Chapter 46: Fabricating Lies

Feng Moheng followed Shen Yuling back to Ninglan Courtyard.

Not knowing what Shen Yuling had encountered in the palace, it felt as if a heavy stone weighed down on his heart.

Seeing Shen Yuling’s icy expression, he couldn’t help but think of the worst possible outcomes.

The more he thought, the more anxious he became.

As Shen Yuling entered the room, Feng Moheng followed her inside.

Just as he was at a loss for what to say, Shen Yuling suddenly turned around and tightly embraced him.

Then he heard her soft sobs.

Her cries were muffled, filled with endless grievance and fear.

Only moments ago, in Sujin Courtyard, she had been so strong, but now she seemed so fragile and pitiable.

So, she had been holding on all along?

Feng Moheng felt a tight pang in his heart, a twinge of pain.

In the past, he had never genuinely cared whether Liu Jingyi would hurt Shen Yuling; he had only been focused on his own feelings.

But seeing the woman in his arms crying so softly, like a cornered beast—afraid, pitiful, and helpless—he felt an overwhelming sense of heartache.

He held Shen Yuling close, his gaze somewhat lost.

Why did he have these feelings?

He shouldn’t have felt this way!

When he saw Jingyi jealous and fearful of losing him, needing him, he had only felt exhilarated.

When he witnessed Shen Yuling taking a dagger for him, he had only felt his blood boil, realizing how much she loved him.

But this feeling now…

What was it?

Feng Moheng instinctively reached out, sliding his hand across Shen Yuling’s back to comfort her.

He spoke softly, his voice imbued with tenderness.

“What exactly happened tonight?”

Shen Yuling shook her head in his embrace, seemingly unwilling to say anything.

“I am your husband; trust me, okay? I will always stand by your side.”

It seemed that her sense of security had indeed been bolstered by his words, and she slowly began to recount the events of the evening.

“There was a… terrifying person; he… he wanted to…”

Shen Yuling’s voice trembled.

“I ran with all my might, and he… he chased after me, even asking me why I still had strength after drinking the potion.”

“I… I was so scared. While running, I… I hit him on the head with a stone, and he… he fell to the ground, covered in blood.”

“I… I was so frightened that I ran away, ending up in a palace I didn’t recognize, and then… then I hid.”

“At the banquet, when Liu Zhaoyi poured me a drink, I felt something was off. Later, after hearing that man’s words, I realized… I realized that perhaps the wine I handed to the Emperor had been spiked!”

“Husband, if the Emperor finds out about this, what… what should I do?”

“That wine… that wine was handed to the Emperor by me.”

As Shen Yuling spoke, her fear intensified, and her sobs grew louder.

“Wuwu…”

Listening to her fragmented and chaotic recounting, Feng Moheng fell into deep contemplation.

If Liu Zhaoyi had indeed spiked the wine, then everything that had happened tonight seemed to make sense.

The Emperor had indeed acted unusually today.

He had left the banquet before it concluded and had even summoned the imperial concubines in haste.

Feng Moheng felt a surge of fear at this realization.

He hadn’t expected Liu Jingyi to be so ruthless as to try to ruin Shen Yuling’s reputation!

“It’s all right; nothing happened. Don’t be afraid.”

“What Jingyi did was truly excessive. During this time, I will confine her to Sujin Courtyard, and I will ensure that such things will never happen again, all right?”

Feng Moheng held Shen Yuling tightly, softly comforting her.

Shen Yuling loosened her embrace around him and stepped back a few paces, lifting her gaze to look at him coldly.

Even with tears still glistening in her eyes, the fierceness in her gaze remained undiminished.

“Your Highness, Liu Jingyi is your lifesaver. This time, I only slapped her.”

“Because I love you, I can temporarily let her go this once.”

“But if there’s a next time, I will certainly order the Shen family army to take her life.”

“I, Shen Yuling, am both the wife of the Prince of Lingyang and a daughter of Shen Cangwu. I carry the honor of my family and was born with unyielding pride.”

“If anyone dares to bully or insult me, I will retaliate fiercely, and I will not allow it. I hope Your Highness understands.”

Feng Moheng’s expression grew complex.

Though she was willing to let Liu Jingyi go this time because of her love for him, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss when he saw this resolute and determined Shen Yuling.

No matter how he tried, he felt he could never fully grasp the woman before him.

