Aftermath

Tears flowed freely from her face to the edge of her chin. All around the room laid broken pieces of expensive porcelain, and the young maiden was in the middle of it all. The charming man, who stood in the doorway, looked on cold heartedly at the scene.

"Are you done," Yu Xi asked.

"I-it's all that stupid slut's fault," Yu Chun replied through haggard breaths.

"It's your own fault for being stupid. I had warned you about that old hag, but you went ahead and played into her hands. If you truly want Hu Feng, then you better follow me from now on. Learn your lesson, my dear sister."

The man walked out, leaving a pitiful Yu Chun, surrounded by jagged pieces of porcelain and her own despair.

Walking back to his own courtyard, Yu Xi sat down at a table outside and signaled the servants to bring him wine. A black figured jumped down from the tall pine tree.

"Your Highness."

"Looks like my idiot of a sister is finally coming around. It was worth it to use that old hag as bait. How is Mu Qing?"

"Please forgive me. Hu Feng is guarding her too strictly."

"Not surprising, she's quite interesting. I want you to spread the word that the Empress is the third wheel between the childhood sweethearts, Yu Chun and Hu Feng."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Ah wait, also say that the Ye family wants to turn a chicken into a phoenix."

The black shadow disappeared into thin air, leaving the Crown Prince all by himself. Silently sipping his wine, Yu Xi looked mysteriously at the moon.

'Hu Feng, I will steal everything away from you.'

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The tall man sat like a mountain at his desk, unlovable and unconcerned. The stacks of papers and scrolls made a permanent home by his side. The door squeaked, and a man in blue holding a box entered. He Feng looked at the Imperial Tutor.

"Good work out there. The Mu family was very pleased by that scene."

"....."

A sly grin spread across the clever man's face, "I really wanted to step out from the shadow and give you a standing ovation. Nice acting."

Hu Feng's reply was short, "The item?"

He placed the box on the desk with a small thud, "They held their end of the deal. One piece for one Empress."

Hu Feng lifted the box, and both men peaked inside.

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"The day after, you must befriend Mu Qing. Understand," said a woman.

"Yes."

"Your mother and Aja only wants the best for you. Yue'er never forget your goal."

"I understand."

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Small little hands fanned her hot face. Mu Qing sat there helplessly on the bed as she looked back at that particular face.

"Honestly, His Highness was too much! We were so surprised, we couldn't even run after you," Gu Chi sighed.

"But that scene sure slapped Yu Chun in the face! Haha, I have never seen her so defeated," Ke Ying laughed.

The maids stopped talking when they noticed that Mu Qing wasn't even paying attention to them. Her head was still in the clouds completely unlike the usual calm and collected Empress. An evil smirk wormed their way onto the duo's lips, and they glanced at each other in agreement.

"Your Highness," Gu Chi called, "Do you want your paper and pen?"

Mu Qing looked at her questionably.

"Perhaps the Emperor acted out because you've been neglecting him," Ke Ying whispered to her ear.

Mu Qing turned bright red again when she thought of his face. 'Ice Cube wouldn't be so petty because of a couple of letters, right? Right?'