After understanding all of this, Yan Xiaoying rarely found herself with such a headache.

She said to Feng Yuan: “As intelligent as you are, you should now understand that your Master’s intentions toward you aren’t pure!”

Feng Yuan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, looking down at his bloodstained fingers: “What does it matter if they’re not pure? He and I hate the same person—that’s enough!”

Xiaoying shook her head helplessly: so he knew all along, yet stubbornly insisted on making a deal with the tiger, willing to be consumed by hatred regardless of the cost!

Seeing the resignation on her face, Feng Yuan’s gaze turned cold again. The young lady’s bite had been no gentle one—his lips and tongue were numb with pain. But no matter how much it hurt, he had no intention of letting go. Having lingered too long in solitary delusion, he could never return to that barren wasteland.

“So… who is it that makes you worry, that you want to protect, that you can’t bear to harm? Could it be that fool Feng Qiwu?”

Xiaoying angrily pushed his chest: “Am I concerned about those Feng family descendants? I’m worried about you! You shouldn’t let hatred blind your judgment and be used by others!”

Feng Yuan’s expression remained calm, but his slightly heaving chest betrayed him: “Why do you say that? You and I are the same kind of person! If not for revenge, why would you go to such lengths to infiltrate the palace, then scheme against the Tang family step by step? You should understand—how can one sleep peacefully with hatred in one’s heart!”

As he spoke the last sentence, Feng Yuan’s voice was hoarse and deep, the venom bred over ten years pouring out through each word, impossible to suppress.

Xiaoying looked at Feng Yuan with mixed emotions. It was precisely because she understood the torment of being immersed in a sea of blood and resentment that she didn’t want him to be manipulated and controlled by others.

“You’ve forgotten that what drove me into the palace wasn’t just hatred, but also hope. That time when I failed to escape by jumping off the cliff, you asked me if it was worth risking my life alone for a brother I’d never met. Do you remember what I told you?”

Xiaoying didn’t expect Feng Yuan to remember, but surprisingly, he recalled those casual words from long ago without missing a word: “…In this world of gratitude and resentment, with bitterness and sweetness each half, may the joy in my heart be something you can share in one day.”

“A’Yuan, you’ve already emerged from that place. Why do you still leave your heart trapped in that Desolate Palace? Resolving grievances isn’t about dragging innocent people into it! Your heart… may not be as hard as you think!”

That Master’s methods were even more ruthless than she had imagined. His techniques for molding and controlling people’s hearts were comparable to the Supreme Elder Lord’s alchemy furnace.

Had the young A’Yuan described by Mu Hanjiang—tough on the outside but soft-hearted—truly been completely worn away in the crucible of Tianlu Palace?

Such a youth shouldn’t become a blade in someone else’s hand because of ten years of bitter resentment!

Xiaoying couldn’t claim to repay evil with kindness. Those who had framed Ye Zhanxue and harmed the young A’Yuan deserved to be held accountable.

But every action A’Yuan took should be guided by his own heart, not driven by resentment, not like the slaughter on the battlefield where he would kill anything in his path, venting his anger through destruction…

Feng Yuan’s lips curled in a mocking smile.

Though seemingly absurd and contradictory, this young lady had achieved it—no matter how heavy the burden of grievances she carried, she always lived like a blazing fire, clear in her gratitude and hatred, loving and hating with equal passion, making others yearn for such clarity…

But the stubbornness in his heart hadn’t formed in a single day. He hated the imperial Feng family that had humiliated and consumed his mother, hated those sanctimonious people who had persecuted him!

Now… he hated those useless wastes of the Feng family even more for making him argue with Xiaoying.

Feng Yuan didn’t want to continue losing his composure in front of this young lady, and finally turned to leave the room with large strides, needing to process things alone.

Xiaoying smiled self-mockingly: What made her think she could influence Feng Yuan’s decisions?

After all, that Master’s relationship with Feng Yuan must be much longer than hers.

This trip to Jiangzhe had demonstrated the Master’s power, helping Feng Yuan gain control of Jiangzhe’s military authority.

Upon returning to the capital, there was also a prepared list of court officials who could be relied upon.

This meant civil and military power would soon be in his hands! How could a lord who craved power refuse such an easily obtained immense fortune?

She was truly meddling in affairs that weren’t her concern!

Without Mu Hanjiang’s watchful eyes following them, the concubine Ying’er could finally rest, no longer needing to share a room with Feng Yuan or causing her adopted father to cough up blood.

When they set out the next day, Xiaoying remained confined to the carriage, avoiding coming out to prevent irritating that person by her mere presence.

Feng Yuan said nothing. After his lips and tongue were bitten, he seemed even more taciturn, uttering almost nothing but single-syllable responses like “mm.”

