Let it never happen again

He waited until Yun Xueyan had cried herself to sleep before Duan Nanyu finally rose to his feet, moving so swiftly that his robes rustled with the sudden motion.

Along the way, everyone who saw the prince’s cold, forbidding expression fell silent, not daring to speak, each wondering what he was about to do.

When he arrived at the Junyu Pavilion, he did not wait for the servants to announce him; Duan Nanyu strode straight into the inner chamber. Inside, Yun Xiyin was combing her hair. She caught sight of Duan Nanyu’s reflection in the bronze mirror as he entered, and, not having time to scrutinize his expression, she hurriedly rose to greet him with a respectful bow.

“Blessings upon Your Highness,” she said softly, her voice gentle and ingratiating, her gaze lowered in demure submission.

Last night, she had learned that Yun Xueyan had returned, brought back by those from Fengxi Tower. She had not expected Duan Nanyu to come to her so soon.

Now that that wretched woman was back, should she fan the flames and have Duan Nanyu drive her out? If only things could turn out that way, it would be best.

“Get up!” His breath was heavy and laced with fury as he glared at the woman kneeling before him, rage smoldering in his chest. Had he indulged her too much?

Sensing the shift in his tone, Yun Xiyin rose and looked up at the man standing so near. “Nanyu, what has made you so angry?” she asked.

Without warning, his hand clamped around her chin as his cold, merciless face drew closer, a bitter smile twisting his lips.

“Yun Xiyin!” he ground out each syllable through clenched teeth. “How could I have let myself be deceived by you again and again? Was it my leniency that made you so brazen, so shameless?”

All this time, he had believed Yun Xueyan was the malicious one. Only now did he realize how blind he had been!

The force of his words left Yun Xiyin weak, her pupils shrinking before gradually widening in shock. “Nanyu, what do you mean by this?”

“You’re asking me what I mean? That’s a question I should put to you! How can you, as my princess, be so utterly devoid of conscience? She is your own sister!” he shouted, his fury tipping into madness.

The memory of Yun Xueyan’s state the previous night tore at his heart like claws. And the one who had caused all of it was the very person to whom he had once vowed his lifelong devotion.

How had the woman he once cherished become so ugly in spirit?

“My sister’s back? Is she all right?” Yun Xiyin did her best to keep her voice calm, feigning ignorance, though she could not stop herself from trembling under the weight of his anger.

“You don’t want her to come back, do you?” His sharp, discerning eyes fixed on her feigned innocence.

The room fell suddenly silent, the air growing thin beneath the weight of accusation.

Yun Xiyin stared blankly at Duan Nanyu, who seemed transformed into a raging lion before her eyes. Hatred surged within her, churning like bile in her stomach.

A wave of nausea rose to her throat. She shoved Duan Nanyu aside and fled to the corner, where she began to retch.

But beneath it all, what she felt most was unwillingness to yield! Yun Xueyan—why should she have to compete with her?

She had already taken her elder brother from her, and now she wanted to steal her husband as well! In what way was she inferior?

Yicui, cowering in a corner, dared not utter a word for fear of angering the prince. Only when she saw Yun Xiyin vomiting did she fall to her knees with a dull thud.

Propping herself up with trembling hands, she pleaded, “Your Highness, the princess is carrying your child. You… you cannot treat her this way.”

She could not understand what was so special about Yun Xueyan. That wretched fate of hers—how could she possibly vie for favor with her mistress? Once, the prince had eyes only for her lady.

A child? At those words, some of the fury in Duan Nanyu’s clouded gaze seemed to abate. He turned to face the door, his tone softening ever so slightly. “Yin’er, if you have any conscience left, if you care at all for the child, then show him some kindness.”

The sound of retching filled the air again, but Duan Nanyu paid it no heed. “I do not want to see anything else happen. I have tolerated you twice already—there will not be a third time.”

“I haven’t—” Yun Xiyin shouted hoarsely, only to double over and vomit again.

“Whether you have or not, you know it in your heart. I have given you the honor due a princess; you should be content. This time, I will still spare you!” With a sweep of his sleeve, Duan Nanyu strode out. “Send for a physician!”