Chapter 46
Sheng Ningyu smiled broadly and entered the Phoenix Palace with light steps.
She still has the figure of a young girl, her hair tied back, with the tassels of the hair ornament inserted in her black hair swaying back and forth. When she entered against the light, even Feng Jun was momentarily stunned.
They look so alike.
She looks so much like her from that year.
Sheng Ningyu allowed him to look her over without any hesitation, and even bowed to the person at the head of the table.
"Lord Fengjun, we meet again."
When she looked up, her eyes curved slightly, and an unyielding arrogance lingered in her brows.
When he met those clear, bright eyes, the anger that Feng Jun had deliberately put on froze.
Autumn colors are in full bloom, on an ordinary day.
In a daze, I seemed to hear the elders of Qingyi Academy approaching me with worried expressions, telling their stories.
"Everyone! This Sheng Ningyu is truly unruly!"
Then what?
Feng Jun thought, and then someone would angrily shout, "Isn't that right! Sword Pavilion has always been upright and honest, how could such a troublemaker emerge?" After that, they would start discussing how to subdue her...
The mundane affairs of the academy that I once found tedious now evoke a sense of nostalgia.
It's as if he is no longer the sickly and frail Phoenix Lord, but still the prime-age leader of the divine race, able to laugh heartily, to use the world as a chessboard, and to invite old friends to stroll and chat in his Silver Bamboo City.
However, "Silver Bamboo" has become "Chasing the Moon". The old chess game in the bamboo forest can continue, but the person who drank and laughed with him that year is nowhere to be found.
The world here remains as vibrant as ever, and the world of cultivation is still alive with love, hate, and grudges. But Yinzhu has fallen from grace; he is no longer the young man he once was.
Feng Jun suppressed the slight melancholy that had just arisen and calmly looked at Sheng Ningyu.
"Sword Master Mingyue, it's been a long time."
He did not let Sheng Ningyu sit down, but Sheng Ningyu would not torture herself.
She chose a seat next to the table that was filled with pastries and fruits, picked up a pastry, and held up three fingers to Feng Jun.
"Three pieces of pastry."
Phoenix King: "My Phoenix Clan is not so stingy."
"No, no, no, what I mean is, you only have time for three pastries." Sheng Ningyu gestured towards the outside, "I made an appointment with Feng Xiaohong just now. Even though you're old and sick, you shouldn't have missed the conversation at the door, right?"
Feng Jun: "..."
very good.
This girl is still the same as before, spouting nonsense the moment she opens her mouth, enough to drive anyone crazy.
Feng Jun let out a weary laugh, saying meaningfully, "It seems that even after all this, the Sword Master's nature remains as unrestrained and free-spirited as it was back then."
Upon hearing this, the Phoenix Clan guards who had been stationed on both sides quietly withdrew from the main hall.
The main gate was slightly closed, leaving only a narrow gap through which a pale light shone, standing alone inside the hall.
Sheng Ningyu picked up a pastry with a bamboo pattern carved on it, thinking to herself, "What kind of veiled meaning is this old man trying to convey? It's that veiled meaning in his words again."
But it doesn't matter.
Neither the former Bright Moon Sword Master nor Sheng Ningyu of Qingyi Academy ever made these old men feel comfortable by agreeing with them.
Sheng Ningyu sighed and said softly, "You are still the best."
Feng Jun was taken aback, and then heard her say nostalgically, "After all, since I woke up and concealed my identity and put on a mask, I haven't heard anyone praise me for a long time."
Sheng Ningyu put down the pastries in her hand, turned to Feng Jun, and said encouragingly, "Could you say a few more compliments? Like those 'heavenly appearance, extraordinary talent, innate swordsmanship' and the like from back then? A few more sets, please?"
The solemn atmosphere that had just been created vanished instantly.
Feng Jun's anger flared up. He hadn't been this angry in a long time. With a flick of his sleeve, a fiery red phoenix rose up behind him with a "whoosh," proudly raising its neck.
