Chapter 33: The Unwitting Sucker, Mo Qingcheng

Chapter 33: The Unwitting Sucker, Mo Qingcheng

Feng Xiyao felt a warm sensation all around her, and the once-heavy eyelids now lifted gradually.

Scanning her surroundings, she saw a foggy landscape that seemed vaguely familiar. A steady flow of warmth continued to penetrate her body from behind.

Feeling her stir, Mo Cangyan's grip on her tightened.

"..."

Feng Xiyao could sense someone holding her from behind. The man's hot, muscular chest rose and fell rhythmically. She cautiously lowered her head for a glance, blushing before retracting her gaze.

"Wake up!"

Mo Cangyan's voice was slightly hoarse.

Feng Xiyao couldn't pretend to be asleep anymore. Attempting to shift away gently, she found that the man behind her had no intention of releasing her.

"Don't move. There's still coldness in your body. You need to soak for longer!" As he spoke, he channeled more inner strength into her body.

Their first such intimate proximity found Feng Xiyao nestled in Mo Cangyan's embrace, her gaze effortlessly landing on the chiseled contours of his jawline.

Mo Cangyan lowered his eyes, their lips mere inches apart, a mere fraction closer and they would meet.

"..."

Feng Xiyao, petite in his arms, gazed at his rosy, slender lips, swallowing audibly.

"My God, why do I have the urge to kiss this tyrant?!"

With that thought, she hurriedly averted her gaze, disciplining herself not to indulge in such fantasies.

Listening to her unspoken thoughts, Mo Cangyan's gaze fell upon her gently pursed lips. Recalling the softness he had felt when feeding her medicine, his expression darkened subtly.

His eyes then wandered over her bare, flawless body. Perhaps from soaking for too long, her skin had taken on a delicate pink hue. Looking downward, the water in the hot spring reached up to her chest, veiling her ample peaks amidst the swirling steam...

Observing this, Mo Cangyan felt a constriction in his throat, a warm current coursing through him towards his lower abdomen...

Feng Xiyao, weakened by her condition, drifted back into sleep after a brief moment of wakefulness, oblivious to the changes in the man's body.

Choosing a Date

When Feng Xiyao finally regained full consciousness, it was almost time for the New Year celebrations. Consort Li had not only lost her authority to assist in managing the six imperial palaces but was also placed under house arrest.

Upon hearing this news, Feng Xiyao didn't feel overly joyous. She had endured so much suffering, and it wasn't because she wanted to see Consort Li punished. It was all just a coincidence!

Recalling that there was another person involved in the incident, Feng Xiyao narrowed her eyes.

She had seen everything clearly back then. It was Kong Xue'er who had pushed Consort Li, causing her to collide with Feng Xiyao and send them both into the lake.

At the thought of this, she took a deep breath.

"I thought she was a harmless little lamb, but turns out she's a cunning manipulator!"

Mo Cangyan arrived at Fengchun Palace and immediately reached out to touch Feng Xiyao's forehead, reassured when he found her to be well.

Spotting the woman trailing behind him, Feng Xiyao's smiling eyes flashed with a hint of cunning as she gently held Mo Cangyan's hand that was caressing her.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern these past few days. Otherwise, I wouldn't have recovered so swiftly!"

Feeling her soft hand kneading his own, Mo Cangyan noticed her gaze wandering intentionally or unintentionally behind them. He turned his hand to grasp hers, enfolding it within.

"I mean it, you need to be more cautious from now on. Otherwise, I'll be worried if anything were to happen to you!"

Feng Xiyao's ears tinged with red as she heard him say this for the first time.

Kong Xue'er, not wanting to witness any further display of affection between the two, bowed respectfully to them.

"Your servant takes her leave!" Then, she turned and left.

As soon as Kong Xue'er was out of sight, Feng Xiyao promptly released Mo Cangyan's hand, her eyes intently following the retreating figure of Kong Xue'er.

Mo Cangyan clenched his now empty hand and brought it back to rest on his body.

"Empress, this incident is also connected to Kong Xue'er!" Feng Xiyao turned to look at the man behind her.