And since Xiaoying had helped Meng Zhun piece together what had happened years ago, he, too, was dispirited and not inclined to talk much.

This caravan of carriages thus proceeded in silence, raising dust as they turned onto the highway.

The people traveling at a leisurely pace didn’t notice that on a distant hillside, someone was gazing in their direction.

The man who had met with Feng Yuan at the teahouse that day was now kneeling behind a man in a black hooded cloak, reporting in his hoarse voice: “Master, I have delivered all your words to him.”

“What was his response?” The face hidden within the hood turned slightly, asking in a deep voice.

“The Grand Prince seemed suspicious about the origin of the Wei country’s lodged steel, but I’ve already explained to him. However, I’m concerned that the Grand Prince is headstrong by nature. After returning to the capital, he’ll have his ideas and won’t follow Master’s arrangements. If Master elevates him too high, I fear…”

The hooded man laughed: “I originally thought that throwing him in Tianlu Palace for so long would temper a good blade. But this blade, while sharp enough, is increasingly difficult to wield… I was negligent before. Had I known he would be so promising, I should have released him earlier.”

“Your servant is also puzzled. The Grand Prince was previously very obedient, waiting each year to meet with Master once or twice. Why did he suddenly escape from Tianlu Palace without any warning, completely without consulting Master?”

The hooded man let out a cold snort: “Fan Shiqi, during my absence while traveling, did he have contact with anyone?”

“According to the guards watching him, apart from the first year when Young Master Mu visited him, no one else ever came. Even when you visited each time, you spoke to him through the door and rewarded him with gifts. He was always taciturn, never initiating conversation with anyone. Besides, the keyhole on that door had rusted over—no one could have gone in to see him.”

As Fan Shiqi spoke, he appeared composed on the surface but was somewhat guilty.

For a child imprisoned at twelve, checking if he was alive was sufficient. He hadn’t devoted much attention to that Desolate Palace.

The hooded man gazed at the departing caravan, saying softly: “How strange then, that a child imprisoned for ten years would suddenly provoke Queen Tang’s people to beat him, then create a scene at His Majesty’s banquet…”

As soon as he finished speaking, the hooded man suddenly flipped his palm, sending Fan Shiqi flying into a nearby boulder.

“I tolerate mistakes, but I most despise deception! Fan Shiqi, you didn’t watch him properly!”

Fan Shiqi, spitting blood, hurriedly knelt properly and said through gritted teeth: “After the incident, your servant went to check the Grand Prince’s quarters in Tianlu Palace and discovered that there seemed to be items brought in by outsiders. But as to who secretly visited the Grand Prince, your servant was incompetent and couldn’t determine it. Looking at the few books brought in, they seemed to be from a prince’s study… During that period, it was Master Ge who accompanied the Crown Prince there to study…”

“Could it have been Ge Danian?… Come to think of it, many of the books I gave to the Grand Prince had been annotated by Master Ge. I thought he had become a free-spirited recluse, but I didn’t expect his ambitions to remain so wild!”

This idle chess piece, Feng Yuan, had suddenly and unpredictably entered the game and was now increasingly out of control, which was completely unexpected.

Ultimately, Feng Yuan’s fate was “too good”—he happened to have both Xiao Tianyang and Ge Danian in the capital at the same time, instantly giving him powerful civil and military arms, making the value of his ten-year sponsor seem less significant.

If he wouldn’t obey, then perhaps he should have his arms dismantled to make him understand his limitations.

“Let’s see how the Grand Prince acts after returning to the capital. If he’s willing to listen, I’ll naturally make things convenient for him and help him along. But if he insists on his ideas again…”

Thinking of this, the hooded man paused, then said: “Master Ge hasn’t shown any intention of leaving the capital. Go arrange things—it’s getting cold, and the roads must be difficult to travel.”

Upon hearing this, Fan Shiqi immediately understood and said: “Your servant will return to the capital at once. If the Grand Prince fails to understand your good intentions, I’ll immediately arrange for Master Ge to set out.”

The hooded man tightened his cloak, getting into the carriage while saying: “Master Ge deeply loves his wife—make sure they depart together, so they won’t worry about each other. Those Wei people who wanted to avenge Sui Yin haven’t dispersed, have they? Leak the information to them, and use their hands to keep the matter clean…”

As his voice was muffled behind the carriage curtain, the vehicle started moving, speeding down the hill.

At this time, the distant rain continued, the wind breaking the forest…

Meanwhile, without mentioning the brewing thunderstorm on the mountain, Yan Xiaoying had been sulking in the carriage since their departure, refusing to speak to Feng Yuan.

There were several times when Feng Yuan initiated conversation with Xiaoying, but she mimicked his style, responding with simple sounds like “mm” and “ah,” showing little interest in talking.

She knew Feng Yuan disliked this cold war between them.