This is the true divine emblem of the Phoenix Clan.
Sheng Ningyu immediately gripped the Phoenix Cry Sword at her waist, and a stack of talismans appeared in her left hand.
The person in front of her was, after all, the Phoenix Clan's Divine Lord. She wasn't sure if the Phoenix Cry Sword or any other magical artifact could harm him, but Sheng Ningyu thought that talismans should be able to.
The most distinctive feature of talismans is that they treat everyone equally.
That's why she likes talismans.
However, this time, Sheng Ningyu still made a mistake.
She had made thorough preparations, but to her utter surprise, Feng Jun did not play by the rules at all.
The blood was glaring, contrasting sharply with the aged face, and the fiery phoenix behind him gradually dissipated, like an ominous sign.
Sheng Ningyu stood there, stunned.
Feng Jun wiped the blood from the corner of her lips, and seeing that she remained silent, he smiled instead.
As people grow old, even reliving past anger becomes a precious thing.
"As you can see."
He stepped down from the throne, saying, "This old man is truly nearing the end of his days."
Sheng Ningyu knew almost immediately what Feng Jun was planning.
"When I was trapped in the Vast Heaven Realm, why did no one receive the kite?"
Looking at her behavior, Feng Jun's eyes flashed with nostalgia, and his words changed, becoming more peaceful.
"I am unaware of this matter, but if you were, you might be able to start your investigation from the Chu family."
The Chu family has reached its zenith in recent years.
But no one is a fool; there must be clues to the twists and turns involved.
Upon hearing the words "Chu family," Sheng Ningyu breathed a sigh of relief, but the next second she heard Feng Jun say, "But if I'm not mistaken, your memory was likely created by your master."
Sheng Ningyu's gaze suddenly turned fierce!
Almost as soon as the word "memory" left his lips, the crimson sword was already at Feng Jun's neck!
Feng Jun lowered his eyes to look at the sword and blade held to his neck. Instead of showing any fear, he praised, "Sharpness revealed, as open and honest as the moon, Sword Master is still as good as ever."
Sheng Ningyu raised an eyebrow: "Thank you for the compliment."
Still so shameless.
Feng Jun snorted, his smile vanished, and he solemnly declared, "If I am not mistaken, the Sword Master is the master of the Sword Pavilion and can command the swords of the Sword Pavilion. Yet now he is wielding the sacred artifact of my Phoenix Clan to injure the monarch of the Phoenix Clan. This is not only overstepping his bounds but also somewhat absurd."
He raised his head, a hint of disdain on his aged face: "Or does the Sword Master believe that this sword can truly harm me?"
Sheng Ningyu narrowed her eyes, unmoved, and even brought the sword in her hand closer.
She smiled at Feng Jun and said, "Feng Jun is right. I did have this question just now. But when I gripped the hilt of the sword, I remembered something."
As Sheng Ningyu finished speaking, a clear phoenix cry swirled out, and spiritual energy leaped out. To Feng Jun's astonishment, a strand of his hair floated in the air before swirling and landing on the ground.
The next second, the doors on all sides opened wide, and countless rays of sunlight poured into the hall. A white phoenix in its true form, a divine emblem, walked straight in!
The sudden sunlight made Sheng Ningyu's eyes sting. She closed her eyes briefly, and when the tears subsided, she could no longer see Feng Jun in front of her.
Feng Xiaosheng completely blocked her from view.
Feng Xiaosheng turned to the side and caught a glimpse of the moisture in her eyes, and his heart tightened instantly.
She disregarded paying her respects to the Phoenix Lord, abandoning all etiquette, and turned directly to stand in front of Sheng Ningyu, circulating her spiritual energy around her.
My body is the same as before.
Scarred and broken, it resembles a pear blossom hanging from a branch, which could be blown off by the cold wind at the slightest carelessness.
Fortunately, no new injuries were sustained.
Feng Xiao asked in a low voice, "Are you alright?"
