Chapter 138: Self-Deception

Page 1/3

Feng Jinye gently pulled Wei Shaoqian into his embrace, then glanced toward the incense burner inside the room... The calming herbal incense concocted by Leng Ling was still burning, but Wei Shaoqian had awakened once again... The scenes in Wei Shaoqian’s dreams were vivid, and she knew her memory was flawed. Otherwise, she would not have continuously remembered the assassination attempt on Feng Jinye but failed to recall where Feng Jinye’s Gu was drawn out from... Indeed, memory can lie. Before Wei Shaoqian noticed something was amiss, she had never considered those details... Perhaps the shock of attempting to assassinate Feng Jinye was too profound, causing her to overlook many things... Many memories had been blurred, surely someone had guided her consciousness to block those recollections... Could it be She Tong again?

Wei Shaoqian shook her head. Today, Huangfu Chen’s Gu toxin flared up—most likely, the Devouring Heart Gu had transferred to Huangfu Chen that day... But Huangfu Chen... The herbal incense made by Leng Ling still had a significant effect on Wei Shaoqian. Having just awakened less than half an hour ago, she fell asleep again... Feng Jinye stayed by Wei Shaoqian’s side as she slept deeply, then rose and returned to the rooftop...

Before Wei Shaoqian’s nightmare, Feng Jinye and Huangfu Chen were already on the rooftop... Huangfu Chen held a white jade bottle and, seeing Feng Jinye return, tilted his head back and took a gulp of Qingfeng Zui wine. “I thought Shao had kicked you out, but turns out you can’t leave and are just waiting here...” Huangfu Chen chuckled, seeing how Feng Jinye looked like a devoted husband.

“Devouring Heart Gu is inside your body?” Feng Jinye asked with certainty. Huangfu Chen did not intend to hide anything and replied casually, “Also the Infatuation Gu. They counterbalance each other, no problem!” Feng Jinye said nothing, sat down, grabbed the wine bottle, and drank a gulp of the same wine...

“How will you decide?” Huangfu Chen asked in a low tone. Feng Jinye gave no answer. Huangfu Chen understood Feng Jinye’s reply and almost forgot that Feng Jinye was a thorough madman.

“Why is Shao having nightmares?” Feng Jinye asked. Huangfu Chen looked at him, said nothing, and instead asked, “Have you regained your memory?” Feng Jinye nodded. Huangfu Chen was silent for a long while, then shook his head helplessly and said, “I made Shao forget some things, but it seems she’s about to remember them...” Feng Jinye immediately recalled Wei Shaoqian mentioning a city draped in red silk in her dreams... Actually, Feng Jinye had long suspected that city was Motou, but he dared not bring it up. He even pretended he had not recalled it himself... Self-deception.

When Feng Jinye returned victorious from capturing Qudu, he fainted outside the camp. Huangfu Chen arrived at the tent and sealed several acupuncture points on Feng Jinye... Huangfu Chen’s method was different from that of Mei Ji; it only completely numbed Feng Jinye’s pain... Then Huangfu Chen went to Mu’ai Pavilion to seek an antidote, but the only Gu lead was taken away by Lu Huiyan that day... It was then that Huangfu Chen learned Lu Huiyan’s true identity as the daughter of the national master of Xiyan Kingdom, who controlled the Poison Palace of Motou...

After Feng Jinye’s acupuncture points were sealed and he lost pain sensation, he became invincible on the battlefield. In just ten months of campaigning, he nearly conquered all of Xiyan, advancing close to Motou... Wei Shaoqian stayed in the camp, never visiting Feng Jinye, following Huangfu Chen’s instructions that Feng Jinye’s points could only be sealed for two months. After that period, she had to meet Feng Jinye and hypnotize him to forget her...

Page 2/3

Otherwise, Feng Jinye’s Gu toxin would flare repeatedly, and he wouldn’t survive until Huangfu Chen brought the antidote back... “Forget everything that happened after leaving Qudu,” Huangfu Chen said lightly.

Feng Jinye was momentarily stunned. He could sense something different about Wei Shaoqian but had never mentioned it... “You and Shao are really too alike...” Huangfu Chen, slightly tipsy, said casually, as if speaking of something unrelated.

When Wei Shaoqian first married into the War King’s mansion, Si Hao had never mentioned the past, just as Feng Jinye, upon regaining all memories, had never sought confirmation from Wei Shaoqian...

Though seemingly brave and fearless, the two were truly cautious. But does avoiding the wound mean the hurt can be ignored?

Feng Jinye’s body trembled. What was meant to be forgotten must be forgotten, yet now it resurfaces. He could feel that Wei Shaoqian did not want to remember, but what exactly made her resist so fiercely?

Feng Jinye frowned deeply but heard Huangfu Chen say lightly again, “Let’s see what you choose!” Feng Jinye understood Huangfu Chen’s meaning: he must decide whether to let Wei Shaoqian continue to be plagued by nightmares and restless sleep, or to have Huangfu Chen use She Tong to directly recover Wei Shaoqian’s memories...

Feng Jinye was at a loss, unsure what to choose. He was afraid. Even the fearless War King was afraid. He feared the truth was far worse than he knew. The overwhelming sensation that Wei Shaoqian would leave him surged again, nearly drowning him...

