Feng Qingjue watched Feng Chenling and the servants slowly disappear into the distance, then turned around and re-entered the building .

He laid down on the couch, exhausted . A moment later, he could feel the faint impression of someone lying down beside him, although he was too far into sleep to react .

A while later, Feng Qingjue felt that his mouth was uncomfortably dry . Opening his eyes blearily, he sat up to get a cup of water .

At the same time, Feng Chenling returned back to the residence . Behind him was a small crowd of servants .

Feng Chenling rubbed his sore feet, eager to sit down . However, a moment later, one of the servants gave out a small cry . Feng Chenling followed the sound, and dropped his tea cup in surprise .

Cras.h.!.+

“Qingjue, you…” Feng Chenling stared, a little disbelieving . Feng Qingjue, he… how could he…

Feng Qingjue stared bewilderedly at Feng Chenling, then followed the other’s line of sight . Suddenly, his own mind seemed to blank .

What was going on—why was there a woman lying beside him?

He stood up, trying to give an explanation, only to realize that he was currently naked .

The servants stared at him with ridiculing expressions .

To someone like Feng Qingjue, who had been raised the pampered son in a male-dominated kingdom, this kind of humiliation was simply too much to endure .

Feng Qingjue was left with no other choice than to return back to the bedsheets . At that moment, the woman next to him stirred . She grabbed his arm, her eyelashes fluttering, and then, coquettishly, said, “Beauty, let’s do it one more time . ”

Feng Qingjue became enraged, and ferociously kicked the woman onto the ground .

The woman sobered up at the impact . Realizing what had happened, she sat up and pointed accusingly at Feng Qingjue . “After you’ve had your fun, you won’t recognize me?”

“Lies!” Feng Qingjue shouted, flinging a pillow at the woman .

“Tsk tsk, looks like this prince is that kind of flower vase¹ used goods . ”

“Really, it’s a good thing the Princess didn’t marry him . ”

“Right, or else how big would the Princess’s green hat² be?”

…

As the servants muttered to each other, Feng Qingjue’s face turned black enough to make coal . Feng Chenling sighed, then turned to address the servants: “You must never make this situation public . For now, wait outside . ”

“This… you shouldn’t conceal this kind of information to the Princess!” one of the servants said .

“I will take responsibility for the Princess . As for you, your job is only to obey orders . ”

Hearing this, the servants could only look at each other helplessly and ask to be excused .

When the room had been emptied, Feng Chenling closed the door and walked to Feng Qingjue’s side .

“Chenling, you have to believe me . I… I’m innocent . ” Feng Qingjue pulled at Feng Chenling’s arm, staring pleadingly at him .

Feng Chenling brushed a few strands of hair off of Feng Qingjue’s forehead . His voice was gentle . “I believe you . ”

“Chenling,” Feng Qingjue said, moved . At the very least, someone believed him .

“Tell me, who told you to harm the Prince?” Feng Chenling said, turning his attention to the woman on the floor .

The woman raised her head . She had a common, ordinary face . Still, Feng Chenling caught a flash of obstinance on her face .

“The Prince let me in,” the woman said, not in the least afraid of Feng Chenling . “The Prince said that he was lonely, so he told me to accompany him . ”

Feng Qingjue flung the blankets furiously at the ground . “Nonsense! I’ve never seen you before, so how can you say these lies?”

The woman kneeled on the ground, unmoving . It was as if she hadn’t heard Feng Qingjue’s words . “This servant is only telling the truth . ”

With the blankets missing, Feng Qingjue’s absence of clothing was made more prominent . Quickly, Feng Chenling handed him a clean robe . “How can you talk like this? At the very least, wear some clothes . ”

“You too,” Feng Chenling said, throwing a robe to the woman . “Cover yourself . ”

Feng Qingjue bit his lower lip, but took the proffered robe .

After Feng Qingjue had been dressed, Feng Chenling looked at the woman again . “Tell me, who sent you to harm the Prince? What were their intentions?”

“It was the Prince who wanted me to accompany him,” the woman said, unmoved .

Slap! Feng Chenling raised his hand, ferociously slapping the woman . “Tell me, who sent you?”

The woman spat out a mouthful of blood . “It was Prince Feng . ”

Slap! Feng Chenling slapped the woman again . “Tell me, who sent you?!”

“It was Prince Feng,” the woman repeated, refusing to budge .

Feng Chenling raised his hand again, only to be stopped by Feng Qingjue . “Forget it . If you beat her to death, then she won’t be able to speak . ”

“Qingjue . ”

Feng Qingjue looked at Feng Chenling, then shook his head . Then, he glared at the woman . “Scram!”

The woman’s face was filled with astonishment, as if she didn’t dare to believe that the two men would let her go so easily .

