Eхtrа Сhарter 3 - Goodbуе Past
Nаn Ping listenеd nеаrbу, hеr еyes fillеd with envy but she said nothing morе. Shе reаchеd оut tо hоld the sесоnd littlе рrincе, then glancеd аt Qi'er, whо was alreаdy toddling unstеadily. Sееing thаt thе timе wаs аbout right, she lооked аt Fеng Мing with a quеstioning gаzе: Do yоu wаnt to stаy a bit longеr?
Feng Ming seеmеd а bit displеased. Hе stuffеd а red еnvеlоре intо the sесond рrincе's swaddling clоthes, thеn tооk her hаnd аnd bоwеd to take thеir leave.
"You werе the one whо suggested сoming tо thе pаlace today," Feng Ming muttered as they walked along the palace path. "Why are you watching my expression? You can leave whenever you want."
Nan Ping smiled gently. "A wife follows her husband. Naturally, I listen to you."
But she didn't have to always watch his expression like this, did she? Feng Ming felt restless. It had been nearly two years. Nan Ping still respected and feared him, handling everything for him flawlessly, which only deepened the guilt in his heart.
He still hadn't consummated their marriage.
Originally, he had agreed with Yin Gezhi to preserve Nan Ping's purity so she could marry again in the future. But now, after two years, who in the Wei Kingdom didn't know that Princess Nan Ping's consort was him, Feng Ming? Even if she remained untouched, could she still marry someone else?
Since she couldn't marry again, shouldn't he consummate their marriage?
Stealing glances at the person beside him, Feng Ming hesitated for a long moment. Finally, he stopped and spoke directly: "Do you want to have a child too?"
Her footsteps halted. Nan Ping turned back, puzzled. "What?"
Looking somewhat awkward, Feng Ming scratched the back of his head and averted his gaze. "I mean, seeing you holding the child, you seemed to really like it. You've been married to me for so long, but we're not truly husband and wife. It's quite a waste. If you like children—"
Before he could finish, he saw Nan Ping's face suddenly turn pale. It startled him, and his heart tightened. "What's wrong?"
Lowering her eyes, Nan Ping clutched her handkerchief and let out a light, bitter laugh. "Actually, I've always known what you were thinking, General. I knew from the moment I married you. That's why I never forced anything. I just wanted to be considerate toward you, hoping you'd grow more attached to me and not send me away too quickly."
Her voice grew choked toward the end, and she gripped the handkerchief even tighter. Nan Ping licked her lips and smiled bitterly. "I never thought I'd only manage to delay it for two years."
What was she talking about? Feng Ming was utterly confused. Before he could react, he saw the person before him take half a step back and say with a composed air, "If the General no longer wishes to be with me, then let us divorce. I will speak to my royal brother."
With that, she turned and walked back the way they had come.
Baffled, Feng Ming reached out and grabbed her. Frowning, he said, "Who said I don't want to be with you?"
Nan Ping froze but didn't turn around, her tone eerily calm. "I understood the meaning of your words just now, General. I understand that you don't want to hold me back."
"What do you understand? I didn't even finish speaking!" Feng Ming grew anxious and shouted, "Turn around!"
Her heart skipped a beat, and Nan Ping stiffened.
Seeing she wouldn't turn, Feng Ming nodded, walked around to stand in front of her, cupped her face in his hands, and roared, "What I meant was, if you like children, let's have one! Who the hell said anything about sending you away?!"
The tears welling in her eyes instantly streamed down. Nan Ping stared blankly at the man before her, letting him squeeze her face into a bun-like shape without reacting.
What did he say? Let's have one?"Look at that shameless Yin Chenbi, having one every year. Aren't you envious?" With a suspicious blush on her face, Feng Ming wiped her eyes while shouting, "I want that too! Two a year, catch up to them!"
Nan Ping laughed through her tears, shaking her head. "Who can have two children in a year?"
"There is! Dragon and phoenix twins!"
With that, Feng Ming reached out and pulled her into his embrace.
The warm breath made Nan Ping shiver. Her hands trembled as she tentatively pinched his clothes, then slowly but firmly wrapped her arms around his waist.
Then she heard him mumble, "I really thought I would never let go of Guan Qingyue in my lifetime."
Feng Ming truly believed that. He had even planned to become a monk in the mountains after Nan Ping found her own path. But hearts are made of flesh and blood. A girl like Nan Ping stayed by his side without complaint or regret, asking for nothing but his well-being. When he was hungry, she cooked for him. When he was cold, she made clothes for him. When he was bored, she accompanied him to see the sights. When he wanted to know how the Empress was doing, she even brought him into the palace to visit.
If someone could do these things for a year, it was deep affection without regret. But if they persisted for two years and showed signs of continuing indefinitely, Feng Ming thought, this person was a fool!
Not only foolish, but also stupid—asking nothing from him, not even learning some tricks to bind him with guilt. She just kept smiling gently, always hoping for his happiness.
How could he possibly deserve her like this?
"Earlier, my brother told me that if I still hadn't consummated the marriage with the General, I should go meet the prince of Qi." Leaning against his chest, Nan Ping chuckled softly. "Now it seems, I don’t have to go, right?"
Huh? The prince of Qi?
His heart tightened, and Feng Ming narrowed his eyes unhappily. "What did he mean by that?"
"Well... probably that a marriage alliance between the two countries would be more beneficial for cooperation and mutual gain."
Her body was released. Nan Ping felt a sudden emptiness in her heart and looked up at him nervously. "General?"
"It's nothing." Taking off his cloak and draping it over her shoulders, Feng Ming clenched his fists. "I’ll go have a word with His Majesty. Wait for me at the palace gate."
With that, he strode step by step toward the Dragon Saliva Palace.
Clutching his cloak, Nan Ping stared blankly at his retreating figure until she saw him kick open the doors of the Dragon Saliva Palace, then suddenly burst into laughter.
Honest General Feng. He couldn’t beat her brother now anyway. Charging over so fiercely and scaring the young prince would probably just earn him a beating from her brother.
She’d better go back and prepare some medicinal wine.
Walking on the bluestone bricks toward the palace exit, Nan Ping felt as if a heavy stone had been lifted from her heart, and she relaxed completely.
She knew Feng Ming wasn’t a heartless person, so she insisted on gambling—betting that she could warm his heart. Two years later, the result came late, but in the end, she hadn’t lost.
If it were anyone else, she might not have gambled. After all, why cling to someone who didn’t love her for so long? She could have had better choices. But it happened to be Feng Ming, the one who made her heart flutter the most, the one she knew needed saving.
To put it plainly, she liked him, believed he would be a good husband, and would certainly be a good father in the future. This gamble—if she lost, she lost. At least she had accompanied him for two years. But if she won, she would have gained everything.Having made a profit, Princess Nan Ping was in a good mood, waiting cheerfully at the palace gate. Waiting for the arrival of a new day.
"I'm leaving."
After the fight, Feng Ming said with a bruised corner of his mouth.
In the past, when leaving, he would always say "I take my leave." Today, he spoke these three words. Yin Gezhi raised an eyebrow slightly, then narrowed his eyes.
"Go well, and don't look back."
Feng Yue, holding the child, also reached out from behind the bed curtain and waved at him breezily: "Goodbye."
Goodbye.
Without looking at them again, Feng Ming wiped the corner of his mouth and strode out of the palace gate.
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