Chapter Twenty-Six
Feng Suige loosened the reins and rode alongside Yixiao. He had once thought of following her but held back—she was going to bid farewell, and he was not someone who should be present.
In truth, he privately wished Yixiao would stay by his side. Yet he knew even better that Brocade was no paradise for her.
His gaze drifted to her dark, luminous eyes, then upward to her sword-like brows—pale and slanting sharply into her temples—and downward to the proud, upturned tip of her nose. Her lips, pressed into a thin line, were nearly bloodless upon closer inspection.
In terms of appearance, Fu Yixiao was no peerless beauty. Her allure lay in her fiery, thorny, and venomous intensity. The occasional glimmer of starlight that escaped her eyes could make one’s heart tremble, stirring an irresistible urge to subdue her. Yet no matter how hard one tried, she never yielded—and the more elusive her submission, the stronger the desire to try again.
Father was surely one such person. And he himself had once been the same.
“Do I have flowers on my face?” Yixiao shot him a glance. Feng Suige snapped out of his thoughts and averted his gaze. “Not flowers on your face—you yourself are the flower.” Yixiao scoffed. “Oh? If I’m a flower, then what are you?” Feng Suige replied with utmost seriousness, “I’m the flower thief.”
Yixiao burst into laughter, so hard that she nearly slipped off her horse. Feng Suige reached out to steady her. “Come over here—crying might make you feel better.” “You’re insane!” Still laughing, she pushed his hand away and cursed.
Almost instantly, he dragged her over. For the first time, she actively wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest. Within moments, the dampness on Feng Suige’s chest grew, scalding hot. He couldn’t help but sigh deeply. “I thought long and hard yesterday. Light and darkness cycle and give rise to each other. As long as the moon remains, even the darkest night holds the brightest light… Fu Yixiao, we’re used to scheming against each other. Maybe it’s hard for you to believe what I say now, but just remember this—I won’t oppose Father, but I will do everything in my power to protect you. Of course, there’s selfishness in that too. I can’t act without expecting something in return. But all that comes later.”
Yixiao kept her head down and rasped out another curse, “You really are insane!”
The sun had now risen to its zenith but was obscured by clouds, scattering faint specks of light in all directions.
Ahead lay the dark gray city walls.
Feng Qishan leaned back wearily against the soft pillows, his eyes closed. He knew Feng Suige had taken Fu Yixiao alone to see her off, but he wasn’t the least bit worried she might not return—he couldn’t explain why he trusted her, but he simply knew that if she said she would stay, then she would stay.
Originally, he had only planned to keep her under house arrest for a few years, releasing her back to Brocade once Xiyang had given birth and secured her position. But the signs at the wedding banquet had only fueled the murderous intent festering in his heart.
Yet he couldn’t kill her. He exhaled forcefully. At least not now.
The only regret was that such a formidable woman was of common birth. In Brocade, the selection of an heir didn’t discriminate by gender. If she and Xiyang had both been of royal blood… Feng Qishan’s eyelids twitched slightly, and he silently chided himself for even comparing Xiyang to her.In memory, Xiyang's mother, the then Imperial Concubine Chen, was a woman of fierce passion and deep devotion. He recalled the first time she demanded to follow him to war, and he refused. "If you leave me behind, you'll have to step over my corpse!" She pulled a golden hairpin from her hair and pressed it against her jade-like neck.
Furious and anxious, he tried to scare her off: "The battlefield is perilous. If a woman like you is captured, you'll suffer unspeakable torment." But she remained resolute. "The Lord of the Nation won't let me be captured." He sighed helplessly, "What about death? Aren't you afraid of dying?" "Afraid of what?" Imperial Concubine Chen smiled radiantly. "In life, I follow you. In death, I'll follow you just the same."
From then on, no matter when he went to war, the delicate Imperial Concubine Chen always accompanied him—until that battle. Exhaustion and worry caused her to go into premature labor. With poor conditions and no proper medical care, he could only watch helplessly as her life slipped away, drop by drop.
After her death, one hundred thousand soldiers of Vermilion Sand Country, their arms wrapped in white mourning bands, charged into enemy lines. After days of fierce combat, they finally repelled the foe. Thirty thousand prisoners of war were beheaded in sacrifice to honor Imperial Concubine Chen's spirit.
