"Wangfei... Yue'er refuses to leave...! Yue'er wants to stay by your side." Qiu Yue stubbornly looked at her mistress with teary eyes. At the moment when Duan Muyan shouldered all responsibility of what had happened, Qiu Yue was extremely moved.
"Yue'er, if you are this wilful, you will be implicating the Wangfei!" Steward Zhou reprimanded and almost dragging Qiu Yue out of the woodshed.
The door was locked once again, and the tears that Duan Muyan had been suppressing flowed down uncontrollably. At this moment, she suddenly discovered that she had lost her freedom.
Early in the morning where the air is cold and the night was fading, the sky was gradually breaking out with day light. The ambiance was so peaceful and relaxing as the mottled leaves aesthetically sprinkled down the ground.
Xiao Jinfeng had originally wanted to wait for the news of his father's arrival at the camp after breakfast. Considering the time, it had been sometime since his father had set out for the conflict between the Mo Country and the Yue State, and he believed that his father had already arrived at the boarder.
However, just as Xiao Jinfeng was about to eat his breakfast, a series of hurried knocks could be heard from the entrance gate of the manor. The steward ordered for a servant to open the door, but no one had expected that it would be the Second Imperial Prince of the Mo Dynasty!
Xiao Jinfeng loathed Duan Xingyi from the bottom of his heart. If it wasn't for him that day, he wouldn't miss the final time to be with Shi Rou! However, since his position as a Prince in one of the states of the kingdom, and Duan Xingyi's position as an Imperial Prince was far wide different, no matter how reluctant he was, he had to go out and welcome him.
"This official pays his respect to the Second Imperial Prince!" Xiao Jinfeng opened his thin lips slightly, his clear and cold voice was not at all warm, as he bowed respectfully.
"Save it! The Xiao Manor ate breakfast rather too early. This Prince had even planned to eat a meal together with his Third Imperial Sister and the Prince of Qi... It seems that I was a step too late!" Duan Xingyi spoke warmly and he slowly closed the folding fan in his hand. His eyes were like silk.
"Since the Second Prince hasn't had his breakfast yet then I shall give the order now—" Without waiting for Xiao Jinfeng to finish speaking, Duan Xingyi immediately waved his hand.
"There's no need for that. This prince was just passing by anyway and conveniently came by to visit Third Imperial Sister… But if the Prince of Qi has a business to attend to, don't let me interrupt you... I will just wait on on my sister..." The corner of Duan Xingyi's mouth curled up into a smile. His charming peach blossom eyes slightly narrowed. No matter how one looked at it, it seemed as though he harboured malicious intent!
Xiao Jinfeng's heart quivered when he heard that. He could not help but be astonished. Even if someone from the place come to visit Duan Muyan, it shouldn't be Duan Xingyi! How could it be him?
"Prince of Qi?" Seeing Xiao Jinfeng's surprised expression, Duan Xingyi could not help but lightly call out. However, a wave of ice-cold ripples rippled out from the depth of his eyes! 'Xiao Jinfeng, I want to see what kind of Duan Muyan you will put in front of me…'
"Uhh… I'm afraid that the Second Prince has come at a bad time…
"Third Imperial Sister is sick? Then this Prince should go and take a look… I wonder where Prince of Qi and my Imperial Sister's room is located?" His black eyes, which were as deep as an ancient pond, were flickering with an unfathomable light. His elegant and stern lower jaw was slightly raised as he looked at Xiao Jinfeng, determined.
"This…" Xiao Jinfeng's brows slightly furrowed, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say. At his side, Old Zhou, who had been waiting for a long time, suddenly stepped forward.
"Second Prince, please come to the main hall to drink some tea. This old servant will report to the Wangfei now. I'm sure Wangfei will be overjoyed when she hears that the Second Prince has come to visit. Who knows, she might even become better…" Steward Zhou cupped his hands in a salute, proposing to speak.
"Is that so…" Duan Xingyi's slightly narrowed eyes became increasingly dark and profound. His thin lips slightly curled up. This sentence was rather hilarious, because if she wasn't ill, she would probably have gotten sick from anger by his mere re-appearance.
Seeing Duan Xingyi heading towards the main hall, Xiao Jinfeng inwardly let out a breath of cold air. When he glanced at Old Zhou, he slightly nodded his head.
