Reborn as the Regent's Beloved

The Xiao sisters both let Feng Mingjing make the decisions, which displeased him. The origin of the handkerchief could not be investigated further, and its whereabouts could not be discussed any more.

If Xiao Fengyi knew that the handkerchief was given to Xiao Qingyin by him, she would realize the relationship between the two.

Feng Mingjing will absolutely not allow this to happen!

He will definitely keep Qingyin's voice hidden and won't let the other party feel wronged.

But... for their future, the ensemble performance must take place.

In order to perform together, Qingyin had to please Xiao Fengyi, but in doing so, she had to suffer injustice.

Feng Mingjing's choice was clear. He secretly vowed that he would only let Qingyin suffer once, and then he would ask Xiao Fengyi for her back.

After making the decision, she said hastily, "It's just a handkerchief, right? I have plenty of them. I can just give you one more. Don't let a handkerchief ruin the relationship between you sisters."

Should I send another silk handkerchief?

Feng Mingjing wanted to downplay the matter and had no intention of investigating how the handkerchief was lost or who took it.

When these words reached Xiao Qingyin, who was always favored, they didn't seem to mean the whole thing.

"Your Highness..."

She was about to cry. Feng Mingjing had been on her side, so why was he suddenly siding with his sister?

The handkerchief was indeed left in the kitchen, and someone took it. Did she suspect that Zi Hua was at fault? Besides, it was a token of their love, how could Feng Mingjing not care at all?

Xiao Qingyin looked at the man with a resentful expression, but the man avoided her gaze.

The lingering, melancholic atmosphere between the two, every little detail, flooded Xiao Fengyi's eyes.

Isn't this just a jealous couple having a tiff?

Love is so painful, why bother? Let her fan the flames and expose this relationship to the light of day! The pain she suffered in her past life, these two will never get away with it!

Xiao Fengyi deliberately said, "Your Highness is very perceptive; you noticed at a glance that Zihua did not steal the handkerchief."

She forced Feng Mingjing to take sides.

If Feng Mingjing wanted to play a duet, he would definitely abandon Xiao Qingyin and stand on her side to please her, admitting that Zi Hua was wronged.

As expected, Feng Mingjing said directly to Xiao Qingyin, "Qingyin, don't wrong Zihua."

"I didn't..." Xiao Qingyin wanted to retort, but in the end she dared not use her anger and clenched her fists. "Seventh Prince is right. I lost the handkerchief myself. It has nothing to do with anyone else."

Xiao Qingyin's attempt to frame Zihua failed, and she suffered a setback at the hands of the Seventh Prince, which pleased the two maids, Zihua and Xuanhua.

At night, Xiao Fengyi found it amusing to recall the woman's resentful gaze and the man's distressed expression.

Her radiant, smiling face made even the surrounding flowers, plants, and trees blush with shame.

"You're really something, managing to drive a wedge between Xiao Qingyin and Feng Mingjing. What are you going to do next?"

The sudden question startled Xiao Fengyi, causing the string on her zither to snap.

Under the moonlight, a dashing man suddenly appeared sitting by the window. The dim, silvery light illuminated his flawless face, making him impossible to look directly at.

The thief who travels under the stars and moon is none other than Feng Xingye.

The girl leaned back slightly, coughing lightly, and said, "Ninth Imperial Uncle, it's not time to administer acupuncture yet."

“I know, I came here specifically to see you.”

The man pulled the broken string back into place, his voice hoarse, which made Xiao Fengyi feel somewhat uncomfortable.

What's so attractive about her?

"Are you practicing the piano?" Feng Xingye asked, seemingly casually.

The girl answered earnestly, "I want to practice my rusty finger techniques."

Feng Xingye had already pulled the strings back, and the zither was now perfectly intact again, much to the woman's slight surprise.

The man handed the violin to the girl. "Why are you practicing fingering? For the duet with Seventh Brother?"

"You know everything?" Xiao Fengyi held up the zither, deeply impressed by Feng Xingye's excellent information network.

The man reached out and lightly touched the surface of the zither with his slender fingertips, prompting Fengyi to place the zither on the table.

Seeing Xiao Fengyi avoid him, Feng Xingye smiled and said, "I heard from Yue Qi that there are rumors circulating that you are planning to play a duet with Lao Qi at the Xiao family banquet?"

Actually, it wasn't Yue Qi who told him, but Yue Yi.

He sent Yueyi to investigate Xiao Fengyi.

Besides knowing she was destined to be a phoenix, and being disliked by Duke Xiao and her aunt, Madam Shen, she was also coveted by several princes who aspired to be emperor. All that remained was that Xiao Fengyi had loved studying medicine since childhood, but had never formally apprenticed under a master.

Hearing this, Feng Xingye looked doubtful. "Her acupuncture skills are so superb, yet she has never had a master?"

Yue Yi said with a stern face, "Indeed, there isn't. Moreover... I've discovered something else."

The man narrowed his eyes and tapped the table. "What did you find?"

"I've noticed that Miss Xiao seems to have a crush on the Seventh Prince."

Do you like Lao Qi? Feng Xingye has no comment.

Yueyi added, "A few days later, the Xiao family will prepare the Drunken Begonia Banquet, where she will play a duet with the Seventh Prince."

If they played music together, the Emperor would surely think that Xiao Fengyi was in love with the seventh prince, and might even pass the throne to him.

Feng Xingye came for this very reason; he absolutely would not allow Xiao Fengyi to get too close to Feng Mingjing.

Feng Mingjing is gloomy and narrow-minded; he is definitely not the best candidate for crown prince.

"Is Ninth Imperial Uncle quite concerned about Fengyi's private affairs?"

The man did not answer her, but stared at the zither on the table, looking deep in thought.

Xiao Fengyi stared into those amber eyes for a long time, then suddenly stood up and walked towards the bed, her skirt trailing on the ground, a shawl draped over her body, exuding elegance and composure.

With her back to the man, she said, "Since Ninth Imperial Uncle does not wish to answer Fengyi's question, then please leave. Fengyi is preparing to retire for the night."

After speaking, Xiao Fengyi prepared to bow and see the guest off, but was stopped by the man's words.

“Miss Xiao, there is no one else here, so please don’t be shy. You don’t need to bow to me.”

These words made the woman straighten her bent legs again.

The girl said nothing, waiting for King Zhao to reveal the purpose of his visit.

Clang clang—

Before the words were spoken, the music began.

Feng Xingye casually plucked a few strings, and a simple, dark melody flowed out.

Upon hearing the music, Xiao Fengyi recalled that this Prince Zhao was a master of playing the zither.

“I want to play a duet with you.” The man stated his intention directly, which surprised Xiao Fengyi.

"Your Highness, what is this?"

Why did he want to play a duet? Xiao Fengyi looked at the man in the dim light, puzzled.

Feng Xingye stood up, swept past the table, and stepped to the center of the room, standing in front of Xiao Fengyi.

The girl passed through Feng Xingye's tall figure and saw that the wall, which was originally empty, had become two shadows. Soon, the tall figure covered her slender shadow, turning her into one.

King Zhao crossed his arms and said firmly, "My intuition tells me you don't want anything to do with the Seventh Prince. I want to help you get rid of him."

Xiao Fengyi did not deny the man's guess, "Why would you help me?"

Having experienced a lifetime of depravity, Xiao Fengyi would not easily accept anyone's kindness. Although this Prince Zhao had helped her time and time again, he was not someone she knew well enough to completely trust.