A chilling glance made Baili Ye shiver, goosebumps erupting uncontrollably. He wisely shut his mouth, daring not to speak further.
Si Jianye exuded an aura of profound terror, one that instilled dread.
The formidable presence also made Baili Ye's heart falter with apprehension.
Feng Tongtong, oblivious to Baili Ye's unease, was reveling in the joy of catching an adulterer.
"Feng Ninghe, as the acting head of the Feng family, you disregard our family's reputation by meeting secretly with an outsider man, thus tarnishing the Feng family's honor."
Feng Tongtong let out a muffled snort, her gaze fixed on Feng Ninghe with disdain.
Looking at the sharp, malicious face before her, Feng Ninghe felt a wave of nausea. Suppressing her annoyance, she met the other woman's eyes. "Third Miss, you are making trouble out of nothing. It seems you've been living too comfortably. I was merely walking with a fellow cultivator on the street, how does that constitute colluding with an outsider man? By your logic, everyone walking side-by-side in every street and alley is colluding with an outsider man?"
Feng Tongtong had finally seized an opportunity to speak and would not let it slip away easily.
She arrogantly raised her eyebrows, staring directly at Feng Ninghe. "You are an unmarried young lady; you should avoid impropriety. How can you be so undisciplined, walking with an outsider man on the street?"
"Third Sister, although you are betrothed to the First Prince, you are not yet married. You should also avoid impropriety. How can you be so undisciplined and impatient, parading with the First Prince?"
As she finished speaking, Feng Ninghe seemed to recall something and deliberately added, "I recall you used to frequently go out alone with the First Prince. Clearly, as a young lady, how can you be so shamelessly eager to visit him?"
These simple words successfully enraged Feng Tongtong. Her expression instantly changed, and she abruptly raised her hand, intending to slap Feng Ninghe.
Before the palm could land, her wrist was easily caught by Feng Ninghe.
Looking at the clown before her, Feng Ninghe chuckled dismissively, her clear voice carrying a hint of coldness. "Feng Tongtong, have you forgotten that your cultivation has been crippled? You, without any cultivation, now dare to try and deal with me?"
Feng Ninghe forcefully flung Feng Tongtong's hand away.
The latter stumbled backward. Fortunately, Taohua caught her, preventing Feng Tongtong from falling to the ground.
*Slap!*
A crisp sound of a slap echoed.
A red handprint instantly appeared on Feng Tongtong's cheek.
Feng Ninghe acted as if she were tired, deliberately rubbing her wrist, her icy gaze fixed on Feng Tongtong. "Feng family's Third Miss lacks manners. As the acting head of the Feng family, I have an obligation to discipline you."
Xiao Zhao, with its plump form, burst into laughter, its azure eyes filled with mockery.
Feng Tongtong's anger intensified. Her eyes widened in fury, and she pointed viciously at Xiao Zhao. "You stupid beast, don't ever fall into my hands, or I will surely flay you alive!"
"Tongtong, your cultivation has been crippled?"
Baili Ye furrowed his brows, looking at the woman before him in disbelief.
He had never paid attention to Feng Tongtong's changes before. Now, observing her, he sensed no spiritual energy fluctuations from her.
He, the First Prince of noble status, was about to marry a woman with no cultivation?
Feng Tongtong's exquisitely made-up face froze. She forced a smile and affectionately pulled on Baili Ye's arm. "First Prince Brother, I will explain this to you slowly. This matter is a long story and cannot be explained in a few words."
She knew that the matter of her crippled cultivation could only be hidden for so long. At the very least, she needed to wait until after the wedding to let Baili Ye know.
Now, this lowly wretch, Feng Ninghe, had exposed everything!
Baili Ye's expression darkened, his eyes filled with malevolence. "Feng Tongtong, having your cultivation crippled is no small matter, yet you hid it from me until now!"
The thought of him having to marry someone with no cultivation almost made him spit blood in anger.
Feng Tongtong clung tightly to his arm, her face anxious. "The person who crippled my cultivation is precisely Feng Ninghe! She did this to seek revenge! She is the instigator of everything!"
Feng Ninghe, standing nearby, was already munching on nuts. Beneath her veil, her eyes flashed with sarcasm. "Let's go."
With that, she turned and walked away.
She was still looking forward to attending the wedding banquet of this pair of dogs.
An imperial decree had been issued. Even if Baili Ye didn't want to marry Feng Tongtong, he had to.
This pair of dogs was perfectly suited for each other.
Si Xin Xin remembered Feng Tongtong's attempt to kill Feng Ninghe in the forest.
A look of schadenfreude appeared on her young face. She excitedly took Feng Tongtong's hand and led her away. "Pretty sister, let's go listen to music!"
As the two left, Si Jianye withdrew his gaze and strode after them.
Baili Ye impatiently shook off Feng Tongtong's hand, anger lingering in his eyes. "Feng Tongtong, no matter who attacked you, you shouldn't have deceived me!"
If he had known earlier that Feng Tongtong was unable to cultivate, he could have gone to the palace to report to Emperor Li.
Within the royal family, there were no imperial consorts who couldn't cultivate. He believed Emperor Li would agree to annul the engagement.
Now, the matter was settled, and he couldn't go back on it!
"First Prince Brother, listen to my explanation. It wasn't that I intentionally hid it; it was Feng Ninghe who threatened and coerced me into not telling you!"
Feng Tongtong was frantic, saying whatever came to mind, just to clear herself of blame.
She only wished she could have torn Feng Ninghe's mouth to shreds.
This bitch should have died five years ago. Why was she still causing trouble in the world!
A flame raged within Baili Ye's chest, his face turning red with anger. He quickly took two steps back, widening the distance between himself and Feng Tongtong. "Feng Tongtong, you dare to lie to me? I'm going to the Feng family right now! Today, your Feng family must give me an explanation!"
Feng Tongtong, fearing the cancellation of the marriage, quickly followed.
The two were pulling and tugging at each other in broad daylight, causing quite a commotion. A crowd had already gathered.
Curious cultivators craned their necks, watching the direction they left. "The Feng family's Third Miss's cultivation has been crippled? What happened?"
"After her cultivation was crippled, Feng Tongtong is now a cultivation waste? And the First Prince is still willing to marry her? There has never been a precedent of an imperial consort without cultivation!"
The onlookers discussed animatedly, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
The Feng family's Third Miss was young and promising, considered among the best of the younger generation from the great families. Now that her cultivation was crippled, she was nothing but a waste.
The Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.
Madam Zhang was having clothes made, with maids measuring her.
"Madam, bad news!"
Taohua rushed in from outside, her face anxious.
Her hurried arrival startled Madam Zhang. She put down what she was holding and looked at Taohua in surprise. "What happened? Did something happen to Third Miss?"
Taohua nodded repeatedly. "Yes, the First Prince discovered that Third Miss's cultivation has been crippled. He has now stormed into the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, demanding an explanation from our Feng family!"
"What? The First Prince knows Tongtong's cultivation has been crippled?"
Madam Zhang's eyes widened, and she quickly got up and left the room.
Upon hearing that the First Prince had come to demand an explanation, several elders gathered in the main hall.
Feng Tongtong, with a mournful expression, looked at the elders with extreme grievance. "Crippling my cultivation is not my fault. It was that bitch Feng Ninghe who sneaked into my room late at night and crippled my cultivation. First Prince Brother, if you want to assign blame, you should find Feng Ninghe!"