A chill ran from Feng Xiyang’s feet to her head, and a searing pain burned from her throat to her stomach. It was a fatal blow. Feng Xiyang trembled involuntarily and cried out, “Then why don’t you marry her?”
Xia Jingshi was also stunned. After a long while, the fierce fire in his eyes slowly extinguished. He laughed bitterly, “Often, fate is just like that. Only the person who has experienced those things with you can truly enter your life. After that, no matter how many others come along, if you’ve missed those moments, you’ve missed them for a lifetime.” As he spoke, he gradually calmed down. “This might sound cruel and selfish, but you need to know—even without Yixiao, this political marriage wouldn’t bring happiness. However, I can promise that you will be the only mistress here. As for food, clothing, and other necessities, as long as it’s within my means, you can ask for anything.”
Xiyang shuddered, her voice barely audible, “If it were for those things, why would I need to marry Jinxiu? If it were just for a political union, I could have married the Holy Emperor.” Her nails, digging into the bed frame, broke, but the pain was so slight it could be ignored. “Is a love that comes too easily not worth cherishing?”
“Perhaps I should ask you, why do you insist on marrying me?” Xia Jingshi’s voice grew increasingly cold. “In the war between Jinxiu and Dusa, if not ten thousand, then at least thousands of Dusa soldiers died by my hand. The soldiers who died under my command number in the tens of thousands. Why were you so certain that I would treat you well, let alone fall in love with you?”
Feng Xiyang’s eyes widened. She wanted to say something, but couldn’t utter a word.
“Forget it, get some rest,” Xia Jingshi said, turning gracefully towards the door, leaving her no chance to plead for him to stay.
Feng Xiyang watched blankly as his silhouette disappeared behind the closing door, her eyes filled with a misty haze and a hollowed-out disappointment. Why? She had simply wanted to love him.
She closed her eyes wearily. It turned out that in this case called love, whoever first spoke of love lost their heart first. Before it even began, she had already lost completely, and yet… she found it sweet.
The sound of rain splashed, pale flowers were washed from their branches by water streaming from the eaves, and the golden-threaded bird in its cage hopped restlessly in the damp air. Fu Yixiao stood silently in the corridor, watching the rain, her skirt fluttering in the wind, her gaze distant and desolate.
After the wedding ceremony, she moved into Prince Feng Suige’s residence. The various buildings here were arranged in an orderly fashion, with elegant bamboo houses, waterside pavilions, and multi-storied buildings, contrasting with the delicate style of the water-painted garden, yet lacking much of the feeling of comfort and ease.
Feng Suige hadn’t shown his face for several days. The servants whispered and speculated about why the Prince had neglected her on the second day of their marriage, spending his nights with his former favorite singing girls. Even Yun Yi, who had caused a scene at the wedding, had only received a scolding before freely coming and going into the Prince’s residence again.
But neglect was just neglect. Setting aside Feng Suige’s public warning at the wedding, Fu Yixiao’s rise from prisoner to the Prince’s secondary consort showed that Feng Suige had invested as much thought in her as in state affairs. Her current lack of favor didn’t mean she would never have a chance to turn things around, so none of the servants in the Prince’s residence dared to show any arrogance toward her.
A gust of wind blew, disturbing the rain threads and the pearl curtains under the eaves. Fu Yixiao stepped back slightly, avoiding the raindrops that flew towards her. Her lips suddenly parted, revealing a brilliant smile.
She had never known that watching the rain from under the eaves could be so beautiful. The rain threads falling from the sky seemed to carry a desperate desire, falling in droves to the ground before disappearing.
If only human troubles could be absorbed completely by the soil along with the rain threads, how wonderful that would be.
Because of the rain, Feng Suige hadn’t gone out. At this moment, he was standing by the half-closed window of the study, watching her from afar.
He hadn’t set foot in the bridal chamber for several consecutive days. During the day, he was always busy with government affairs and inspecting troops; at night, he continued to seek solace in wine and pleasure. Yes, he couldn’t stop for a moment. Any leisure time and his mind would be filled with her cold words, “…This is just a game, it has nothing to do with feelings!”
When he heard those words, he was almost stunned. Perhaps he had said the wrong thing first, but seeing Yixiao’s icy, thorny gaze, a feeling of helplessness suddenly filled his entire body. Was love really like this? If the other person doesn’t like you, no matter how well-intentioned you are, they won’t accept you. Thinking that all his tender affection couldn’t earn even one genuine smile from her, Feng Suige finally lost his patience and walked away.