Even though it was difficult for her to stand up, Duan Muyan shakily stood up while leaning on the wall as her gaze kept locked towards the door. No one knew that every time somebody would open the door, her heart would skip a beat and her mind would be filled with panic and tension. Both of her hands were clenching ferociously on her clothes as a wave of nausea assaulted her from too much anxiety.
"Esteemed Wangfei…" Steward Zhou was very anxious as he stepped into the woodshed. Behind him, Qiu Yue, who was carrying fancy clothes and a pail of water, unwillingly following him.
"Why are you…" Duan Muyan looked at Old Zhou and Qiu Yue with a puzzled look. She slowly sat back down on the cold ground, her face now full of confusion.
"Wangfei, this isn't good. The Second Prince, Duan Xinyi, suddenly came to visit and said that he must meet with the Wangei. With the Wangfei's status, if people found out that you were locked in the woodshed at General Xiao Manor, a great calamity could befall the Prince of Qi and the Manor!" Old Zhou's forehead was dripping with sweat, his voice was trembling slightly!
"Duan Xingyi…" In her mind, that handsome yet devilishly charming face appeared. On that day of her wedding, if it wasn't for Duan Xingyi, she could have seen her mother for the last time and she would not be living her life in regrets and sorrow. Maybe, just maybe, she had seen her mother before her burial, this current emotion she was in would not be so painful.
And to be reminded of her incompetence by seeing this man again, it was simply atrocious. It seemed that the Heaven had indeed abandoned her. If she could choose, she would rather not see this man again in this life!
"Now that an unprecedented calamity might have befallen us, the Estate is thinking of Wangfei... In the first place, she shouldn't have locked up in here...!" Off the side, Yue'er muttered in dissatisfaction not caring if she would be heard by other people.
"Aiya…! This is not the right time to be talking about this!" With reprimanding tone, Old Zhou lightly nudged at Qiu Yue.
"Steward Zhou… Even if Imperial Father knew of my situation, he would not dare anger the Xiao Manor… The Xiao Manor is more important than this lowly daughter... So…" A tinge of bitterness flashed through her heart. In that moment, she seemed to have seen the aura of her so-called Imperial Father sitting in the Dragon Throne with a hint of ridicule and a smirk!
"Wangfei… This was also the intention of His Highness, the Prince of Qi! The Second Prince is currently in the main hall. Judging from his posture, if he doesn't see you, he won't leave. Wangfei… Even if the Prince of Qi is not being someone as he should be, but for the old Duke's sake… And on behalf of the Prince of Ping, please help the Xiao Estate… This old servant begs you!" Old Zhou's voice was choked with sobs. As he spoke, he was about to kneel on the ground!
"Steward Zhou! Please get up! Its not that I don't want to… But…" She really didn't want to face Duan Xingyi anymore! No matter how gentle her character was, she still had a temper...
"Wangfei… Time was running out! The Second Prince was waiting outside. Once he rushed to the backyard, it would be too late. Furthermore… No matter what you think in your heart, you are still the Xiao Manor's Royal Consort. Your relationship with the Prince of Qi shouldn't be in a deadlock... Sooner or later, someone should take a step forward. Wangfei, take this as an opportunity to..." Old Zhou was trying his best to persuade Duan Muyan!
Seeing the anxious and worried expression on Old Zhou's face, Duan Muyan couldn't bear it any longer and nodded helplessly. Qiu Yue was about to say something else, but she endured it. At the very least, after this event, her mistress would probably leave the woodshed.
The atmosphere in the main hall became increasingly heavy and suffocating. Except for Duan Xingyi, who was leisurely sipping his top-grape bamboo silk tea with his charming peach blossom eyes glancing at Xiao Jinfeng from time to time. The corner of his lips curled into a smile that was so faint that it could almost make one tremble.
"It seems that my sister's illness is severe. Forget it! As her younger brother, it was only but right that I should visit her in her room instead. It will spare her a lot of trouble!" As Duan Xingyi spoke, he lightly settled the tea cup onto the side table and without a hurry, stood up.
"This… Second Prince, please wait a moment. Mu Yan should be arriving soon… Otherwise… Jinfeng will go take a look!" Anxious, Xiao Jinfeng shoot up and blocked Duan Xingyi. And as he turned around to check on Duan Muyan, he saw her just by the door, about to enter.
