Chapter 40 Take off the Mask

Feng Qianchu and Nianxin's bridal chamber still looked the same as before, but the bridegroom was gone. Feng Qianmu put Nianxin on the bed. Staring at the woman's innocent sleeping face, he could no longer control himself. The person he loved was right in front of him. Feng Qianmu wanted to take advantage of her, and he did it. He had been thinking about touching her beautiful body for a long time. Finally, his eldest brother was gone, so he didn't scruple to do it. When he was about to put his hands on her, she turned over and woke up. However, Feng Qianmu had no intention to let her go this time. He had been enduring for so long, which had already destroyed his will. Ignoring Nianxin's resistance, he grabbed her and controlled her under his body, trying to kiss the woman's pink and delicate mouth. It happened too fast, and Nianxin hadn't prepared for it. The humiliation buried deep in her heart was recalled. It felt like that her nightmare of Yun Su appeared again. She pushed Feng Qianmu crazily and kept yelling, "Go away... Go away... Don't come over... Don't come over..." Her face was covered with tears. The poor and helpless look on her face did not make Feng Qianmu hesitate. On the contrary, it even ignited his excitement more. He had lost his mind. The man pushed her on the bed, trying to kiss her lips again. Nianxin struggled to dodge his kiss, and it fell on her neck. One of his hands tore her clothes, and her body was about to be exposed. Suddenly, the door of the room was kicked open, and Feng Qianwu appeared at the door. He stepped forward to pull his younger brother away. Then he tried to pull up the woman on the bed. However, Nianxin didn't want him to touch her. She curled up in the corner of the bed, just as she did in the Xiyan Palace when she was a child. With tears on her face, she hugged herself and trembled. She kept saying, "Go away... Don't come over... Go away... Go away... " She no longer acted like the woman she had been. Feng Qianwu looked at the poor, petite woman in white and felt so pitiful. However, he didn't know what to say. He could only comfort her, "Don't be afraid, Nianxin. It's okay. It will never happen again." Nianxin was still hugging herself. She kept crying and asking them to leave. Before in the main hall, Feng Qianwu felt uneasy when seeing Feng Qianmu taking her away. Feng Qianwu had known that his younger brother had a possessive desire for her. Because he could not get her, he wanted her more than other women. Even Feng Qianwu had a crush on Nianxin, but he was more mature. He knew how to hide his emotions and control his thoughts. Feng Qianwu finished arranging the matters at hand quickly and followed them here. Fortunately, he came here in time, and nothing happened. However, Nianxin's reaction was a little too strong. She was completely different from the woman she had been. Feng Qianwu felt pitiful for her. In the meantime, he began to find her suspicious. But now he had to manage the mansion, so he could only take his brother away and leave her alone. "Nianxin, I have to deal with other things first. I will come to visit you later. Nothing will happen to you. Just take a good rest." On the roof, Xuan Zhi took back his sword that was pulled out earlier, and the nails of his right hand were deeply into his palm. His hand was bleeding, but now his heart hurt even more. When the two men in the room left, he entered the room and hugged the trembling woman immediately. "Nianxin, it's okay. Don't be afraid. It's all over." "Zhi, don't leave me. I want to kill them all. I want to kill them all..." "Okay, let's kill them all." In the arms of the only person she trusted, Nianxin finally calmed down. She took off the simple pearl hairpin on her head and held it tightly in front of her chest, struggling to suppress all the painful memories arising from her heart. Feeling the warmth from Xuan Zhi's body, the tears on her face had dried gradually, and she turned back into a cold-hearted woman again. After a long time, she uttered a completely emotionless sentence, and her tone was very calm. "Zhi, I'm fine now." "Okay." "It's good that you didn't do anything just now. I want them to be killed by their own family." "Okay." The biggest difference between Xuan Zhi and Kong Yue was that Kong Yue spoiled her, but he would not let her do things to hurt herself. In contrast, Xuan Zhi spoiled her without any principles. He would help her do anything, whether right or wrong. That year, he couldn't save her in time. She was bullied by Yun Su, and it became Xuan Zhi's pain for his whole life. But when he was ready to save her from that place, she said she wanted to kill someone before leaving. At that time, Xuan Zhi was facing the danger of being exposed, and he should leave as soon as possible. However, he still ignored his subordinates' objections because of her. He waited for her to complete her goal of killing Yuer. All the remaining forces of the Kingdom of Xuan could have all survived. However, for this reason, they had suffered great losses. Now it was even more difficult for them to defeat Emperor Yun Su. However, Xuan Zhi didn't regret or complain. He only felt pitiful about Nianxin's desperation and hated his own incompetence. He could only help her with her revenge plan and protect her in secret. The moon was high above the tree at midnight, but it was not particularly bright. Stars had always been in the sky, but now they disappeared. It was dark, just as depressing as the atmosphere in this mansion. In the main hall, monks sat around Feng Qianchu's coffin. Their mantra that helped the dead rest in peace could