Making such intricately designed shoes and ceremonial dresses took time and effort. The measurements had to be determined in advance to avoid the embarrassment of ill-fitting sizes.

Whose lady had such fortunate, large feet?

Xiaoying picked up the large embroidered shoe and tossed it onto Feng Yuan’s desk.

“Tell me, who are these prepared for?”

Feng Yuan seemed not to have expected Xiaoying to find these items in the adjacent room. He was momentarily stunned but remained quite composed, raising his dark, handsome eyes to look at Xiaoying.

When he didn’t speak, Xiaoying guessed: “Where have you placed my brother now?”

Feng Yuan simply lowered his head and continued to correct the documents, like a child caught doing something wrong, thick-skinned and refusing to admit his mistake!

Xiaoying walked over and snatched his brush: “If you won’t say it, then I will. From the beginning, you planned to have my brother marry you in my place, isn’t that right?”

The shoes were as large as boats—how many women could wear them?

When Xiaoying parted from her brother in Jiangzhe, she had prepared shoes and socks, and the size was about the same as Feng Qiyuan’s.

This time, Feng Yuan simply gave an “mm” sound but still refused to look up.

Xiaoying raised her hand and gripped his chin: “Feng Yuan, you’re ridiculous enough! How could you come up with the absurd idea of having my brother marry you? Are you trying to scare him to death?”

Feng Yuan grabbed Xiaoying’s wrist, his jaw tightening with force: “So? You’re feeling sorry for him again?”

“I’m not feeling sorry… It’s just that you’re being such a scoundrel, how could you…”

“How could I force your brother, who has the same face as you, to perform the ceremony in your place? Because you never agreed to marry me, isn’t that right? But what of it? In this life, I, Feng Yuan, only want to marry a woman named Yan Xiaoying. Even if she’s wild and free-spirited and never thought about marrying, so what? As long as the world knows my wife is Xiaoying, that’s enough! As for you, I’ve already said, I won’t stop you from doing what you want. On the day of the ceremony, come for a drink if you wish, and if not, it doesn’t matter!”

The words were spoken with such confidence, but could his righteous tone and clear articulation offset the absurdity of his words?

What did he mean by saying he would marry no one but Yan Xiaoying in this life, yet it didn’t matter if she came to the ceremony or not?

Was he planning to marry a memorial tablet?

Xiaoying was so angered by Feng Yuan that she couldn’t speak, only able to widen her eyes and stare at him.

In the end, not having been killed by his anger, she said coldly, “What’s the use of this nonsense? You know my temperament. If I don’t acknowledge it, and let my brother perform the ceremony in my place, does that make it a fait accompli?”

Feng Yuan smiled, stroking Xiaoying’s flushed face: “This marriage has always been my wish, not yours. So after the ceremony, I am Yan’er’s husband, while you… Can do as you please!”

Xiaoying blinked her eyes, finally understanding Feng Yuan’s meaning.

He was saying that after the ceremony, he would be a married man, henceforth binding himself and also refusing any other strange arranged marriages.

As for her, Yan Xiaoying, if she refused to acknowledge it, she could change her identity and name, going off to live freely. He wouldn’t force her to perform the ceremony or fulfill a wife’s duties.

This was utterly preposterous! Had he spent too much time with his third grandfather, coming up with such absurd ideas?

How was this any different from marrying a memorial tablet?

Having spoken, Feng Yuan gave a self-mocking smile. Perhaps the lady found him pitiful, but in this life, he was determined to be Yan Xiaoying’s husband, and her objection was useless!

Xiaoying vaguely understood his meaning, and an indescribable emotion surged in her chest.

Did he mean that even if she, Yan Xiaoying, would rather die than marry him, he would still maintain his status as Miss Yan’er’s husband, living out his life in solitude?

How could this scoundrel be so unreasonable! He was even more lawless than his third grandfather.

Now, with the Grand Prince’s reputation soaring, he could easily marry a noble lady who would help him.

To marry a woman of such low status as his principal wife was simply cutting off his path to beneficial marriage alliances!

Feng Yuan was prepared for Xiaoying to turn against him. All along, they had never communicated pleasantly on this topic. Xiaoying had always avoided it whenever possible, even fleeing into the palace.

Now, having done the outrageous thing of forcing her brother to stand in for her, he expected the brother-loving lady would surely curse him.

Unfortunately, the steward had delivered the items to the adjacent room at some unknown time, and Xiaoying had discovered them early. According to his plan, he had intended to tell Xiaoying after the marriage ceremony was completed.

So he didn’t look at Xiaoying, lowering his head to continue correcting the documents.

