Phoenix Reigns Over The Nine Heavens - Chapter 49

“You…” Xiao Yunheng winced as he drew in a sharp breath, his voice thick with suppressed fury. “Yun Zishu, don’t forget that you are my wife, you…”

“What a joke!” Yun Zishu’s eyes were filled with scorn, and her pitying eyes regarding him as one would a struggling insect.
“Did you believe the letter of divorce I granted you was a mere jest? Xiao Yunheng, you are now just a prisoner in this mansion; don’t think too highly of yourself.”

“How can you say that, Your Highness?” Li Xue looked at her in disbelief. “You and Brother Heng are a married couple…”

“Li Xue,” Yun Zishu interrupted her impatiently. “Take your ‘Brother Heng’ back to Qingchen Yard. Otherwise, I cannot guarantee what will happen next.”

Li Xue bit her lip, as if she was feeling sorry for Xiao Yunheng. “Your Highness, Brother Heng started to reflect on himself after he went back last night. He felt that he wronged you in the past, and he also asked me to serve you respectfully in the future. But you… how can you trample so callously on Brother Heng’s good intentions like this?”

Yun Zishu frowned. Li Xue and Xiao Yunheng were truly a match made in heaven.

“No wonder… no wonder Si Cang is so protective of you. You two have been hooking up for a long time, haven’t you?” Xiao Yunheng stared at her coldly, as if he had suddenly discovered that he had been cuckolded. A wave of anger surged into his heart, making him want to use the most unpleasant words to humiliate Yun Zishu. “I thought our relationship had progressed last night, but it turns out you… you…”

Yun Zishu looked at him with a cool and pitiful gaze, as if she was looking at a fool who had no self-awareness. “Xiao Yunheng, you still haven’t recognized your situation.”

Xiao Yunheng gritted his teeth. “That day when you said you wanted to choose a male consort. Did you mean him?”

As soon as these words were spoken, the outside of the Qifeng Hall suddenly became quiet.

Si Cang turned to look at Yun Zishu, and Yun Zishu turned to look at Si Cang. Their eyes met, and both of them were silent.

Choose a male consort?

“This is my own affair; you have no right to interfere.” Yun Zishu’s voice was indifferent. “Leng Shuang, take them back. Since Young Master Xiao is so restless, fit him in black iron shackles. In the future, they are not allowed to leave Qingchen Yard.”

“Yes.”

What?

Li Xue’s face changed drastically. “You…what did you say?”

She wanted to put a shackle on Brother Heng? How dare she?

“You can’t do this.” Li Xue’s voice was a little more panicked, and she unconsciously grabbed Xiao Yunheng’s arm. “If my aunt finds out, she…”

“Who is your aunt?” Yun Zishu raised her eyes slightly, a subtle authority radiating from her expression. “What will happen if she knows?”

Looking at Yun Zishu’s extremely calm and indifferent eyes, Li Xue felt fear spreading in her heart. She knew that Yun Zishu was serious, and she was at a loss for a moment.

No, this couldn’t happen. Absolutely not.

“Guards!” Leng Shuang’s tone was icy cold. “Take Xiao Yunheng and Li Xue back to Qingchen Yard.”

Two strong guards came over and forcibly clamped Xiao Yunheng’s shoulders despite his furious struggles. “Let me go! How dare you! Let me go!”

The two guards ignored him and forcibly took him away.

“Let go of Brother Heng, he’s injured…” Li Xue followed behind in a panic, trying to get the guards to be a little gentler. “We can walk by ourselves; let go of Brother Heng…let go!”

Let him go? You wish.

It was already merciful to bring him back to Qingchen Yard and lock him up for daring to insult the princess. If it wasn’t for the fact that he was still injured and another beating would likely kill him, how could the commander have been so merciful as to let him go?

Leng Shuang followed behind him and secretly signaled a Shadow Guard to bring over the shackles and chains. From today onwards, Xiao Yunheng had completely become a prisoner of the princess’s mansion.

