Chapter Twenty-Four
The vicious glint in Feng Qishan’s eyes was like a blade, slicing over Yixiao as if he wanted to carve the flesh from her body piece by piece. "I truly underestimated your methods. But now, I find myself even more intrigued by you."
Yixiao’s lips curled slightly into a faint smile. "The confidence of holding power, the arrogance of crushing those who defy you, trampling and manipulating those who cannot resist—Lord of the Nation, do you remember how many tears and corpses you stepped on to reach this throne?" Feng Qishan was momentarily stunned by her words before he scoffed. "This is the way of kings. How could you possibly understand?"
"Of course I don’t understand. That’s why you’re the king. But I despise those who exploit hearts and manipulate power," Yixiao’s defiance and resilience shone as cold and dazzling as ice reflecting sunlight. "Always acting noble, playing the role of a judge—but in my eyes, it’s nothing but revolting hypocrisy!"
"Audacious!" "Yixiao!" "Fu Yixiao!" Voices of reprimand erupted from all sides, male and female alike, but it was already too late.
Unexpectedly, Feng Qishan’s face instead lit up with rare interest, his smile wicked and unrestrained. "I admire your courage. May I take it that you’ve already made up your mind about something?"
Yixiao ignored his question, gently embracing the bewildered Feng Xiyang beside her and whispering in her ear, "No matter who you did this for, thank you. But I have my pride. I don’t want to owe too much—and I can’t afford to."
Feeling her pull away, Xiyang urgently grasped her arm. "Everything I said was sincere—not out of pity, nor to please him. You have to believe me."
Yixiao suddenly smiled, a tenderness so deep it was almost heartbreaking, and raised a hand to brush Xiyang’s cheek. "I do believe you. That’s why I thanked you. But do you know? Even without all this, I had already decided not to return." She turned to Xueying with a smile. "Others might not understand, but Xueying does. You can ask her when you go back."
It was as if a sword had been plunged straight into his heart. Xia Jingshi’s gaze lost focus. Though he hadn’t heard what Yixiao whispered to Xiyang, he could guess from their exchange—she had refused. She was staying.
"Fu Yixiao, this prince does not permit you to remain here," he heard himself say, his voice low and deliberate. "You are a Military General of Brocade. Leaving the kingdom without permission is treason. I will give you one last chance. If you persist in this folly, you will face military justice."
Xiao Weiran and Ning Fei both stiffened, exclaiming in unison, "Your Highness!"
Yixiao remained silent for a long moment before finally turning her head to look at him. Her eyes held no emotion, only a detached calm. "First, the Military General you speak of was shot dead by you years ago. Second, I wouldn’t mind asking the Lord of the Nation to petition the Holy Emperor on my behalf—so I can stay ‘legitimately’!"
Xueying’s bright eyes had long brimmed with mist, her nose slowly reddening. Now, she added coldly, "Xia Jingshi, I finally understand why Yixiao would rather stay in Su Sha than marry you." She glanced at Ning Fei, holding back tears. "Now I know what that thing was—though it’s a little late."Feng Qishan, who had been quietly observing everything, chuckled lightly. "It sounds like there are many stories behind this. Fortunately, there will be plenty of time to hear them slowly in the future, or I would feel quite regretful."
A fleeting trace of fragmentation flashed in Yixiao's eyes as she shook off Feng Xiyang's grip and stepped forward, lazily crossing her arms with a smile. "I doubt I'll live long enough for the Lord of the Nation to take an interest in hearing them. Who knows? Maybe I'll be assassinated with a single turn tonight."
Feng Qishan's expression darkened, his voice icy. "Based on the words you’ve spoken to me today alone, sentencing you to death on the spot would not be excessive. But for Xiyang’s sake, I’ll let it pass—enough. I’m weary. If there’s nothing else, let us adjourn." He turned to the stunned palace attendant and ordered, "Take Captain Fu to the Fanghua Palace for temporary rest."
"Father," Feng Suige stepped forward swiftly, his voice colder than the misty night, freezing like ice over a pond. "That is the inner palace. It’s hardly suitable for hosting guests." Feng Qishan waved dismissively. "Just for one night. After sending Xiyang off tomorrow, I’ll have an empty palace courtyard prepared..."
