Chapter 188 Flying Flowers and Poison

The sky was already bright, and the first rays of sunlight appeared, but they did not dispel the gloom in Qingyue's heart.

"Your Majesty, shall we go and ask?" Su'e asked softly.

Looking at the dark door in front of her, Qingyue said coldly, "Is there any point in asking?"

"Mother!" Su Yuyao's voice came unexpectedly.

Qingyue turned around in surprise, looking at Su Yuyao who was approaching step by step. "Yao'er?! What brings you here? How is Miao'er?"

"Miao'er's fever has subsided, and she's had a few sips of milk, but she's still listless. She only stops crying when Xuanfeng holds her." Su Yuyao said as she walked up to Qingyue. She looked at the heavy door and asked with heartache, "It was made by Feihua, wasn't it?"

Qingyue paused for a moment, took Su Yuyao's hand, held it in her palm, sighed deeply, and asked, "Yao'er, what do you plan to do?"

"Mother, what did you find? Let me see!" Su Yuyao said cautiously.

Qingyue didn't want Su Yuyao to get involved in this matter, but as Xuanmiao's mother, Su Yuyao couldn't keep it a secret.

She thought for a moment, then looked at Su'e, "Take it out."

"Yes." Su'e took out a silk handkerchief from her sleeve and presented it to Su Yuyao.

Su Yuyao was a little nervous, unsure what unbearable things might come her way. She steadied herself, slowly reached out, and gently unfolded the silk handkerchief.

"What is this?!" Su Yuyao stared in surprise at the white fabric. "This is the dress Father knitted for Miao'er! How could this be...?" She looked up at Qingyue abruptly, asking incredulously, "Mother... what happened?"

“Yao’er,” Qingyue said guiltily, looking at Su Yuyao’s heartbroken and shocked expression, “Feihua kept wanting to see Miao’er, but I refused no matter what I said. Later, Feihua said she wanted a little dress for Miao’er, so I…”

"You just gave it to her?!" Su Yuyao cried out in anger and anxiety.

"Mother was wrong, Mother didn't know Feihua would do this..." Qingyue's eyes also reddened.

Su Yuyao stared angrily at the silver needles on the strip of cloth and exclaimed, "She actually used silver needles?! Why would she do that?!"

"Yao'er! You've come?" The door creaked open, and the plump and beautiful Feihua smiled at Su Yuyao, saying in a sweet voice, "Since you've come to see me, why don't you come in?"

Su Yuyao stared at Feihua in shock. The Feihua of the past was slender and proud, but now she was so beautiful, her face like a peach blossom, and her expression even bore a resemblance to her own! Her heart skipped a beat. If Xuanfeng saw Feihua like this, what would he think? Would something happen between them?

"Yao'er, what's wrong? Aren't you coming in?" Fei Hua asked with a smile, looking at Su Yuyao who seemed a little dazed.

"Flying Flowers! Did you do this?" Su Yuyao suppressed her impending anger and asked with restraint.

Feihua, her belly protruding, laughed and said, "Yao'er, you should thank me! I'm helping you! Miao'er is sick, so he won't be able to walk! Once we find something in that woman's courtyard, she's doomed!"

"Feihua!" Su Yuyao glared at the smiling Feihua and roared angrily, "I don't need your help! I don't need it!"

"But you don't want him to leave, and neither do I! You want that woman to die, and so do I! Helping you is helping me!" Fei Hua, her belly protruding, blinked innocently and asked, "Yao'er, am I wrong?"

Although Fei Hua appeared normal, she spoke extremely abnormal words. Her eerie calmness shocked and terrified Qing Yue and Su Yu Yao.

"Feihua," Su Yuyao steadied herself and said, "Although we are not sisters, we have spent some time together, and during that time, I believe I treated you well! Now, you have harmed my child. I don't want to dwell on your motives, nor will I pursue your crimes! But, after this incident, I will no longer consider you a friend! I also advise you to stop while you're ahead and think things through!"

As she spoke, Su Yuyao's aura suddenly exploded, her skirt fluttering and dust rising everywhere! The white cloth strip in Su'e's hand was also swept into the air by a vortex of qi, and with a bang, it turned into powder, leaving only a half-dark red and half-natural silver needle floating in the qi wind.

