Phoenix Reigns Over The Nine Heavens - Chapter 46

Yun Zishu really sympathized with him. He was clearly so angry that he wanted to kill her, but because of the emperor’s strict order and his father’s request, he had to lower his voice here—though not a hint of humility could be heard in his tone. Still, for someone like Xiao Yunheng, who was used to looking down on her from a superior position, this could indeed be considered lowering himself.

“There’s nothing to discuss between us,” Yun Zishu said, her tone so cold it was as if the person before her meant nothing to her. “You love Li Xue, and Li Xue has come to the princess’s mansion to take care of you. I have fulfilled your deep affection for each other. You should be thanking me.”

With that, Yun Zishu scoffed. “Back when we were in the Xiao family, you and I never had any affection to speak of. Now that we are in this princess’s residence, you and I will still maintain a relationship of not interfering with each other. That’s best for both of us.”

But what Xiao Yunheng wanted was not non-interference. He wanted Yun Zishu to return to the Xiao family.

“I did a lot of things I shouldn’t have done before, and I misunderstood you.” Xiao Yunheng softened his tone, trying to convey his sincerity. “I promise that I will not make such mistakes again. If anything happens in the future, I will definitely listen to your explanation and will not let you suffer injustice again—”

Pfft!

A muffled laugh suddenly rang out, untimely cutting off his words.

Xiao Yunheng’s expression turned ugly, his brow furrowing as he looked in displeasure towards where the sound came from.

Although Yun Zishu almost laughed, she still calmly turned her head to look at Leng Yue. “It’s rare for Young Master Xiao to lower his status to apologize; what are you laughing at?”

“I’m… I’m sorry.” Leng Yue pressed her lips, trying hard to suppress her laughter. “I just think that Young Master Xiao is overestimating himself. The princess has already divorced him, but he still says that he is willing to listen to the princess’ explanation. Does the princess even need to explain herself to him?”

Yun Zishu nodded slowly. “If you have more to say, then say it.”

Xiao Yunheng’s face turned ashen. “Don’t go too far!”

“Who shouldn’t go too far?” Leng Yue frowned and looked at him. “Are you referring to me or the princess?”

“Brother Heng, why don’t we go back first?” Li Xue pulled his arm, her eyes starting to turn red again. “We don’t need to be here to be insulted…Brother Heng, you’re still unwell, and your injuries have not healed. The princess doesn’t appreciate the sincerity of your apology. If so, why should we stay here to endure her humiliation?”

Xiao Yunheng pursed his lips and looked at Yun Zishu with forbearance in his eyes. “Are you really not going to give me any chance?”

Yun Zishu wanted to sigh.

How can there be such a shameless person in this world?

“Considering your apparent sincerity today, I’ll ask you this question.” Yun Zishu raised her eyebrows and looked at him, as if she was curious. “If I’m willing to give you a chance to repent, will you divorce Li Xue?”

What?

Li Xue’s face paled. She raised her eyes in disbelief and looked at Yun Zishu with a wounded and pained expression. “Your Highness?”

“Yun Zishu?” Xiao Yunheng obviously didn’t expect her to make such a request, and shock appeared on his face. “You…”

“Is this request of mine too difficult for you?” Yun Zishu sighed and waved a hand dismissively. “I don’t actually want to make things difficult for you. Hurry back and lie down. You’re not well yet, so don’t come out and stir up trouble.”

“Your Highness.” Li Xue gritted her teeth, as if she had made an important decision, and knelt down with a thud. “It was all my fault before. I shouldn’t have been jealous and monopolized Brother Heng’s exclusive favor. I will know my place in the future. I beg your Highness not to drive me away. I… I am willing to stay by your Highness’s side, serving you like an ox or a horse…”

“Be a beast of burden?” Yun Zishu’s gaze fell on her, and she sneered disdainfully. “With your frail and weak body? How has Xiao Yunheng been feeling these days? Is the concubine serving you to your satisfaction?”

Xiao Yunheng stared at her without saying a word. After a long time, he finally seemed to understand her intentions.

“So all this time, you’ve been making things difficult for me, deliberately writing a letter of divorce to shame the Xiao family, just to achieve this?” Xiao Yunheng’s face showed a cold smile. “Your goal is to force me to divorce Li Xue?”

He knew that Yun Zishu was a narrow-minded person. She must have held a grudge against Li Xue for framing her before, so she took the opportunity to retaliate.

I didn’t expect that she wouldn’t even put up a pretense.

“Young Master Xiao, your foolishness is truly laughable.” Leng Yue simply didn’t know how this man managed to live this long. “You should quickly disappear in front of the princess with your kind, innocent, gentle, and weak concubine so as not to make people feel sick.”

Yun Zishu turned around and entered the hall, too lazy to waste her breath on them.

“Yun Zishu!” Xiao Yunheng raised his voice. “Li Xue has already realized her mistake, and she has sincerely repented. Why won’t you let her go? She is already my woman. If she is really sent back, her life will be ruined. Do you want to force her to death?!”

Leng Yue looked at him with an expression that was hard to describe.

“Brother Heng.” Li Xue’s face was pale, and her voice was restrained. “Let’s go back first. Your body is still weak, and you can’t stand for too long.”

Xiao Yunheng silently stared in the direction of the hall for a long time, the emotions in his eyes changing unpredictably. After a while, he turned around and left without saying a word.

Yun Zishu, you really can’t tolerate Li Xue?

For some reason, as this thought crossed his mind, aside from the initial displeasure, Xiao Yunheng felt an indescribable emotion brewing—not anger or dissatisfaction, but a faint sense of joy and a glimmer of hope.

Yun Zishu was still capable of jealousy and envy, which obviously meant that there was still room for maneuver. It was not a problem for a woman to be petty, nor was it terrible for her to be narrow-minded. What was worrisome was when she turned ruthless and indifferent.

At least today had proved that she still had feelings for him. As long as he could come up with some solution in the future, she would eventually compromise.

“Brother Heng,” Li Xue did not know what he was thinking, but she felt a little uneasy. She was afraid that Xiao Yunheng would really divorce her. Her voice was a little fragile and uneasy. “If… if the princess is really willing to return to the Xiao family, and… she is determined not to tolerate me, I am willing… willing…”

Before she could finish saying what she was willing to do, tears began to fall down uncontrollably. Li Xue quickly wiped away the tears, as if she didn’t want him to see them.

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Xiao Yunheng frowned and scolded her coldly, “Yun Zishu’s attitude has already softened. She’s just struggling to save face right now, so she deliberately finds excuses to make things difficult for us. I’ll come over every day to apologize to her. You should also humble yourself a little bit and slowly soften her up. She’ll eventually give in.”

Apologize? Lower your status?

A cold glint flashed in Li Xue’s eyes. She didn’t want Yun Zishu to return to the Xiao family at all.

If Yun Zishu returned to the Xiao family and continued to occupy the title of the legitimate wife, wouldn’t she be stuck with the title of a concubine for the rest of her life?

Why should she?

Just because she is a princess who is not loved by her father and whose mother is not around?

Li Xue felt resentful and unwilling, but she did not dare to voice these thoughts. She could only bite her lip and nod, putting on a facade of resignation. “Yes, I understand. For the sake of Brother Heng, I am willing to be her slave.”