"I'm aware."

Although Mo Cangyan had been listening to Qin Fang, his eyes had remained fixed on Feng Xiyao. He had noticed Kong Xue'er's subtle gestures.

Observing Feng Xiyao's puzzled expression, he stepped forward and sat down at the table. "It's not the right time to act against her yet!"

Seeing that she was about to say more, he interrupted her, "Come help me grind ink. I've fallen behind on quite a few reports these past few days."

"..."

Before they knew it, the New Year arrived. The palace began to illuminate with lanterns and decorations. The Empress Dowager disliked too much noise, but the Southern Peace Prince arrived with his wife to pay their respects.

Accompanying them was a charming young lady, around fourteen or fifteen years old, who affectionately nestled in the Empress Dowager's arms.

When Feng Xiyao and Mo Cangyan arrived at Shoukang Palace, the girl lifted her head from the Empress Dowager's embrace upon seeing them.

"Hello, Imperial Brother!"

Mo Cangyan rarely displayed a gentle side; he smiled at the girl.

"You finally decided to come back!"

Mo Qingcheng tugged at his sleeve with an innocent smile. "Of course! I miss Mother!"

Feng Xiyao sized up the person behind her, only recalling her identity when she addressed the Empress Dowager as her mother.

Mo Qingcheng glanced at Feng Xiyao beside her and approached to give her a few disdainful looks.

"Eldest Imperial Brother, I've heard that Cousin has been imprisoned!" Pausing here, she continued, "Don't be deceived by anyone. Cousin adores you so much; no one else can just come along and snatch her away!"

Feng Xiyao, knowing the remarks were aimed at her, nonchalantly pursed her lips.

"Qingcheng, why haven't you paid your respects to Imperial Sister-in-Law?" Mo Lingyun spoke from the side.

"This must be the unfortunate Mo Qingcheng! So devoted to that ungrateful Li Chuang, only to realize that what she thought was love at first sight was merely a carefully plotted scheme!"

Upon hearing this, Mo Qingcheng turned to Feng Xiyao, confusion in her eyes. "You dare to insult me?"

Feng Xiyao raised an eyebrow. "Princess, I didn't say anything!"

Confused, Mo Qingcheng looked around but heard no voices.

Just as she began to doubt if she had misheard, the voice rang out again.

"Fool, who else could it be but you? Back then, Li Chuang schemed to get close to you by staging a heroic rescue. Ever since you fell for him at first sight and brought him into the palace, he's been constantly by your side."

"Later, you married Li Chuang, and the Li family gained a firm footing in Great Xia, even becoming a noble household in Shang Jing. Li Chuang, once a mere guard, ascended to the position of Commander of the Imperial Guards. Yet, what you didn't know was that Li Chuang not only used you but had long been secretly involved with another woman behind your back – that woman was none other than your close friend, Chen Wanru."

"After their marriage, they continued their affair behind your back and secretly had a child together. To ensure their child could grow up unharmed, they conspired to smother the child you had with great effort and replaced it with Chen Wanru's child, all while you, unsuspecting, foolishly cared for their offspring as if it were your own treasure."

You are even less aware that Li Chuang's approach to you was motivated by a desire for revenge. His father served as Deputy General to General Qin, who, many years ago, due to intoxication, neglected his duties and caused the deaths and injuries of over a hundred soldiers. Fearing that his actions would bring calamity upon his family, he took it upon himself to apologize and ended his own life.

"Yet, Li Chuang held a grudge all along, striving to get close to you, awaiting his chance for revenge. Upon learning the original male lead's intention to annihilate the Great Xia, he unhesitantly aligned with him. It was Lin Ling who secretly stole the military seal and handed it over to him, enabling him to open the gates of the Great Xia."

"Li Chuang, leveraging his military power, lent a crucial hand to the original male lead, becoming a great hero of the Arrogant Dragon Country. In the end, he and his family lived together in harmony."

"Yet, you, along with your imperial brother and mother, had your heads severed. Your family's corpses were displayed on the city walls, subjected to the disdain of the people!"