Speaking about such matters with Han Yan for the first time, Shu Hong felt shy. With slightly reddened cheeks, she stated firmly, “If I must marry, I don’t seek wealth or high status. I only want someone upright and conscientious, someone who is caring and considerate. He must not take concubines, and should grow old with me alone.”
Seeing that Han Yan showed no disagreement, she continued, “People say Young Lady’s demand that Wang Ye have only you as his wife is shocking, but I disagree. I share the same wish. Marriage is meant to last a lifetime – if one takes many concubines, the household will never know peace.”
Mu Yan remained motionless in his hiding place on the roof, gazing at Shu Hong through the window, stunned that she shared the same wish as the future Wang Fei. Indeed, when the future Wang Fei first made that demand about never taking concubines, not only Wang Ye but even someone as taciturn as himself found it inappropriate.
It was common for men to have multiple wives and concubines – how could Wang Fei speak of jealousy so casually? But what was more surprising was that Wang Ye, who never yielded to others, had agreed to this demand. Now, even this small maid in Wang Fei’s service spoke the same way. Were all the people around Wang Fei so unique?
Sunlight fell on Shu Hong’s slightly flushed face. Her skin was delicate, and she appeared to be a gentle, sensible, and refined beauty. Yet this refined beauty had just expressed her desire to have her future husband to herself. Mu Yan lowered his head, remembering their first encounter when Shu Hong, thinking they had taken Wang Fei away, had stabbed him with a hairpin. Though Mu Yan considered himself stern and intimidating, with most maids too afraid to speak to him, Shu Hong had faced him directly, refusing to back down. He had felt both surprised and impressed – such loyal maids were rare.
In their subsequent meetings, he would almost always see this girl following Wang Fei. Wang Fei was clever, and this maid was no fool either. Perhaps all those around Wang Fei possessed some capability – Ji Lan was quick-witted, while Shu Hong was steady. Later, when Zhuang Han Ming and Han Yan quarreled, Shu Hong was injured. When he carried her on his back then, he found her surprisingly light. Though usually so composed, at that moment she seemed as delicate as any of the fragile maids in the Xuan Qing Wang’s mansion.
His heart gradually developed a tenderness he didn’t notice.
Today, when he heard Han Yan speak of marrying Shu Hong off, he felt inexplicably anxious. Even now, he didn’t understand why. So this was the kind of man Shu Hong preferred – upright and proper, caring nothing for wealth or status, but most importantly, devoted solely to her.
Han Yan smiled, “Shu Hong, what do you think of Mu Yan?”
This question startled both the person in the room and the one on the roof.
Shu Hong frantically shook her head: “What do you mean, Young Lady? This servant has nothing to do with Guard Mu.”
Hearing Shu Hong so hastily deny any connection with him, Mu Yan felt a growing displeasure. He didn’t understand why he was angry, but this man of stone finally showed some emotion. He turned and leaped from the roof, no longer observing the room.
Han Yan didn’t know Mu Yan’s current thoughts, but she found it thoroughly amusing. Among Fu Yun Xi’s attendants, Mu Feng was lively, while Mu Yan somewhat resembled Fu Yun Xi himself. Anyone who earned Fu Yun Xi’s trust must be worthy, but she wondered if there was any destiny between Shu Hong and him.
Thinking this, Han Yan broke into giggles. Shu Hong didn’t understand why Han Yan was laughing, and when Han Yan offered a vague excuse, she fell silent.
In the inn.
A beautiful young woman in yellow robes played with a small snake while watching a man applying medicine to his wounds. “Brother, why did you save her?”
“Elina.” Zhuo Qi gave her a cold look. “You’re meddling too much.”
Elina pouted. Heaven knows how delighted she had been when she saw Han Yan near death. If Han Yan died, Fu Yun Xi could take her as his wife. But Zhuo Qi had secretly helped her, allowing Fu Yun Xi to ultimately save Han Yan. Seeing her efforts wasted, Elina nearly cried in frustration. But having feared her brother since childhood, she could only voice her complaints.
“Brother, she’s Xuan Qing Wang Fei,” Elina frowned. Even with this expression, she remained extremely beautiful and charming. Her beauty far surpassed Han Yan’s – it could be said that half the men of the Great Zong would go mad at the sight of her face.
Zhuo Qi shook his head, a predatory smile playing on his lips: “She’s mine.” In his mind appeared the image of that fragile young woman standing in a pool of blood, fearlessly wielding a large sword. When he first met her, he found her incredibly cunning, yet possessing an otherworldly calmness – a calmness that seemed forged through years of experience, creating an inner and outer strength. In subsequent encounters, he found her different each time, wearing countless masks, making one wonder which was her true self. That day, under the assassins’ pursuit, her eyes were bright, showing no retreat or despair, but rather a fierce vitality – cold and lethal. At that moment, he saw her as a proud eagle of the grasslands, one he couldn’t help wanting to tame.
What did it matter if she was Xuan Qing Wang Fei? Whatever he set his eyes on, he always obtained. Zhuo Qi’s face showed a confident smile. He had a feeling that capturing this young woman would be his most satisfying achievement in this Great Zong expedition.
Elina couldn’t guess what Zhuo Qi was thinking, but hearing his words, she hesitantly asked, “Brother, do you like her?”
Zhuo Qi smiled without answering. Elina confirmed her suspicions and grew to dislike Han Yan even more. Zhuo Qi had always been closest to her, but this worthless woman had not only stolen her beloved but also caused her dear brother to scold her. Elina secretly resolved that the next time she saw Han Yan, regardless of her brother’s thoughts, she would eliminate her. Such a woman’s existence, even for one more day, posed too great a threat to Elina.
Meanwhile, in the Xuan Qing Wang’s mansion, all was unusually calm.
“You guessed correctly,” Cheng Lei rested his chin on his hand. “The one who saved your little Wang Fei was indeed the Western Rong Prince.”
Fu Yun Xi sat with downcast eyes, his white robes touching the ground, his gaze cold. Hearing Cheng Lei’s words, he calmly tapped his teacup with two fingers: “He courts death.”
Cheng Lei burst out laughing: “He’s still your sister-in-law’s savior. Why speak so harshly? I think he’s truly fallen for sister-in-law.”
Fu Yun Xi slightly furrowed his brows, envisioning Han Yan’s smiling face. This girl’s radiance had been discovered by others – flies were gathering everywhere, making things difficult. If only he could hide her away. Surprised by his thought, Fu Yun Xi paused, then couldn’t help but smile.