Chapter One Hundred
News spread like wildfire through the Holy City—Xia Jingshi, the King Who Pacifies the South, had achieved such towering merits that they overshadowed the Emperor himself. The Holy Emperor had detained him under the pretext of investigating the private stockpiling of weapons, and planned to falsely accuse him of conspiring with the people of Su Sha to stage a rebellion during their diplomatic visit. In an instant, teahouses and taverns buzzed with hushed conversations in various accents, all centered on this suddenly sensational topic. Even the street storytellers adapted their tales to recount the Western Grand Ancestor’s historical execution of the Prince of Qi to stabilize the state.
Court officials, already sensitive to rumors within and outside the court, soon caught wind of the rampant gossip circulating among the common folk. A group of elder statesmen from the previous reign immediately raised questions during the court assembly. Besides demanding Xia Jingshi’s release pending the investigation’s outcome, they also volunteered to participate in the inquiry into the illegal arms case.
After venting his fury in court, the Holy Emperor stormed off. Instinctively, he wanted to seek out Xia Jingshi and unleash his rage upon him. But halfway there, he abruptly halted, turned around, and headed instead toward Chongning Hall, where Feng Xiyang was confined.
After days of separation, Feng Xiyang had grown noticeably paler and thinner. Dressed in plain white robes without a trace of makeup, her skin was so translucent that the fine veins beneath seemed visible.
Startled by the Holy Emperor’s sudden entrance, the previously despondent Feng Xiyang sprang to her feet and rushed forward, clutching at the ornate sleeves of his robe. “Why have you locked me away? Where is my husband?” Frowning, the Holy Emperor brushed her off and said coldly, “What was once a simple matter has now been twisted into chaos by your spreading rumors, stirring up a storm across the city. Do you think I should continue to let you run wild outside?”
Xiyang had never been scolded so harshly to her face before. She stood frozen for a moment as the Holy Emperor strode past her deeper into the hall. “I came to deliver news—your elder brother and Fu Yixiao have arrived together.” “My brother?” Xiyang gasped in delight. “Truly? Has he really come?”
The Holy Emperor snorted. “He’s not here for you. Why are you so happy?” Overflowing with joy, Xiyang beamed. “Of course I know he didn’t come just for me. But it’s been so long since I last saw him—I’ve missed him terribly.” “What touching sibling devotion,” the Holy Emperor cut in icily. “Even if you’ve forgotten our agreement, you should at least remember who he arrived with.”
“Doesn’t the Emperor think this timing is perfect?” Feng Xiyang’s cheeks flushed with excitement. “Now we can expose her true nature in front of everyone.” “I need evidence,” the Holy Emperor replied flatly. “Without proof, no one will believe us. Besides, why would they so easily suspect Fu Yixiao?”
“Evidence?” Xiyang hesitated. “Though I know little of statecraft, Father once said internal strife can shake the nation’s foundations. Surely the Emperor doesn’t intend to wait until they take action before—” “That’s not what I meant,” the Holy Emperor interrupted impatiently. “What I need are documents—letters of correspondence, rosters of conspirators, and the like.”At this point, a faint, almost imperceptible sneer curled at the Holy Emperor's lips. "These matters can be temporarily left to me to investigate—but I ask you, do you understand what you must do once they arrive?" Feng Xiyang instinctively shook her head. The Holy Emperor sighed softly. "Your husband is imprisoned in my dungeons, so naturally you are desperate to rescue him. Therefore, when your Imperial Brother arrives in Brocade, you should urgently plead with him to help me uncover the truth swiftly and clear your husband's name." He paused slightly. "Only by giving Fu Yixiao enough time to act alone will she gradually reveal her fox tail, don't you agree?"
"I fear I won’t be able to deceive my brother for long," Feng Xiyang said with concern. "I’ve never kept anything from him before." "It won’t take long," the Holy Emperor replied, smiling as he lightly touched her cheek. His icy fingers made Xiyang instinctively recoil. "But I must remind you—do not cause any further disruptions. If you interfere with my plans again, I will be displeased. This is the Brocade Dynasty, not the Vermilion Sand Country where you can act as you please."
Banners fluttered in the wind as the envoy delegation from Vermilion Sand, led by the Brocade Feather Forest Cavalry, slowly entered the Holy City. Among the procession, the Suosha Guards still wore red, and the Brocade Guards remained in black, yet the once stark division between the two colors had blurred since their departure from Vermilion Sand. Even the citizens of Brocade crowded at the city gates, pointing and murmuring at the mingled red-and-black procession. When the first grand carriage, drawn by eight magnificent horses, slowly passed through the gates, the crowd erupted into cheers and applause.
"Look! It’s our Princess General, and beside her is the Imperial Son of Vermilion Sand!" someone shouted. Starting from an unknown source, the scattered voices gradually unified, swelling into a thunderous chant: "Princess General… Princess General… Princess General…"
Yixiao sat rigidly in the half-open carriage, fists clenched tightly on her knees, unmoving. She had witnessed such scenes before when returning victorious with the army, but back then, all the praise and admiration had been directed at Xia Jingshi. She had merely ridden behind him, watching as he smiled and waved to the surrounding crowds…
Lost in thought, she startled when Feng Suige’s hand affectionately settled on her waist. Turning, she met his amused gaze. "It seems you’re quite popular in Brocade. How does it feel to be the center of attention?" Yixiao’s tense posture relaxed slightly. "It’s fine." "Just a bit awkward, isn’t it?" Feng Suige chuckled. "Relax. There will be many more occasions like this. You’ll get used to it."
Yixiao nodded helplessly. As her gaze returned to the scene outside, a faint smile touched her lips—only to vanish instantly as she abruptly stood up. Feng Suige reacted swiftly, grabbing her arm and rising beside her. "What’s wrong?" he asked in a low voice. Yixiao’s eyes were fixed on a distant point in the crowd as she answered urgently, "One of Ning Fei’s lieutenant generals is disguised among the people—he deliberately let me see him!""Now is not the time for reunions," Feng Suige cheerfully waved to the crowd lining the street while murmuring under his breath. "He will surely find a way to contact you again. Come, follow my lead and smile."
The carriage wheels rumbled over the stone-paved palace road as the Princess General from the common folk and her husband stood hand in hand on the carriage platform, smiling. The citizens of Embroidered Holy City cheered with joy, watching their procession slowly make its way toward the Royal City.
The dark ochre gates of the Royal City loomed ahead.
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