Blooming of the Red Spider Lily: The Enchanting Pavilion Master - Chapter 47 - More and More Interesting

Seeing this, the man, Lansheng, had a deeper smile on his face, his lips curling up with satisfaction as he leisurely picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and slowly put it in his mouth: “I truly didn’t expect that the person Hongxiao likes would turn out to be me. Things are getting more interesting, aren’t they?”

Meanwhile, Feng Moqing, Feng Mojin, and Jiang Qing returned to the palace somewhat subdued after bidding farewell to Li Bai. Knowing that he had hurt Li Bai’s feelings with his words, Feng Mojin felt even more depressed, his mood worse than before they left the palace.

Feng Zihan and Changsun Ran were naturally more worried upon seeing this. After exchanging glances and discussing for a moment, Changsun Ran finally spoke softly to Feng Mojin: “Xiao Jin, in a few days, we will be going to the temple to fulfill our vows. Father and Mother have seen that your mood hasn’t been very good lately, so perhaps you could go this time? It would be nice to walk around and see different things; consider it a way to relax.”

Changsun Ran’s tone held a hint of inquiry; clearly, she wouldn’t force Feng Mojin if she wasn’t willing. For their only daughter, Feng Zihan and Changsun Ran cherished her dearly, wishing they could present her with all the treasures in the world, so naturally, they wouldn’t push her into doing anything she didn’t want.

“Mother, I’ll go,” Feng Mojin said with a gentle smile as she playfully leaned into Changsun Ran’s embrace. After snuggling for a moment, she softly added, “I’m sorry, Father, Mother. I haven’t been a good daughter these days and have made you worry.”

It wasn’t until she stepped outside and witnessed the lives of ordinary people-seeing the occasional street urchin-that Feng Mojin realized just how fortunate she was to have been born a princess. Moreover, she had supportive parents and a brother who loved her dearly, which was so much better than the plight of those who had lost both parents.

In this world, she really had so much happiness.

Hearing her daughter’s thoughtful words made Changsun Ran’s eyes turn misty. The daughter she had spoiled for years had become so understanding and sensible after just a brief outing from the palace. This realization brought a wave of comfort to her heart. She embraced Feng Mojin, exchanging a glance with Feng Zihan, and then they both smiled at each other.

As parents, their greatest wish was for their children to grow up healthy and happy, and now they could say their wish had been fulfilled.

The next day, after preparing, Feng Mojin left the royal palace with a few guards and two maidservants, escorted secretly by the Shadow Guards as they made their way west to the national temple of the Fengli Kingdom-Fengxiang Temple.

According to legend, at the very beginning of the establishment of the Fengli Kingdom, there was a chancellor who was known for his ability to recognize and employ talent and for his willingness to heed advice. He was a rare talent, and due to his position, he was commonly referred to as Chancellor Feng. However, as fate would have it, this selfless chancellor, who dedicated himself to the country and its people, fell ill due to overwork and passed away before he even reached his thirtieth year, just as the Fengli Kingdom was beginning to take shape and grow strong.

Moved by his dedication, the King of the Fengli Kingdom established a temple in his honor, naming it after him. He decreed that on the anniversary of Chancellor Feng’s passing, people should visit the temple to pay their respects. Over time, Fengxiang Temple became the national temple of the Fengli Kingdom. On this date each year, members of the royal family would visit the temple to fulfill their vows and pray for the people’s safety and prosperity in the year ahead.

With the support of her maidservants, Feng Mojin waved once more at Feng Moqing and Jiang Qing before turning to climb into the carriage. As the wheels turned, she lifted the curtain and looked back at Feng Moqing, feeling as though he was growing smaller in her view until he eventually disappeared from sight.

Even though she was only leaving for a few days, she suddenly felt a pang of longing, realizing that one day she would leave home, and distance herself from her father, mother, and brother. This thought brought a stinging sensation to her nose. But in the next moment, she bit her lip and lifted her chin defiantly: she couldn’t live under her brother’s protection forever; there were many paths she would have to try walking on her own.

Letting the curtain fall, Feng Mojin leaned back against the soft cushion and slowly closed her eyes: the journey was long, and she might as well take a moment to rest.

However, when she closed her eyes, she certainly didn’t expect to wake up to a different scene, having crossed the boundaries between life and death.

She thought she would just take a brief nap, but instead, she fell into a deep slumber. When she finally woke up, she found herself surrounded by darkness. After calling out for a while without receiving a reply, she realized that it wasn’t dark around her; it was because a cloth had been tied over her eyes.

As she moved her wrist, the rough friction between her skin and the rope caused her delicate skin to break, and she couldn’t help but gasp in pain. This discomfort quickly made her aware of her predicament: she had been kidnapped!

If it were just for ransom it might not be so bad, but what scared her was the thought that their intentions weren’t merely financial. She was the Third Princess of the Fengli Kingdom; although she only appeared before the public on specific occasions, most people still recognized her and would hesitate to offend her because of her royal status.

Moreover, she was accompanied by the Imperial Guards of the Fengli Kingdom on her journey, their attire clearly indicating their royal affiliation. With the Shadow Guards lurking nearby, it was reasonable to assume that no bandits would dare to confront the royal family! Yet, the uncomfortable truth was that she had fallen into the hands of thieves, and those who had been tasked with her protection-the Imperial Guards and the Shadow Guards-were likely facing dire circumstances. Whoever could wipe out the entire contingent assigned to protect Feng Mojin was undoubtedly formidable!

Feng Mojin feared that their purpose in capturing her was to leverage her as a bargaining chip against Feng Zihan or Feng Moyu. If that were the case, this group could very well be revengers sent by the other eight nations.

