Chapter 605: Chapter 605

Yuwen Yu was obviously shaken by Zhou Family’s words, looking at Feng Wan with disappointment. In his view, Zhou’s argument wasn’t wrong. Feng Wan had once described the situation of her sisters to Yuwen Yu. Though Fengyu and Feng Ling had always been at odds, their relationship with her had remained good, and she had always taken care of Fengyu. If that was the case, Fengyu’s act of saving them was out of affection, merely a small gesture of kindness. If captivity was necessary, a familiar place like Prince Manor would be appropriate. So why imprison them in Qiushan?

It was just a matter of Feng Wan’s words, yet she evaded and resisted. Was she unwilling to let their family leave? Even if she wanted to leave, would she only want to take her children, abandoning Zhou’s son to stay on Qiushan and await death? Feng Wan didn’t care about Zhou Family’s thoughts, but she did care about Yuwen Yu’s perspective. Seeing his cold, suspicious gaze, it felt like a knife twisting in Feng Wan’s heart.

Clearly, they had once shared a loving, unwavering bond. So why, after two months of captivity, had everything become unrecognizable? At this point, Chunlu pushed the door open, and Fengyu softly moved her lotus-like steps inside. She looked mockingly at Yuwen Yu, skeletal and sickly in bed, then sneered, "I wondered why Yuwen Yu refused to write a divorce letter—turns out he’s using affection to manipulate my eldest sister. She’s always been soft-hearted, loves you deeply, so she willingly stayed on the mountain to care for you. And yet, you condoned others to threaten and coerce her. Eldest sister, you should see the truth clearly now. Times have changed. If I bring the children back home, and you stay on the mountain, he won’t treat you well. He now sees you only as a talisman to protect his life."

Some people can share prosperity, but not adversity.

His generosity, magnanimity, and deep affection existed only when his life was prosperous and secure. Even though Feng Family faced hardships in the past three years, because of the eldest sister, Yuwen Jing wouldn’t act against Feng Family and couldn’t bring himself to harm his brother. Thus, Yuwen Yu could afford to offend Yuwen Jing for Feng Wan—it was merely a slap on the wrist, harmless overall, especially since Yuwen Jing wouldn’t entrust him with real power anyway.

But now, things were different. He was fallen, his life hanging by a thread. Feng Wan had become his lifeline.

"Years ago, I was nearly tricked by the late Empress and the Emperor, almost becoming Prince Kang’s concubine, forever confined to the Imperial Palace. Who would’ve thought that now I’ve transformed into the Empress of the new dynasty—storming into your bedchamber without so much as an announcement. Truly, times change, Fengyu. What passes between husband and wife is none of your concern," Yuwen Yu said coldly, looking at Fengyu.

If it weren’t for his failure to seize the throne, the one who would’ve died would’ve been Xie Xun.

Perhaps, for Feng Wan’s sake, he would’ve spared Fengyu. The one begging on her knees would’ve been Fengyu, not him.

"The winds of fate spare no one. Eldest sister doesn’t need your consent to divorce. If you’re unwilling to write the letter of divorce, I can find someone to write it instead. Eldest sister, do you want to leave with the children, or continue this stifling existence on Qiushan?" Fengyu directly asked Feng Wan.

Even the deepest feelings could not withstand erosion. Feng Wan retained some affection for Yuwen Yu, but it couldn’t survive the toxicity brought by him and Zhou Family. Someday, if Zhou Family’s son were to meet with misfortune, both Zhou Family and Yuwen Yu would resent Feng Wan for saving only her children, letting their child die.

Feng Wan was aware that Fengyu was intentionally urging her to recognize reality. If, after understanding it all, she still chose to stay on Qiushan, Fengyu would have nothing more to say.

Feng Wan didn’t want to be a woman who would betray trust, someone who could share prosperity but not adversity. Yet thinking about her young children and the foreseeable misery of life on Qiushan, she began to waver.

