Although she was the Prince's woman, the Prince hated women fighting over him, and she had just offended him.
"Your Highness, your concubine was merely worried about you!" An Fei, terrified, knelt down with a thud, her golden hair ornament swaying. Her face was ashen.
Last time, she had been confined for months by the Prince for clashing with Qing Fei. Would she be punished again, this time because of Ming Yu? An Fei lowered her head, a flicker of hatred in her eyes. Ming Yu, one day, I will kill you. Everyone else is already dead by my hand, and I'm afraid of you?
Ming Yu threw off the covers, got up, and put on her outer clothes. Then she stood beside the dragon couch, head lowered, silent. Over the past few months, she had come to understand Hua Yun Jin's temperament.
When Hua Yun Jin was furious, anything you said was wrong. At such times, it was best to pretend to be invisible.
A smile tugged at Ming Yu's lips as she cast a scornful sideways glance at the kneeling An Fei. Fool. After following Hua Yun Jin for so many years, she still didn't know what kind of person Hua Yun Jin was.
However, why did her heart feel a pang of bitterness? An Fei had followed Hua Yun Jin for a very long time, slowly rising from a secondary wife to the current concubine status. And her? What was she feeling bitter about?
A surge of sourness churned in Ming Yu's chest. She didn't even notice when Hua Yun Jin turned to look at her.
"Miss Ming Yu, help me with my robes..." Hua Yun Jin frowned, looking at the distracted Ming Yu.
What was wrong with this woman? She was fine yesterday, but what was with all the sadness emanating from her now?
"Oh..." Ming Yu softly agreed and picked up the dragon robes, which the eunuchs had already prepared, dressing Hua Yun Jin piece by piece.
His well-built physique, the handsome musculature, even after sharing the same bed with Hua Yun Jin countless times, Ming Yu would still blush.
Hua Yun Jin's eyes were fixed on Ming Yu, watching her flushed face and her averted gaze. A smile gradually spread across Hua Yun Jin's face. Her shy demeanor was amusing.
An Fei, who was kneeling to the side, looked up and saw the smile on Hua Yun Jin's face. An Fei's jealous eyes turned red.
She had followed Hua Yun Jin for so many years and had never seen Hua Yun Jin smile at her.
"Your Highness..." An Fei's mournful voice was heard, her eyes brimming with tears, her entire demeanor becoming pitiable. She wasn't less beautiful than that wretched Ming Yu. Why did the Prince only look at that wretched Ming Yu and forget about her?
Hearing An Fei's voice, Ming Yu's movements became more efficient. She quickly fastened Hua Yun Jin's belt. The jade robe looked magnificent on Hua Yun Jin. He was indeed the King of Hua. Hua Yun Jin stood before the dragon couch with his hands behind his back, his presence overwhelming.
Even Ming Yu, standing beside him, could feel the powerful aura emanating from Hua Yun Jin, an imperial aura that commanded innate reverence.
"An Fei, who gave you the audacity to barge into my sleeping quarters? Did the lesson from the last time with the concubines not deter you at all?" Hua Yun Jin's icy gaze fell upon An Fei, and she flinched.
An Fei struggled to control her rapidly beating heart, looking at Hua Yun Jin with tear-filled eyes, "Your Highness, you have been away from the palace for several days. Your concubine missed you. I learned of your return early this morning, and unable to contain my joy, I rushed to see Your Highness, hence I barged in. Your concubine, your concubine did not know that Your Highness had not yet rested. I beg Your Highness for forgiveness!"
An Fei wailed mournfully, as if Hua Yun Jin had abandoned her.
Hua Yun Jin cast a disgusted glance at An Fei, his gaze sharpening, "An Fei, who told you that I have been away from the palace for several days?"
An Fei's body jolted. Had she let something slip? She suddenly remembered her father's earnest warnings not to reveal the Prince's whereabouts. Yet, she had forgotten her father's words.
An Fei began to tremble. She couldn't betray her father, otherwise, who would support her in the future? A significant part of her rise to concubine status was due to the influence of her family. She couldn't allow the Prince to act against her family.
Otherwise, she would be nothing in this palace. Even a minor beauty would be able to bully her.
An Fei trembled and raised her head, her eyes meeting Ming Yu's, who stood calmly observing the scene. At that moment, An Fei felt like a clown. Hatred surged within her, her eyes turning red as she glared at Ming Yu and said resentfully, "Your Highness, it was Miss Ming Yu who told me."
"An Fei, are you slandering me? Since when have we been so close that I would tell you the Prince's whereabouts?"
Ming Yu scoffed. Apart from being cruel and beautiful, An Fei's mind was a complete mess. Did she think Hua Yun Jin would believe her just like that?
Hua Yun Jin was now the ruler of Hua City; how could he be so easily swayed by her words? Just as Ming Yu had expected, Hua Yun Jin became even angrier upon hearing this. He kicked An Fei flying, "An Fei, I think you're tired of living!"
An Fei was kicked away, her body hitting the main pillar of the sleeping quarters before she fell to the ground with a thud, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. An Fei looked at Hua Yun Jin in disbelief, saying mournfully, "Your Highness, your concubine is speaking the truth. Why don't you believe your concubine?" An Fei was heartbroken.
What could be worse than being disbelieved by the one you loved?
An Fei's heart turned cold, and she let out a bitter laugh. So, that wretched Ming Yu was that important in the Prince's heart. And she, what was she to the Prince? He would rather believe that wretched Ming Yu than her, his pillow companion of so many years.
An Fei burst into laughter, tears streaming down her face. Why was this happening? Why? She merely wanted the Prince's greater affection, and now she had earned his hatred.
"Your Highness, have you forgotten what you told your concubine in our first year in the palace?"
An Fei looked at Hua Yun Jin with sorrow, "You said that your concubine was your confidante, and that you would always treat her well." An Fei gazed expectantly into Hua Yun Jin's eyes, hoping to find a trace of longing or memory, but she was disappointed. His eyes held nothing but coldness.
"Your Highness, have you never liked me?" An Fei asked sadly. She had just seen the determination in his eyes. She knew that for years, the Prince had been forbearing due to the influence of their families behind the imperial concubines. Now, the Prince was finally going to make his move.
An Fei was still not giving up. She just wanted to know if the Prince had ever liked her. Were the words he spoke during those intimate nights all lies? Da Feng Novel Network
Hua Yun Jin looked at An Fei with disgust, "I have never liked you..."
After speaking, Hua Yun Jin instructed the waiting eunuchs, "Guards, escort An Fei back. An Fei is not to step out of the palace gates without my permission."