Chapter 31, Part 31...
They spent two awkward days like this. Although they were under the same roof, they rarely communicated. Occasionally, their eyes would meet unintentionally. Yan Yize would look directly at him, while Shang Xu would quickly look away.
Yan Yize was left staring at his profile, lost in thought.
The sacrificial ceremony is the most important festival in the Phoenix Kingdom, lasting for three days. The preparations for the ceremony are complete, and we will begin today.
Yan Yize stood at the door, waiting for Shang Xu to come out. After spending these days together, she had already gotten to know Shang Xu quite well and knew that he would not embarrass her in front of outsiders.
Therefore, they deliberately waited at the entrance. The palace was located halfway up the mountain, and the path in front of the gate led to the sacrificial site at the top of the mountain. It was a necessary route, and there were already a steady stream of pedestrians on the path.
She glanced around casually and spotted Yan Linyue, whom she didn't get along with. It's unbelievable how lucky she was; out of all the people on the path, she just happened to run into someone she really didn't like.
Surrounded by a large group of young ladies and gentlemen from official families, Yan Linyue was the center of attention, making Yan Yize all the more lonely. Yan Linyue raised her eyebrows provocatively, her eyes filled with undisguised malice, and arrogantly curled her lips into a "trash."
Just two more days, and no one will be able to compete with her for the throne. Yan Linyue couldn't help but feel overjoyed at the thought of ascending the throne, and she couldn't help but burst into laughter.
The young ladies and gentlemen following her looked puzzled, but that didn't stop them from fawning over her with flattery.
Yan Yize watched calmly, his face indifferent. His emotions were not affected by her provocation. Yan Linyue's private actions had already been known to her. Her blatant actions showed that she was very confident in herself.
She waited to see the day her plan fell apart and the air cracked with anger. Thinking of this, Yan Yize's mood, which had been gloomy for two days, improved a little.
Just then, Shang Xu also came out of the house. She turned her gaze away, turned to the side, and watched him walk towards her step by step.
"Your Highness." Shang Xu gave a proper bow.
Yan Yize sized him up, gave a casual reply, then walked casually to his side, stood on his left, tilted his head, and said, "Let's go."
She was standing too close, so close that he could smell her unique, cool, and delicate fragrance again. Shang Xu felt a sense of resistance. With their divorce imminent, he didn't want to get too close to her. He had liked her, and even now, that liking hadn't completely disappeared.
He was afraid that if they got too close, he wouldn't be able to control his feelings. But she said she wanted a divorce, so he had to keep his distance. Only in this way could he avoid losing face on the day of the actual divorce.
Shang Xu wanted to step back, but when he looked up, he found people everywhere. Although they all seemed to be going their own way, he could still feel many hidden gazes. So he had no choice but to give up. For both reason and emotion, he should maintain the appearance of harmony between husband and wife.
Even if it's just an illusion.
Shang Xu resisted the urge to back away and obediently walked beside her. Their clothes intertwined, and their steps unconsciously synchronized. The beautiful woman and handsome man attracted frequent glances from others.
The palace was located halfway up the mountain, not far from the summit. When they arrived, there were already many people standing around the altar. Before long, the Empress also arrived in her palanquin.
At noon, the sacrificial ceremony began.
The familiar chanting brought Yan Yize's thoughts back to those years. The last time she came here, her father had come with her. Back then, her father would always hold her hand and patiently instruct her on what to do.
Looking back now, everything has changed, and the person standing beside him has changed from his father to his husband. Yan Yize glanced sideways and quietly observed Shang Xu. If his father were still alive, he would definitely like Shang Xu.
Unfortunately, there are no "what ifs".
The first and second days of the sacrificial rites went smoothly. Time quickly passed to the third day. Yan Yize stood by the window, gazing at the distant mountains, but his mind was not on them at all.
It's the last day; it's time for Yan Linyue to make her move.
Before leaving, Yan Yize thought for a moment and called out to Shang Xu, who was about to walk out, intending to give him a heads-up so that he would be prepared and not be frightened by the suddenness of the situation.
"Shangxu"
Upon hearing her voice, Shang Xu paused in mid-air. After a second or two, he turned around to look at her, asking in confusion, "Your Highness, what's wrong?"
Yan Yize pursed his lips, quickly walked to his side, and stood at eye level with him, subtly reminding him, "Today may not be peaceful, so please be careful."
Shang Xu was taken aback. Something was amiss?
This wasn't her first reminder. Once could be considered a coincidence, but twice would be intentional. So, does she know something?
Shang Xu nodded in agreement, "I understand."
He lowered his head again, hiding the sorrow in his eyes. The ritual made him realize that he had always been excluded by her, and that she had never accepted him for a single moment. This realization made his previous feelings for her seem ridiculous.
He couldn't help but wonder if she had planned to divorce him from the very beginning. If that was the case, why was she being nice to him? Wouldn't it have been better to draw a clear line between them and divorce without any distractions?
He had developed feelings for her that he shouldn't have, yet he had to face her ruthlessness. She was truly cruel. Shang Xu felt bitter and wanted to blame her for everything.
But he couldn't do it. Shang Xu knew clearly that she had never promised anything. It was he who hadn't guarded his heart and had easily fallen for the little kindness she showed him.
So in the end, it was just his own doing.
Yan Yize noticed his pale face immediately, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes. Without thinking, he asked, "Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
Shang Xu paused for a moment, looked at her, and met her deep eyes, where he saw a hint of worry. He didn't understand why she would treat him like this when they were about to get a divorce.
Shang Xu felt a dry, itchy sensation in his throat. He wanted to tell her to stop caring about him like this, that this subtle concern would lead him to misunderstand and even make him fall for her. But he only dared to think about it in his heart and ultimately didn't have the courage to say it.
She shook her head, her voice pale and weak, and said, "It's nothing."
Yan Yize sensed his distance and frowned slightly. Why? After spending the last two days together, their relationship had clearly improved, so why did it suddenly revert to its original state?
She frowned, but still couldn't figure it out.
A note from the author:
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