"So indeed... You’ve been planning to leave all along!" Yuwen Yu laughed bitterly. "Since you’ve been planning to leave, why did you sisters stage this charade?"

Feng Wan’s face turned deathly pale. "Fine... I will leave!"

Yuwen Yu’s pupils constricted, his expression shifted drastically. "Don’t forget your oath: alive, you belong to the Yuwen Family; in death, you are a ghost of the Yuwen Family. My children will never take the surname Feng—they will forever be my offspring, Yuwen Family’s blood. Feng Wan, don’t even dream of taking my children away. Our family will live and die together. You swore it to me. How can you break your promise?"

Feng Wan felt a deep, piercing pain—all because she had once vowed to stay on Qiushan with him forever. She had believed their love was unbreakable, thought Yuwen Yu trusted her without suspicion. Yet it turned out to be her delusion—the desire for everlasting companionship was hers alone.

"Your agreement isn’t necessary. Zhang Da, prepare ink and paper for Yuwen Yu," Fengyu called out toward the door.

Zhang Da nodded and went to prepare writing tools. "Yes!"

The chamber was narrow, cold, with a pungent smell lingering. Fengyu brought Feng Wan to the courtyard to wait, instructing Qiuxiang to take people and help Feng Wan pack her belongings.

Yuwen Yu refused to write, prompting Zhang Da to force him. Inside, Yuwen Yu’s cries of agony echoed. Feng Wan’s eyes were bloodshot, silently shedding tears.

Fengyu said, "Sister, please don’t blame me."

"I know you’re doing this for my own good," Feng Wan replied.

Fengyu’s attempt to persuade her to leave stemmed from concern for her sister and her children—a hope for a comfortable, stable life. To Feng Wan, Feng Family was their haven.

What truly grieved Feng Wan was the disfigurement of their relationship. She had believed they would steadfastly remain together on Qiushan for life.

Upon witnessing this, Zhou Family ran out in a frenzy and knelt before Feng Wan, abandoning any semblance of a noblewoman’s decorum. "Sister, I was wrong—please, save my son. I’m willing to stay on Qiushan and serve our lord. Take Third Son away with you. You’re his legitimate mother. Please, I beg you, grant him a chance to live!"

Fengyu watched indifferently. She had always been a cold-hearted person. The children imprisoned on Qiushan were not limited to Yuwen Yu’s offspring. Even Yuwen Jing’s young son and daughter required care. She couldn’t save them all, merely send people to look after the youngest among them. Whether they survived or perished depended on fate.

Victory and defeat—they were all that mattered. If Xie Xun and Xie Jue had lost, even her daughter Ruyi might not have had a chance to live.

Feng Wan and Zhou Family had often clashed, their relationship strained. Ever since Zhou Family gave birth to her child, Feng Wan had scarcely seen them and held little affection. But her nature was kind. Unable to bear the sight of children suffering, Zhou Family’s son, similar in age to her Yuan Ge, moved Feng Wan’s compassion.

Regardless of the conflicts among the adults, children were always innocent. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel⦿fire.net

Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to speak.

Fengyu’s willingness to take her and her children away was an act of kindness, not an obligation. She didn’t want to impose on Fengyu’s generosity, knowing Fengyu genuinely didn’t intend to take anyone else away.

"You needn’t beg eldest sister—she doesn’t have the power to decide. I’m only taking eldest sister and her children because they’re divorced, and the children will belong to Feng Family in the future. What identity does your son have to leave Qiushan? You’re Yuwen Yu’s concubine, and he’s your master. If you want to leave, let your family negotiate it with the Emperor." Fengyu’s voice was cold. Opening this door might set a precedent, compelling the women confined to Qiushan—all but Yuwen Jing’s bloodline—to follow suit, seeking divorce and taking their children away. It wouldn’t be long before Xie Xun faced his own troubles. Fengyu foresaw this, yet still acted to fulfill this selfish wish.