With a dark expression, they looked at a pair of anxious cousins standing outside the courtyard.

"Cousin, how is my sister-in-law?" Xiao Jiazhen asked nervously, fiddling with the handkerchief in her hands.

"If you dare to speak nonsense to the princess again, watch your skin; no one will be able to save you," he said, sweeping his gaze over the two of them, who still appeared contrite—it was then that half his anger subsided.

"I’ll go to my sister-in-law to save me," Fo Conghui said hysterically, her eyes rolling back.

Xiao Jiahui really wanted to pry open her cousin’s head to see what was stuffed inside.

Dugu Chen’s lips, which had been stiff, started to tremble:

"Seeking help from the princess would be pointless."

"Ahem, Prince Charm, I haven’t even settled the score with you yet," she stood at the door, glaring at Dugu Chen who was more than a head taller. "Why are you out here? Get inside and lie down immediately." Dugu Chen’s expression changed rapidly as he grabbed Feng Xuxu’s delicate little hand, and started to drag her into the house.

"I’m not ill, don’t interrupt. You didn’t even tell me last night," she said, half with tenderness and half with anger, touched that he could sacrifice his life for her, but angry at his recklessness, adorably foolish.

"My lady, let’s go inside, it’s cold out," he said, as his large hand circled her slender waist, unquestionably ushering her into the house.

Fo Conghui was about to follow them into the house to see her sister-in-law but was glared back by Cousin Chen.

"You go back. Wait a few days for the grand wedding, then you can come to the residence to accompany her," he said icily, before turning around and entering the house with the woman in his arms.

"..." The two outside exchanged glances—their cousin had simply taken their sister-in-law away! The pair silently and slowly walked back to the second gate, boarded the carriage, and returned to their residence.

After dismissing the maids, only the two of them remained in the room. Dugu Chen was about to explain himself, but Feng Xuxu covered his mouth with her hand.

"Chen, there’s no need for explanations. From now on, you cannot do any more foolish things. You have to believe in me; I have the ability to protect myself," she said, wrapping her arms around the foolish man in front of her.

"Alright, I won’t do foolish things, but you also have to promise me you won’t leave me," he affirmed.

"Yes, I promise you," she agreed.

The two shared a look and a laugh, quietly enjoying their tranquil moment together, serene and content as time stood still.

Ever since the bloodshed at the Prince Mo Residence, rumors had swept through the regions north and south of the river like a burst of wind. There were all kinds of tales that Feng Xuxu was a disastrous seductress, a reincarnated fox spirit, and so on. When these reached Feng Xuxu, she merely smiled faintly. The closer the wedding approached, the more unease filled her heart. When she thought about the maids and guards who had died at the Prince Residence, even though their families had been compensated after the fact, a shadow loomed in her heart—it had all started because of her.

That afternoon, she decided to visit the famous Bodhi Temple in Capital City to offer incense.

The carriage slowly arrived at the bottom of the mountain. After alighting, she looked at the long flight of stairs ahead, humbly leading Mei Lenglei to climb them step by step.

Reaching the grand hall and seeing the Buddha statue enshrined there, she didn’t believe in these deities, but to find a measure of comfort for herself, she still approached with sincere reverence to burn incense and bow. After finishing, seeing that it was still early, she strolled around the temple’s back mountain. The environment was tranquil, and she wandered far without noticing until she neared a waterfall, where she found an old monk sitting by himself, gazing at the chess board in front of him, his brow furrowed from time to time.

Feng Xuxu approached the old monk and looked at the chess board on the stone table, where white and black pieces were intermixed, leaving her feeling dizzy. Shaking her head, she was about to leave when the old monk spoke, "Benefactor, could you help this old monk figure out how this black piece can escape its predicament?"

Feng Xuxu was taken aback and then let out a chuckle: "Old monk, I don’t know how to play chess."