203 Reunion with an Old Acquaintance in the Depths of the Pa
e the Xu family’s role. As a legitimate daughter of Minister Ye, at least Third Miss is more acceptable to marry Jingli as she was betrothed by the previous emperor.”Ye Li smiled faintly and said, "I...203. Night Enters the Deep Palace, Old Acquaintances Reappear Again
203. Night Enters the Deep Palace, Old Acquaintance
The birth of a young prince in the King Ding王府 was announced with great pomp and circumstance across the land within a short time. Furthermore, King Ding decided to hold a grand banquet for his first month celebration, inviting nobles from various countries. Alongside news about the imperial jade seal and treasures from previous dynasties appearing in northwest, countless people rushed towards Northwest of Great Chu.
Chu Capital, Xu Mansion
Xu Qingyan looked at the letter in his hand with a mix of shock and joy. Even his hands shook slightly as he held it. Sitting beside him, Xu Qingbo noticed Xu Hongyan's uncontrollable excitement and couldn't help but ask, "Uncle Second, is there something happening over there" Xu Qingyan passed the note to him saying, "Ji'er gave birth to a boy..." Despite having gained some experience through his travels, Xu Qingbo was clearly more composed than before. However, hearing this news, he couldn’t help but show a hint of joy on his face. After carefully reading the letter Xu Hongyan handed over, he smiled and said, "It's really great. Grandfather will be very happy when he hears about this." Xu Hongyan nodded repeatedly. Last year, after Ji'er went missing after her accident, Father had fallen ill, but he recovered upon receiving news of Ji'er’s safety. Now that Ji'er has safely given birth to a son, Father will surely be overjoyed at becoming an ancestor.
The steward standing by the door noticed Master Xu's rare display of losing his composure and reminded him, "Master, Fourth Young Lord, the person who came to see you off is still waiting outside."
Although he was delighted that Miss Ji'er had given birth, it wouldn't do for him to ignore the messenger. Therefore, Master Xu only then snapped out of his reverie and nodded, saying, "Heavy reward... no, quickly invite the person who delivered the letter in."
The steward responded with a nod, hurriedly leaving to fetch the man. Soon after, an ordinary-looking young man walked in, bowing slightly towards Xu Hongyan and said, "Mr. Xu, Fourth Young Lord, it's been a long time." Xu Hongyan was taken aback upon seeing him. The young man raised his head, revealing a disheveled hairstyle beneath a handsome face. Xu Hongyan exclaimed, "Young Master Feng San" This youth was none other than Feng Zhirao who should have been in the northwest. Without waiting for Xu Hongyan to offer a seat, Feng Zhirao walked over and sat down on one of the chairs with a sigh, complaining, "To catch up before news reached the capital, I rode three fine horses to death... Tiring..." He had left on the second day after the young prince's birth and returned to the capital within three days. Now, the news about the young prince hadn’t even made its way halfway.
Xu Hongyan was stunned, his eyes not quite comprehending Feng Zhirao’s words. It was Xu Qingbo who asked first, "Young Master Feng San, besides Ji'er's and her nephew's matter, is there anything else" Feng Zhirao tugged at the corners of his mouth, managing a forced smile that looked more like a bitter one, replying, "If nothing were wrong, how could His Royal Highness let me return to the capital for leisure at such a time" Though in reality returning might not necessarily be easier than staying. Xu Hongyan also came back to his senses and asked urgently upon hearing Feng Zhirao's words, "What happened then" Feng Zhirao, without bothering with water, grabbed a pot of cool tea next to him and gulped down a mouthful before addressing Xu Hongyan again, "His Royal Highness and the Princess Consort hope that Mr. Xu and Fourth Young Lord will leave the capital and head north."
Xu Hongyan's expression turned solemn. He and Xu Qingbo were the only ones of the Xu clan left in the capital now, essentially hostages for the imperial court. If they left without His Majesty’s permission, it would mean a complete rupture between the Xu family and the royal family. Seeing Xu Hongyan’s look, Feng Zhirao understood his predicament and said solemnly, "To be frank with Mr. Xu, the situation between King Ding's王府 and the imperial court is irreversibly broken. If you both remain in the capital, it might put you at a disadvantage." Xu Hongyan frowned, saying, "Even if we leave, there’s only our family here in the capital. But for generations, the Xu clan has been in Yunzhou; where else would His Majesty find trouble" Feng Zhirao handed over another letter again, saying, "This is handwritten by His Royal Highness and Princess Consort. I have personally delivered one to Mr. Qingyun and Mr. Hongyu in Yunzhou. But given my time constraints, they should have made a decision already."
