Feng Suige took another step closer. “I’ve called all the earlobe-piercing servants to the manor. Are you still telling me you won’t go?” Yi Xiao immediately pointed at Qin Yi, who was watching from the side. “Xiao Yi doesn’t have pierced ears either.”

Qin Yi hurriedly covered her ears and exclaimed, “I haven’t had my coming-of-age ceremony yet, so it’s normal that I don’t!”

“Xiao Yi,” Feng Suige suddenly turned his attention, “do you like white jade earrings?” Qin Yi hesitantly lowered her hands. “I do.”

“If she still refuses to pierce her ears,” Feng Suige glanced at Yi Xiao, “when it’s time for your coming-of-age ceremony, I’ll give you her favorite pair of earrings…”

Before he could finish, Yi Xiao triumphantly pulled out the pair of earrings from her bosom and waved them at Feng Suige. “As long as I keep them on me, you can’t get them!”

Qin Yi clapped her hands and laughed, “Sister, you’ll have to take them off when you sleep at night. Won’t Brother Feng be able to get them then?” Yi Xiao’s smile instantly froze, and she glanced awkwardly at Feng Suige.

“Xiao Yi!” Feng Suige lightly scolded, “Who taught you that? It’s so improper!”

Qin Yi stuck out her tongue sheepishly. “I was just saying… Please don’t tell Grandfather—oh, Grandfather had some errands for me to do. I’m off!” She curtsied and ran away in a flash.

In the awkward silence that followed, Feng Suige slowly walked up to Yi Xiao and called her name softly, “Yi Xiao.” His gentle tone made her scalp tingle. She mumbled a vague response, “Mm, what is it?”

Feng Suige paused for a moment before sighing, “Don’t overthink it.”

Yi Xiao turned her face to look at the blood-red roses swaying by the fence. “I’m not—you seem to have been sleeping in the study recently.”

“Do you care where I spend my nights?” Feng Suige asked with a hint of a smile.

“No,” Yi Xiao said, somewhat unnaturally. “You’ve already done so much for me. Many times, you don’t need to consider me…”

“What are you trying to say?” Feng Suige’s expression gradually changed.

Yi Xiao glanced at him. “Can you not get angry and listen to me first?” Feng Suige nodded reluctantly.

Yi Xiao’s gaze fixed on a point in the air. “I don’t mean anything else. I just want to say, don’t let my presence affect your original life.”

“What do you think you are, and what do you think I am?” Feng Suige angrily interrupted her. “Are you going to tell me again that this is just a game, unrelated to feelings?!” Before he finished speaking, Yi Xiao turned to leave without even looking at him. Feng Suige rushed forward and grabbed her. “Explain yourself before you go!”

“Feng Suige,” Yi Xiao gritted her teeth, unable to break free from his grip. “I’m telling you, if you don’t want to argue, let go of me right now.”

“And I’m telling you, you’re the only one who thinks I’m just playing a game with you. In this life and the next, even if you don’t have a heart, I’ll make you grow one!” Feng Suige shouted fiercely.

Yi Xiao was stunned.

Seeing Yi Xiao’s pupils gradually constrict, Feng Suige’s heart sank. All his previous anger instantly dissipated. “Yi Xiao,” his voice lowered, even trembling slightly due to panic, “I didn’t mean that. Look, I promised I wouldn’t force you. I just, just…” He struggled to find the right words but still held Yi Xiao’s arm tightly, unwilling to loosen his grip even slightly.

Unexpectedly, Yi Xiao smiled faintly. “Just in terms of background, we’re worlds apart. I know I don’t have the beauty to attract you. It’s probably just my unintentional uniqueness that sparked your interest.”

She raised her hand to cover Feng Suige’s lips, preventing him from speaking. “Let me finish… This is the only reason I can think of for why you would fall in love with me. But I’m ordinary, not worth all this effort. Moreover, our temperaments are too similar. Each of our encounters is almost like experiencing a new clash. Once or twice might be fine, but how long can you tolerate me? Half a year? A year? It can’t be too long.”

“Yi Xiao, what exactly do you want?” Finally unable to hold back, Feng Suige pulled her hand away. When was the last time the usually carefree Feng Suige felt so frustrated? He couldn’t even remember.

“I don’t want anything,” Yi Xiao said calmly. “I originally thought I could control my destiny, but in the end, I found that life is about what it wants from me, not what I want. Desiring nothing is the only way to lose nothing…”

Feng Suige held her hand tightly. “But now I want to give to you. As long as it’s within my power, as long as I have it, take whatever you like.” His voice carried a hint of suppressed pain. “If you want eternity, I’ll give you forever. If you want a brilliant moment, I’ll accompany you in destruction. It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe me now. I’ll prove it to you. I’m worthy of your trust, not just in this life, but in three lives, even thirty lives. I can prove it to you!”

She smiled slightly. “Temporary and permanent, who can be completely sure until the moment comes? All we can be certain of is now, just this moment, or this instant. I’m not saying I don’t believe you, but what I want, you really can’t give.”

Feng Suige’s body suddenly tensed. “Are you saying you want me to set you free? Do you want to return to Xia Jingshi?”

“I never thought about returning to His Highness,” Yi Xiao answered simply and calmly. “As for freedom, I originally planned to wait until Princess Xiyang gave birth to His Highness’s child, and their relationship was stable, before proposing it to you or the King.”

“I won’t allow it,” Feng Suige said, enunciating each word with a sharp light flashing in his eyes. “Not even if it kills me!”

“You know,” Yi Xiao didn’t avoid his piercing gaze, “here, everyone smiles at me on the surface, but deep down they’re full of jealousy and hatred. Every pair of smiling eyes shoots glances that make me feel like I’m being stabbed by a thousand knives. Have you heard this saying, ‘The tallest tree catches the most wind’? I understand this principle.” She smiled at Feng Suige. “One question is enough to explain everything. You, the prince of Susha, the future King of Susha, will you take an official consort? Will you establish a queen? Will you, like all kings, have three palaces and six courtyards?”

Each question hit him like a hammer, leaving Feng Suige staring at Yi Xiao in a daze. Yes, he would.

Yi Xiao didn’t wait for his answer, or perhaps she never intended to let him answer. “Let’s not even talk about the hostility the King shows towards me. Just the powerful clans behind the future queen and concubines will surely be numerous. I have no roots or foundation in Susha, I’m alone and weak.

Once my existence is seen as a threat to the positions of the consorts, prompting Susha’s noble families to move against me, I could easily be erased without a trace in this place. Yes, you have the only powerful authority I could borrow to protect myself, but can you guard me every moment? Or can you guarantee that at that time, you’ll still protect me everywhere like you do now? Moreover, I don’t have such a generous heart. I only hope to be with my husband day and night. Heh, forget about three palaces and six courtyards, I can’t accept even one other woman.”

Despite trying her best to control herself, a hint of moisture appeared in Yi Xiao’s eyes. She instinctively gripped his hand and rested her forehead on his shoulder. “I’m just an ordinary person. I’m not as strong as you imagine. All the toughness you see is just to protect myself. I must live because I want to leave this place. I want to live a happy life like normal people. I want to visit my mother’s grave every year. I want to hold Snow Shadow and Ning Fei’s child. I don’t want to stay here waiting vaguely for others to scheme against me. I don’t know what’s waiting for me ahead, nor how many hidden arrows and cold guns are behind me… Tell me, what should I do to survive…”

Feng Suige’s eyes also became moist. He gently stroked Yi Xiao’s hair, saying nothing.