Xiao Yi looked at Cui Yunfeng's red-rimmed eyes and her furious, bristling demeanor, remaining silent for a long moment.
A sense of trepidation slowly rose from the depths of his heart.
For the first time, he saw bone-deep hatred, and even murderous intent, in this usually obedient and gentle girl's eyes.
She wanted to kill Liu Wanting, because of Cui Yunchu.
Xiao Yi lowered his eyes. An emotion quickly flashed past his gaze, and his tightly clenched knuckles turned pale.
"Xiao Yi, thank you."
Xiao Yi raised his eyes, meeting Cui Yunfeng's earnest gaze, and forced a faint smile.
Cui Yunfeng continued, "Liu Wanting's father is the Minister of War, after all. Do not delay your political affairs or let others grasp a weakness to use against you just for my sake."
Although she did not approve of Xiao Yi's struggle for power and was even less willing to participate in it, she did not want him to fall into a disadvantage because of her. Or be controlled by others.
"Rest assured," Xiao Yi curled his lips into a smile. "Yunfeng, just now, you wanted to kill her? Right?"
Cui Yunfeng pursed her lips and, after a long moment, nodded.
She had never hated a person so much. Whenever she remembered the torment she, her grandmother, and her cousin had endured over those two days, and the dying state her eldest sister was in when they found her, Cui Yunfeng wished she could personally execute the culprit.
"If something had happened to my eldest sister that day, my grandmother definitely would not have been able to hold on. I do not even dare to imagine the consequences; even thinking about it now brings me out in a cold sweat every time."
"Liu Wanting is truly vicious."
Xiao Yi looked at her without speaking.
Cui Yunfeng looked up, suddenly feeling that his gaze was somewhat complex, like a dark abyss, bottomless and unfathomable.
"Xiao Yi, what is wrong?"
Xiao Yi lowered his eyes, withdrawing his thoughts. He turned his head to look at the dim night sky, then suddenly raised his hand to pull Cui Yunfeng into his arms, changing the subject. "Has your family's Old Madame made you meet with that scholar recently?"
Cui Yunfeng was silent for a moment, then shook her head.
"Oh?" Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, seemingly in disbelief.
"Your cousin is marrying into the Crown Prince's estate tomorrow. Is your Old Madame not anxious? That does not seem like her style."
After all, given her initial posture of wishing she could marry Cui Yunfeng off immediately, Xiao Yi simply could not believe it.
He tilted Cui Yunfeng's chin up. "Did she not, or do you just not dare to tell me, hmm?"
His fingers exerted some force. Cui Yunfeng's eyes reddened, and she bit down hard on the web between his thumb and forefinger.
Xiao Yi did not move, merely looking down at her, the corners of his lips even curving into a smile.
Cui Yunfeng liked to bite people when she was a child, especially him, but it was mostly when she was angry but did not dare to speak out.
Xiao Yi raised his hand and stroked her head, his movements gentle without the slightest hint of displeasure. Tears immediately fell from Cui Yunfeng's eyes, and she slowly released her bite.
She had used force; the teeth marks on Xiao Yi's hand were incredibly clear, just a hair's breadth away from drawing blood.
"Does it not hurt?" Cui Yunfeng's voice choked slightly.
Xiao Yi did not answer, instead holding her even tighter. "Tell me, what is wrong?"
What was wrong? Cui Yunfeng opened her mouth a few times, not knowing how to voice the thoughts in her heart.
"I still need to go add to my cousin's dowry. Let me go first."
Xiao Yi refused. "You want to run after biting me? Cui Yunfeng, who gave you the nerve?"
Yet his tone was incredibly gentle. Cui Yunfeng's tears fell uncontrollably. "Xiao Yi, do you know how I have gotten through these past few days?"
She raised her head, looking straight into Xiao Yi's eyes. "My eldest sister said that if I want to marry you, there is only one choice, and that is..."
Xiao Yi looked at her with curving eyes. "That is what?"
Figuring that whatever idea Cui Yunchu's brain could come up with would not be a good one, Xiao Yi had long prepared himself mentally.
"Let me hear it."
"My eldest sister said that if I do not want to affect my cousin and the Cui family, the only way is for me to sever ties with the Cui family."
Cui Yunfeng stared intently into Xiao Yi's eyes, unwilling to miss even a sliver of his emotion.
Hearing this, Xiao Yi was slightly taken aback, a flash of surprise seemingly crossing his face.
Cui Yunfeng asked, "Xiao Yi, what are you thinking?"
Xiao Yi replied, "I am thinking that your eldest sister's brain has improved quite a bit. It is quite sudden; I am a little unaccustomed to it."
