Chu Qianli returned to Qianyun Pavilion, encountering no further obstacles along the way.
Just as she reached the entrance of Qianyun Pavilion and was about to enter, the sound of hooves suddenly came from behind her.
Before she could turn to get a clear look, a cold wind struck her.
Chu Qianli immediately felt her waist tighten, and then, she was lifted into the air, carried by the wind.
Smelling the familiar scent, she stopped struggling, her mind filled with questions.
"Your Highness, where are you taking me?"
"Tonight is Prince Yu's birthday banquet."
"You're taking me to the banquet?" Chu Qianli was astonished.
The horse's speed slowed. Chu Qianli looked down at herself, feeling a pang of unease.
"I'm dressed like this..."
"No matter how good you look, they won't welcome you," Feng Yexuan huffed, his expressionless face unreadable.
Chu Qianli's brows furrowed slightly. She looked up and glared at him, but she had no words to retort.
It was true; those princesses and royal consorts would likely not like her.
"Since you know they all hate me, why bring me?" she asked, a hint of resentment in her voice.
She truly disliked such banquets.
It was either women vying for attention or men flattering each other to gain personal advantage.
In the end, there were few genuine hearts, and everyone wore a mask.
Feng Yexuan glanced down at her and sneered, "I'm happy."
Chu Qianli pursed her lips and fell silent.
Fine, as long as he was happy, who was she to question the high and mighty Prince Xuan?
"What? Not talking, pretending to be mute?" Her silence seemed to displease Feng Yexuan.
From their meeting at Qianyun Pavilion yesterday until now, he still felt that this woman was definitely acting.
But he hadn't yet figured out what scheme she was trying to pull.
"Whatever Your Highness wants me to say, I will say," Chu Qianli replied with little interest.
But she was truly not as stubborn and proud as before. Was she willing to humble herself?
"I don't want to hear your voice."
"Alright." She immediately closed her mouth, acting very obediently.
Feng Yexuan was inwardly furious. Did this woman truly have no pride left?
"I want to hear you sing. Sing for me now!" He didn't believe she could endure this forever!
Chu Qianli lowered her head, hesitated for a moment, and then began to sing:
"When will the bright moon appear? I raise my wine to ask the blue sky. I do not know in the celestial palaces, what year it is tonight (excerpt from 'Shui Diao Ge Tou')..."
Feng Yexuan had initially intended to humiliate her.
He had even planned to immediately scold her for singing badly and order her to shut up if she actually started singing.
But he hadn't expected her singing to be not bad at all.
Not only was it not bad, it was actually quite pleasant to listen to.
It sounded like a gentle spring breeze blowing past her ears.
Then, it swept through her heart.
Soft and soothing, refreshing.
His gloomy mood of many days suddenly felt a trace of relaxation.
The sky, obscured by haze, also seemed to gain a hint of light.
"When will the bright moon appear? I raise my wine to ask the blue sky.
I do not know in the celestial palaces, what year it is tonight..."
The singing stopped at the gates of Prince Yu's mansion.
Leng Ji, driving a carriage, arrived from behind.
Seeing the Prince stop, Leng Ji said, "Your Highness, Miss Li's clothes are in the carriage."
Chu Qianli looked up at him. "Do you want me to get dressed?"
Feng Yexuan remained silent, his gaze fixed on her small, delicate face, and her eyes, which were still as bright and alluring as ever, but clearly lacked their usual sharp edge.
Was she acting in front of him, or had the death of Qian'er truly disheartened her to this extent?
Was it worth it?
She couldn't be someone who was so easily defeated.
Most likely, she was still acting!
The tenderness in Feng Yexuan's eyes instantly turned cold. He casually tossed her off the horse.
"Clean yourself up, you're filthy!"
Chu Qianli paid no mind to his sarcasm and walked to the carriage behind, casting a glance at Leng Ji.
Leng Ji quickly said, "Don't worry, Miss, I'll guard it for you."
But as soon as Leng Ji finished speaking, that cold, decisive voice was already close by: "Scram!"
Leng Ji was startled and quickly dismounted from the driver's seat, saying in a low voice, "Your, Your Highness, then, then please guard it. I'll lead the horse for you."
Feng Yexuan said nothing, simply swung his long legs over and sat in the position Leng Ji had just vacated.
Chu Qianli said nothing more, leaning on the edge of the carriage and climbing up.
Only after seeing the clean and fresh dress inside the carriage did she let out a sigh of relief.
She had been afraid they would prepare a flamboyant formal gown for her.
Without Qian'er by her side, such a formal gown would be too difficult for her to manage alone, too cumbersome and complicated.
Not long after, the carriage curtain was lifted from the inside, and Chu Qianli emerged.
As Feng Yexuan turned his head, whether it was due to a gust of evening wind or something else, his vision became somewhat hazy.
His gaze was locked onto her, unable to move for a moment.
The simple yet absolutely not plain dress she wore was neither vulgar nor dull, neither ornate nor bland.
A touch more would make it gaudy, a touch less would make it tasteless. It wasn't just the dress that was perfect, but the person as well.
In short, it was just right.
Especially her long hair, now lightly pinned up at the back of her head, loosely tied, inexplicably adding a touch of gentle tranquility she didn't normally possess.
As she stepped down from the carriage, two strands of hair by her ears gently brushed her face in the wind, lending her stunning face an ethereal, misty beauty.
Unspeakably beautiful.
Feng Yexuan's heart was struck with a jolt.
Watching her step down beside him, his fingers gripping the reins tightened unconsciously.
He desperately wanted to push her back into the carriage and see if her body, clad in the elegant and simple dress, was as fair and beautiful as her face!
"Your Highness..." Leng Ji watched from afar, feeling as if he were seeing a fairy, his eyes filled with a refreshing sight.
However, knowing that she was the Prince's woman, no matter how beautiful, Leng Ji dared not think too much.
But seeing the Prince staring intently at Miss Li with an unfathomable, deep, dark gaze, Leng Ji felt it necessary to remind him.
"Prince Yu's mansion staff have come to welcome Your Highness."
Prince Yu's birthday banquet meant that people would naturally be busy in the mansion.
The one who emerged was the butler of Prince Yu's mansion.
Feng Yexuan's gaze retracted stiffly.
As he dismounted from the carriage, his aura instantly became indescribably cold.
He had actually been momentarily distracted.
But had he forgotten how formidable this woman's methods were? How cold she was when she abandoned him?
He could not be lost in her facade any longer.
Qian'er was dead, and she was filled with hatred. Everything she was doing now was merely for revenge!
And how could he be so easily deceived by her?
He was determined to tear down her hypocritical, calm facade with his own hands!
He wanted to make her realize completely that no matter what she did, she would never be his match, Feng Yexuan!