FMEA Side Story 3

Side Story 3: Ruofeng Muyun

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In Ye Country, no matter where he went, the Iceberg Prime Minister, Leng Ruofeng, who could freeze everything within a ten-mile radius and cause the death of countless passersby, was not only an expressionless individual but also color-blind, unable to distinguish colors!

Apart from a few childhood friends who grew up with him, even Xia Yuqing only accidentally found out about this through a series of coincidences later.

However, what no one knows is that Leng Ruofeng, in his color-blind eyes, doesn’t see everything in black and white; he can at least recognize one color… bright red. Even Leng Ruofeng’s parents and the others who grew up with him, including Feng Tingye, have no knowledge of this.

Speaking of this, we have to mention an embarrassing incident from Leng Ruofeng’s childhood. At the age of three or four, due to the disagreement in education philosophy between his father and grandfather, his father finally succumbed to his grandfather’s authority and temporarily sent Leng Ruofeng to stay with his grandfather. It was during this time that a once silly and cute little boy slowly evolved into the expressionless “bean paste” face. The root of this transformation was indeed color blindness!

Since he was young, Leng Ruofeng was not very sensitive to colors. In most cases, the colorful world was not as vibrant as it seemed to ordinary people but rather somewhat cold and monochrome in his eyes. At first, no one, not even his grandfather or anyone at home, noticed until…

One day, after finishing his lessons with his grandfather, Leng Ruofeng returned to his room. As he passed by a corner of the backyard, suddenly his eyes brightened, fixated on the hanging…

The maids who had just returned with the washed clothes to the courtyard suddenly saw a faint shadow lurking nearby, reaching his claws towards…

“Ah… people, help, help! There’s a flower thief stealing Dudous*!”
* undergarment covering the chest and abdomen

With a deafening scream, the person who was startled stumbled and fell from the ladder, directly into the pile of fluttering clothes in front, entangling with them in no time.

The guards nearby rushed into the courtyard when they heard the commotion. Following the direction pointed by the maids, they approached the figure step by step.

The small round bundle on the ground moved, causing everyone to hold their breath. Among them, one of the bolder guards stepped forward and shouted, “Who’s there? Come out! Otherwise, don’t blame us for not being polite!”

The little bundle moved again, and under everyone’s anticipation, the person inside quickly uncovered it.

Everyone took a step back in shock and gasped. They saw a delicate and pretty child with innocent big eyes looking at them blankly, holding a pitifully bright red Dudou.

The entire courtyard fell into silence for a few seconds, then erupted into a more piercing scream.

“You, you, you… Young Master Sun!”

This incident caused quite a commotion and naturally alarmed Leng Ruofeng’s grandparents.

Leng Ruofeng’s middle-aged and spirited grandfather hurriedly rushed to the backyard after hearing about the incident. Upon learning the whole story, his expressionless face turned extremely ugly.

“What’s going on? Why did you, a little kid, steal someone’s dudou?” Leng Ruofeng’s conservative grandfather could not accept that his grandson turned out to be a perverted thief stealing girls’ dudous. With raging anger, an idea flashed through his mind.

Hmph, it must be the fault of the Leng family’s bad genes! Indeed, I should never have let my precious daughter marry such a scoundrel! Look at what kind of child she gave birth to; fortunately, I took him over to personally raise him. If this had happened a few years later, this child would have been truly ruined!

His Grandfather was so angry that he blew his mustache and sneezed continuously at the Prime Minister’s residence, completely unaware that he was being unfairly implicated due to his mischievous son. The not-so-good image of him in his father-in-law’s heart was once again discounted.

“Lao Ye, calm down, calm down, let’s find out the truth first. Feng Er is usually so well-behaved; there must be a reason for this sudden change. Besides, he’s so young; maybe he doesn’t even know what that thing is,” Leng Maternal Grandmother hurriedly intervened, trying to defuse the situation. She was also shocked by her usually well-behaved little grandson’s sudden actions.

“How dare he mess with something without even knowing what it is? This shows that this child’s heart is impure!”

“… ” Leng Maternal Grandmother was speechless. She knew that it was futile to reason with an angry man. She turned to her beloved grandson and asked, “Feng Er, do you know what you are holding?”

The young Leng Ruofeng looked puzzled by his grandfather and grandmother’s anger. He tilted his head and raised the dudou he was still tightly holding, saying, “The colors… are different.”

“Hmm?” Leng Maternal Grandmother was puzzled. “Girls’ dudous are either pink or red. What’s different about it?”

“Dudou?”

Hearing this, Leng Maternal Grandfather and Leng Maternal Grandmother glanced at each other. Leng Maternal Grandmother was the first to come to her senses. She squatted down and looked into her grandson’s innocent eyes, trying to find out, “Feng Er, do you know what this is?”

Leng Ruofeng looked stunned for a moment, then unconsciously shook his head.

