Chapter Fifty-Five
"I'm fine..." Yixiao was still dazed, letting him hold her in a daze. "I thought it was the Lord of the Nation..."
Feng Suige's jaw clenched a few times, as if he were grinding his teeth. He glared fiercely at the maid prostrating on the ground, too terrified to move. "Go to the steward and receive your punishment. Or do you want me to deal with you myself?" The maid's face turned deathly pale, but she dared not beg for mercy. Silently, she knelt and retreated from the room.
The guards who had entered with Feng Suige escorted the maid away. Feng Suige stopped one of them and pointed at the bowl of medicine on the table. "Take this to the medical officer for examination. Report back as soon as possible." The guard gave a brief acknowledgment and left with the medicine bowl.
Only Feng Suige and Fu Yixiao remained in the room.
"I'll thoroughly investigate all the servants in the mansion," Feng Suige said quietly. "This won't happen again." Yixiao sighed and stepped out of his embrace. "It's alright. You arrived quickly."
"You're blaming me," Feng Suige also sighed. "I admit, putting you in such danger was selfish of me. But I truly will do everything to protect you. You can try to trust me."
"I do trust you," Yixiao turned to look at him. "But shouldn't you be honest with me? How many people are waiting to harm me? Or rather—is it all of Su Sha?"
"Not that bad," Feng Suige smiled helplessly. "There are neutral parties, and some who support you—like me, Qin Lao, and Guyu..." Before he could finish, a maid rushed in, her face frantic. "Minor Imperial Concubine... Ah!" Seeing Feng Suige, she gasped and immediately knelt. "May the Imperial Son live in peace!"
"What's the matter?" Feng Suige frowned reproachfully. "How dare you barge into the Minor Imperial Concubine's room like this? Where are your manners?" The maid swallowed hard and stammered, "Xing... Xingling and Guyu got into a conflict at the front gate. When I came to report, he was ordering Guyu to be... to be taken away in chains!"
"What gives him the right to arrest someone in the Prince's mansion?" Yixiao snapped. "Why is Xingling even here? Is it because of me again?"
"Shh, don't be angry yet," Feng Suige soothed. "Guyu will be fine. Let's go to the front gate and see."
Guyu was locked in a standoff with a group of richly dressed city guards. Broken chains lay scattered on the ground around them. Xingling, his face ashen, hid behind a sedan chair, shrieking, "This is outright rebellion! How dare a mere servant assault an official?!"
Just as tensions reached their peak, laughter suddenly rang out nearby.
"Yixiao, are you cold?" Feng Suige asked lightly, poking her cheek with a finger. "You've got goosebumps." Yixiao swatted his hand away irritably. "Hearing such a shrill scream, only a block of wood wouldn't react."
"Im... Imperial Son, Minor Imperial Concubine!" Guyu abandoned the confrontation and ran toward the gate. "Guyu also has... chicken..." He stumbled over the last word, gaping dumbly at Fu Yixiao.
Yixiao cast a cold glance at Xingling, who had turned ghostly pale upon seeing Feng Suige, then gently corrected, "Goosebumps."
"Yes, chicken goosebumps!" Guyu repeated clumsily, his face lighting up with joy. "Guyu also has goosebumps!""Your humble servant greets the Imperial Son and the Minor Imperial Concubine," Xingling steadied himself before stepping forward to bow. Feng Suige gave a simple grunt in acknowledgment. "Why have you come, and how did you end up in conflict with Guyu?"
"Reporting to the Imperial Son, your servant was following the Lord of the Nation's order... um, to request an audience with the Minor Imperial Concubine. However, the gatekeeper stubbornly blocked the entrance and refused to let me pass... I did not know the Imperial Son was in residence and disturbed you—truly unforgivable..." Xingling muttered, lowering his head.
Before Feng Suige could respond, Guyu angrily shouted, "He told Guyu to go in, call for the Minor Imperial Concubine... He lied, lied! Said the Lord of the Nation... wanted to see the Minor Imperial Concubine..."
