Chapter 233: Stirring up Another Storm (2)
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“So, you deliberately distanced yourself from Ai Fei, creating the false impression that she was not favored, causing her to be isolated from the world, all in order to save her?” Feng Tingye frowned and interjected upon hearing this.
Xia Yuqing was startled and turned to look at Xia Haotian, her eyes full of inquiry.
Xia Haotian did not deny it, coughed lightly and smiled: “I had people spread rumors that you were born stupid and foolish, causing those who were watching you with greedy eyes to relax. I also arranged various people to guard you, from your wet nurse to the guards who wandered around you, each one carefully selected by me. Later, when the empress dowager died and Tuoba Yafeng gradually lost interest in you, most of the knowledgeable ministers in the court had died. You grew up safely to your teens, and I thought everything had passed, but I didn’t expect the marriage between Ye Kingdom to bring you back into the picture.”
Xia Yuqing and Feng Tingye glanced at each other and both turned their gaze to Xia Haotian.
“The marriage between Ye Kingdom and the Xia Kingdom was arranged long ago. Although it was a jest of mine at the time, a monarch’s words are not to be taken lightly, and the matter was set to proceed. But in the end, your third elder sister refused to marry. When everyone was at a loss, Tuoba Yafeng suddenly proposed that you marry and forge the alliance.”
Xia Yuqing was stunned, looking at Xia Haotian in surprise. She couldn’t help cursing in her heart, so the d*mn woman who caused her to suffer as soon as she crossed over was her!
“At first, I was extremely reluctant to let you marry, but if I showed too much concern for you, all my efforts over the years would have been in vain. Although I have been trying to find a way to bring down the Tuoba clan for these years, they have a long and deep-rooted history, and it is not something that can be accomplished overnight. If I were to reveal my concern for you, it would not be good for you to stay in Xia Kingdom. After much hesitation, I decided to take a gamble and let you leave this troubled place.”
Xia Yuqing was stunned. She had imagined countless possibilities, but never expected that this man, who seemed to care nothing about her and was cold and unfeeling, would go to such lengths for her.
Speaking of this, Xia Haotian looked up at Feng Tingye and chuckled softly, “I bet someone raised by your father, the emperor, wouldn’t be too bad. Now it seems like I was right, cough, cough…”
Xia Yuqing hurriedly helped Xia Haotian catch his breath, but her expression gradually became serious.
“However, in the end, I’m still not at ease. I can’t trust most of the people in the palace, so I had that person arrange for a maid who can serve you and protect you by your side.”
“That person? Is it Little Shuyan? The maid… is it Cui Er?” Xia Yuqing looked at Xia Haotian in surprise, not expecting him to be involved in Cui Er’s situation.
Feng Tingye’s eyes flickered slightly, but he wasn’t very surprised. Or rather, he suddenly understood a lot of things after Xia Haotian explained it. For example, why Cui Er could easily become Xia Yuqing’s personal maid and follow her to the Ye Kingdom. Why the nanny who served Xia Yuqing disappeared instantly after she got married, and why Xia Haotian’s reaction was always so complicated whenever Xia Yuqing returned to the Xia country. He was clearly happy to see her, but also couldn’t wait for her to disappear from his sight and leave the Xia country as far away as possible…
Xia Haotian nodded and touched Xia Yuqing’s cheek. “After you got married, I was afraid that Tuoba Yafeng would still have doubts so I wouldn’t even dare to inquire about your news. But I’ve always been worried about you. Later, Yuan Er and Xi Er visited the Xia country and brought back news about you. I found out that you were doing well in the Xia country, so I was slightly relieved. Later, I heard that you gave birth to a pair of dragon and phoenix twins for King Ye, and I was even more overjoyed. It’s just a pity that I only managed to see them briefly last time. They were very cute, especially the little girl who looks just like you.”
Xia Yuqing trembled all over, and her nose inexplicably felt a little sour. “How can you see them clearly with just a brief glance? If you can hold on a little longer, I’ll ask Third Royal Sister to bring them over for you to see in detail. Are they really like me?”
“It’s…too late.” Xia Haotian’s face suddenly turned pale and green, and his breathing became intermittent. “King Ye…”
Upon hearing Xia Haotian’s call, Feng Tingye stepped forward and knelt beside Xia Yuqing in front of Xia Haotian, respectfully calling out, “Father-in-law.”
Xia Haotian solemnly placed Xia Yuqing’s hand, which he was holding, into Feng Tingye’s hand, and said with a serious expression, “I am entrusting my most precious treasure to you. You must protect her for the rest of your life. I have not fulfilled my responsibilities as a father in this lifetime, but if you dare to disappoint her even a little bit, I will not let you go even if I become a ghost.”