“What are you staring at? Didn’t hear me? Scram!” Feng Qingjue glared at her, his face filled with a sinister fury .

The woman scrambled . Feng Chenling sighed . “Qingjue, there’s no reason to do that . ”

“No need? Hehe…” Feng Qingjue raised his head and laughed . “Chenling, why don’t you think a little bit? Do you think that it’s easy to go freely in and out of the Princess’s residence? Other than you, who else can access my room so easily?”

Feng Chenling’s face was filled with disbelief . “You don’t mean to say… Wife?”

“Hehe…” Feng Qingjue’s face was filled with a bitter loneliness . “Other than her, I can’t think of anyone else . ”

“No, Wife isn’t that kind of person,” Feng Chenling said, grabbing Feng Qingjue’s elbow . He said, “Today, Wife even sent people in the afternoon to deliver us gifts . How could she send someone to dishonor you?”

…she sent people in the afternoon?

Feng Chenling suddenly seemed to have a realization . He furrowed his brows . Could it be—that it really was Wife?

No, he didn’t believe it .

Feng Qingjue laughed again . “Perhaps she doesn’t want to marry me, so she used these kinds of underhanded methods to dishonor me . Still, this might be a good thing . In the end, I don’t fit in with this matriarchal kind of society . In my kingdom, men reign supreme . Men are the ones who can have three wives and four concubines . ”

He gave Feng Chenling a crooked smile . However, Feng Chenling knew that Feng Qingjue’s heart had closed up . It would take a long time for it to reopen again .

“Chenling, let’s go together!” Feng Qingjue grabbed Feng Chenling’s hand . “Come with me to the Fengchao Dynasty . I promise that your life there will be much better than here . ”

“Qingjue, have you really decided?” Feng Chenling’s voice was still slightly hopeful . As long as there was a chance, he wanted to change Feng Qingjue’s mind .

Feng Qingjue laughed . He laughed until his face was pale white and he had ran out of energy . “I’ve decided . After all, I came to the Motian Dynasty for other reasons . Since everything’s wrapped up so nicely, I might as well return back to my homeland . ”

Mo Qingli, you’ve really disappointed me .

Even the method she had used to dispose of him was crooked . Did she really hate him that much? Thinking to this point, Feng Qingjue couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow in his heart .

“Qingjue, I’m sorry,” Feng Chenling said . He released Feng Qingjue’s hand . “My happiness is Wife . If I leave here, I’m afraid that… I will not be happier . ”

“I understand . Only… perhaps she is not someone that can be trusted . ” Feng Qingjue looked at Feng Chenling, this sincere and kind brother, and felt a little bit of reluctance at leaving .

Feng Chenling’s lips quirked slightly, revealing a beautiful smile . “In this lifetime, I will follow her . ”

Hearing these words, Feng Qingjue did not try to make any useless conversation . Instead, he cupped his fists at Feng Chenling . “Then, Chenling, stay safe . If there’s ever a day where you walk the wrong path, the Fengchao Dynasty will always welcome you . ”

Then, he turned around and left .

At night, by a quiet pond .

A black-robed figure stood by the pond, staring at the water, as if lost in thought .

Another black-robed figure appeared in the distance . As she walked closer, it became clear that it was the same woman who had just framed Feng Qingjue .

She walked towards the black-robed figure, kneeling deferentially .

“Has it been done?” the black-robed figure asked .

“Yes, Prince . Your order has been carried out . ” The women bowed her head, cupping her hands together in respect .

The black-robed figure turned around, a pleased expression on his face . “Excellent . You know what to do from now!”

The woman stared at the man in fear, then hurriedly nodded her head . “Yes, this servant understands . ”

“En, good . Then, leave!” Afterwards, the man prepared to leave .

“Prince,” the woman called after him .

The man stopped in his steps . Coldly, he said, “Speak . ”

The woman swallowed fearfully . Finally, she found the courage to say, “Prince, please spare my family . ”

As the woman spoke, a white dove flew onto the black-robed man’s left shoulder . He drew a bag of bird feed from inside his robes, feeding it to the bird .

“It depends on how well you carry out your orders . ”

Then, he left .

“Little White, you really aren’t obedient,” the man scolded . He removed the robe off of his shoulders, tossing it behind him . Out of the darkness, another man caught the robe before it hit the ground—and then he was gone again .

The white dove cooed twice, as if trying to tell the man that it had not appeared on purpose, but rather out of hunger .

Xiaoyao Yunyan could only helplessly nod . “Don’t do it again, or else I won’t feed you!”