Feng Moheng stepped forward again, pulling her tightly into his embrace.

His arms wrapped around her with a force that seemed to merge her into his being.

“It won’t happen again; I will never let such things occur. Trust me.”

Shen Yuling buried her face in his chest.

But deep down, she couldn’t help but scoff.

When a man says “trust me,” it’s usually when they’re making empty promises.

Yet Shen Yuling also knew that, at this stage, Feng Moheng couldn’t bear to be harsh with Liu Jingyi.

Moreover, since she hadn’t sustained any tangible harm in the palace and lacked evidence against Liu Zhaoyi, Feng Moheng wouldn’t punish Liu Jingyi severely.

However…

There was still something she needed to verify tonight.

A glimmer flashed in Shen Yuling’s eyes.

She seemed to truly believe Feng Moheng’s words and hugged him tightly in return, exuding a sense of reliance.

“Husband, do… do you like me?”

Shen Yuling looked up at him.

Feng Moheng replied decisively.

“Yes, of course, I like Yuling, my wife.”

He gazed into her eyes.

His feelings were sincere and earnest.

How could he not like someone as pure and devoted to him as Shen Yuling?

“Then… then why haven’t you touched me?”

Shen Yuling bit her lip, a hint of grievance appearing on her face.

She had been married to the Prince’s household for an entire month, yet Feng Moheng had not touched her at all.

Feng Moheng’s body stiffened for a moment, his movements pausing.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to touch her; whenever he wished to grow close, an issue with his body arose.

Feng Moheng’s gaze darkened.

But he quickly found an excuse.

“Yuling, I just wanted to genuinely prepare for our wedding night; I want to give you a complete and beautiful wedding night.”

“It’s just that I’ve been busy with work lately, and the Emperor’s birthday is approaching, with many matters piling up, making it difficult for me to find the time.”

As Feng Moheng spoke, he lowered his head.

He gently licked her ear, his actions imbued with intimacy and flirtation.

“Yuling, don’t overthink it. With such a beautiful wife like you by my side, do you know how hard it is for me to endure?”

“However, no matter how hard it is for me, it’s worth it, because I will give you the best wedding night, one that you will never forget.”

Shen Yuling shivered slightly at his affectionate gesture.

A blush crept onto her cheeks.

Hmph, listening to his words, it almost sounded plausible.

But if she hadn’t happened to have her period that day, he probably would have already taken her completely.

And he talked about preparing for the best wedding night.

Did he not find it amusing to say such things?

Shen Yuling slowly lowered her eyelashes.

Could it really be that Quan Minghe had caused Feng Moheng’s impotence?

But if he were indeed impotent, Feng Moheng shouldn’t be so calm about it.

This was a matter of a man’s dignity; how could he act as if nothing was wrong?

“So that’s how it is; I misunderstood my husband.”

“You were startled today; you should rest early. I… I won’t stay with you; I’m afraid… afraid I’ll lose control.”

Feng Moheng released Shen Yuling, but his hands remained on her shoulders.

Shen Yuling lightly responded, “Mm.”

Feng Moheng pulled her back into his arms and kissed her forehead.

He turned and left Ninglan Courtyard.

At the moment he turned away, the tenderness on Feng Moheng’s face disappeared without a trace.

What replaced it was a dark expression hidden in the shadows of the night.

Too many troubling matters had arisen recently.

He didn’t know what had caused his body’s issues.

Liu Jingyi was also a source of concern.

She had even colluded with Liu Zhaoyi to deal with Shen Yuling.

He knew she would feel jealous, but he hadn’t anticipated her transformation from a spoiled demeanor to a malicious one.

Had Liu Jingyi always been pretending to be kind in front of him?

He had already told Liu Jingyi that his feelings for Shen Yuling were merely superficial.

Why did she harbor such deep hatred for Shen Yuling?

By joining forces with Liu Zhaoyi to send a man to defile Shen Yuling, was she trying to make him despise Shen Yuling, or did she truly desire to take the position of the Princess consort for herself?

As Feng Moheng walked, he couldn’t help but recall the assassination attempt at the cliff.

His eyes darkened, the inkiness deepening, gradually resembling a shadowy night, appearing ominously terrifying.

Liu Jingyi, if you’re doing all this, you better be doing it out of love for me.

Otherwise…