393: Chapter 393 Testing and Confrontation

Su Yingxue certainly didn't know.

She simply wanted to bring Weiwei and Xuanyin home for her husband to marry.

Such beautiful, such outstanding women—Weiwei and Xuanyin.

Apart from her husband, what other man could be worthy of them?

Wasn't everything she was doing just what a qualified wife ought to do?

How could there be anything wrong with this?

Who told Xuanyin to take a fancy to her husband, yet never come?

She and her sisters were dying of anxiety.

These past few days, they had been looking forward to it for nothing.

Su Yingxue reached out to pick up the wine pot and poured herself a cup.

She then gestured slightly toward the empty cup in front of King Xuanyin:

"Your Highness, another cup?"

King Xuanyin did not refuse.

The rims of their cups touched with a crisp sound.

Each took a sip, their postures as composed as if they were engaged in a tacit game of chess.

Su Yingxue set down her wine cup, her fingertips gently caressing the rim, her tone casual:

"Your Highness, shutting yourself in your quarters for these past two days really scared us."

"Senior King Blood Axe kept guessing if you were brewing some big move; he was just about to send people to keep watch outside your window overnight."

Upon hearing this, King Xuanyin raised an eyebrow slightly:

"And what about you? Do you also think I would brew some big move?"

"Me..."

Su Yingxue tilted her head, her smile gentle.

"I was thinking of something else."

"What thing?"

Su Yingxue's gaze fell on the wine in her cup, her tone carrying a hint of seriousness:

"I was wondering if Your Highness locking yourself away for two days was a struggle with yourself."

"You want to leave but cannot bear to, and if you stay, you don't know how to face it."

This sentence was like a feather, landing lightly on the surface of the water, yet it stirred the entire pond.

King Xuanyin's hand holding the cup paused slightly, and the composed smile on her face froze for a fleeting moment.

She did not respond, only lowering her head to look at the clear wine in her cup, as if pondering something.

A moment later, she raised her head again, her gaze toward Su Yingxue carrying a hint of scrutiny:

"Is this how you always talk to people?"

Su Yingxue met her gaze frankly:

"It depends on the person. With some, I only exchange pleasantries. To speak with a perceptive person like Your Highness, beating around the bush would be an offense instead."

King Xuanyin's lips twitched, unsure whether she wanted to smile or say something.

She ultimately suppressed that expression, her tone indifferent:

"You are actually better at manipulating people's hearts than your husband."

"Your Highness is too kind," Su Yingxue's smile did not fade. "I just live a bit more clearly."

The air between the two fell silent for a moment.

King Xuanyin suddenly turned her body, leaning about half an inch toward Su Yingxue.

Her breath was light, carrying a faint, cold fragrance:

"Then I will ask you a question. Do not try to fob me off with polite platitudes."

"Please, Your Highness."

"With so many women around your husband, are you truly not bothered at all in your heart?"

King Xuanyin's gaze was very sharp, as if wanting to look through Su Yingxue's smile and into her bones.

"Or, is it because of some reason that you are forced to appear magnanimous?"

This question was more direct than any previous probe.

Su Yingxue was silent for two breaths.

Her expression became a bit more serious:

"Your Highness, I will speak the truth. For the first half year, I did indeed have some indescribable awkwardness in my heart."

Speaking of this, Su Yingxue smiled slightly, her smile carrying a faint sense of nostalgia.

For this performance, Su Yingxue gave herself full marks.

How could she possibly be awkward?

Seeing her husband and other sisters kissing, hugging, and lifting each other up in front of her.

You have no idea how stimulating it is!!!

In her heart, Su Yingxue even imagined a scene with King Xuanyin and Lin Yun.

She quickly stopped and continued to act.

"But later, I discovered that the more people my husband holds in his heart, the more love he is actually able to give."

"He will not neglect me because he has others, nor will he forget the old because he has married new people."

"He is sincere to everyone."

Su Yingxue looked into King Xuanyin's eyes:

"Your Highness has lived for so many years and seen too many hypocritical people."

"So you probably know better than I do... sincerity is something that cannot be faked."

King Xuanyin was stunned for a moment.

She had seen too much of the world's romance.

Some spoke of sincerity with their lips, but their eyes were full of calculation.

Some swore oaths of eternity, only to climb to higher branches the next moment.

She had lived for nearly ten thousand years and originally thought she had long seen through the essence of these things.

But the look in Su Yingxue's eyes when she said this right now.

Calm, firm, and open.

It left her unable to find any flaws for a moment.

"You..."

King Xuanyin opened her mouth, but in the end, only said one word.

Then she sighed: "You really are a strange person."

"Your Highness is also a strange person."

Su Yingxue picked up the wine pot and poured her another full cup.

"To be able to make Your Highness say a few more words in front of me, I feel this trip today was worth it."

King Xuanyin finally could not hold back and laughed out loud.

The smile was faint, and the sharpness in her eyes quietly diminished a little.

She picked up the freshly poured cup of wine, not drinking it, but just holding it in her hand and gently swirling it:

"You have told me so much, are you not afraid that I will take these words of yours and use them to my advantage?"

Su Yingxue curved her eyes:

"If Your Highness wanted to use them, there are plenty of methods. Why wait until now?"

King Xuanyin did not speak.

She had to admit that this young primary wife of Lin Yun was much trickier than she had imagined.

It was not because she was overbearing; on the contrary, she was too gentle.

Gentle like a pool of spring water, leaving one unable to find a point of leverage even if they wanted to get angry.

And what made King Xuanyin care even more was that she actually did not dislike this feeling.

"Alright."

King Xuanyin finally set down her wine cup, her tone returning to its former composure.

"You have accompanied me in conversation for a while now; you should go and attend to other guests."

"Otherwise, your sisters will think I have kidnapped you later."

Su Yingxue rose accordingly, her posture elegant:

"Then I will excuse myself for now."

"Please enjoy, Your Highness. If there is any lack of hospitality, I ask for your understanding."

She turned and took two steps, then stopped, looking back at King Xuanyin:

"Oh, that's right, Your Highness."

"Hmm?"

"My sisters, every one of them is very easy to get along with."

"If Your Highness ever feels bored, you are welcome to come to the manor to sit anytime. There is plenty of tea."

After saying this, she did not linger, turning and walking back to the main table.

King Xuanyin sat in place, watching her back, her thumb unconsciously caressing the rim of the cup twice.

In that conversation just now.

From beginning to end, Su Yingxue had not mentioned a word about "wanting to poach you" or "inviting you to join the Lin family."

Yet for some reason, King Xuanyin felt that her defenses had been quietly pried open, creating a crack.

That feeling... was even more unsettling to her than when she was flirted with by Lin Yun in return.

King Xuanyin felt a little panicked inside.

The influence Lin Yun had on her...

Had it already expanded to this extent?

Even his wife was...

King Xuanyin did not dare to think any further.