Feng Xie's expression was grim, his fist clenched so tight that veins bulged. The joy he'd felt all night vanished, replaced by a burning fury. With a sweep of his hand, all the dishes on the table crashed to the floor. For an Emperor to confess his feelings to someone, only to be rejected, and by an ugly woman at that – how could he not be consumed by rage?
Liu Liu stood up and stepped aside. She had eaten her fill, and if she claimed otherwise, that was his problem.
The sight of the woman before him calmly watching him, a faint smile playing on her lips, sent a surge of fiery anger through Feng Xie's veins. He desperately wanted to shatter her composure, to make her taste the bitterness of heartbreak and anger.
He didn't know that her pain resided within her heart, her tears shed in silence. Her outward demeanor was merely a façade.
"You are simply a jealous woman, aren't you? Seeing Consort Shu pregnant, does it make you uncomfortable? For an Empress to lack such magnanimity, you are unworthy of the title."
Her expression remained unchanged, but her heart ached. His words were sharper than any blade. She looked at him with a shadowed gaze, did he wish to see her suffer?
When she was in pain, she didn't cry. Just like now. Her heart was in agony. She hadn't realized his words could wound her so deeply. It explained why, after being drugged that time, the birthmark on her face had faded significantly. A thread of emotion, love, had been kindled within her, though she hadn't recognized it then.
However, that thread of love quickly twisted into a sharp blade, piercing her heart. Her eyes burned, and she knew tears were about to spill, but she absolutely refused to let them fall. She tilted her head back, appearing to look down on him with disdain.
This action only fueled his anger. He was as wild and untamed as a furious leopard, raging and violent.
"Since Your Majesty believes Liu'er to be a jealous woman who has committed the seven grounds for divorce, then I beg Your Majesty to depose Liu'er," she said, standing gracefully in the light. She suddenly knelt, her posture uncharacteristically gentle as she knelt before him, yet her plea was for him to cast her aside.
A flicker of pain crossed his exquisitely handsome face. The fury in his dark eyes intensified, and his thin lips curved into a chilling smile, a smile as alluring and destructive as a hellish flower blooming on the other shore.
"Do you wish to leave the palace?" His voice reached her before his presence. He moved with lightning speed, landing beside her. His large hand moved swiftly towards her vital points. By the time she reacted, his palm had gathered a powerful surge of energy, poised above her head.
Her eyes instantly turned cold. Did he intend to cripple her martial arts? If he dared to do so, she would prefer death. For a martial artist, losing their skills was a fate worse than death.
"If Your Majesty intends to cripple my martial arts, then simply grant Liu Liu death. There's no need for such trouble," she declared fiercely. Her eyes flashed with a fierce, dominant sharpness, her gaze defiant against the Emperor. Her usually clear eyes were now tainted with hatred.
Feng Xie's heart tightened. Suddenly, he felt a pang of tenderness. Had he hurt her again? Why was it that despite his desire for peace between them, their interactions always devolved into confrontation?
He abruptly retracted the force of his palm. Looking at her resolute expression, so determined, he couldn't bring himself to strike. He let out a low growl.
"You will immediately return to Weiyang Palace. Think of nothing. Otherwise, you know I will show no mercy to those around you." His voice was sharp and threatening. If anything were to happen to her, he swore to make those close to her pay with their lives.
Liu Liu breathed a sigh of relief. That was a close call. She stood up without a word, her expression unreadable, and walked out of Yongyuan Hall without looking back. Their relationship was truly a karmic misfortune. From the moment they first met, it was destined to be a disaster. Liu Liu walked away, the kind of woman who could live gracefully even without love.
It was precisely because of her carefree nature that after Feng Lie took two concubines, she had gone to the most bustling street in the capital, indulged in a meal, and returned as if nothing had happened. As Liu Liu left Yongyuan Hall, she heard a thunderous sound behind her once more.
In front of Yongyuan Hall, Xiao Wanzi was speaking nervously with Cai Xia and the others, whispering their guesses about what was happening inside. Two loud noises had already echoed out.