Sheng Ningyu rolled her eyes, sniffed, leaned against her, and whispered, "Don't worry, I'm not hurt."
Not injured?
Good thing you weren't injured!
Seeing that her nephew was about to be deceived, Feng Jun no longer cared about manners and shouted angrily, "Feng Xiaosheng! Look carefully who is holding the sword!"
Feng Xiaosheng turned his head in disbelief: "You still want to hurt her with a sword?!"
Feng Jun: "..."
What kind of logic is this!
He was so angry he almost fainted. Before he could speak again, the anxious voice of the Phoenix Clan elder came from outside the door once more.
"Your Majesty! The Palace Master of Yunwang Palace has arrived!"
Without a sound, Yuan Bushu actually came to Zhu Yue City in person?!
Upon hearing this news, the Phoenix Clan members were quite bewildered.
Why the rush? This is happening much faster than they expected!
Chaos erupted again inside the hall, especially among the elders who knew Sheng Ningyu's identity, who were extremely uneasy at this moment.
This is something the Palace Master of Yunwang Palace will not forgive!
Not to mention the old immortal lord standing behind him, he alone is enough to cause waves anywhere in the fourteen continents!
Fortunately, Feng Jun himself remained calm and said indifferently, "Since you're here, let's meet."
Elder Lantern, the guardian, busied himself again, and after some effort, Yuan Bushu finally appeared in the main hall.
"Thank you for taking care of me these past few days, Fengjun."
Yuan Bushu stood in the hall, his expression serious and calm, yet his posture extremely firm, blocking Sheng Ningyu's way, his words concise and to the point.
"My junior sister is unwell, and my father asked me to come and take care of her. I will be leaving soon."
Sheng Ningyu's heart skipped a beat. She didn't dare to look at Feng Jun's face and hid even further behind Yuan Bushu.
Yuan Bushu seemed to sense something, exchanged a glance with Feng Xiaosheng, and took another step forward.
Her flowing blue robes trailed on the ground, making her resemble the legendary blue phoenix protecting its young.
Feng Jun was speechless at their description, but in the end, he found it rather amusing.
Do they all think of him as some kind of ferocious beast?
That old man Yuan Daojun is really something. He himself is bound by the shackles of Heaven and cannot leave Linghuanwu, so he sends his son here.
Who doesn't have a son?
But his son...
Upon hearing Feng Shiwen's name, Feng Jun suddenly lost interest.
He released his grip and said calmly, "I still have something to say."
After speaking, Feng Jun didn't even look at anyone else. He raised his hand and set up a soundproof array, the spiritual energy mixed with divine power blocking everyone's ears.
Feng Jun said succinctly, "Your master is like this probably because of the prophecy of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion."
It's Tianji Pavilion again.
Sheng Ningyu frowned: "What prophecy?"
Feng Jun shook his head: "The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion operates quietly and never leaks information. I don't know the whole story, but your master came looking for me before he died."
What did he say?
“He said…” Feng Jun paused for a moment, then suddenly laughed.
His laughter echoed in the empty spiritual energy field, interspersed with a few coughs, sounding tired and old.
Yet it was precisely this kind of laughter that, for some inexplicable reason, evoked a sense of youthful spirit.
"He said that he had wielded his sword to slay demons and monsters throughout his life and had never been afraid of danger. But this time, after descending from the ten-thousand-foot-high platform of Sword Pavilion, it was probably his last sword strike, so he was somewhat uneasy."
His hands clenched tightly under his sleeves, his nails almost digging into his flesh, and the scratches on his wrists began to throb with a fine, dense pain that spread all the way to his heart.
However, Sheng Ningyu's face remained completely expressionless.
"What did Master tell you?"
"He said that among his disciples, the eldest has an eccentric personality, but fortunately he has already established his own school. The youngest, Yang Xiuzhu, is only nominally under his name; in reality, he is being looked after by his uncle, so there is no need to worry too much."
"There are only two people he can't let go of."