Feng Tingye also nodded solemnly and said, “You can rest assured, Your Majesty.”
Xia Haotian took a few shallow breaths again, and bright red blood dripped from his fingers onto the hands of the two people clasped together.
Xia Yuqing cried out in surprise again, her eyes red, but she couldn’t say anything.
Xia Haotian weakly smiled, his face as pale as gold paper, but his eyes still shone brightly. Xia Yuqing and Feng Tingye knew that this was his last burst of energy, and their faces became even more solemn.
“In my entire life, the only person I have loved is your mother, and the only person I have let down is the mother of Yun Er and the others. Now, I am finally going to find them.”
Xia Yuqing remained silent, but surprisingly understood the meaning behind Xia Haotian’s words. Because he had loved her mother, he could not love the mother of Princess Yun and the others. All that was left for him to give to their mother was guilt.
“Qing Er…can you call me ‘Father’ one more time?”
Xia Haotian’s almost pleading words made Xia Yuqing tremble all over. She had whispered these words many times before, but she had never felt their weight as much as she did now.
“…Father.”
Xia Haotian smiled, and the light in his eyes gradually dimmed, but the smile on his lips never faded.
As his hand, which had lost its strength, fell down, Xia Yuqing clearly heard him call out, “Wanwan…”
Xia Yuqing watched this scene and suddenly covered her mouth with her hand. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably, “Wu…”
Feng Tingye quietly watched this scene and slowly embraced Xia Yuqing, gently kissing her forehead, allowing her to cry to her heart’s content in his arms.
The cold autumn wind blew in from the window, taking away all the warmth in the room, leaving only bone-chilling coldness.
When the people waiting outside saw the door being pushed open from inside again, Xia Yuqing had already barely regained control of her emotions.
As soon as they saw Xia Yuqing and Feng Tingye walking out, the others immediately greeted them. But upon seeing Xia Yuqing’s slightly pale face, they all wisely remained silent and rushed into the inner room. Those who were left behind also closed their mouths under Feng Tingye’s hint and left wisely.
Hearing the crying behind her, Xia Yuqing couldn’t help but feel a bit sour in her eyes. Feng Tingye sighed softly when he saw this and led her away a bit.
“He died for me.” Xia Yuqing clung tightly to Feng Tingye’s clothes, crying in a muffled voice.
“Don’t blame yourself, he did it voluntarily. Moreover, he could have avoided it at that time.” Facing Xia Yuqing’s surprised gaze, Feng Tingye looked into her eyes and rubbed her head, “This was his choice, perhaps it was a kind of relief for him.”
Xia Yuqing was stunned, but then she reached out her hand from clutching Feng Tingye’s clothes and hugged his waist tightly, remaining silent for a long time.
Just when Feng Tingye thought Xia Yuqing wouldn’t speak anymore, he heard her bite her lip and say in a muffled voice, “I just feel so uncomfortable.”
Feng Tingye lightly patted her shoulder and sighed softly, comforting her, “People can’t come back to life after death, don’t be too sad and hurt yourself.”
Unexpectedly, Xia Yuqing shook her head vigorously and said, “It’s not because of that.”
“Hmm?”
Xia Yuqing bit her lip, feeling embarrassed as she said, “I just feel very sorry for him. He has done so much for me, but in the end…I’m not the same Xia Yuqing as before. The one he truly wanted to protect had already…gone several years ago.”
It wasn’t until Xia Haotian revealed everything that Xia Yuqing realized why she instinctively felt scared whenever she saw Xia Haotian. It wasn’t because she was afraid he would treat her badly. On the contrary, she was afraid of knowing the truth hidden behind the cruel facade, which would make her feel even more ashamed, because she wasn’t the Xia Yuqing they had in mind. Xia Haotian, as well as the Fourth Prince. She had suspected this all along but had been unwilling to admit it, deceiving herself.
“Don’t say that. You haven’t done anything wrong. It’s because of you that the Xia Yuqing in their hearts is still alive today. You haven’t let anyone down,” Feng Tingye interrupted her forcefully, his face serious.
Xia Yuqing was stunned as she looked at Feng Tingye’s extremely serious expression. She wanted to nod her head but before she could, they heard an excited shout from behind them. “What were you guys talking about just now?”
Both of them stiffened and turned to look at the person being held back by guards at the edge of the flower bushes, who was now staring intently at them with red eyes…Xia Mingxuan!
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