Due to the strict discipline of the General’s Manor, Xiao Biehe silently raised his cup of clear tea, using it to substitute for wine.
Mu Yunfei was smiling, seemingly in a good mood. The Emperor also wore an expression of sentimental satisfaction at seeing the younger generation in harmony, his smile a blend of benevolence and authority.
Xiao Jinshi pouted, lowering his head to drink his tea in silence.
The majority of the civil and military officials looked extremely displeased, and Xiao Changfeng’s expression was equally poor.
Xiao Changfeng spoke again, his voice respectful yet urgent. “Your Highness, my son is not worthy of you. I beg Your Highness to consider carefully and seek a better match. Even if you insist on him… he cannot be the Crown Princess. Giving him the position of a concubine would be more than enough!”
Mu Yunfei laughed. All the kind words his imperial father had spoken before the court were just for show; he knew he likely wouldn’t actually have the chance to make Xiao Biehe his official Princess.
However, it was truly laughable that in this world, there existed a father who would belittle his own child at every turn especially when that child was someone like Xiao Biehe, a person who could be described as flawlessly excellent.
Mu Yunfei found everyone in the General’s Manor quite ridiculous.
He picked up the wine pot, poured himself another cup, and toasted Xiao Changfeng. “I also offer another toast to the General of the State,” he said with a refined smile.
Setting down his cup, Mu Yunfei reached out to take Xiao Biehe’s hand, but Biehe shifted subtly, avoiding the touch without making a scene.
The Prince smiled, maintaining his image of a gentle gentleman, and let the matter drop for the moment.
Although Xiao Biehe had to die, Mu Yunfei had liked him for many years. That didn’t stop him from wanting to possess him completely just once before the end.
Mu Yunfei’s eyes were filled with affection as he looked at Biehe. “After the banquet concludes, why don’t you accompany me to the Eastern Palace for a stroll?”
Xiao Biehe stood up, preparing to refuse.
Unexpectedly, the Emperor laughed loudly and clapped his hands. “Good! Excellent! You two haven’t seen each other in a long time. Use today to rekindle your bond. I grant permission! Yunfei, you must host Xiao Biehe well!”
Xiao Changfeng had always believed that his loyalty would be obvious to the Emperor and the court. Yet, for some reason, after this victory banquet, the other officials looked at him with even less friendliness. Some didn’t even bother to hide it, rolling their eyes or making pointed, indirect remarks to his face.
Having endured too many of these looks, Xiao Changfeng grew irritated, blaming it all on his eldest son.
The Xiao family had always been fiercely loyal to the imperial family. The Emperor trusted them, even repeatedly forgiving Xiao Biehe’s mistakes.
That rebellious son, he thought, daring to speculate about the Emperor’s heart and writing such a letter to me!
He felt Xiao Biehe was dragging the whole manor down. If the Emperor truly grew suspicious and war broke out, it would be all Biehe’s fault.
Seeing Xiao Jinshi and Xiao Qingqu supporting Madam Jiang Xu’er out of the hall, his anger softened slightly. He hurried to his wife’s side. He knew she disliked Biehe; he decided that once the boy returned from the Eastern Palace, he would punish him severely to make her feel better.
The family returned to the manor in Jiang Xu’er’s carriage, which only sat three. Xiao Qingqu, ever the sensible one, stepped back to allow the parents and Jinshi to ride together.
Once they were gone, the gentle smile on Xiao Qingqu’s face vanished, replaced by a dark, resentful look.
What is so good about Xiao Biehe?
Why! In the General’s Manor, no one liked Biehe. Since he could remember things at the age of two, Xiao Qingqu had snatched everything that belonged to him. Why was it that Mu Yunfei’s heart still only held Biehe?
If anyone was a “childhood friend,” it was him. Xiao Biehe had been raised by Qingqu’s biological mother. His mother had loved Biehe, praising his intelligence and manners while rarely praising her own son.
But it didn’t matter if his birth mother didn’t like him, because Biehe’s mother didn’t like Biehe either. This was karma. Madam Jiang hated Biehe, but she loved Xiao Qingqu.
Qingqu didn’t want to be the child of a servant, a lowly woman whose husband’s identity was unknown. Madam Jiang was the mistress of the great General’s Manor. If he could stay by her side, his life would be completely changed!