Xu Hongyu took the letter with a puzzled expression, furrowed his brows as he read it. In no time at all, his face drastically changed; rage surged on his usually stern and calm face. After a long while, he shouted angrily, "Preposterous! There can actually be such things… The Emperor has actually… It's truly…" He slapped the letter down forcefully onto the desk before turning to Feng Zhiyao with an intense stare, “Third Young Master Feng, is what’s written in this letter true” Feng Zhiyao replied with a bitter smile, "Do you think someone can fabricate these things" Xu Hongyan was speechless; every single detail mentioned in the letter shocked him. None of them were easy to make up, but such an event was extremely hard for people to believe. Xu Qingbai looked at his visibly angry uncle and quietly walked over to pick up the letter on the desk. Once he read it, even though he thought that he was mentally prepared, he could not help but be alarmed. The members of the royal family… Really have lost their minds At the same time, young Xu Qingbai also felt disappointment and anger towards that person who sat high upon the throne as well as this government.
Lowering his gaze, he folded up the letter gently and placed it on the desk. Xu Qingbai smiled softly and said, "Uncle… Is something like this really worth it" His father possessed talent to save the world but was unable to enter officialdom so he ended up teaching students at Li Shan Academy of Literature; his uncle was a real doer as well but had been stuck in the position of an Imperial Censor for years. All five brothers could only suppress their talents and natures. How long should they suppress themselves Will it be until the Xu Family’s fall No wonder his eldest brother refused to enter officialdom from the beginning, he probably saw through this life that would never end. Xu Hongyan clenched his teeth without saying anything but tightly gripping his hands showed that he too was upset. Ding王府 and the imperial family are of the same lineage; in generations past, they worked tirelessly for the Great Chu until their deaths yet still ended up like this. How much more so could the Xu Family hope to be different In a single generation, the Xu Family has had no other choice but to quietly fade away.
Feng Zhiyao sat silently in his chair and watched the two people before him; these matters chilled not just the Xu Family. Even Feng Zhiyao could not help but feel coldness and anger well up within himself.
Xu Hongyan tucked away the letter, looked up at Feng Zhiyao and said, "Assuming that Third Young Master Feng has other things to attend to in the capital, please allow me two days to consider before giving you my answer." Feng Zhiyao indeed still had many things to handle, so he stood up and nodded. “That’s perfectly fine, Mr. Xu just needs to send a messenger once your decision is made; I will remain in the capital for some time yet, there’s no rush. I’ll take my leave now.” As Feng Zhiyao walked out of the room, Xu Hongyan frowned and called out, "Third Young Master Feng." Feng Zhiyao turned around, “Mr. Xu, is there anything else”
Xu Hongyan sighed and said, “If Third Young Master Feng has time, you should return to your family and take a look; over the past year, Grandpa Feng came to our house several times asking about your well-being. There’s no such thing as a grudge between father and son… You need to understand that once parents are gone, it is too late…” Hearing this, Feng Zhiyao was clearly not expecting Xu Hongyan to say something like this; he paused for a moment before his expression changed slightly upon hearing the phrase “once parents are gone.” With an awkward smile on his face, he nodded and said, "Many thanks for your reminder." He was born as a concubine’s son in the family so from young, he did not receive much attention from his father. As a child, because of his unruly nature, he almost got kicked out of the house; before last year when he set off to join the army on an expedition, he had already severed all ties with his family. The Feng Family had long made it clear that they no longer had any connection to Feng Zhiyao. Where could he go now
Qingcheng Lane
The Qingcheng Lane remained the most famous entertainment district in the capital despite having a new owner and flower queen, but the former renowned playboy Third Young Master Feng was no longer its guest; instead, he had to enter through the back door. Pushing open a room deep within a corridor, someone was already waiting for him there. Upon seeing Feng Zhiyao push open the door, this person looked up with an amused smile and said, “Third Feng, it’s rare that I see you like this; it really leaves quite an impression…” Third Young Master Feng usually exhibited extreme flamboyance even on battlefields where he would still be in a red robe that stood out. However, today he wore plain clothes and had his strikingly handsome face made up to appear less prominent as well. Feng Zhiyao gave an unsatisfied huff and looked at the clothes he was wearing with disdain; “Therefore, I don’t like doing things secretly like this; it’s too unglamorous.”
“Did you just come from Xu Manor” The young man was none other than Cold Hao Yu, son-in-law of General Murong and second son of the Cold family. Currently he oversees all industries under Ding王府 within the territory of Great Chu; usually he hides in the background and does not show himself out front. Two famous playboys back then were now both gone which left the talented women of Chang’an rather disappointed.
