"No need, I am not worthy to live in this world." Feng Xian suddenly thrust the dagger in her hand fiercely into herself.
"Feng Xian..." Feng Ling cried out.
Feng Xian spat out a mouthful of blood, "Compared... compared to others born without a father and mother, it's not as if they've never been born."
"Feng Xian, why must you do this?" Feng Ling shook her head.
"Since childhood, I've been jealous of you. I felt everyone revolved around you, while I had to try my best, work so hard, just to get a little praise. So I was jealous, jealous of you. But do you know?
Xue Zi Jie was the first person to show me approval. That's why I became his puppet, because I just wanted that little bit of recognition, I wanted people to think I was still useful..."
"Feng Xian, stop talking. I'll go find a doctor..."
"It's no use. Besides, I don't want to live anymore. I have too many lives on my hands. Let me repay them with my own life!"
"Feng Xian..."
"Ling'er, I suddenly remembered when we were young..."
Feng Ling cried, "You might not know, but when we were young, I was jealous of you. You learned everything after just one try, while I had to repeat lessons many times. I often had to stay up until late at night just to sleep..."
Feng Xian paused, then after a long while, she smiled, "So... so it was like that..."
"Yes, no one truly has innate talent, and neither do I..."
"But why did I end up reaching this point?" Feng Xian shook her head. She didn't understand. She could have waited for this day when the Feng Yin clan returned to the surface. At that time, she believed many people would praise her.
But she couldn't wait. She couldn't wait...
"Feng Xian..."
"Feng Ling, I'm sorry. Also, at the tombs of the elders every day, atone for my sins for me. Your unfilial disciple gives her life for a life. Promise me, okay?"
"Feng Xian..." Feng Ling bit her lower lip, crying as she nodded.
"Ling'er, how I wish I could go back to our childhood, when..."
After a long silence, Feng Ling stepped forward and placed her hand over Feng Xian's eyes, saying softly, "Go. I will do what you asked."
"Your Majesty, what's wrong?" Xue Yan asked.
Xue Zi Ning looked around and shook her head, "Nothing. Let's go!"
Xue Yan scratched her head, feeling that His Majesty was a little off.
Wen Yu Xi gazed at the faintly visible shadows in the distance, then withdrew her gaze and followed.
When Xue Zi Ning tore up the agreement signed by the Xue family and the Feng Yin clan, a door suddenly appeared out of nowhere. The people of the Feng Yin clan were all stunned. They hadn't known there was a door here.
Xue Zi Ning walked in first, and when she emerged, it was an oasis.
Feng Ling followed closely. Looking at the scenery before her, her whole body trembled, "This... this should be a desert?"
Xue Zi Ning said, "Only when the old agreement no longer binds your Feng Yin clan will this place return to its original appearance."
Feng Ling was greatly astonished, "So this desert was prepared for our Feng Yin clan."
"From now on, you are all free people. What are your plans?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
"Elder San and I have discussed it. Elder San said many clansmen still cannot leave this place. After all, for a hundred years, generation after generation has lived here. Moving to an unfamiliar, unknown place all of a sudden will inevitably cause fear.
So, Elder San has decided to stay here with the Feng Yin clansmen who are unwilling to leave. As for those who are willing to come here, they can follow me. Where we are going, I don't know. Your Majesty, do you need guards? How about we become your guards?
Our skills are not much worse than Feng Wu's."
Upon hearing this, Feng Wu was displeased, "I'm much worse than you, okay?"
Hearing this, Feng Ling said coldly, "If you're not convinced, we can try?"
"Let's try then." Feng Wu was eager to try.
"Alright, they are all your clansmen. Feng Wu, can you not be so petty?"
"Your Majesty, it's not that I'm petty, it's Feng Ling who..."
"You train them," Xue Zi Ning said.
Feng Wu was delighted, "This is acceptable."
"Your Majesty, I dare not. I disagree," Feng Ling said unhappily.
Hearing this, Xue Zi Ning leaned closer and said, "If you are unwilling, you can go protect Lord Wen. I also want to find a guard for him. How about it?"
Feng Ling's expression changed instantly, "Your Majesty..."
Xue Zi Ning smiled and boarded the imperial carriage. The journey was exceptionally pleasant. A month later, they finally arrived at Beijiang City.
Xue Zi Xuan greeted her at the city gate. Everyone knelt, shouting "Long live!"
Beside them, Feng Ling said, "No wonder everyone wants to be an emperor. Just being knelt to by so many people is already satisfying."
"This place carries responsibility. It carries the fates of countless people entrusted to you. This responsibility is heavy."
Feng Ling was startled, "Now that you say it, it seems true."
Xue Zi Ning alighted from the imperial carriage and approached Xue Zi Xuan, saying, "Zi Xuan, you've worked hard."
"Your Majesty, this subject is guilty!" Xue Zi Xuan knelt on the ground.
"What crime have you committed?"
"This subject has failed Your Majesty's trust and has not guarded Beijiang City well. This subject..."
"You have already done very well. As for the rest, it is not your fault."
"Your Majesty..."
Xue Zi Ning took Xue Zi Xuan's hand and said, "Call me Ah Jie (older sister)..."
Xue Zi Xuan trembled, his expression disbelieving, but the corners of his mouth curved up involuntarily, "Ah Jie..."
"From now on, when you speak to me, call me Ah Jie."
"Alright," Xue Zi Xuan said.
Entering Beijiang City, the common people knelt on both sides to welcome them.
"Let them all rise!" Xue Zi Ning said.
Xue Zi Xuan gave the order. When he returned, he found Xue Zi Ning standing alone. He walked up and asked his question, "Ah Jie, where is Young Master Yan?"
Xue Zi Ning slowly looked elsewhere, "I don't know."
She only remembered that day when Feng Xian suddenly attacked, her immense power seemed to want to devour her. She could feel her body being absorbed. At that moment, a figure stood in front of her, blocking this tremendous force for her.
Even though she couldn't open her eyes, she could feel the aura emanating from him.
He said, "A Ning, I've done it for him..."
She saw his figure disappear before her eyes, accompanied by a white light.
However, she knew he hadn't disappeared. He simply didn't want to appear before her.
Since that was the case, she wouldn't force him.
After all, he wasn't Yan Zhao. He had Yan Zhao's appearance but not Yan Zhao's memories. Keeping such a person would be forcing him.
As long as the person she loved and cared about was still alive, wasn't that enough?
Three days later, Xue Zi Ning set off to return to the capital.
Wen Yu Xi sat in the courtyard of the Yan residence, looking at the man before him and asking, "Aren't you coming back?"
"Not for now," he said slowly.
He turned his head, his eyes shining like the starry river.