Leng Maternal Grandmother breathed a sigh of relief. She wanted to tell Leng Ruofeng that this was something private to girls and shouldn’t be touched casually. However, she was afraid of hurting the fragile heart of the child and contaminating his clean and clear personality, which was as pure as a blank sheet of paper. After hesitating for a while, her words condensed into one sentence, “Since Feng Er doesn’t know what this is, why did you grab it?”

Leng Ruofeng had been following his grandfather for quite some time, and although he was young, he was somewhat more mature than his peers. With his personality, he wouldn’t touch something he couldn’t figure out. That’s why Leng Maternal Grandmother was so surprised.

Leng Ruofeng bit his lip, not understanding why his grandfather and grandmother were being so verbose today. He had just answered this question.

With patience, Leng Ruofeng furrowed his brows slightly, a little annoyed, and repeated his answer, “The colors are different.”

“Uh…”

Leng Maternal Grandfather and Leng Maternal Grandmother were once again startled to hear this from Leng Ruofeng. After a brief moment of astonishment, the two brought Leng Ruofeng back to the study and, after some persistent questioning and careful probing, finally discovered the truth.

Their only young grandson turned out to be… colorblind! And he could only see the color red!

Upon learning the truth, the two elderly people couldn’t help but shed tears. After a brief moment of sorrow, Leng Maternal Grandfather once again directed his anger towards Leng Ruofeng’s father. Their family had never had anyone who couldn’t distinguish colors, so it couldn’t be because of their daughter. It must be that Leng boys fault! Indeed, he shouldn’t have been soft-hearted and allowed their daughter to marry him!

And so, Leng Ruofeng’s father was once again unfairly implicated.

Leng Maternal Grandfather looked at his obedient grandson, who looked so pitiful and helpless, and didn’t understand anything. He softened his heart, sighed, and told Leng Ruofeng, “Feng Er, besides us few, don’t casually tell others that you can’t distinguish colors, okay?”

“Why?” Leng Ruofeng, who was still innocent and ignorant, asked with confusion on his face.

Leng Maternal Grandfather’s face tightened as he said, “Because this is a weakness of Feng Er’s. If some bad people know about Feng Er’s weakness and use it against him, Feng Er might be in danger. Besides, if this matter is known to others, Feng Er might be laughed at. Does Feng Er want to be laughed at?”

Leng Maternal Grandfather’s patient explanation left Leng Ruofeng somewhat uncertain as he shook his head.

“Then what if someone asks about it?”

Leng Maternal Grandfather remained silent for a moment before continuing, “If someone asks, Feng Er should pretend to be unhappy, so they won’t dare to ask. When Feng Er grows up, if someone still dares to ask, Feng Er can show them some strength, just like what Grandfather does. When people see what Grandfather is capable of, who would dare to talk nonsense?”

Suddenly, Leng Ruofeng looked up at Leng Maternal Grandfather’s face and pondered for a moment. His eyes brightened, and a simple equation appeared in his young mind.

Don’t want to be laughed at = be as strong as Grandfather = keep a straight face like Grandfather and scare others so they won’t dare to talk nonsense.

In that moment, Leng Ruofeng felt like a light bulb turned on in his little head!

And so, the innocent Leng Ruofeng was misled by Leng Maternal Grandfather, along with his own outstanding brainpower, and successfully embarked on the path of becoming a full-fledged poker face.

Not long after, when Madam Leng and Leng Ruofeng’s father came to take him back, they were also surprised to learn the truth about Leng Ruofeng’s colorblindness. They had always felt that there was something strange about the child before. The embarrassing incident that exposed Leng Ruofeng’s fatal weakness was concealed by the two elders, considering their little grandson’s “reputation,” so even Leng Ruofeng’s parents were unaware that he was colorblind but sensitive to red.

The surprise of the two spouses lasted only for a moment. With their background and wealth, even if their son couldn’t distinguish colors, they had no worries about finding him a wife.

After bringing Leng Ruofeng back home, they found that their son often wore a sullen expression on his face. The couple assumed that their son was still upset about being colorblind, so they took turns acting as caring older siblings, trying to console him. However, they were unaware that the more they talked, the unhappier Leng Ruofeng became.

Gradually, the couple realized they were mistaken. Their once adorable and well-behaved little son had grown into a poker face and ice-cold mountain without them noticing!

While being colorblind might not hinder him from finding a wife, being a poker face and ice-cold mountain would scare off any potential suitors. The couple, especially Leng Ruofeng’s mother, became distressed at the thought of her son possibly remaining single forever.

Leng Ruofeng’s mother came up with a plan to save her son from becoming a permanent poker face, but it was too late. By that time, the facial expression cells in his face had mostly died, resulting in complete facial paralysis.

As the years passed, Leng Ruofeng’s mother couldn’t help but feel heartbroken and helpless as she watched her son transform from a small icy mountain to a large icy mountain. Internally, he hadn’t changed much, but his presence had become stronger, to the point that no girl would dare to come within ten meters of him. Each time she thought about it, Leng Ruofeng’s mother couldn’t help but shed bitter tears, and in her mind, she pictured a little figure waving a handkerchief in distress, calling out, “Future daughter-in-law, where are you?”

