Seeing Zhuo Lingxiao had said his piece, Feng Linche's expression finally softened. "Regarding Princess Yunxi, our Great Zhou will surely give an explanation."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Zhuo Lingxiao quickly expressed his gratitude. Then he turned back to look at Princess Yunxi, who was huddled in a trembling ball. His eyes were filled with pity.
"Princess Yunxi has been doted on by our emperor since childhood. Her delicate nature has been nurtured to be extremely fragile. On ordinary days, she would threaten to kill herself at the slightest inconvenience. How could she bear such humiliation today? I was just afraid that if today's matter wasn't properly resolved, the princess might act rashly and cause a great tragedy, so..."
Right on cue, Princess Yunxi let out a couple of sobs and said pitifully, "Brother Lingxiao, why are you saying all this? Just let me die quietly. It'll save the Third Prince and Miss Bai from having their wonderful marriage broken up..."
Bai Zheng lowered her head, trying hard to hold back her laughter.
However, Feng Linche and Feng Jingxuan's faces turned ashen!
Princess Yunxi was of noble birth. Not only did the emperor of Western Liang value her highly, but her mother, the queen of Western Liang, also came from the prestigious Xu family, the daughter of a famous general.
The support one could gain from marrying Princess Yunxi was obvious.
This was also the reason why Feng Linche had firmly refused to let her marry Feng Linyuan back then.
However, at the same time, such a woman was destined not to become the empress of Great Zhou.
If such a princess with a noble status and a powerful background were to die an unexplained death in Yongding, the consequences were simply unthinkable.
It was very likely that Western Liang would wage a life - and - death war against Great Zhou.
Moreover, Bai Yihuan had just repelled the Southern Shu not long ago, and the southern border was not completely stable yet. If there were any more upheaval in the west, Great Zhou would surely be in great danger.
Feng Jingxuan's hands trembled violently.
He subconsciously looked at Feng Linche.
The cold night wind rushed into the room through the open door, making the lanterns hanging from the beams and the candles standing everywhere sway from side to side.
The lights flickered on and off, making Feng Linche, who was originally standing in the light, seem to be hidden in the darkness, making it hard to see his expression.
Feng Jingxuan suddenly had a very terrible premonition.
"Princess Yunxi," Feng Linche said in a deep voice.
Everyone raised their heads and looked at Feng Linche eagerly, waiting for his decision.
"Third son, this would be your second marriage. Your first wife passed away early. Even if you enter the family as the main wife, you would still be a step - wife."
Princess Yunxi slowly raised her head. Her first glance was at Feng Jingxuan. Tears immediately rolled down her face. "Your Highness the Third Prince... At this point, what else do I have to care about?"
With those pitiful and sorrowful eyes and that soft, hoarse voice, even the hardest heart would be softened...
Feng Jingxuan staggered a few steps when he heard Feng Linche sigh and say, "Since that's the case, let's follow Princess Yunxi's wish."
"Father! This can't be!" Feng Jingxuan couldn't believe his ears and blurted out.
Zhuo Lingxiao's eyes suddenly turned cold. "Your Highness the Third Prince just said that you would surely give me a satisfactory answer. Now that even your Majesty has spoken, what does it mean for you to object? Is this the answer you promised?"
Feng Jingxuan took a deep breath and walked up to Princess Yunxi. He said hopefully, "Princess, I've said everything I need to say. Why don't you think it over again? If you really want to marry me, I will surely be responsible for you. But after all, I'm not the one you truly like. Don't you want to marry the person you love?"
Princess San also stepped forward quickly and tried to persuade her, "Yes, Princess Yunxi. We are princesses of a country, not the daughters of some junior ministers or generals. Just because we've lost our virginity doesn't mean we have to marry someone. For us, this isn't a big deal at all. Whoever we marry is lucky. Who would dare to despise us?"
Bai Di, the "daughter of a general", shivered all over but still managed to say, "Princess San is right, Princess Yunxi. As women, the first time isn't the most important thing. The most important thing is to marry the person we truly love. Only then can our lives be meaningful."
Princess Yunxi nodded as she listened to everyone's words.
Her gaze fixed on Feng Jingxuan. Her red lips parted slightly and trembled. A trace of pain and bitterness flashed across her eyes. After a while, she finally spoke slowly.
"Your Highness the Third Prince, how do you know that the person Yunxi truly loves isn't you?"
As her voice fell, the room fell silent.
Everyone was stunned by Princess Yunxi's sudden change of attitude.
When Princess Yunxi first came to Great Zhou, it was well - known throughout Yongding City that she had come for Marquis Dingyuan, Feng Linyuan.
She had also boldly pursued Feng Linyuan. She had even guarded in front of the Marquis Dingyuan's mansion for five consecutive days and had directly asked Feng Linche to marry her to Feng Linyuan. If Feng Linche hadn't firmly refused, Feng Linyuan would have been engaged to Princess Yunxi long ago.
How could such a romantic story change its protagonist overnight?
"So it was you! You did it on purpose!"
Bai Di was the first to react and screamed.
She knew it!
Princess Yunxi had feelings for Feng Jingxuan.
Others might not have noticed, but as Feng Jingxuan's future main wife, she was the most sensitive and had noticed it first.
Bai Di's eyes were bloodshot. She felt a surge of overwhelming anger boiling in her blood. She pointed at Princess Yunxi and said sternly, "It was you who framed me! It was all you! You've ruined me just to seize the position of the Third Prince's wife!"
"Miss Bai, what have I done to harm you?" Princess Yunxi looked blank.
Feng Jingxuan finally noticed something was wrong and asked, "Di'er?"
Although Bai Di had put on her clothes, her hair was in a mess and the flush on her face hadn't faded. At this moment, because of her excessive excitement, her movements were too big, and the festering marks on her neck were exposed.
It was no different from Princess Yunxi at this moment.
Seeing those marks, Feng Jingxuan's pupils constricted. He felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He was irritable and stiff. "You, what's wrong with you?"
Bai Di was stunned for a moment, and then her eyes turned blood - red. Facing her fiancé, her heart was filled with mixed feelings: shame, anger, grievance, and collapse. Her lips trembled slightly. "Your Highness the Third Prince, Di'er, Di'er..."
But she just couldn't say anything more.
It was Su Muxiao who sneered and said, "Di'er, you and Young Master Chen are in love. What does it have to do with Princess Yunxi? You bit Zheng'er and me just now, and now you're not even sparing Princess Yunxi? We're all women. When Princess Yunxi encountered such a thing, instead of showing pity and sympathy, you're making trouble and pressing her hard. What's the reason?"
"In love? Young Master Chen?" Feng Jingxuan felt a rush of blood to his head. He rushed in front of Bai Di, grabbed her arms, and his fingernails dug deeply into her flesh. "Bai Di! What on earth have you done!"