Feng Jun looked at Sheng Ningyu with a hint of mockery in his eyes, revealing a glimpse of the dashing and charming Phoenix Clan God who had captivated countless female cultivators in his youth.
"Sword Master, won't you try to guess who it is?"
Sheng Ningyu remained unmoved: "These things seem to have nothing to do with my memory."
“It’s your second senior brother and junior sister.” Feng Jun laughed. “He said your junior sister has a pitiful background, and your second senior brother has always been sensitive and hard to find. So he asked me to take good care of them while I’m still alive, even if we don’t leave this Zhuyue City.”
Feng Jun didn't say it aloud, but the mockery in his eyes was clear.
Sheng Ningyu's jaw tightened, but after a long while, she smiled as well.
"So, it was on that occasion that Feng Jun made a pact with my master, agreeing never to leave Silver Bamboo City or get involved in matters concerning the Demon Seed?"
Feng Jun was taken aback.
This child's resolute character is such that he is completely undisturbed by external things.
He raised his head and carefully examined the person in front of him.
This was the first time Feng Jun had carefully examined Sheng Ningyu since she appeared.
At first glance, she still looks the same carefree and irreverent person she used to be, but if you look closely, you can always find some differences.
Those upturned eyebrows and eyes were still sharp, but there was something heavy in those bright eyes, and the upturned corners of his mouth were no longer as pure and fearless as before, but rather had a touch of nonchalance.
If the Sheng Ningyu of the past was "fearless because of youthful ignorance," then the Sheng Ningyu of today is more like someone who has gained a clear understanding of everything.
Though there be thousands of people, I will go.
It does fit the word "bright moon" better than before.
Feng Jun narrowed his eyes, and the wrinkles on his face rippled slightly.
This girl reminded him of many old friends.
"Among those people back then, the most talented was Master Yuandao, Chu Yuandao."
"Unfortunately, your master, Ning Guihai, suddenly appeared."
Feng Jun told a cliché story.
It's nothing more than a young man from a prominent family who was used to being number one in everything, but later he was inexplicably surpassed by someone else.
"After that, Chu Yuandao and your master became acquainted, and their relationship seemed to be quite good."
"He once said that the winner takes all and the loser is nothing. If one can become the best in the world, what does it matter if one uses some means? But at that time, we thought he was just joking."
Then what?
Then the Demon Seed appeared out of nowhere, stirring up countless desires in people's hearts, and even... even the Phoenix Lord was bewitched by it.
"But you regretted it."
Sheng Ningyu stared at him and asked, "Why?"
Feng Jun: "One person."
He got involved for her, and he left for her as well.
His heart desired her to live forever and to be happy with her, so that they could be together in the mortal world year after year.
But she refused.
That's fine then.
Sheng Ningyu smiled, with a hint of nonchalant disrespect: "It seems that the mortal world is truly wonderful, even the Phoenix Clan God-King cannot escape its allure."
Feng Jun did not respond further.
Sheng Ningyu added, "I heard that the Thousand Mountains Trial will start ahead of schedule, but it will be difficult for all eleven sects to gather."
Feng Jun chuckled and said meaningfully, "Someone mentioned this before you."
Sheng Ningyu disliked these ambiguous verbal exchanges, and she directly brought up the name: "Xie Qianjing?"
One or two.
Why do you always speak so directly?
In his opinion, the head of the Chu family should stop making trouble and just pair the two of them up.
Feng Jun said impatiently, "Yes, yes, it's him! I've agreed to let him organize the Thousand Mountains Trial, alright!"
Sheng Ningyu readily agreed: "Then I'll ask for something else. Senior Fengjun, could you tell me if the Yin-Yang Mirror of the Chu family can really reveal past events of Yin and Yang?"
That's how they changed the way they address each other.
Feng Jun saw through her attempt to get close to her at a glance and naturally wouldn't be fooled.
"Yes, but if someone deliberately conceals the secrets of heaven, the Yin-Yang Mirror may not be able to discern them."