However, what Leng Ruofeng’s mother didn’t expect was that just when she had grown old and had a heart that died and came back to life countless times, and had mentally prepared herself for her son to be single forever, he actually brought a girl home. Oh boy, a girl, a real living girl!

In her nearly half-century of life, this was the first time she had seen a living girl by her son’s side. Especially when she saw this girl showing no fear of the freezing cold aura emanating from her son, as if she was enjoying the cool breeze on a hot summer day, Leng Ruofeng’s mother’s heart that had shattered because of her son suddenly healed.

Daughter-in-law, daughter-in-law, this was definitely the daughter-in-law she had been hoping for half her life! Realizing this, Leng Ruofeng’s mother looked at the red-clad woman who was always by her son’s side with eyes gleaming like a lecherous old man seeing a peerless beauty.

At that time, Leng Ruofeng had no idea how much shock his momentary whim had given his mother, nor did he realize the pleasant surprises this woman who had bewildered him would bring him in the future.

Leng Ruofeng would never forget the first time he saw Xia Muyun. The vibrant red on her body stood out in his otherwise gray and dark world. In that moment, Leng Ruofeng’s breath seemed to stop, and an unusually warm flow gently passed through his usually cold heart. At that time, he simply attributed this feeling to the bright red color that she was wearing.

Just because of that slight difference, when he saw Xia Mingqi making a move against that woman, he instinctively stepped in front of her and blocked the bright silver needle, feeling a bit annoyed after realizing that the needle was poisoned. However, his face was so accustomed to being expressionless that he naturally didn’t show this emotion outright.

Afterward, that woman generously expressed her gratitude to them. Unlike others who made empty promises, she directly left a piece of jade pendant and told them they could come to the princess’s mansion if they needed anything. Then, she left just as hastily as she had arrived.

In the following days, Leng Ruofeng stayed in Xia Country with Xia Yuqing and others. Since Xia Muyun was the princess of Xia Country, it was inevitable that the two of them would coincidentally meet several times.

Leng Ruofeng observed Xia Muyun’s unorthodox and righteous behavior, how she skillfully saw through Xia Yuqing’s identity, how she fearlessly confronted Feng Tingye, how she blushed at his simple gesture of goodwill, and how she boldly left the palace to follow him back to Ye Country. 

Although he had never experienced romantic feelings for anyone before, his intuition told him that this woman seemed to… like him! He couldn’t understand why Xia Muyun would be interested in him. Clearly, the other girls his mother had arranged for him were fine when they saw him from a distance, but as soon as they got closer, they would be scared away. However, this woman… no matter how cold he was, she never backed down. What exactly did she see in him?

Ever since he became a poker face, Leng Ruofeng faced a difficult problem for the first time, and the most dangerous thing was that he found a trace of expectation within himself while being puzzled.

Leng Ruofeng couldn’t understand why the usual him, who would keep people at a distance of a thousand miles and only showed a bit of restraint in front of a few close friends, would indulge this woman who liked wearing various red clothes and sway around him. However, when he came back to his senses, she had already caught his attention and deeply lodged herself in his heart.

Unfortunately, at that time, he hadn’t noticed this yet. He merely thought that maybe it wouldn’t be that difficult to have this woman always around him.

As a result, an excited scene occurred with Leng Ruofeng’s mother. Xia Muyun basically reported to Leng Ruofeng every day. Although her son would sometimes get annoyed and emit a burst of cold air to drive her away, he never verbally refused to let the girl stop pestering him. This was a good sign!

Daughter-in-law, daughter-in-law, Leng Ruofeng’s mother became crazy with thoughts of her future daughter-in-law. In her heart, she kept encouraging Xia Muyun: “Be a strong girl, men fear the persistent lady! Mother-in-law is rooting for you!”

The days passed with the two of them stumbling and fumbling along. Leng Ruofeng’s mother, who grew fonder of her future daughter-in-law each day, watched as the days went by.

But in the end, it was Xia Yuqing who finally broke the deadlock.

One day, after pestering Leng Ruofeng for a long time with no response, Xia Muyun rushed into the palace, pouring her heart out to Xia Yuqing. As a result, Xia Muyun was inevitably led into a trap by Xia Yuqing, and then the tragedy happened!

Leng Ruofeng went several days without seeing Xia Muyun, and at first, he didn’t think much of it. However, as time passed, he realized that a strange emotion had grown in his heart. No matter when or where, he couldn’t help but think of her. It was then that he understood that this feeling was… longing.

After patiently waiting for several days, Leng Ruofeng became increasingly restless. Finally, he received news that Xia Muyun was about to return to her country. At that moment, the last trace of reason in the ice-cold Prime Minister’s mind was shattered by this heavy news.

