Chapter 35

  Murong Feng did not notice the change in Sima Rui's expression. To her, she really didn't think that her refusal would make Sima Rui feel any pain. Sima Rui was a man who had been through the world of gaming and had seen all sorts of women, what kind of woman hadn't he experienced? She, an ordinary woman, wasn't someone he willingly married into his family either, so why would he really care? It was just for a moment's novelty. Just like the Emperor's attitude towards Murong Xue, he was infatuated with her youthful appearance and fresh body, if there was a younger and fresher life, she would be replaced soon.

  Moreover, whether it was Murong Feng or Bai Min, they did not consider Sima Rui to be their ideal man. Both physically and spiritually, they rejected him. They had no intention of going against their own hearts. It would be better to end things quickly rather than drag out the pain. If Sima Rui truly fell in love with her, it would be a troublesome affair. In fact, she couldn't wait for Sima Rui to take on a concubine and keep him occupied every day, so that she could have some peace and quiet.

  Simarui's heart was extremely uncomfortable, really didn't know how to calm down. For the first time in his life, he wanted to be genuinely good to a woman, but she didn't appreciate it. This sense of loss was really unbearable, having never been so ignored and disregarded before. He felt like there was a stone stuck in his chest. Suddenly becoming quiet, standing still, silently staring blankly.

  The emperor's heart was conflicted, and although the words came out of his mouth, he saw the empress with tears in her eyes, blessing him. Her eyes were gloomy and numb, and he felt a pang of guilt. The empress had been a beautiful young woman like a flower when she was younger, and even now that she was older, she still had a lingering elegance and mature charm. He wanted to go forward and comfort her, but as soon as he thought of Murong Xue in the Warm Jade Pavilion, with her incomparable beauty, her youthful and fresh body, all his guilt and shame disappeared, and he only wanted to hold that beautiful woman in his arms.

  "High-ranking official, prepare the imperial carriage at the Warm Jade Pavilion." The Emperor truly had no heart to stay here any longer, unable to bear the weight on his mind, could not withstand the oppression of this place, and couldn't get over the guilt in his heart, only wanting to leave quickly.

  The queen felt a pang of sorrow in her heart, but she suppressed it and made an effort to maintain a smile, curtsying elegantly.

  Simazhe looked at his mother, then raised his head. The emperor had already walked to the door, his back cold and ruthless. He suppressed the resentment in his heart. That Murong Xue was really detestable! He truly regretted it now. At that time, he had meddled and not only harmed the innocent Murong Feng but also hurt his own mother.

  "Father." Murong Feng suddenly spoke up, his voice not loud but clear and calm. "Feng'er wants to ask Father for a favor. Now that Murong Xue has become the Snow Empress, perhaps Father is only temporarily infatuated with Murong Xue's youthful freshness, or perhaps it was predestined by fate. Whatever the reason, Feng'er only hopes that Father will not let Murong Xue bear the blame of being a 'red beauty calamity'. My family should be grateful."

  The emperor was taken aback and didn't dare look at her. This woman was intelligent, wise and open-minded, and in front of her, he couldn't hide his true self.

  Leaving Zhengyang Palace, Murong Feng suddenly discovered that Sima Rui's expression was a bit off. Was he still resentful about Murong Xue being taken as his father's Snow Consort? Or did he actually still have deep feelings for Murong Xue in his heart?

  "Simarui, this expression of yours, isn't it telling me that you're heartbroken?" Murong Feng teased with a smile, she who had no distracting thoughts in her mind, how could she have known that Simarui's heart was now like boiling hot water? "If I had known earlier, it would be better if I hadn't 'rescued' Murong Xue from your hands and returned her to the Murong royal manor. Perhaps with your charm, by now she would already be in your pocket."

  Simarui sighed and said, "What can be said? She doesn't care about herself at all. It's clear she doesn't love herself, and it's troublesome for her to tell me not to provoke her. If I had known this earlier, I wouldn't have gotten involved in the Mu Rongxue affair. Now that things have turned out like this, I regret it too late. If I had known this earlier, I would have married Mu Rongfeng long ago and we might be living happily together now. Then Mu Rongxue wouldn't have appeared before my father's face and become his Snow Concubine!

  "Can't be true, right?" Murong Feng asked with some doubt, "I thought you didn't seem to care that much about Murong Xue being taken as the Snow Queen, why are you suddenly worried now?"

  Simarui smiled wryly, "Murong Feng, do I look that pitiful? Just starting to want to like someone and being rejected already. The word 'heartbreak' is probably not even applicable, I just hope I can experience heartbreak once, at least there's a process of being loved."

  Murong Feng had a faintly strange feeling in his heart, he couldn't quite put it into words, but the feeling was rather complicated, neither joy nor sorrow, as if it lay somewhere between the two.

  "But don't worry, I, Sima Rui, am not the kind of person who will pester you endlessly. If you say you don't like me, I absolutely won't bother you again and will quietly let you be." Sima Rui's tone had a hint of inexplicable sadness, as if he was resigned to his fate. In reality, he wasn't one to give up easily, but facing Mu Rong Feng, he really didn't know how to start. She said she didn't like him, so straightforwardly, what else could he do?

  Murong Feng looked at Sima Rui, the helplessness in his eyes made her somewhat unbearable, but if she let her accept this unpredictable man, she really didn't want to take the risk. Love is such a fragile thing, once loved, it's likely that one can never be calm again.

  Two people stood silently, just like that.

  Simarui is indeed a trustworthy person, so trustworthy that Murong Feng was caught off guard.

  Two people returned to the Fourth Prince's mansion, silently eating lunch, not knowing how to speak. The two of them ate their meal in a stiff and formal manner. Murong Feng felt very uncomfortable, but Sima Rui didn't open his mouth, leaving Murong Feng unsure of how to start a conversation. Facing a man she had just rejected, anything she said seemed hypocritical, so it was better to just let it go.

  If it's consolation, then that would be an understatement for Sima Rui. It was just a slight good feeling, like saying some comforting words out of habit, and thinking about it, he felt bored with himself too.

  At dusk dinner time, Sima Rui directly did not show up.

  Facing a table full of sumptuous dishes, Murong Feng didn't have any appetite at all. These two days, every time he ate, Sima Rui was across from him 'talking nonsense' to amuse her and make her happy. Although she felt annoyed at the time, now that there was no one in front of her, it suddenly felt cold and uncomfortable instead. Where would he go?

  Drunken Flower Pavilion? Fragrant Wine Pavilion?

  "Miss, what's wrong? Is the food not to your taste? Or..." Chun Liu noticed that Mu Rong Feng hadn't touched the chopsticks in her hand for a long time and found it strange. "This was made by a master chef at Yin Xiang Lou, instructed by the Fourth Prince before he left. These are dishes you usually enjoy."

  Murong Feng casually asked: "Where is the Fourth Prince?"

  "I don't know, Miss. When you were resting this afternoon, the Empress Dowager sent someone to invite the Fourth Prince over. Before dinner, Wang Bao rushed back and said that the Fourth Prince won't be able to return for a while, so please go ahead and eat without waiting for him."

  Murong Feng smiled slightly, it turned out that he was overthinking, how could Sima Rui be such a narrow-minded person? Just because of his own rejection, he wouldn't show up again. It must have been the empress who called him away, wonder what happened, didn't even come back to the mansion for dinner?

  "Let's withdraw for now. Since something has come up, if you want to come back, it's better to wait a bit later. I'm not hungry either." Murong Feng said calmly.

  Chun Liu hesitated for a moment, didn't say anything, and took the things away.