"Ugh...! This journey was too bumpy... this Princess suddenly felt a bit dizzy! The Grand Tutor doesn't mind supporting her for a bit, does he...?" Duan Zitong's voice was soft, and her eyes squinting as if in a blinding light. Her alluring figure staggering towards Xiao Yuxuan!
Although he did not mean to deliberately observe, but in a casual glance, Xiao Jinfeng noted every changes that had happened to the woman beside her which unbeknownst caused a peculiar emotion into the depths of his heart. Her ashen-faced face was pale as paper, her glassy eyes immediately became dull, and her steps appeared to become somewhat messy. And as he followed Duan Muyan's line of sight, Xiao Jinfeng saw Duan Zitong tightly gripping his brother's wrist!
"Have you forgotten your identity?! That gaze of yours could be easily misunderstood! This prince doesn't want Shirou's death to become meaningless!" With a bone-chilling-cold voice, Xiao Jinfeng warned. Back then if it wasn't for Shirou wanting to protect the entire Xiao Manor, she would not like him to take Duan Muyan as her concubine. And because he did, Shirou died! He would definitely protect this Estate that Shirou had saved with her life!
Speechless, Duan Muyan retracted her gaze. How she wished she had someone she could talk to about her pain, her struggles... But no one bothered to care, so why would she? Getting herself together, she swallowed all her grievances down her throat. She was well aware of the reason why Duan Zitong was with Xiao Yuxuan in returning back to the manor! It was mainly to spite her, and to brutally remind her of the fact that in that wedding, not one but two of her loved ones died...
In the main hall, Duan Zitong sat firmly on her seat as she peeked between Xiao Yuxuan and Duan Muyan from time to time.
"Mm... this tea is not bad. Third Sister, why do you say little now that you're married into the Xiao Family? Or are you not happy to see this royal sister of yours? If this sister had said or done something before which were unbridled, please don't take it to heart. Because unlike the Third Sister, who was taught and trained of the proper etiquettes by well-known teachers, this lowly sister of yours, who was born outside the imperial palace, was in comparison a bit crude..." Duan Zitong picked up the teacup with pursed lips. Her feminine eyes glimmering as she looked challengingly at Duan Muyan!
"Seventh Sister, you think too much of Mu Yan... It never occurred to her to misunderstand and look down on seventh sister..." Duan Muyan looked up in surprise. She never expected for Duan Zitong to act respectful. The difference with her attitude now and when she was in the Imperial Garden was like Heaven and Earth! However, Duan Muyan was clear that this was all an act.
"Since that's the case, then I'd be shameless and ask imperial sister to take me on a tour around the Xiao Manor. Besides, it's been a long time since we last saw each other. For sure Prince of Qi and Yuxuan have a lot of things to talk about..." As she spoke, she slowly rose to her feet, not giving Duan Muyan a chance to reject the request. In fact, there was no reason to refuse!
"Alright..." Even though she was unwilling, Duan Muyan had no other choice.
As she watched Duan Muyan's figure gracefully leave alongside the seventh princess, a trace of reluctance flashed through Xiao Yuxuan's eyes! Ever since he saw her at the gate entrance earlier, his heart and mind had not been at ease. He really wanted to bring Mu Yan away, it was like a 'now-or-never'!
"It was just one month you haven't seen her...! What are you moping around for?!" A deep voice came out of Xiao Jinfeng's mouth without any warmth. Seeing Xiao Yuxuan's reluctance to part with Duan Muyan, Xiao Jinfeng was extremely annoyed with a reason he would never admit...
"Elder brother... in one month that sister Shirou left you, did you move on easily...?" Xiao Yuxuan responded indifferently, his face was frigid!
"Mine and yours were totally different! Shirou and I have been husband and wife for seven years!" Xiao Jinfeng smacked the table as he stood up, glaring angrily at Xiao Yuxuan.
"Seven years... Heh! Just three years less... Elder Brother, you should know that ever since we were young, our relationship would never be any less than that of your relationship with sister Shirou!" Xiao Yuxuan's hands clenched into fists.