¹”Flower vase”: someone that has relations.h.i.+ps with lots of “flowers” . The servant essentially called FQJ a wh.o.r.e

²”Green Hat”: someone being cheated on . Based on an ancient Chinese story of a woman who signalled to her lover when her husband would not be home by making him wear a green hat

Feng Qingjue watched Feng Chenling and the servants slowly disappear into the distance, then turned around and re-entered the building

He laid down on the couch, exhausted . A moment later, he could feel the faint impression of someone lying down beside him, although he was too far into sleep to react

A while later, Feng Qingjue felt that his mouth was uncomfortably dry . Opening his eyes blearily, he sat up to get a cup of water

At the same time, Feng Chenling returned back to the residence . Behind him was a small crowd of servants

Feng Chenling rubbed his sore feet, eager to sit down . However, a moment later, one of the servants gave out a small cry . Feng Chenling followed the sound, and dropped his tea cup in surprise

Cras.h.!.+.

“Qingjue, you…” Feng Chenling stared, a little disbelieving . Feng Qingjue, he… how could he….

Feng Qingjue stared bewilderedly at Feng Chenling, then followed the other’s line of sight . Suddenly, his own mind seemed to blank

What was going on—why was there a woman lying beside him?.

He stood up, trying to give an explanation, only to realize that he was currently naked

The servants stared at him with ridiculing expressions

To someone like Feng Qingjue, who had been raised the pampered son in a male-dominated kingdom, this kind of humiliation was simply too much to endure

Feng Qingjue was left with no other choice than to return back to the bedsheets . At that moment, the woman next to him stirred . She grabbed his arm, her eyelashes fluttering, and then, coquettishly, said, “Beauty, let’s do it one more time . ”.

Feng Qingjue became enraged, and ferociously kicked the woman onto the ground

The woman sobered up at the impact . Realizing what had happened, she sat up and pointed accusingly at Feng Qingjue . “After you’ve had your fun, you won’t recognize me?”.

“Lies!” Feng Qingjue shouted, flinging a pillow at the woman

“Tsk tsk, looks like this prince is that kind of flower vase¹ used goods . ”.

“Really, it’s a good thing the Princess didn’t marry him . ”.

“Right, or else how big would the Princess’s green hat² be?”.

….

As the servants muttered to each other, Feng Qingjue’s face turned black enough to make coal . Feng Chenling sighed, then turned to address the servants: “You must never make this situation public . For now, wait outside . ”.

“This… you shouldn’t conceal this kind of information to the Princess!” one of the servants said

“I will take responsibility for the Princess . As for you, your job is only to obey orders . ”.

Hearing this, the servants could only look at each other helplessly and ask to be excused

When the room had been emptied, Feng Chenling closed the door and walked to Feng Qingjue’s side

“Chenling, you have to believe me . I… I’m innocent . ” Feng Qingjue pulled at Feng Chenling’s arm, staring pleadingly at him

Feng Chenling brushed a few strands of hair off of Feng Qingjue’s forehead . His voice was gentle . “I believe you . ”.

“Chenling,” Feng Qingjue said, moved . At the very least, someone believed him

“Tell me, who told you to harm the Prince?” Feng Chenling said, turning his attention to the woman on the floor

The woman raised her head . She had a common, ordinary face . Still, Feng Chenling caught a flash of obstinance on her face

“The Prince let me in,” the woman said, not in the least afraid of Feng Chenling . “The Prince said that he was lonely, so he told me to accompany him . ”.

Feng Qingjue flung the blankets furiously at the ground . “Nonsense! I’ve never seen you before, so how can you say these lies?”.

The woman kneeled on the ground, unmoving . It was as if she hadn’t heard Feng Qingjue’s words . “This servant is only telling the truth . ”.

With the blankets missing, Feng Qingjue’s absence of clothing was made more prominent . Quickly, Feng Chenling handed him a clean robe . “How can you talk like this? At the very least, wear some clothes . ”.

“You too,” Feng Chenling said, throwing a robe to the woman . “Cover yourself . ”.

Feng Qingjue bit his lower lip, but took the proffered robe

After Feng Qingjue had been dressed, Feng Chenling looked at the woman again . “Tell me, who sent you to harm the Prince? What were their intentions?”.

“It was the Prince who wanted me to accompany him,” the woman said, unmoved

Slap! Feng Chenling raised his hand, ferociously slapping the woman . “Tell me, who sent you?”.

The woman spat out a mouthful of blood . “It was Prince Feng . ”.

Slap! Feng Chenling slapped the woman again . “Tell me, who sent you?!”.

“It was Prince Feng,” the woman repeated, refusing to budge

Feng Chenling raised his hand again, only to be stopped by Feng Qingjue . “Forget it . If you beat her to death, then she won’t be able to speak . ”.

“Qingjue . ”.

Feng Qingjue looked at Feng Chenling, then shook his head . Then, he glared at the woman . “Scram!”.