"It's true. Chu Yuandao used this method, but the Yin-Yang Mirror was weakened too much later and was almost destroyed back then. Now..."
"Oh, you don't need to worry about that." Sheng Ningyu's thoughts had already drifted away, and she casually said, "After being nurtured by my spiritual bones for so many years, this mirror should be restored by now."
Feng Jun could hardly believe what she had heard. After understanding what she meant, she looked at Sheng Ningyu with a curious expression.
No one in the world has ever joked about their own spiritual remains.
Even though he loved Lanxi so much, he never thought of dissecting his own spiritual bones.
Feng Jun turned around one last time, his long, flowing robes swirling behind him, as if they were the mountains and rivers he had once traversed.
He once felt that life was too short and that he had enough time to live it out.
Only now do I realize that those "ants" he once disregarded, when gathered together, were enough to devour the heart of a phoenix prince.
"If you are really curious, you can think about what you have forgotten. After all, your master always has his reasons for doing things... As for that prophecy, you might as well go to the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion."
Feng Jun removed the soundproofing array and resumed his usual divine authority.
With a mere wave of his hand, everyone was transported outside the Phoenix Palace, leaving only an aged voice in their ears.
"Sheng Ningyu, don't forget what you promised."
Yuan Bushu ignored the Phoenix Clan elder who came to guide him and looked directly at Sheng Ningyu: "What is it?"
Sheng Ningyu smiled and said, "I will go and see Lady Lanxi."
Feng Xiaosheng dismissed the people around him and strode up to Sheng Ningyu: "What are you going to see him for?"
Sheng Ningyu: "Feng Jun told me what he knew. As agreed, I am going to see Lady Lanxi."
Before Feng Xiaosheng could intervene again, a gentle female voice rang out.
"If you absolutely must go, then I'll go with you."
Sheng Ningyu suddenly turned around, her face showing genuine surprise: "Sister Ayan, what brings you here?"
That beautiful woman standing by the pool, dressed in a plum blossom gown like a lady adorned with flowers, who else could she be but Lady Xiang?
"The wooden bracelet is broken." She looked at Sheng Ningyu, her eyes filled with unbearable heartache. "I was worried about you."
Sheng Ningyu: "I'm really fine." She nudged Feng Xiaosheng beside her, nodded to her, and then said to Madam Xiang, "I really don't hurt. If you don't believe me, ask Young Master Feng! Young Master is of noble character and would never stoop to lying."
Feng Xiaosheng did not recognize Madam Xiang, but from Sheng Ningyu's familiar manner and way of addressing her, he guessed that she was her elder. His aura softened, and he nodded to Madam Xiang: "She has been recuperating in the Phoenix Clan these past few days, and her health has improved a lot."
Madam Xiang nodded slightly and said gently, "Tomorrow I will be going to diagnose that Madam Lanxi. Mingyue, please come with me."
Yuan Bushu walked to Madam Xiang's side and took her hand without saying a word.
He made the final decision: "At the invitation of Lord Feng, quite a few people from Yunwang Palace have come. Let's rest and recuperate for now, and discuss this matter again tomorrow."
After escorting everyone back to the Phoenix Clan's residence, Feng Xiaosheng returned to the Phoenix Lord's main hall.
Feng Jun was dealing with miscellaneous matters when he saw Feng Xiaosheng and smiled.
"It seems you've managed the Phoenix Clan quite well; one or two of them are now trying to come here."
Feng Xiaosheng stepped forward and saw that it was a visiting card from Qingniao Yiyehua.
Feng Xiaosheng understood: "Regarding the flying boat, we originally did not care about Sheng Ningyu's identity and focused on suppressing the news. However, he was ruthless. Qingniao Yiyehua knew that she was in the wrong, so the deputy palace master stepped in and compensated her with a lot of good things."
Feng Jun: "Does Sheng Mingyue know about this?"
Feng Xiaosheng: "She doesn't care about these things."
Feng Jun smiled, lowered his head, and said seemingly casually, "I'm not lying to you, am I?"
