Their marriage was a result of the Empress Dowager's forceful persuasion, and the child was conceived due to Liu Meng Han's scheme. It was an inherently flawed existence. Now that Liu Meng Han and the child were gone, it was perhaps a form of liberation, sparing them from further suffering in this world because of him.
Ling Mo Han also noticed Chu Yan Xi's current emotional state. Indeed, if a man had no feelings for a woman, he would not grieve too deeply even if she died for him.
This man was truly heartless. It was a pity for countless infatuated women in the world, and one could not imagine how many more would rush into an endless inferno like moths to a flame.
"It seems the Third Prince is indeed a heartless man. Hearing of the demise of his wife and legitimate son, he shows no grief whatsoever, not even shedding a single tear. I wonder what Liu Meng Han and the child feel in the netherworld."
"Shut up, Ling Mo Han. My household affairs are none of your business!"
His hidden thoughts exposed, Chu Yan Xi became enraged. His eyes blazed as he glared at Ling Mo Han. Yet, deep down, he was desperately anxious to know how Feng Ruo Yan was faring.
When his army was defeated, Ling Mo Han's forces had pressed too hard, and all the soldiers escorting him had sacrificed themselves. He had fought with all his might to barely escape with his life, leaving no time to go back and rescue Feng Ruo Yan. He could only leave himself with regret.
After he had settled in, he had immediately dispatched people to search for Feng Ruo Yan and the child. However, the manor was surrounded by soldiers, making it impossible to find Feng Ruo Yan, let alone even approach.
"I suspect the Third Prince must be eager to know Feng Ruo Yan's condition and how your child is doing, isn't that right?"
Ling Mo Han immediately guessed Chu Yan Xi's hidden thoughts. The one he cared about most was none other than the ever-present Feng Ruo Yan.
"How are they?"
Upon hearing that it concerned Feng Ruo Yan, Chu Yan Xi's demeanor changed instantly. He was desperate to know everything about Feng Ruo Yan right now. In his heart, Feng Ruo Yan was ultimately the most important.
"They are still alive for now, but what happens next depends entirely on the Third Prince's choices!"
Chu Chen Yi looked at Ling Mo Han, speaking in riddles, and was momentarily unable to discern Ling Mo Han's true intentions or what he planned to do.
"What do you want?"
After a moment's hesitation, Chu Chen Yi still stepped forward and whispered into Ling Mo Han's ear.
"Shut up. Just watch and say less."
Ling Mo Han's sharp gaze fell on Chu Chen Yi, reprimanding him to keep his mouth shut and speak less, which was the most important thing.
"What do you mean? Whatever grudges you have, come at me directly. What kind of skill is it to target a woman? Ling Mo Han, if you have the guts, come at me!"
Chu Yan Xi's angry shouts echoed throughout the prison, and the chains clanked violently with his struggles.
But these angry shouts and warnings sounded no different than the cries of livestock to Ling Mo Han, merely the struggles of a cornered beast.
"This is also something I learned from the Third Prince. Did the Third Prince not use Feng Jin to threaten me back then? This is merely letting the Third Prince taste what it's like."
He still remembered the scene of Chu Yan Xi holding Feng Jin hostage on the city wall. Now, he was merely repaying all those past grievances to Chu Yan Xi.
Ling Mo Han no longer engaged in this pointless argument with Chu Yan Xi and directly ordered Feng Ruo Yan to be brought in.
At this moment, the poison in Feng Ruo Yan's body had fully taken effect. She was delirious and foolish, no different from a three-year-old child.
If Feng Jin had not temporarily suppressed the spread of the poison in her body, Feng Ruo Yan would have already lost her life.
The reason for saving Feng Ruo Yan was to use her to threaten Chu Yan Xi, saving a lot of trouble.
Driven by several guards, Feng Ruo Yan walked in slowly, her timid gaze darting around. Every movement of her limbs revealed her current fear and timidity.
"Yan'er... Yan'er!"
Upon seeing Feng Ruo Yan, Chu Yan Xi shouted loudly. However, he did not receive the same concerned words from Feng Ruo Yan as he had expected.
Upon hearing Chu Yan Xi's voice, Feng Ruo Yan was clearly startled. She quickly covered her head and scurried around like a mouse seeing a cat.
If the jailer standing by the door had not blocked her, Feng Ruo Yan would have already rushed out.
"Yan'er, what's wrong, Yan'er!"
The louder Chu Yan Xi shouted, the more frightened Feng Ruo Yan became, and the more frantic her reaction.
"What happened to her?" Chu Chen Yi was also greatly surprised to see Feng Ruo Yan in such a state. Was this still the renowned talented woman of the capital from back then? How had she become like this, no different from a madwoman?
"She's gone mad."
Ling Mo Han's thin lips parted, and he uttered two cold words.
Mad... Mad!
Chu Yan Xi's eyes widened in disbelief. He couldn't believe it. How could Feng Ruo Yan have gone mad? She was fine when he left.
Hadn't she promised to wait for him to return? How could she have gone mad in such a short time? This was impossible... impossible...
"Yan'er... Yan'er, look at me properly, see who I am... Yan'er!"
Chu Yan Xi's voice was pleading, appearing utterly powerless and filled with frustration, trying to awaken Feng Ruo Yan.
He preferred to believe that Feng Ruo Yan was faking it, a perfect plan to save her life.
But no matter how he called out, Feng Ruo Yan remained lost in her own world, not even sparing him a glance, as if he simply did not exist.
"Stop shouting. She has indeed gone mad. After your defeat, someone tried to poison Feng Ruo Yan. Fortunately, they arrived in time to save her, but she has become completely foolish. The reason she is like this is all because of you."
"What's even more tragic is your child. So young, and... starved to death alive, truly pitiful!"
Upon hearing the tragic news of Feng Ruo Yan and their child, Chu Yan Xi instantly slumped, collapsing onto the ground in despair.
Yan'er... Child... It was all because of him that they had become this way.
"His Majesty has decreed that the Empress conspired against the throne, demoted to commoner status, confined to the cold palace until death, never to see each other again."
"Mother Empress... Mother Empress!"
Chu Yan Xi murmured, the first feeling of regret appearing in his heart. Finally, he shed crocodile tears.