But which nation would dare to confront the Fengli Kingdom directly? If news of her abduction got out and the masterminds behind it were uncovered, it would undoubtedly lead to war between the two nations. Given the current military strength of the Fengli Kingdom, who would be reckless enough to take such a gamble?

Trying to recall the current situation among the nine nations as Feng Moyu had once narrated to her before bedtime, she strained her mind but couldn’t figure out which faction would have the audacity to kidnap her! Everyone knew that Feng Mojin was the treasured jewel of the Fengli Kingdom, not to mention the recent events involving Mu Yang had bolstered her support among the people. Unless someone truly wanted an all-out confrontation with the entire Fengli Kingdom, who would dare to kidnap her?

As she pondered desperately about who could be behind her abduction, Feng Mojin suddenly heard a creaking sound, followed by the unmistakable sound of footsteps approaching her. Her body tensed, and she focused all her senses on her surroundings.

“Big brother, her hand is injured. Is she alright? She is a princess, after all!” One voice, seemingly agitated, remarked upon noticing the wounds from her earlier struggles. Feng Mojin’s expression tightened: these people clearly knew she was a princess!

“What does it matter? She won’t live much longer anyway!” another voice responded dismissively in a deep tone, sending a chill down Feng Mojin’s spine: they wanted her dead!

Meanwhile, Li Bai crouched behind a tree, quietly observing the bandit hideout in the distance. If she wasn’t mistaken, Feng Mojin should be inside.

Before they had parted ways yesterday, she had accidentally brushed her hand against the pollen of the pear blossoms, which were known for their sensitivity and deep connection with her feelings. Thus, when the overwhelming scent of blood overwhelmed the fragrance of the flowers, Li Bai realized that something must have happened to Feng Mojin!

Although the woman was merely a fleeting acquaintance, Li Bai couldn’t ignore the danger she knew Feng Mojin was in. She followed the scent of blood, leading her to this remote bandit hideout. The humans within the hideout were nothing to worry about for Li Bai; after all, she was a flower demon who had cultivated for hundreds of years. Based on her skills, dealing with those humans would be more than manageable. However, what made Li Bai hesitant to act recklessly was the unusual state of Feng Mojin’s Shadow Guards: none of them had any visible wounds and looked as if they were quietly sleeping. Yet when Li Bai placed her hand on their lifeless bodies, she discovered that they all lacked hearts!

All of their hearts had suddenly disappeared, which was something no human could do. Moreover, the manner of death of the guards and Shadow Guards was different. In other words, another person must be hiding in the shadows, and this person likely possessed greater power than she did. Acting impulsively could put both herself and Feng Mojin in danger.

Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed within the hideout. Upon recognizing it as Feng Mojin’s voice, Li Bai felt a surge of panic. Without a moment’s thought, she jumped down from the tree, fearing that if she hesitated even for a second, Feng Mojin might face death.

However, as soon as her feet touched the ground, she froze, more accurately, she didn’t dare to move! She distinctly sensed that as she jumped down, someone had approached her and was now standing right behind her!

Though she didn’t feel any malice from this presence, Li Bai was unable to calm herself completely. If this person hadn’t been so close, she might have never realized someone was behind her; generally speaking, beings that could appear behind one without a sound were not to be considered human.

This meant that the being behind her was either a demon or something even more terrifying than a demon. Taking a deep breath, Li Bai slowly turned around, only to see darkness filling her vision in the next moment. Just before losing consciousness, she caught a glimpse of a pair of striking blue eyes, gleaming brilliantly-she had never seen such beautiful eyes in her life.

As Li Bai softly collapsed to the ground, the person behind her quickly stepped forward to catch her, lifting her gently. The blue-eyed figure then leaned closer to her ear and whispered something.

Just as that slightly seductive voice faded, Li Bai opened her eyes. The almond-shaped eyes that should have held a hint of a smile were now devoid of emotion, like a still pond without any ripples. Slowly, she descended from the man’s embrace and began walking forward, heading straight for the place where Feng Mojin was imprisoned.

As he watched Li Bai move further away, he bent down slightly and murmured, “May you achieve your heart’s desire,” before vanishing completely beneath the trees.

Feng Mojin felt that she might truly die here this time. As a child, she had faced danger before, but never had she been so close to death. The blade was hovering dangerously near her ear, slicing through a few strands of her hair. If it had been aimed just a little differently, her ear might have been severed. Fortunately, the blindfold covering her eyes had fallen away as a result.

If she hadn’t reacted quickly to the sound of the blade slicing through the air, she would have been finished! Though fear overwhelmed her heart, Feng Mojin managed to mask her fear on her face. Instead, she stared coldly at the person in front of her and said in a sharp voice, “Do you have any idea what it means to kill a princess? Should I survive today, I may let this matter go; but if I die, you will all accompany me to the grave!”

Feng Mojin’s fierce voice and commanding tone did cause a flicker of panic in the bandits before her. Aside from the leader, the others involuntarily took a step back. This girl, though still young, exuded an astonishing presence; it was the noble air borne from being in a position of power for many years, something that was difficult for others to cultivate!

Seeing the hesitation on the faces of the bandits, Feng Mojin secretly sighed in relief: thanks to the tactics Feng Moyu had taught her, she was able to intimidate these people.

When she was younger, Feng Mojin had once encountered danger when rebels attempted to capture her to threaten her father and make their escape. Though she had emerged unscathed after that incident, she had still been frightened. For a long time afterward, she had resisted anyone getting too close to her; she was terrified of experiencing once again the feeling of being overwhelmed by fear and losing control.