When he first saw Duan Muyan just now at the manor's gate, Xiao Yuxuan's heart had been pierced by a needle. It had only been a month but she already became so haggard! He couldn't imagine what kind of grievances and humiliation she suffered in this manor!
"So what?! Can you compete with the heavens?! Can you change the fact that she's your brother's wife now?! Could you turn back the time and keep this from happening and let Shirou come back to life?! Xiao Yuxuan, don't ever think I don't see the purpose of your return! In order to protect the Xiao Estate, Shirou sacrificed her life! And I will not let anyone waste Shirou's life just because of their selfish sentiments! So you better get a grip on yourself!" Xiao Jinfeng's eyes were filled with freezing cold light, and there was absolutely no room for retaliation in his words.
"In order to protect the Xiao Estate?! What if Chu Shirou didn't die?! Would Elder Brother still speak with such righteousness? Who was it that rejected the imperial edict that day? At that time, why didn't Brother think of protecting the Xiao family?! Elder Brother is being a hypocrite!" Xiao Yuxuan's sword-like eyebrows tightly knitted together with his face seething with anger!
"Because at that time Shi Rou isn't dead!" Xiao Jin Feng almost roared in anger. The atmosphere in the main hall was exceptionally cold. Xiao Yuxuan choked and looked at his royal brother in disappointment.
"So, it was because Chu Shirou had died that elder brother was treating Mu Yan like this? Was it your way of revenge? You want us to suffer together with you because you're not happy...?! This has been your goal! Is that right, elder brother...?" Xiao Yuxuan looked at his brother in disbelief. He never thought his brother could think this low. He never knew him to be unjustifiable and narrow-minded as he was always magnanimous despite of his cold facade.
"Whatever you say, I don't care! Just don't think nor dream of bringing Duan Muyan away from this manor! By law, she is your sister-in-law! You cannot change that fact! What's more, Seventh Princess has obviously taken a fancy to you! Do you really want Royal Father and the entire Xiao Estate to fall into an irreparable trap just because of your selfishness?!" When Xiao Jinfeng saw that Xiao Yuxuan wanted to leave the main hall, he immediately stood in front of him!
"Xiao Jingfeng! I can tell you clearly! If Mu Yan is willing, even if the sky is to collapse, I will bring her away from you and from this unfeeling Kingdom!" Xiao Yuxuan resolutely said, each word sonorous! As he spoke, he forcefully pushed Xiao Jingfeng away who was standing right in front of him!
The moment Xiao Yuxuan yanked the door open, Xiao Jingfeng's freezingly-cold voice was heard. "And if she isn't willing?" Although his voice was low, it still caused a hissing sound in Xiao Yuxuan's ears and a ripple into his heart! Indeed... Xiao Yuxuan might not want to admit it, but he wasn't that confident. Remembering how Mu Yan reacted earlier, it could already be seen as a proof... Mu Yan had never even look at him the entire time!
Speechless, Xiao Yuxuan paused for a moment before unheedingly heading to the back garden of the manor.
In the wide and lushed garden, countless of butterflies flaunting their colourful wings as they danced and whirled gracefully around in that exuberant foliage, chasing one another... The wind swept past the pond, creating ripples which gave off a sense of serenity and tranquility.
"Although the scenery of this place is not comparable to that of the imperial garden, there is still a certain charm to it. No wonder Yuxuan could produce such an elegant melody, 'Butterfly loves flower'. A butterfly loves a flower, yet the flower flies with the wind. The flower blossoms to thank the person, but withered and left the butterfly..." Duan Zitong stopped among the flowers, her jade-like hands subconsciously stroking the peony in front of her. The cold glint of her eyes disappeared in a flash!
Her heart beat fast with excitement as that incomparably handsome man suddenly appeared into her mind!
"That was a beautiful tune…" Duan Muyan whispered, her gaze was filled with tenderness as she looked back at the memories of that only man that she had ever recognised!
