Chapter 19: Wholeheartedly

Bai Hua clenched his fists tightly. If the Prince insisted on entering to see the Princess Consort tonight, then there was no other choice but to drug him.

Bai Hua’s ears twitched as he heard the sound of Feng Moheng’s departing footsteps, and he let out a sigh of relief.

Shen Yuling, oblivious to everything, returned to the Prince’s residence without a care in the world.

It seemed that there were many of Quan Minghe’s people within the Prince’s residence. Those who had assisted her along the way, as well as the people in her Ninglan Courtyard, were almost all Quan Minghe’s agents.

But why would an emperor plant so many spies in a Prince’s residence that held little power?

Shouldn’t the spies be placed in the residence of Princess Xihe instead?

Shen Yuling pondered this casually but, unable to make sense of it, she quickly dismissed the thought.

Having been thoroughly exhausted by Quan Minghe the previous night, Shen Yuling returned to her room and immediately fell asleep, not waking until the afternoon.

In the evening, Feng Moheng arrived at Ninglan Courtyard.

Inside the room, Shen Yuling lay on a daybed, her eyes closed as she rested.

Her serene face, bathed in the dim light, resembled a delicate flower in slumber.

Feng Moheng stood quietly by the bed, his gaze fixed on Shen Yuling, his expression complex and inscrutable.

What is it about you that sets you apart?

“Why is Jingyi so worried that you might take me away from her?”

“If I like you, will Jingyi become jealous and love me even more?”

Feng Moheng was filled with many doubts.

After a moment, he sat down by the bed, gazing intently at Shen Yuling’s sleeping face.

Shen Yuling had only been lightly dozing, and she woke up as soon as Feng Moheng arrived.

But since Feng Moheng remained silent, simply watching her, she decided to continue pretending to sleep.

Yet, as if compelled by some unseen force, Feng Moheng suddenly reached out his hand.

His slender fingers, cool to the touch, gently traced a path from Shen Yuling’s brows and eyes, slowly moving downward inch by inch until they caressed her fair cheek.

The motion was tender, yet carried a hint of inexplicable stubbornness.

Truly, it was a face so beautiful that it was impossible to ignore.

Shen Yuling stopped pretending to sleep and opened her bright eyes.

Seeing Feng Moheng, she seemed almost disbelieving and blinked a few times.

“Why has my husband come here?”

“Do you not wish for me to come?”

A faint smile tugged at the corners of Feng Moheng’s lips.

Shen Yuling took his hand and pulled him to sit on the daybed.

Then, softening her posture, she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his broad shoulder.

Her voice was soft and sweet: “I do, of course I do. I’ve missed you terribly.”

Unlike on their wedding night, Feng Moheng did not resist Shen Yuling this time.

Instead, he gently stroked her cascading hair, over and over, his movements tender yet seemingly carrying a deeper intent.

“Last night, I heard you prepared delicacies and fine wine from the northwest for me, but Jingyi wasn’t feeling well, so I went to check on her.”

Hearing his gentle voice and even his explanation for why he had gone to Liu Jingyi’s place the previous night, Shen Yuling felt a wave of unease rise within her.

What was going on with Feng Moheng?

Shen Yuling forced herself to relax her tense body, making her snuggle appear more natural.

She lifted her head, her beautiful eyes shimmering with emotion.

Yet, she couldn’t help but mock herself: “Husband, you don’t need to explain yourself to me. I’m well aware of how much you care for Consort Liu.”

After speaking, she nuzzled his shoulder lightly, as if reluctant to part.

“If you go to Consort Liu, will you feel jealous? Envious?”

“If you come to me, do you think Consort Liu will feel jealous? Envious?”

Shen Yuling responded with neither subservience nor arrogance, her gaze meeting Feng Moheng’s directly, her eyes filled with determination.

Feng Moheng’s pupils contracted slightly.

If Jingyi didn’t feel jealous or envious, he wouldn’t have come here in the first place.

