Due to her inherently cold and arrogant nature, there aren’t many within North Qing who could converse with Xue Pian Ran. However, not even she could not ignore the gaze that’s shooting over in her direction because the other side was also a beauty like herself.
As it so happens, they both have a thorn in their hearts and that thorn happens to be the very same woman who couldn’t attend this palace banquet tonight.
“Your Grace, allow me to introduce myself for out first meeting. I am Hong Ming Yue of Da Xia, and I believe you would be very happy to listen to the things I have to say about that woman who’s currently living in the Phoenix Manor.”
…………………
Under the instigation of Ling Yue guidance through this late-night venture, Feng Shen was able to eat a lot of snacks that he couldn’t during his youthful years in this lively night market.
For this opportunity, the lad could say he’s never been so happy because he not only got to experience things he always wanted to do, he also had certain special girl be his side as company.
Sadly, that smile only continued until they saw that carriage parked outside of the phoenix Manor.
“Feng Shen, so is she the reason why you didn’t come attend the palace banquet?” It was a bit sharp in the way that voice broke out, thus breaking the harmony that was in the air.
Finally noticing the carriage as well after that call, Ling Yue soon saw that graceful figure coming off of it.
Though the woman was covered in a golden sari, she could still make out the smooth skin and beautiful outline of that body. To say Ling Yue wasn’t alarmed by the sudden intrusion would be a lie, especially when the foe was so openly looking at her man with pain in those loving eyes.
Not missing the attention coming her way either, Xue Pian Ran’s line of sight soon fell upon her competition as well. Their eyes met, bringing the flaring sparks into alignment.
For the Sacred Maiden, she’s already gotten the gist of this ugly girl’s background: a mentally retarded child of the Hong House who was expelled during her youth, then by spending several years to climb a path that many others could only dream of in a lifetime, she became one of the few titled princesses of Da Xia with a civilian background.
Of course, all of these pieces of information were learned through Hong Ming Yue’s mouth not long ago.
Xue Pian Ran had more than one time tried to imagine what her rival would look like – would she be a beauty like herself, or a shameless fox who only knows how to seduce her fiancé? But in the end, all was for not because anyone who’s seen Feng Shen’s face would never find another worthy to be called a beauty, even if the boy was a male and not a girl.
Then just as the Sacred Maiden was feeling a sense of superiority over the bandaged up ugly duckling currently standing before herself, that’s when the horrid truth came rushing over to slap her in the face. They were holdings hands, Feng Shen and Ling Yue, the pair’s action was like a knife, stabbing straight into her soul.
Feng Shen never even held my hands yet…..
Ignorant to the burning fire in her opponent’s eyes, Ling Yue’s only concern at the moment was to break free from the grasping hand against her own. Unfortunately, the boy apparently had other ideas in mind and tightened his grasp even further until it’s a firm grip.
“I will take care of this so be good,” showing a confident smile, Feng Shen’s voice almost had a hypnotizing effect.
But actions speak louder than words. After saying that, the boy promptly pulled the girl behind himself to block off the Sacred Maiden’s view.
Towards this appearance, Xue Pian Ran could no longer lie to herself. From that smile which drove her mad just a second ago, to the cold indifference directed at herself following now, she knows, the boy’s realized what she’s done back then with the Nirvana Heart Lotus.
“You’ve changed Feng Shen. You wouldn’t be this cold to me back then,” her soft voice was breaking off intermittently like a weeping maiden.
“Pian Ran, the one whose change is not me, its you. The one I knew back then is kind and generous, she would never use the Nirvana Heart Lotus to harm another.”
Feng Shen still hasn’t forgotten the consequences of letting Wu Chong out from his body. That obscene kissing scene in the mountain lake, and the sensual contact the pair shared while he had to endure inside his own body, every spec of that experience was infuriating and heartening.
So, as the one responsible for all that, Xue Pian Ran would naturally be the target of Feng Shen’s ire.
“Your Highness, my lady only did that because she cares far too much for you. The one who had a change of heart first is you. My lady is your fiancé, yet you are being all intimate with an ugly woman of unknown origin. If it was anyone else, can you truly say they wouldn’t act the same?” Running forward to point fingers at Ling Yue was the maid that came with her mistress.
Fiancé?
Going stiff in the body, Ling Yue who was still standing behind the boy was truly shocked. Showing incredulous in her face, she looks upward at that stoic back like this was the first time she’s known the man.
Feng Shen has a fiancée already? Then the things he did for me before…. Retracting her hand with a heavy swing, the girl’s first instinct was to take several steps backward.
Her mother Ye Huang Yu’s experience was still vividly in her mind. For that reason, she wanted nothing to do with a love triangle.
Though Ling Yue had to admit, she does have feelings for Feng Shen. This was true particularly after tonight’s date. However, that doesn’t excuse the boy from hiding such a major secret!
“Feng Shen, it’s best you stay and comfort your fiancée. I will go inside first and pack my luggage.” Stuffing the things they bought from the market into the boy’s hand, Ling Yue didn’t say another word and rushed into the estate, leaving only the man himself painfully in the background.
“Xue Pian Ran, you seem to have made a mistake. I never had a heart for you so how could I have a change of heart? As for the fiancé and fiancée title, that’s merely some wishful thinking of Master Hong Ru and His Majesty’s. Please leave my home immediately.” Not wanting to waste another glance at the woman, Feng Shen briskly walked into his own home without turning.
Against the heavy thud of the front gate closing before her very eyes, the Sacred Maiden’s heart likewise shuttered with the motion and nearly torn her apart.
For the maid who stepped out of line earlier, she’s a smart one. Understanding her lady was about to tumble to the ground, she hurries to help support the girl. Sadly, what welcomed this faithful follower was a hard-felt slap across the face.
“Who told you to open your mouth. You knew Feng Shen hated those who are overly talkative and jealous. Are you trying to make me look even worse?” She roars, losing all composure of her supposed sacred self.
“Please forgive me my lady,” getting to her knee, the maid pleads for forgiveness.
“Remember, do not get ahead next time. But enough, lets leave for tonight. I’m sure Feng Shen only said those words in the heat of the moment, we are after all childhood friends. I will return tomorrow to make amends. As for you, go have someone investigate that woman thoroughly, I want to know everything possible about her background and current status.” No matter what, Xue Pian Ran was the Sacred Maiden of the Dan Palace, meaning her upbringing are above average and could tell when to back off or to move forward.
This is North Qing. Merely an ignorant lass from Da Xia, she cannot evade the eyes of our Dan Palace’s influence. I will return the debt for tonight ten times over!