His Highness the Madman gave in again today.

The voice mentioned a name.

A name that is taboo within the royal family.

That was Feng Xingyu's mother, Yun Wangshu.

Upon hearing this, Liu Ruxu was terrified, but her mind still uncontrollably kept thinking about everything related to Yun Wangshu.

After reading through that memory, Mo Sangyu not only learned about Yun Wangshu, but also about the other characters.

Empress Lin of Dayou came from a family of generals with a long history. Her father was a key minister who helped Feng Mingyuan ascend the throne.

Empress Lin was less a matter of favor and more a necessary bargaining chip to consolidate the empire.

Feng Mingyuan respected her more than he was close to her; there were layers of interests and rules between the emperor and empress, and there was no real affection between them.

Willow catkins are just like that.

The Rong family behind her controlled the salt transport in Jiangnan and one-third of the grain transport, making them incredibly wealthy.

When Feng Mingyuan was still the Crown Prince, in order to raise military funds and win over the forces in Jiangnan, he had no choice but to bring Liu Ruxu into the Eastern Palace.

She was beautiful, but arrogant and domineering. Feng Mingyuan had little genuine affection for her; he was merely maintaining a facade of respectability and favor.

However, she was quite promising. Her son, Feng Chengrui, was taken in as a personal disciple by Su Haotian of the Tianyan Sect from a young age. At such a young age, he had already reached the pinnacle of martial arts cultivation. In the court, he was the only person who could check and balance the Empress and the Crown Prince's faction.

In the imperial harem, there were quite a few concubines who were bound together by mutual interests.

Behind them was a deeply entrenched power of court officials, whose every move could have far-reaching consequences.

Feng Mingyuan maneuvered among them, employing both kindness and severity, but his heart remained cold and hard.

Until he met Yun Wangshu.

That happened in a remote mountain village in Jiangnan when he was seriously injured in an assassination attempt during an incognito trip.

The woman who saved him was dressed in simple clothes, yet her beauty was undeniable, especially her eyes, which were as clear as a mountain stream.

However, the woman had no memory, did not know where she came from, and only knew some rudimentary medical skills, barely making ends meet in the mountains.

The moment Feng Mingyuan saw her, something struck his heart like a heavy blow.

He had never seen a woman like this before.

Naïve of the ways of the world, yet possessing an innate resilience and purity.

He doesn't understand political maneuvering, but he is intelligent and insightful.

Whenever he was upset, a few simple words from her would always brighten his mood.

During that time, she took meticulous care of him, this "fallen prince," without asking for anything in return.

Despite her unknown origins, Feng Mingyuan disregarded everything and revealed his identity to her, forcefully bringing her back to the palace.

He was initially only granted the title of Noble Lady, and he stayed at her place almost every night.

He showered her with countless treasures and fine silks, but she only favored the simple and elegant ones. More often than not, she would tend to the herbs she had planted in the courtyard herself, or quietly read books and practice calligraphy.

She was like a ray of light that suddenly shone into his dark and heavy imperial life.

Warm, bright, and pure.

His affection for her was almost exclusive, which aroused resentment in the harem and was also frequently criticized in the court.

Despite the pressure and opposition, he promoted her step by step from a Noble Lady to a Consort, and then to a Concubine.

Yun Wangshu was not unaware of the dangers of the imperial harem.

She simply lacks memories of her past, not that she is dull-witted.

Faced with open and covert attacks, and treacherous schemes, she always managed to turn danger into safety time and time again thanks to her extraordinary caution and keen insight.

Feng Mingyuan was secretly protecting her and was even more surprised by her ability to protect herself.

As time went by, Feng Mingyuan's love for Yun Wangshu not only did not diminish, but instead grew stronger.

His doting affection for her was enough to drive the other concubines mad.

With the emperor's protection and Yun Wangshu's own intelligence, those who wanted to harm her were completely helpless.

Among them was Liu Ruxu.

She used almost every method imaginable: framing, assassination, instigation, drugging...

In the end, she could only watch helplessly as Yun Wangshu rose from a noblewoman to become her equal, and even soon surpassed her in status.

Because Yun Wangshu is pregnant.

Feng Mingyuan promised that if Yun Wangshu gave birth to a prince, he would make her an Imperial Noble Consort, with the same rank as the Empress.

During her pregnancy, she was protected so thoroughly that no one had any chance to take advantage of her.

Liu Ruxu was devastated.

She thought she would never have the chance to bring down Yun Wangshu in her lifetime, but unexpectedly, Yun Wangshu herself had a fatal weakness.

The day of delivery was exceptionally difficult.

When the baby's loud cry finally rang out, the midwife let out a terrified scream.

Because when the baby boy in the swaddling clothes opened his eyes, the color of his eyes was a terrifying blood red!

It was as if a demon had descended upon the world.

Rumors swept through the palace like wildfire, spreading to the previous dynasty.

