Song Xiuyuan raised his hand and looked at the ninth princess, saying coldly, "How did the incident unfold? I don't wish to know. The ninth princess wants an explanation, and what I give is the explanation."
"Brother Xiuyuan, why did you hurt yourself? That's not what I meant. It was clearly her mistake, why must you take the blame?"
He smiled slowly, his gaze gentle as he looked at Xue Xingyue, who stood there stunned. "Ninth Princess, have you ever heard that husband and wife are one body?"
"Brother Xiuyuan, what are you talking about?"
He turned back, his gaze resolute, and said solemnly, word by word, "Ninth Princess, she is my wife. She was, she is, and she always will be. Her mistakes, her husband will bear them."
Xue Xingyue trembled all over. She looked at Song Xiuyuan, seeing how gentle his gaze was, so gentle it felt as though it could envelop her.
"Your Highness the Ninth Princess, Yue'er has injured you. As her husband, I had no choice but to repay the blood to give you an explanation. Are you satisfied?" Song Xiuyuan shifted his gaze from Xue Xingyue to the ninth princess.
The tender affection that had filled his eyes moments before had vanished completely, replaced by an ice-coldness that could freeze all things in the world.
The ninth princess felt as if her entire body was frozen by this coldness, unable to move freely.
This was her Brother Xiuyuan. Once he set his heart on someone, everyone else was as worthless as dirt. She was jealous, she was hateful. Why couldn't she be the one to possess Brother Xiuyuan's deep affection, but instead it was the butcher's daughter? She was unwilling.
"Your Highness, enough is enough," the accompanying nanny suddenly whispered.
The ninth princess nodded. Even if she were foolish, she knew that further entanglement would be futile. She looked up and smiled, "Since Brother Xiuyuan has given me an explanation, I will not pursue this matter further. However, Brother Xiuyuan, you can protect her for a moment, but can you protect her for a lifetime?"
The ninth princess saw Song Xiuyuan's calm expression and the slight curve of his lips. This subtle smile alone shocked her to the core. "As long as I am here, I will protect her for all my life."
"Good. I hope Brother Xiuyuan remembers your words. Escort them out!" the ninth princess commanded coldly, then turned and walked into the room.
Song Xiuyuan watched the ninth princess's retreating figure, a complex emotion flashing across his face.
Xue Xingyue was still reeling from his words. She only came to her senses when he walked over. Holding Qin Erniang, her expression was somewhat bewildered. She had actually begun to suspect Qin Erniang in her arms earlier, because Qin Erniang hadn't seemed this heavy, had she?
Seeing how Song Xiuyuan looked at her now, she suddenly understood that the person who had died in her arms was not Qin Erniang.
However, she was still in the ninth princess's courtyard, so she could only pretend the person in her arms was Qin Erniang. She lowered her gaze, obscuring her expression.
Song Xiuyuan walked forward and helped Xue Xingyue up. At this moment, Fengyun had already scooped up Qin Erniang. "Let's talk when we get back to my place," Song Xiuyuan said softly.
She nodded. As she passed Yu Yun, Song Xiuyuan glanced at Yu Yun and said, "You come too."
"Yes." Yu Yun's body stiffened, but she still followed.
Upon arriving at Song Xiuyuan's courtyard, Yu Yun suddenly knelt in the middle of the yard. "Master, Yu Yun is guilty."
"Guilty? Where is your guilt?" Song Xiuyuan asked coldly. Though his expression seemed calm and placid, Xue Xingyue knew that this was when Song Xiuyuan was truly the most terrifying, proving he was genuinely angry.
Yu Yun's body trembled slightly. "Your subordinate..."
"Master, this subordinate is also guilty," Feng Yun said, kneeling beside Yu Yun after setting down the Qin Erniang he was holding.
"Oh? You are also guilty? Where does your guilt lie?" Song Xiuyuan's expression grew increasingly detached, to the point where it was impossible to discern his emotions.
"This subordinate should not have sent Yu Yun to fetch Master. Because of Yu Yun's selfish intentions, it led to Miss Xue falling into danger," Feng Yun confessed.
Xue Xingyue was taken aback. She hadn't expected Feng Yun to speak the truth at this moment. She thought Feng Yun would still side with Yu Yun.
Song Xiuyuan heard this and said, "Since you know your offense, you will also know the importance your wife holds in my heart. I can no longer trust someone like you. From today onwards, you are no longer a shadow guard."
Feng Yun trembled all over. "Master..."
"There's no point in saying more. My mind is made up," Song Xiuyuan said coldly.
"That, he..."
"Wife, your husband is disciplining a subordinate who has erred." Song Xiuyuan raised his head, looking at Xue Xingyue, his gaze intense.
It felt as though it could pierce through her, making her feel uncomfortable and her face flush slightly. She could no longer utter another word. However, she felt that Feng Yun should not have been punished so severely, nor should he have been expelled from the shadow guards, especially since he had helped her so many times before.
Song Xiuyuan seemed to have read her thoughts. He looked at Feng Yun and said, "Although you can no longer be a shadow guard, it doesn't mean you are without prospects."
Xue Xingyue saw his gaze and knew he was trying to win people over for her. She walked in front of Feng Yun and said, "Feng Yun, if you don't mind, I need someone like you."
Feng Yun trembled all over. He had never imagined that after all the harm he had done to her, she could forgive him. Although he knew this was his master's arrangement, her ability to accept him so readily, without any reservations, made him feel a pang of guilt.
"Miss Xue, I..."
"Feng Yun, there's no need for further words. Do you think working with Wu Hen would tarnish your reputation?"
Feng Yun was startled. He looked up and saw her smiling face, her eyes as clear as water, like an immortal fairy untouched by the mundane world, noble and beautiful. For a moment, his heart raced. He forgot how to speak, then suddenly felt a cold gaze from not far away. He instantly regained his senses. What was he doing just now? He quickly kowtowed. "Thank you, Miss Xue."