She was wearing a light green long dress with a white silk clothing covering her hair, revealing her stunning lines and partially visible collarbone, emphasising her long thin neck. As she walked slowly, assisted by Qiu Yue, towards the two princes, her posture was graceful and polished. There was nothing fancy on her but the elegance and her innate regality showcased her beauty that doesn't need any type of make-up nor ornaments.
Xiao Jinfeng couldn't help but be astonished. From the day of his unfortunate wedding till now, he had never intently looked at Duan Muyan in the eye. At this moment though where he was taken aback of her sudden appearance, he had stared at her for a longer time. And he couldn't help but to admit... Indeed, Duan Muyan's beauty was unparalleled.
It was only until she got closer that Xiao Jinfeng realised that Duan Muyan's face was abnormally pale, and her body was so weak and shaky from time to time that it needed someone's support. He suddenly looked away, his heart flaring with unknown emotions. He deliberately clenched his fists ferociously to focus himself. He needed to snap out of it!
"Mu Yan had never imagined nor even dreamt that Second Imperial Brother would be stepping back into the Xiao Manor…" Her cold voice contained a trace of resentment, and the instant she saw Duan Xingyi, Duan Muyan's chest felt as though it was stuffed with cotton wool, she couldn't almost breath!
"On the day of your wedding, Xingyi has a long future; he had to listen to the Imperial Father, or he won't be alive to see you get old. I presume Imperial Sister is blaming Xingyi for coming here too late…" Duan Xingyi's smile was so charming that it could awe people in an instant. A smile that was comparable with the first blossoming of the moon. It was abnormally flirtatious, but with an indescribable gloominess to it as his thin lips slightly rose.
In order to prevent Duan Xingyi from seeing through her weakness, Duan Muyan pulled out her jade arm that was in Qiu Yue's hand and walked straight towards one of the chairs. However, at a threshold along the way, she lost her balance and staggered!
Just as Xiao Jinfeng was hesitating on whether he should step forward and support her, Duan Muyan was already enwrapped by Duan Xingyi's embrace!
"My imperial sister's illness really isn't light. If I had known earlier, Xing'han would have personally come into the bedroom to visit…" Duan Xingyi's eyes narrowed slightly as a trace of an unfathomable glint appeared in his charming eyes. When his hand made contact with the body of the woman in his embrace, the desire in Duan Xingyi's eyes instantly ensued!
In Duan Muyan's heart, she felt a trace of bitterness. After falling for a while, she had thought that Xiao Jinfeng would step forward to support her, at least for the sake of the Xiao Estate's image. However, she did not expect him to just stand there quietly with no expression on his face!
Forget it, even if either she or Xiao Jinfeng was willing to put on an act, they would still never have the chance to moderate down their misunderstandings and misgivings. Things had been done and words had been said, which could never be undone nor unsaid. Thus, whatever Old Zhou was saying earlier, was absolutely impossible. In this world other than his Imperial Brother and Xiao Yuxuan, there was no one else who really cared for her and who she really cared about. So, why would she start caring about this man?
Feeling the woman struggling in his embrace, Duan Xingyi intentionally tightened his arms, causing Duan Muyan's body to stick even closer to him. The corner of his mouth became even deeper!
"It's just a cold, no need for Imperial Brother to make such a big fuss!" At this moment, she suddenly felt helpless. If the other person standing across the room was Xiao Yuxuan, then he definitely wouldn't put her in such a predicament!
"Why aren't you being careful when walking...?" Seeing Duan Xingyi embracing Duan Muyan so unrestrainedly, Xiao Jinfeng's gaze turned slightly dark. Although he hesitated, he still went forward to free Duan Muyan from Duan Xingyi's embrace! Even so, the strength in Xiao Jinfeng's hand was not gentle like his voice.
"Mu Yan will pay attention to this…" When she continued to walked towards the chair, Duan Muyan subconsciously pulled her arm from Xiao Jinfeng's grasp and calmly replied.
Feeling that his hand had suddenly gone empty, Xiao Jinfeng's heart suddenly jolted. An inexplicable sense of loss gushed out, but it disappeared in the blink of an eye.