Chapter Ninety
"Why target me?" Fu Yixiao still didn't quite understand. "And what does this have to do with Ning Fei?" Feng Suige shrugged. "Just speculation. If it's not aimed at you, then it must be Ning Fei..."
"At most, he has a quick temper and might have offended someone, but who would want to kill him?" Xueying was both shocked and anxious. "Counting the days, he should be nearing Brocade soon. This is maddening..."
"Actually, the most likely target is Xia Jingshi," Feng Suige glanced at Yixiao, whose brows twitched slightly. "How is that possible? His Highness rarely interacts with outsiders. How could he have made enemies?"
Feng Suige rested his fist against his lips and said slowly, "For now, it's just speculation. Perhaps someone envies your title as princess and incidentally dragged Xia Jingshi into it—no use panicking. We'll know soon enough."
Seeing Yixiao glare at him, he raised an eyebrow. "When have you ever seen me so meticulous as to send four guards ahead? The most urgent matter now is figuring out who's behind all this."
As night fell, Xueying and Yixiao chatted idly in the comfortable guest room while Feng Suige listened with a smile, occasionally interjecting. Suddenly, a low voice reported from outside the door, "Your Highness, we've got it."
"Come in and speak," Feng Suige straightened up, suddenly alert. Yixiao and Xueying stopped talking and turned their attention to the black-clad guard who entered.
After a brief salute, the guard stepped forward and whispered a few words into Feng Suige's ear before presenting a bamboo tube. Feng Suige nodded. "Keep a close watch. Report any unusual activity immediately."
The guard acknowledged and withdrew. Once the door closed, Feng Suige peeled off the wax seal from the tube and shook out a small rolled-up paper. He unfolded it under the lamplight, then turned and handed it to Yixiao with a grave expression. "Look at this!"
Written in tiny script was a single line: "Fu and Feng have arrived together. Request immediate action."
Xueying jumped up in shock, covering her mouth. "Heavens, what is going on?" Yixiao stared blankly for a moment before asking hoarsely, "Where did this come from?" Feng Suige pointed to the bamboo tube on the table. "A message sent by carrier pigeon. They intercepted it, but we still don't know who sent it."
"What do we do now?" Fu Yixiao clenched her fists unconsciously. "No news from Ning Fei, His Highness and Weiran's fates unknown—the enemy is hidden while we're exposed. Who knows what kind of trap awaits us..."
After a moment of thought, Feng Suige said solemnly, "Don't panic. Let me ask you—what is the military structure of the Imperial Guard Barracks in Brocade?" Before he could finish, Yixiao and Xueying's expressions changed simultaneously. In unison, they exclaimed, "The Holy Emperor!"
After the meal was served, Feng Xiyang leaned against the couch for a short nap but still felt utterly exhausted upon waking.
Before meeting Xia Jingshi, she had never imagined a man renowned for military prowess could give off such an ethereal impression—gentle yet aloof, accommodating yet distant. It was a feeling too complex and peculiar. If treated as an ordinary man, he seemed too saintly, yet he scoffed at worship. This blend of purity and defiance in his demeanor made it hard not to be captivated.Before marrying Xia Jingshi, she had dreamed too much. She had imagined that on their wedding day, she would wear a phoenix crown and embroidered robes, walking slowly toward him amidst the praises of the crowd, while he stood atop a high platform, smiling down at her with pride and arrogance.
When she placed her hand in his, he would grasp it tightly and then laughingly declare to everyone, "Look, this is my bride, my most beautiful bride, Xia Jingshi's bride!"
Who could have known that her love would be so fervent, so obsessive, and yet so lonely? She had lost her heart but never earned a single smile. In the blink of an eye, it had been over half a year since she left Su Sha, and everything she had experienced felt like a fleeting dream. Upon waking, the two of them remained as distant as ever, never truly crossing paths.
A soft knock came from the outer door—likely the carriage sent by the Empress Dowager to escort her into the palace had arrived. Feng Xiyang sighed softly and rose from the couch.
The Empress Dowager had sent people several times to persuade Xia Jingshi to return to Mingde Palace, but each attempt ended in failure. Fearing Xiyang’s sorrow, the Empress Dowager invited her daily into the palace for conversation, chess, flower-viewing, and tea. Over time, she inevitably encountered the Holy Emperor when he came to pay his respects at Ciyang Hall.
Perhaps it was because the Holy Emperor resembled him too much—so much that she couldn’t help but feel drawn to him. Yet at times, the cold aura he exuded made her instinctively want to flee, afraid that a single misstep would lead to ruin. Whenever she thought of this, an indescribable emotion stirred in her heart, turning her daily pastimes into a burden—going was difficult, but not going was even worse.
As she opened the door, Feng Xiyang’s heart lurched. Instinctively, she clutched her loosely fastened robe. "Your Majesty… I was unaware of your arrival and failed to greet you properly. Xiyang begs forgiveness."
The Holy Emperor gave a faint hum. "The Empress Dowager is slightly unwell today and cannot receive you. Since I was leaving the palace to inspect the city defenses, she asked me to check on you instead."
Xiyang nervously glanced at her maid, who stood rigidly to the side with downcast eyes, and felt slightly reassured. She replied tactfully, "Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager are too kind. Since Her Majesty is unwell, it should be Xiyang who visits the palace. How could I trouble Your Majesty to come in person…?"
"I’ve always admired your boldness and decisiveness. Why do you suddenly put on such a delicate, lifeless act? Is it because of someone else’s presence?" The Holy Emperor cast a cold glance at the maid standing nearby.
Even with her head bowed, the maid could sense the sharpness of that gaze and hastily retreated with a flustered curtsy. Just as Xiyang was about to call her back, the Holy Emperor chuckled softly. "Didn’t you once ask the Empress Dowager what I truly intend to do? Or do you wish for her to listen in as well?"
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