Chapter 193

You old bastard, stop right there!

Minister Sun was furious, pointing at the Minister of Rites' back as he hurled insults.

How old are you?! Acting all sneaky over a little snack—aren't you ashamed?!

All those years of reading the sages' classics—did you just swallow them whole and let them rot in a dog's belly?!

Come back here and return what's mine!

While he was ranting, the Minister of Rites had already put over ten meters between them.

Hearing that, he stopped, turned around, and faced Minister Sun across the long corridor, deliberately placing his hand near his ear and shouting loudly.

What did you say? I—can't—hear—you—huh!

Truly shameless! A scoundrel!

Minister Sun was nearly jumping with rage.

I'm furious! Truly, utterly furious!

Hearing the commotion, Sun Yanqing came running over.

Grandfather, what happened?

Seeing his beaming, cheerful face, Minister Sun felt even more suffocated inside.

I'm this angry, and you can still laugh?!

Sun Yanqing struggled to control his expression, forcing the corners of his mouth downward.

Sorry, Grandfather, I'm trying my best to hold it in.

But your eyes are still smiling!

Sun Yanqing: "..."

I just can't control this.

Humph!

Minister Sun flicked his sleeve angrily and strode off.

Look at your pathetic ambition!

Watching his grandfather return to his room, Sun Yanqing touched the envelope in his bosom, curled his lips, and a soft tenderness filled his eyes.

Another day, another night.

During the video call, Cheng Chengxuan keenly noticed that An Luo seemed distracted.

Has something happened?

Miss An.

Why no response?

Has she been staring at the screen, reading some news?

Or chatting with someone?

As that thought arose, Cheng Chengxuan's eyes darkened slightly, and he called out again.

Miss An?

Ah?

An Luo snapped back to attention.

How, how is it?

The moment she looked at him, Cheng Chengxuan concealed the strange flicker in his eyes and asked with a smile.

Is there some thorny matter?

An Luo hesitated, then nodded.

There really is something, but I haven't figured out how to tell you yet.

Mainly, I haven't figured out how to comfort you either.

Hearing that, Cheng Chengxuan's heart clenched.

So, you don't want to tell me because you're already hiding something from me?

Realizing this, in a place off-screen, Cheng Chengxuan silently tightened his fist.

He forced a twitch at the corner of his mouth, forcing out a smile.

Then shall we keep chatting today?

Hmm?

An Luo suddenly lifted her head, studying his expression.

Seeing his forced cheerful expression, she suddenly realized something.

This guy—could he be overthinking things?

An Luo couldn't help but let out a puff of laughter, teasing him with a bright smile.

Where did your mind wander off to?

You can't tell, but even our Young General Cheng has moments of insecurity, huh?

Her words made Cheng Chengxuan blink slightly, his cheeks instantly flushing red as he gave her a helpless glance.

Of course he feels a sense of crisis.

His connection with An Luo is just a vague, illusory system that might vanish at any moment.

He can't even be by her side.

On the other end, An Luo took a deep breath and still decided to hurry and tell him the truth, otherwise keeping it bottled up would be unbearable.

She clasped her hands nervously, observing his expression while speaking slowly.

"That day I went to find Yu'an, and by chance I overheard Old Madam and your Big Brother talking."

"They were talking about your origins."

She paused, then carefully glanced at the person's face and expression on the screen.

After that, without the slightest pause, she blurted it all out in one breath.

"They said you are actually the child of the Shunhe Emperor and Consort Jin."

After speaking, An Luo looked at him nervously, her eyes full of worry.

Barely born, he almost got smothered to death by people sent by his own father; later his father even plotted to exterminate the entire household of his wet nurse; finally, his mother also died under his father's tacit approval.

Any one of these things, taken alone, if it had happened to her, she would surely not be able to bear it.

But these are truly what Cheng Chengxuan has endured.

Thinking of this, An Luo suddenly felt a sourness in her nose, as if a pair of large hands had tightly gripped her heart, squeezing it painfully.

She truly felt heartbroken for Cheng Chengxuan.

"You..."

"I'm fine."

Cheng Chengxuan raised his hand and waved twice, forcing a tug at the corners of his mouth.

"You don't need to worry, I'm fine, I'm really fine..."

While saying this, he turned around and walked back.

Though his face was calm and composed, even with a smile at the corner of his mouth, An Luo felt he was about to shatter.

"Being away from the group too long might raise suspicion again; I should head back."

"Ah!"

An Luo called out to stop him.

"Wait a moment."

Cheng Chengxuan acted as if nothing were wrong, continuing to walk forward.

"Miss An, rest assured, I'm truly fine."

"No, I just wanted to say you're going the wrong way; you should go the other side."

Hearing this, Cheng Chengxuan stopped in his tracks.

"Oh, it's too dark, I can barely see the road."

He turned and walked toward the correct direction, but after just a few steps, he suddenly reached out to steady himself against the tree in front, resting his forehead on the back of his hand.

An Luo couldn't see his expression, only faintly noticing his body trembling slightly, with a faint choking sound in her ears.

Suddenly, a rumbling sound echoed, lightning flashed across the sky, thunder followed, and then heavy rain poured down.

An Luo patted his shoulder.

"Let's find a place to shelter from the rain, okay?"

But Cheng Chengxuan showed no reaction, made no movement.

The screen panned down, and An Luo's gaze followed to his tightly clenched fist.

Faintly, red mixed with rainwater dripped onto the ground.

An Luo gasped in shock.

He's injured!

She used two fingers to pry apart his tightly clenched hand from both sides.

Sure enough, his palm had been torn open by his fingernails.

An Luo extended her fingertip, gently rubbed Cheng Chengxuan's palm, and spoke softly but firmly.

"I will stay with you."

Perhaps hearing her words, or perhaps feeling the warmth of her fingertips.

Cheng Chengxuan's hand trembled, then he loosely gripped back, as if trying to hold onto this bit of warmth.

Noticing his movement, An Luo's finger remained pressed on his palm in the screen, unmoving for a long time.

The rain came suddenly and heavily, and left just as quickly.

As the dark clouds above dispersed, Cheng Chengxuan's mood eased considerably.

Feeling the sensation in his hand, he lifted his gaze to the light screen, where a girl rested her head on one hand, nodding like a chick pecking at grain, drowsy and half-asleep.

A warmth welled up in his heart.

An Luo could no longer hold herself up, so she simply slumped onto the table, unconsciously murmuring a few words.

"Cheng Chengxuan, don't be afraid, I will stay with you..."

Hearing this, Cheng Chengxuan's lips curled into a faint smile.

"Good, a promise is a promise—I take it seriously."

He lifted his head to gaze at the sky; the rain had stopped, but the moon had not yet appeared.

However, it doesn't matter.

He already has his own moon.

He turned his head toward the direction of the Capital; the tenderness in his eyes was replaced by coldness.

Grandmother meant well; he will not disappoint her care and affection.

But the grudge of the Cheng Family and his mother, he will surely repay.

Although he cannot kill that person with his own hands, he will surely take from that person what they cherish most!

Then watch as that person struggles in pain and despair!