Su Yuyao looked up at the tall lintel, her eyes sharpened, and a silver needle shot out suddenly, silently embedding itself in the center of the lintel.

Qingyue looked at Su Yuyao in front of her, feeling both unfamiliar and surprised. She turned to look at Feihua, feeling both afraid and worried.

Su Yuyao slowly withdrew her Qi, and the Qi wind gradually stopped.

"Feihua," Su Yuyao said coldly, lowering her eyes, "I don't care if you're pretending to be crazy or if you're really out of your mind, this is the last chance I'm giving you! If you ever have even the slightest wicked thought about my child or my man, I guarantee that Mother Yi will receive your obituary!"

"Yao'er! Don't talk nonsense!" Qingyue quickly stopped Su Yuyao from speaking.

"Huh? He's here!" Fei Hua's eyes suddenly lit up. "Xuan Feng! You've come back to marry me?"

"Girl!" Xuanfeng carried the slightly more energetic Xuanmiao to Su Yuyao's back, put his arm around Su Yuyao's shoulder, and pulled her into his arms.

Su Yuyao's earlier aggressiveness and fear vanished the moment she leaned against Xuan Feng's chest.

She angrily grabbed Xuanfeng's collar, sobbing, "It's Miao'er's clothes... and a... a needle..."

"Alright, it's alright now, little one, you're fine!" Xuanfeng patted Su Yuyao's back and comforted her gently.

Su Yuyao glanced at Xuanmiao in Xuanfeng's arms. Xuanmiao's dull eyes had regained their luster, and he was staring at Su Yuyao with his big eyes wide open.

"Xuanfeng!" Feihua called softly, "Let me have your child!"

Xuanfeng raised his eyes to look at Feihua, paused slightly, and then said, "Feihua, you should rest and recuperate, and don't cause any trouble!"

Su Yuyao keenly noticed Xuanfeng's fleeting moment of distraction and glanced into his eyes.

Xuanfeng's two clear eyes were fixed on Feihua, his gaze filled with waves of tenderness.

Su Yuyao grew angrier the more she looked, and her sobs slowly turned into an uncontrollable rage in her chest.

"Xuanfeng!" Feihua lifted her skirt and twirled around, smiling as she said, "Don't you like me now?"

"Fangchun!" Qingyue cried out hastily upon seeing this, "Quickly help the fairy back!"

"Yes!" Fangchun hurriedly stepped forward to support Feihua and coaxed, "Fairy, let's go back! The baby should be waking up soon!"

"Oh! Baby!" Feihua seemed to wake up with a start and said to Qingyue, "Your Majesty! The clothes you brought last time are torn! Baby can't wear them anymore! Please bring me some more!"

"Okay, I understand. Feihua, go back with Fangchun!" Qingyue coaxed softly.

Xuanfeng watched as Feihua returned to the courtyard and closed the gate before looking at Su Yuyao with relief.

"Girl...?!" Xuan Feng had expected Su Yuyao to be a pitiful figure, sobbing uncontrollably, but instead, Su Yuyao was glaring at him angrily, leaving him somewhat at a loss. "Girl, what's wrong?"

Su Yuyao looked at Xuanfeng, recalling the scene of him accompanying Feihua to recuperate in Yuantun Palace, and then recalling the surprise he showed when he looked at Feihua just now.

“You like flying flowers!” Su Yuyao said, suppressing her anger.

"What?!" Xuanfeng was both amused and exasperated. "Girl! What nonsense are you spouting?!"

Looking at Xuanfeng's expression, Su Yuyao became even more certain of this. She snatched Xuanmiao from Xuanfeng's arms, her heart filled with an indescribable pain. Was it a pain she felt was entitled to? Or was it an unbelievable pain? Or perhaps... it was just excruciating pain!

Although Su Yuyao was quite certain that Xuan Feng only loved her now, she wasn't sure if Xuan Feng would always only love her...

The more she thought about it, the angrier and sadder she became, so she turned around and left with Xuanmiao in her arms.

"Girl! What happened to you?!" Xuan Feng was completely bewildered. He only wanted to come and give Su Yuyao some face, but he didn't expect to end up with a bloody head.

"Girl! You stand there!"

Su Yuyao carried Xuanmiao and walked faster and faster.

"Yao'er! Wait for me!"

Su Yuyao picked up Xuanmiao and started running.

"Su Yuyao! Don't drop the child!"

