While Shen Yuling and Quan Minghe were engaged in their passionate affair, Feng Moheng was also exchanging heartfelt confessions with Liu Jingyi.
Inside the Sujin Courtyard.
The moonlight flowed like water, spilling over the carved railings, painted beams, and the courtyard blooming with flowers, as if draping everything in a silvery veil.
Feng Moheng and Liu Jingyi were strolling along the garden path.
Their figures stretched long under the moonlight.
They were taking a leisurely walk after dinner, bathed in the moon’s glow.
“Moheng, did you really not do anything with the Princess Consort yesterday?”
Liu Jingyi tilted her head slightly, gazing at Feng Moheng.
“If I promised you, I will keep my word.”
Feng Moheng stopped walking, turned to face her, his gaze firm.
But Liu Jingyi, knowing the original plot of the book, felt deeply insecure.
Even after hearing Feng Moheng’s resolute answer, the shadow of fear lingered in her heart, impossible to dispel.
Gritting her teeth, she continued to probe.
Even if it meant acting out of character, she had to get to the bottom of it.
“Moheng, this morning I heard everyone in the mansion saying that you and the Princess Consort walked hand in hand to pay respects to the Grand Princess. I… I was heartbroken.”
As she spoke, Liu Jingyi’s eyes reddened.
“I’m afraid you don’t love me anymore.”
Feng Moheng reached out and pulled her into his embrace, resting his chin gently on the top of her head.
His low, husky voice carried a hint of obsession: “No, Jingyi, I only love you.”
How could he not love her?
As soon as he returned to the mansion this evening, the maid by Jingyi’s side came looking for him.
When Feng Moheng arrived at the Sujin Courtyard, he saw her nervous and flustered demeanor.
Her fear of losing him was so evident.
The more she cared, the more excited Feng Moheng became.
And her unusual state tonight, Feng Moheng knew, was because of Shen Yuling.
Because Shen Yuling had specifically instructed the kitchen to prepare Northwestern delicacies for him and invited him for a drink.
Jingyi was jealous.
That was why she had summoned him to the Sujin Courtyard.
When he married Shen Yuling, she had been so calm and composed that Feng Moheng thought she didn’t care about it.
But now it seemed…
That might not be the case.
Feng Moheng’s dark eyes grew profound and intense.
Years ago, when his father betrayed his mother, and his mother divorced him, keeping male favorites in the princess’s mansion, he had witnessed it all from a young age.
Thus, he was exceptionally obsessed with the feeling of a woman loving him wholeheartedly.
And Liu Jingyi was the most perfect woman he had personally nurtured since he was ten years old.
Feng Moheng had always believed that love should be mutual.
When he gave his all to Jingyi, Jingyi would also love him wholeheartedly.
But in the past, when other women approached him, Jingyi never seemed to show any obvious reaction.
Only when he expressed his affection for her would she become happy and respond with the same love.
Yet now, with Shen Yuling’s arrival, Liu Jingyi had such intense emotional fluctuations…
Feng Moheng lowered his gaze slightly, his deep eyes concealing a hint of inquiry.
Why was that?
Liu Jingyi nestled against Feng Moheng.
Over the years, she had heard too many promises from Feng Moheng.
He was the male lead in the book. As long as he truly fell in love with someone, he would undoubtedly pledge a lifetime of devotion, promising to be with only that one person.
So no matter how other women approached Feng Moheng, she didn’t care.
Because Feng Moheng would never develop feelings for those women.
But Shen Yuling was different.
She was the original female lead, and this Feng Moheng who now showed affection for her was someone she had stolen.
Liu Jingyi’s heart ached with bitterness.
“Moheng, the Princess Consort is beautiful, and her outstanding family background is unmatched by others. Even the Grand Princess is quite fond of her. She has everything.”
“But in the Prince’s mansion, I only have you.”
“Don’t be afraid. Shen Yuling and I are merely putting on a show.”
“Mother already dislikes you. If I were to neglect Shen Yuling now, Mother would surely despise you even more. By then, I fear your days in the mansion would become even more difficult.”
Feng Moheng held her tighter, whispering words of comfort.
So, the intimate display between Feng Moheng and Shen Yuling today was merely an act for the Grand Princess.
But who knew if, as the act went on, it might become real?
Though she thought this in her heart, Liu Jingyi pretended to be moved.
“Moheng, thank you.”
Liu Jingyi spoke with a slight sob in her voice.
Feng Moheng reached out and pinched Liu Jingyi’s cheek.
He said dotingly, “Alright, no more sadness.”
Then, he abruptly changed the subject.
“It’s getting late. You should return to your room and rest early.”
Liu Jingyi froze instantly, looking at Feng Moheng in disbelief.
He…
Was he not staying at Sujin Courtyard tonight?
Feng Moheng naturally understood her expression.
He explained, “Today, I just performed a scene of deep marital affection with Shen Yuling in front of Mother, and she also urged me to spend more time with her. After all, this is only the second night of the marriage. Tonight, I still have to go to Ninglan Courtyard.”
Liu Jingyi’s hands in her sleeves suddenly clenched tightly.
Marital affection?
Why did those two words sound so grating?
Seeing Jingyi tense up, Feng Moheng smiled gently, but his eyes seemed to conceal an unfathomable calculation.
“Not going to Ninglan Courtyard for dinner tonight has already slighted Shen Yuling. If I were to stay with you, I fear Mother would find out tomorrow and cause trouble for you.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Jingyi hurriedly embraced Feng Moheng.
“I’m not afraid!”
She wasn’t afraid of the Grand Princess causing trouble for her; she only feared Feng Moheng and Shen Yuling being alone together.
“Be good, trust me. If Mother troubles you, it would pain me.”
Feng Moheng gently patted her back, then firmly pushed Liu Jingyi out of his embrace and turned to leave.
He walked to the entrance of Sujin Courtyard but did not leave immediately.
He stood quietly in the darkness, like a beast hidden in the shadows.
“Crash!”
“Bang!”
The sound of shattering porcelain came from within the courtyard.
Feng Moheng smiled mysteriously, quite satisfied with the noise.
When Shen Yuling married into the mansion, he thought that as long as he kept his distance from her, Jingyi would continue to love him and not abandon him as his mother had abandoned his father.
But he never expected the opposite to happen…
Then, he left Sujin Courtyard, his figure gradually disappearing into the moonlight.
Feng Moheng’s figure appeared outside Ninglan Courtyard.
Ninglan Courtyard was now soaked in heavy darkness, pitch-black and deathly silent, with only two faint lanterns at the entrance.
Inside, Bai Hua, the maid placed in the Prince’s mansion by Quan Minghe, wore a serious expression. The Princess Consort was currently in the palace…