Chapter 135
Seated on the cushioned stool bestowed by Feng Qishan, Feng Suige remained silent for a moment before finally speaking. "Father, how has your health been recently?" Feng Qishan was just finishing the last sip of ginseng tea from a porcelain cup. Hearing this, he lifted his eyelids slightly. "Age has taken its toll, and my health isn't what it used to be. I only hope you can shoulder the responsibilities soon and share my burdens." Setting down the teacup, Feng Qishan let out a long sigh. "This diplomatic mission to Brocade didn’t seem to go smoothly, did it?"
"No," Feng Suige replied with difficulty. "Father must already know about the internal upheaval in Brocade..." Feng Qishan, evidently in good spirits, nodded with satisfaction. "Xia Jingshi gaining power is more beneficial than harmful to Su Sha. Just remember not to recklessly put yourself in danger—your status is special. This time, your handling of the situation was quite appropriate. I am very pleased."
Seeing Feng Qishan’s delight, Feng Suige hesitated, still considering whether to reveal the matter of Xiyang at this moment. Sensing his unease, Feng Qishan frowned sharply. "What is it? Speak plainly—don’t hem and haw." At this point, Feng Qishan suddenly fixed a piercing gaze on Fu Yixiao, who had remained silent since entering the hall. "Could it be—"
"No!" Feng Suige exclaimed urgently. Meeting Feng Qishan’s questioning look, he finally stood up as if steeling himself. "Father, Xiyang is gone."
"Xiyang?" Feng Qishan repeated, as though he hadn’t understood. "Gone? Xiyang is gone?" Though it pained him, Feng Suige nodded firmly. At his nod, the confusion in Feng Qishan’s eyes abruptly transformed into heartbroken fury. Trembling with rage, he snatched up the jade lion paperweight from the desk and hurled it at Yixiao with all his might. "You wretched woman!"
Caught off guard, before Yixiao could react, Feng Suige swiftly pulled her away from the cushioned chair. With a sharp clang, pearls and jade scattered across the floor, and Feng Suige’s anger erupted like a volcano. "Father! How could you strike at Yixiao without even knowing the truth? She’s already—" Feng Qishan strode down from the throne in a single motion, his finger shaking violently as he pointed at Feng Suige. "If you keep shielding this wretched woman, I will disown you! You—you unfilial son!"
At his fury, all the palace attendants in the hall dropped to their knees. In the deathly silence, Yixiao resolutely pushed away Feng Suige’s arm and met Feng Qishan’s bloodshot eyes without flinching. "No matter what happens, the Lord of the Nation only shifts the blame onto others. Why not reflect on your own actions?"
"Yixiao!" Feng Suige reached out anxiously to grab her, but she dodged his grasp. At the same time, Feng Qishan roared, "My only mistake was not killing you sooner! If not for you, Xiyang would never have died!"
"Father!" Feng Suige cried in frustration. "Xiyang was killed by the Holy Emperor! All the guards who went to Brocade can testify to that. Besides, if not for Yixiao, Xiyang might have already met her end during the siege!""Talking about this now is meaningless," Yixiao calmly interrupted Feng Suige. "I understand the grief of losing a loved one, and I don’t wish to comment too much on the affairs of those who have passed. But I think at the very least, the Lord of the Nation should realize that when transplanting a rare flower accustomed to meticulous care into the wild and leaving it to grow freely, one must be prepared to see it wither..."
As if slapped across the face, Feng Qishan’s face flushed red, then turned deathly pale in an instant.
From the day Xiyang was born, he had arranged everything for her. Whatever she desired, he would do his utmost to obtain it. The palace attendants also carefully flattered this favored daughter of heaven, fearing to displease her and incur his wrath.
Xiyang’s innocence and carefree spirit, her purity and passion—these were once his pride. He had nearly forgotten that the daughter he cherished like a treasure in his palms might be nothing more than an ordinary person to others.
Fu Yixiao wasn’t wrong. These were things he had considered before, yet always clung to hope against.
The unbearable ache in his heart made him tremble. His lips quivered for a long moment before Feng Qishan slowly uttered, "I am weary. You may leave now..."
"Father," Feng Suige called out worriedly, "let me stay with you a while longer?"
Feng Qishan said nothing, only shaking his head wearily as he slowly returned to the throne.
Yixiao suddenly felt a pang of regret. Feng Qishan seemed to have aged decades in an instant. His once radiant face now appeared inexplicably old, his back slightly hunched—perhaps she should have listened to Feng Suige and avoided returning during this time. Lost in thought, she was helplessly led out of the hall by Feng Suige. Raising her head, she saw the same cloudless azure sky.
"What you said was one of the reasons I opposed his decision to marry Xiyang to Xia Jingshi back then," Feng Suige sighed softly, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "In truth, Father has always understood, but he couldn’t refuse Xiyang. Let him have some peace. He’ll recover in time."
Yixiao walked silently beside him before suddenly saying, "Earlier, I was thinking... if you’re truly in a difficult position, I could—"
"There’s no need," Feng Suige smiled, stopping her before she could finish. "There’s always a solution to everything, isn’t there?"
"Then," Yixiao looked up at him, "if the Lord of the Nation truly forces you to choose between me and the throne, how would you resolve it?"
"Isn’t it obvious?" Feng Suige raised a brow. "You are mine, and so is the kingdom!"
"I mean choosing one or the other—"
"I want both."
"Only one!"
"That’s impossible."
"Feng Suige!"
"Having been away for so long, state affairs must have piled up. I should go check on the Hall of State Affairs..."
"Feng Suige!!!"
"..."
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