Phoenix Reigns Over The Nine Heavens - Chapter 35

She had thought that with Xiao Yunheng here, no one would dare disrespect her out of consideration for him—that had always been the case before. Whether it was a flower appreciation banquet held by the daughters of noble families or a regular event held in the capital, even if she attended as a concubine, those people would still show respect to her.

Because her father was the vice minister of the Ministry of Revenue, her husband was the young general of the Xiao family, and her mother-in-law was also her aunt, who was the principal wife of the Xiao family.

The Emperor is currently relying heavily on the Xiao family; who would dare not give her some face?

Never did she expect that after returning from the Dark Shadow Pavilion, she would be met with such cold treatment. It was really beyond Li Xue’s expectations.

Clenching her fists, she stood stiffly outside the gate for a long time and finally raised her hand to knock on the door again.

A servant opened the door and frowned at Li Xue: “Why is the Madam concubine still here?”

Li Xue subconsciously looked inside but did not see the Cheng steward who had been there just now. She looked at the servant in front of her and spoke in a commanding tone, “Go and inform the Ninth Princess that I… I am here to apologize to her.”

Apologize?

Can people who come to apologize act so arrogant these days?

The servant sized her up and down and sneered, “Our legitimate princess is a noble and exalted golden branch of the highest status. She is not someone just anyone can see. You want to apologize to the princess? Kneel outside first. Kneel until the princess is willing to see you, and then she will naturally send someone to summon you.”

After saying that, he closed the door without hesitation, once again shutting Li Xue out.

Li Xue could hardly believe it.

She stared stiffly at the vermilion-lacquered gate in front of her, as if she were staring at some monster.

Let her kneel?

Kneel? Kneel outside the gate?

Yun Zishu, who used to be controlled by others in the Xiao family and could not resist even if she was framed by her, dared to make her kneel outside?

Li Xue gritted her teeth, her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white.

Yun…Zi…Shu…

“Madam Concubine,” the maid Xiao Tao, who had come with her, spoke up timidly, “What should we do now?”

Li Xue flicked her sleeves and turned around, angrily walking towards the carriage: “Return to the Xiao family.”

“But… but the master said that if you can’t enter to serve the young general, you will be sent back to the Li family.” Xiao Tao lowered her head, her voice tinged with unease. “When you took a bath and changed clothes early yesterday morning, the master proposed to send you back. It was only because the madam pleaded earnestly, saying that the young general needed someone to take care of him, that the master relented…”

Li Xue’s face stiffened inch by inch. She stared fixedly at Xiao Tao’s anxious expression, feeling as if her heart was encased in a layer of bone-chilling ice, cold from head to toe.

Her uncle was going to send her back to the Li family? Why hadn’t she heard her aunt mention it?

No, she couldn’t go back.

Once she returned to the Li family, what hope would she have for the rest of her life?

She was already Xiao Yunheng’s woman—having lost her virginity. No man would want her now. Going back would only bring disgrace to the Li family, and neither her father nor mother would forgive her.

Li Xue closed her eyes and cursed Yun Zishu in her heart. Then she turned around and walked to the gate with heavy steps, forcing herself to kneel down.

Yun Zishu, you just wait and see.

I will never let you have the chance to step into the Xiao family’s gate again. So what if you are the legitimate princess? So what if you are a golden branch and jade leaf, high above?

A princess who is not even liked by the emperor—does she really think she is of noble status?

Just wait and see. Once you leave the Xiao family, no man will dare to marry you for the rest of your life. Prepare to be scorned by everyone, to endure the ridicule of the world and contemptuous sneers. Let’s see how you will end up then?

The weather was pretty good today—bright sunshine and flowers in full bloom.

Li Xue knelt from morning until noon; her legs were sore and painful, as if they were about to break. Still, no one emerged from the princess’s mansion. She thought that Yun Zishu must be deliberately retaliating against her and giving her a hard time.

However, at this time, Yun Zishu really did not know that Li Xue had come to her door.

Because Leng Yue had intercepted the news, it was not until noon that Leng Shuang reported to Yun Zishu, “Li Xue has been kneeling outside the main gate for half a day.”

Yun Zishu was drinking tea and enjoying the flowers in the garden. She had been living a particularly comfortable life these past few days—quiet and undisturbed. Every day after eating, she would bring Leng Yue, Leng Shuang, and a few maids out for a walk and to breathe in some fresh air.

Then she realized that compared to the freedom of this period, the days of her previous life were really bleak and hopeless, and she was better off dead.

Thus, Yun Zishu became increasingly aware of the value of freedom and the importance of power.

To attain the freedom she desired, she must grasp power firmly, ensuring that no one could ever control her again.

“Let her kneel if she wants to.” Yun Zishu said, sitting on a rock bench and gazing at the swaying flowers in the garden. “The weather is really good today. Don’t you think Xiao Yunheng and Li Xue are like a pair of star-crossed lovers, torn apart by this malicious princess, forced to endure physical pain and suffering?”

Leng Yue chuckled: “What are you saying, Your Highness? It’s obvious that Li Xue is the malicious one. But you and Xiao Yunheng can’t be considered a pair of lovers. That blind and foolish man is not worthy of you.”

Yun Zishu sighed: “Li Xue is a delicate and kind-hearted woman—how could I possibly compare to her?”

A delicate and kind woman?

Leng Shuang and Leng Yue exchanged puzzled glances in silence.

Yun Zishu pondered for a moment. “Go and tell Xiao Yunheng that Li Xue has come looking for him and is now kneeling outside the gate.”

Leng Shuang nodded and turned to leave.

When the news reached Qingchen Yard, Xiao Yunheng’s face changed drastically. The doctor had just applied medicine to his back and instructed him to get out of bed and walk around after half an hour. However, Xiao Yunheng couldn’t wait for half an hour and hurriedly got up.

Since he hadn’t brought any servants, there was no one to assist him. He could only get up by himself, holding onto the head of the bed. He walked a few steps carefully and then walked out, holding onto the wall.

The injuries on his body had been healing for less than seven days, and it was still a long way from recovery. Every step he took now was like a knife cutting open his back, and the pain made him sweat all over, leaving his face pale.

The distance from Qingchen Yard to the front yard of the Princess’s Mansion was definitely not short. In the past, a strong man could reach it in half an incense stick’s time if he walked quickly. But now, he was dragged down by his injuries and had walked for nearly half an hour without reaching his destination.

Xiao Yunheng leaned against the pillar and saw a maid approaching. He waited for a moment and saw the maid getting closer and closer. Xiao Yunheng finally opened his mouth and said, “Come over and help me.”

Xue Yi looked up at him in puzzlement. “Me?”

Xiao Yunheng was impatient: “Is there anyone else here?”

Xue Yi looked around. Indeed there was no one else around, so he must be calling her.

But she shook her head. “I’m sorry, I can’t help you because men and women should not touch each other.”

Xiao Yunheng’s face darkened. “Presumptuous!”

Xue Yi felt that he was a little strange and turned around and left without hesitation. She had to go to the pharmacy to pack up and prepare some commonly used medicinal materials in the pharmacy. She also had to move some of her medical books over and pack them up. She had no time to pay attention to a strange person.

Xiao Yunheng watched helplessly as she walked farther away, feeling as if his heart, liver, and lungs were burning with fury.

What an ignorant and foolish servant!