362: Chapter 362 Why Did His Majesty Scheme Against Us?

Atop the city tower, the night wind grew colder.

After listening to Feng Ming's analysis, Xun Luoyuan's face turned pale, and she shook her head repeatedly. "Impossible... Why would Your Majesty scheme against us like this? Yang Chenyu is clearly the Third Prince's man; none of this makes sense!"

"What if Yang Chenyu is only subservient to the Third Prince on the surface, but is actually a hidden pawn planted by Your Majesty?" Feng Ming's tone was calm, yet he hit the nail on the head.

Xun Luoyuan trembled and asked breathlessly, "You... do you have evidence?"

"No evidence is needed," Feng Ming said faintly. "Before dealing with Yang Chenyu, Your Majesty suddenly purged the Imperial City's defenses. Those who were replaced were all former subordinates of Prince Zhenwei."

"His true goal was never to deal with Yang Chenyu, but to use this matter as an excuse to uproot Prince Zhenwei's influence in the palace. An emperor's actions must always have a legitimate reason; Yang Chenyu is merely a pawn he discarded."

"But Yang Chenyu is usually impulsive and reckless. With such a temperament, it's natural for him to take risks. Why must it be a setup by Your Majesty?" Xun Luoyuan still refused to believe it.

"Temperament can be faked, but interests do not lie," Feng Ming analyzed calmly. "After this incident, the Third Prince gained nothing and was instead eager to clarify his involvement. He is definitely not the person behind the scenes."

"The Crown Prince is even more unlikely. He would never watch you and me marry and cut off his own hopes. If Yang Chenyu had set this up for himself, how could he end up being demoted and sent out of the capital? If he wanted to leave the capital, he could have just retired and returned home; why take such a risk?"

He paused, his tone turning somewhat cold. "In this entire game, the only beneficiary is King Haoyue! He used the matter of Yang Chenyu to purge dissidents in the palace and then demoted Yang Chenyu to Prince Zhenwei's side. It looks like exile, but it's actually planting an informant. This move is truly ingenious."

"Unfortunately, while Your Majesty calculated exquisitely, he forgot Prince Zhenwei's temperament," Feng Ming continued. "Now that Yang Chenyu is under Prince Zhenwei's command, I'm afraid he won't live long."

Xun Luoyuan gave a bitter smile, her eyes full of sorrow. "You're wrong. Prince Zhenwei is loyal and righteous, but he is least skilled in political maneuvering. My father once said that it was precisely because Your Majesty valued this trait that he planted his former subordinates in the Imperial City guard."

"Now that times have changed, these people have become a thorn in his side. How ironic."

"Yang Chenyu's life or death doesn't depend on Prince Zhenwei, but on whether the Third Prince can see through this game." She looked up at Feng Ming. "Should we... expose all of this?"

Feng Ming shook his head gently. "No need. The Third Prince is already ambitious. We should leave this hidden line for them to grow suspicious of each other. Staying out of it is our best course of action."

Xun Luoyuan was still puzzled. "Your Majesty went to such great lengths to set this game just for his own benefit, completely disregarding the futures of the two princes. Why is that?"

"The Crown Prince didn't come away empty-handed," Feng Ming smiled. "As long as he doesn't make trouble for our marriage contract, we will naturally be grateful for his favor."

"After I take up my post in Qian Prefecture, I will also appear close to him on the surface. He only needs to win me over slightly to use my power and even influence the Xun family. However, Your Majesty and the Crown Prince would never imagine that from the very beginning, we planned to divorce after this marriage contract."

Xun Luoyuan's cheeks felt slightly hot as she murmured softly, "I... don't necessarily have to divorce."

Feng Ming's ears twitched, but he didn't hear clearly. "What did the Xun Luoyuan say?"

The night wind was like a blade, scraping across her cheeks with a bone-chilling coldness. Xun Luoyuan quickly pulled her collar tight to hide the panic in her eyes and changed her words. "I said the night wind is too cold; it makes one's heart feel cold."

