"What…?" Seeing the expectant look in Lang Huan's eyes, Feng Yao's expression went cold and indifferent. She shoved her away with both hands.
"Don't think I don't know what's going on. Where were you? Why wasn't I able to find you when I woke?" her voice sharpened, "Is it true? Is there another woman in your heart?"
Lang Huan froze, her lips pressed tightly together. I'm so stupid… How could it be Lang Ruhua? She's already dead and gone forever. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
The eldest princess must have already received a full report from her shadow guards about what had happened that night—the moment Lang Ruhua died. They had seen how Lang Huan had lost her composure. Now Feng Yao was only testing her.
Lang Huan's silence only fanned the storm in Feng Yao's chest. Fury darkened her eyes; her hands trembled.
"Wu Ming!" she called out sternly.
The door slid open at once. Wu Ming, flustered and pale, rushed into the inner chamber. Her steps were hurried and her head bowed as she braced for the storm about to break.
"Wu Ming," Feng Yao ordered coldly, "burn Lang Ruhua's body. Scatter the ashes where no one will ever find them. I want her gone... forever."
Lang Huan's eyes widened. "No!!" she choked, seizing Feng Yao's wrist in a desperate grip. For a brief, breathless moment their eyes locked.
"Let me go," Feng Yao gasped, the pain in her wrist sharp as she shoved at Lang Huan, but Lang Huan remained still.
Wu Ming unsheathed her sword. The blade gleamed in the dim light as she raised it defensively. "My lord, release Her Highness," she warned coldly, "or do not blame this sword if it strikes without mercy."
"She died because she saved your life… how could you do this?" Lang Huan's voice broke, trembling with fury as her grip on Feng Yao's wrist tightened even more. Her eyes burned with grief and anger. "You're really—" The words died in her throat, leaving only a heavy silence.
Feng Yao's face twisted, her features contorted with pain, pride, and defiance.
"Do you want to call me vicious? Ruthless?" she retorted, "Didn't you already know that from the beginning?"
"Do you regret it now?" Her chest rose and fell unsteadily, each word like a blade. "I never asked her to save me… I would rather have died."
Her free hand reached up toward the jeweled hairpin crowning her dark hair. Feng Yao pulled it free, and a cascade of black strands spilled down like a waterfall.
The sound of the hairpin slipping loose struck Lang Huan's heart like a dagger. Panic flooded her chest—she knew exactly what was about to happen.
Feng Yao's fingers clenched tightly around the hairpin, the sharp tip glinting faintly in the dim chamber light, as she raised it toward her own throat, her posture radiating defiance. "Do you think I fear death?" she hissed.
Lang Huan realized she had let her emotions run too far. The woman she loved had only just escaped the brink of death, and already her anger had boiled over. Regret welled up inside her. She sank to her knees, wrapping her arms tightly around Feng Yao's leg, pressing her forehead against her thigh.
Feng Yao, proud as ever, had long known that Lang Ruhua harbored feelings for Lang Huan. Yet she had been certain that little brat loved only her, until the moment she awoke from her coma and heard what Lang Huan had done.
It made her jealous and furious. Lang Ruhua had thrown away her life to save her. To accept such a sacrifice was more unbearable than death itself, for it chained her pride to a debt she could never repay.
"Your Highness… please don't…" Lang Huan's voice cracked, raw and desperate. "You know I can't live without you."
"As for Lang Ruhua, I only saw her as my master… and I felt guilt for what happened to her."
Her voice was low, each word chosen carefully, afraid that the slightest misstep might ignite the eldest princess's fury again.
Wu Ming stood silently at the side, sword still in hand. She had been dragged into witnessing the most private turmoil of her mistress. Her cheeks burned with shame; she wanted nothing more than to melt into the ground, to dig a hole into the earth and vanish from sight.
The eldest princess's expression softened as her gaze fell on Lang Huan, who remained kneeling. She gave Wu Ming a subtle signal to leave.
"Stand up. Do not kneel," she said.
Lang Huan only shook her head, quickly prying open Feng Yao's fingers to take the hairpin from her grasp.
Feng Yao touched her chin, tilting it gently so their eyes met. The fury that had burned just moments ago had already cooled. Her voice softened. "Be good… stand up, and speak properly."
Instead, the little brat wrapped her arms around her legs, clinging tightly. Feng Yao sighed, resting her palm on Lang Huan's shoulder. "Do you want me to be angry again?"
At the mere word angry, Lang Huan immediately scrambled to her feet. The eldest princess turned away and walked toward the couch. She sat down and patted the space beside her.
Head lowered, Lang Huan obeyed and sat quietly.
Feng Yao reached out once more, her fingers lifting Lang Huan's chin, tilting her head upward. "Look at me. Why do you only lower your head and stay silent? Weren't you so fierce toward me just now?"
"I'm sorry… that was my fault. But I… I didn't mean it." Lang Huan's voice grew smaller and smaller, swallowed by guilt.
Feng Yao's lips curved; she found it amusing. Her gaze softened as she leaned closer. "Then… do you love Lang Ruhua? Can you tell me what's in your heart?"
"I feel guilt… I was the one who insisted she save you, and yet I failed to protect her…"
The eldest princess was silent for a moment, turning the words over in her mind. The bitterness in her chest eased slightly; the girl's guilt felt genuine. At last, she gave a faint nod. "Mm…"
Instead of relief, Lang Huan slid back down to her knees. Feng Yao chuckled softly. "What else do you want this time?"
"I want to bring my master's ashes and place them in Ling Xiao Palace… could you grant me that?"
"Let Wu Ming take care of it for you. You are my consort, that is not something you need to worry about."
Though Lang Huan wanted to carry Lang Ruhua's ashes herself, she had no choice but to obey the eldest princess's command. She could see that Feng Yao was still angry, and pressing further now would only worsen it. She bowed her head in silence, planning to coax her later when the storm had passed.
Her fists clenched until her knuckles went white. Slowly she lifted her head, eyes blazing with hatred. "And I want Qiu Yue's life—she killed my master," she said.
Feng Yao sneered at the demand. "For that woman you would even kneel and beg me? It's hard not to believe you had feelings for her."
Lang Huan reached out, holding Feng Yao's hand tightly. "Your Highness…" she pleaded.
Feng Yao arched a brow. "It would be easy for me to give you Qiu Yue's life, but I will not grant it without reason. I do not believe she was the murderer."
Seeing the unease clouding Lang Huan's eyes, the eldest princess's expression turned cold. "You don't trust my judgment?"
"I dare not," she admitted, the words tasting like defeat. Inside, she was angry and afraid Feng Yao would protect her favored guard.
"Since Lang Ruhua was my savior, I promise you, before we return to Luo City, the murderer will be caught. Consider it repaying her kindness." She let the words hang for a beat, then added with quiet finality, "After that, you are not allowed to think of her anymore."
Her gaze softened ever so slightly. Reaching out, she tapped Lang Huan's forehead, a gesture both tender and possessive.