Feng Xiaosheng felt a tightness in his chest, a dull pain coming over him, and whispered.
“...Uncle, I know.”
Feng Xiaosheng always knew that Sheng Ningyu was lying to her.
She lied to her that as long as she retrieved the spiritual bone, she would be restored to her original state. She lied to her that there was nothing wrong with her body. She lied to her that she didn't feel any pain. She even wanted to bring up the old matter again and use the "Feng Shiwen" incident to trick her into having another argument.
She wanted to avoid her and walk alone on a path with an unknown ending.
This is the only thing Feng Xiaosheng would never agree to.
She sat down at Feng Jun's feet, her gaze wandering aimlessly around the room before finally settling on the plate of pastries.
She ate three more pieces of pastry.
Feng Jun glanced at the plate, then looked away and continued drinking: "Didn't you put it there on purpose? She has such unusual tastes."
“In the past, Guihai never liked such strong flavors. He only liked to drink Yinzhu wine, and every time he came, he would steal three or five jugs from me…”
"Uncle, she used to only like to eat extremely sweet and extremely sour things, she was very picky."
On the table were pastries specially made by Feng Xiaosheng, with crushed medicinal herbs mixed in.
She took a bite, and it was both bitter and spicy; it was extremely unpalatable.
But Sheng Ningyu still ate it.
Why did she eat it?
All the dull pain that had been hidden in my heart for the past few days erupted at this moment, throbbing and pulsating as if trying to shatter the crystal heart of the god into pieces.
Feng Xiaosheng buried her head in her knees.
She recalled Sheng Ningyu, whom she had met at Qingyi Academy, and also the messages that Feng Pianpian had compiled on her desk over the past few days.
In the classroom, amidst the changing seasons, in the dreamlike tranquility of Lingshui.
Every little thing.
"That's why we always told you not to associate too closely with human cultivators."
A sigh came, and a large hand landed on Feng Xiaosheng's head.
"The Phoenix Clan's cold-heartedness and indifference are the best way to live."
But once they get to know human cultivators, they become attached to all things in the human world. But time flies by, and love and hate are all too fleeting.
With the departed gone, all the joys and sorrows will become a solitary experience.
"But I don't regret it."
Feng Xiaosheng lifted her head from her knees, raised her face, looked at Feng Jun, and asked in a somewhat deep tone, "Do you regret it?"
Feng Jun raised an eyebrow: "If I regretted it, why would I have played the villain and forced your little friend Mingyue to see Lanxi?"
"You see things very clearly."
Feng Xiaosheng gave a short laugh, stood up, and waved to Feng Jun.
"Sheng Mingyue may feel guilty, but I don't."
If Lady Lanxi really dares to take advantage of what happened to Feng Shiwen back then and exploit Sheng Ningyu's guilt to humiliate her, then she will definitely not tolerate it.
Sheng Ningyu, on the contrary, took it all in stride.
She said to Xie Qianjing, "Actually, it's nothing."
“I killed Feng Shiwen because he bullied mortals. I do not think I was wrong in this matter.”
Yuan Shuhe interjected from the side, "You did nothing wrong!"
Ever since he learned that Sheng Ningyu had fallen into the illusion of the demonic seed, he had been extremely anxious, worrying about both Sheng Ningyu's health and Xie Qianjing's lost spiritual bones.
However, there were still Yao Youling, Jin Xianyao, and others who needed his comfort and care, and his junior sister Ji Qingwu would often stare blankly at the pear blossoms in the golden jade glass beads.
So Yuan Shuhe could only force himself to remain calm.
Yuan Bushu comforted him, saying, "Actually, Xie Qianjing has also fallen into the illusion of the demonic seed."
He was immediately silenced by Madam Xiang, but it was too late.
Yuan Shuhe became even more anxious.
Yuan Bushu found it difficult to explain this matter, so he simply brought him along. After obtaining Sheng Ningyu's consent, he informed Yuan Shuhe of her identity.