Feng Suige’s expression remained indifferent as he enunciated each word, "She has a room in my Water-Painting Garden."
"She’s going nowhere," Xia Jingshi’s eyes burned with fury as he descended the steps. "She’s returning to the guest residence with me!"
Like wind rustling through bamboo, a faint stir rippled through the silent banquet hall. Before Feng Qishan’s sharp gaze could sweep over them, the room quickly settled back into stillness.
Yixiao tilted her head back calmly, eyes slightly closed, lips curled in an ambiguous smile—as if waiting for them to reach a conclusion, or perhaps lost in thought. The golden light from the crystal palace lanterns cast a radiant glow on her face, translucent and dazzling.
This dignity—they insisted on bestowing it upon her. The simple principle of making the most of what one had, she understood well.
If she couldn’t escape, she would face it. This was a war without smoke, yet the most intense of all. What each person could see was only their own path; each had their own battlefield.
To achieve the best outcome with the simplest, most direct, and swiftest method—this was what Xia Jingshi had taught her.
To reach one’s goal, means were necessary, sacrifices were necessary, and power was necessary—this was what Feng Qishan had taught her.
This was the battlefield of Asura—win, or die.
"I’ll go to the Water-Painting Garden," Yixiao slowly opened her eyes, a playful cunning flickering in them. Since she had already been dragged into this muddy water, why should they remain standing on the shore?
Xia Jingshi quickened his pace toward her. Yixiao neither dodged nor resisted, letting him seize her wrist. Tsk, that hurt.
Brushing aside Xueying, who had rushed forward, Xia Jingshi yanked Yixiao in front of him and snapped, "Why must you always be so willful, never considering others’ feelings?"
Only after watching Xueying stumble into Ning Fei’s arms did Yixiao lazily turn back. "Oh? So you really intend to marry me?"
Unsurprisingly, Xia Jingshi released her as if stung. Before he could speak, gasps erupted as Feng Suige suddenly lunged forward, wrenching Xia Jingshi’s shoulder and delivering a full-force punch to his abdomen. Caught off guard, Xia Jingshi staggered back from the blow, barely avoiding the second fist aimed at his face.The hall instantly descended into chaos. Feng Xiyang rushed over to support Xia Jingshi, while Xiao Weiran positioned himself between him and Feng Suige. Ning Fei restrained the emotionally agitated Xueying, and Feng Suige, having missed his strike, stopped his attack, coldly shielding Yixiao behind him.
The palace guards on duty outside had already charged in, but seeing the pandemonium, they hesitated, unsure whether to advance or retreat.
Feng Qishan was trembling with rage. "Brawling in the royal court—what disgraceful behavior!" Spotting the guards frozen at the entrance, he roared, "What are you doing here? Get out!" The guards immediately stumbled over each other in their haste to exit, and someone even shut the hall doors behind them.
Yixiao stood dazed behind Feng Suige. His protective left arm still rested against her waist, the heat from his palm almost burning her.
She had always assumed that only delicate women like Xueying or Xiyang could stir a man's protective instincts. Yixiao let out a soft laugh, as if a mist had clouded her eyes—distant, elusive, with an unfathomable haze and a faint vulnerability. Faint whispers reached her ears: "...troublemaker..." Troublemaker? She turned a chilling smile toward the speaker, her icy laughter trembling in the air. The person shuddered visibly and quickly averted their gaze.
Feng Qishan glared at the opposing factions, suddenly overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness. Forcing himself to steady his ragged breathing, he struggled to regain composure. Then, hearing Fu Yixiao's laughter, his anger flared anew. "Fu Yixiao, is this your goal?"
Her mocking laughter filled the space around them, bold and unrestrained. "I've stayed at the Water-Painting Garden for so long—I've grown fond of it and accustomed to it. What's wrong with that? If the Lord of the Nation regrets keeping me here, you should say so sooner."
Feng Qishan let out a harsh laugh and retorted fiercely, "Once I make a decision, I never regret it!"
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