However, since the Emperor hadn't summoned them, they dared not enter. Cui'er looked up and saw the Consort emerging, and quickly went to meet her.
"Consort, are you alright?"
Liu Liu shook her head, her mind feeling numb. Her face bore a detached expression, a coolness that kept others at bay. Cui'er's heart ached seeing her like this. Her mistress must have suffered again. She only retreated into herself, becoming distant and aloof when she was wronged.
"Let's go, we're returning." Liu Liu walked down the jade steps, her three young maids following closely behind as they headed back to Weiyang Palace. Xiao Wanzi saw them leave and his scalp tingled. He cautiously peeked in.
He saw Yongyuan Hall in disarray. Feng Xie's handsome face was etched with a stormy rage. The moment he spotted Xiao Wanzi, a shadow projectile flew towards him. Xiao Wanzi didn't dare to dodge.
Fortunately, it was only a piece of fruit. If it had been something heavier, it would have cost him his life!
"Your Majesty, please take care of your imperial health." Xiao Wanzi caught the fruit thrown at him and cautiously moved towards the dining table. He beckoned to a few eunuchs peeking from the doorway to quickly come and clean up.
Everyone held their breath. Fortunately, Feng Xie's anger had somewhat subsided after hearing Xiao Wanzi's words. He flashed into the room and sat on a nearby couch, gazing at the flickering palace lamps in the corner.
In his imagination, tonight should have been a moment of thrilling excitement. He, a dignified Emperor, had condescended to confess his feelings to that ugly woman, and she should have rejoiced and offered her gratitude. Instead, she not only showed no gratitude but even requested to be deposed.
Could it be that she truly wished to leave the palace because Jin Jiali was pregnant? But she had always disliked staying in the palace, always wanting to leave. Perhaps Jin Jiali's pregnancy had only spurred her on.
The cold, dark night was less hurtful than his words. He had called her jealous of Jin Jiali, and why did she feel pain because of his words? Liu Liu's star-like eyes were cold and charming, a bitter smile playing on her lips. She remained silent the entire way.
Upon returning to Weiyang Palace, she waved for the other maids to withdraw, leaving only Cui'er to assist her. After bathing and having her hair unbound, she heard Cui'er's astonished exclamation.
"Consort, quickly look! The birthmark on your face is almost gone. Oh my heavens, Cui'er knows Consort is beautiful, but I never imagined she could be this stunning!" Cui'er's voice reached Liu Liu. She initially thought the maid was joking and casually glanced into the bronze mirror. xxs一
One look and she froze. The woman in the mirror, her birthmark had indeed faded, to the point of being almost invisible.
Even without makeup, her face was breathtakingly beautiful. Her skin was like flawless jade, her eyebrows were delicate, her nose was high, and her lips were like cherries. She looked like a celestial fairy descending from the heavens, pure and ethereal. Was this truly her?
Liu Liu stared for a moment, then reached out to touch her cheek. It was as smooth as the finest silk, without a single blemish.
"I'm not quite used to it," Liu Liu said with a faint smile. Although she had become more beautiful, she realized something else. Since she was implanted with the Heartbreak Flower's seed, and now that the seed had been resolved, the method of resolution was through consummation. No wonder the birthmark on her face had gradually faded since that night, until it completely disappeared.
If she had married Feng Lie back then, this Heartbreak Flower seed would have been resolved on their wedding night. She hadn't expected that after all calculations, her Heartbreak Flower seed had been resolved by Feng Xie.
Feng Xie and she were not destined for each other, yet she found herself drawn to his overbearing presence, noticing his existence. That was why her heart had felt bitter when she heard about Jin Jiali's pregnancy. She needed to leave this place as soon as possible. People like her would never find happiness in the inner palace.
"If the Emperor finds out, how happy he will be!" Cui'er sighed softly, thinking that if the Emperor saw how beautiful his Consort was, he would cherish her like a treasure. However, Liu Liu's nature was not one to use her beauty to gain attention.
Her expression darkened, and her gaze swept coldly over Cui'er.