Chapter 046: Mother, Oh No, You Have a Rival in Love

Yun Feiyue blew her whistle.

A sharp note pierced the air, but there was no response from the Yan Yang Pavilion.

With a sigh, she tossed the whistle aside and exchanged a helpless glance with Xiao Mumu. It seemed that relying on others was futile—when push came to shove, one could only depend on oneself.

Half the time it takes for an incense stick to burn later, a soul-rending scream echoed from the Feihua Pavilion.

The shriek broke through the clouds, startling a flock of birds at leisure, sending them fluttering away in all directions.

The Yun family’s guards burst into the room in panic, only to find Yun Feiyue collapsed on the ground, her crimson dress soaked in dark red, the floor awash in vivid scarlet—was it blood?

“Young Miss, Young Miss…” The guards hurried to her side.

Tears streamed down Xiao Mumu’s face like a torrent, “Mother, Mother…”

“Imperial physician! Fetch the imperial physician!” The guards spun about in disarray.

“Young Master, what exactly happened just now?” Yun Dao eyed Yun Feiyue and Xiao Mumu suspiciously.

He knew these two best—how could they be so easily brought down? And judging by their personalities, if Yun Feiyue had truly been beaten like this, Xiao Mumu would not be sitting there weeping.

Sensing Yun Dao’s suspicious gaze, Xiao Mumu turned and glared at him fiercely. If he dared expose them, he’d be finished!

Sure enough, Yun Dao shrank his neck, deciding self-preservation came first.

“Ahem, I’ll go fetch the imperial physician.” Finding his excuse, Yun Dao slipped away, lest blame fall on him later without cause.

Yun Feiyue was quickly surrounded by guards. Xiao Mumu obediently slipped to the side, waiting for his mother to unleash her next move.

Suddenly, a burst of fire erupted within the room, sending the guards flying. In almost the same instant, a red figure, clutching a small bundle, shot out from the Feihua Pavilion.

“This is bad, the eldest miss has escaped!”

“Report to the madam, quickly!”

...

Yun Feiyue dashed out of the Feihua Pavilion, leapt onto a carriage, and sped straight toward the palace. Along the way, a trail of scarlet fluttered in her wake, like a blooming, bewitching spider lily, lavishly unfurling beneath the sunlight.

Within the palace, the doors of the Longhua Hall were tightly shut. Yun Feiyue pulled her steed to a halt before them, frowning at the closed entrance.

Where on earth is Beichen Yi?

“Little Bean, get out here!”

At her shout, a boy hiding in the shadows emerged with a sheepish smile, terror still flickering in his eyes.

“Miss Feiyue, what brings you here?”

“Where is Beichen Yi?”

Little Bean lowered his gaze, pondering for a moment before replying in a trembling voice, “His Highness is in the study, discussing something with Grand Tutor Yun. I’m not sure what it is.”

“Hyah!” With a crack of the whip, she galloped straight for the study.

A gentle scent of peonies drifted from the grand study, a few maids stood at the entrance—everything appeared normal.

She dismounted and entered the study.

Suddenly, a man dressed in black stepped out, his smile strange and unsettling. “His Majesty is discussing matters of state with the Grand Tutor. Miss Yun, you must not enter.”

“What matter of state requires such a long discussion?” Yun Feiyue retorted coldly, not pausing her advance.

The man in black stretched out his arms, blocking her path. “If you insist, Miss Feiyue, don’t blame me for being discourteous.”

“My, the palace guards grow bolder by the day. Unafraid of death? Then—come at me!” Yun Feiyue’s temper flared, and she cared for nothing else.

As soon as she finished speaking, the sound of the Soul-Capturing Bell rang out, its eerie tones mingling with Yun Feiyue’s inner force. The man in black hastily retreated.

With a cold laugh, Yun Feiyue scooped up Xiao Mumu and burst into the study.

From within came the languid voice of a man, “Sister Yue, is that you? Come in!”

His pallid face was lit with a brilliant smile, like a poisonous flower blooming unawares. Beside him sat the old man, ever inscrutable.

Seeing Yun Kuang unharmed, Yun Feiyue relaxed. Indeed, Beichen Yi had not yet reached the point of turning against the Yun family.

“Sister Yue, were you worried I might harm Grandfather? Rest assured—I’m not that foolish. The Gongsun and Nangong clans both covet my throne. I truly am worried. So, Grandfather and I were just discussing countermeasures.”

Yun Feiyue glanced at Yun Kuang. On the surface, nothing seemed amiss, but it could not have been good news, for Yun Kuang’s beard drooped—a sure sign of his displeasure.

“What countermeasures? It's impossible to destroy those two ancient families now. Unless—by annihilation.”

Both the Gongsun and Nangong families were colossal clans; wiping them out would not be easy.

Beichen Yi alone could never destroy them. If he tried to confront them head-on, he would surely perish.

If the Yun family became involved, Beichen Yi’s chances might improve, but the Yun family would suffer greatly. In the current climate, perhaps the Yun family would have no choice but to make a move.

“You’ve decided to strike at the Gongsun and Nangong clans?”

“Hush…” Beichen Yi gestured for silence, pointing at the wall. “Walls have ears. Sister Yue, don’t think me ruthless—it’s just that the situation leaves me no choice. I have no desire to be anyone’s puppet.”

The struggle for the throne had always been brutal, and imperial families, by nature, were heartless.

A while later, Gongsun Ziyan came for an audience. Naturally, to avoid offending the Gongsun clan, Beichen Yi would have her admitted.

“In that case, I’ll take my leave. You two can catch up.”

Yun Feiyue and Yun Kuang left by carriage. On the way, Yun Kuang could finally hold back no longer. “Yue’er, in a few days, you must go.”

“You’re planning to strike at the Gongsun and Nangong clans? Do we have enough troops?” Yun Feiyue asked, worried.

Yun Kuang nodded. “This is a rare opportunity. Beichen Yi will order the newly risen experts of both clans to participate in the Tianwu Ranking tournament. If all goes well, neither family should have any top masters left at home, which will make things easier to resolve. On my end, I need an expert in poisons. Since Xiao Mumu is choosing a master soon, let’s use that occasion to find one.”

Yun Feiyue nodded thoughtfully. So that was the plan—very well, there was no problem with it.

Two days later, the competition to choose Xiao Mumu’s master would be held. Yun Kuang remained out of sight these days, while Princess Ye Qi and Jun Shaomo, sensing the shifting tides in Chu, departed in turn, agreeing to meet again during the Tianwu Ranking.

After that fifteenth day, Lord Shen Yin had not appeared again.

Yun Feiyue yawned, gazing at the Yan Yang Pavilion. That fellow was truly rude—leaving without so much as a word!

“Mother, look! Isn’t that Brother Iceberg?” Xiao Mumu pointed toward the garden of the Yan Yang Pavilion with one hand, clutching Yun Feiyue’s sleeve with the other. “And he’s with a woman! Mother, oh no, you’ve got a rival!”

Damn it, bringing another woman openly into the Yun residence! Was he trying to turn the world upside down?

How could she let someone else taste the delicacy she hadn’t even sampled herself?