"Which sentence are you referring to, Sixth Prince? The few that she rejected you with, or..." Feng Xun's fan-like lashes trembled, his gaze remaining calm and innocent, making him look very harmless.

"Of course, it's the latter—Princess Ye said, she only sees you as a brother," exclaimed the Sixth Prince, his tone rising as if a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

This Feng Xun appears so innocuous, yet his words are edged like a thorny hedgehog.

The Sixth Prince felt a sting of internal injury.

"Feng Xun and Ling Yue are not siblings," Feng Xun stubbornly stated the fact like a child.

"Even if you aren't siblings, Ling Yue harbors no romantic feelings for you," pressed the Sixth Prince aggressively.

"At least she has feelings for me, unlike some random passerby," Feng Xun shot back a glance as sharp as a dagger.

That glare was absolutely lethal.

The Sixth Prince's face changed, as if he had been fiercely slapped.

Hearing Feng Xun's words, the distant Sword Slave rolled his eyes dramatically.

Though he stood far away, with Sword Slave's hearing, he could clearly make out the conversation between Prince Feng and the Sixth Prince.

How could this Sixth Prince from Daxia underestimate Prince Feng like this?

Prince Feng might be physically weak, but his mind is exceptionally sharp; a Feng Xun who could carve out a realm for the Feng Family in Beiqing within just five or six years in the ruthless business world is not someone a prince who has long resided in the palace can easily manipulate.

Xiahou Qi was really digging his own grave.

The Sixth Prince was at a loss for words, not expecting Feng Xun to be so sharp-tongued. The planned speech he had prepared to persuade Feng Xun to back down was all useless now.

He could only resort to his trump card.

"In that case, what are your feelings towards your world-renowned fiancée, Prince Feng?"

At the mention of the term 'fiancée,' Feng Xun paused.

Indeed, Xiahou Qi had put in some serious effort and even found out about the matter of his fiancée.

"You have a fiancée, something Ling Yue still doesn't know, right? Prince Feng, you must be well aware of Ling Yue's background. The thing she despises most is breaking up someone else's marriage. Even if she has feelings for you, as soon as she learns you're betrothed – and it's with a high-profile arrangement observed by everyone in Beiqing – she will certainly give up on you," Xiahou Qi observed Feng Xun's complexion darkening bit by bit.

His heart filled with an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

True, he admits Ye Ling Yue holds a unique place for Prince Feng.

It may not be a true love of man and woman, but it is almost there and only separated by a fine barrier, yet for some reason, both Ye Ling Yue and Feng Xun, who are equally cautious in matters of the heart, neither wants to puncture that barrier.

This point, clear as day to an observer like Xiahou Qi.

His role was to cut through the chaos with a decisive strike.

"Sixth Prince, do you know how I'm different from you?" Feng Xun suddenly burst into laughter. "If Feng Xun will ever marry in this lifetime, it will only be Ye Ling Yue, and only Ye Ling Yue will be his wife. This fact will not change due to my identity nor any person or any affair."

Xiahou Qi's heart shook.

Feng Xun's words responded to the question that Ye Ling Yue had earlier asked Xiahou Qi.

The same question, and Xiahou Qi's answer was that he couldn't forsake the throne, his queen mother, and those ministers behind him.

But Feng Xun's answer was starkly opposite.

No identity, no fiancée, no disputes; if he is to marry in this life, the bride will only be her.

But if not, he will remain wifeless for life.

This is not a declaration of everlasting vows, but rather his heartfelt words.

A single statement, yet it bore the weight of a lifetime.

On the nearby trees, some remnants of snow fell, landing on Xiahou Qi's face, bringing a slight chill that seeped into the depths of his heart.

Xiahou Qi suddenly felt that he might have already lost the best moment to win Ye Lingyue's heart.

Only because in answering her question, he had hesitated for a moment.

Helplessness and unwillingness stirred a sense of jealousy in Xiahou Qi towards Feng Xun.

Why should he feel jealous of a frail hostage prince born to deceased royal parents, when he himself was born to healthy parents and destined to ascend to the throne as Heaven's Chosen Son?

"Prince Feng, perhaps everything you said is true. But you've ultimately forgotten the most crucial point—you belong to the Beiqing Royal Family. If Emperor Beiqing were to learn of your true feelings, I fear you would have no choice but to return to Beiqing." Having exhausted all his maneuvers, the Sixth Prince could think of no one else but Emperor Beiqing to intimidate Feng Xun.

"Are you suggesting, Sixth Prince, that you wish to issue an eviction order on behalf of Emperor Xia? I would also remind you, that currently, you are merely a prince as well." Feng Xun's gaze swept sharply across before he raised his hand to brush the snow off his body.

The Sixth Prince's heart sank bit by bit.

He was a wise man, how could he not understand the implications in Feng Xun's words?

Well played, Feng Xun. He truly believed that as a hostage from an enemy nation, he could interfere with the succession rights of the Daxia throne.

A strong sense of offense arose, but before the Sixth Prince could speak again, Feng Xun had already turned around, leaving the Sixth Prince with a chilling silhouette.

Sword Slave remained standing in place, covered in a layer of snow, looking like an ugly snowman.

It was only when Feng Xun approached him that Sword Slave shook off the snow and bowed.

"Prince, the Sixth Prince is after all the heir apparent to the throne of Daxia…" Sword Slave rarely saw Feng Xun speak with such sharp rhetoric, but after all, the Sixth Prince had unwisely mentioned Emperor Beiqing and his fiancée.

If it weren't for Miss Ye, that person from Beiqing might have been worthy of the prince.

But now with Miss Ye in the picture, everything else seemed insignificant.

"If he performs his duties well, he may indeed become the future Emperor of Daxia. But if he fails to see reason, hmph, even the iron cavalry of Daxia won't be able to protect him," a flash of amber light darted through Feng Xun's eyes.

That sharpness deeply shocked Sword Slave.

Days ago, the prince suddenly returned to the Hot Spring Palace.

He bore severe wounds and, after a day of coma, woke up, but could not remember anything from the past month.

Yet since waking up this time, Sword Slave felt that the prince seemed different.

Like a treasure sword baring its edge after years concealed.

It was as if the prince, in speaking those words earlier, exuded a hint of bloodthirst.

All this seemed to stem from Miss Ye.

Sword Slave dared not think further. As a servant, he must keep to his role. He shrank his neck and followed Feng Xun, heading towards Xia Palace.

~ Additional chapters for 1200 and 1220 monthly tickets.

On a dark, windy night—no, rather, a night of romantic moonlight and flurrying snow.

Da Fu braved danger to visit Miss Feng.

Da Fu: Miss Feng, between sharp tongues and handsome men, which is truly your ultimate desire?

Miss Feng: Sword Slave, drag him out and behead him!