The Imperial Astronomical Bureau observed the stars overnight and reported that "the appearance of red eyes in the world is a sign of great misfortune, indicating the decline of the nation's fortunes and the inevitable chaos in the world."

The court officials knelt on the ground, speaking vehemently, demanding the immediate execution of this "inauspicious son."

Feng Mingyuan's initial ecstasy was frozen into ice.

He looked into those blood-red eyes, so different from his own and Yun Wangshu's. The emperor's suspicion and instinctive fear of the stability of his empire overwhelmed the joy of having a son with his beloved.

On countless sleepless nights, he had that terrible thought more than once.

Yun Wangshu, who was always elegant and seemed to have no desires, dragged her weak body after childbirth and knelt in front of him again and again, begging him.

"Your Majesty, he is our child. Even if he truly is a monster, and Heaven is destined to punish him, I am willing to bear everything in his place!"

For the first time, she referred to herself as "your humble servant" in front of him, her tone carrying a resolute distance.

Although Feng Mingyuan defied public opinion and saved the child, he still moved the mother and child to the most remote and desolate Cold Palace.

Once the most favored concubine, Consort Yun, fell from grace overnight.

An invisible rift was born between the emperor and his concubine, and it has been deepening ever since.

It is easy to imagine how favored Yun Wangshu was, and how miserable her days in the cold palace were.

No matter how much suffering, humiliation, and torment she endured, Yun Wangshu never gave up. In order to protect her son, she persevered and lived on.

During this time, Feng Mingyuan secretly visited the mother and son many times, and even felt sorry for them, wanting to find an opportunity to take them away from the Cold Palace.

However, every time he saw Feng Xingyu's eyes, especially as he grew older, his red pupils became even more sinister and eerie, making him want to avoid them at all costs.

In addition, the pressure from court officials and the rumors from the outside world made it impossible for him to accept this son.

He wanted Yun Wangshu to give up the son; if she did, he would immediately take her back.

At that moment, Yun Wangshu looked at him with utter disappointment.

Feng Mingyuan turned and left.

Six years later, on a stormy night...

A palace servant rushed in with great fear to report that he had seen Yun Wangshu's eyes in the Cold Palace... which had also turned a terrifying red.

Feng Mingyuan rushed over and saw it with his own eyes through the dilapidated window.

In the dim candlelight, Yun Wangshu was gently coaxing her child to sleep, and for a moment, her eyes actually shone with a dark red light.

The red eyes of the child in her arms were exactly the same.

So... she was the source.

The only woman he ever truly loved turned out to be the one who had been deceiving him all along…

The emperor's suspicion, his blinded anger, his fear of evil spirits, and his paramount responsibility for the country completely overwhelmed the last bit of warmth in his heart.

He stood outside the cold palace, his dragon robe soaked by the wind and rain.

The soft humming of Yun Wangshu could be faintly heard from inside.

He harbored resentment and hatred towards her.

She hated her deception, and even more so, she hated that she would rather live in the cold palace with this devil, giving him all her tenderness and love, but refusing to even glance at him.

At that moment, Liu Ruxu was standing not far behind him. She heard what he said and saw his eyes, which were extremely cold.

She knew that Yun Wangshu was finally doomed.

That evening, Feng Mingyuan issued an imperial decree.

"Yun Shi Wang Shu possesses a demonic aura, bewitches the palace, and gives birth to an ominous child. To protect the fate of the Great You Kingdom and the peace of the world... she is hereby granted a white silk ribbon to end her life immediately."

In Liu Ruxu's memory, the last part about Yun Wangshu is chaotic.

There was no white silk, no poisoned wine.

Only one sudden fire broke out, turning half the sky red.

It was late autumn, and the wind was strong.

No one knows how the fire started, and by the time it was discovered, the entire Cold Palace was engulfed in flames.

The fire was too intense; it was beyond saving.

The palace servants all said it was because the weather was dry and the water had run off.

Some say that Yun Wangshu herself didn't want to live anymore and set the fire.

Liu Ruxu felt extremely happy at that moment.

That eyesore, the woman who enjoyed the emperor's exclusive favor, finally died.

She framed and plotted against that woman so many times, but she always managed to escape. In the end, however... even demons and evil spirits cannot escape the will of Heaven.

After learning that the Cold Palace had caught fire and Yun Wangshu had perished in the flames, Feng Mingyuan sat alone in the Imperial Study all night.

The next day when he went to court, his face was frighteningly gloomy.

He ordered a thorough investigation into the cause of the flood, but the investigation was more bark than bite and ultimately came to nothing.

For many years afterward, no one in the harem dared to mention the name "Consort Yun" again.

These memories come from Liu Ruxu's perspective and the information she gathered, along with some minor details that require guessing and conjecture.

After seeing these memories, Mo Sangyu didn't know how to tell Feng Xingyu.

She withdrew her hand from Liu Ruxu's temple and, after a moment, said, "Alright, let her go."

