The person in his heart remained her, and only her.
This matter had originally been beyond question.
Feng Yexuan knew very well that the woman at the very center of his heart was Feng Ling.
Every night, when he awoke from his dreams, the face he saw was hers, the woman he had sworn with his life to protect.
But now, she insisted he speak it aloud, yet for some reason, he suddenly didn't want to.
He pursed his lips, remaining silent.
A wave of unease and fear washed over Feng Ling.
"Yexuan..."
"It's late. This King will escort you back to rest."
"Yexuan!" He was evading her question!
Feng Ling's unease grew heavier!
Feng Xi had not yet arrived, and Hua Rong's blood from the Silkworm was still en route. She couldn't deepen theθ poison within Feng Yexuan at this moment.
Yet, he was already showing signs of waking up.
If she didn't deepen his hypnosis soon, the face in his heart would revert back to Chu Qianli's!
She was truly panicked.
All the tenderness Feng Yexuan now showed her was what he had originally intended for Chu Qianli.
Others might not know, perhaps even Chu Qianli herself didn't, but she knew clearly.
If she hadn't used the combined power of the θ poison and hypnosis to forcefully implant her own image into his mind, how could he have shown her even a shred of affection?
Where exactly was Feng Xi now? How much longer would it take for her to arrive?
"Yexuan, you must be tired after a day of work outside. How about I play some music to help you sleep?"
Playing music to help him sleep... this was a matter that seemed so distant for Feng Yexuan.
In just two days, it was as if it had ceased to exist.
"This King feels quite well today and does not require..."
"I feel guilty to death that I couldn't help with any of the matters outside due to my poor health."
Feng Ling tightly gripped his slightly resistant hand, her gaze firm, filled with sincere pleading.
"Yexuan, just let me play music to help you sleep so you can rest well. You have to go out and serve the people tomorrow."
Feng Yexuan moved his lips, intending to say that he wanted to go and serve the people right now.
There was still much work waiting to be done in that dead woman's room.
Xi had his own matters and couldn't stay in her room to help for long.
After he left, that dead woman would surely have to stay up alone until dawn.
He really wanted to go back and help.
But, Feng Ling...
"Will you? Yexuan, let me play a tune for you so you can rest well. Consider it my contribution to the people, okay?"
He still didn't speak.
Finally, Feng Ling changed her approach: "Once you fall asleep, I'll go back to rest. Alright?"
"Alright." Feng Yexuan no longer refused. Without even taking off his outer robe, he lay down directly on the bed.
A hint of darkness flickered in Feng Ling's eyes.
Did he intend to pretend to be asleep so she would leave quickly, and he could go find Chu Qianli?
How much did he want to escape her entanglement?
Despite her inner resentment, Feng Ling's face remained one of gentleness.
Especially her gaze towards him, which was as soft as flowing water.
Feng Yexuan, however, chose to close his eyes.
For some reason, he didn't want to meet her gaze at all.
He didn't want to be an ungrateful man, but why did he feel no happiness when he was with her?
His head began to ache faintly, and gradually, it returned to the excruciating pain of before.
"Does it hurt a lot?"
Feng Ling, at some point, stood by the bedside, holding her jade flute:
"It's alright, Yexuan. Listen to my tune, and the pain will soon subside. Soon, you won't be lost in thought anymore!"