The woman’s face was filled with astonishment, as if she didn’t dare to believe that the two men would let her go so easily

“What are you staring at? Didn’t hear me? Scram!” Feng Qingjue glared at her, his face filled with a sinister fury

The woman scrambled . Feng Chenling sighed . “Qingjue, there’s no reason to do that . ”.

“No need? Hehe…” Feng Qingjue raised his head and laughed . “Chenling, why don’t you think a little bit? Do you think that it’s easy to go freely in and out of the Princess’s residence? Other than you, who else can access my room so easily?”.

Feng Chenling’s face was filled with disbelief . “You don’t mean to say… Wife?”.

“Hehe…” Feng Qingjue’s face was filled with a bitter loneliness . “Other than her, I can’t think of anyone else . ”.

“No, Wife isn’t that kind of person,” Feng Chenling said, grabbing Feng Qingjue’s elbow . He said, “Today, Wife even sent people in the afternoon to deliver us gifts . How could she send someone to dishonor you?”.

…she sent people in the afternoon?.

Feng Chenling suddenly seemed to have a realization . He furrowed his brows . Could it be—that it really was Wife?.

No, he didn’t believe it

Feng Qingjue laughed again . “Perhaps she doesn’t want to marry me, so she used these kinds of underhanded methods to dishonor me . Still, this might be a good thing . In the end, I don’t fit in with this matriarchal kind of society . In my kingdom, men reign supreme . Men are the ones who can have three wives and four concubines . ”.

He gave Feng Chenling a crooked smile . However, Feng Chenling knew that Feng Qingjue’s heart had closed up . It would take a long time for it to reopen again

“Chenling, let’s go together!” Feng Qingjue grabbed Feng Chenling’s hand . “Come with me to the Fengchao Dynasty . I promise that your life there will be much better than here . ”.

“Qingjue, have you really decided?” Feng Chenling’s voice was still slightly hopeful . As long as there was a chance, he wanted to change Feng Qingjue’s mind

Feng Qingjue laughed . He laughed until his face was pale white and he had ran out of energy . “I’ve decided . After all, I came to the Motian Dynasty for other reasons . Since everything’s wrapped up so nicely, I might as well return back to my homeland . ”.

Mo Qingli, you’ve really disappointed me

Even the method she had used to dispose of him was crooked . Did she really hate him that much? Thinking to this point, Feng Qingjue couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow in his heart

“Qingjue, I’m sorry,” Feng Chenling said . He released Feng Qingjue’s hand . “My happiness is Wife . If I leave here, I’m afraid that… I will not be happier . ”.

“I understand . Only… perhaps she is not someone that can be trusted . ” Feng Qingjue looked at Feng Chenling, this sincere and kind brother, and felt a little bit of reluctance at leaving

Feng Chenling’s lips quirked slightly, revealing a beautiful smile . “In this lifetime, I will follow her . ”.

Hearing these words, Feng Qingjue did not try to make any useless conversation . Instead, he cupped his fists at Feng Chenling . “Then, Chenling, stay safe . If there’s ever a day where you walk the wrong path, the Fengchao Dynasty will always welcome you . ”.

Then, he turned around and left

At night, by a quiet pond

A black-robed figure stood by the pond, staring at the water, as if lost in thought

Another black-robed figure appeared in the distance . As she walked closer, it became clear that it was the same woman who had just framed Feng Qingjue

She walked towards the black-robed figure, kneeling deferentially

“Has it been done?” the black-robed figure asked

“Yes, Prince . Your order has been carried out . ” The women bowed her head, cupping her hands together in respect

The black-robed figure turned around, a pleased expression on his face . “Excellent . You know what to do from now!”.

The woman stared at the man in fear, then hurriedly nodded her head . “Yes, this servant understands . ”.

“En, good . Then, leave!” Afterwards, the man prepared to leave

“Prince,” the woman called after him

The man stopped in his steps . Coldly, he said, “Speak . ”.

The woman swallowed fearfully . Finally, she found the courage to say, “Prince, please spare my family . ”.

As the woman spoke, a white dove flew onto the black-robed man’s left shoulder . He drew a bag of bird feed from inside his robes, feeding it to the bird

“It depends on how well you carry out your orders . ”.

Then, he left

“Little White, you really aren’t obedient,” the man scolded . He removed the robe off of his shoulders, tossing it behind him . Out of the darkness, another man caught the robe before it hit the ground—and then he was gone again

The white dove cooed twice, as if trying to tell the man that it had not appeared on purpose, but rather out of hunger

Xiaoyao Yunyan could only helplessly nod . “Don’t do it again, or else I won’t feed you!”.

 .

¹”Flower vase”: someone that has relations.h.i.+ps with lots of “flowers” . The servant essentially called FQJ a wh.o.r.e. ²”Green Hat”: someone being cheated on . Based on an ancient Chinese story of a woman who signalled to her lover when her husband would not be home by making him wear a green hat.