Perhaps after enough time, Feng Yuan would go mad again—but what did that have to do with her?

He could coldly plan the murder of his relatives and deliberately frame loyal court officials; the most disposable and worthless thing to him was what they called “sentiment.”

She shouldn’t have become involved with him in the first place. Now that she had glimpsed the bottomless abyss ahead, she had finally awakened and could stop in time.

So she didn’t intend to give Feng Yuan any false impressions that she would continue to be foolishly entangled with him.

However, Feng Yuan had his methods. He found a dignified-sounding reason that prevented Xiaoying from continuing to avoid him.

At the post station that day, if not for Xiaoying’s cunning arrangements, she would have been no match for Sui Yin.

Now that Xiaoying had also incurred the enmity of Chen Xifan’s curved blade school, she needed to prepare for the future, lest she be caught unprepared when they met again.

Thus, Xiaoying’s life as a concubine truly became as she had described to the Third Prince—miserable with day and night training.

Perhaps because of their cold war and deteriorating relationship, when Feng Yuan started training Xiaoying again, gone was the tender lover, replaced by the harshness of a demanding teacher.

Chen Xifan had severely injured Xiao Jiumu years ago, which led Xiao Tianyang to lay low for over a decade, finally developing techniques to counter Chen Xifan’s curved blade style.

As the inheritor of the Xiao family’s legacy, Feng Yuan now wanted to pass all these enemy-defeating techniques to Xiaoying.

However, these martial arts, originally designed for men with their yang energy, were quite a physical burden for a slender young woman.

Having survived the terrifying experience at the post station and understanding Feng Yuan’s intentions, Xiaoying didn’t slack off or play tricks as before. Even with Feng Yuan’s harshness, she didn’t complain, gritting her teeth and persevering.

This greatly distressed Meng Zhun—he saw Xiaoying at mealtime, holding her bowl with one hand and chopsticks with the other, her hands shaking like sifting chaff, spilling half the soup on herself.

Meng Zhun put down his bowl and said to Feng Yuan, “What are you trying to do? That much daily practice is too much even for a man, let alone a young lady of her size! Has Xiaoying offended Your Highness somehow? I apologize on her behalf. Please show mercy, Your Highness, and stop tormenting my daughter!”

Feng Yuan had always been as silent as gold with others, speaking as little as possible.

Hearing Meng Zhun’s accusation, he didn’t explain, but simply walked over to sit beside Xiaoying, took her bowl, and began feeding her with his chopsticks, one bite at a time.

Xiaoying shook her aching arms, turning her face away, not wanting to eat. He coldly said, “Eat quickly! Otherwise, tomorrow your arms will have several more sandbags added.”

Xiaoying was too hungry to argue over food, so she begrudgingly opened her mouth.

Unfortunately, Feng Yuan fed her quite rapidly, and soon the young lady’s cheeks were stuffed full.

The young lady was being stubborn, refusing to speak, glaring with her big eyes while chewing desperately, like a squirrel preparing for winter.

Meng Zhun watched with a throbbing headache, rushing over to take the bowl.

But Feng Yuan stubbornly protected the bowl, absolutely unwilling to give it to Meng Zhun.

Xiaoying knew Feng Yuan’s madness—this man who would one day bloodily purge the imperial Feng family was a lunatic, and there was no need for her adopted father to clash with a madman.

So she spoke through a mouthful of rice: “I was the one who begged His Highness to teach me martial arts, adopted father. Please don’t be angry with His Highness.”

Meng Zhun could see that his daughter had grown up and was now partial to outsiders.

He truly couldn’t understand what was attractive about this Grand Prince apart from his appearance and background!

However, with one young person feeding and the other eating, neither speaking, their faces equally cold—

The atmosphere felt exceedingly strange, not at all like the affection between a man and his concubine.

All the uncles watching felt uncomfortable, unable to enjoy their meal.

Meng Zhun couldn’t eat, sighing at the rice pot, thinking it would have been better if Old Yan had come along. His daughter had grown up and was truly beyond his control! His head ached!

So throughout the journey, the two maintained their grudges, continuing to practice while traveling.

When they entered the capital, Xiaoying lifted the carriage curtain, looking at the imposing city gate in the distance, feeling somewhat emotional.

When she had left the capital last time, she had thought she would never return. Unexpectedly, after a few months, she was back in this place of intrigue.

The only consolation was that her identity was no longer the Crown Prince, and she didn’t have to enter that suffocating deep palace.

At night, she should be able to rest comfortably on a bed, without having to hide underneath it.

When the carriage arrived at the city gate, Xiaoying discovered that the Third Prince, whom they had parted from days ago, was already waiting early at the gate.

Seeing their carriage approach, Feng Qiwu drove his horse toward them with a delighted expression.

