Chapter 106: It Was What He Deserved

Feng Jinye’s body was ablaze with fury, yet he instantly suppressed the raging fire within him, his eyes fixed intently on Weishao Qianyu. At the very least, she was safe and sound...

Weishao Qianyu did not understand why Huangfu Chen possessed such perverse tastes. Was it merely to force her to perform a play for Feng Jinye? Was he planning to drive a permanent wedge between her and Feng Jinye? Was it not enough that the Twilight Pavilion had used Feng Qingxuan to kill her?

Why hadn't he simply let Feng Jinye believe she was dead that day? She suspected it was still due to her status as the "Weishao Celestial Maiden"; she guessed the Twilight Pavilion still had use for her.

Weishao Qianyu calmed her emotions while in Huangfu Chen’s arms and turned her gaze toward Feng Jinye. It was just a play, and it was not the first time she had performed one.

However, after a single glance, her eyes could not help but drift away from Feng Jinye to another Weishao Qianyu standing not far behind him.

"Congratulations, Prince Zhan, on finding a new love," Weishao Qianyu said indifferently.

Feng Jinye did not react, watching silently as she remained in Huangfu Chen’s arms, showing no intention of leaving his embrace. His clenched fists trembled slightly, but the name "Qianqian," which had reached his lips, remained unspoken. His eyes were bloodshot, yet he could not help but offer a single explanation: "There is no new love."

Weishao Qianyu smiled faintly. Did Feng Jinye know that the Weishao Qianyu beside him was a fake, yet he kept her there as a substitute?

"Feng Qingxuan killed me..." she began softly, "Why did you not save me?"

Feng Jinye had imagined that Weishao Qianyu might resent or even hate him. Yet, as she spoke of that day with such composure, his heart felt as though it were being shredded by that dagger all over again.

Feng Jinye remained silent.

"You heard it clearly, too, didn't you?" she asked coolly. "What the Enchantress said that day—that the only way to save Feng Qingxuan was to kill me?"

Weishao Qianyu had heard it; how could Feng Jinye have failed to hear it? He nodded.

"So you chose to let Feng Qingxuan kill me?" She let out a soft laugh, her tone remaining calm.

Feng Jinye did not deny it.

Weishao Qianyu finally could not hold back her tears, though she continued to smile: "Why bother denying it? I sensed that Feng Qingxuan was about to strike..."

That simple sentence was like a lethal weapon to Feng Jinye. She had sensed it, so how could he, who held her in his heart, have failed to notice? How much pain she must have felt, thinking he had sacrificed her to save Qingxuan? And yet, in that very moment, she had still smiled at him.

Once upon a time, they had sworn under the moonlight that he would never let her be harmed again, yet he was the one who had hurt her. Had she perhaps realized Qingxuan was going to strike but chose not to dodge, believing he would always protect her, that he could stifle every threat in the cradle? And yet, he had failed her.

The image of Weishao Qianyu being struck by Feng Qingxuan flashed through Feng Jinye’s mind—the look of disbelief on her face, followed by that bleak, sorrowful smile.

Feng Jinye offered no explanation.

Dong Nuan, standing behind Feng Jinye, was left in shock. She had not known that Feng Qingxuan had once killed Weishao Qianyu, or that her mistress had refused to return to the Prince Zhan estate or Guanlin City because she had nearly been murdered! Dong Nuan gritted her teeth, her thoughts hidden from everyone.

Seeing Feng Jinye’s silence, Weishao Qianyu closed her eyes. When she opened them, the emotions in her gaze had largely faded. "Therefore, as Lu Yanran said, the Weishao family and the Feng family—and the Xuanyuan family—are irreconcilable. It is the same for me..."

Under the scorching sun, Weishao Qianyu’s face turned crimson, beads of sweat threatening to fall from her forehead. Feng Jinye stared at her, as if he could not comprehend the meaning of her words.

Seeing the sweat on her brow, Feng Jinye instinctively reached out to wipe it away, but she moved first, brushing the sweat off with her sleeve.

Feng Jinye truly did not know how to explain. No matter how cruel or hurtful her words were, he deserved them. Yet, he longed for her to return, to leave Huangfu Chen’s arms and be in his own—the longing was driving him mad.

"Qianqian..." Please, come here.

He murmured her name, but no further words would come.

Weishao Qianyu turned her head, her gaze resting once more on the fake Weishao Qianyu behind him. She pursed her lips. She realized instantly that the woman was likely a shadow projection created by the Enchantress for Feng Qingxuan to kill, meaning Feng Qingxuan also knew she was still alive.

Suddenly, a profound silence descended upon the foot of the city—a stillness so absolute it felt as though the three thousand soldiers and the few people facing each other did not exist.