So, at the age of four, Xiao Qingqu had bought a lethal poison and killed his own mother, making it look like a sudden illness.
He hadn’t wanted to kill her, but she only had eyes for Biehe. Whenever she received a reward, she thought of Biehe first. If Qingqu fought for it, she would scold him, saying Biehe was their master even in his fall from grace.
I won’t be a servant, Qingqu thought. He had a face almost as beautiful as Biehe’s. He would take everything from him, his reputation, and the Prince.
After a long time, he raised his head, the gentle smile returning. He greeted the departing nobles at the palace gates with practiced grace. Everyone liked him. Then, he began walking toward the Eastern Palace.
Mu Yunfei truly did like Xiao Biehe.
Inside the carriage, he stared at Biehe’s face, several times resisting the urge to reach out and touch him. Each time, Biehe avoided him with a cold, distant grace.
Mu Yunfei’s mood was split: half frustration, and half a ruthless determination to have him today. He smiled coldly and forced his hand onto Biehe’s.
“Why so distant, Xiao Biehe? I’m not going to eat you.”
The intense pain in his legs made Xiao Biehe gasp. He was no stranger to pain, but in winter, this was a lingering torture. He felt nothing for Mu Yunfei, and though the thought of being tied to a man he didn’t love was a regret, it didn’t matter much he loved no one.
He once thought that if he married the Prince, his parents might look at him with more kindness. Today, he realized that would never happen.
He tried to pull his hand away but found he suddenly lacked the strength. His legs hurt more, and he realized the temperature in the carriage felt wrong.
Mu Yunfei leaned in, his fingers interlacing forcefully with Biehe’s. His other hand gripped Biehe’s chin, finally touching that perfect, immortal-like face.
“You’ve already come to the Eastern Palace. Why bother playing hard to get?” the Prince sneered, his “gentle” persona discarded. He began to reach inside Biehe’s robes.
Xiao Biehe found his martial arts and inner strength were failing him. When his chin was released, he managed to struggle out from under the Prince.
“Prince, do you truly intend to marry me?” Biehe asked.
Mu Yunfei paused. He hadn’t expected Biehe to have the strength to struggle after being exposed to Muscle-Weakening Powder and an aphrodisiac.
The Emperor always said Biehe was too smart to be kept. It was true. Mu Yunfei was afraid to keep such a man by his side without clipping his wings first. Xiao Biehe was a falcon; if he wasn’t broken, he might turn on the state.
The powders were colorless and odorless. Mu Yunfei had taken the antidote for the weakness powder, but for the aphrodisiac, he had only used a small dose he wanted to see this proud beauty struggle and suffer while being conscious of his own desire.
Once they reached the Eastern Palace, no one could save him.
“Of course it’s true,” Mu Yunfei smiled. “Don’t you know my heart by now?”
“If that’s the case, there is no need for such haste,” Biehe replied.
“No, I am in a hurry. You always keep me a thousand miles away. I’m afraid someone else will get to you first.”
The carriage arrived. Biehe’s legs, having endured a long period of agony, failed him as he tried to stand. The curtain was pulled back, and Mu Yunfei pressed him down again, picking him up in his arms.
“Do you feel… hot, Young General?” Mu Yunfei whispered into his ear. “Why don’t we consummate the marriage today? I truly do like you.”
The hot breath on his ear and the words spoken caused a rare flash of panic on Biehe’s face. He tried to break free, but without his inner strength, he was no match for the Prince’s grip.
Mu Yunfei set him down inside the palace. The Eastern Palace was crawling with guards. Even if Biehe had his strength, escape would be nearly impossible.
Biehe hadn’t expected the Prince to stoop to such despicable methods. Because of the pain in his legs, he stumbled when set down. Mu Yunfei assumed it was the drugs and didn’t give it a second thought.
In truth, the small dose of aphrodisiac was nothing compared to the monumental pain in his bones.
Xiao Biehe looked up. Amidst the sea of guards, he saw a youth in bright red clothing with captivating blue eyes.
The youth stood in the shadows, not bothering to hide, yet seemingly invisible to everyone else. He leaned against a large tree, biting a fresh green leaf.
Seeing Biehe look at him, the youth arched an eyebrow and curled his lips into a smirk, the leaf tilting upward with his grin.