Su Yuyao disappeared without a trace.

"Xuanfeng, you like flying flowers again?" Qingyue asked, pulling Xuanfeng along with a mixture of worry and surprise. She was actually conflicted; on one hand was her nephew's wife whom she had recognized for a thousand years, and on the other hand was her daughter whom she had lost and found again. Even if she wanted to show favoritism, she didn't want either of them to be hurt.

Xuanfeng sighed speechlessly, "Aunt! Why are you saying that too?! How could I possibly like Feihua?! I admit, when we were engaged, I liked her, but that was before! Now I only love Yatou!"

Qingyue seemed a little relieved and glanced at Xuanfeng, "We saw the look in your eyes just now!"

"My eyes? What's wrong with my eyes?"

"The way you looked at Feihua just now, so affectionate... How could Yao'er not be angry like that?!"

"Oh dear!" Xuanfeng said angrily, "I can understand what the girl says! But why are you saying it too?! I just looked at the silver needle on the lintel! Did you see it? It's just an ordinary silver needle, but the girl used her Qi to drive it into the lintel!"

"You only saw the needle?" Qingyue clearly didn't believe it.

"I...I mainly looked at the needles..." Xuanfeng's explanation was weak and feeble, so weak that even he himself began to doubt himself.

Qingyue noticed Xuanfeng's guilty conscience and became even more worried. She said, "Xuanfeng, I discussed with Yao'er the other day about bringing Feihua to Binglun Palace. Firstly, there are many people there, making it easier to take care of her; secondly, it can give Feihua something to do, so she won't be thinking about you all the time."

"Thank you for your hard work, Aunt!" Xuanfeng clasped his hands and bowed deeply. "Please help me with this! I still need to go and appease the girl..."

Su Yuyao had already run quite a distance. Xuanfeng didn't have time to analyze why he felt guilty. He only knew that his girl was angry, so he quickened his pace and chased after her.

"Girl! Slow down!" Xuanfeng stopped Su Yuyao and said ingratiatingly, "Are you tired from running?"

Su Yuyao's eyes were red and her face was wet. She stubbornly avoided Xuanfeng's attempts to please her, because she knew that Xuanfeng had indeed fallen for Feihua just now!

"Girl! Girl!" Xuanfeng followed closely, supporting Su Yuyao's waist. He glanced around to make sure no one was watching before whispering, "I was wrong, really wrong! Feihua was talking to me, so I couldn't ignore her, but I only glanced at her! Girl, your Qi power is amazing. I saw it; that silver needle was driven in very deep. Your ability to control your Qi is getting stronger and stronger..."

Su Yuyao kept a straight face and walked quickly, ignoring Xuanfeng who was rambling on.

Seeing that Su Yuyao didn't react, Xuanfeng had to change his strategy, "Girl, let me carry the little one! He's so heavy..."

Su Yuyao hugged Xuanmiao tighter and quickened her pace.

"Girl!" Xuanfeng stopped Su Yuyao again, pulling her into his arms. No matter how much Su Yuyao struggled or tried to dodge, he wouldn't let go.

"I've already admitted my mistake! Can you please stop being angry?" Xuanfeng said in a pleading tone.

Su Yuyao sighed softly and said, "Xuanfeng, I cannot accept someone else's love for you, and I cannot accept your affection for someone else!"

"Girl! Don't overthink it! I admit, I was quite surprised to see Feihua like this, because she looks so much like you!" Xuanfeng pinched Su Yuyao's cheek and said with a smile, "But she will never become you! And I will only love you!"

"Alright! Hehehehe!" Xuanmiao responded perfectly, sucking on her fingers.

Looking at the adorable Xuanmiao in her arms, Su Yuyao's anger subsided considerably.

"Ah!" Xuanmiao reached out to Xuanfeng, grinning with her little teeth, and said, "Ah...hug!"

"Come here! Daddy will hold you, let Mommy rest!" Xuanfeng took Xuanmiao, glancing at Su Yuyao's face, "Girl, don't be angry, I promise I'll only look after you from now on!"

"I don't believe your nonsense!" Su Yuyao couldn't suppress the upturned corners of her mouth as she looked at Xuan Feng with raised eyelids. "What cat doesn't steal fish? But don't let me find out, or I'll definitely not let you off the hook!"

