Faced with Feizhan’s question, Feng Lezhen simply glanced at the still-bleeding corpse on the floor. “You shouldn’t have come.”
“Did I interrupt Your Highness’s good time?” Feizhan’s face was still streaked with blood, his grey-blue eyes dark and twisted.
Feng Lezhen tugged at her lips. “What’s the point of saying that now? Feishi will be here soon—you need to leave.”
“You’re coming with me.” Feizhan crossed his arms, showing no concern for the bloodstains on him.
Feng Lezhen was about to say something when a short, faint whistle sounded from outside. She immediately shot him a look of displeasure. “You asked me to help you, and I am helping. Once we deal with Feishi too, Tayuan will be yours. Are you really going to stand here and waste time arguing with me?”
“That whistle just now sounded awfully familiar. If I’m not mistaken, that should be Miss Ah Ye,” Feizhan said with a smirk, utterly shameless. “When did she sneak into the royal palace? How come I didn’t know?”
“Feizhan!” Feng Lezhen’s face changed slightly.
Feizhan’s smile faded a bit. “Either we leave together—you return to the Rinuan Pavilion, and I head back to the banquet—or we both stay here.”
The short whistle sounded again. That meant Feishi would arrive in less than half a quarter-hour.
Feng Lezhen stared into his grey-blue eyes for a long time. Finally, she opened her red lips and said coldly, “Madman.”
Feizhan grinned, even more wicked than before. “Takes one to know one.”
Feng Lezhen shot him a glance, face tight, and headed out. But just as she reached the doorway, she heard the sound of hurried footsteps outside.
Earlier than expected.
She turned back and saw Feizhan leaning lazily against the window, still wearing that faint, mocking smile. Feng Lezhen took a steadying breath, dashed to the window in three or five steps, and leapt out.
Feizhan’s smile faded as he pulled the dagger from Feishai’s body and nimbly followed her out. Just before hitting the water, he even remembered to shut the window from the outside.
Bang!
The door to the pavilion was kicked open.
Shouts and chaos erupted inside the building, while outside, in the water, Feng Lezhen swam forward with all her strength.
Though it was summer, the water was bone-chilling, constantly leeching away her body heat. Her strength was also draining fast. The shoreline looked impossibly far—no matter how hard she swam, it felt like she’d never reach it.
After two lifetimes of careful planning, step by step to get to this point—was she really going to die in a tiny place like Tayuan? At the thought, her body felt even colder. Her knees, especially, were like being stabbed with needles, as though she were back kneeling in the Cold Palace, lost in a daze.
“Ugh…” Cold water flooded her nose and mouth. Her body began to sink. Just as she was about to drown, a large hand scooped her up.
She caught a glimpse of the person beside her—then kept swimming forward.
With Feizhan’s support, the two of them soon made it ashore. Back at Qingshui Pavilion, torches were blazing. Neither of them stopped to catch their breath. They immediately took off running toward the Rinuan Pavilion.
“Who else knows you appeared there tonight?” Feizhan’s voice was quick and urgent.
Feng Lezhen replied, “Only Feishai and a servant of the Eldest Consort.”
“And the servant?” Feizhan asked.
“Dead,” said Feng Lezhen.
On the small boat moored outside Qingshui Pavilion, the servant was bleeding from all seven orifices, eyes wide open and staring blankly at the sky—he likely didn’t even know how he had died.
Feizhan was silent for a moment. “You’re certain only those two knew?”
“I’m certain,” Feng Lezhen said. Remembering the servant’s panicked expression, her lips slowly curved into a faint smile. “This matter wasn’t exactly honorable. Feishai wasn’t stupid enough to announce it to the world. As for the Eldest Consort—if she had known what he intended, there’s no way she wouldn’t have stopped him.”
As they spoke, the two had already returned to the Rinuan Pavilion. The moment they entered, Feizhan ordered a brazier brought in, then began stripping off his clothes from the inside out. Under the dim candlelight, his body—slightly reddened from the cold—glowed faintly, and the jade ring on his hand swayed with his every movement.
He was a sight to behold, but Feng Lezhen had no mind to admire the view. She quickly undressed just as he had, then retrieved a fresh set of clothing from the cabinet to change into. By the time she had finished dressing, Feizhan was already neatly clothed, his new outfit indistinguishable from the one he had worn earlier.
Feng Lezhen glanced at his clothes, raising her brows slightly.
“Prepared just in case,” Feizhan said as he warmed his hair by the fire. “Good thing I had it ready. Remember—you didn’t go out tonight. You didn’t see Feishai.”
With that, his hair dry, he no longer looked at her and turned to leave.
Feng Lezhen sat silently in the room. Not long after, Ah Ye stepped out from the shadows.
“There’s been a change,” Feng Lezhen said slowly. “Pass the word—hold off for now.”
“Yes.”
The Eldest Prince was dead.
He had died in Qingshui Pavilion.
When the news reached the banquet, the Tayuan King shattered his wine cup in fury. His eyes were bloodshot. “Nonsense! Lies!”
“Mm…” Feizhan, reeking of alcohol, crawled out from under his table, muttering groggily, “What happened?”
The King didn’t spare him a glance. Face dark, he turned and left with his attendants.
Still drunk and unable to keep up, Feizhan had no choice but to summon two servants to support him as he followed.
It was destined to be a sleepless night. By the time Feizhan returned to the Rinuan Pavilion, the sky had already begun to pale with dawn.
