'My cousin is so outstanding. Why would that woman break off their engagement?'

"What Xiao Qing said is right! We really should break off that engagement! She's not a match for my cousin!"

Ziyan's facial expression worsen. She looked at Qing Yuan who was standing beside her.

'Before this, Qing Yuan never allowed anybody to humiliate me. Now, he just stands there and lets them humiliate me without saying anything.'

"Ziyan, stop talking."

Qing Yuan was almost completely devastated.

There was a rule in Fengyun Manor. n.o.body could uncover her ident.i.ty no matter where they were. He wanted to tell Ziyan about Nalan Yan's ident.i.ty but he was not brave enough to do.

Certainly, Qing Yuan did not know that Nalan Yan's ident.i.ty was no longer a secret for the reclusive world. He did not have to hide the truth anymore.

"I just want to apologize. If there's anything more that you're unhappy about, I'll apologize again." Ziyan seemed a bit relieved and there was an unreadable smile on her face. "I think that Empress Nalan is not an unreasonable person that will force me to marry Young Master Nalan."

Qing Yuan pinched Ziyan's arm and his handsome face was rather twisted now. "Ziyan!"

Ziyan felt Qing Yuan's anger and her heart was heavy.

'I have known Qing Yuan for a year now. He is always gentle toward me and he is never mean toward me.

'Now, he is angry because of Nalan Yan…'

"Mother." Feng Ruqing squeezed Nalan Yan's shoulder. "Since she thinks that we're villains, then let us be the villains. How's that?"

Ziyan was stunned. She looked at Feng Ruqing without quite catching on to what she meant.

'Are these people really planning to force me to marry Nalan Jing?

'How could they do that in front of Qing Yuan?

'But, Feng Ruqing is always a villain. What couldn't she do?'

She was disappointed as looked at Nalan Yan. She never even looked at Feng Ruqing, not even once.

"Empress Nalan, I just want to apologize and I have no other meaning. I never thought that you'll think that much. If my presence annoys you, then Qing Yuan and I will return to the Feng Yun Manor now. We won't appear in front of you anymore."

The way she spoke of Feng Yun Manor was nonchalant. But, it seemed like she was showing off Qing Yuan's ident.i.ty in an underlying manner.

Qing Yuan froze and it seemed like his feet were planted onto the ground. Ziyan tugged at him but he still did not move. She turned and saw that Qing Yuan was still fixing his gaze on Nalan Yan.

The man's forehead was covered with cold sweat. He felt Nalan Yan's cold and strong presence clearly. He wanted to defend Ziyan.

Nalan Yan scanned him coldly. Her cold and stern voice prohibited him from speaking. "Shut up!"

It was customary for Qing Yuan to obey Nalan Yan's order. He kept his mouth shut after her order. He did not dare to speak anymore. So, he had no choice but to wink at Ziyan vigorously so that she could understand.

"Empress!" Ziyan thought that Nalan Yan was talking to her. She sighed. "I told you I have no other meaning. I just want to give you an explanation. Why did you ask me to shut up? Don't tell me that Nalan family owns the whole world? No one else can talk anymore?"

There was a flash of coldness in Nalan Yan's eyes. She laughed coldly and said, "You said that you're from the Feng Yun Manor? How come the Feng Yun Manor stoop to so low a level like this that they would accept anyone?"