Chapter 169: Chapter 168: Traitorous Concubine or Worthy Empress 3
Anning carefully felt the emotions of Xie Anning.
She never took the initiative when performing her tasks, but would meticulously ponder the original host’s thoughts and feelings. She would imitate the original host, using methods the original might have used to take revenge, allowing the original host to have a stronger sense of participation.
Just like in her previous life as Zhao Anning, there were many ways Anning could have directly killed the Liu Family.
For example, poisoning or hypnotism and the like, but still, she avenged Liu Mingzhu and the Liu Family bit by bit using methods Zhao Anning would have used. When that life was over, Zhao Anning was especially satisfied and gave all the merit of several lives to her.
And this time, Anning would also experience the feelings of Xie Anning to perfectly complete her task.
She would not neglect her responsibility simply because Xie Anning had dissipated between heaven and earth; on the contrary, she would complete the task to the best of her ability.
Anning slowly sorted out Xie Anning’s memories and the emotional changes from different periods, then closed her eyes to carefully feel the Heavenly Rules of this world.
It was a world with low martial arts. There was no Spiritual Energy in this world; one could not Cultivate or practice advanced Martial Arts. There were some Rangers who knew a bit of martial arts, but those Rangers only knew some moves, that is to say, external power, without any understanding of Inner Strength.
One could say, there was not much danger in this world.
There was no danger, but Anning could not Cultivate or practice Inner Strength.
Her restrictions were much more.
After feeling the Heavenly Rules, Anning’s lips rose, drawing a smile.
In this brief period, Anning had figured out how to complete her future tasks.
She felt that she would have a fairly easy time in this world.
In the previous life, Feng Chengxi stepped over Xie Anning’s corpse to ascend the throne and gain the world. This time, Anning would make him yearn for it without success, to suffer for a lifetime.
That day, after Feng Chengxi visited and left, Anning hid in her room and did not go out.
Feng Chengxi also stayed in a manor not far from the Xie Family.
At night, he summoned the maid who served Anning and inquired, "Did your lady do anything today?"
The maid knelt on the ground and softly replied, "Reporting to the Crown Prince, our lady locked herself in the room after the Crown Prince left. No matter who called her, she wouldn’t open the door. Later, the master and Madam also went to call on the lady, but she only said she felt unwell and did not come out. This servant overheard that the lady seemed to have been crying the whole time."
After hearing this, Feng Chengxi felt somewhat sad, but more than that, he was secretly delighted.
Anning had been crying all along; it was clear she couldn’t bear to let him go.
Feng Chengxi and Anning had grown up together from a young age; Anning heavily trusted and relied on him. No matter what she did, she would think of him and always put him first, satisfying Feng Chengxi’s vanity greatly.
He tapped his right index finger on the table, "Alright, I know. You go back and serve the lady well."
That night, Anning didn’t come out for dinner, nor did she touch the food the servants brought her.
The people of the Xie Family probably knew why. Anning’s birth mother, Mrs. Rong, came to persuade her once, and then did not come again.
Anning waited until the night was quiet before she changed her clothes and quietly left the room.
She sneaked into the small kitchen, where she rummaged for some food that could be eaten without cooking or warming, and just ate it cold.
The next morning, Feng Chengxi came to pick up Anning to go to the Manor.
He waited outside her room for quite a while before Anning finally came out.
She was dressed in an apricot-colored gown; the color of the gown was vibrant, but it only made Anning’s complexion seem paler and more haggard, as if she hadn’t rested well the night before.
Anning’s eyes were red and a bit swollen, as if she had been crying for a long time.
Yet, this haggardness did not detract from her beauty.
She looked even more delicate and beautiful, eliciting pity from others.
Feng Chengxi sighed softly inside, walked over, and extended his hand to help Anning.
But Anning reached out to support her maid first: "Cousin, are you well?"
Feng Chengxi withdrew his hand, understanding that Anning must be feeling particularly awkward at the moment.
He thought this wouldn’t do; if Anning gave up on him completely, she might not help him wholeheartedly after going to Jin Country.
He had to find a way to deepen Anning’s feelings for him, to make her unable to leave him. Only then would Anning truly help him conquer the world.
Feng Chengxi’s pupils contracted slightly, a deep meaning flashing in his eyes.
Yet his face was full of concern: "Cousin, did you not sleep well last night? You are frail, and with the weather being a bit chilly today, you must take extra care of yourself."
Anning sighed softly and looked down: "What is there for me to care for now? It’s all about enduring the days."
She left the Xie Family with the support of her maid and got into the carriage prepared by Feng Chengxi.
From beginning to end, the people of the Xie Family did not come out to see her off.
Anning sneered in her heart. Xie Anning was unable to see things clearly, still clinging to these relatives, but she didn’t think about it—if the Xie Family truly cared for her, how could they allow her to be used as a pawn in Jin Country? Even if there were no other options and they had to send her over, they should at least have sent her off properly and given her some thorough advice.
Xie Anning should have realized the Xie Family’s indifference long ago. If she had seen it earlier, she wouldn’t have ended up in such a predicament.
Anning sat in the carriage, looked at her delicate and fair hands with brightly painted nails, and whispered to herself in a voice only she could hear: "Xie Anning, I live this life for no one else but you, to live it as your heart desires. You... must watch carefully."
The carriage swayed and rattled along, with Anning inside, anxiously fidgeting with her handkerchief.
She stared intently at the décor inside the carriage, lost in thought. On the left side of the cabin hung a tassel that was handmade by Xie Anning and personally given to Feng Chengxi.
Below the tassel was a wooden doll carved by Feng Chengxi and given to Xie Anning.
Looking at these two items, Anning’s contempt for Feng Chengxi deepened; if he intended to send her away, why bother with such pretense? Isn’t this just making Xie Anning think about him even more?
The carriage soon arrived at the Manor.
Feng Chengxi extended his hand to help Anning off the carriage below.
Anning couldn’t avoid it and had to accept his arm to step down.
Once inside the house, Anning asked her maid to bring water and carefully washed her hands and face.
She had arrived at the Manor in the morning, and in the afternoon, several nannies came to teach her.
Feng Chengxi was really shameless; for his great ambition, he specifically sought out women from the brothel to instruct Anning, hoping she would learn more ways to seduce men.
Anning was disgusted.
However, she had no choice but to tolerate these people and deal with them.
Xie Anning was always quiet and submissive towards Feng Chengxi, almost too accommodating. Anning had just arrived and couldn’t make changes right away; she could only act according to Xie Anning’s disposition for now and wait to endure until they reached Jin Country before taking other actions.
For several consecutive days, Anning learned on the Manor.
She studied the customs and etiquette of Jin Country, had to wear Jin Country’s clothes every day, learn some Jin Country language, and understand the situation within the Jin Royal Family.
In addition, it was about learning how to serve people.
Xie Anning was a noble lady from a noble family, pampered since childhood; she had never served anyone.
But here, Anning had to learn to wait on people and even had to perform for Feng Chengxi from time to time. These days were more exhausting than ever.