Without hesitation, Leng Ruofeng rushed to the inn where Xia Muyun was staying. On the way, all he could think about was why the woman who used to be with him every day suddenly wanted to leave. Could it be that she found him too boring and decided to give up on him? After years of indulging in his vivid imagination, Leng Ruofeng couldn’t bear the thought of letting Xia Muyun go like this. He never considered that many women had tried to get close to him, but his coldness had scared them away. He had never felt this way about anyone before. Why was that?

Before he could figure it out, he arrived at the place where Xia Muyun was staying and saw her once again. At that moment, the expressionless face of the EQ-deficient, secretly sentimental, icy-cold iceberg of a man decided on a shocking and unprecedented decision.

Since he wanted to keep this woman, why not… make the raw rice turn into cooked rice! Oops…

As an action-oriented person, Leng Ruofeng didn’t bother explaining anything. He directly pushed her down without saying a word.

Unaware of the confusion in Leng Ruofeng’s mind, he remained serious and focused, not realizing that the expression on the person’s face beneath him changed from surprise at the beginning, to shock when suddenly pushed down, and finally to extreme shyness and confusion.

In a hurry to prove everything with actions, Leng Ruofeng, who directly went from first base to home plate, paid a pitiful price for his impatience. He was kicked and slapped by the person beneath him, falling to the ground.

At that moment, focused on undressing the person beneath him, the somewhat naive Leng Ruofeng neglected to notice the changes in expression on Xia Muyun’s face. He was only able to avoid vital areas. Unfortunately, he was so engrossed in the lower part that he didn’t pay attention to the upper part, and was punched full force by Xia Muyun, landing on the floor with a loud bang.

The romantic atmosphere in the room suddenly turned stiff.

“…”

“…”

Xia Muyun suddenly sat up from **, looking at the man curled up under the bed. She realized that she had caused a big disaster and let out a scream before quickly running away. Meanwhile, Leng Ruofeng was left holding his aching cheek as he slowly got up from the ground, speechless.

As Leng Ruofeng watched Xia Muyun’s retreating figure, his usually emotionless eyes flashed with a hint of loss and confusion.

For the next several days, Leng Ruofeng didn’t see Xia Muyun again. He regretted his impulsive actions and felt disappointed. Of course, being an expressionless face with a cold demeanor, he would never show his regret and disappointment on his face. As a result, those around the Leng family had the rare privilege of experiencing several days of his ice-cold aura, which left a vacuum in the area of ten meters around him. Anyone who accidentally stepped into that zone would be indiscriminately frozen into an ice sculpture.

Just as everyone was enduring this unbearable situation, their savior finally appeared!

Leng Ruofeng didn’t expect Xia Muyun to show up in front of him again, looking as resolute as ever.

“Uh…”

“…”

As Xia Muyun stepped into Leng Ruofeng’s room, the bruises on his face from before had not yet faded. She looked at the injuries she had caused and the words she was about to say got stuck in her throat. Leng Ruofeng was not the type to initiate conversation either, so inevitably, the atmosphere between them became tense.

In the end, Xia Muyun couldn’t stand it any longer and bit her red lips before mumbling, “Well, if we’re going to die, let’s give it our all!”

Before the words even finished, Xia Muyun had already pounced on Leng Ruofeng and pinned him down.

“Uh…” As soon as Xia Muyun landed on Leng Ruofeng, she saw him unusually widen his expressionless eyes, staring at her intensely. Subconsciously, she felt a bit guilty. “Stop staring at me like that! No, I mean, you shouldn’t stare like that.”

Suddenly, Xia Muyun remembered the determination she made when she came over. She was here to take the initiative, and she couldn’t lose to him in momentum.

She adjusted her mood and tried to appear calmer. “Ahem, Leng Ruofeng, just accept your fate. You are destined to be mine for the rest of your life. No matter how hard you try to escape, it won’t work. And don’t even bother calling for help. Even if you scream your lungs out today, no one will come to save you.”

As Xia Muyun continued speaking, she sounded more and more like a female overlord bullying her male subjects. However, she felt quite pleased with herself and didn’t see anything wrong with her words.

Leng Ruofeng looked at Xia Muyun, who seemed nervous to the extreme but also somewhat smug. He couldn’t help finding it amusing and suddenly thought that this woman, who always had a bit of attitude, was actually quite adorable.

This thought activated the mischievous side of Leng Ruofeng’s personality. He glanced at Xia Muyun and asked, “You kicked me off the bed a few days ago, and now you’re being so proactive. What’s the reason for the change?”

As expected, when Xia Muyun heard his words, her proud expression froze for a moment, and a hint of embarrassment flashed across her face. However, she stuck to her guns and said, “That’s… that’s because I’m not used to being pinned down by someone. Now it’s your turn!”

Leng Ruofeng watched Xia Muyun’s awkwardness and refusal to admit her true intentions, and his usual expressionless lips slightly curled up. A rare glimmer of emotion appeared in his calm eyes, softening his whole face, which surprised Xia Muyun.

“So, today you’re here to offer yourself?”

“…” Xia Muyun was still lost in the charm of Leng Ruofeng’s smile and hadn’t noticed that a certain iceberg was completely going down the dark path.

