Four Months Ago (Part 13)

With a hardened heart, Prince Ping continued to take heavy steps away from Xiao Yiu. His mind painfully unsettled. [Why is this your answer? Why wouldn't you say you're innocent] he couldn't stop repeating these questions. His smooth brows knitted together, taking away some of the charm to his handsome face. [Why do I even care so much...?]

Reaching the door, he momentarily stopped. There was an urge for him to turn back around, an urge for him to look back at the girl. [For what though... for her to give me another answer] he shook his head. His heart had now become stiffer than his unmoving body. [Liu Ding Yiu...] As he called out her name in his heart, he felt wounded. His chest being gripped by something so hard that the immense agony forced him to remove his compassion. [You and I... we were never meant to become this way....] Allowing his heart to close, Prince Ping stepped outside the annex building, never turning back to look at Xiao Yiu again.

As for the mentally and emotionally wrecked Xiao Yiu, she could only stare after the vanishing Prince Ping with her water filled eyes. Losing what little strength she had left to support herself, Xiao Yiu dropped to her knees on the dusty ground and clutched at her crying heart.

Outside, dutifully waiting for Prince Ping was Sixi and Jing Ke who couldn't help but exchange worried looks to each other. Although the two had gone outside as instructed by the prince, they were close enough to hear the conversation that took place. Consort Liu didn't deny nor admit to cursing Consort Zhou. But, with the evidence of the cursed doll served right to their eyes, could anyone still think Consort Liu was innocent even if she denied the act?

Well, there was at least one person. It wasn't spoken out by the two, but one doubting glance from Jing Ke to Sixi let them know the other's thoughts on the matter. Quite unexpectedly, this was probably the first time their views differed. Sixi took the presented evidence as truth and believed Consort Liu was guilty no matter her reasons. Jing Ke on the other hand saw things much differently.

[The evidence against Consort Liu is too perfect. It's so perfect that it doesn't make sense] Jing Ke thought. [Consort Liu hasn't admitted to the crime, so there's a chance she didn't do it. I wonder what Prince Ping thinks. Has he picked up on the oddities like I have?] The more Jing Ke pondered, the more doubtful he became of the whole incident.

As Jing Ke was absorbed in his speculations, Prince Ping had come out of the annex building. When coming out, Prince Ping had an impassive expression on his face. It was hard for both Sixi and Jing Ke to know his current frame of mind. However, the wrathful aura coming from Prince Ping couldn't be ignored. The two could only follow after the prince as he headed back to Zheng Palace.

"Prince Ping," Jing Ke boldly spoke up after following for a few minutes. "Do you believe Consort Liu had cursed Consort Zhou?" Jing Ke paused. He tried to read the prince's expression. "There seems to be a lot of details we don't know. Should I investigate further?"

"No need," Prince Ping curtly replied. His tone so scornful that it made Jing Ke and Sixi's blood run cold. "I'm not going to waste my time..." Prince Ping spoke through gritted teeth, speeding up his pace. [I'm not going to waste my time on someone who won't tell me they are innocent].

"Prince-" Jing Ke wanted to speak but was quickly stopped by Sixi who shook his head at him. Jing Ke let out an unsatisfied sigh. [So, Prince Ping's reaction just now means he too believes Consort Liu is guilty…] he could only assume. [In that case, there's not much purpose in me pursuing this further].

Knowing everything was in Prince Ping's decision, Jing Ke and Sixi simply remained quiet and waited for orders.

The next day, news that Consort Liu had cursed Consort Zhou spread throughout Ping Tian Palace. The news was like an unstoppable fire that spread out to reach everyone living inside the place. There was not a single person who didn't know. As the situation stood, something had to be done to quell this fire. In the end, Prince Ping banished Consort Liu to the cold palace. All servants were then severely warned not to talk of this incident ever again.

FOUR MONTHS LATER - now back in the present time....

"Xiaojie. Xiaojie," a voice worriedly called.

Xiao Yiu blinked a few times hearing a familiar voice.

[Who is it?]