Bai Hua clenched her fists tightly. If the Prince insisted on entering to see the Princess Consort tonight, she would have no choice but to drug him.
Bai Hua’s ears twitched as she heard Feng Moheng’s departing footsteps, and she let out a sigh of relief.
Shen Yuling, blissfully unaware of it all, returned carefree to the Prince’s mansion.
It seemed there were many of Quan Minghe’s people within the Prince’s mansion—those who had assisted her along the way, as well as those in her Ninglan Courtyard, were almost all Quan Minghe’s agents.
But as an emperor, why would he plant so many spies in a Prince’s mansion with little power?
Shouldn’t spies be placed in the residence of the Grand Princess instead?
Shen Yuling pondered this casually but couldn’t make sense of it, so she let it go.
Having been thoroughly exhausted by Quan Minghe the previous night, Shen Yuling went straight to sleep upon returning to her room and didn’t wake until the afternoon.
In the evening, Feng Moheng came to Ninglan Courtyard.
Inside the room, Shen Yuling lay on the Meiren couch with her eyes closed, resting peacefully.
Her serene face, bathed in the dim light, resembled a delicate flower in slumber.
Feng Moheng stood quietly by the bedside, his gaze fixed on Shen Yuling, his expression complex and inscrutable.
What is it about you that’s so different?
Why is Jingyi so worried you’ll steal me away?
If I show affection for you, will Jingyi grow jealous and love me even more?
Feng Moheng was filled with doubts.
After a moment, he sat down by the bedside, gazing intently at Shen Yuling’s sleeping face.
Shen Yuling had only been lightly dozing and woke as soon as Feng Moheng arrived.
But since Feng Moheng remained silent, simply watching her, she decided to continue pretending to sleep.
Yet, as if guided by some unseen force, Feng Moheng suddenly reached out.
His slender, slightly cool fingers gently traced a path from Shen Yuling’s brows and eyes, slowly moving downward inch by inch until they caressed her fair cheeks.
The motion was tender yet carried a hint of inexplicable persistence.
Truly a face too beautiful to ignore.
Shen Yuling stopped pretending to sleep and opened her bright eyes.
Seeing Feng Moheng, she seemed almost disbelieving and blinked a few times.
“Why has my husband come here?”
“Do you not wish for me to come?”
A faint, elusive smile curled at the corner of Feng Moheng’s lips.
Shen Yuling took his hand and pulled him to sit on the couch.
Then, softening her posture, she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his broad shoulder.
Her voice was soft and sweet: “I do, of course I do. I’ve missed you terribly.”
Unlike their wedding night, Feng Moheng showed no resistance toward Shen Yuling.
Instead, he gently stroked her waterfall-like hair, over and over, his movements tender yet seemingly laden with unspoken thoughts.
“Last night, I heard you prepared Northwestern delicacies and fine wine for me, but Jingyi wasn’t feeling well, so I went to check on her.”
Hearing his gentle tone and even his explanation for why he had gone to Liu Jingyi the previous night, Shen Yuling felt a chill run down her spine.
What was wrong with Feng Moheng?
Shen Yuling forced her tense body to relax, making her embrace appear more natural.
She lifted her head, her beautiful eyes shimmering with emotion.
Yet she replied self-deprecatingly, “My husband need not explain to me. I’m well aware of your care for Liu Ji.”
With that, she nuzzled his shoulder affectionately, as if reluctant to part.
“When I go to Liu Ji, do you feel jealous? Envious?”
“When my husband comes to me, do you think Liu Ji will feel jealous? Envious?”
Shen Yuling countered with neither humility nor arrogance.
Her beautiful eyes met Feng Moheng’s directly, her gaze unwavering.
Feng Moheng’s pupils contracted.
If Liu Jingyi didn’t feel jealous or envious, he wouldn’t have come here.
Seeing him remain silent for a long while, Shen Yuling continued softly, “When my husband cares about my feelings, I will tell him whether I am jealous or envious, alright?”
Her voice was gentle and soft, yet carried immense weight, striking straight into Feng Moheng’s heart.
Feng Moheng hadn’t expected such a response.
He was slightly taken aback.
Of course, he didn’t care about Shen Yuling’s feelings.
She was merely a stranger of a wife.
Before she married him, Feng Moheng had thought of treating her only as the lady of the house in charge of affairs.
However…
A thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
Since Shen Yuling was his wife, could he also make her fall in love with him, just as he had tempted Liu Jingyi?
It was the two of them who had come to him of their own accord; whatever he did was beyond reproach…
If Shen Yling also loved him, the two of them would become jealous and envious out of love for him, they would compete for him out of love, and he would become the most important person in their hearts, constantly needed!
Thinking this, Feng Moheng curled his lips, a smile in his eyes, though the smile did not reach their depths. In fact, deep within his gaze, there seemed to be a hint of madness, suppressed to the point of near distortion.
The candlelight flickered, casting dancing shadows of dim yellow light in the room.
Feng Moheng held Shen Yuling.
“Yuling, Liu Jingyi is my lifesaver.”
“She has shown me kindness, and even more, affection. By marrying you, I feel I have let her down.”
“So, from now on, don’t hold it against her. Since you are my wife, you will always be.”
Listening to these words, Shen Yuling felt a chill run from the soles of her feet straight to her heart.
What was wrong with Feng Moheng?!
He seemed like a completely different person from the man on their wedding night!
Unable to understand, Shen Yuling decided to stop analyzing everything from the perspective of an outsider and instead fully immersed herself in the situation.
She closed her eyes, her thoughts swirling in her mind.
She had married a man whose heart belonged to another, who did not love her at all. Yet, despite this, she still yearned for love deep down, hoping her husband would come to love her.
Feng Moheng was her husband, but upon their first meeting, he had earnestly admitted to deeply loving someone else.
Now, he was saying contradictory things…
He had even confessed that Liu Jingyi was his benefactor.
Could it be that Feng Moheng was giving her hope, the hope that he might also come to like her?
Shen Yuling suddenly opened her eyes, a flash of insight seeming to pass through them.
Did Feng Moheng want her to fall in love with him?!
But why would he do that?
Shen Yuling was filled with confusion, yet she couldn’t find any clues for the moment.
Seeing that the woman in his arms showed no reaction to his words, a deep glint flashed in Feng Moheng’s eyes.
“Yuling?”
Shen Yuling broke free from his embrace. When she looked up, her eyes seemed to shimmer with tears of emotion.
She pursed her lips slightly, her voice soft yet carrying a touch of sincerity.
“Husband, so Lady Liu is the one who saved your life.”
Women care about the details of warmth and care, while men care about you gradually falling into their trap, becoming infatuated with them, admiring them, and acknowledging their sense of control.
Feng Moheng, whatever you want, I will give it to you now.
“You are so loyal and righteous, which proves that I, Shen Yuling, did not marry the wrong person.”
Sure enough, a look of delight and satisfaction flashed in Feng Moheng’s eyes.
His wife, so utterly defenseless, was indeed likable.
Tears shimmered in Shen Yuling’s eyes, on the verge of falling.
“Hearing you call me your wife today is enough—I won’t ask for more.”
“My mother taught me from childhood that husband and wife should share the same heart and purpose. Though we’ve only known each other for two or three days, and it’s still early, I believe we can walk hand in hand through the rest of our lives.”
“Every day from now on, I will stay by my husband’s side with all my heart.”
For some reason, Feng Moheng felt that Shen Yuling truly seemed different from other women.
Why did her words always inexplicably touch the deepest longings in his heart…
With all her heart?
But only Liu Jingyi loved him wholeheartedly, even willing to die for him…
Shen Yuling, could you do the same?