Hua Rong, supported by Nanny Cui, exited the room.
Unexpectedly, as she looked up, she saw Feng Jin Rui standing in the courtyard.
Feng Jin Rui had clearly been waiting for a long time but hadn't dared to knock.
Upon seeing her, a flicker of unease and fear flashed in his eyes.
He approached with hesitant steps, appearing anxious before his mother.
"Mother, Liu Jin said you weren't feeling well..."
"I'm fine. It's late, go back and rest."
Hua Rong merely glanced at him indifferently before leaving, supported by Nanny Cui.
Feng Jin Rui stood rooted to the spot, his gaze lingering on their retreating figures for a long time.
He knew his mother didn't like him, but he couldn't understand why.
Was it because he wasn't obedient enough?
But he listened to everything his mother said; he was truly obedient.
It was just that his mother was unwilling to speak more than a few words with him.
It was as if she didn't want him as her son at all.
After an unknown period, the door was opened again, and Feng Ye Xuan emerged with somewhat heavy steps.
"Fourth Brother..."
"Don't call me Fourth Brother, Mother will be unhappy."
"Big Brother," Feng Jin Rui called out obediently.
Feng Ye Xuan caught the dimness in his eyes and felt a touch of pity.
This younger brother had been very well protected since childhood, unaware of life's hardships and never having suffered any grievances.
Because of this, he lacked the cunning and wariness possessed by those in the royal family.
He was so innocent that no one would dislike him upon meeting him.
Only his mother seemed to hold him in disdain.
"Big Brother, did I... do something wrong? Why does Mother never like me?"
As Feng Jin Rui asked this, he couldn't help but glance back.
Although he was sure his mother had gone far, he was still afraid his mother would hear these words and become unhappy again.
Even though his mother wouldn't lose her temper with him, she would become increasingly cold towards him.
He hesitated, "Big Brother, where... am I not doing well? Is it because I'm not as outstanding as you?"
"It has nothing to do with you," Feng Ye Xuan said, looking up at the sky.
The sky was about to brighten.
"You stayed up all night?"
Feng Jin Rui nodded. "Liu Jin said Mother wasn't feeling well, and I wanted to check on her, but I was afraid... afraid she didn't want to see me."
Sometimes, he doubted if he was his mother's biological son.
But Nanny Cui said he was, that he was indeed his mother's son.
Big Brother also said so.
But why was his mother so indifferent to her own son?
"You are her biological son, how could she not want to see you? It's just that Mother hasn't been feeling well lately, so her attitude has been a bit distant. Don't take it to heart."
Feng Ye Xuan, a man who was generally cold to others, was always gentle towards Feng Jin Rui.
For so many years, the two brothers had relied on each other. In Feng Jin Rui's heart, his elder brother was both a father and a brother, a sibling, and a senior.
He listened to him in everything.
"Go back and rest early," Feng Ye Xuan said.
Feng Jin Rui nodded, his gaze still drawn towards the direction Hua Rong had left.
"Now, go back and rest," Feng Ye Xuan's voice grew a little firmer.
"Yes..." Feng Jin Rui still hesitated. "Big Brother, am I... really Mother's son?"
"Yes!" Without a doubt.
Feng Jin Rui let out a shallow breath, nodded, and then walked towards his own chambers with his head bowed.
Feng Ye Xuan was about to return to his room when, as he took a step, his eyes suddenly darkened. He leaped up, and in an instant, landed on the high wall of the backyard: "Who's there? Get out!"