Seeing Xia Muyun’s lack of response, a hint of excitement appeared in Leng Ruofeng’s eyes, and he continued, “Do you know what to do?”

With a face flushed with embarrassment, Xia Muyun glared at Leng Ruofeng and stammered, “Of course, I… I…”

Leng Ruofeng looked at the faint redness on the fair face of the person beneath him and the seductive gaze that lingered at the corner of the eyes. His calm eyes suddenly revealed a noticeable ripple. 

Before Xia Muyun could even finish her words, she felt a whirlwind sensation, and when she came to her senses, she found herself pinned to the ground, looking up at Leng Ruofeng in bewilderment. 

“It’s you who seduced me.” 

“!” Wait, when did I seduce you? Well, okay, she did throw herself at him, but she wanted to be on top, so why was she now underneath him? 

“Don’t act like you did last time.” 

“…”. Xia Muyun’s face blushed once again. She understood that Leng Ruofeng was telling her not to kick him off at a critical moment like last time. 

Leng Ruofeng gazed at Xia Muyun’s face, which had turned as red as a shrimp. He smiled slightly, then leaned down to exchange a kiss with her, leaving her with a dazed look and an even deeper blush on her face. Finally, he released her lips and moved his hand to her waistband. 

Xia Muyun noticed the hand placed at her waist. She trembled slightly but remembered not to move. Her face was already red as she held Leng Ruofeng’s wrist and said, “You, you, you…” 

“What’s wrong?” Right when they were about to reach the final moment, she interrupted him again. Leng Ruofeng’s face showed a hint of displeasure as he stared intently at Xia Muyun, hoping she would give him an explanation. This woman had come to him voluntarily this time, and now she wanted to stop, could it be she wanted to play games? 

Xia Muyun cleared her throat, keeping her eyes locked with Leng Ruofeng’s. She said, “You… You… You… Were you with other women… Before this… Otherwise… Why would it be like this… This…?” 

As she spoke, Xia Muyun’s face turned even redder, but her eyes were still fixed on Leng Ruofeng, persistently wanting him to give her an explanation. 

Leng Ruofeng was stunned for a moment, but then he understood. He looked at Xia Muyun’s stubborn expression and found it quite amusing. 

“Did Third Princess enjoy it?” 

“…” Xia Muyun froze, and then her face turned crimson again. The heat on her face was almost producing steam. Why did she feel like today’s Leng Ruofeng was different from before? Plus, these handsome male tactics were totally unfair! 

“No.”

“What?” Leng Ruofeng’s sudden words caught Xia Muyun off guard, who was still feeling shy.

“There are no other women, only you.”

Xia Muyun’s pupils suddenly contracted, and her face became even redder. “But…”

“From what I read in books.”

He read it in books? Did this man actually read those kinds of books, or was it just for her? The thought made Xia Muyun’s face even more flushed.

Leng Ruofeng looked at Xia Muyun’s blushing face, seemingly understanding something, and said softly, “Since you feel comfortable, let’s continue.”

The slightly smug expression in his eyes made Xia Muyun shiver all over. Sure enough… Sure enough, it wasn’t her imagination; today’s Leng Ruofeng was really different from usual.

Feeling something was off, Xia Muyun lifted her head and saw Leng Ruofeng’s face still expressionless, but his usually calm eyes were now flickering with a fierce green light, like a hungry wolf finding its beloved prey. His deep and explicit gaze seemed to want to devour her immediately.

Xia Muyun swallowed hard, realizing that she might have inadvertently provoked something she shouldn’t have. Could she still regret it now?

The answer was definitely no!

In the following hours of that evening, Leng Ruofeng showed Xia Muyun how terrifying it was to awaken a sleeping beast. In that big red tent, amid the rolling heat, Leng Ruofeng looked at Xia Muyun’s rare vulnerability and stunning appearance, and he felt a sudden movement in his heart.

The doubt that had been lingering in his mind finally became clear in that moment. He was initially drawn not by the red clothing on her body but by the person who exuded a fiery and eye-catching aura from within.

So, that was why he had lost his composure, instinctively stepping forward to block those poisoned needles for her. That was why he indulged this unfamiliar woman who often dressed so conspicuously in red in front of him, entangling with him. That was why he tolerated this woman throwing herself at him, exploring him up and down. It was all because of her.

Amid the scorching heat, Leng Ruofeng finally came to understand everything and felt pleased. However, Xia Muyun didn’t have such good luck.

The next morning, when Xia Muyun woke up, she felt pain all over her body as if she had been reassembled. She bit the bedsheet silently and cursed in a low voice. Indeed, men were ** animals. They appeared reserved at normal times, but once they **, they turned into completely different beings! Ah, she despised him so much!

Unaware of Xia Muyun’s countless complaints, Leng Ruofeng felt content, and even the chilling aura surrounding him softened slightly. Not only did he feel satisfied from satisfying his desires, but also because in his eyes, once they had consummated their marriage, this woman was his, belonging only to him, and no one could take her away!

