The smile on Gu Hanxun's face didn't fade, but it looked a bit stiff.
Zhao Shuning then said, "Let's go in first."
Gu Hanxun had stretched out his hand, but Zhao Shuning didn't respond. He put it down dejectedly.
When he saw Zhao Shuning again, he could already sense the gap between them. The distance between them seemed to be getting farther and farther.
After Zhao Shuning entered Chengxun Hall, she walked all the way past the pear orchard. There were still one or two birds kept in the orchard.
On that long path, she had helped Gu Hanxun with his rehabilitation again and again. However, all those were in the past for Zhao Shuning. It was just that Gu Hanxun couldn't let go.
Inside the palace hall.
Gu Hanxun asked with concern, "Ningning, I'm really happy that you're back."
"You're happy too soon."
Qi Yue and Shadow exchanged a look and both lowered their heads in a hurry.
Gu Hanxun said, "You may all retreat."
He had something to say to Zhao Shuning alone.
"Yes."
Shadow and Qi Yue retreated together.
But Zhao Shuning spoke up.
"Deputy Envoy Qi—"
Qi Yue stopped in her tracks.
Zhao Shuning said seemingly casually, "I heard that the Duke is back, and all your Qi family members have been restored to your original official positions."
Qi Yue replied carefully, "It's the Lord's favor and trust in the Qi family."
Zhao Shuning said again, "Although you've returned to your former high - status position, I hope Deputy Envoy Qi won't forget who took care of you and pulled you up when you were in poverty. Sometimes, people should look back."
Qi Yue quickly knelt down in panic.
"Lady of the Lord."
"You don't need to kneel to me. I'm not the Lady of the Lord either. I'm just saying these words as your former friend. Seeing you so prosperous now, I just hope you won't be blindly optimistic. The disaster that follows will be fatal."
Gu Hanxun's expression darkened. It wasn't because of Zhao Shuning's words, but because of the look Qi Yue gave him.
"Deputy Envoy Qi, you may go. Consider my words as over - talking."
Qi Yue had no choice but to retreat in a hurry.
Actually, the moment Zhao Shuning saw Qi Yue, she knew that this woman had become more luxurious compared to before.
Granny Lan was an old servant in the palace. Her current situation must have something to do with that woman she met in the Laundry before, and that woman was Qi Yue's subordinate.
After Qi Yue left.
Gu Hanxun looked at Zhao Shuning.
"Ningning—"
"Gu Hanxun, why did you make things difficult for Granny Lan? What on earth did she do wrong?"
Gu Hanxun looked at Zhao Shuning. Then he sighed.
"I thought you hated Granny Lan."
"Why?"
"Deputy Envoy Qi said that when you were in the Laundry, Granny Lan made you suffer a lot."
"Gu Hanxun, you're the Lord of Cangwu. Do you just believe whatever Qi Yue says?"
Gu Hanxun said, "You and Qi Yue were so close before, so I have no reason to doubt her words."
"You and I were also on good terms before, but now, look at what has become of us."
"What do you mean by 'look at what has become of us'? Ningning, what do you refer to?"
"Gu Hanxun, we're no longer kids. You know I have no feelings for you, and I don't want to be the Lady of the Lord of Cangwu. The words 'one man, one woman for a lifetime' came from your mouth, but I've never agreed with them."
Gu Hanxun's expression turned cold. The smile on his face disappeared.
He was silent for a long time.
Zhao Shuning also didn't say a word.
Finally, Gu Hanxun said in a low voice, "You still blame me, don't you?"
"I do blame you, but it's not to an extreme degree. Gu Hanxun, it's time for you to let go of some things."
"Ningning, you're blaming me for using you back then and for disappointing your sincere feelings for me. In fact, you did care about me, didn't you?"
"Gu Hanxun, you're overthinking. I've never put you in my heart. I've already told you that I have someone I like, and that person is not you."
Gu Hanxun said, "You're lying to me."
Zhao Shuning: "This isn't that hard to accept. Gu Hanxun, we should both let go of what happened before. You shouldn't act like this anymore."
"I do want to let go, but if it were really as simple as you said, I wouldn't be like this today."
Gu Hanxun stood up.
He asked again, "I can give you whatever you want, but I only have one condition, which is that you stay by my side."
Zhao Shuning said, "Impossible."
Gu Hanxun said, "Ningning, you're tired and your mind is not clear for the moment. You don't need to give me an answer so quickly. I'll wait for you. You should rest first."
After saying that, without waiting for Zhao Shuning's response, he walked out of Chengxun Hall directly.
Gu Hanxun's temper still hadn't changed much.
Zhao Shuning stood up and wanted to go back to the Laundry. She felt more at ease there.
But as soon as she went out, she bumped into Concubine Xiao. No, she shouldn't be called Concubine Xiao anymore. Now she was the Dowager Consort Xiao.
As soon as the Dowager Consort Xiao received the news, she rushed to Chengxun Hall immediately.
When the Dowager Consort Xiao was at the door, she saw Gu Hanxun walking out quickly with a cold expression on his face. Only then did she dare to enter Chengxun Hall.
Who would have thought that before she even reached the main hall, she bumped into Zhao Shuning who was walking out.
"Concubine Xiao, no, Dowager Consort, you're late. Gu Hanxun just left."
The Dowager Consort Xiao looked around.
She grabbed Zhao Shuning's hand and pulled her back.
After secretly pulling Zhao Shuning into one of the rooms, she told the maids to wait outside, then slammed the door shut and locked it.
"Dowager Consort, what are you doing?"
When the Dowager Consort Xiao saw there was no one around, she looked at Zhao Shuning and immediately knelt down.
"Miss, please have mercy on me. If this goes on, the Gu family will end with Xun'er."
Zhao Shuning frowned.
"Dowager Consort, you shouldn't beg me for this matter, nor should you tell me about it. You should talk to Gu Hanxun. There's no relationship between him and me."
"Miss, if Xun'er would listen to me when I talk to him, I wouldn't come here to beg you."
Zhao Shuning tried to help the Dowager Consort Xiao up.
But the Dowager Consort Xiao just wouldn't get up. No matter how hard Zhao Shuning tried, she refused to stand up.
"Miss, I don't know about others, but I know Xun'er's temper. No one in this palace can persuade him. He should only listen to you. Miss, please have pity on the people of our Cangwu Kingdom, okay?"
"Please get up first."
"If you don't agree to me, I won't get up."
Zhao Shuning let go of her hand.
"Miss?"
"In that case, Dowager Consort Xiao, if you're willing to kneel, then keep kneeling. No one can force me to do something I don't want to do. Even if you kneel and threaten me, it won't work."