By mid-morning the next day, Wei Shaoqian finally awoke, on the third day Huangfu Chen had allowed for consideration... “What’s your decision?” Wei Shaoqian asked Feng Jinye with a trace of indifference, but when she looked up, she found Feng Jinye lost in thought, staring at her...

Wei Shaoqian was surprised to notice pain in his gaze... “Feng Jinye!” she called out angrily, “What exactly are you...” “Shao, you decide...” Feng Jinye’s voice was light, almost as if she imagined it. How could he?

“Even if Chen hadn’t come, you would go,” Feng Jinye said softly. Though he didn’t want Wei Shaoqian to risk herself, he could not stop her... But delaying further would only place Wei Shaoqian in more danger by any means he could imagine...

Xuanyuan Ran’s current target was Wei Shaoqian. Even if Feng Jinye and Mu’ai Pavilion fought Xuanyuan Ran to the death, the first to fall would be Yun Ming. Feng Jinye could not allow Yun Ming to be endangered...

If Yun Ming died because of Wei Shaoqian’s or Feng Jinye’s choice, it would become their lifelong nightmare... Feng Jinye knew well what it meant for Wei Shaoqian to be tormented by nightmares. He would never let it happen again.

Just as Wei Shaoqian was stunned, Huangfu Chen and Feng Qingxuan pushed Yun Ming inside... Wei Shaoqian immediately masked her unusual expression. Yun Ming was still unaware of their plan to remove his Gu...

This was the first time the five of them gathered together since Wei Shaoqian became the War King’s consort, as if returning to old days.

Before Feng Jinye and Huangfu Chen’s campaign against Xiyan, the group would often gather for small meetings at Mingke Residence... Wei Shaoqian looked at Huangfu Chen with a strange gaze. Feng Jinye noticed her unnatural demeanor too, likely related to the Gu toxin on Huangfu Chen...

Feng Jinye frowned but could say nothing. Even his hand, which reached out to pull Wei Shaoqian back, froze...

Page 3/3

Yun Ming clearly sensed the tension and pondered whether Feng Jinye had regained his memory... Feng Qingxuan saw Wei Shaoqian staring fixedly at Huangfu Chen and snorted coldly.

With Feng Qingxuan’s cold snort, Wei Shaoqian snapped back and turned to Feng Jinye, who was watching her. She sat down beside him and said lightly, “A sister-in-law is like a mother; as for Xuan’er’s marriage...” Wei Shaoqian left the sentence hanging. Feng Qingxuan knew Wei Shaoqian’s nature too well—not one to suffer losses—and took it as payback for the earlier snort...

But when Wei Shaoqian mentioned her marriage, Feng Qingxuan could only grit her teeth silently. Yun Ming’s face also paled; he had often heard Feng Qingxuan demanding to be betrothed to Huangfu Chen...

“Why not let Xuan’er marry Brother Chen and become the young mistress of Mu’ai Pavilion?” Huangfu Chen asked Feng Qingxuan, casting a sidelong glance at Yun Ming’s changing expression...

Hearing Huangfu Chen tease her, Feng Qingxuan suddenly became furious and said, “Fine! Brother Chen, quickly prepare the three letters and six ceremonies, come to Yuan Palace to propose, and I’ll marry!” Neither Feng Jinye nor Wei Shaoqian expected Feng Qingxuan to say such a thing. Huangfu Chen only paused briefly, then chuckled and nodded, “Good.”

Wei Shaoqian looked at Yun Ming in disbelief. Yun Ming’s face turned pale and then flushed repeatedly, yet he said nothing...

“Ahem...” Wei Shaoqian coughed lightly and shot a glare at Huangfu Chen. “You didn’t understand ‘a sister-in-law is like a mother.’ Even if the three letters, six ceremonies, and bridal sedan arrive at Yuan Palace’s door, you’ll just be sent away. Save it!”

Feng Qingxuan was somewhat grateful that Wei Shaoqian had helped her out of that predicament. Huangfu Chen fixed his gaze on Wei Shaoqian and suddenly said, “So, Shao, you don’t want me to marry Xuan’er?”

That remark was downright infuriating. Wei Shaoqian replied without hesitation, “Feng Jinye, take care of him!” “No need to get so worked up. If Shao doesn’t want me to marry Xuan’er, then I won’t!” Huangfu Chen said calmly.

Wei Shaoqian then looked at Feng Jinye, who remained silent and motionless. He... Lately, the strangeness was not only in Wei Shaoqian; Feng Jinye was also quite puzzled.

“What’s the plan?” Wei Shaoqian suddenly asked seriously.

“I’m leaving for Yue Du in two days. Whoever wants to come along, follow me,” Huangfu Chen said, then looked at Yun Ming. He guessed Yun Ming would want to return to Yue Du, worried about Yun Shuo. As expected, Yun Ming said, “I’ll go with you.”

Feng Qingxuan was about to speak but was interrupted by Wei Shaoqian: “You stay at Yuan Palace and wait for your brother Yun Ming to come propose!”

Those words immediately silenced Feng Qingxuan, whose cheeks flushed deeply...

Huangfu Chen laughed at Feng Qingxuan’s embarrassed look—this was the little princess who should have grown up carefree and spoiled by all... If not for the ordeal over a decade ago, Xuan’er would undoubtedly be a truly spoiled princess.