A Li led the Eldest Princess to a large hidden wooden shack, nestled among wild trees beyond the bamboo house.
She opened the door, and the Princess stepped inside in silence.
Feng Xiyan was already there. Two shadow guards stood on either side of her. Her hands were tied high above her head to a wooden post, and a cloth gag covered her mouth. Her eyes blazed with hatred as she stared at Feng Yao.
In the corner of the room, A Li had placed a wooden chair and carefully draped a soft fur blanket over it. The Eldest Princess sat down slowly, her gaze sharpening in disgust when she noticed Feng Xiyan was still wearing Lang Huan's robe.
She gave a small wave of her hand. One of the shadow guards stepped forward and pulled the gag from Feng Xiyan's mouth.
Once it was off, Feng Xiyan gasped for air, coughing lightly before glaring at Feng Yao. But this time, there was fear in her eyes—fear that hadn't been there before.
A Li held her breath. The Eighth Princess had escaped death from falling off a cliff—only to end up in the hands of the Eldest Princess. That might be even worse than death.
Feng Yao leaned forward slightly. "Feng Xiyan, again and again, you test my patience. Did you really think you could push me around?"
Feng Xiyan clenched her jaw. "Let me go… What are you going to do to me?"
Her voice trembled. The fierce woman who had once fought back against the guards was gone. Now, fear had taken hold.
"I've already killed Feng Tianwei," Feng Yao said, rising to her feet and stepping toward her. "One more death means nothing to me."
She paused, then added casually, "Oh well. Everyone would believe you died from falling off the cliff. And even if someone suspects the truth—who would dare question me?"
Her voice softened into a whisper. "Let your mother suffer the pain of losing someone she loves... That… is the best kind of revenge."
Feng Xiyan froze. Her heart pounded in her chest. In that moment, she finally understood—Feng Yao could do anything to her, and no one would stop it. She slowly lifted her head.
"Royal Sister… please let me go," she begged, her voice small and trembling. "How could you kill your own brother and sister?'"
Feng Yao didn't answer. Instead, she let out a cold laugh, as if the question didn't matter at all.
She stretched out her hand. One of the shadow guards stepped forward and placed a whip into her palm.
Feng Yao turned her back on Feng Xiyan and said, "A Li, what disgraceful thing did you witness earlier?"
A Li lowered her head respectfully.
In reply to Your Highness, "I saw Her Highness the Eighth Princess hugging and kissing your future consort."
Feng Yao gave a slight nod and handed the whip to A Li.
Feng Xiyan's eyes widened in panic. She shouted, "What's wrong with that?! You two aren't even engaged or married yet! And Father—he wants Lang Huan to marry me, not you!"
Feng Yao didn't even blink. Her lips curled into a cold sneer.
"Shameless," she said slowly. "You were born a princess, but your behavior is worse than a prostitute."
Feng Xiyan's face turned red with anger. She pulled at the ropes that held her, her voice shaking. "You act so high and mighty just because you have shadow guards protecting you! If you really have courage, fight me one-on-one!"
Feng Yao ignored her. "A Li. Whip her!"
"No!" Feng Xiyan screamed.
A Li stepped forward, whip in hand. Her face was pale, but she didn't hesitate.
SWISH—CRACK!
"Lang Huan! Please help me!" her voice full of fear as she struggled against the ropes.
Hearing Feng Xiyan call out Lang Huan only made the Eldest Princess angrier.
"A Li, harder!"
CRACK
"AHHH!!"
CRACK
"Ahh!!" Feng Xiyan cried out, her body jerking from the sharp sting across her skin.
Her screams echoed through the wooden shack. Her robe tore open with each strike. Blood began to seep through the cloth, staining it dark red.
CRACK!
CRACK!
Her body trembled violently, her voice hoarse from crying out. The pain was too much.
By the ninth strike, Feng Xiyan collapsed. Her head fell forward, her body limp and bloody. She had passed out from the pain.
Feng Yao looked at her for a long time, but there was no trace of pity in her eyes.
She turned to leave and spoke coldly to the shadow guards.
"If even a single word of what happened today leaks out… all of you will suffer the consequences."
The shadow guards immediately bowed their heads.
"Understood, Your Highness," they said in unison.
By the time she stepped outside, the sky had already turned dark. A breeze stirred the air as she made her way back to the room,
When she opened the door, Lang Huan was already waiting, sitting on the edge of the bed. The soft glow of a single lantern bathed her in gold.
"Why are Your Highness so long?" Lang Huan asked with a pout. "I wanted to look for you, but Qiu Yue didn't let me go."
Feng Yao approached and gently touched her forehead. "I was helping A Li in the kitchen."