The lady seemed to stop persisting and left, probably unable to stand him and seeking somewhere else to digest her anger.

Feng Yuan slowed his brush, his mind empty for the first time, his heart painfully constricted. He knew that this time, Xiaoying would not easily forgive him.

But after a short while, the lady returned, carrying a bowl of steaming medicinal soup.

“Drink your medicine first, then continue pretending to be diligent.” Xiaoying set down the bowl and brought a small plate of preserved fruits, placing it beside the desk.

Seeing Feng Yuan not moving, Xiaoying took the bowl and touched his dry lips, which had become parched from losing too much blood.

“Drink quickly, or you won’t make it to the wedding day. Don’t let my brother become a widower before marriage!”

Feng Yuan’s expression was awful, his tightly pressed lips refusing to open. Xiaoying thought, who was being forced here? He, a bully forcing marriage, was now playing the role of a chaste and virtuous person, preferring death to submission?

Xiaoying could only soften her tone: “I understand, A’Yuan is probably tired from preparing the wedding all alone. Come, drink while it’s hot.”

Sensing Xiaoying’s somewhat ironic tone, Feng Yuan couldn’t help but ask: “What… do you mean?”

Xiaoying blinked and said, “Since you’ve made up your mind and are willing to do this, what can I say? Does the mighty Prince Ruixiang need to consult anyone about his actions? As you said, you only want to marry the name Yan Xiaoying, so go ahead. I find this name too rustic. I’ll change it in the future to… Yan Zizai (Self-Content). How does that sound?”

Feng Yuan felt that the blood that hadn’t fully drained from him today was now struggling with its last bit of strength to rush to his head.

Among countless women in the world, why had he fallen for someone so heartless?

With his blood and energy surging, symptoms of blood deficiency immediately manifested. Feng Yuan’s body tilted to one side, falling straight sideways, fortunately, his long arm supported the desk, barely holding him up.

Xiaoying stopped teasing and quickly supported him, feeling his forehead: “How did you get a fever again? Quickly take your medicine!”

Feng Yuan squeezed out words through his teeth: “Take what? Wouldn’t it be cleaner if I died? It would also free you to be self-content!”

As he spoke, the usually calm and composed lord completely lost the profound demeanor of the past few days. His pale, bloodless face made his eye sockets appear red, and his thin lips trembled.

After once again confirming that the lady would rather abandon him for freedom, Feng Yuan felt as if he had been thrown back to the desolate palace.

Yes, his dark temperament accumulated from being raised like a venomous insect, his stubborn personality, even he found them extremely detestable upon self-examination.

How could Yan’er, who saw through him, not want to leave?

Now, even his self-deceptive scheme had been seen through by Xiaoying. All his desperate pleas and struggles were useless. The slight light once given to him by the lady was now taken back.

What’s more, the lady was still aggravating him, saying: “If you won’t drink it, then I might as well take it to Young Master Mu. When he takes medicine, he’s certainly not as troublesome as Your Highness.”

Perhaps due to losing too much blood, Feng Yuan had lost all strength, unable to mask his inner vulnerability with coldness as usual. He could only struggle to grasp Xiaoying’s neck.

Xiaoying looked at him with some pity but still venomously asked: “Your hand is as soft as noodles, what are you trying to do by grabbing me?”

“Either… you take my life right now, or I’ll… strangle you!” Such words, if spoken by the formerly mighty and strong Prince Ruixiang, would have been intimidating.

Unfortunately, now he sounded like a child throwing a tantrum after not getting candy.

Xiaoying wanted to irritate him further, but seeing his swaying condition, she realized he probably couldn’t take it anymore.

Finally softening her heart, Xiaoying reached out and embraced him, resting her head on his shoulder and saying gently: “After all your preparations, wouldn’t it be a waste to die? My brother, being a big man, wouldn’t appreciate bridal clothes and embroidered shoes. Why make them so exquisite for him? Can you have them altered to be smaller? I want to wear them…”

Previously, Yan Xiaoying had a thousand reluctances and concerns about marrying into the imperial Feng family,

Today, when Feng Yuan had nearly died before her eyes, all those concerns became insignificant.

Feng Yuan said he only wanted to marry Yan Xiaoying. And if she wanted to marry, it should only be the A’Yuan who had eyes only for her.

As for external obstacles and myriad concerns, let them be.

She and he were never born with golden spoons in their mouths, living in cradles of ease. Since that was the case, why worry about future separations and disturbances?

However, the mighty Prince Ruixiang’s mind seemed to have been damaged by her anger. Even though she had spoken so plainly and explicitly, he still stared at her stubbornly, as if not understanding her meaning.