A flash of lightning crossed the sky, and the rolling thunder seemed to strike Feng Suige’s heart, each beat so clear—why couldn’t he treat her with a calm heart? Not only was his mind unable to stay calm, but his heart was also stuffy to the point of pain.
He hated that woman standing under the eaves, hated how she always controlled his emotions, leaving him without a moment’s peace. He wanted to destroy her with his own hands, and then… there was no then. At that time, he would probably destroy himself along with her.
He hadn’t been wrong that day. She was a poisonous flower—brilliant, strange, yet dangerous. That utterly evil toxicity had completely corroded his heart. Even if she was heartless, he found himself unable to let go.
Suddenly, Feng Suige’s eyes narrowed sharply. After just a glance, he hurriedly walked towards the door.
A vague sense of presence stirred the vigilance Fu Yixiao had developed during wartime. She pulled back her scattered thoughts and turned her head slightly, her gaze falling on the corner not far away.
It was her again.
Seeing that she had discovered her so quickly, Yun Yi was somewhat surprised, but still put on an unconcerned appearance and slowly walked over.
She had deliberately dressed up before coming. Yun Yi wore a headdress of eight treasures and pearls, and a long dress of five-colored embroidered plain spring silk. The hem of her dress was tied with a silk tassel and jade pendant. With every movement, pearls chimed and jade resonated. Her expression was as arrogant as if she were the Prince’s wife with a golden tally and jade book.
“Sister seems to have become a bit haggard lately,” Yun Yi stopped beside Yixiao, deliberately looking her up and down. “The Prince is really… you’re already husband and wife, what is there to be angry about? When he comes to Yun Yi’s place at night, Yun Yi will help his sister…”
“What did you call me?” Yixiao looked at her haughtily. “Who gave you special permission to not bow when you see me?”
Yun Yi was instantly furious. Her face changed color several times before she finally swallowed her anger and knelt. “This concubine Yun Yi greets the Prince’s wife.”
But Yixiao was in no hurry to let her rise. She said indifferently, “I’m not the Prince’s wife. I’m just a secondary consort who lost favor right after the wedding.”
Yun Yi had to bow again, “This concubine Yun Yi greets the secondary consort.”
“You may rise,” Yixiao tugged at the corner of her mouth, but her smile held no warmth. “What were you saying just now? Continue.”
Yun Yi stood up, gritting her teeth. She sneered, “Actually, it’s nothing. I was just worried that the secondary consort might still hold a grudge about those two whip lashes Yun Yi gave her before, so I thought I’d come over to have a look and pay my respects. But, with the secondary consort being so high and mighty, surely you won’t quibble over past matters with Yun Yi!”
Yixiao laughed softly, then struck out like lightning, slapping Yun Yi hard across the face. Yun Yi hadn’t expected her to suddenly take action and had no time to dodge. She staggered back several steps before regaining her footing, deep finger marks already appearing on her left cheek.
As if she had touched something dirty, Yixiao lifted her skirt to wipe her palm before looking up with a smile. “You should have known long ago that I’m not of noble birth. I was always going to settle this score with you. But since you’ve taken the trouble to deliver yourself to my door, there’s no need for a whip. Come here, one more slap and we’ll be even.”
Yun Yi was shocked and furious. Although Fu Yixiao hadn’t drawn a bow for many years, she was naturally very strong. The previous slap had almost made her faint. How could she step forward to receive another? She covered her swollen left cheek venomously and hissed, “Fu Yixiao, even if you’ve been made a secondary consort, there will still be a primary consort above you. Moreover, you’re just a low-born, fickle slut. The Prince is just indulging in your novelty for a few days. Don’t think too highly of yourself!”
Yixiao still wore that faintly smiling, languid expression. “No need to remind me, I remember it every moment.” Yun Yi turned her face and spat, “Who do you think you are…”
“What’s all this commotion about?” Feng Suige’s voice suddenly cut in. Yun Yi was startled and immediately put on a tearful act, throwing herself straight into Feng Suige’s arms. “Prince, Yun Yi only wanted to come and keep the Prince’s wife company, but she struck me without a word. Look at my face…”
Shifting his gaze from the composed Yixiao, Feng Suige gently embraced Yun Yi, lifting her face to examine the finger marks. “Yun Yi, you don’t understand. It’s easy to make Fu Yixiao understand who she is, but do you understand who you are?” In the moment before Yun Yi could react, he grabbed her hair and punched her in the stomach. Yun Yi fell to the ground, writhing in pain, her face full of surprise.
“I’ve said before, Fu Yixiao is my consort. Whoever dares to insult her, I will not forgive lightly,” Feng Suige said coldly as he slowly stepped on her face.