Eighty-Ninth Chapter
Feng Xiyang held a chess piece between her fingers, seemingly deep in thought, yet she hesitated to place it down for a long while. The Empress Dowager studied her for a moment before asking gently, "Xiyang, is something troubling you?"
Startled from her reverie, Feng Xiyang flushed with embarrassment and hastily apologized to the Empress Dowager. Unfazed, the Empress Dowager tossed the black jade piece she had been clutching—now warm from her grip—into the basket and chuckled, "It's alright. If something is weighing on your mind, speak freely. Let’s see if this old woman can help you."
Xiyang instinctively glanced at the palace attendants standing nearby. The Empress Dowager smiled knowingly and made a gesture. In moments, all the servants had withdrawn from the hall, the last one quietly closing the doors behind her.
"Now, you may speak," the Empress Dowager said warmly, patting the empty seat beside her in invitation. Xiyang obediently curled up next to her and murmured, half-lifting her face, "Truthfully, I don’t even know what I want anymore. Because no matter what I think about, my mind keeps circling back to... her."
The Empress Dowager tilted her head thoughtfully. "Him? Xia Jingshi?"
"No," Xiyang shook her head. "It’s Fu Yixiao. Empress Dowager, why do I always feel that she occupies my husband’s heart? Even if I could kill her, I could never erase his feelings for her..."
"Silly child," the Empress Dowager chided affectionately, taking her hand. "Why have you suddenly grown so pessimistic? Since the Emperor has promised to assist you, you must trust in him."
"But the Emperor said the plan has changed... And my husband also told me that his feelings for me wouldn’t shift regardless of Fu Yixiao’s fate... I just want him to love me, but why does everything I do push him further away?" Feng Xiyang blinked away the dampness in her lashes, her voice growing softer. "I’m afraid... afraid that if my husband sees Fu Yixiao again, he’ll abandon everything..."
"His eyes are clouded by illusions," the Empress Dowager said soothingly. "In this world, no one is irreplaceable. He simply hasn’t realized it yet. Be patient—if the Emperor says it can be done, then it will be done."
The midday sun was especially scorching. Not only Ling Xueying, but even the maids accompanying the procession kept the carriage curtains tightly drawn to block out the relentless light.
Fu Yixiao and Feng Suige rode side by side at the head of the procession. Squinting at the blazing sun overhead, then at Yixiao, who was similarly struggling against the glare, Feng Suige sighed. "You should return to the carriage and keep Xueying company—or take a nap. This heat is unbearable."
Yixiao waved him off impatiently. "I’ve been cooped up in that carriage for days—I’m going mad. I’d rather stay out here and bake..." Suddenly, she gasped, shielding her eyes as she peered into the distance. "Are those... military horses?" Without waiting for Feng Suige’s response, she spurred her horse forward. Caught off guard, he quickly urged his own mount to follow.
Both parties rode swiftly, closing the distance in moments. The leader of the four riders ahead stared in shock upon recognizing Yixiao and exclaimed, "Fu—Princess! What are you doing here?"Seeing the four men about to dismount and bow, Yixiao quickly stopped them, "No need for formalities—which camp are you from, and do you know how severe the injuries of His Highness the King Who Pacifies the South and Xiao Canjun are?" The leader of the group hesitated for a moment before replying, "I—I am an officer from the Imperial Guard Barracks. As for the King Who Pacifies the South and Xiao Canjun... well, I heard their injuries are quite serious..."
Fu Yixiao frowned and hummed thoughtfully, then suddenly cast a suspicious glance at him. "After such a major incident, how can you only have heard about it? This is Su Sha territory—why are you here in civilian clothes?" The officer stammered, "I wasn’t present at the time. In truth, everything was chaotic after the incident..."
Feng Suige, who had been silently observing, coughed lightly and smoothly interjected, "Have you forgotten? It was you who instructed Ning Fei to send men to meet us once we entered Brocade territory." Yixiao turned to him in confusion, but the officer eagerly responded, "Yes, yes! It was General Ning who sent us to assist—forgive my oversight, but who might you be?"
Feng Suige smiled faintly. "Imperial Son of Su Sha, Feng Suige." Under the officer’s stunned gaze, Feng Suige stretched lazily in his saddle. "Tsk... I wonder if there’s a decent-sized town ahead. This Imperial Son is quite exhausted today..."
"There is, there is!" The officer perked up. "There’s one not far ahead. We’ll turn back immediately to arrange accommodations for the Princess and the Imperial Son." Feng Suige nodded. "Very well. I appreciate your efforts."
"Not at all, Your Highness flatters me. I’ll go at once—" The officer made to turn his horse around, but Feng Suige called him back. "I’m rather particular about lodging and meals. Take my attendants with you—they can lend a hand."
Without leaving room for refusal, he turned and whistled sharply toward the distant procession slowly advancing. Four Su Sha soldiers promptly broke away from the ranks and galloped over. After a brief exchange, Feng Suige sent them off with the officer.
Watching the eight men ride away in scattered formation, Feng Suige’s smile gradually faded.
"I distinctly remember instructing Ning Fei to send men only after returning to the Holy City..." Yixiao suddenly gasped. "They were lying!" "Fool," Feng Suige sighed, shaking his head. "Do you even realize why I insisted on accompanying you personally?"
"Truthfully, I’ve had doubts about this matter from the start, but I kept silent to avoid misunderstandings," Feng Suige said, seated cross-legged in Xueying’s carriage as he accepted the ginseng tea offered by Fu Yixiao and took a small sip. "I suspect Xia Jingshi and Xiao Weiran’s injuries aren’t as severe as claimed—or perhaps they aren’t injured at all. But if that’s the case, then Ning Fei is in danger."
Yixiao soothingly patted Xueying’s hand as she nearly leapt up in alarm, then turned back to ask, "Why?" Feng Suige’s voice grew heavy. "If they were truly incapacitated by grave injuries, recalling Ning Fei would serve no purpose. To put it bluntly, is Brocade so fragile that losing one general on a diplomatic mission would collapse without the King Who Pacifies the South? Therefore, I believe this news was specifically meant for you."
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