"Yes, heart-chilling," Feng Ming lamented. "King Xibei and Prince Zhenwei followed Your Majesty all their lives, giving their all, yet in their old age, they end up being suspected and schemed against."

"Is it that those in high positions are always suspicious of others coveting their empire, always feeling that 'someone wants to harm me'?"

Xun Luoyuan burst into laughter at his words, the gloom between her brows dissipating slightly. "Stop talking nonsense. My father is definitely not as you say."

"Old Master Xun guards Xun Prefecture and loves the people as his own children; his reputation is known throughout the world. Naturally, I trust him." Feng Ming took an outer robe from his storage ring and gently draped it over her shoulders, his tone gentle. "The past is the past. This matter has finally come to an end. In three days, I will accompany you to Xun Prefecture to complete the marriage bestowed by Your Majesty."

"As for when to divorce, it's entirely up to you. Just send someone to notify me when the time comes."

Xun Luoyuan suddenly looked up, staring straight into his eyes, her tone carrying a hint of imperceptible grievance. "Are you so eager to divorce me? As the Xun Luoyuan, in terms of appearance and status, which part of me is not good enough for you?"

Feng Ming was taken aback and said truthfully, "It's not that you aren't good enough for me, but that I am not good enough for you. I already have a wife at home, and now I am just a Commandery Governor, while you are of noble birth. Our statuses are too far apart."

"Noble birth, yet reduced to a pawn for others to scheme with. What's the point of being so high and mighty?" Commandery Princess interrupted him, a layer of mist rising in her eyes.

Feng Ming was momentarily at a loss for words, unable to respond.

Thinking carefully, this seemingly noble Xun Luoyuan had been bound by imperial power plays her entire life, living much more constrained than he was.

While he was lost in thought, he suddenly noticed Xun Luoyuan's gaze becoming soft and gentle, a hazy mist rising in her eyes and her cheeks flushing like a sunset.

At the same time, Feng Ming felt a sudden surge of heat rising within his body, rushing straight to his head. He suddenly realized that the Entangling Love Threads in his body had not been neutralized due to the days of traveling!

Looking at Xun Luoyuan again, her breathing was rapid, her eyes were dazed, and the aura around her was chaotic—exactly the same as his.

"Xun Luoyuan, you... you haven't neutralized the Entangling Love Threads either?" Feng Ming's voice was dry.

Xun Luoyuan lowered her eyes, her cheeks so hot they could bleed. She said in a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz, "I... I couldn't bring myself to do it."

Feng Ming's Adam's apple bobbed. His gaze fell on her reddened lips and soft brows. The heat in his body grew more turbulent, and his reason was gradually swallowed by desire.

As if possessed, he slowly leaned in. His nose almost touched her skin, and an uncontrollable urge rose in his heart, wanting to lean down and kiss her.

What made his heart race even more was that Xun Luoyuan didn't dodge. Instead, she slowly closed her eyes, her long lashes trembling slightly, looking as if she were at his mercy.

Feng Ming's heart surged with excitement. No longer able to restrain himself, he leaned down to kiss her.

At this critical moment, a clear sound of a night watchman's clapper came from within the city, piercing the silence of the deep night: "The weather is dry, watch out for fires—"

The shout was like a clap of thunder, instantly waking both of them from their daze.

Feng Ming abruptly took a step back and turned his head away, his ears bright red and his hands fidgeting in embarrassment. Xun Luoyuan also quickly opened her eyes and turned around, her heart pounding like a drum and her cheeks burning as if on fire.

"That... the Entangling Love Threads's medicinal properties are intense. If not neutralized within three days, one will explode and die." Feng Ming spoke incoherently, wanting only to escape as quickly as possible. "Commandery Princess, it's late. I... I'll go back first to neutralize the medicine. Farewell!"

Before his voice had even faded, his figure flickered, and he practically fled, disappearing beneath the city tower in an instant.

"Hey! You—"