On the day of their triumphant return, the gentle, understanding flower by his side was gone, replaced by a tiny swaddled bundle.
That was Feng Xiyang.
Xiyang was the continuation of Imperial Concubine Chen's life—and of his love for her.
He executed his favored Imperial Concubine Shu because the pastries she made caused Xiyang to fall ill for two days with vomiting and diarrhea. When Imperial Concubine Zhao, a close friend of Shu's, protested at court, she too was sentenced to death. From then on, none of the imperial concubines dared to misbehave.
When Xiyang heard that Brocade would hold grand celebrations for the new emperor's enthronement, she pestered him to take her. He agreed. Yet who could have guessed that a single encounter would make her fall in love with Xia Jingshi, the newly titled King Who Pacifies the South?
Xia Jingshi...
Originally the most capable and favored among Brocade's imperial sons to succeed the throne, he suddenly withdrew from the succession race. Not long after, news spread that the Holy Emperor and Empress's legitimate son had been named heir.
To this day, Feng Qishan still couldn't fathom why Xia Jingshi had given up the throne.
During the wedding banquet, faced with Huan Xiang's provocations, Xia Jingshi revealed a hidden nobility befitting a king. His cold gaze swept the room with the predatory focus of a hunter.
This man was a born ruler, possessing an innate power to captivate hearts. Yet he had willingly relinquished an empire within his grasp?
Feng Qishan frowned.
Perhaps preoccupied with handling the cascade of noble and official scandals exposed by Huan Xiang's case, or perhaps indifferent now that his goal was achieved, Feng Qishan never inquired much about Fu Yixiao's life in the Water-Painting Garden. Feng Suige was also content to avoid this potential minefield of a topic.
Fu Yixiao lived leisurely in the Water-Painting Garden. She still resided in the pavilion where she had once been imprisoned, with the only difference being the absence of guarding soldiers. Each day, she idly reclined on the soft, comfortable couch, quietly watching outside the window—the rise and fall of the sun and moon, the dance of clouds, rain, and stars.
Feng Suige would visit her pavilion every evening, sitting with her awhile and trying to reminisce about old times. After the events surrounding the wedding, Yixiao's attitude toward him had softened considerably. Occasionally, she would even banter with him. Yet both tacitly avoided any topic related to Xia Jingshi or Feng Xiyang.Sometimes, when in a playful mood, Feng Suige would take her to the kitchen, avoiding the servants, to boil a few eggs. He would then blow on them with exaggerated expressions while peeling off the shells before handing them to her. She would always smile faintly, carefully cradling the eggs in her palms as if afraid they might slip away, taking small bites as she listened to him recount amusing childhood stories of sneaking into the imperial kitchens late at night to steal food.
Life was lived with a certain cautiousness, but Feng Suige was content—at least she could live quietly without any unexpected incidents that might add to the burdens weighing on her heart.
This peaceful existence continued until the day’s court assembly.
As per routine, Feng Qishan briefly inquired about some unresolved matters before preparing to adjourn the session. Then, a scholar-official stepped forward. "This subject has a matter to present," he declared.
Feng Qishan was surprised. Most governmental affairs had already been delegated to Feng Suige, the acting Imperial Son. Unless it was something significant, the ministers would not normally bring forth petitions in court.
Feng Suige’s expression darkened. He knew exactly what this was about. These pedantic old officials, priding themselves on their superior knowledge and status, had been constantly meddling in his affairs. After being reprimanded by him twice, they had now chosen to bring their grievances before his father in court—
"...That woman from the Brocade Dynasty, though she is an honored guest of the Lord of the Nation, remains an outsider. Given that the Imperial Son holds the critical role of regent, it is inevitable that he brings confidential documents back to his residence for review. Therefore, we believe she is unsuitable to remain lodged in the Imperial Son’s private estate. We humbly request that the Lord of the Nation issue an edict to relocate her to another residence and assign a contingent of Imperial Guards to oversee her..." The scholar-official ignored Feng Suige’s glare, swaying his head as he delivered his statement.
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