The midnight hour had passed.
It was now the early hours of the morning.
Most people would have already retired to bed at this time.
But the study of Feng Yexuan was still lit.
As he crossed the courtyard, seeing the study door from afar, Feng Yexuan's steps faltered for a moment.
Subconsciously, he wanted to escape, to flee from everyone here, from everything here.
If only he could elope with Li'er to the ends of the earth, how wonderful that would be.
"Your Highness, the Madam is waiting for you," Ding Chen whispered.
Feng Yexuan said nothing and walked over.
Before he could knock, the door was flung open by Nanny Cui.
Hua Rong sat on a chair nearby, not drinking tea, but sitting quietly, as if resting.
However, her face showed no of the peace that comes with rest.
Seeing Feng Yexuan walk in, anger flared in her eyes: "For that woman, you would provoke Nangong Shuya? You know very well that Nangong Shuya is our enemy, yet you still called her Mother Empress!"
She had not accompanied him to the palace, but she knew very well that in the palace, her son would have to respectfully address that woman as "Mother Empress"!
The words "Mother Empress," the mere thought of them being uttered by her son sent a pang of pain through Hua Rong's heart!
Feng Yexuan merely looked at her calmly, saying nothing.
This very calmness only fanned the flames of anger in Hua Rong's heart!
"I am speaking to you!"
"Mother, what do you want me to say?" he asked, his tone equally calm.
Hua Rong raged, "Are you still entangled with Chu Qianli?"
"Li'er has already rejected me. Even if I remain entangled, she will not spare me another glance."
Feng Yexuan lowered his gaze, his emotions hidden completely.
No one could fathom what he was thinking at that moment: "In that case, Mother, are you at ease?"
"What do you mean by that? Are you resenting me for breaking up your relationship?"
He remained silent, which Hua Rong interpreted as tacit agreement.
Enraged, Hua Rong slammed her hand on the table and stood up: "Presumptuous! You dare to resent your own mother! Do you still have me in your heart as your mother?"
Feng Yexuan still said nothing, his stubbornness as unyielding as ever.
Hua Rong's anger reached her heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys, causing a sharp pain in all of them: "Rebellious son, you! You kneel down for me!"
Feng Yexuan's expression was blank as he knelt before her, perfectly straight.
"I want you to never see Chu Qianli again, do you hear me!"
Hua Rong pointed at him, her fingertips trembling from extreme anger.
"You swear to me! From now on, you will never proactively seek to see that woman again! From now on, you will cut ties with her completely!"
She had clearly sensed that Chu Qianli's position in her son's heart was about to surpass her own!
Once that happened, her son would likely listen only to Chu Qianli and no longer to her.
The only reason he still listened to her now was due to the last shred of pity he held for her.
It was also because of everything she had suffered back then, the immense grievance and pain.
Her son was merely pitying her!
But such pity would never permanently outweigh his feelings for Chu Qianli.
As time passed, his heart would lean more and more towards Chu Qianli.
This could not happen, absolutely not!
She would never allow such a thing to occur!
"Mother wants you to swear! Speak!"
Feng Yexuan, however, kept his gaze fixed on the distance ahead, his thin lips tightly pressed together, uttering no words.
Hua Rong understood. He wasn't speaking in defiance, but he had already made his decision.
He had no intention of listening to her!