Are you happy?

The matter of Almond was left unresolved. Yun Xueyan was confined for three days to reflect in the Junyu Pavilion, but she was not seriously punished.

Upon hearing Ziyu’s words, Yun Xueyan simply shook her head with her eyes closed. Three days of confinement had already exceeded her expectations.

The words Duan Nanyu had spoken to Yun Xiyin lingered in her mind: “I promise you, only you are worthy of enjoying the honor of being the princess.”

Indeed, she was the Princess of Xiao, so what punishment could she possibly receive? Naturally, Duan Nanyu would not bear to see her suffer.

Therefore, when Ziyu spoke, she paid no mind. At least her innocence had been proven.

Because of this incident, Duan Nanyu had the Xuan Yue Pavilion renovated, increasing the number of attendants, though Yun Xueyan found the bustle too noisy. Yet, she could not oppose Duan Nanyu’s intentions.

Her body had not yet recovered; she lacked strength and lay in bed, unwilling to move.

Every night, Duan Nanyu came to embrace her as they slept. He never touched her, but she felt uneasy. The wounds from everything that had happened had left her heart riddled with pain.

If only he had treated her like this from the beginning—even if her appearance prevented him from showing her affection, he could at least have refrained from being so cruel and vicious. Would she have ended up like this?

At night, her sleep was troubled. His embrace frightened her; she feared opening her eyes to see those cold, piercing black eyes that froze her in terror.

“Princess Yan,” Ziyu walked in and approached the bed, “Prime Minister Feng has arrived.”

She opened her eyes and saw the panic in Ziyu’s gaze, understanding her worry—that Duan Nanyu would listen to rumors and once again treat her poorly.

“Let him in,” she said. There was nothing else she could do.

Feng Xilou, that gentle man like jade, always appeared when her pain reached its peak.

His pale robe shimmered before her eyes; the golden embroidered boots were spotless, elegant and clean. Looking up, his handsome face was adorned with a smile at the corners of his lips.

Yet, the tenderness in his eyes made Yun Xueyan deliberately avoid his gaze.

“Yan’er.” His low call was saturated with deep affection. He wished to embrace her, but the Xuan Yue Pavilion was crowded, and gossip abounded. He could not risk her reputation.

The woman lying on the bed, her face sharp and thin enough to chill him—she looked even more frail than when he had last seen her.

Her body was so delicate, like a sheet of paper, ready to vanish at any moment.

Xilou? Prime Minister Feng?

How should she address him? He had come, yet she didn’t know how to face him.

“Xilou, I’m fine. You needn’t worry,” she said, feigning strength. Suddenly, she bitterly smiled—she could not even deceive herself, how could she deceive Feng Xilou?

“Yan’er, why do you torment yourself?” He wanted to give her happiness.

His hands gently touched Yun Xueyan’s face, drawing close. “Look into my eyes, tell me—are you happy?” The smile at his lips seeped into her heart.

She closed her eyes, refusing to meet Feng Xilou’s gaze. She felt guilty.

“Yan’er, tell me, are you happy?” Feng Xilou spoke softly, knowing that asking this was only self-deception.

Yet, he still hoped she would give him an answer.

If only she said “no,” he would take her away without hesitation.

His gentle words, soft as the wind, brushed Yun Xueyan’s heart, stirring a sudden bitterness that overflowed in tears cascading down her cheeks.

Was she happy? She no longer knew.

He looked at her fragile form, his throat constricted, aching for her suffering—she was so aggrieved, yet still endured.

“Xilou, you should go… I am fine.” Unable to hold back, she opened her eyes to look at Feng Xilou, seeing the indulgence in his gaze—the plea there was clear to her.

Yet, this was not something Feng Xilou should possess. He was never entangled by any woman.

She wanted to shout, but the cry would not come. If she left with him, she would become a burden, ruin everything he had!

She had already destroyed Yun Qixiao.

“You are the Prime Minister. You deserve a brighter future. The Feng Xilou in my heart should never be held back. You should leave.” Gripping the sheets tightly, Yun Xueyan bit her lip. “I love the prince, so I will not leave him.”

His hand froze on Yun Xueyan’s face. He knew everything, yet could not let go.

He stood up, turned away, leaving behind a phrase heavy with sorrow: “I know. But if he ever hurts you again, I will never let you go.”

To the readers:

Highly recommend my friend Yan Shushu’s soul-transmigration novel “The Emperor’s Wife.”