop at nothing.

"Empress, are you feeling better?" The palace attendants asked, worriedly looking at her pale face.

"Much better now," An Ning replied, "but I am sure I’ll feel uncomfortable tomorrow. Have someone bring pen and ink over, so I can write a recipe for hangover medicine, to use when I wake up tomorrow."

Even at times like this, she doesn’t want to ruin her own body.

The first reason being it’s not hers; she must cherish and be grateful.

The second reason is she lacks a masochistic tendency, opting not to torture herself as much as possible.

Outside the hall.

Xiao Jinxing hadn’t left.

He just thought An Ning might not want to see him.

So when she awoke, he avoided her.

Then he heard An Ning’s faint instructions to the palace attendants.

He had long known that An Ning is very good at taking care of herself.

Her leaving him might truly be, the best choice.

...

Three days later.

Tomorrow is the Qingming Festival.

Everyone in Daxuan Kingdom knew that tomorrow, Bai Mowan, Bai Moyi of the Bai Family, and Gu Xingchuan of the Gu Family, will be executed in public.

An Ning went to the Heavenly Prison.

One last time, to see Gu Xingchuan.

He was eating the meal she personally prepared.

The two of them, without many words, yet seemingly said a thousand things.

A thousand words that could no longer be spoken.

"Is the weather nice outside?" Gu Xingchuan asked.

"No," An Ning replied, "It’s overcast with light rain, feared there’ll be no sunshine tomorrow."

"What a pity." Gu Xingchuan murmured.

An Ning remained silent.

"Tomorrow, don’t come to see me off," Gu Xingchuan said.

An Ning looked at him.

"I don’t want you to see the sight of my head falling to the ground, for fear it would frighten you." Gu Xingchuan smiled.

Although he no longer had the charm of his earlier days, he was still gentle as ever.

He was still like when she first met him, like the sunshine of March, like a spring breeze.

"Did you bring wine?" Gu Xingchuan asked.

An Ning nodded quietly.

"Let’s have a drink," Gu Xingchuan said gently.

An Ning opened the wine bottle and poured two glasses.

She handed one to Gu Xingchuan.

Gu Xingchuan’s fingers were frighteningly thin.

It seemed as if there was just a layer of skin left.

Gu Xingchuan noticed An Ning’s gaze.

He tried to cover it with his long robe.

But it seemed almost in vain.

"Sorry, you have to see me like this in the end," Gu Xingchuan murmured, "I thought eating well would help me get better, but I didn’t expect my condition to worsen..."

"Xingchuan," An Ning interrupted him, "no matter how you change, you’re always the best in my heart."

Gu Xingchuan smiled.

A weak smile, yet so pure and transparent.

An Ning lowered her eyes.

Tears filled her eyes.

Gu Xingchuan’s heart ached.

Constantly aching.

But he could only remain indifferent.

He said, "Cheers."

Concealing his inner emotions with other things.

An Ning held back her tears at the corners of her eyes, raising her glass.

The clear clink of glasses echoed.

Like the fracture at a farewell.

The two downed their drinks in one gulp.

Gu Xingchuan’s body was too weak, and he coughed a few times.

"Xingchuan," An Ning looked at him.

"It’s nothing," Gu Xingchuan remained gentle, still smiled at the corners of his mouth.

He put down the glass.

He said, "Forget me."

Never remember him again from now on.

Those past moments, no matter how beautiful or embarrassing.

He wished to disappear into the dust.

Never to be bound by worldly matters again.

An Ning looked into Gu Xingchuan’s eyes.

His gaze filled with despair and sorrow...

Watching as his eyes brimmed with tears.

Gu Xingchuan was not... not as carefree... perhaps it wasn’t his unwillingness toward life, but just attachment to human ties...