“What? Too stingy to pay a tailor? Then forget it… Ah!”

This time, Feng Yuan gripped her shoulders tightly again, asking somewhat disbelievingly: “Is what you said… true?”

How could this be possible? After all his scheming, even touching on a reverse scale that Xiaoying never allowed others to touch, she lightly brushed it off and even agreed to personally participate in the ceremony?

Could this be… because she was afraid of her brother being schemed against, a delaying tactic?

Xiaoying didn’t care about all the calculations in Feng Yuan’s mind—with his blood nearly drained, what good schemes could he come up with?

She simply pinched his cheeks and managed to pour the still-hot medicinal soup down his throat, then forcefully pulled him back to the bedroom and made him lie down.

“Before the ceremony, let the wound heal properly. I won’t marry a cripple!”

This time, Feng Yuan held Xiaoying tightly in his arms and asked again: “Really?”

Xiaoying leaned over and kissed his thin lips, which tasted of herbs, then blinked and asked: “What do you think?”

Although she was currently impersonating the Crown Prince, on the wedding day, she could find a way to slip out.

She couldn’t let this lord marry her brother.

But Feng Yuan’s idea was too outrageous, planning such absurdity without consulting her. Xiaoying had to anger him a bit to prevent him from coming up with any more bizarre ideas in the future.

This time, Feng Yuan finally believed his ears but seemed unable to react, staring at her blankly.

His cold exterior had always concealed a deep lack of security. After all, he truly possessed few things in his life, and there were even fewer people he felt close to.

Even the Ge couple, who treated him like their own son, had to leave him for various reasons.

Feng Yuan had become accustomed to facing things alone; the worse things got, the more solitary he became.

This time, severely injured and tormented by high fever, he seemed to have returned to a terrible point in his life.

He had expected Xiaoying to leave in anger, but this treasure he had coveted for so long actively acknowledged him, obediently falling into his arms—so beautiful it seemed like an illusion or dream.

So when Xiaoying lightly agreed to the marriage, Feng Yuan was momentarily stunned, unable to determine if it was real.

Xiaoying couldn’t be bothered with him. Getting up in the middle of the night to search through boxes and warm up medicinal soup had cost the young lady a lot of energy.

She was still growing, and if she didn’t sleep well, she wouldn’t be able to play the dignified role of Crown Prince the next day!

So after positioning Feng Yuan properly, avoiding his injured leg, Xiaoying could rightfully embrace her “big pillow” and fall into a deep sleep.

Only when Xiaoying emitted soft snoring sounds did Feng Yuan slowly reach out to touch her cheek.

This lady had not become angry or embarrassed, and had even agreed to personally marry him.

Thinking of this, Feng Yuan finally, excitedly, yet cautiously, kissed Xiaoying’s cheek.

The lady’s response was a light grunt, then nestling deeper into his embrace…

This sleep lasted until the sky was bright before Xiaoying woke up, but Feng Yuan beside her was still sleeping with closed eyes.

Who knows when, in the latter half of the night, he had fallen asleep? A person who usually slept lightly and alertly had not yet opened his eyes.

Xiaoying looked at the dark circles under his eyes and carefully got out of bed, letting him sleep a while longer.

She went to the adjacent room, called Jian Hu to help arrange her hair and clothes, and then went for a walk in the garden.

She remembered Mu Hanjiang, who had been staying at Prince Ruixiang’s mansion, still refusing to “wake up,” just hiding away from the world at the prince’s mansion.

Xiaoying had asked Feng Yuan before why Mu Hanjiang had not yet awakened, wondering if he had been given too much unrelated medicine.

Feng Yuan had said that he had stopped administering the medicine long ago, and that Young Master Mu was only pretending not to be awake in front of him.

He had spoken quite subtly, and Xiaoying immediately understood.

Previously, Xiaoying had understood his reluctance to face his mother, Princess Anqing, and his need to sort out his thoughts.

But after yesterday’s danger, Xiaoying couldn’t suppress the sudden idea that rose in her heart. She needed to see Young Master Mu personally and see what she could learn from him.

However, when she reached the guest quarters where Young Master Mu was temporarily residing, Xiaoying was startled by the figure standing at the door.

…Who was this disheveled, unshaven man?

Xiaoying was frightened by the man’s desolate gaze and couldn’t help but step back twice before finally recognizing that this unkempt person was the elegant and refined Mu Hanjiang.

“You… how did you become like this? Hasn’t Feng Yuan shaved your beard for you?”

Mu Hanjiang’s expression remained wooden, and he didn’t speak, only fixing Yan Xiaoying with a piercing gaze.