"Ah! Get lost!" Xuanmiao frowned and shouted, then fell against Xuanfeng's chest and giggled.

“Yes! If Daddy makes the same mistake again, we’ll abandon him!” Su Yuyao said, holding Xuanmiao’s chubby little hand.

Xuanfeng held his precious, chubby daughter in his arms, gazing at his beloved little girl, feeling as if the whole world was his for the taking! Suddenly, he understood Su Yuan's resolute decision to retire from the criminal world and his ruthless rejection of him. It was just a pity that he hadn't believed him then, which had led to the girl's family's ruin…

Ruixue was harnessing a carriage in front of the thatched hut, and the carriage was filled with luggage and food made by Yuqing.

With tears in her eyes, Qingyue held Su Yuyao's hand and instructed, "Yao'er, be careful on the road, take good care of Miao'er, and don't be playful. Mother needs to arrange Feihua's trip to Binglun Palace. Once Feihua is settled, Mother will come to Chengma Peak to see you!"

“Mother…” Su Yuyao’s eyes reddened, and she couldn’t say a word. She knew that Qingyue had taken on too much responsibility for her, but Feihua’s responsibility… she really didn’t want to take it on herself.

"Ah!" Xuanmiao pointed to the carriage with a smile, knowing that she was about to embark on another long journey.

Flying Eagle stood obediently on the hillside, waiting for Xuanfeng's instructions, while Xuanfeng stood at the crossroads, watching Su Yuyao and Xuanmiao in front of the carriage, unable to look away.

"My lord!" Qi Men saw Xuan Feng's reluctance and said with a smile, "How about this, I will make a trip for you. First, to check on the situation in Wuji Dao. Second, as Yao'er said, you might encounter trouble if you go. It would be better if I went instead, so that Lord Ze Yuan wouldn't harm you! That way, we won't be disobeying Empress Yi's orders, and you can rest assured to send Yao'er and her daughter back to Chengma Peak! What do you think?"

Xuanfeng looked at Qimen gratefully, clasped his hands and bowed deeply, "Thank you for your kindness, Immortal Master! Then I'll trouble you to make the trip. Please be careful on the way, and if anything goes wrong, retreat immediately!"

"Rest assured, sir!" Qi Men smiled and returned the greeting with a fist and palm salute.

"Flying Eagle!"

"Yes, sir!"

"You will go with the immortal master and serve as his protector!"

"Yes, sir!"

Glug glug...

The carriage, carrying the plump and round-faced Su Yuyao and the chubby and adorable Xuanmiao who was just learning to speak, slowly made its way up the hillside.

Xuanfeng gazed at the woman's figure on the carriage, a warm current welling up within him—a warmth he had never felt before, a vulnerability he felt. He was suddenly filled with fear, fear that he couldn't protect them, fear that he would leave them…

Xuanfeng finally understood Su Yuan's love and reluctance to part with Madam Su and Su Yuyao! He began to regret, to regret from the bottom of his heart, because he realized what a happy family he had destroyed!

He couldn't imagine what kind of hatred the weak and helpless Su Yuyao had carried to make her live a life of compromise and subservience! And the enemy she hated most was now enjoying unparalleled happiness—a happiness obtained at the cost of the girl's sacrifice!

"Ah!" Xuanmiao, sitting on Su Yuyao's lap, stretched out her short, chubby arms to Xuanfeng and called out in a childish but clear voice, "Hug!"

Xuanfeng couldn't stand still any longer. He lifted his robe, took two steps, climbed onto the carriage, and held Xuanmiao in his arms.

"Are you... leaving?" Su Yuyao asked, tilting her head.

Xuanfeng reached out and pinched Su Yuyao's cheek, saying with a smile, "Let's go!"

Su Yuyao glanced at Qimen and Feiying not far away, then asked, "Are you coming with me? Or with them?"

"I'll go with you!" Xuanfeng said softly. "In this life, I'll only go with you!"

Su Yuyao's heart suddenly began to tremble. She didn't know whether to be happy or worried. She dared not easily believe Xuanfeng's promises again. Even though she wanted to believe them very much, she was afraid that she would be disappointed, heartbroken, and unable to bear Xuanfeng's slightest betrayal, because she loved him too much!

But she's so happy right now! So happy that she's willing to risk all the possible negative consequences to believe in a man's promise!