TSFLIP Chapter 1018

That very night, many palace servants arrived. Row after row of them knelt before Feng Yan. He was sitting in the doorway, staring blankly into the night.

After finishing the imperial decree, Ma Yuan said respectfully, “Your Highness, First Prince, this servant has come especially to escort you back to the palace.”

“Oh.” Feng Yan stood up, his reaction indifferent. As he brushed past Ma Yuan, he added, “Take the willow tree in the courtyard with us.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Ma Yuan didn’t understand the reason for the request, but the natural air of command in the boy’s tone was strikingly similar to the emperor’s.

The imperial palace was vast. It would take quite a while to reach Yi He Palace from here, so Ma Yuan had specially prepared a carriage. Within the palace, very few people were entitled to travel by carriage.

Feng Yan stepped into it. Despite the grand procession, he showed no trace of nervousness.

Softly, he said, “Feng Guang, are you here?”

“I’m here,” Feng Guang replied, sitting beside him. She actually found the idea of moving the willow tree rather amusing.

A look of dissatisfaction crossed Feng Yan’s face. “I don’t like the name he gave me.”

“Xian Mo… it sounds pretty nice when you say it,” she said.

He replied with two blunt words. “It sounds awful.”

“He is the emperor. You can’t defy his decree yet. Don’t let anyone else hear you say that, okay?”

He gave a perfunctory “Mm.”

So this child could sulk too. Feng Guang smiled and patted his head. “I still think Feng Yan sounds better too, but Xian Mo isn’t bad. A-Mo… A-Mo… See? Doesn’t it sound nice?”

“Okay. From now on, Feng Guang can call me A-Mo.” The gloom on his face instantly vanished.

From this day forward, he was the First Prince, Xian Mo.

About fifteen minutes later, they finally arrived at Yi He Palace. The halls glittered with gold and jade. There were easily a hundred eunuchs and maids in attendance—clear evidence of how much importance Xian Rang placed on this prince.

Watching Xian Mo change into exquisite, luxurious robes, Feng Guang felt the quiet comfort of seeing a child she cared for finally living a better life.

Even though she had been trying to help him recover his health, it wasn’t something that could be fixed overnight. Xian Mo was still very thin—far more slender than other boys his age. The wide, heavy brocade robes draped over his frail frame, setting off his already delicate, handsome features in a way that only made people’s hearts ache.

Feng Guang crouched in front of him, silently looking at this child who was only twelve years old, her chest tight with emotion.

“Feng Guang… are you still here?”

After not hearing her voice for a long while, Xian Mo spoke uncertainly in the vast, empty bedchamber.

She answered quickly, “I’m here.”

During these days, whenever she fell silent for too long, he would always ask if she was still there. If she didn’t answer, he would remain standing where he was. The liveliness that had only recently returned to his dark eyes would slowly fade again, sinking back into lifeless stillness.

“Feng Guang…”

He reached out a hand.

Feng Guang held his small hand with both of hers. It was rough, even cracked in places. Gently, she said, “I’m holding little Feng Yan’s hand. Can you feel it?”

“Mm…” Xian Mo nodded, a rare hint of happiness appearing in his eyes.

Her heart softened instantly. “Little A-Mo has to grow up well—grow a little plumper, a little taller. It’d be best if you grow up healthy and strong.”

“Feng Guang, grow up with me.”

Feng Guang smiled. “Okay. I’ll grow up with you.”

She thought to herself that, until the System finished repairing the bug—until the day she would be transmitted away—she would protect this child as best she could.