Grace looked up at him. In his eyes, there was a hint of emotion—and a trace of pain.
She felt like she could just drop dead right there.
"Grace, I think of you every single day," Colin Gu said. "Consider this my plea—will you stay with me? Please?"
Grace clenched her fist inside her sleeve and replied, "Your Majesty, I'm sorry, it's all my fault! But you have so many beautiful consorts in the palace—if you want, you'll forget me soon enough—"
Colin Gu suddenly grabbed her hand, cutting Grace off mid-sentence.
"I've humbled myself and practically begged you, and you still turn me down! So you really have fallen for Evan Xiao, haven't you?" Colin Gu's voice was suffocating, making the air heavy.
Grace looked at him, silent for a moment, then answered, "Yes."
Colin Gu's eyes went cold as ice. He squeezed her hand tighter, spitting out each word: "You heartless flirt! Aren't you scared I'll have you killed?"
Grace winced, but her gaze was stubborn and unyielding as she met his eyes. "I trust Your Majesty won't. You're a kind ruler—surely you wouldn't let your reputation suffer over someone as insignificant as me."
Most importantly, he's full of grand ambitions—and he needs my father to help him conquer the kingdom!
He would never let some woman ruin his grand plans.
Colin Gu really did let go of her, slowly.
"I take my leave!" Grace quickly distanced herself from him and turned to walk away.
"But you'll never have him." Colin Gu's cold, indifferent voice echoed behind her.
Grace paused mid-step.
"Zhuo Qingluan, you'll regret this," he added.
Grace didn't say a word, just held her head high and walked away.
Regret?
She had already learned the true meaning of that word—the hard way—in her previous life.
In this life, she wanted those who hurt her to understand, deeply and painfully, what regret really meant!
......
Just like she told the Virtuous Consort—since she was already in the palace, it was only proper to pay respects to the Empress.
After leaving Lillian Lee's quarters, she headed straight for Wendy Zhu's place.
Wendy Zhu was just as she always was—kind and considerate to her.
But Wendy was worried about Grace Wan, afraid she was still upset over the fortune-telling incident, and asked Grace to comfort her when she returned.
Grace agreed.
Just before leaving, Wendy Zhu handed Grace a hand warmer.
"Hey? Isn't this Aunt Wan's hand warmer?" Grace recognized it—it belonged to Grace Wan.
"Yes," Wendy said. "Aunt Wan brought it with her when she visited the palace the other day, but forgot to take it back when she left. Please return it to her for me."
The weather had gotten colder these past few days, so carrying a hand warmer was perfectly normal.
Grace didn't think much of it and accepted the hand warmer.
But the hand warmer had a strong scent, wafting with a cool fragrance of Rouge Red.
Rouge Red was a prized remedy for women—it beautified the complexion and promoted blood circulation.
But it was made from the crest of a rare spiritual bird, making it exceptionally precious.
Grace had never noticed before—did Grace Wan really own such a special fragrance?
She didn't dwell on it, slipped the hand warmer into her sleeve, and took her leave from Wendy Zhu: "Your Majesty, I still need to meet up with the Virtuous Consort and Aunt Wan, and I have to leave the palace before noon, so I'll take my leave now."
Wendy Zhu nodded. "Sister, with both Xiner and me away, and Brother busy with the army, the boys aren't as attentive as us girls. So I'll have to trouble you to comfort Aunt Wan and take care of Mother for me."