Ye Xi looked at the look in his king's eyes, if he were to say it, he would definitely die a horrible death.

If you say it's not, isn't that going against your own conscience?

"Well, speak up then."

Ye Xi shivered with cold and hurriedly said, "Your Highness is joking. How could you be a lustful person? That night, it was not your initiative at all. You were forced. Both I and the soldiers in the camp saw it."

Speaking of this, I get angry. Feng Lingxi knew that night it was her who took the initiative with him, yet now she’s married and refuses to let him touch her, even despising him. Where did he go wrong? Is he worse than the prince?

"Besides not being the crown prince, where else am I inferior to him?"

Ye Xi glanced at the Wangye's angry expression and understood. The Wangye was outdone by the prince, feeling uncomfortable in his heart. This princess was truly amazing. In just a few days, she had captivated the Wangye to such an extent.

"My lord, forgive my boldness, but I feel that the princess does not seem to care much for the prince. Otherwise, she would have married him by now."

Dugu Cheng looked at Ye Xi, "This sounds pretty good when you say it that way," he said. "Ye Xi, do you really think the princess doesn't like the prince?"

"The subordinates think the princess dislikes everyone."

Dugu Cheng originally had a little bit of joy in his heart. After hearing Ye Xi's words, he suddenly felt a sharp pain. He also felt that Xi'er seemed not to care about anyone, even him. Back then, she had only treated him as a panacea, and nothing more.

"My lord, to be frank with you, what I'm about to say may sound unpleasant, but it is the truth."

Ye Xi continued, watching the King's increasingly ugly face, his words undeterred.

"Xier has no feelings for this king at all. That night, if it wasn't for the need to detoxify, she probably wouldn't even bother touching this king."

Hearing this, he himself felt like a little daughter-in-law who had been wronged. But these were facts and could not be changed, Feng Lingxi's view of him.

The Princess, towards the Prince, should be because the Prince deceived her before. A woman like the Princess, how could she so easily give her heart to the Prince? It would take some time.

Du Gu Cheng looked at Ye Xi with a puzzled expression. They had grown up together, how could Ye Xi's understanding of women be clearer than his?

"Ye Xi, you seem to know the Princess quite well."

Ye Xi hurriedly explained, "Your Highness, this is what they call being a spectator. Both you and the Princess are watching from the outside. The Princess's temperament is so cold and aloof. You toyed with her back then, schemed to marry her into the manor, and even deceived her. How could she possibly have any good feelings for you?"

"Alright, you've gotten me talking."

"If Xi'er truly holds a grudge against him for deceiving her in the past, then he has to resolve it," Dugu Cheng reprimanded with displeasure.

Otherwise, it's unlikely she would treat you sincerely.

Ye Xi chuckled and, seeing the King's downcast expression, suggested, "Your Majesty, why don't you try using a ruse of pain? When the Queen sees your distress, she will naturally let go of her resentment towards you."

"The ruse of feigned weakness?"

独孤城 raised an eyebrow. "Tell me."

This method isn't bad, but what if Xi'er found out he used a ruse of hardship? Wouldn't she be even more miserable?

After some thought, Dugu Cheng shook his head. "No, if she knew I used a ruse of pain, wouldn't she hate me even more?" He’d never win her heart now.

"Your Highness, my meaning is, Your Highness treats the Princess with sincerity. Over time, people's hearts will be moved by true feelings. The Princess isn't a heartless person. With time, she will naturally accept Your Highness."

Ye Xi's proposal made Dugu Cheng frown, "How long will that take?"

"This..."

Ye Xi looked at the way his king was looking at him, and forced a smile, saying, "My King, you should ask my subordinate about this. My subordinate truly doesn't know. For this sort of thing, my King must put in effort himself."

Given the princess's temper, it would take her a while to accept the king.

Just keep going, slowly.

"Then what should this King do now?"

"Of course, I should go back and apologize to the Princess. Lord Wang, aren't you forgetting? The assassins who tried to kill the Princess weren't caught. What if they come again? With only a few maids by the Princess's side, would they be able to protect her safety?"

独孤城脸色一沉，连忙道，“赶紧回去，本王怎把这个给忘了，真是气糊涂了。” 独孤城's face sank, and he hurriedly said, "Go back quickly. How could I have forgotten this? It seems I'm acting foolishly out of anger."

Ye Xi watched the King swiftly return, hurriedly following after him.

Back in the room, looking at Feng Lingxi who was already fast asleep, Dugu Cheng inexplicably felt a tightness in his chest, his nose tingling with acidity.

This heartless woman, he's gone out, and she's actually sleeping so soundly, doesn't she worry that he might not come back?

Is it that you don't have a heart, or you just can't feel empathy for others?

Dugu Cheng moved the bedding out and laid it on the floor, resignedly going to sleep.

The next morning, Feng Lingxi woke up and saw Dugu City lying under her bed. She thought she was mistaken. She didn't even know he had come back last night. Wasn't he very angry?

Why come back?

Feng Lingxi's foot touched the ground, and Dugu City woke up. Their eyes met, Feng Lingxi didn't speak. Dugu City thought of what Ye Xi had said yesterday, and pretended to be nonchalant, "Awake?"

Feng Lingxi was slightly startled, and replied with a faint voice, "Didn't the prince go out last night? How did he come back?"

Dugu Cheng looked at her, he had said so much already, how could she not speak to him politely?

"Your Majesty is going out for some fresh air, and once I'm done, I'll naturally come back to sleep. Otherwise, Your Majesty will be sleeping on the streets?" The words were a bit petulant, but not wrong.

Feng Lingxi glanced at him, “I’ve already asked Xiao Li to add a small bed for me at the apothecary. The Wangye will sleep here tonight, and I’ll go sleep over there.”

"Feng Ling Xi, you're to sleep in a separate bed from this King. Have you forgotten what your mother consort said? In three months, she..."

"I'm sorry, but I can't comply."

Feng Lingxi cut him off. "After much thought, I realize I'm not suitable for the King. If the King wants to find someone to continue his lineage, he should look elsewhere. I'm not a good match."

"You haven't even tried it, how do you know it's unsuitable? What's more, the King and I have already consummated our marriage. If you truly let me divorce you, do you think anyone in this world would be willing to marry you?"

Is she refusing to be the respected Fourth Princess and wanting to become a concubine for someone else? Or is it that she would rather remain a spinster her whole life than be with him?

"You needn't worry about this, Your Highness."

Dugu City was truly angered by her words. He genuinely wanted to know what she was thinking, why she was so impenetrable, and why everything she said made no sense.

"Enough, Your Highness. I won't speak of this anymore. Separate chambers are impossible. Don't forget, the one who tried to assassinate you hasn't been found yet. If you don't want to die, give up the idea of moving out."

Dugu City tidied his clothes, "This King has something to go out for a while, and will be back later."

Looking at him leave, Feng Lingxi's eyes sank. Could it be that she was really going to spend her life with Dugu City?

He and she will face too many difficulties together in the end.

(Editor in charge：meaning for novel)