After the soldiers had left, the Duke of Huguo invited the Eldest Princess to sit and enjoy the banquet. "Your Highness, please relax and enjoy your dinner. There's no need to worry," he said gently. "Tomorrow, I will explain everything to His Majesty."
Feng Yao merely snorted inwardly. Worry? About what? There was nothing for her to fear, everything was unfolding exactly as she had planned. With a flawless, fake smile, she turned her attention back to the only person who truly mattered: Lang Huan.
She helped Lang Huan pick out fish bones and peel shrimp with intimate care. The scene radiated harmony between husband and wife in front of the Duke of Huguo and Su Qing.
The Duke had never seen this side of the Eldest Princess before, and he concluded that such tenderness was nothing more than an act.
Lang Huan lifted a spoonful of soup and brought it to Feng Yao's lips with quiet affection. Across the table, Su Qing clenched the handkerchief in her hand, her knuckles turning white. Her reaction did not escape the Duke's sharp eyes. A dark irritation coiled in his chest. He truly wished he could deal with that unfilial son, immediately.
Su Qing, always so reserved, had fallen for his own son, and as a man, it wounded his pride deeply. Had he not been injured in the war, he would never let her to be just a pretty decoration in his mansion.
---
The winter night wrapped them in a quiet silver glow as Lang Huan and Feng Yao stood beneath the full moon, their breaths dissolving into soft white clouds.
"Your Highness, it's cold. Let's go back," Lang Huan murmured, slipping her arms around the Princess from behind.
"Let me enjoy the moon a little longer," Feng Yao replied.
"I still remember… you stole my first kiss under a sky just like this. Weren't you afraid I'd kill you back then?"
Feng Yao turned in Lang Huan's embrace, the moonlight softening her features until she looked both regal and impossibly tender.
"I really forgot," Lang Huan teased, pulling her closer. "How about we kiss again… so I can remember properly?" Their bodies pressed together; the cold faded, leaving only the slow, rising heat threading between them.
"Rogue…" Feng Yao muttered, punching her chest lightly only for Lang Huan to catch her wrist with ease. She leaned in, stopping just a breath away from Feng Yao's lips.
Their breaths mingled, warm and intimate. "I'll fetch your cloak. It's too cold out here," she whispered, brushing a fingertip down the bridge of Feng Yao's nose before stepping back reluctantly.
When Lang Huan returned to her courtyard, she noticed Su Qing sitting alone in the pavilion. Approaching gently, she called out, "Qing Qing, are you waiting for me?"
Su Qing's gaze darted past her, checking if anyone else was around. Seeing no one, her shoulders sagged in relief. She grabbed Lang Huan's sleeve and hurriedly pulled her toward the secluded back courtyard.
"I… I want to tell you a secret I've carried for so long," Su Qing whispered. Her voice trembled, like each word cost her strength. "It's my fault… I shouldn't have hidden it from you."
Lang Huan blinked in surprise. Could Su Qing know her true identity? she thought inwardly. But seeing Su Qing's nervousness, it was clear she wasn't about to talk about that.
"It's all right. Don't be afraid. Take your time," Lang Huan said, gently holding her arm to steady her.
Su Qing's eyes overflowed. She suddenly threw herself into Lang Huan's embrace, trembling so hard it left her even more confused. What could have shaken the always-calm woman like this.
"I'm here," Lang Huan murmured, stroking her back with slow, soothing circles. "Whatever it is, I'll listen."
But Su Qing only sobbed harder, struggling to speak until footsteps cut through the quiet.
The Eldest Princess stepped out of the shadows, her expression sharp and cold.
"What are you doing?" she asked, walking toward them with a hint of tension she couldn't quite hide. She knew Su Qing was about to say something.
Even though she suspected Lang Huan wasn't the real Ye Langhuan, it still kept her uneasy. In this moment, she bitterly regretted not removing Su Qing when she had the chance.
When Su Qing saw the princess, fear flashed across her face. Her fingers tightened around Lang Huan's sleeve as if clinging to her was the only thing keeping her safe.
"Qing Qing had something important to tell me," Lang Huan explained. "I'll go back after this." Even though she feared the Eldest Princess's temper, she couldn't ignore Su Qing's urgency.
"Go back with me. Now."
Feng Yao didn't raise her voice, but the cold bite in her tone left no room for argument. Her dark gaze locked onto Su Qing, unwavering and hostile.
Before Lang Huan could react, the Eldest Princess seized her arm and pulled her away...
Su Qing reached out, trying to hold on, her tear-wet fingers slipping helplessly from Lang Huan's sleeve.
"You're afraid… afraid I'll tell him the truth," Su Qing whispered. "Tonight, no matter what, I'll tell him everything."
Lang Huan looked back and forth between Su Qing and Feng Yao, confused. "Qing Qing, what happened? What truth?"
Su Qing wiped her tears, anger trembling at the edges of her voice. She pointed at Feng Yao with a shaking hand.
"Lang Huan, it's her… She's the one who killed your mother. She sent the assassins who attacked you and your mother in the forest. Lang Huan, you have to stay away from her—she's a cold-blooded monster."
The Eldest Princess shoved Su Qing and raised her hand to slap her, but Lang Huan grabbed her wrist before it could land.
Feng Yao's expression fell the moment she saw Lang Huan's face. She had never seen the little brat look this angry.
"Lang Huan… Lang Huan, listen to me—I can explain," the Eldest Princess said, panic creeping into her voice.
Lang Huan's fingers tightened around her wrist without her noticing.
Only when she saw Feng Yao's eyes redden and her lips press together in pain did she loosen her grip.
Lang Huan stared at her, breathing hard. She knew Feng Yao was ruthless—she could tolerate her many things.
But she couldn't understand this. She couldn't understand why Feng Yao had to kill a helpless child and a weak mother in such a cruel, merciless way.
The first moment she arrived in this unfamiliar world, she had witnessed a brutality so vicious it carved itself into her bones.
Every night since then, the shadows of those assassins had chased her through her dreams.
She trained relentlessly, driven by the fear that they might return to kill her because she shared the same face as Ye Langhuan.
That woman wasn't her mother, but the fear and pity she felt had been real.
And she herself wasn't the original Ye Langhuan, yet Feng Yao's actions had crossed a line she could never accept.
Feng Yao grabbed the front of her clothes, desperate.
Lang Huan didn't dare meet her eyes. She knew the moment she looked into them, the softness she had for the woman she loved would swallow everything.
Her gaze stayed fixed on the tips of her shoes as she gently pried Feng Yao's fingers off her clothing.
"I'm… afraid of you," Lang Huan whispered, her voice trembling. "I don't want to see you tonight."