Before she could speak again, Mu Hanjiang suddenly struck out at Yan Xiaoying’s face.

This move came fiercely, with no intention of holding back. If it hit her throat, even if not fatal, it would cause severe injury.

Xiaoying was too close to avoid it; her only option was to block with her hands.

In an instant, dozens of moves were exchanged. Xiaoying knew this was dangerous and wanted to repel Mu Hanjiang and quickly escape.

However, the Shadow Guard leader had been well-nourished at the prince’s mansion, and his attacks were ferociously powerful with a manic intensity.

Fortunately, Xiaoying’s martial skills had improved rapidly under Master Xiao’s guidance.

If it had been her former self in Jiangzhe, she might have already had her arm broken by Young Master Mu and been pinned to the ground.

At this moment, Mu Hanjiang suddenly stopped, laughing loudly to the sky, then with a distorted and painful expression, pointed at Yan Xiaoying and said: “You are the Little Yan…”

Before he could finish, Yan Xiaoying, with quick hands, used a small grappling technique to cover Mu Hanjiang’s mouth.

Inside and outside Prince Ruixiang’s mansion, who knew how many spies and informants were hiding? If he shouted it out, the blade of the Imperial Court would be oiled and waiting for her neck!

“Young Master Mu… having just recovered from your injuries, why are you so eager to exercise your martial arts? Although I’ve learned some basic fighting skills from my eldest brother, I’m no match for you…”

Unfortunately, Mu Hanjiang, having gone through a life-and-death experience, was no longer the restrained and cultured gentleman that Xiaoying knew.

He had been plotted against by his mother’s trusted aide, had walked to the gates of hell, and what he had been proud of—the Dragon Scale Shadow Guards, which he had sworn to develop and expand—had become a joke.

And that lady whom he had repeatedly violated his principles to protect—where was the fragile woman who had been schemed against by the poisonous empress and was saving her brother against her will?

She was the bandit Little King of Hell who had crossed swords with him multiple times and made a monkey of him!

And Feng Yuan knew all of this! Thinking carefully, that drinking session after he returned from being fooled by the Little King of Hell for a night in Jiangzhe was extremely ridiculous!

That Feng Yuan had even pretended to take a knife for him.

Wasn’t it just a deliberate ploy to lure him in, making him a handy tool for the two of them to use?

During the time he had refused to wake up, Mu Hanjiang had recalled all the past events, which had all become his lifetime’s shame and joke!

As for his feelings for Miss Yan’er, they were utterly foolish and unforgivable!

Now, Mu Hanjiang only wanted to see this woman captured, dragged into the interrogation chamber, and tortured, to extract all the past conspiracies from her mouth.

But when the lady covered his mouth with her hand, the sudden nearness of her fragrance made him momentarily dizzy…

Thinking this, Mu Hanjiang suddenly pushed her away and turned to run toward the exit of the prince’s mansion.

Xiaoying’s heart skipped a beat, knowing she couldn’t let Mu Hanjiang leave like this.

Just as Mu Hanjiang was sprinting to the moon gate, suddenly an arrow flew from behind, nearly piercing his ear, embedding diagonally beside his ear.

Mu Hanjiang turned to look and saw Feng Yuan in a loose robe, dragging his injured leg, sitting with a bow at the window.

“Young Master Mu, after I’ve painstakingly administered medicine and cared for you for so long, you leave without a word? That’s somewhat disloyal, isn’t it?” Feng Yuan raised his sword-like eyebrows, coldly mocking.

Mu Hanjiang now had nothing to say to this pair of deceivers and only took a deep breath, coldly replying: “Since I was recuperating, naturally, when I recovered, I wouldn’t impose any longer. Is Prince Ruixiang trying to stop me?”

“Are you sure that, leaving the prince’s mansion like this, you can still survive? If there wasn’t someone behind Cheng Kun, he wouldn’t have had the courage to assassinate you!” Feng Yuan reminded him.

Mu Hanjiang still looked coldly at Feng Yuan and Yan Xiaoying, his gaze full of sharpness and distrust.

Feng Yuan, however, said in a deep voice, “Come with me to the study. I have something to tell you.”

Xiaoying didn’t know what Feng Yuan wanted to say, but seeing Mu Hanjiang’s current state, could he bear to hear more truth?

Mu Hanjiang eventually went into the study with Feng Yuan.

Feng Yuan didn’t let Xiaoying come along, only telling her not to return to the palace for now.

Since Mu Hanjiang had discovered her identity as the Little King of Hell, everything was variable. Returning to the palace at this time, once changes occurred, there would be no room for mediation.