The Affection of Feng Kingdom

Xianyue smiled gently, gazing at Feng Jiulan. It seemed that she could not conceal anything from her brother. Raising an eyebrow, she hesitated, uncertain of how to begin. 

Feng Jiulan, assuming her silence stemmed from reluctance to speak, noted her demeanor and recognized that the matter was significant. "Qinghen, I wish to speak with the princess privately," he stated. 

Once Yun Qinghen departed, only Xianyue and Feng Jiulan remained in the Snow Mulberry Palace. Feng Jiulan remained silent, refraining from urging her to speak, and simply observed her quietly. 

Xianyue, too, kept her silence, pondering how to broach the subject with Feng Jiulan. After a moment, she turned to him with a smile. "Brother, the hairpin gifted to me is identical to the one Lan Yixuan sent, but it is not the same as the one he presented before." 

Just like the woman named Lan Ying, despite their resemblance, they were not the same person. 

Feng Jiulan replied with a noncommittal sound, not interrupting, and waited patiently for her to continue. 

"The hairpin was given to me by Young Master Lan in Ancheng. Subsequently, we traveled to Yanjing," she continued. "You are aware of the coup in Yanjing; it was orchestrated by Young Master Lan himself. During the Prince's birthday banquet, an assassination attempt occurred, and I felt that Lan Yixuan was exploiting me, which led to our separation. Before I left, I returned the hairpin to him." 

To others, it might appear to be merely a delicately crafted, inexpensive hairpin, but it was the first gift she had ever received. For someone as remarkable as Lan Yixuan, she had always believed it difficult for anyone to remain unaffected by his charm. She, too, was not immune to it, but her feelings were entirely governed by reason. Hence, she resolutely chose to leave and return the gift. 

"Due to the altercation at the banquet, the hairpin had become stained with blood." 

However, the hairpin Lan Ying had just delivered bore no trace of blood, indicating it was not the one Lan Yixuan had previously given her. If it did not originate from him, it must belong to another—Queen Gong Shaohua of the Lan Kingdom, a woman indeed formidable enough to be intimately aware of such a seemingly insignificant item. 

"That hairpin did not have any." 

Feng Jiulan fixed his gaze on Xianyue with conviction. Upon first seeing Lan Ying, he had felt a flicker of unhappiness, but it quickly dissipated. His attention remained on Xianyue; when he first saw the hairpin, her initial joy was evident, yet her expression soon shifted, even if only slightly. He noticed the change before she masked it. 

Over this period, he could distinctly sense her feelings for Lan Yixuan. She had insisted she would not compete with him for her heart, but her numerous actions were all intended to create a stable and peaceful Feng Kingdom for herself. He believed his Yue'er was not one to covet wealth. He trusted that she had her reasons for acting as she did and was willing to support her choices. 

Xianyue nodded, leaning closer to Feng Jiulan. "Brother, the current queen of the Lan Kingdom is not Lan Yixuan's biological mother." 

Feng Jiulan's eyes widened, clearly taken aback. Although the ruler of the Lan Kingdom lacked the deep affection of their father, compared to other monarchs, he was certainly not known for frivolity. Despite having a harem of three thousand beauties, the queen had maintained her singular prominence for decades, enjoying the highest esteem among the people. She had borne only Lan Yixuan over the years, which was precisely why he had been made crown prince at birth, cherished by the Lan King, and held a status unmatched by other princes and princesses. 

Xianyue found his reaction unsurprising. When she first heard the news, she too had been shocked. Just how powerful was that woman to instill no suspicion among those around her and build a reputation rivaling that of the Lan King in the public eye? 

"When Lan Yixuan and I fell into the Valley of Death, he personally told me that his biological mother had long since passed away, killed by the current queen of the Lan Kingdom. The present queen is Lan Yixuan's aunt; she grew up alongside Lan Yixuan's mother, constantly competing with her sister but always losing. Both fell in love with the master of Xueyu Palace—Xuelan fell for Lan Yixuan's mother, yet, out of sisterly loyalty, she chose to leave Xueyu Palace. She later met the king of the Lan Kingdom, but even so, Gong Shaohua could not win the love of Xuelan, which fostered a deep-seated hatred towards her sister. I do not know what means she employed, but she managed to cause the death of Lan Yixuan's mother and eventually became the master of Xueyu Palace." 

Such a secret undoubtedly qualified as a state secret for the Lan Kingdom, which Feng Jiulan was completely unaware of. 