be heard even in the house far away from this place, not to mention in Feng Qianchu and Nianxin’s bedroom. People got the gooseflesh when hearing the sound of wooden temple blocks and the monks’ chanting at night. Even for the ones who didn’t think it’s creepy, they would at least feel unsettled. However, it was a pleasant enjoyment for Nianxin. She was lying in Xuan Zhi's arms, as peaceful as a lazy cat. The repetitive sound gave her a good mood. "Oh? You like to listen to monks chanting scriptures?" Xuan Zhi couldn't help but ask. "No. It just gives me a special feeling of relief. Zhi, don't overthink it. You are not allowed to be a monk." "If I become a monk, what are you going to do?" "I will kill all the people in every temple so that you could only resume secular life." "Okay." It was clear that she still didn't love him. For her, he was her only warmth and last dependence. He stayed with her in this way day and night. Even though he wanted more, he was still willing to take the bitterness as the candy of his life. Suddenly, a knock on the door interrupted the harmonious atmosphere in the room. A gentle male voice rang, "Nianxin, are you sleeping? This is Feng Qianwu. Can I come in and talk to you?" Xuan Zhi clenched his fist very hard again. The scar on his hand had just formed, and he almost made it bleed again. Nianxin loosened his grip hastily and put his hand in her fair little hand. She felt so sorry and touched it gently. She whispered to him, "Zhi, I'm fine. Don't worry, you should hide first." "Okay." Xuan Zhi always followed her orders unconditionally, even though he’s unhappy. "Okay, let me change first." Nianxin talked to the door. She opened it after confirming that Xuan Zhi hid well. She turned back to the beautiful, pure, enchanting woman who always wore a charming smile again. Feng Qianwu didn't like her to wear this mask. Maybe she was very beautiful and attractive in this way in the eyes of others. But he thought it was too fake and purposeful, reminding him of the people in the business field who always wore a deceptive mask. "Nianxin, you don't have to smile." "Second Brother, don't you like my smile?" "I don't like it. It's too deceptive. Aren't you tired of wearing a mask all day?" Feng Qianwu walked into the room and sat down on a chair while talking. He did not lock the door on purpose so that she wouldn't feel unsafe. He was not afraid that someone would come to disturb them either because he had arranged everything before coming here. Nianxin also sat down on a chair. She stopped smiling. Now she looked genuinely cold. "Second Brother, you are the first person who dislikes my smile." "So… This is your true self, a cold-hearted woman." They were both smart people, so they didn't have to be evasive. In a cold and emotionless voice, Nianxin asked directly, "What do you want to know?" "Nianxin, I don't know what you have been through. I just hope that you can spare my family. My eldest brother has gone. You should also spare yourself from whatever you are trying to do." "Second Brother, you are here tonight just to talk about this?" "Third Brother made a mistake today. I apologize to you on his behalf. I will not allow such an accident to happen again." "I already forgot what happened today." "Nianxin, what happened to you in the past? Even with me, you don't want to talk about it?" "Second Brother, you have crossed the line." "Nianxin, I..." "Feng Qianwu, this is the real me. Since you can see me through, you shouldn't waste your time on pointless things." "Okay, Nianxin. There is only one thing I want to beg you—do not kill people." Feng Qianwu closed his eyes. He felt complex inside, and he didn't know how to face the genuine Nianxin. Now she made him unsettled and flustered, but it was the truth he had longed for. All the coincidences these days forced him to suspect her, but at the same time, he hoped he's just overthinking and hoped that she could stop her plan. "Don't worry. I won't do it." He knew that the woman's words were not credible. However, Feng Qianwu had already been stuck in her trap and couldn't get out of it. His heart had been stolen, and he could never take it back. … There was a saying that goes, “Good things rarely happen while bad things often happen in succession.” The Fengs were now a perfect example of this situation. The Fengs were a famous general family in the Empire of Yun. Still, they had encountered a series of tragedies recently. Feng Qianchu, the eldest young master of the Fengs, died unexpectedly. However, his death had become an unsolved case. Mrs. Feng was too sorrowful after losing her son. She passed away before the first seventh day after Feng Qianchu's death. Master Feng lost his son and wife all of a sudden, overwhelmed with grief. He got ill, lost the ability to speak, and could only lie in bed. The robust man, who once was a brave general, could never stand up again. In the past few days, all the burdens of the family had been on Feng Qianwu. He had been extremely busy. However, he still sent people to keep an eye on Feng Qianmu. What he didn't expect was that his younger brother had disappeared. Feng Qianwu had to deal with so many things. The pressure on the shoulders of this once handsome man was getting heavier and heavier. However, he could only choose to endure. Nianxin should have been in sorrow. Unexpectedly, she seemed to have changed into a different person in these few days. After taking off her mask in front of Feng Qianwu that night, she became her true self again, no longer wearing her fake, charming, and enchanting smile. Today, she suddenly took the initiative to ask about Master Feng's health.