TCN: Mei Gongqing

Chapter 42: Heart-to-heart

His hands were clasped behind his back, his black robe fluttering in the wind. At this moment, his thin lips were slightly upturned, making his chiseled profile even more handsome.

By the time Chen Rong dragged herself to his side, Ran Min's deep and dynamic voice gently spoke: "These nobles are all our people, they are all Hans, the core of our country. Ha –" He burst out laughing somewhat mournfully. "The Hu Army must've laid siege to the city of Luo'yang tonight. Those who could not bear to leave their hometown will turn into corpses along with the ashes of the houses they have dwelled in for generations."

He suddenly turned to look at Chen Rong.

He saw her watching him with respect and a faint tenderness.

Her gaze was apparently beyond his expectation. Ran Min chuckled as he contemplated her. "Are you not afraid of these bloody things, a young maiden like you who wears perfumed sachets?"

Chen Rong shook her head and lowered her gaze.

If she wanted to, there were a number of ways to please him. But she didn't want to say any of those things. If this had been her past life, she'd try to make a good impression and keep comforting him. She'd praise him and try to tell him just how much respect and sympathy she had for him.

Even if her respect for him had indeed come from her heart every time she saw him like this.

Ran Min wasn't waiting for her answer either. His eyes remained staring to the north, fiery flames dancing in its black pupils.

"My people..." he murmured at length.

As if it had a mind of its own, Chen Rong's right hand outstretched to almost touch his sleeve.

Luckily she reacted in time and only completed half of this action.

Just as she drew breath and was about to quietly withdraw her hand, Ran Min looked down and saw it.

He eyed her milky hand under the moonlight and then slowly raised his head to look at Chen Rong.

What he saw was her turned profile. She was pressing her lips together, distractedly staring at the lake. She seemed to be a little vexed.

Ran Min laughed despite himself.

"I say, little miss, did I somehow offend you?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nay."

Chen Rong emphatically shook her head.

"I'm sure I've offended you somehow," Ran Min chuckled. "From the way you look, to say 'offend' might even be making light of the matter."

Chen Rong's lips drew into a line when she heard what he said. She hurriedly turned and curtsied to Ran Min, saying: "You haven't, sir. I must head back now. Goodbye."

She didn't wait for his reply. She flapped her sleeves and hastily rushed off.

Watching the figure that was rapidly dissolving in the dark, Ran Min, whatever he might be thinking, burst out laughing again.

His laughter still rang in Chen Rong's ears by the time she was a long distance away.

"Hmph!" Chen Rong stomped her foot on the ground. But as she was clenching her teeth, her dark eyes suddenly gleamed and, gradually, a little smile emerged on her stiffened face.

She straightened her back, lifted her soles, and walked like the wind in the direction of the hall.

The hall came to life again once Wang Hong entered it.