Phoenix Reigns Over The Nine Heavens - Chapter 31

Yun Zishu raised her eyes and stared at Si Cang’s indifferent and restrained expression. She smiled casually. “What kind of answer do you want to hear?”

Si Cang’s eyes fell on her side profile, his gaze deep and profound. “This humble servant wants to hear the truth.”

“The truth?” Yun Zishu chuckled, her expression much more relaxed. “Feng Ci is indeed an exceptional man, quite different from his grandfather and father. He is gentle and refined, like a graceful nobleman.”

Si Cang was silent.

In his youth, the imperial uncle, Duke Feng, was a military general who wielded authority over troops. He was decisive in killing and thunderous in action. His whole life was marked with the domineering and powerful style of a military general, but now he had no choice but to keep a low profile.

Feng Ci’s father, Prime Minister Feng, possessed deep and cunning foresight expected of a powerful official. He was meticulous and flawless in his actions, never leaving room for others to seize his handle to exploit. Yet, everyone in the court knew that even though Prime Minister Feng appeared inconspicuous, he was not someone to be trifled with.

With real power in his hands, everyone had to tread carefully around him.

When it came to Feng Ci’s generation, perhaps due to the elder Imperial Uncle Feng’s upbringing—unwilling to let him set foot in officialdom or involve him in military power—he had been cultivated into a noble young master who was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Coupled with Feng Ci’s handsome appearance, elegant demeanor, and grace, no matter where he went, he was the kind of young man that made young women’s hearts flutter.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Yun Zishu looked at Si Cang, a hint of amusement in her eyes. “Do you have some hostility towards him?”

Si Cang slowly shook his head. He had no hostility towards Feng Ci, but Yun Zishu was just a young girl…

“I just left the Xiao family, and I don’t plan to get involved in another relationship for now.” Yun Zishu’s tone was solemn: “You don’t have to worry about me having any feelings for him.”

Having experienced the past and present lives, her state of mind was no longer that of a young girl. How could she have the heart for romance?

“I’m not worried,” Si Cang said, lowering his eyes. It was as if he was explaining something, and his voice carried suppressed emotions that he was trying his best to hide. “I was just… just asking casually.”

Yun Zishu hummed in acknowledgement, suppressing her smile and not exposing his true thoughts. “This princess knows.”

It’s not that she doesn’t understand Si Cang’s feelings. In her previous life, Si Cang had done so much for her, even willing to die to avenge her—how could she not have any feelings?

Moreover, the bond she shared with Si Cang, having grown up together, ran much deeper than any connection she had with Xiao Yunheng.

It was just that she had just come out of the Xiao family. Her heart at the moment was filled with hatred not only for the Xiao family but also carried deep resentment for her father, the Emperor. There were still many buried secrets she had yet to uncover, and she simply didn’t have any energy to think about romance right now.

Once she had accomplished what needed to be done, Yun Zishu thought, she would give an answer to Si Cang.

“It’s getting late; I’ll take my leave first,” Si Cang said. “Your Highness, please rest early.”

Yun Zishu nodded. “Si Cang.”

Si Cang looked up.

“You are the only one in this princess’s mansion who can come and go freely and has the authority to make any decisions here.” Yun Zishu said seriously, “From now on, come whenever you wish. There is no need to have anyone announce you.”

Si Cang’s heart trembled, and then he slowly shook his head: “It is my honor that Your Highness trusts me, but the rules must be followed. What if I come at the wrong time…”

“Any time you come over is the right time.”

Si Cang was silent for a moment.

What he really wanted to say was, what if he suddenly came over like tonight and found Yun Zishu already asleep? or taking a bath? or in a state of undress…that would be inappropriate.

But it was improper to voice these thoughts. He always felt that it was not in accordance with the rules. Yun Zishu was a princess and a woman. No matter how much she trusted him, Si Cang knew in his heart that he must strictly abide by the rules and not cross the line.

He cherished her, so he had to protect her—not only her safety but also her reputation.

Unless one day in the future, she clearly expressed that she felt the same way about him.

Otherwise, the proper sense of propriety should still be followed.

Si Cang soon took his leave. The cold and ruthless god of death in the eyes of outsiders rushed into the princess’s mansion in the middle of the night, only because he learned the news of Feng Ci’s visit, and his heart had been unsettled, leading him to act impulsively.

If others were to find out, who would believe that this was the behavior of Si Cang, the Commander of the Dark Shadow Pavilion?

After he left, Yun Zishu found it hard to fall asleep.

Thinking of Feng Ci, she actually had some doubts in her heart. The reason why she revealed some thoughts that should not be revealed to Feng Ci just now was because she knew that the Feng family had never done anything to harm her in her previous life.

In fact, before she married into the Xiao family, Feng Ci had subtly reminded her that Xiao Yunheng was not a good man, but she did not listen at that time, or if she had, then she did not take it to heart.

After all, back then, she was a filial daughter in her father’s eyes and also a princess who had lost her mother and had no confidence to be willful. For the sake of the royal family, no matter whether she had feelings for Xiao Yunheng or not, she had no room to refuse or resist under the imperial decree.

After marrying Xiao Yunheng, her life had been difficult. Just like a few days ago, if Li Xue shed a few tears and said a few words, blame would be shifted onto her. It became routine for Madam Xiao and Xiao Yunheng to jointly accuse, reprimand, and punish her.

She, a princess, lived in the Xiao family without any dignity.

In her previous life, she was not allowed to go out and only had the chance to show her face at palace banquets. Occasionally, she would see the Duke of Feng cast a worried glance at her. The Empress Dowager sometimes wanted to summon her to speak, but her father always found excuses to stop her from seeing the Empress Dowager.

How stupid she was at that time! She couldn’t see anything strange in it, and she never thought about whether the Empress Dowager had anything important to say to her. She seized the rare opportunity to complain to her father, accusing Madam Xiao and Xiao Yunheng of treating her harshly. But after listening to her, her father always advised her to endure, saying that women should abide by the three obediences and four virtues. As long as she was gentle, virtuous, and good at managing the family, Madam Xiao would be moved by her sooner or later, and Xiao Yunheng would see her goodness.

However, until she died, she never saw Mrs. Xiao and Xiao Yunheng moved by her. They only grew increasingly harsh, as if fearing her death wouldn’t be miserable enough.

So these days, staying in the Princess’s mansion, Yun Zishu has been thinking about whether the Feng family and the Empress Dowager really care about her or whether they know some secrets that she doesn’t know.

For example, what is the truth behind her mother’s death during childbirth?

The reason her father was determined to kill her mother?

Could it simply be that there was no love left? No, she didn’t believe it. There must be a reason she didn’t know.

Yun Zishu sat by the window, lost in thought. Leng Yue reminded her in a soft voice that it was time to go to bed. Yun Zishu rose, changed her clothes, and entered the inner room. As she lay in bed, she continued to ponder until her mind grew dizzy, and she unknowingly fell into a deep sleep.

She slept soundly through the night.

The next morning, she was awakened by an announcement: “Your Highness, Xiao Yunheng is making a scene in Qingchen Yard, demanding to see you.”

“The princess is still asleep; what are you making such a racket for?” Leng Yue stood outside the hall and coldly rebuked, “No loud shouting is allowed outside the Qifeng Hall from now on.”