Ye Qingying's current look of despair made even Yu Xing feel a strange pang of pity.
However, their Prince was never one to be soft-hearted.
Seeing Ye Qingying like this, Feng Yexuan let out a cold laugh, disdainful, "Heh, if you're just a good-for-nothing, why would this Prince bother killing you and dirtying his hands?"
Ye Qingying remained unresponsive, his palm clenching tighter.
"This Prince never pities those who wallow in self-pity. The only reason I'm keeping you alive is because I might need to use you in the future."
Feng Yexuan suddenly tightened his grip, and with a swift motion, he yanked the necklace from Ye Qingying's neck.
"You!" Ye Qingying's entire body tensed with rage.
That was the necklace Xiao Yao had given him. It contained medicine, which she had told him to apply to his face, claiming it could heal his facial scars.
But he hadn't used it at all during this period.
He had saved the medicine.
He couldn't bear to damage any part of the chain, including the pendant that held the medicine!
This damned Feng Yexuan had actually ripped it off!
"Is it very important?" Feng Yexuan looked coldly at the chain in his hand.
From a glance, it was clear it was something a young lady would possess.
"She gave it to you?" His eyes darkened slightly, a mixture of anger and petulance.
He wished he could crush the pendant right then and there!
"It's none of your business!" Ye Qingying gritted out.
"Hmph!" Feng Yexuan snorted coldly again and turned to leave.
Behind him, only his icy words remained: "You can't even protect the woman you care about, you're worse than a good-for-nothing!"
And so he left.
The moment the stone door closed, Yu Xing let out a heavy sigh of relief.
He had truly been worried that the Prince, provoked by Jian Wuying, might have struck and killed him in a fit of anger.
Ye Qingying remained lying on the stone bed, gazing at the cold stone door, his clenched fist bulging with veins.
Feng Yexuan was right; he couldn't even protect the woman he cared about.
What was the meaning of his existence?
"Actually, the Prince was just encouraging you to live. His true intention wasn't to scold you."
Yu Xing sighed silently, gaining a deeper understanding of his Prince.
"Our Prince is busy with important matters; he wouldn't waste time on unnecessary words."
Ye Qingying said nothing, only a hint of darkness flickering in his eyes.
Yu Xing continued, "Of course, the reason our Prince wants you to live isn't for your sake. He simply doesn't want Miss Xiao Yao to be sad."
At least, until Miss Xiao Yao remembered she was Li'er, Jian Wuying was likely the closest person to her.
If Jian Wuying died, it was uncertain whether Xiao Yao would fight the Prince.
At that point, it would be difficult for the Prince to restrain a woman driven mad with grief.
"Do you really want Miss Xiao Yao to fight the Prince for you? You know very well that Miss Xiao Yao is no match for the Prince."
Ye Qingying's fingers continued to clench.
Yu Xing added, "Even if the Prince is reluctant to harm her, if she were to go berserk and fight desperately, do you think the people around the Prince would allow her to actually injure him?"
"The Prince's noble body must not be harmed, so it is your disciple Xiao Yao who will be harmed, do you understand?"
"You don't need to say more." Ye Qingying closed his eyes, and his clenched fist finally, slowly, relaxed.
"She needs me to live, and I will strive to live! Go back and tell your Prince that as long as Xiao Yao doesn't genuinely stay by his side, one day, I will take her away, and Feng Yexuan will never find her!"
...
"Master!" Xiao Yao's eyes snapped open.
As she tried to get up, she found her entire body aching.
Her body felt as if it had been run over by a cart; there wasn't a single part of her that was intact.
Her legs, in particular, were sore and extremely uncomfortable.
The memories of last night flooded back in an instant. Xiao Yao's heart ached, and a wave of weakness washed over her, causing her to collapse softly back onto the bed.
She really had been… by that scoundrel… She was no longer the simple Xiao Yao who could follow her Master wholeheartedly…