The moonlight cast upon the stone plaque at the entrance of Prince Yan's mansion, refracting into several dazzling beams that illuminated the lifelike characters.
Everyone stood waiting outside the gates. After some time, no one appeared. Then, the person who had gone to report earlier returned, leading the steward of Prince Yan's mansion.
The steward gazed at the richly dressed individuals before him. Among the crowd, he noticed a man who, with his bearing, seemed to command the respect of all others, and his features bore a slight resemblance to his own prince. Understanding dawned upon him, and he knelt down with a thud.
Upon seeing the steward kneel, the mansion's servants immediately followed suit. In an instant, the area before the grand gate was filled with a sea of kneeling figures. Feng Xie raised a sculpted eyebrow, a flicker of suppressed anger in his dark eyes, and spoke with forced patience.
"Where is your prince?"
The steward carefully reported, "His Highness is drinking in the Bixue Pavilion and pays no mind to anyone who calls for him."
Feng Xie's expression immediately turned frigid. With a sweep of his black brocade robe, he moved with the swiftness of flowing clouds, leading the way inside. The others quickly followed him through Prince Yan's mansion. The hazy moonlight draped the pavilions, towers, small bridges, and flowing streams in a thin veil, creating a scene of cool elegance.
No one spoke. In the quiet night, only the sound of steady footsteps could be heard as they passed through pavilions and crossed bridges, heading directly to the Bixue Pavilion. At the entrance to the prince's courtyard, the gatekeepers, upon seeing the imposing procession before them,
The steward followed cautiously behind, realizing the importance of the visitors. He dared not utter a word and swiftly moved aside.
From a distance, they could hear Prince Feng Lie's roaring voice emanating from a room within the Bixue Pavilion. A chill emanated from Feng Xie's entire being. His imperial brother had gone mad, a prince of the realm indulging in drunken rampages at home. He led Liu Liu into the flower hall of the Bixue Pavilion, while the others remained outside.
The flower hall was brightly lit by candles. Feng Lie sat with his head tilted back, drinking glass after glass. He appeared disheveled, his hair unbound, his clothes disheveled, a far cry from the spirited prince he once was. Liu Liu felt a pang of inexplicable heartache.
After all, Feng Lie had been someone she cared about in her youth. She hadn't expected him to get drunk because of her. If only these things had happened before she entered the palace, how wonderful that would have been. But what use was it now?
In the flower hall, besides Feng Lie, were Princess Jielan and two beautiful consorts.
Liu Liu had seen these two heavenly beauties before; they were indeed women of stunning allure.
In the past, Feng Lie often prided himself, boasting to her about how he would only marry the most beautiful women. Yet, he never knew that with each such declaration, her hope diminished a little, until she finally harbored no more feelings for him.
Jielan looked up and saw the man entering, realizing it was the current Emperor. She quickly led the two beautiful consorts in a graceful bow: "Jielan greets His Imperial Majesty."
Feng Xie waved his hand dismissively, gesturing for Jielan to rise. He strode to Feng Lie's side, his face dark and his voice a furious growl, "Feng Lie, you scoundrel, what are you doing?"
With that, he reached out and tightly gripped Feng Lie's body, pulling him close and shaking him incessantly. The wind blew in from the door, and Feng Lie’s senses cleared slightly. He opened his eyes wide, looking at his imperial brother, who was shaking him, and asked in confusion.
"I'm not drunk, why do I see my Imperial Brother?" Feng Xie's rage surged, and he could no longer contain it. He clenched his fist, veins bulging on his forearm, and with a swing, struck Feng Lie.
With a thud, Feng Lie fell to the ground, spitting out some wine. He finally regained some sobriety. Looking up, he saw his furiously glaring Imperial Brother and shuddered, quickly getting to his feet.
"Imperial Brother, why are you here?!"
His Imperial Brother's punch was indeed heavy. The corner of his lips was almost split, and it hurt. Feng Lie wiped his mouth and found it bleeding. Jielan and the two concubines cried out in distress, "My Prince?"
They almost rushed forward, but Feng Lie shot them a fierce glare, and the three women froze, not daring to move.
"Feng Lie, how long are you going to act like this? What exactly do you want? Is it all for one woman?"