"Imperial Son, please discern the truth—this humble servant never spoke such words," Xingling interrupted Guyu, kneeling with an aggrieved expression. "It must be that the gatekeeper misunderstood my meaning!"
Guyu was already sweating profusely, his face flushed red as he panted like a bellows, muttering repeatedly, "He lied... Guyu didn't..."
"What is this?" Feng Suige seemed to ignore Xingling's words, nudging the broken chain on the ground with the tip of his boot. "This looks like the kind of chain used by the city guards for restraining people."
Xingling forced an awkward smile. "The Imperial Son's discernment is truly sharp."
Seeing Feng Suige examine the chain, Guyu lowered his head like a child who had done wrong. "Broke it... but they used it on Guyu first... Not on purpose..."
Feng Suige chuckled. "My gatekeeper has no special skills, save for his formidable martial arts—in Su Sha, he should have no equal. If Xingling wished to restrain him with chains, he should have brought thicker ones."
Fu Yixiao could no longer suppress her anger and sneered, "Lord Xingling, such forceful methods! If it were me, I would have been dragged away in chains by now."
Xingling's forehead was beaded with cold sweat as he fawned, "The Minor Imperial Concubine is a priceless treasure—even laying a finger on you would be a capital offense. How would I dare use such chains..."
Yixiao scoffed. "Priceless? Don't make me laugh. The whole world knows Fu Yixiao isn't worth a fraction of that. How have I suddenly become 'priceless' today? Lord Xingling flatters me too much."
"How could that be?" Feng Suige interjected with a smile. "Not just priceless—I wouldn't trade you for all the gold in the world."
Yixiao shot him a glare, unwilling to engage further in verbal sparring, and raised her voice to ask, "Did the Lord of the Nation summon me?"
Xingling glanced awkwardly at Feng Suige before lowering his head. "Actually, it's like this... The Lord of the Nation has been deeply concerned lately..."
"Just answer yes or no," Yixiao cut him off impatiently.
Xingling had no choice but to answer truthfully, "Yes!"
"It is time to pay respects to Father at the palace," Feng Suige said, stepping forward to support Yixiao. "Coincidentally, I have state affairs to discuss with him. Go back and report first—the Minor Imperial Concubine and I still need to change our attire."
Xingling had no choice but to comply and slunk away dejectedly.
"What do you think, Suige?" Feng Qishan said coldly, his sharp gaze scrutinizing the young couple who had arrived hand in hand. He had heard early that morning that Feng Suige had stayed overnight in Fu Yixiao's chambers—if this continued, who could guarantee that the royal heir would still be of Su Sha's direct bloodline?Feng Suige wore a troubled expression and stepped forward before Fu Yixiao could speak. "Father, Yixiao has not been involved in military affairs for years. I fear she may disappoint your expectations."
"How could that be?" Feng Qishan raised his brows. "Those two arrows of Fu Yixiao’s left a deep impression on me. And now, with the newly acquired Legendary Divine Bow, I have great confidence in her—Fu Yixiao, what do you say?"
Yixiao asked calmly, "The Lord of the Nation wishes for Yixiao to train the Archery Unit for Vermilion Sand in preparation for future campaigns, is that correct?"
Feng Qishan had not expected such a question. After a moment of contemplation, he replied slowly, "Since you are now the Imperial Son’s consort of Vermilion Sand, you should prioritize the affairs of our nation. Over the years, our cavalry and infantry units have been honed to readiness. The only deficiency lies in the Archery Unit..."
"If Yixiao recalls correctly, during the prolonged conflict between Vermilion Sand and Brocade, Brocade’s Archery Unit played a significant role in the entire war." Yixiao lifted her chin slightly, her voice resolute. "Though I have married into Vermilion Sand, my soul and flesh were born of Brocade. I will never do anything that could bring harm to Brocade. Therefore, the Lord of the Nation’s request—Yixiao must refuse!"
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