Weishao Qianyu remembered the token Huangfu Chen had given her at the tavern outside the Prince Zhan estate—an order to assassinate Prince Zhan. She reasoned that Huangfu Chen would not let her kill Feng Jinye now; otherwise, he would not have kept her held in his arms, not even allowing her to dismount.

Huangfu Chen also knew that he could not allow the slightest contact between her and Feng Jinye, or accidents would be too likely to occur.

"Are we going home?" Weishao Qianyu turned to ask Huangfu Chen.

Those four simple words caused the final nerve in Feng Jinye, who was watching her turn to Huangfu Chen, to snap. He drew his blade, Cangyuan, wanting to kill Huangfu Chen in a fit of madness.

Seeing Feng Jinye draw his sword, Huangfu Chen curled his lips and leaned close to Weishao Qianyu’s ear, whispering, "Protect me, Qianqian, will you?"

Weishao Qianyu looked back at Feng Jinye, a faint smile appearing on her lips. Feng Jinye’s eyes were bloodshot, his rage boiling over.

"Didn't you say we were irreconcilable?" he spat out, his voice ice-cold. "Come and kill me, then!"

She had told someone else she was going home! And Huangfu Chen had called her "Qianqian"!!!

Huangfu Chen watched Feng Jinye’s fury with grim satisfaction. Why should Feng Jinye always get everything he wanted? They all deserved to taste the feeling of having their precious things stolen. But it was clear that the only thing Feng Jinye cared about was Weishao Qianyu, and now, she was in his arms. Huangfu Chen felt triumphant.

Weishao Qianyu could not fathom Huangfu Chen’s true goal; causing Feng Jinye distress seemed too simple a motive. She had spent a day and night on the road trying to figure it out, concluding that the most likely reason was to use her as leverage against Feng Jinye. She had not expected him to use her as a hostage.

"The Twilight Pavilion’s poison requires an antidote every month, and the Pavilion Master can trigger it at will, causing the victim to be instantly decapitated," Huangfu Chen had said on the road, as if in passing.

Weishao Qianyu had felt nothing; before the situation was settled, the Pavilion was unlikely to kill her. But his next sentence made her face change: "Just like now—if I wanted to, I could take Yun Ming’s life with a flick of my finger."

The blatant threat in Huangfu Chen’s tone refreshed her understanding of his shamelessness.

"What exactly do you want?" Weishao Qianyu asked, her anger rising. This was the third time she had asked; she had never realized how repulsive he could be.

"I want to see Prince Zhan, Feng Jinye, wounded and ruined, or perhaps acting like a raving lunatic," Huangfu Chen replied with a smile, as if it were only natural.

Weishao Qianyu thought he was severely ill—a physician unable to cure himself. He was a psychopath!

As she stood there, stunned, Feng Jinye closed the distance. Huangfu Chen whispered another threat: "Won't you protect me, Qianqian?"

Weishao Qianyu sighed and drew Huangfu Chen’s sword. She understood now: Huangfu Chen wanted to give Feng Jinye a chance to snatch her back, only to likely force her to return to him afterward.

She dismounted and stood in front of Huangfu Chen. Looking at Feng Jinye, she smiled with reckless abandon, her tone mocking even as her words betrayed her smile: "You are terrifyingly stupid, do you know that?"

She stepped forward with a gallant, heroic air. As Feng Jinye watched her approach, the rage in his eyes began to dissipate.

Weishao Qianyu quickened her pace, rushing toward him, and discarded the sword. Once the weapon was gone, Huangfu Chen realized he had been duped. He watched with a hideous expression as she ran to Feng Jinye. He had been played; she had deliberately provoked Feng Jinye so that he would feel smug, only to have her turn around and protect him.

Huangfu Chen had wanted to see Feng Jinye’s woman defy him to protect another, and to use her to strike a blow at Feng Jinye. The pleasure of revenge had made him drop his guard. But how could this be? She clearly thought he still held the antidote for Yun Ming!

Disregarding everything behind her, Weishao Qianyu rushed to Feng Jinye, leaped up, and locked her legs around his waist, wrapping her arms around his neck like a koala.

Feng Jinye was still stunned. Weishao Qianyu touched her nose to the bridge of his, murmuring, "I don't want to hear what others say; I want to hear it from you!"

"You silly Jinye, I missed you so much!" she declared, expressing her longing without restraint.

After saying this, she pressed her lips to his and kissed him.

Huangfu Chen watched this scene in a rage, hating his own momentary carelessness. He snatched a saber from a nearby deputy and lunged at them. Dong Nuan immediately stepped in front of the couple, parrying Huangfu Chen’s strike.

Weishao Qianyu pulled away from Feng Jinye’s lips and slid down from him, though he still stared at her in a daze. She stood firm, leaned in, and planted another kiss on his cheek. She knew all too well that when a lion was roaring in anger, the first thing to do was to stroke its mane.