However, he was too naive. As the saying goes, “All talk and no action makes a person fake,” and “All action and no talk makes a person stupid.” The real deal is both action and talk! Leng Ruofeng believed that once they had consummated their marriage and had mutual affection, they would be set for life. But he didn’t expect that Xia Muyun still intended to leave.

Leng Ruofeng’s intelligence might be high, but his emotional intelligence was inversely proportional to his intelligence. It could be called reserved or slow-witted, but in any case, it was a shocking deficiency.

Feeling puzzled after pondering the situation for the entire night, he finally couldn’t help but seek advice from his experienced father.

“Dad, I want to ask you a question.”

“Hmm?”

“Did you and mom get into bed as soon as you met?”

“Spurt…”

Poor Father Leng was frightened by his son’s astonishing question and was at a loss for words. After some side probing, he finally understood the truth. He felt both annoyed that his son couldn’t handle things properly despite having consummated their relationship and guilty, as he felt responsible for his son’s emotional awkwardness.

Under the urgent tutoring of his father, Leng Ruofeng finally grasped the concept of emotions. He realized that he needed to express his feelings not just through actions but also through words.

Armed with this new knowledge, Leng Ruofeng immediately headed for Xia Muyun’s residence to make up for his fatal mistake. However, before he could leave his room, he was caught by his mother and forced into new wedding attire.

Though his mother emphasized that the clothes were blue, Leng Ruofeng knew better than anyone that what he wore was obviously bright red, the same color she often wore, and most probably… wedding attire.

Leng Ruofeng hesitated for a moment, but under his mother’s expectant gaze, he didn’t say anything and left for Xia Muyun’s mansion. Partly because he didn’t want to disappoint his mother’s expectations, and partly because he wanted to use this opportunity to gauge Xia Muyun’s true feelings and whether she really intended to spend the rest of her life with him.

Despite being emotionally clueless, Leng Ruofeng’s cunning was on par with Feng Tianye’s, so it was no wonder he had risen to the position of prime minister at a young age.

The results of his test were satisfying. This woman was willing to spend the second half of her life with him. However, when he saw Xia Muyun’s disappointed expression, he felt a bit reluctant. So he changed the subject and quickly proposed, “I want to marry you. Will you marry me?”

Unexpectedly, Xia Muyun’s face showed a clear surprise, but even more unexpectedly, she refused.

“You want to marry me, but I won’t marry you.”

“…”

Leng Ruofeng was taken aback for a moment, and then his expression darkened. Anyone would be angry when they mustered the courage to propose to the woman they liked, only to be rejected without hesitation.

However, before Leng Ruofeng could truly get angry, Xia Muyun added with a faint smile, “This time, I really have something to attend to. So, if you’re sincere, prepare these things and come to marry me on my two nephews’ first birthday. How about that?”

This time? Did that mean the last time she didn’t really want to leave? Such thoughts rushed through Leng Ruofeng’s chaotic mind, but before he could dwell on them, Xia Muyun took the initiative, leaning in and kissing him.

Leng Ruofeng was caught off guard and couldn’t react. He looked at Xia Muyun’s beautiful face, which mixed grace with a hint of determination, and saw the mischief and a trace of anxious plea in her eyes.

Leng Ruofeng couldn’t help but sigh in his heart. He reached out and held her head, pulling her into his embrace, and whispered in her ear, “Okay, I promise.”

Though it would only be a short period, he would make sure to go and bring her back as soon as possible, making her completely his.

Unfortunately, things don’t always go as planned. Leng Ruofeng didn’t expect that Yan Tingfang’s appearance would disrupt all his plans. He originally planned to propose to Xia Muyun and welcome her back to his country after one or two months. However, due to Xia Yuqing and Feng Tianye leaving the country, his plans were postponed and delayed further. Eventually, he received news not of Xia Muyun’s immediate return but that she was pregnant with his child and being held captive!

When Leng Ruofeng received this intelligence from Xia Country, he felt as if he had been struck on the head with a heavy blow, and his mind went blank. After a moment, the only message that kept looping in his mind was: She’s pregnant, carrying their child!

He didn’t know what he was thinking at that moment. By the time he snapped out of it, he had already taken a horse from someone nearby, abandoned all responsibilities he should have shouldered, and disregarded all his concerns. He rushed towards where Xia Muyun was.

At that moment, his mind was filled with one thought: He wanted to see her, wanted to see her, wanted to see her… Why didn’t she tell him she was pregnant? Why did she not stay by his side after getting pregnant?

Countless questions circulated in his mind, but Leng Ruofeng knew he couldn’t blame everything on Xia Muyun. He was the one who didn’t even know that she was carrying his child, yet he foolishly watched her leave with their child. How could he have the right to blame her?

A child… She actually had his child, their child!

Leng Ruofeng felt a scorching sensation flow from the depths of his heart, almost burning away all his rationality and the composure he took pride in.

Xia Muyun, you win! You succeeded in making me lose all self-control and turning me into your devoted subject. So… you have to take responsibility.

