Chapter 52
Murong Qiufeng’s brows furrowed, and his expression soured at Shangguan Ye’s tone. It made him feel like an irresponsible child who only caused trouble, and, more importantly, it gave him the uncomfortable impression of being treated like a fragile woman.
“I’ve said it’s nothing,” Murong Qiufeng replied tersely, pushing Shangguan Ye’s hand away.
Shangguan Ye’s face darkened immediately, his eyes blazing with anger as he glared at Murong Qiufeng.
Murong Qiufeng, however, turned away from him and walked coldly towards Youxiang. Though his steps seemed weak, he managed to maintain his composure.
Shangguan Ye’s face grew darker, and his gaze could have burned a hole through Murong Qiufeng’s back. It was clear to everyone that there was a rift between them, which was surprising considering the rumors of their deep affection. Their interaction seemed quite the opposite.
Meanwhile, the girl standing by the door watched Murong Qiufeng with bright, curious eyes. Her gaze kept shifting as if contemplating something.
Shangguan Ye, feeling both furious and helpless, turned his ire towards the An family, particularly Concubine An. “The An family, huh?”
His voice was low and deliberate, each word seemingly chewed over with suppressed rage, sending a chill down everyone’s spine.
“Wangye, please forgive us.”
“Wangye, spare us.”
The members of the An family, except for Concubine An, had already fallen to their knees, trembling in fear. Some of the younger girls even began to cry.
Hearing the cries, Murong Qiufeng’s irritation grew. He didn’t want to stay any longer and decided to leave. “It was just a minor accident. I’m fine, so there’s no need for such a fuss. Please don’t make things difficult for them. The banquet should be starting soon. Youxiang, let’s go.”
The crowd was startled. They wondered if Wangfei was being too bold or too confident. Even though Wangye was so angry, Wangfei had just dismissed his authority. It seemed she was quite pampered.
The girl at the door, watching Shangguan Ye’s dark expression, flashed a mischievous smile, then quickly assumed a feigned angry and accusatory look. “Sister Yun, how can you disregard what Brother Ye has done for you? He’s trying to seek justice for you, and you’re not only ungrateful but also openly dismissing him.”
Her melodious voice caught everyone’s attention. Murong Qiufeng, momentarily puzzled, looked at the girl, surprised by her resemblance to Murong Qiuyun. He couldn’t help but think of her and wonder how she was doing, and whether Yuwen Hui was treating her well.
Seeing Murong Qiufeng’s silent reaction and the hint of melancholy in his eyes, the girl assumed he was affected by her words and felt a sense of triumph. She hurriedly tugged on Shangguan Ye’s arm. “Brother Ye, let’s go back to the hall. Sister Yun doesn’t seem to care.”
Shangguan Ye frowned slightly at the girl’s familiarity, feeling an instinctive resistance. His gaze shifted toward Murong Qiufeng, who was staring intently at the girl. This only fueled Shangguan Ye’s jealousy and anger.
As the girl clung to Shangguan Ye, Murong Qiufeng snapped back to his senses. Seeing the girl’s intimate behavior with Shangguan Ye, he felt a wave of dissatisfaction and decided to leave. However, before he could step out, a cold wind hit him, and he was abruptly picked up and carried out.
He was stunned and then his face turned red. “Put me down.”
It was only the second time since their marriage that he had been carried like this, and as a man of stature, he felt a strong aversion.
Shangguan Ye, his lips pressed into a thin line, glared at him with eyes still burning with anger. “Be quiet.”
Murong Qiufeng, despite being in a female form, was still embarrassed and angry at being treated this way in front of so many people. The closeness from their previous drunken incident only added to his frustration. He felt the need to resist.
“Shangguan Ye, can’t you be a bit less overbearing? Put me down. I can walk myself,” he hissed, gripping Shangguan Ye’s collar and lowering his voice.
Shangguan Ye’s anger was somewhat tempered by Murong Qiufeng’s warm breath against his ear. He raised an eyebrow and smirked warningly. “If you keep struggling, I’ll never put you down.”
Murong Qiufeng’s heart skipped a beat. The words “forever” sounded almost like a vow. Shangguan Ye’s threat had an unexpectedly tender undertone.
Seeing Murong Qiufeng quiet down, Shangguan Ye felt his mood lighten. He realized how easily emotions could shift and how simple it could be to find satisfaction.
Murong Qiufeng, unsure if it was the threat or his own turmoil, quieted down. When he noticed they were heading in a different direction, he was taken aback. “This isn’t the way to the hall.”
“To the residence,” Shangguan Ye replied casually, his tone less harsh.
Murong Qiufeng was astonished and his expression changed. “We can’t go back now. The banquet must have already started. Put me down!”
“Seems like you really want me to keep holding you,” Shangguan Ye said, his eyes narrowing slightly in irritation, but his pace did not slow.
Murong Qiufeng gritted his teeth, pushed Shangguan Ye away, and tried to land on his feet. However, he twisted his ankle again, almost stumbling. Ignoring his pain, he looked up at Shangguan Ye with a dark expression. “Shangguan Ye, you are a prince of the Yan Kingdom, not a child playing games. Everything shouldn’t be according to your will.”
Their current disagreement had led to a prolonged cold war, and Murong Qiufeng was determined not to let it be abandoned halfway. His frustration boiled over.