His tone was lazy, laced with teasing.
Cui Yunfeng frowned. "So, in being with me, have you ever coveted the power in my father's hands?"
She had always been this straightforward.
Xiao Yi lowered his eyes, looking at the undisguised scrutiny and evaluation in the young girl's eyes. "You are willing to sever ties with the Cui family for me?"
Cui Yunfeng bit her lip, remaining silent.
Xiao Yi wrapped his arms around her waist, confining her tightly in his embrace, and leaned down to whisper hoarsely in her ear, "Yunfeng, in my position today, I have long had no way to retreat. One wrong step means death, so the only way is for you to come to my side."
"If I said I did not covet the assistance your father brings, it would truly be hypocritical. But if I had to weigh the benefits between the two, I only want you."
He raised his fingertips, rubbing Cui Yunfeng's jaw, his touch met with wet tears.
A girl who had severed ties with the Cui family held no benefit for him; she could even be called a burden, uselessly occupying the position of his official wife.
After all, high-ranking officials in the court willing to marry their daughters to him were everywhere.
Cui Yunfeng was in great pain.
She could not bear to give up Xiao Yi, and she could bear even less to give up the Cui family.
"Swear that you will never hurt my family in this life, and that you will not fail me."
Xiao Yi smiled and immediately raised three fingers to swear an oath, using himself as the collateral.
However, Cui Yunfeng was not satisfied. "I want you to swear by me. If you cannot do it, I will die by your hands, forever separated by heaven and earth, and this hatred will not fade through all lifetimes."
"Yunfeng!" Xiao Yi lowered his hand, his expression turning slightly ugly. Upon closer inspection, there was even panic in his eyes.
Cui Yunfeng furrowed her brows. "Say it."
The gaze Xiao Yi fixed upon her was filled with coldness.
"Do you know what you are saying?"
Of course Cui Yunfeng knew.
She knew even better how to manipulate his heart, knowing where poking him would hurt the most.
Xiao Yi pinched Cui Yunfeng's jaw, his voice cold and deep. "You woman, your mind is becoming increasingly vicious."
"Why will you not swear?" Cui Yunfeng was extremely stubborn. "Xiao Yi, have you not always disbelieved in gods and buddhas? Why do you not dare to swear this time?"
For someone who never believed in the divine to suddenly fear them?
Xiao Yi closed his eyes briefly. "Cui Yunfeng, I can swear on my great ambition. If I break my promise, let me lose to the Crown Prince, remain utterly alone for life, and die by your hand."
"But I can absolutely never swear by you."
Cui Yunfeng quickly withdrew her gaze, tears falling unstoppably. "Remember your words today. Do not disbelieve the divine; when you go against your heart, they are very effective."
Xiao Yi smiled dismissively, grasping Cui Yunfeng's hand and placing it over his heart. "Then you must not forget, my heart is slightly off-center. When the time comes, do not aim the blade at the wrong spot."
Cui Yunfeng forcefully broke free from his hand, glaring at him fiercely. "You were a little madman when you were young, and now that you have grown up, you are a big madman."
After saying this, she ran out of the garden. Xiao Yi stood beneath the peach blossom tree, watching the woman's swiftly departing figure with a smile.
Eunuch Liu walked out from the shadows. "Your Highness, how can such heart-piercing words be spoken so carelessly?"
Xiao Yi said, "Do you think she is truly willing to leave the Cui family for me?"
He slightly closed his eyes, rubbing the lingering warmth in his palm.
"Your Highness," Eunuch Liu, whose face had turned pale from fright earlier, stomped his feet anxiously.
Xiao Yi was still immersed in the lingering emotions from moments ago. "I am truly flattered, considering how much she values the Cui family."
Eunuch Liu sighed helplessly and threw a bucket of cold water over his mood. "Your Highness, Second Miss Cui was merely talking. She did not actually promise you anything."
Xiao Yi opened his eyes and cast a faint, cold glance at him, instantly sending a chilling wake-up call down Eunuch Liu's spine.
He immediately changed the subject. "Your Highness, what about Miss Liu..."
"She even managed to get the title of County Princess last time, which was letting her off far too easily. She deserved what she suffered today."
Thinking it over, he genuinely felt that there was no better scapegoat than the Liu family.
Especially since Liu Wanting was foolish enough.
Eunuch Liu hesitated. "Fooling the Second Miss with this matter is one thing, but the Crown Prince and Miss Tang will likely not believe it so easily."
Xiao Yi smiled, entirely unconcerned, and gave Eunuch Liu a sidelong glance. "So what if they are suspicious? Without evidence, it is all just empty speculation."