In the north, the morning dew was heavy. The air felt freshly washed, mingled with the scent of flowers, making one feel refreshed and clear-headed. By contrast, the bedchamber, sealed tight all night, felt stifling.
“How did it go?” Feng Lezhen was seated at the edge of the bed, still wearing the clothes she’d changed into the night before—clearly, she hadn’t slept at all.
Feizhan looked at her, then dragged a chair over and sat down before her. “Shall we talk?”
As expected. Feng Lezhen met his gaze calmly. “What’s there to talk about?”
“Let’s start with why you met him at Qingshui Pavilion,” Feizhan said, eyes locked onto hers.
Feng Lezhen’s lips curved slightly, forming an unreadable smile. “Haven’t you already guessed? He had the Eldest Consort’s servant send me a message to lure me there—he intended to assault me.”
“That much I figured. What I don’t understand is, Your Highness is sharp as they come, and always claims not to stand under a collapsing wall. So why, knowing it was a trap, did you go alone?” Feizhan asked with a smile.
“Because I planned to kill him,” Feng Lezhen replied.
Feizhan’s expression didn’t change.
“You are of low birth and hold little power. Even if he died, the throne wouldn’t go to you. But what if the killer was Feishi?” Feng Lezhen continued, a trace of regret flashing in her eyes. “The Eldest Consort loves her son madly. If her only son died, I imagine she’d give her life before letting his killer inherit the throne.”
“If you hadn’t shown up last night,” she said, “then it would’ve played out like this: the Second Prince caught the Eldest Prince attempting to assault the Third Prince Consort. A fight broke out, and the Eldest Prince was accidentally killed.”
She had applied a drug on her body that temporarily weakened anyone who smelled it. After inhaling it, Feishai lost all strength. She could have killed him on her own. And this type of drug—no matter who investigated, even an immortal deity couldn’t detect it.
Tayuan was a kingdom on horseback. A woman like her couldn’t possibly kill Feishai by force. The only plausible killer was Feishi. She would have testified herself, then found a chance to set a fire and fake her death. After escaping with Ah Ye, the murder charge would fall entirely on Feishi.
Though the King wouldn’t give up his favorite heir just for one son’s death, the Eldest Consort’s family—having lost their only prince—wouldn’t dare let Feishi devour them completely. They’d have no choice but to turn to Feizhan for support.
“Heaven, earth, and timing were all on our side. Pity you came and ruined everything.” Just thinking about it left Feng Lezhen speechless.
Feizhan’s expression was unreadable. “Why kill the servant?”
“Just in passing. If he’d made a fuss to block Feishi from entering, it could’ve drawn others,” Feng Lezhen said slowly.
“You killed him yourself?” Feizhan asked.
“Who else would have? Do I have that many people at my disposal in Tayuan?” Feng Lezhen replied, face showing mild confusion.
Feizhan let out a laugh. “For the sake of helping me, Your Highness was willing to stain your hands with blood. Truly touching.”
“It was just a small effort,” Feng Lezhen replied calmly.
Feizhan’s lips curved slightly. “What a shame that such a meticulous plan was all ruined by me. Do you regret not telling me ahead of time?”
The smile at his lips faded, his gaze darkening. “But I’m guessing you don’t regret it. After all, the reason you risked yourself wasn’t just to help me—it was to ensure this incident became the greatest leverage you’d ever have over me. If I hadn’t arrived in time, what were you planning to take—his jade pendant? Tear a piece from his robe? You planned it so well. I’d owe you a life, and you’d hold it over me for the rest of mine. Too bad… You’re Feng Lezhen. But I may not be Feng Ji. I won’t let you hold me so easily.”
Feng Lezhen stared at him for a long time before sighing, “What I dislike most… is that sharp mind of yours.”
“You must prefer someone like Feishai. If he ascends the throne, Tayuan becomes nothing more than a morsel of meat on Great Qian’s lips,” Feizhan said with a smirk.
Feng Lezhen raised her eyes. “Tayuan is even more desolate than Yingguan—its population is small and land bitterly cold. Tasteless to chew, a pity to discard. Even if it were taken, what would be the use?”
“At the very least, you wouldn’t have to worry that Tayuan, if it fell into my hands, might one day pose a threat to Great Qian,” Feizhan sneered.
Feng Lezhen curved her lips. “I used to think that way too, but these past two years my mindset has changed a great deal. I no longer view things so shallowly. Great Qian doesn’t need Tayuan, and Tayuan could never swallow Great Qian. You’re a clever man—never one to act rashly. For the next thirty years at least, Great Qian and Tayuan will remain at peace.”
She may have had ambitions to expand the empire, but she didn’t enjoy wanton slaughter. What she truly sought was peace. …It was just that human hearts changed too easily. To guard against the day Feizhan lost his mind and caused trouble, she had thought to leave herself a piece of leverage. Who would have guessed his reaction would be so quick—before she could even act, he’d already seen through her.
If she had known, she wouldn’t have bothered going to such lengths.
Feng Lezhen sighed lightly, lifted her gaze to meet his. “We stand on opposite sides. I hope you can understand. After all, I…”
Before she could finish, Feizhan suddenly pulled her toward him.
She had been sitting at the edge of the bed and was caught off guard—falling directly into his embrace. Then came a wave of kisses, overwhelming and unrelenting.
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