When Liu Ruxu was conscious, her memories were forcibly extracted, causing some damage to her mind. The memories that Mo Sangyu had just seen were also infinitely amplified, plunging her into fear.

Feng Xingyu sheathed his blade and looked at Mo Sangyu. Seeing that she didn't look well, he asked with some concern, "Ayu, how are you?"

Mo Sangyu turned her head and met his red eyes.

These eyes truly possess an allure and an evil quality. In this old society steeped in feudal ideology, people could take advantage of his weakness and vulnerability to harm and humiliate him at will simply out of fear of them.

These people deserve to die!

"They say you will overthrow the dynasty and bring misfortune to the Great You."

Mo Sangyu walked up to him, raised her hand, and slowly stroked his face with her fingers. In her eyes was a madness that had not appeared for a long time.

She smiled softly.

That sense of danger gradually became apparent.

"Then how can we let them down!"

She tiptoed closer to his ear and asked, "Don't you think so, my...husband?"

Feng Xingyu felt as if the blood in his body was flowing backward.

He didn't know what A-Yu had seen in Liu Ruxu's memories that had triggered this reaction.

All he knew was that everything she did was for his own good.

He always trusted her unconditionally.

"it is good."

Feng Xingyu lowered his head, his thin lips almost touching the corner of her lips: "I'll do whatever Ayu says."

"Well, I'll tell you about what I saw today after we've taken our revenge, okay?"

"it is good."

Seeing how well-behaved he was, Mo Sangyu's heart softened again.

Actually, there were still some things she didn't understand.

Who started that fire?

Where exactly does Yun Wangshu come from?

Also, initially, for reasons unknown, Yun Wangshu may indeed have lacked the ability to protect herself.

But after her red eyes were revealed, Mo Sangyu felt that she must have regained some of her abilities, and there was absolutely no problem for her to take Feng Xingyu away from Da You.

But why doesn't she leave?

She left her six-year-old son alone in this cruel and ruthless palace, and then chose death herself.

That doesn't make sense.

Regardless, the fact that the mother and son share the same eye color, and the bloodline restrictions within Feng Xingyu's body, all indicate that his identity... is far from simple.

For now, there's no rush.

One thing at a time, take it slow.

With a flick of his wrist, Mo Sangyu produced a bundle of rope and two freshly made... burlap sacks.

"You're going to kidnap them?"

"Originally, I only wanted to take Liu Ruxu with me, but he just saw your face, so let's pack you up and take you with him too."

Feng Xingyu's eerie red eyes gleamed with a sharp, cold light: "So, my mother's death is related to them..."

"There's some connection, but not much."

Mo Sangyu chuckled and said, "To your mother, they are all fools."

Feng Xingyu was stunned, then gave a bitter smile.

But my mother still died.

At this moment, Liu Ruxu was lost in memories of that year, her mind somewhat clouded. Her face was deathly pale, and she kept muttering, "It wasn't me, I didn't kill you..."

Mo Sangyu went up and slapped her, knocking her unconscious.

This woman had tried to frame Yun Wangshu countless times, but never succeeded. However, most of the pain and torment Yun Wangshu suffered after entering the Cold Palace with Feng Xingyu, who was not even a month old, was caused by her.

How can we not return these pains and torments?

Feng Chengrui was not directly involved in these matters, but he was always aware of them and never stopped them.

"I'll do it."

After Liu Ruxu was knocked unconscious by the slap, Mo Sangyu tied her up with a rope, and Feng Xingyu took the sack from Mo Sangyu and put it over her head.

Just as the two finished dealing with Liu Ruxu, Feng Chengrui, who was lying on the ground, suddenly twitched his fingers.

Immediately afterwards, consciousness slowly returned.

His mind went blank, as if he had died once.

What happened?

He slowly raised his head, feeling his body was still a little stiff. When he turned his gaze, he saw a man and a woman covering his mother in a sack.

Feng Chengrui was startled and quickly circulated his inner energy, leaping to his feet: "What are you doing?"

Are you blind?

Mo Sangyu clapped her hands, turned her head and glanced at him lightly: "I'm tying up your mother, can't you see?"

The dose I just sprayed on him would have made an elephant sleep for days, yet he woke up so quickly.

As expected of someone at the peak of the ninth rank.

"You...you all..."

Feng Chengrui looked at Mo Sangyu, finally settling on Feng Xingyu's face: "Seventh Imperial Brother, release my mother immediately! I've been searching for you for over a year, but I never expected you to fake your death, escape from the Great You Kingdom, and establish your own Chen Kingdom. Now that you've returned, all you need to do is apologize to Father..."

"Oh."

Feng Xingyu was amused by his naive and hypocritical remarks, but the smile remained superficial.

Suddenly, the smile vanished from his face, his dark red eyes flashing with a cold, sinister light: "Who is your imperial brother? Third Prince, do you know why I've returned this time?"