Seeing that he remained silent for a long while, Shen Yuling continued softly, “When my husband begins to care about my feelings, I’ll tell you whether I feel jealous or envious, alright?”

Her voice was gentle and soft, yet it carried a weight that struck directly into Feng Moheng’s heart.

Feng Moheng hadn’t expected such a response.

He was momentarily stunned.

Of course, he didn’t care about Shen Yuling’s feelings.

She was merely a stranger, a wife in name only.

Before she had married into the household, Feng Moheng had already decided to treat her only as the lady of the house, someone to manage affairs.

However…

A thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

Since Shen Yuling was his wife, couldn’t he, just as he had tempted Jingyi, make her fall in love with him too?

They were the ones who had come to him willingly, so whatever he did was justified…

If Shen Yuling also loved him, both women would feel jealous and envious because of their love for him. They would compete for his affection, and he would become the most important person in their hearts, constantly needed and desired!

Thinking this, Feng Moheng’s lips curved into a smile, his eyes glinting with amusement, though the warmth didn’t reach the depths of his gaze. In fact, deep within his eyes, there seemed to be a hint of madness, suppressed and nearly distorted.

The candlelight flickered, casting dancing shadows across the room.

Feng Moheng held Shen Yuling in his arms.

“Yuling, Jingyi is my savior.”

“She has shown me kindness and affection. By marrying you, I feel as though I’ve wronged her.”

“So, from now on, don’t hold it against her. Since you are my wife, you will always be.”

As Shen Yuling listened to these words, a chill ran up from the soles of her feet to the depths of her heart.

What was wrong with Feng Moheng?!

His current demeanor was completely different from the man he had been on their wedding night!

Unable to make sense of it, Shen Yuling decided to stop analyzing everything from the perspective of an outsider and instead fully immersed herself in the situation.

She closed her eyes, her mind swirling with thoughts.

She had married a man whose heart belonged to someone else, a man who didn’t love her at all. Yet, despite this, she still yearned for love, longing for her husband to care for her.

Feng Moheng was her husband, but on their first meeting, he had openly admitted that he deeply loved someone else.

Now, however, he was saying things that contradicted his earlier words…

He had even confessed that Liu Jingyi was his savior.

Did this mean Feng Moheng was giving her hope, a hope that he might come to care for her too?

Shen Yuling’s eyes snapped open, a flash of insight crossing her gaze.

Was Feng Moheng trying to make her fall in love with him?!

But why would he do such a thing?

Shen Yuling was filled with confusion, yet she couldn’t quite grasp the thread of his intentions.

Seeing that the woman in his arms showed no reaction to his words, Feng Moheng’s deep gaze flickered slightly.

“Yuling?”

Shen Yuling broke free from his embrace and looked up, her eyes shimmering with what seemed to be tears of emotion.

She pursed her lips slightly, her voice soft yet carrying a hint of sincerity.

“Husband, I had no idea that Consort Liu was someone who once saved your life.”

Women care about the little details of warmth and care, while men care about watching you step into their traps, becoming infatuated with them, admiring them, and acknowledging their sense of control.

Feng Moheng, whatever you want, I’ll give it to you now.

“Your sense of loyalty and righteousness proves that I, Shen Yuling, did not marry the wrong person.”

Sure enough, a look of delight and satisfaction flashed in Feng Moheng’s eyes.

His wife, so unguarded and sincere, was indeed endearing.

The tears in Shen Yuling’s eyes hovered, on the verge of falling.

“Today, hearing you acknowledge me as your wife is enough. I won’t ask for more.”

“My mother always taught me that husband and wife should share the same heart and purpose. Although we’ve only known each other for a couple of days, and our time together has been short, I believe that we can walk through the rest of our lives hand in hand.”

“Every day from now on, I will wholeheartedly stand by your side, husband.”

For some reason, Feng Moheng felt that Shen Yuling was truly different from other women.

Why did her words always seem to strike a chord deep within him, touching on his innermost desires…

Wholeheartedly?

But only Jingyi loved him wholeheartedly, even willing to die for him…

Shen Yuling, could you do the same?