Servants from HuaiYin Hou had arrived with the orders from Yan Rong inviting them to return home, but from the subtle hints of the servant, it is most probably regarding Yan Feiâs issue.
âIn that case, letâs return, itâs much more convenient for us to use your injury to avoid that trip.â Yan Jing said softly as he caressed her slender wrist and the jade bracelet that hung on it. The Queen Dowager Chu and Emperor QiLingâs mean would be going on a trip to avoid the summer, and being the fiancee of the emperor, Yan Luan would probably be called upon for company, but for her own safety, he doesnât wish for her to go.
âIâŠI donât want to go homeâŠâ Yan Luan, who had been keeping her head lowered, whispered softly in refusal.
âIs it because of us?â Yan Jing was not surprised, his Ah Luan was never a brave and daring woman, as sheâs much more used to escaping and refusing.
He took her into his arms before patting her on the back gently, âItâs my fault, I shouldnât have rushed it⊠But still, I donât regret it. Donât be afraid, elder brother will protect you no matter what happens.â He comforted her gently.
Even if their incestuous relationship is against the laws of heaven, he would still bear all of the crime and burden, if only he could stay with her for the rest of his life, he wonât never place her in harmsâ way, physical or emotional.
âAh Luan, I really hope youâll put down that knot in your heart soon⊠Because your second brother and I, it seems that itâs already impossible for us to leave your side.â He grinned gently at her with a look of determination on his face before holding her surprised face up with both of his palms and landing a gentle kiss on her smooth forehead.
Princess YongKang had not returned from FengYi City, hence the matters in HuaiYin Hou were now under Yan Rongâs control. Yan Fei was delivered here by her husbandâs family, and due to what Emperor QiLingâs spoken command, she was to be put to death. Hence why Yan Rong had requested for Yan Luanâs return, he had intended for her to spare Yan Feiâs life.
âFather, if Wang AnZhi had not been there coincidentally and caught Ah Luan on time, I believe you know what couldâve happened.â Yan Jing said calmly, he had already seen through this illegitimate sister of his many years ago, which is why he had hated her so, but thankfully, she had never actually harmed Yan Luan.
That was why he had allowed her to keep her life, but nowâŠ
Yan Jingâs voice was cold and cruel, silencing even the weeping and begging woman on the ground, causing her to tremble and sob silently instead.
Even Yan Rong, who was seated on the main seat in the hall, froze at his words, but what else could he do? Both were his daughters!
But perhaps it was because of the guilt he felt towards Mistress Bian, which was why he would always lean more towards Yan Feiâs side in situations. Even more so when he was told that she would be married into House Chu as a mistress, he had threw a huge fit about it, but unfortunately, Princess YongKang had given him no such leeway.
He even had thoughts and ideas on how to force Chu Meng to have no other choice but to promote Yan Fei from a mistress into his legitimate wife, but alas, something so unexpected had happened.
âAh Jing, sheâs still your sister no matter what, she mustâve been confused that day, do forgive her this timeâŠâ
Yan Jing flicked the teacup onto the table, the clear clanking noise silencing his fatherâs unfinished words abruptly, âFather, this is not the first or second time we have forgiven her for her wrongdoings. At the very least, she could at least be left with her full corpse if you bestow upon her the white cloth today, because when Mother returns, I have no doubt that sheâll be in pieces, by then, youâll probably be left with an incomplete set of her chopped up pieces for burial.â
This was the actual Yan Jing, hidden beneath his gentleness and elegance was a man of extreme cruelty and ruthlessness, allowing him to discuss issues like these with a slight grin, as if it was nothing but casual talk to him.
Yan Rong felt extremely awkward, but deep in his heart, he knew that what Yan Jing said was true, if Princess YongKang returned, he might not even have the chance to beg for mercy before she tore Yan Fei into pieces.
âNo! Elder brother, please have mercy! It was an accident! I didnât know what came over me that day but my arms moved by themselves, please donât kill me!!â Yan Fei cried out in horror at her brotherâs words, before she began begging for mercy, even rushing over towards his legs and hugged them as if they were the last thing that could save her.
Yan Luan stared at her elder sisterâs actions as she played with the jade bracelet on her wrist, If no one had saved me that day, she wouldâve probably stared down grinning at my crumpled body and claimed that I deserved itâŠ
Yan Jingâs eyes narrowed at the filthy hands that were hugging his legs, hence kicking her away from himself swiftly, but Yan Fei had only turned towards Yan Luan as she sobbed miserably, âAh Luan, Ah Luan! I beg of you, seeing as we had been sisters for years, please forgive me! I really had no intention of murdering you!â
âSisters? It was Chu YunShangâs idea right, no wonder she had gotten into a fight with Jiang FuYuan suddenly, that was to give you the opportunity to strike, huh? How were you two going to explain if your plan had worked, that I have slipped and fell? Or perhaps by then, you wouldâve been weeping near my dead body with words of regret, claiming that you couldnât save me on time?â
She had figured it out, Chu YunShang had suddenly gotten into a fight with her best friend all of a sudden, while she had left the changing room and stood waiting on the corridor, but it was all a ploy to create an opportunity for Yan Fei to strike.
Yan Fei froze in shock at her words, as if her entire plan had been seen through.
âNâŠNo! Ah Luan, it really wasnât my intention to push you, when I came back to my senses, you were already falling! I swear it will never happen again, please, have mercy on me!â
Yan Luan, old and new, had never cared much for this sister of hers because Yan Feiâs well-being was of insignificance to her, but now, after undergoing the trauma of the near-death experienceâŠ
As if noticing his sisterâs slight trembling, Yan Jingâs slight grin curved up into a full grin as he turned his sharp gaze onto his own father, âAs Father had suggested, since weâre family, weâll skip the death sentence.â
Both Yan Fei and Yan Rong stared at him in disbelief and joy upon hearing his declaration, âSeriously? Then father willâŠâ Yan Rong cried out in relief.
Yan Jing waved his hand impatiently, he had no patience at all for his fatherâs words of gratitude and the pretense of a happy family. He spun the huge ring on his finger before continuing on casually, âIâm serious, but even though she would escape the death sentence, she will not miss any punishments allocated.â
Yan Fei had stopped crying the moment she heard his words, and she was now prostrating under Yan Jingâs legs in joy, âElder brother, Iâm willing to accept any punishments, as long as you spare my life, Iâll do anything!â
âThatâs for sure, in that case, weâll call for the Family Disciplinary Laws,â Yan Rong knew that even though his favorite daughter was saved, there was no way she could escape being punished, and the Family Disciplinary Laws were the cruelest punishments that he knew.
âFamily Disciplinary Laws?â Yan Jing raised his eyebrows at the pair, as if he had heard a funny joke.
Yan Luan felt her heart pause for a second upon hearing her elder brotherâs words, because from what she know about him from the days spent together.
The kinder he looked, the crueler his thoughts were.
She stared at her so-called father and her so-called elder sister while shaking her head slightly at their imminent doom.
âWeâll skip the Family Disciplinary Laws, as an illegitimate child is not deserving of such. Iâm leaning more onto âan eye for an eyeâ method thoughâŠâ Yan Jing declared gently, âMen, take her to the LingFeng Pavilion, I will personally push her from the second floor, but sheâll probably be fine, as she claimed. What do you think, Ah Luan?â
âWhatever elder brother says.â Yan Luan coughed awkwardly at the sudden attention, cautiously avoiding the shocked stares of her father and her sister before gripping tightly onto her fan.