Chapter 132: Royal Secrets
On the way to the greenhouse, Xie Qiang stole a glance at Wanyan Jin.
“Wanyan Jin, why didn’t you come to the appointment yesterday?”
She finally asked.
Wanyan Jin lifted his eyelids with an indifferent expression. Unexpectedly, he met the girlās gaze; she was looking up at him with her hands behind her back. Her face and the tip of her nose were flushed red from the cold wind, and her eyes were slightly watery, making her look quite pitiful.
Wanyan Jinās brow furrowed slightly.
Is this the look she uses to make those Sentinels so devoted to her?
Unfortunately, he didn’t fall for it.
“I didn’t want to go.” His tone was cold, his slitted snake pupils overflowing with a hint of chill and mockery. “My participation in the Imperial Consort trials is just a formality. I will not become your consort.”
“I know.” Xie Qiang took a few steps forward, closing the distance between them. “So, didn’t I invite you in the capacity of a sister?”
Sister?
A sneer touched Wanyan Jinās lips. “Your Highness has likely forgotten. I am but a thief who stole Imperial genes, a beggar living off the Imperial family’s charity. How could I be Your Highness’s brother?”
“That was all Xie Kong brainwashing me. I know I was wrong now.” Xie Qiang smiled brightly. “Brother, you are a great man with a generous heart. Just forgive me~”
She smiled so obediently, a complete departure from her previous fierce and hateful attitude. Wanyan Jin couldn’t help but take a step back, his sharp gaze studying the girl through his gold-rimmed glasses.
What trick was she playing?
“Brother? Brother Wanyan? Brother Jin? Brother Financial Officer?” He moved a step to the side, and Xie Qiang followed him, baring her small white teeth in a cute smile. “Which title do you like? I’ll call you that from now on.”
A Guide’s voice usually carried purification power. To a Sentinel with keen senses, it didn’t sound noisy; instead, it was soothing. Xie Qiang’s voice was particularly soft, like a spoiled cat. If one listened for too long, it was easy to lower one’s guard.
Wanyan Jinās expression stiffened, and he increased the distance between them once more. “Your Highness may simply call me the Financial Officer.”
“Okay, Brother~” Xie Qiang nodded seriously, her face like a cunning cat as she walked lightheartedly toward the greenhouse. “I’ll do as you say, Brother.”
“I just said to call me Financial Officer.” Seeing Xie Qiang turn and walk away, Wanyan Jin was forced to quicken his pace to keep up, correcting her with a frown.
“Mm-hmm~” Xie Qiangās voice was soft, carrying a lighthearted laughter that could annoy someone to death. “I heard you, Brother.”
Wanyan Jinās temple throbbed at her thick-skinned behavior. He dropped the formal honorifics entirely. “I am not your brother!”
Xie Qiang was dedicated to ensuring none of his words went unanswered. “I know, Brother.”
Wanyan Jinās eyelid jumped.
How is she even more unreasonable than when she was a child!
“Are you angry?” Seeing Wanyan Jin fall silent, Xie Qiang turned around and walked backward, her cat-like eyes studying his expression. “I truly want to apologize to you and repair our relationship.”
“My relationship with Your Highness was never broken, so how can it be repaired?” Wanyan Jinās gaze turned cold. “Your Highnessās pestering is actually quite repulsive.”
“Do you really think so?” Xie Qiang bit her lip, her face looking quite dim.
“Yes,” the man said heartlessly.
Xie Qiang suddenly smiled, the gloom on her face vanishing. She looked at Wanyan Jin with clear, clean eyes and said syllable by syllable, “But when we were little, Brother was the one who pestered me just like this.”
Wanyan Jinās body stiffened.
Since birth, he had been told by the Emperor that his life’s mission was to protect the future Princessāhis Guideāand support her in becoming a fine heir.
For this reason, he had been kept in the Imperial library. Because of his unique identity, he wasn’t allowed to see anyone.
He lived alone in the library, desperately craving a playmate. He couldn’t help but have special expectations and obsessions regarding his yet-to-be-born Guide sister.
He wanted to have a good relationship with her, to study, play, and grow up with her.
So, after Xie Qiang expressed her hatred for him, he had persistently tried to please her, wanting to establish a sibling relationship. Even when she used every cruel word imaginable, he had never given up.
Just like the current Xie Qiang.
Wanyan Jin pressed his lips into a tight line. After a long silence, he met Xie Qiangās gaze and said coldly, “So Your Highness is pestering me now just to make me experience the pain you once felt?”
“Brother was unwilling to repair the relationship because I hurt him,” Xie Qiang said with her hands behind her back, her chin slightly raised. “And I was unwilling to build a relationship with Brother before because I was brainwashed by Xie Kong.”
“Since we both have our reasons, why keep hurting each other and letting the real villain have his way?”
Xie Qiangās eyes were bright as she slowly began to entice him. “Brother is so clever; surely you can see the logic in this. Join hands with me and kick him off his pedestal.”
“Don’t you want to see how frantic and regretful heāll look?”
It was indeed a tempting offer, but…
“I am willing to support Your Highness, but as for the sibling relationship, let’s forget it.”
Xie Qiang burst into a smile.
“I. Won’t. Do. It.”
Wanyan Jinās brow twitched, and he couldn’t help but shout her name. “Xie Qiang!”
“Unless you are willing to be my brother, I will pester you for as many years as you pestered me when we were young.” Xie Qiang turned around with a mischievous grin and waved at him. “Thatās only fair.”
Inside the greenhouse, the sound of low conversation could be heard.
Beside a tea table, Xie Kong was discussing the upcoming victory banquet with several S-class Sentinels when he heard the greenhouse door open.
Thinking it was some blind servant who had wandered in, Xie Kong was about to scold them when he turned and saw Xie Qiang and Wanyan Jin walking in together.
Seeing Xie Qiang, the S-class Sentinels were slightly stunned; they clearly hadn’t expected her to appear here. After a brief moment of surprise, Xie Kong immediately stood up and smiled at Xie Qiang. “Imperial Sister, why are you here?”
Why is he here?
Actually, this is a good chance to use him. I can work on winning over this cold-blooded Sentinel beside me and get him to stop wearing such a stiff face. A smile would be much better to look at.
Xie Qiang blinked, and a brilliant smile quickly spread across her face. “Imperial Brother!”
She flew toward Xie Kong like a little butterfly.
Wanyan Jinās footsteps paused. Looking at Xie Qiangās cheerful back, a faint hint of mockery appeared in his eyes.
She didn’t look like she loathed Xie Kong at all; instead, she looked like she was genuinely happy to see her real brother.
If it was an act, then she was even more terrifying than he thought.
Who could know if her “heart-to-heart” talk just now was sincere or not?
He absolutely could not be swayed.
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