Then, there was another person in the family who unconditionally protected the Bright Moon Sword Master.
Madam Xiang turned her head and looked at Sheng Ningyu with a very loving gaze: "Shuhe and I have the same idea."
Sheng Ningyu smiled, her steps light and graceful: "That's because you are my relatives and friends."
"In other words, I killed Feng Shiwen because of what he did, and Feng Shiwen's mother hates me because I killed her son. This is only natural."
Seeing everyone's disapproving looks, Sheng Ningyu had a strange feeling that she was being spoiled.
She deliberately avoided Feng Xiaosheng today, choosing a time when Feng Xiaosheng was meeting with someone to meet with Lady Lanxi, just so she wouldn't cause any more trouble.
It's perfectly normal for a mother to hate the person who killed her son.
Sheng Ningyu glanced around, then finally tugged at the sleeve of the person next to her.
Sheng Ningyu subtly hinted that she wanted to see the other person.
She believed that Xie Qianjing would never refute her because of these words.
Unlike Sister Yan and those who naturally sided with her, Xie Qianjing, though seemingly on very good terms with her, had also been wounded by her sword and even considered killing her. Putting himself in her shoes, he could certainly understand her meaning from a distance.
As expected, Xie Qianjing smiled slightly: "What you said makes sense."
That's why she chose to bring Xie Qianjing along.
Don't be fooled by his gentle and handsome smile; his true nature is as cold as the snow on the mountain. If anything happens, you can use his status to smooth things over.
Sheng Ningyu laughed heartily, chatted for a while, and finally stopped in front of a quiet palace.
The maids filed out, with phoenix guards standing watch at every turn, making it almost as grand as the Phoenix Lord's Palace.
Madam Xiang went in first, and soon after, the maids came out again and said to Sheng Ningyu, "My lady invites you in."
Sheng Ningyu nodded and instructed Xie Qianjing, "Unless it is something important, there is no need to come inside to look for me."
She stepped forward, the scent of medicine and orchids wafting towards her, and Sheng Ningyu's smile faded.
Outside the third curtain, Madam Xiang and Sheng Ningyu passed each other. She stopped, and Madam Lanxi's maid reminded her, "Madam, this way."
Madam Xiang glanced at Sheng Ningyu, patted Yuan Shuhe on the shoulder, whispered a few words of advice, and watched him leave for a long time before her expression turned indifferent.
Lady Lanxi's maids exchanged bewildered glances: "Madam..."
“Let them leave first,” Madam Xiang said, her tone unusually cold. “I will stay here.”
Separated by a curtain, this was her final concession.
Compared to their tension, Sheng Ningyu seemed quite at ease.
She stepped inside and saw a beautiful woman sitting atop pearls and jade.
Contrary to what many might imagine, Lady Lanxi was beautiful and youthful, with long, flowing hair tied up with a single orchid hairpin, which made her appear even more like a secluded orchid in a valley, pure and refined.
However, this beautiful woman did not even glance at Sheng Ningyu. Instead, she played with the hairpins and bracelets in her hand in front of the mirror. Dozens of pearls and jade beads flowed from between her fingers and fell to the ground, making a tinkling sound as they clattered together.
Lady Lanxi chuckled.
A golden bead rolled down, and Sheng Ningyu bent down to pick it up and handed it to the beauty.
"Lady Lanxi, it's been a long time."
Lady Lanxi paused in her laughter.
Without her laughter, the room fell into complete silence, as if time itself had stopped.
Outside the window, the slanting sunlight that had been filtering through the bamboo blinds transformed, and as the last rays of light fell, it seemed to herald the beginning of something.
The maids held their breath, and the silence was so profound you could hear a pin drop.
Lady Lanxi looked up coldly, her face full of disgust.
A mocking smile curved her pale lips: "After all these years, I still haven't thanked you for sparing my life back then."
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Author's Note: Sorry for being a few minutes late.
This chapter contains 24 red envelopes~ [Sunglasses]
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