Feng Xie's words struck Liu Liu like a physical blow, causing her heart to ache profoundly.
What kind of man was this? Just moments ago, he had held her tightly in his arms, and now he spoke words as sharp and hurtful as knives.
Liu Liu's eyes welled up. She tilted her head slightly, forcing her tears back. She would never shed tears in front of others; her tears should remain in her heart.
Upon hearing his Imperial Brother's words, Feng Lie's eyes lit up, gazing intently and intensely at his Imperial Brother, speaking one after another: "Imperial Brother, since you dislike Liu'er, bestow her upon this subject. This subject will surely treat her well."
Feng Lie's words caused several people in the flower hall to change their expressions. Feng Xie's face darkened, teetering on the edge of rage.
If this man were not his imperial brother, he would have killed him with his own hands for harboring thoughts of his woman. But this was his brother, a brother who wholeheartedly supported him.
A deep, unfathomable glint flashed in Feng Xie's profound eyes. He reached out, pulling Liu Liu from behind him, holding her tightly in his embrace, and stared at Feng Lie.
"Feng Lie, do you see? She is my Empress. She desires a lifetime of favor, and it's impossible for her to want to marry you."
Feng Lie was surprised that Liu Liu had also come. Hearing his Imperial Brother's words and seeing Liu'er motionless in his Imperial Brother's embrace, his heart ached beyond measure, as if it were being torn apart. His eyes fixed on Liu Liu: "Is what Imperial Brother says true?"
Liu Liu paused. She felt the increasing pressure of the large hand on her shoulder, a pressure that was digging into her flesh, completely disregarding her pain.
Perhaps, in his heart, fraternal affection was paramount. What did it matter if a woman like her was sacrificed? Liu Liu looked up and smiled faintly, her face somewhat pale. In her heart, she let out a quiet hum.
Feng Xie, I hope you never regret what you do, just as Feng Lie has. What you give to others, one day will befall yourself.
"Yes, I am inherently a vain woman. Otherwise, I would not have entered the palace to become Empress," Liu Liu said lightly. Though her tone was soft, it carried a certainty that made people believe she was indeed such a person.
However, Feng Lie, having spent several years with Liu Liu, naturally did not believe she was that kind of person. He shook his head repeatedly and reached out to grab Liu Liu, but Feng Xie skillfully sidestepped, preventing him from touching her.
"I don't believe it. Liu'er, do you have any unspeakable difficulties? Tell Imperial Brother, Imperial Brother will not make things difficult for us. He will surely fulfill our wishes," Feng Lie said with full confidence. Liu Liu truly wanted to laugh out loud. Even at this point, he still believed his Imperial Brother would not make things difficult for him.
But nothing mattered anymore. Liu Liu's deep, dark eyes held a serious and persistent gaze. She spoke softly, "Feng Lie, it's all in the past. We are nothing. It was like this before, and it will be like this in the future."
These resolute words caused Feng Lie to tremble. He stumbled backward, his chest feeling heavy and uncomfortable. A surge of violence coursed through him, and with a raised hand, he unleashed his power, sweeping across the carved tables and chairs nearby.
In an instant, only the sound of splintering wood was heard. The place was in disarray. Feng Lie, covering his face with his hands, squatted on the ground in great pain, growling like a wounded wolf.
A trace of pity suddenly stirred in Liu Liu's heart. Why did the two of them miss each other? And then regret it? Was this the common failing of humanity?
Liu Liu raised her face, looking at Feng Xie, whose expression was clouded and inscrutable. She spoke softly, "Your Imperial Majesty, please allow me to persuade Prince Yan. Everyone else, please leave."
Upon hearing this, Feng Xie clasped his hands, drawing Liu Liu closer into his embrace. His pupils reflected pity for his imperial brother and possessiveness towards Liu Liu. A mixture of emotions flickered across his handsome face, lending a faint, ineffable mist to his beautiful eyes.
"No, say what you need to say now," he commanded coldly and domineeringly, unwilling to allow this woman too much contact with his imperial brother.
What if the two of them rekindled their past feelings? Wouldn't that harm his imperial brother? This ugly woman had already harmed him, would she go on to harm others? He would have to reluctantly take her himself, Feng Xie mused charmingly, his hand showing no sign of loosening its grip.