With this complex and passionate mood in his heart, Leng Ruofeng raised the whip in his hand high, his gaze firm and unwavering in the direction of Xia Muyun.

When he saw Xia Muyun again, it was in the depths of a dark night. The moonlight fell like water on the woman standing by the window, silently shedding tears. The crystal teardrops seemed like broken beads continuously falling from her cheeks, finally gathering into a pool and dropping gently from her delicate chin.

After discreetly dealing with the bothersome guards, Leng Ruofeng turned around to save her and witnessed this scene. His eyes tightened suddenly, and an acidic feeling surged from the depths of his heart without warning.

Leng Ruofeng had never seen Xia Muyun cry, even in her most difficult moments. Her tears always remained in her eyes, never falling like they were now.

This woman always hid her most vulnerable side in her heart and showed her strong side to the world. Over time, he seemed to have forgotten that she was just a woman—a woman who could smile, cry, feel sad, and be lonely, a woman who needed protection and care just like anyone else.

After a brief moment of stiffness, Leng Ruofeng seemed unable to bear it any longer. He took a step forward.

Seeing the surprise and disbelief in Xia Muyun’s eyes, the acidic feeling surged through Leng Ruofeng again. If… if he hadn’t come, would she still stand by the window every night, weeping silently in the darkness, licking her wounds alone?

Thankfully, he came, and it wasn’t too late.

Leng Ruofeng embraced Xia Muyun entirely, providing her a solid harbor. He let her cry softly in his arms, and he heard her say, “Thank you” for not disappointing her expectations and for not letting her down. In that moment, the part of his heart that had been missing for nearly half a year seemed to be completely filled.

He knew that Xia Muyun was thanking him for not failing her expectations and not making her wait in vain. But how could he not thank her? Thank her for her efforts for their future and for waiting for him for almost half a year.

The slightly swollen belly pressed against him, making him feel a little uneasy, yet he didn’t repel it. Because he knew it was their child, the continuation of their lives. He had imagined seeing Xia Muyun pregnant with his child countless times before, but witnessing it now, he realized that no matter how he imagined it, he couldn’t truly capture its beauty.

Leng Ruofeng had also imagined the scene of meeting his future child, but he never expected it to happen so soon. He had just learned that he would become a father, and now this child was about to appear before him in the flesh.

“I… I think… I’m going into labor.”

When he heard Xia Muyun say this, Leng Ruofeng’s mind went blank for a moment. Cracks appeared on his iceberg-like face that couldn’t be controlled, and he could only reply in a dazed manner, “Going into labor?”

He wanted to comfort the woman in his arms, but found that all his composure had already dissipated. His already limited words could only form monotonous consolations: “Yun Er, don’t be afraid, it’s okay, it’s okay.”

Only Leng Ruofeng knew that these words were comforting both Xia Muyun and himself. Who could have imagined that the cold and calm Prime Minister in the court, facing those old foxes who ate people without spitting out bones, would be in such a panicked state.

The situation that followed was chaotic, as Xia Yuqing would describe it, a mess like a pot of porridge. On one hand, they had to deal with the pursuing soldiers, and on the other hand, they struggled against the harsh environment, striving to ensure Xia Muyun’s safe delivery of the baby.

Leng Ruofeng sat by Xia Muyun’s side, tightly holding her hand. He watched the crimson blood continuously flow from under her, saw her gritting her teeth to endure the pain with red-rimmed eyes, and observed her once fair face turning paler. He witnessed her eventually fainting, her body gradually becoming cooler, yet he was powerless to do anything.

Leng Ruofeng hated his own helplessness for the first time, loathing that he couldn’t share the burden with her at this critical moment. If she were to leave him like this, he… he didn’t even dare to think about it.

Thankfully… thankfully… she managed to persist. At the brink of life and death, she returned to him and gave birth to their child.

When Xia Muyun gave birth and then fainted again, Leng Ruofeng didn’t even have time to look at the child she had just struggled so hard to deliver. He tightly embraced the weakened woman who still had some breath left, feeling a mix of emotions. For the first time in his life, the usually cold and aloof man had tears in his eyes. He made up his mind that this time he wouldn’t let this person in his arms go to anyone else, not even the King of H*ll!

Another year passed with the falling of petals. Leng Ruofeng stood by the window, watching the gently falling large red flowers outside, lost in thought.

“What are you thinking?” With a familiar soft call, a pair of hands suddenly encircled his waist.

Leng Ruofeng didn’t change his expression when he heard her voice, but there was a hint of tenderness in his eyes. He reached back and grabbed the hands hugging his waist, then pulled her into his embrace.

“I was thinking that if I had known you were carrying my child back then, I would never have let you leave.”

Xia Muyun was taken aback, her face slightly blushing. “Even if you didn’t let me leave, I would still go.”