Lang Huan blinked. Her brow arched in disbelief. "Since when do you ever step into the kitchen?" she said, her voice tinged with suspicion.
The eldest princess chuckled lightly, but before she could pull away, Lang Huan caught her hand.
"why do rough work," she said softly, her fingers gently curling around Feng Yao's. "Aren't you worried about your delicate hands?"
Just then, A Li stepped inside and announced, "Dinner is ready."
"Come here," Feng Yao said gently, reaching for Lang Huan's hand.
She supported her as they walked to the dining room. Lang Huan's steps were still unsteady, but she was recovering. Whatever dosage of aphrodisiac Feng Xiyan had used. Its lingering effects still haunted her body.
They sat side by side and ate in silence. The clinking of chopsticks was the only sound in the room. Silence stretched between them, making Lang Huan increasingly uneasy.
She stole a glance at Feng Yao, but the princess kept her eyes on her food.
Lang Huan looked around, a flicker of unease in her expression. She couldn't help but wonder where Feng Xiyan was.
Suddenly, the Eldest Princess broke the silence. "Are you looking for someone?"
She quickly shook her head. "Oh, no. I just… this place feels a little creepy. Earlier, when I was resting, I heard a woman crying voice." Her voice trailed off and fading into the silence.
Then she caught a glimpse of the princess's smile—soft, but laced with murderous intent. Slowly, Lang Huan lowered her head, no longer daring to meet Feng Yao's gaze.
After the last bite, Lang Huan set down her chopsticks and turned to her. "Your Highness should rest,"
She led her back toward the bedroom. But as they stepped inside, Feng Yao suddenly stopped. Her eyes landed on the bed—and her body stiffened.
Lang Huan noticed and spoke softly to reassure her.
"I asked Qiu Yue to change the sheets and blanket."
She hesitated for a second, then said with a tender gaze,
"You won't smell anything of her anymore."
Feng Yao didn't reply. She simply let Lang Huan guide her into the bed, tucking the blanket gently around her.
"Just stay," Feng Yao murmured. "You can sleep on the floor."
She was afraid Lang Huan would go looking for Feng Xiyan. That little brat couldn't be trusted.
Even though she knew Lang Huan hadn't betrayed her, she still felt like that girl was hiding something.
Lang Huan nodded. "Alright. I'll stay."
---
Lang Huan woke up and noticed that Feng Yao's bed was already empty.
She sat up slowly. Her hair was messy, her eyes still heavy with sleep—but what bothered her more than anything was Feng Yao's attitude.
Sometimes cold, sometimes warm. Sometimes it felt like Feng Yao wanted to be close, but then suddenly she would pull away.
Lang Huan sighed.
What are you thinking? she wanted to ask.
What do you want to know? Why won't you ask me? Why do you just look at me like that?
And now… she wasn't even allowed to leave the room.
As always, Qiu Yue stood by the door—"Princess's orders," she said simply.
Lang Huan turned to the window. The sun was already high in the sky. She really wanted to know—what was Feng Yao doing?
She couldn't take it anymore.
If she wasn't allowed to leave through the door… then she would leave through the window.
Lang Huan climbed out and disappeared into the wild trees. She searched everywhere—through the bamboo grove, along the stone paths.
Just as she was about to turn back, she heard something. A scream. Then a low groan.
She followed it until she reached the wooden shack at the edge of the wild garden. The place was half-hidden by trees, almost easy invisible. The door was slightly open, from inside came a sharp cry of pain.
Lang Huan's heart raced. She crept closer and slowly peeked through the gap in the door. Hiss...
She saw Feng Xiyan—tied up, bloodied, and weak. Her hands were bound high above her head to a wooden post. Her head hung low, chest rising and falling with every painful breath.
Lang Huan clenched her fists. She hated this girl—manipulative and always playing tricks. But she couldn't forget that Feng Xiyan had risked her life to save her.
Then she saw Feng Yao aiming a dagger at Feng Xiyan.
Lang Huan's eyes widened in panic.
She was about to burst in and stop it, just then, a voice behind her called: "Young Master Ye."
Qiu Yue.
She turned around sharply, startled.
Inside the shack, Feng Xiyan had heard the name too. Her head lifted quickly.
Her voice cracked as she screamed, wild and desperate:
"Lang Huan! Help me! Please! Help—! My vicious sister wants to kill me!"
A moment later, the Eldest Princess handed the dagger to a shadow guard and stepped outside.
Her eyes met Lang Huan's.
Lang Huan stood frozen between two worlds—Feng Xiyan's cries for help, and Feng Yao's chilling eyes.