Chapter 110
Watching Xia Jingshi's solemn expression, Feng Suige was deeply shaken. He understood this was the greatest tolerance and concession Xia Jingshi could offer. Just as he almost thought Xiyang would immediately agree, Feng Xiyang, leaning against him, stirred uneasily and raised her face to say, "Then, could my lord first promise Xiyang one thing?"
"What is it?" Xia Jingshi asked. "Speak your mind. If it's within my power, I'll certainly try." "Please promise me first," Feng Xiyang insisted stubbornly. "This matter is very simple, and my lord can definitely do it."
Xia Jingshi frowned almost imperceptibly but neither refused nor agreed. Seeing this, Feng Suige quickly interjected with a smile, "After all this time apart, Xiyang has become so fussy—why don't you say it first? Let His Highness hear what simple matter concerns you so much."
Xiyang hesitated with visible worry before lowering her head and whispering, "Please promise never to meet Fu Yixiao again or have any contact with her..." "Xiyang," Feng Suige chided gently, "you're being too willful." "I'm not!" Feng Xiyang suddenly sat upright and cried out, "Don't you think all the hardships we've endured were because of her?"
Before Feng Suige could respond, Xia Jingshi spoke coldly beside them, enunciating each word, "You're wrong. Everything was actually because of you."
Feng Suige froze, and Xiyang stared in disbelief, trembling as she asked after a long pause, "Why me?" Xia Jingshi looked at her for a moment before smiling. "There's no use saying more now. You may take it as angry words. But your request—I cannot agree to it." He paused slightly before continuing, "Moreover, don't you think saying such things is quite rude?"
For a moment, the air in the room seemed to freeze.
"She's here, she's here!" With the sound of hurried footsteps approaching, a guard waiting outside the residence rushed in. "The Minor Imperial Concubine has returned safely." Xia Jingshi said nothing, turning immediately to walk outside. Feng Suige patted Xiyang's shoulder comfortingly and stood up. "You should rest a while longer. We'll be departing soon."
"Brother..." Feng Xiyang called out despondently. "I just..." Feng Suige stopped and sighed. "Talk to him properly after we leave Brocade. This matter... I can't help you with."
"Your Highness!" As Xia Jingshi arrived in the front courtyard, Ning Fei, who had just been released from the prisoner's cart, ran toward him joyfully. Just as he was about to kneel, Xia Jingshi stepped forward to stop him, smiling. "No need for formalities. Save your strength." Ning Fei grinned broadly, looking him up and down before casually clapping Xia Jingshi on the shoulder where his hand rested. "Your Highness looks very fitting in these clothes!"
Feng Suige, following closely behind, couldn't stop Ning Fei in time. The heavy pat jolted Xia Jingshi's injuries, making him cough lightly as he covered his chest and took half a step back."Ning Fei!" Yixiao ran up from behind, her face pale. "How could you be so reckless..." Xia Jingshi quickly raised his hand to stop her unfinished words. "It's nothing, just a momentary loss of breath," he said, then turned his gaze to the subordinates gathering around in small groups. Despite being imprisoned for so long, apart from their slightly disheveled clothing, their spirits remained vigorous. A sense of relief washed over him. "Take some time to rest and regroup. We'll be setting off soon."
The night watch guards on the city tower had just changed shifts. The newly stationed soldier grumbled as he walked toward a sheltered corner of the city gate. "Damn bastards, bullying me just because I'm new, huh? Pah! Just wait till I get promoted—I'll make sure you regret it. Hmph, if you can slack off, so can I." Angrily, he retreated into the shadows, adjusting himself into a comfortable position. He had barely closed his eyes when the sound of movement from the palace road startled him awake. Suspicious, he rubbed his eyes and peered out.
From the dark end of the street emerged two palace lanterns, leading a procession of carriages and horses that drew nearer. The soldier squinted at the person holding the lantern for a long while, then rubbed his eyes in disbelief. "A eunuch?" The thought flashed through his mind, sending a jolt through him. He scrambled to his feet and hurried out from the shadows of the gate, kneeling by the side of the palace road.
A sturdy horse carrying a Military General trotted forward from the group, stopping beside him. The general on horseback spoke arrogantly, "What's the matter? Weren't you told earlier that His Majesty would be leaving the city and to have the gates open by now?" Hearing the name of the Holy Emperor, the soldier felt a chill, but he truly had no knowledge of such arrangements. With a pained expression, he replied, "This humble soldier was indeed unaware. Perhaps the previous shift forgot to inform me—"
The general snorted. "Enough excuses. Hurry up and open the gates. If you delay any further and displease His Majesty, you'll be the first to face the consequences!" "Yes, sir!" The soldier kowtowed respectfully, then stood and rushed off. But after a few steps, he suddenly stopped and turned back, scrutinizing the general carefully. "You seem unfamiliar, sir. Are you newly promoted as well? Shouldn't Commander Miao of the Imperial Guards be on duty in the inner city tonight? Why isn't he accompanying His Majesty?"
"How dare you!" the general barked. "The inner city's defenses are none of your concern!" The soldier felt a twinge of fear but couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Forcing a smile, he bowed and said, "Please forgive my impertinence, sir. Opening the gates at night is a serious matter. This humble soldier lacks the authority to make such a decision. Ah, if you could wait a moment, I'll go up to the tower and—"
"What's taking so long?" an irritated voice interrupted from the procession behind them. The soldier froze as the general quickly dismounted and hurried to the lead carriage, kneeling to report, "Your Majesty, there was a slight issue with the outer city's handover. The night watch soldier is dawdling and refuses to grant passage..."
"Oh?" came the response from inside the carriage, accompanied by the rustle of fabric. A nimble attendant stepped forward to lift the carriage curtain, spilling warm yellow light onto the ground and illuminating the figure stepping out—dressed in a gleaming soft silk robe of imperial yellow."Ah, Your Majesty!" All the doubts in the soldier's heart instantly vanished along with his very soul, his knees giving way as he dropped to the ground. "I... I pay homage to Your Majesty, long live the Emperor, long live, long live!"
"Quite bold, aren't you?" Xia Jingshi's voice was low and icy. "Daring to obstruct this sovereign's procession." The soldier, terrified, lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to move, repeatedly pleading, "Your Majesty, show mercy, this humble subject knows his crime..." Xia Jingshi gave a light humph. "Enough. You were merely doing your duty." After a pause, he commanded the Military General below, "Go." With just that single word, Xia Jingshi retreated back into the carriage.
The soldier remained frozen in place, cold sweat pouring down his back. It felt like an eternity before the entire procession began to move again. The wheels, the hooves, and the hurried footsteps passed by him one after another, yet he still dared not raise his head.
Suddenly, a sharp whistle sounded from the direction of the inner city. Several fire arrows exploded against the deep blue sky, painting the world in a fiery red.
This was the emergency signal summoning the Imperial Guard Barracks into the city!
The inner city was in peril!?
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