Mu Beichen's face showed no emotion, and the lush flowers, trees and shrubs in the distance were all reflected in his beautiful eyes. He glanced coldly at Su Yu and slowly opened his thin, cold lips: "Your Highness, could you please excuse me for a moment? I have some things I need to say to her alone."

Upon hearing this, Su Yu immediately smiled, glanced at Feng Jin casually, and then silently turned around and quickly walked out of their sight.

"Ah Jin... it's me!" She and he stared intently into each other's eyes, and almost at the same time, she called out to each other.

"Achen!" Feng Jin stared intently at him, not allowing him to utter a single word. She spoke first, impatiently, "I want to tell you that I'm not angry with you, nor do I blame you for taking care of Su Ruan. The reason I haven't seen you these past few days is because I didn't know how to face you, and all of you..."

Mu Beichen suddenly stepped forward, his voice as clear as shattered jade, immediately cutting her off: "Ajin, I also have something to say to you... The reason I personally went to take care of Su Ruan was not because I had any improper thoughts about her, because... she was once my lifeline."

A lifeline? She opened her mouth in astonishment, but no sound came out. She instantly shifted her gaze, fixing it firmly on him. That strange look in his eyes made her feel extremely uneasy.

Mu Beichen looked back at her intently and sighed softly, "Ten years ago, I was sent to a foreign land as a hostage. If it weren't for her at that time, I would have died."

He paused slightly, his tone becoming unusually heavy: "Ah Jin, please believe me, I, Mu Beichen, will only ever love you wholeheartedly in this life, and I will never change my mind..."

As she finished speaking, Feng Jin smiled and said, "I have always believed in you, just as I have believed in you. Even if I hit a wall, I will resolutely choose to push it down."

She looked at him with a firm gaze and said, word by word, "Achen, as long as you stand by my side at all times, no matter how many difficulties and obstacles there are in the future, I will find a way to help you find a foothold and protect you for the rest of your life."

"Protect me? You look down on your husband that much?" Mu Beichen's eyes shifted as he looked down at the petite figure before him, and he burst out laughing: "Why would a man of my stature need a little woman like you to protect me?"

With his right hand, he gently pulled her slender waist into his arms. Mu Beichen lowered his eyes and suddenly felt a burning sensation in his chest as the soft body in front of him rubbed against him. Waves of uncontrollable lust surged into his body one after another.

Feng Jin clung tightly to his body, feeling his body grow increasingly hot. Her face flushed, her heart pounded, and she was about to frantically break free when, unexpectedly, she found herself trapped in his warm embrace.

A sensation of physical intimacy that touched the depths of her soul washed over her, and her body began to lose control. She slumped softly into his arms, letting his forceful kiss capture her lips. Her mind went blank; in that instant, all her consciousness was completely lost in his embrace…

Since Su Ruan recovered from her illness, Mu Beichen had hardly visited her at Ningxiang Pavilion. Knowing that her heart was not with her, she was naturally unwilling to give up easily and soon had another idea in mind; since being gentle didn't work, she might as well be straightforward and direct, so that she could give up on this idea as soon as possible.

Thinking of this, Su Ruan calculated the timing and went to the gate of the Prince's Mansion to wait for Mu Beichen to return from the military camp. As she expected, not long after, she saw him returning on time.

"Your Highness, you're finally back! I've been waiting for you!" Seeing him walking towards her, Su Ruan was overjoyed and ran forward to greet him.

"Su Ruan?" Mu Beichen immediately stopped in his tracks, frowned slightly, and said with a hint of helplessness in his voice, "Your illness has only just started to improve, why are you out in the cold wind again?"

She shook her head and smiled, "My illness is nothing to worry about. As long as I can see the prince return safely every day, I will be content."

"Alright, hurry back." Mu Beichen flicked his sleeve at her, his expression utterly indifferent, which, together with the gentle breeze surrounding him, created a beautiful scene.

"Your Highness, I..." Su Yu stopped abruptly as she caught a glimpse of Feng Jin walking towards her from a distance.

Her eyes flashed quickly, and as Mu Beichen walked towards her, she suddenly pounced on him and hugged his waist and back tightly with both hands!

Mu Beichen's body jolted violently, startled by Su Ruan's action. Before he could recover, a crisp cracking sound came from in front of him. The porcelain that Feng Jin was holding had slipped from her hands and shattered instantly!

As Mu Beichen looked up in astonishment, he was immediately startled by the scene before him. He pushed Su Ruan aside with great force and hurriedly exclaimed, "A Jin!"

At this moment, having witnessed the entire process, Feng Jin no longer needed any explanation. She staggered back a few steps, her body swaying unsteadily, and barged past Mu Beichen and Su Ruan!

Seeing that her figure was about to disappear, Mu Beichen flicked his sleeve and chased after her with all his might, blocking her way with his arm. He said breathlessly, "A-Jin, let me explain..."

She swatted his arm away and rushed forward. Feng Jin curled her lips into a cold laugh: "Keep your explanation for others!" After saying that, she was about to walk away quickly when she unexpectedly found that Mu Beichen hugged her from behind.

"Please...don't leave me, don't abandon me."

Mu Beichen pleaded with her in the most humble way. At this moment, he was really scared. He was afraid that he and she would be separated for ten years like last time. How many more decades could they waste?

She had waited for this man for ten whole years, longing for him day and night until this day finally arrived. But now, looking at him, she felt only disgust and hatred.

She pried off Mu Beichen's fingers, one by one, from her waist. Turning away indifferently, a cold glint flashed in her clear eyes as she almost roared, "Mu Beichen, you are a complete and utter liar! I was so stupid to trust you time and time again, only to be used as a pawn by you and Su Ruan, manipulated at will! I've had enough of your deception, and I don't want to be controlled like a puppet anymore. Mu Beichen, from this moment on, we have nothing to do with each other!"

Those cold and heartless words still echoed endlessly in the howling wind. He stood there in astonishment, watching helplessly as she disappeared through his fingers. For the first time, he felt so powerless, so utterly defeated, so heartbroken...