The Tyrant's Beloved Empress

9

Xiao Zhige led An Chang Qing forward at a moderate pace. The man was tall and upright, much like the sharp spear behind him. Standing by his side, even without any words or action from him, could give An Chang Qing an unparalleled sense of security.

After taking another two steps, An Chang Qing had to ask again, "Will you protect me no matter what I do?"

Xiao Zhige gave him a puzzled look and answered with certainty, "Of course. You are my Wangfei."

The man's expression was serious as he replied, as though it was an implied logic.

An Chang Qing secretly smiled and pulled him onto a different route, "Let's not go back yet. Accompany me to the west courtyard."

Xiao Zhige did not know his intentions but he kept up with him.

The An family lived in a five-entrance manor. The old matriarch lived in the main yard while the two eldest brothers, An Zhi Ke and An Zhi Zhou, lived in the east and west yards respectively. An Chang Qing led Xiao Zhige past a veranda and then through a flower gate before arriving at the West courtyard.

The west courtyard was currently bustling with people and occasional cries could be heard.

As An Chang Qing and Xiao Zhige came in, the servants running about were taken aback but they quickly recovered and continued their work, except for a well-dressed maid who stared at An Chang Qing grudgingly. She bit her lips and pushed the other servants in front to enter the room.

"That's An Changqi's handmaid and mistress, Fei Cui," An Chang Qing complained to Xiao Zhige, "An Changqi's tricks against me were all thought up by her."

Fei Cui was probably aware of An Changqi's intention towards him which was why she had never liked him. On the surface, she would give him advice on how to force An Chang Qing into submission while behind his back, she would find every opportunity to humiliate him. Back then, he was young and timid, he could only swallow the anger and endure the grievances in silence.

But now, he knew someone was there to support him.

The young man used a partly lamenting tone filled with coquettishness to voice his grievances to Xiao Zhige. The large eyes that looked at him were like those of a kid telling his family how he had been wronged. Xiao Zhige's heart softened. He lightly squeezed the hand within his palm and whispered in his ears, "She reports to An Zhi Ke."

"!!!" An Chang Qing's eyes widened in surprise.

This was not a good place to talk after all. Xiao Zhige only pointed out, "She's a very useful pawn. Use her well and not only can you kill An Changqi but also drive a wedge between the An brothers."

An Chang Qing had not fully digested the information and could not figure out a plan. He asked impatiently, "How?"

"Think." Xiao Zhige did not give him an immediate answer. Instead, he walked with him towards the room. Before An Chang Qing could ask further, he was interrupted by a roar.

"How dare you even come here!" Madame Sun, An Zhi Zhou's wife, screamed and charged at An Chang Qing. "Whore! It was not enough that you seduced him, now you even did this to him. I want you to pay with your life!"

An Chang Qing could not react in time. He was about to have his eyes clawed out by the woman's sharp nails when he saw Xiao Zhige shielding him and the next moment, a kick had sent Madame Sun backwards into a rosewood chair.

Xiao Zhige had on a murderous expression. He warned, "On the day Wangfei came back to visit, An Changqi was not only impolite but he even dared to offend Wangfei. I was lenient to merely cut off his hand and leg. If it wasn't for Wangfei's plea, do you think he could still be alive?" He cast an oppressive glare at Madame Sun whose hair had now scattered messily over her forehead and questioned her in a cold voice, "Or does Madame Sun think that this punishment was too light?"