After perfunctorily greeting the Grand Prince, he came to the carriage and asked: “May I ask if the young lady is hungry? I happened to have brought some fresh flower cakes from Ganwei Zhai in the capital. Would you like to have some to fill your stomach?”

Xiaoying, wearing a veil, lifted the curtain and asked him: “Why is the Third Prince here?”

Feng Qiwu happily handed over the cake box while saying, “Princess Anqing and Mu Yanyan have returned today. Yanyan wrote to me saying the countryside food was plain, and she was craving flower cakes. So I specially ordered four boxes, and now seeing you, I’d like to share two boxes with you.”

Ganwei Zhai’s cakes needed to be pre-ordered, and each batch was of limited quantity. With so many nobles and officials in the capital, there weren’t enough to go around, making them famously difficult to purchase.

For the rough Feng Qiwu to think of her showed his thoughtfulness.

Feng Qiwu looked up at Feng Yuan’s icy gaze and hurriedly explained: “I’m not trying to curry favor! I know the young lady is your concubine, so she’s like my sister-in-law! It’s only right to think of family when having good things!”

This single word, “sister-in-law,” seemed to please Feng Yuan greatly, and his expression softened somewhat.

Feng Qiwu felt it necessary to give his eldest brother a warning: “By the way, these days someone with too much time on their hands has been spreading rumors, saying the Crown Prince tricked you two into devising a strategy to provoke Wei troops, with suspicions of acting without authorization and destabilizing the nation. His Majesty summoned Young Master Mu to the palace two days ago. Now that you’ve returned, you probably can’t avoid it either—just be prepared!”

Feng Yuan wasn’t surprised; this thunderbolt had finally struck. Just as Princess Anqing had predicted, with the Crown Prince feigning illness and not returning, he and Mu Hanjiang would have to bear the responsibility.

At this moment, a eunuch who had been waiting early at the city gate came to announce the imperial decree: the Grand Prince was ordered to enter the city with the prisoners and immediately go to the palace to see His Majesty, without delay.

Feng Yuan turned to Xiaoying and said, “I need to take Meng Zhun and the others to the Court of Judicial Review to report first. Shen Jing will escort you to the residence.”

This was the longest sentence he had spoken apart from martial arts instructions during their mutual silent treatment.

Xiaoying nodded silently, and just then, another procession of carriages arrived—it was Princess Anqing’s entourage returning from their provincial visit.

She must have calculated the timing, deliberately returning when both her son and Feng Yuan were arriving at the capital.

Mu Yanyan, seeing Feng Yuan on horseback from afar, immediately jumped down impatiently upon reaching the city gate, wanting to speak with him.

Unfortunately, after her mother coughed once, she immediately restrained herself, only able to secretly glance at Feng Yuan while absent-mindedly listening to Feng Qiwu: “Yanyan, these are the flower cakes I bought for you, try them quickly!”

Mu Yanyan looked down at the two boxes of cakes in her hands, casually asking: “Weren’t there four boxes of flower cakes? Why are there only two?”

Feng Qiwu answered thoughtlessly: “I just happened to see my eldest brother, so I gave two boxes to his concubine…”

This statement immediately stirred up a hornet’s nest. Mu Yanyan looked at Feng Qiwu in disbelief: “Who is she to you that you need to curry favor with her? You give me what’s left after giving to others? Do you take me for a woman of low birth, too!”

After saying this, Mu Yanyan angrily threw the two boxes of cakes she was holding onto the ground.

The freshly baked, still-steaming cakes rolled all over the ground.

Mu Yanyan had a bad temper and never flattered the princes like other women.

In the past, when Mu Yanyan lost her temper, Feng Qiwu would simply endure it.

But this time, she not only made him lose face in public but also spoke disrespectfully, insulting the Grand Prince’s concubine as a woman of low birth.

Previously, the Third Prince wouldn’t have thought these words wrong, and might even have joined in the criticism.

But after experiencing the post-station siege, that clever and valiant young lady had earned four parts gratitude and six parts admiration in Feng Qiwu’s heart, venerated like a life-saving benefactor.

His bull-headed stubbornness was lowered only to people of ability. Mu Hanjiang was one, and now the unfortunate Ying’er had joined the ranks!

So, upon hearing Mu Yanyan publicly humiliate the young lady this way, Feng Qiwu could no longer tolerate it and let out a cold snort.

“What? Apart from her birth not being as high as yours, in what way has her behavior seemed lowly to you? It’s just two boxes of cakes—even if she asked me for jewels and gold, I would give them!”

His volume was so loud it sounded like a bull’s moo. Xiaoying in the carriage could only shake her head. Those who knew understood the Third Prince was repaying a life-saving debt, willing to give anything.

Those who didn’t know would think he coveted his elder brother’s concubine!