"After Lan Yixuan's mother died, all her hatred was directed at him. He left the Lan Kingdom at a young age, and whatever Lan Yixuan coveted, she would stop at nothing to destroy." 

Upon hearing this, Feng Jiulan furrowed his brow, concern beginning to take root in his heart. 

"This time, Lan Ying must have been sent by Gong Shaohua. If she desires me to marry Lan Yixuan, it implies—" 

Xianyue trailed off. Did this mean Lan Yixuan did not wish to marry her? She had returned to the Feng Kingdom for several months now, yet he had not sent her even a word. While she was busy with matters of the Feng Kingdom, she had not devoted much time to contemplation, but the more she pondered, the more suspicious it became. 

"Yue'er." 

Feng Jiulan gazed intently at Xianyue, firmly grasping her hand, hesitant to speak. He trusted Lan Yixuan, yet he worried for Xianyue. If possible, he wished to shield her from marrying into such a perilous situation. After all, that woman was no ordinary character, and he could not be by Yue'er's side at all times, leaving him uneasy. 

Yet he understood that Yue'er desired to go. She was wise and rational, and the fact that she and Lan Yixuan had come this far was no small feat. He could not let her regret her decision in the future; though he would not voice it, he felt some blame for himself. 

"Brother." 

Xianyue pulled her hand from Feng Jiulan's grasp, gently patting the back of his hand with a smile, her face resolute. Feng Jiulan sighed softly. "Yue'er, no matter where you are, my greatest wish is for your safety. While I naturally hope you do not venture into the dangers of the Lan Kingdom, I will respect your decision, whatever it may be, as long as you are well." 

Xianyue looked at Feng Jiulan, sniffing back her tears, and nodded. "I understand, brother. I will be well. I trust Young Master Lan; I love him because he is worthy. He has sacrificed his life for me several times, and now that we have finally confirmed our feelings for each other, I do not understand why Gong Shaohua wants me to marry into the Lan Kingdom or what schemes she may have. I do not wish to be like an ostrich, retreating in the face of minor setbacks. I will marry into the Lan Kingdom and stand by Lan Yixuan's side, resolutely overcoming all obstacles with him." 

As for Gong Shaohua's actions, Lan Yixuan could not possibly be unaware. Regardless of the reasons that led him to change his initial decision, he must still want to be with her; otherwise, he would not have kept her in the dark. Just like her, he must yearn for a life of freedom, fully aware that once she married into the Lan Kingdom, such a life would be forfeited. The warnings from Liu Xinyou and Jun Pinyu still echoed in her mind, yet she refused to give up, yearning to be with the one she loved, to fight for her own happiness. Her expression was earnest, her words sincere, tinged with a hint of playfulness, her excitement rendering her voice slightly choked. 

"But brother, I will never forget that I am the princess of the Feng Kingdom. I will endure hardships alongside Lan Yixuan and stand with the people of the Feng Kingdom. If the queen wishes me to marry Lan Yixuan, she will not easily relinquish any requests I make. We shall simply wait to receive our gifts; after all, I am the princess of the Feng Kingdom, and a generous betrothal gift is essential. So we shall wait." 

Feng Jiulan stared intently at Xianyue for a long moment, then reiterated, "Brother supports you. Whatever decision you make, brother will support you. The gates of the Feng Kingdom will always be open to you, and so will my embrace. Whenever you feel weary, just return. I will always be here, waiting for you." 

"Brother." 

Xianyue hastily wiped away the tears from her face, suddenly bursting into laughter as she wrapped her arms around Feng Jiulan's waist, drawing close to his embrace. "Brother." 

"Mm." 

"Brother." 

"Mm." 

… 

Then, nestled in his arms, she nuzzled against him and laughed joyfully, much like when she was a child. She called out to him repeatedly, and he responded just as often, delighting in their exchange until they both erupted in laughter. 

In Feng Jiulan's eyes, she would forever remain that little girl who loved to cling to him, while he was merely the brother she wished to protect—a role he had never wavered from. 

Xianyue held onto Feng Jiulan tightly, feeling at that moment a profound sense of gratitude and fortune for having such a brother. No matter what challenges the future held, she knew she had the support of Fengguo, with someone who would always be waiting for her. What was there to fear? She, Feng Xianyue, would never be left with nothing. She trusted Lan Yixuan, believing he would never betray or harm her; that alone was more than enough. 

"Brother, there's no need to worry about me. I trust Lan Yixuan, but even more so, I trust myself to protect what is dear to me." 

Xianyue looked up at Feng Jiulan, then suddenly stood up. "Brother, I want to take you to a place."