After the two were taken away, the courtyard returned to silence.

Si Cang’s deep gaze settled on Yun Zishu’s face, the suppressed emotions in his eyes seeming on the verge of breaking free. “Does Your Highness want to choose two handsome male consorts to serve in the mansion?”

“Of course not,” Yun Zishu smiled faintly, turned around, and walked into the hall. “I only said that to provoke Xiao Yunheng; I have no such intention.”

Si Cang followed behind her, his lips slightly pursed: “If Your Highness needs beautiful young men as favored attendants, there is no need to select those of overly noble status.”

Yun Zishu turned her head to look at him, her expression somewhat perplexed. “Naturally. How could a man of noble status be willing to be a favored attendant?”

Although she did not have such thoughts, no matter whether it was a man or a woman, those from prominent families would be picky even about becoming a primary spouse. Only those from ordinary families or those who served others with their beauty would willingly become concubines or attendants.

Si Cang was silent for a moment, his voice low. “Does Your Highness think this humble official would suffice?”

Yun Zishu stopped in her tracks and asked in surprise, “What did you say?”

“I think I’m not too bad to look at.” Si Cang’s eyes remained locked on her face, and his tone was particularly serious. “If Your Highness really has such an idea, you can consider letting me enter the mansion.”

Yun Zishu looked at him with a subtle expression, and for a moment she didn’t know how to react.

How could he have such an idea?

Si Cang said calmly, “I can protect Your Highness and can also please Your Highness.”

Yun Zishu coughed lightly, struggling to find her voice. “Si Cang.”

Si Cang looked at her quietly.

“I don’t have such thoughts, and I won’t let any random men into the mansion.” Yun Zishu said, striving to maintain composure. “You don’t need to worry about this.”

Si Cang lowered his eyes, the light in his eyes gradually fading. “Yes.”

What Yun Zishu wanted to say was that if she truly had feelings for him, it would definitely be a proper husband and wife relationship. How could she humiliate him and make him a favored attendant that people would laugh at?

But she didn’t know Si Cang’s thoughts at the moment. He simply believed that she didn’t like him—at least not the kind of liking between a man and a woman.

The hall remained silent for a moment, then Si Cang said in a low voice. “This humble official will take his leave.”

“Stay for lunch before you leave,” Yun Zishu said casually, her mood unaffected by that idiot Xiao Yunheng. “It’s too quiet when I eat alone. You can come over anytime you’re free in the future.”

Si Cang hesitated for a moment. “If this humble official comes too often, there will be much gossip outside.”

“Do you care about what others say?”

Si Cang didn’t care about himself, but he cared about how others viewed her. Just like how Xiao Yunheng had just insulted her without knowing the truth. At that moment, Si Cang wanted to make him die without a burial place.

“Si Cang, the Commander of the Dark Shadow Pavilion, is decisive in killing, cold, and ruthless. He should not care about anything, especially the idle chatter of some boring people.” Yun Zishu smiled faintly. “From the moment I divorced Xiao Yunheng, it was destined I would constantly be the topic of discussion. No matter what I do, someone will be dissatisfied. They will always find fault with me and criticize me.”

Si Cang understood what she meant. “Yes.”

“So as long as you don’t care, you don’t have to worry about my reputation.” Yun Zishu’s voice carried a tinge of mockery. “After all, the things I wish to accomplish cannot be achieved by rigidly adhering to the rules and etiquette.”

Hearing this, Si Cang’s expression softened slightly. “This humble official understands.”

After acknowledging her words, his gaze fell upon her slender and fragile shoulders. He turned around, fetched the outer garment, and draped it over her. “Don’t catch a chill.”

Yun Zishu raised her eyes to look at his angular face, which was so noble and handsome that people thought he was a banished immortal. There was no trace of the cold, merciless demeanor he showed others.

She suddenly opened her mouth as if possessed by a ghost. “Your face is actually very much to my liking.”