Chapter Twenty-Nine
Ling Yuguang took a subtle half-step back. "Young man, don't you think it's better to explain things clearly first?" Ning Fei scratched his head awkwardly and stood up. "Well, Uncle Ling, the thing is... I..."
"Ling Xueying!" Ling Yuguang roared. Xueying, who had been crouching and trying to sneak along the wall, straightened up sheepishly, her eyes instantly crinkling into a smile as she rushed forward to cling to his arm. "Ah! Father, when did you get here? Xueying missed you so much—Father, let me tell you, Yixiao was bullied by His Highness Xia. She’s all alone in Su Sha now, and I don’t know if she’s doing well. When can we go see her together? Oh—did Mother come with you? I saw a new hairstyle in Su Sha that would look absolutely lovely on her—Father..." She abruptly fell silent under Ling Yuguang’s indifferent glance.
"Continue," Ling Yuguang said, turning his gaze back to Ning Fei, who looked torn between laughter and exasperation.
Xueying frantically signaled with her eyes, but Ning Fei pretended not to notice and answered earnestly, "Ning Fei humbly requests Uncle Ling’s permission to marry Xueying." Xiumu stifled a chuckle nearby, while Xueying’s face turned crimson, wishing she could vanish into the ground.
Without hesitation, Ling Yuguang asked, "Why should I let you marry Xueying?" Ning Fei froze, and Xueying also showed a flicker of unease.
After a moment of thought, Ning Fei’s gaze settled on Xueying’s face, gradually softening into a smile. "Because I can fall asleep while she plays the qin, I don’t understand when she scolds people in roundabout ways, and when her temper flares, as long as she doesn’t use hairpins, I can relax and let her vent. But when she’s in danger, I will never let her face it alone!"
Ling Yuguang listened with narrowed eyes, his tone still indifferent. "Why should I believe you?" Xueying immediately protested, "Father—" but before she could finish, she caught the faintly amused look on his face. Flustered, she stomped her foot. "I’m leaving!" she declared, turning to go.
Before Ling Yuguang could react, Xiumu yanked the door shut from outside with a loud bang . "Xiumu!" Xueying kicked the door in frustration, but before she could say more, Xiumu’s smug voice came from the other side. "The Master said the young lady isn’t allowed to leave the room before him today. Xiumu is under orders to keep watch!"
Seeing Xueying hopping mad, Ling Yuguang finally cracked his first smile since their meeting. "Still playing games with your father, Snowflake?" "You have help—no fair!" Xueying huffed. Turning and noticing Ning Fei’s stunned expression, her face flushed again. She awkwardly hid behind Ling Yuguang and whispered, "Father, can you discuss this when I’m not here...?" Ling Yuguang mimicked her whisper. "Snowflake, tell me—should I agree or not?"
"Agree to what?" Ling Xueying pouted. "He’s just a rotten block of wood..." "So that means you won’t marry him?" Ling Yuguang raised his voice slightly. Seeing Ning Fei’s expression change, Xueying hastily tugged at his sleeve. "Father, keep it down... Stop teasing him already..." By the end, her voice had dwindled to a whisper.Ling Yuguang finally couldn't hold back his laughter anymore. Stepping forward, he patted Ning Fei's shoulder. "Don't indulge her too much from now on, or she'll turn the world upside down." Ning Fei snapped out of his daze and bowed joyfully. "Greetings, Father-in-law!"
This time, Ling Yuguang didn't avoid it, accepting three loud kowtows before helping him up. Xueying, her face flushed, didn't dare look at Ning Fei and clung to Ling Yuguang instead. "Father, can we go out now?"
Ling Yuguang nodded and called out, "Xiumu, open the door." Almost as soon as the words left his mouth, Xueying dashed to the door, ready to rush out the moment it opened.
But after waiting for a while, there was no sound from outside. Raising an eyebrow, Ling Yuguang stepped forward and pulled the door open—it swung open easily, but Xiumu was nowhere to be seen.
"Xiumu!!!!" Xueying stormed out furiously. "Let's see where you can hide!!!"
Bright sunlight filled the room, casting a warm golden glow. Feng Suige narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched Fu Yixiao sitting quietly by the window, her chin resting on her hand as she gazed outside.
Though she sat upright and focused, her expression was distant and dreamy, so much so that she didn't even hear his footsteps. The sunlight gently illuminated her loose hair, enveloping her in a warm golden halo.
"Fu Yixiao," Feng Suige called out after standing there for a long while.
Yixiao started slightly and turned her head. "It's you—you haven't called me by my full name in a long time. What's wrong?" Feng Suige forced a smile. "Is your intuition always this sharp?" "Not always," Yixiao stood up. "Go on, I'm listening."
Feng Suige looked away. "At today's court meeting, the ministers advised Father to place you under house arrest, so..." Yixiao casually tied up her loose hair, interrupting him. "I don't have much to pack. I can leave now."
"No," Feng Suige took a step forward, agitated. "I didn't agree." Yixiao raised an eyebrow in surprise. "So?"
"So," Feng Suige suddenly found his throat so dry he could barely speak. "So I'm going to make you my consort." Yixiao scoffed and stretched lazily. "Not funny, and there's no logical connection—unless the Lord of the Nation changed his mind and wants to execute me."
Feng Suige patiently explained, "My original intention was to make you my primary consort, so you could stay here legitimately. But Father refused outright. Later, the junior tutor suggested making you a secondary consort. After a long standoff, Father finally agreed." He finished in one breath, but seeing Fu Yixiao still standing quietly, he couldn't help feeling disheartened. "I had no other choice. The old ministers wouldn't budge, and Father supported them. Don't worry, I won't force you to do anything..."
"I accept," Yixiao said word by word, the color slowly draining from her face.
Unnoticing of her pallor, Feng Suige focused entirely on her answer. "You accept?" Seeing her nod, he still couldn't quite believe it. "I thought you'd fly into a rage... or at least argue with me.""Why refuse?" Yixiao's smile was as radiant as a flower, glowing under the sunset with an indescribable allure. "Why should I reject the dignity you all are so eager to bestow upon me? Especially when you’ve personally assured me you won’t force me into anything."
Feng Suige, however, hesitated. "You should think carefully. While I can indeed protect you, you might find yourself thrust into the eye of the storm. Whether it’s Father or those court officials, none of them will relent for even a moment."
Yixiao met his gaze steadily. "It doesn’t sound too difficult. I just don’t quite understand why you’re helping me." Feng Suige pondered for a moment before suddenly gripping her shoulders firmly, his tone solemn. "I don’t care whether you believe me or not. I only know that once affection takes root, even if unspoken, the heart no longer belongs to oneself. Rather than conceal it, I’d rather place it in your hands and let you decide. I’m also aware of who holds your heart, but I choose to treat you this way—simply because I refuse to lie to myself."
Yixiao’s shoulders tensed slightly before relaxing. She lifted her face, meeting his gaze earnestly. "Feelings aren’t something that can be repaid with sincerity. Aren’t you afraid of getting nothing in return?" Feng Suige smiled bitterly. "Asking for your heart in return seems rather difficult—but I won’t let go easily."
Yixiao merely chuckled softly, offering no reply. Her lowered lashes veiled the flicker of emotion in her eyes.
I have never failed the world, yet the world treats me thus.
Vast as heaven and earth may be, where can one truly hide? What stretches endlessly is merely this mortal realm.
Everywhere, it’s the same—victors reign, and the defeated perish.
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