Seeing the confusion in Leng Ruofeng’s narrowed eyes, Xia Muyun added, “At that time, Royal Brother had just ascended to be the Crown Prince, and Royal Father fell ill, leaving all the state affairs to the Crown Prince. In the eyes of others, he was greatly favored, but he had just ascended the throne and was not yet firmly established. Many in the court believed in him, but many others did not. Furthermore, Imperial Concubine Roujia caused trouble. The Crown Prince was suddenly surrounded by enemies, and my second royal brother… you know what kind of person he is. He only knows how to protect himself and cannot possibly assist Royal Brother. On the contrary, I had contacts with the old subordinates left by Royal Mother, and if I returned, I could be of some help.”

After hearing Xia Muyun’s explanation, Leng Ruofeng finally understood. However, although Xia Muyun said it lightly, he knew the situation wasn’t that simple. The imperial power was always intertwined with the court, and the downfall of the crown prince would often lead to a sudden change in the court. At that time, she was pregnant but had to involve herself in that muddy water. He couldn’t help but feel heartache when he thought about it.

Xia Muyun seemed to sense the turmoil in Leng Ruofeng’s emotions. She smiled and leaned gently against his chest.

The two of them stood side by side, looking at the floating flowers outside the window, remaining silent for a while.

After a long pause, it was Leng Ruofeng who spoke first, “Where is Yi Er?”

Yi Er, as Leng Ruofeng mentioned, was the daughter Xia Muyun gave birth to for him. His parents, Madam Leng and Lord Leng, named her Yiru, which meant “everything goes as desired” and conveyed wishes for peace and safety.

“She’s playing outside with her grandmother. Look, there she is,” Xia Muyun pointed casually.

Leng Ruofeng followed her direction and saw Madam Leng leading a cute little girl of about three or four years old, with her hair tied up in a baby bun, walking in the courtyard. The harmonious scene softened Leng Ruofeng’s eyes unconsciously.

Watching Madam Leng playing happily with the child, Xia Muyun blushed, as if she remembered something. After hesitating for a moment, she reached out and tugged at Leng Ruofeng’s sleeve.

Leng Ruofeng withdrew his gaze and looked at her with some confusion, “What’s wrong?”

Xia Muyun cleared her throat and blushed, “Should we… have another child?”

Leng Ruofeng was taken aback, and after a moment of silence, he firmly refused, “No.”

“Why?!” Xia Muyun looked at him with excitement.

“Your body…” Leng Ruofeng furrowed his brow, disapprovingly gazing at Xia Muyun. He still had lingering fears about the life-threatening situation she faced during Yi Er’s birth. Even though she managed to survive, her body has not fully recovered. Thanks to Madam Leng’s relentless efforts over the years, she was doing better recently. How could he let her take such a risk again?

Xia Muyun was taken aback and understood what Leng Ruofeng was worried about, but…

“I know my body well, I promise it won’t be like last time. At the very least, we have Lord Su, the divine physician, don’t we? Everything will be fine…” Facing Leng Ruofeng’s reproachful gaze, Xia Muyun said with a touch of sadness, “Besides, look at my eldest brother and younger sister; they both have two children. Now my younger sister’s child is about to be born. We’ve only had one child, and I still want another one! Both Grandma and Grandpa love children so much, and they would be happy if we have another.”

Xia Muyun’s voice grew softer, and her disappointment was becoming more evident on her face.

Leng Ruofeng looked at her like this and couldn’t bear to be tough. In fact, Su Qingyan had told him long ago that Xia Muyun’s body was well after years of recuperation. It was his own shadow and fear of repeating the past that made him avoid being intimate with her for so many years. Even if they were intimate, he would take extra precautions to prevent her from getting pregnant again. But since she was so eager for it, then…

As Xia Muyun was still feeling disappointed, she suddenly felt her body tilting, and the next moment, her whole body was lifted up, leaving her breathless. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around Leng Ruofeng’s neck, looking at him with surprise.

Leng Ruofeng saw the look of extreme astonishment on Xia Muyun’s face, and a faint smile appeared at the corners of his usually stern lips, softening his entire expression.

Xia Muyun was once again stunned by this rare sight, until a magnetic and somewhat teasing voice sounded in her ear, “Since it was Yun Er who seduced me, you must take responsibility.”

Xia Muyun was taken aback and glared at Leng Ruofeng in embarrassment. She realized she had been blind to consider him a righteous gentleman. He had become more and more unpredictable over the years.

In the moment she was pushed onto the bed, Xia Muyun blushed and heard Leng Ruofeng’s hoarse voice telling her, “This is the last time, no more.”

It took her a while to understand what Leng Ruofeng meant. Delighted, she proactively reached out and hugged him, giving him a kiss. However, she would soon pay the price for her boldness.

Inside the tightly closed master bedroom of the Prime Minister’s mansion, passion raged like wildfire, as they happily engaged in the grand event of procreation.

Outside the room, in the courtyard, the fiery flowers fell slowly under the gentle breeze, landing on the heads of the playful grandfather and granddaughter. The child laughed with joy like silver bells, and the middle-aged woman standing beside them watched the scene with a warm smile.

It was truly an enviable and blissful family!

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