That look made Chu Yueli's heart feel pierced and mangled in an instant.
They had known each other for years and were to be wed next month, yet now, for the sake of a girl he had known for less than half a month, he wanted her dead.
Years of deep affection and devotion suddenly seemed so ridiculous before the flash of murderous intent in his eyes.
She couldn't help laughing. "Does the Prince want to avenge her?"
"You think this prince wouldn't dare?" Lu Fengjin gritted his teeth, the words forcing their way through his clenched jaw, both cold and ruthless.
Hearing this, Zisu panicked and rushed forward immediately. "Prince, it has nothing to do with my lady! It was Tuoba Feiyuan who hurt—"
"Get lost!" Lu Fengjin raised his foot and kicked Zisu violently away.
Zisu crashed heavily to the ground and vomited a large mouthful of blood with a gasp.
"Zisu!" Chu Yueli snapped out of her daze and rushed over to help Zisu up.
Zisu wanted to say something, but as she opened her mouth, another mouthful of blood came up. She couldn't catch her breath, and finally rolled her eyes and passed out.
"Zisu!" Chu Yueli cried out in panic, "Wake up!"
Zisu had been by her side since they were children; though she was a maid, the two were like sisters, and Chu Yueli had long since regarded her as family.
Seeing Chu Yueli's anxious and panicked expression, Lu Fengjin's anger finally dissipated a little.
He rarely saw Chu Yueli looking so flustered, and seeing it now, his instinctive reaction was to go over and comfort her.
In his arms, Tuoba Feiyuan murmured weakly, "Damn... damn man, I... it hurts so much..."
With that, her head drooped and she passed out.
Lu Fengjin stared at her pale face and the blood continuously welling from her chest, and his pity for Chu Yueli faded significantly once again.
"Since you've already returned a slash to her, from now on, no one is allowed to bring this up again! Whoever dares mention it again, this prince will not spare them! You... take Zisu to get proper treatment."
With that, he scooped up the unconscious Tuoba Feiyuan and strode away in a hurry.
Seeing his frantic pace and his tense, uneasy back, Chu Yueli knew how much he cared for the girl in his arms.
Yet at this moment, she had no energy left to dwell on it.
That day, after settling Zisu down and instructing others to take care of her, Chu Yueli kept vigil by Chu Xiaohe's side.
Chu Xiaohe woke up around dusk, but upon waking, he said nothing, his expression dull and vacant.
Chu Yueli said nothing, helped him drink some water, and had him lie back down to rest.
He closed his eyes and steadfastly refused to say a single word.
It wasn't until midnight that Chu Xiaohe opened his eyes again; by then, he had calmed down.
"Ali, she is currently the favored one by the Prince's side, and the Prince treats her—" He sighed before continuing, "Ali, the Prince only sees her as a little girl and has no other intentions. Don't overthink it. Your eldest brother can tell that the Prince has only you in his heart."
Chu Yueli's heart gave a sudden, bitter pang.
Even in such a state, her eldest brother was still trying to comfort her.
She didn't speak, and Chu Xiaohe rasped, "The first of next month is your wedding day with the Prince. You have known each other for years; you cannot let a small misunderstanding ruin it."
"Eldest brother, I am fine, you don't need to comfort me." Chu Yueli took his hand, only to find that her brother's hand was ice-cold.
Just like Chu Yueli's heart, which was equally chilled.
"Eldest brother, get better soon. In the future, there will surely be a way," she said softly.
"Okay." Chu Xiaohe closed his eyes again, but this time, he quietly turned his head so that the uncontrollable tears at the corners of his eyes fell onto the other side of the pillow.
He refused to let his most cherished younger sister see.
Chu Yueli saw it all too clearly, but for her eldest brother's dignity, she could only pretend she hadn't.
For the next three days, Chu Yueli did not see Lu Fengjin again.
It wasn't until the evening of the third day that Lu Fengjin walked in from outside the courtyard with heavy steps.
"Ali, I don't know what has come over me lately! Ali, help me, I seem to... have fallen under some demonic spell."