'Mu Yan... This is something I've specially made for you, named 'Butterfly Loves Flower'. This song belongs solely to you! And in this world, Yuxuan would only play it for you…'
Duan Mu Yan closed her eyes slightly, as she immersed herself in the beautiful dreams woven from recollection of the times Xiao Yuxuan played her the most beautiful flute melody she had ever heard.
"Feeling sad...?! Heh... I know you will never forget Yuxuan! But let me remind you incase you forgot—you're already married to his brother! And I might as well tell you, I like Yuxuan! From the first time I saw him, I already liked him...! He is destined to be mine! Even though you are still in his heart right now, but soon, he will fall for me and will completely forget about you! So you'd better not dream of running away with him! Unless you don't care what would happen to that useless brother of yours... I could end his life with just a snap of my fingers...!" At this moment, Duan Zitong was no longer putting up at an act. Her originally charming and beautiful face was imbued with jealousy and hatred!
"It has nothing to do with me whether you're infatuated or not... But don't touch my brother! I really don't know why you hate us so much, but it seems you were misled of the story between our parents on what really happened back then. For your information, at the time my mother begged the Empress Dowager to let Qin Yudie enter the palace—"
"Pah!" Before Duan Muyan could finish talking, a clear and crisp sound rang out. In the next second, Duan Muyan tightly clutching her left cheek as she glared furiously at Duan Zitong!
"You—!"
"Who allowed you to call my mother by her full name?! Duan Muyan, you are not worthy to say her name! And I tell you this... Even though that bitch Ling Ziyan was already dead, our revenge isn't over yet!" Duan Zitong's gaze turned cold and sinister. When her gaze landed on the two incoming people, a smile curled at the corner of her mouth!
"You're not allowed to insult my mother!" Duan Mu Yan's eyes were filled with tears as she clenched her jade-like hands into fists! She could endure more humiliation, but she could not allow anyone to insult her mother!
"You don't have to act like some paper tiger, Duan Muyan... You are just like your mother, a slut! It was too bad that she died early that she wouldn't be seeing her children become servants. I even made a grandeur plan to make her live a life worse that death... Even at her death, she was a coward, a covetous woman through in through!" Duan Zitong enunciated every word, seeming to come from the depths of hell itself. Her voice was like a sharp blade that stabbed at the weakest spot on Duan Muyan's heart!
The grievances that had accumulated into her heart for so long broke through the last line of her defence like a raging flood!
With a 'plop', Duan Zitong, who could have avoided the palm strike thrown by Duan Muyan, fell into the pond. She appeared to have lost her balance!
"Ah…!" Duan Zitong's cold eyes stared fiercely at the confounded face of Duan Muyan. The corners of his lips slowly curved upwards.
"Seventh Princess!" A clear and cold voice with an obvious sound of a surprise suddenly rang out at the whole garden. Xiao Jingfeng jumped into the pond without another word! One had to know that this was the Xiao manor. If there was any accident with the princess here, under the fury of the emperor, it was even possible for him to rob the family in daylight with many witnesses and no one would say a word!
Just as Xiao Jinfeng jumped in, Xiao Yuxuan arrived beside Duan Muyan!
"Mu Yan... Don't be afraid... It's nothing, it's nothing…" Even though he didn't know what had happened, Xiao Yuxuan could feel her palpable shocked and fear even without looking at her face!
"Yuxuan… I... I didn't mean to... It was her…" Duan Muyan looked at her slightly red palm in fear as tears rolled down her cheeks! Why?! Why did she have to provoke her!?
"Mu Yan... No matter what others think, I believe in you! Let's go... Let us get out of here... Let us leave this country for good! Okay...? Please, say yes!" Seeing the mottled tears in Duan Mu Yan's face, Xiao Yuxuan could no longer suppress the agitation in his heart!
"Let's go…" As Duan Muyan was in a trance, Xiao Jinfeng leaped out of the water carrying the unconscious Duan Zitong in his embrace!