Lacking Sincerity

"I am extremely sorry for causing you trouble. My sincere apologies." Lanying said with a polite bow.

She couldn't be bothered with debating with him. Moreover, her oversized attire won't really give her much of an upper hand if she got into a fight with him.

"You are apologizing yet your face is completely covered. Don't you think you lack sincerity?" Changmin retorted, stepping a few steps nearer to her.

He extended his hand with an attempt to remove the scarf. However, Lanying immediately moved aside.

"I am afraid this is inappropriate. I have to be somewhere in a while. Please stop blocking the way."

"I also had to be somewhere for a short while that day." Changmin responded. He gave her a crooked smile. His posture clearly showed how he was unwilling to let this matter rest so easily.

'He is clearly trying to blow it up. How annoying.'

Lanying took out a small golden needle from her coat pocket and handed it to Yan Changmin.

"Then, does this show enough sincerity?" She asked.

He was speechless as he carefully inspected the needle.

'This…where would a young lady like her get this?' He couldn't help but wonder.

However when he looked up after confirming that it was indeed one of the ancient needles used in fire formations he couldn't spot her any longer.

'Did she just disappear?' He thought to himself, shaking his head in disappointment.

"Young Lord, her majesty seeks your presence in the court at the soonest possible." Ai Baichan reported with a courteous bow.

"Understood." He carefully wrapped the needle in a maple leaf, placing it underneath his cape.

With a quick move he leapt onto the horse Baichan brought with him. Baichan quickly followed his tracks as well.

An Lanying pinched her earlobes in an attempt to calm her racing heart. She gave a quick glance at her surroundings to make sure he won't scare her once again popping out of nowhere.

'Thank goodness, that other person arrived in time. Otherwise he might have caused me even more delay. Mother would probably scold me again today.' She wondered in her mind quickening her steps.

Her mother won't punish her as long as she tells her that she had been near her sister's memorial. However, she didn't wish to cause her to reopen her wounds once again. It's better to just kneel on the wooden board for a while. Moreover, her admission pass might just save her from that too.

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An Meifeng once again walked up to the doorsteps to check whether her daughter was back yet or not.

This girl never stops making her worry. The sky was tinged with a hue of red indicating that the sun was about to set.

"Madam, you should go rest inside, I will let you know as soon as young miss returns." An Hualing urged her. She was an old woman who brought up Meifeng and accompanied her till this date. She was undeniably a mother figure to An Meifeng and was treated like an elder instead of a servant.

"Aunt, I can't set my heart at ease unless that lass returns. You don't need to worry about me." She responded with a polite smile,

"Young Miss can be mischievous, but she is extremely responsible. She won't be in trouble. You have been busy since early in the morning. Your body needs some rest." Hualing said patiently.

Meifeng was going to retort her again when she heard footsteps approaching the door. Both of them looked at each other with a comforting smile.

"Mother, I am back." A cheerful voice shouted.

Lanying lifted off the curtain taking a peek inside the room. Ahh, Hualing grandma is here, no wonder she didn't have to get an earful of scolding the moment she stepped inside.

"Someone looks a bit too happy. What trouble have you made again?" Meifeng, strictly interrogated. This daughter of hers always caused some sort of small or big trouble whenever she got out.

"Mother, don't you trust me the slightest bit?" She said with a slight frown.

"If you didn't create so much mess outside, I would be more than happy to trust you." Meifeng said.

"I got admitted into the Brightstone Academy." An Lanying said in a barely audible voice.

Old lady, An Hualing, was unable to hear the whisper. But, An Meifeng clearly heard it.

"Lanying, speak clearly. Your mother was merely worried about you. You shouldn't badmouth her via whispering." She said in a loving yet strict manner.

An Lanying couldn't help but purse her lips. Both of them are always expecting the worst out of her. How annoying!

Meifeng had a look of disbelief on her face and she was unable to react for a long time. Hualing realized the atmosphere wasn't quite right. She looked at Meifeng with arched brows.