Feng Zhiyao nodded and said, “Don’t worry about Xu Family; Mr. Xu and Fourth Young Master Xu are smart people. The things we need to do will be troublesome though; how is the investigation going Do you have any news”
Cold Hao Yu helplessly shook his head and said, "Mo Jingqi is very suspicious; no one knows where Bile Luo Hua has gone. Not even his mother, the current Empress Dowager." Feng Zhiyao sighed as well and said, “It doesn’t matter, the item must still be in Chang’an Palace, I don’t believe that searching every inch of it won’t reveal its whereabouts!” Given Mo Jingqi’s personality, he would not place such a valuable treasure too far away from himself. Thinking for a moment, Feng Zhiyao said, “First find Grand Emperor’s will and settle down Mr. Xu and Young Master Xu; if we haven’t found Bile Luo Hua by then, send them to the northwest with everything else while I stay behind and continue searching.” Cold Hao Yu raised an eyebrow and looked at him, "Didn’t Lord Wang and Lady Wang have no intention of letting you remain in Chang’an Besides, I won’t be leaving Chang’an anytime soon so why do you need to" Feng Zhiyao glared at him and said, “Of course I will inform Lord Wang and Lady Wang; with the many things on your plate, how long would it take for you to find Bile Luo Hua” Cold Hao Yu helplessly rubbed his nose; did he look like someone who couldn’t distinguish priorities
Gazing at Feng Zhiyao's unblinking eyes, Leng Haoyu sighed in defeat and waved his hand, saying, "If the Prince and Princess agree to it, that’s enough for me. I won’t trouble you with this matter." Only then did Feng Zhiyao hum satisfactorily and took a cup from the table to drink alone.
Deep into the night
A few dark figures quickly leaped over the palace walls and entered the royal residence. Since more than a month ago, the guards in Chu Palace had become much stricter. One could frequently see groups of eunuchs and palace guards patrolling the grounds. However, these measures did little to deter those who wished to enter. The shadows nimbly avoided the patrols and moved deeper into the imperial compound.
In Empress Hua’s chambers, she had changed out of her heavy daytime attire and was now wearing a light, pale purple robe. Her hair was loosely tied back with a violet jade hairpin as she sat at a small table, lost in thought while holding a book. The elaborate makeup that adorned her earlier was gone, making her beautiful features appear more gentle and youthful than regal. She looked less like the mother of a nine-year-old child and more like a young woman barely over twenty.
A sudden breeze blew through the half-open window, causing the candles in the chamber to flicker. Empress Hua snapped out of her reverie and sensed something amiss. As she sharply turned around, she saw a tall black figure standing by the corner, watching her intently.
The empress was startled and quickly called out, “Who’s there!”
“It’s me,” said the shadowy figure as he stepped forward. His handsome peach-blossom eyes carried a complex expression when looking at the woman in purple under the lamplight.
The unfamiliar yet somewhat familiar voice momentarily stunned Empress Hua, and she froze upon seeing his face. Frowning, she asked, “How did you get into the palace” Realizing that her shout might attract guards or maidservants, she quickly moved to shut the window.
“Don’t worry; no one will come,” said the man in black—none other than Feng Zhiyao, Third Young Master of the Feng family.
The empress breathed a sigh of relief as she looked at Feng Zhiyao’s handsome figure dressed entirely in black. She smiled faintly and turned to pour him a cup of tea before pointing to an empty chair beside her. “Sit down and talk. You’re back from the northwest; why did you come And how did you get into the palace” Feng Zhiyao gazed at the blue-and-white porcelain teacup in front of him, murmuring, "I’ve returned as instructed by His Highness to do some errands and also drop by to see you—would that not be welcome" The sudden melancholic tone caught Empress Hua off guard, but she smiled and said, “Why wouldn’t it Rarely does anyone I know from the past visit me here in the palace. It’s usually just the same people coming and going.” Feng Zhiyao stared at her intently and asked, "How have you been these years"
The atmosphere in the chamber grew heavy as Empress Hua replied with a faint smile, “As a queen ruling over a vast country, what could be better But let’s not talk about that... It has been many years since we last met.”
Feng Zhirao sighed softly, "Twelve years... eleven and a half years."
The Empress's smile seemed forced, "I didn't expect you to remember so clearly."
For a moment, neither of them knew what to say. Feng Zhirao scrutinized the woman before him seriously. People said Su Zuodie was the first beauty in Changjing City, but in Feng Zhirao's eyes, she had never been that beautiful. In his eyes, the most beautiful one was always the young lady who dressed in fine clothes and at only nine years old was pushed to the ground by her legitimate elder brother from the mansion for a beating. It was her who wiped away the dirt on his face, smiling as she told him if he wanted to not be bullied, he had to work hard to become strong. She took his hand and led him quietly into Ding Wang's residence, asking Xiuyao to practice martial arts with him together. When Feng Zhirao fell ill and no one was taking care of him, it was her who secretly sent medicine and silver coins to him. From then on, in Feng Zhirao’s eyes, there had only been this gentle and noble lady. Unfortunately, their distance was too far apart. He was a concubine son from a merchant family; even if his Feng family was one of the four richest merchants in Dachu, it still couldn't match up to scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants - the merchants being at the bottom of that hierarchy. She, on the other hand, was the most esteemed legitimate daughter of Duke Hua’s Mansion, later chosen by the late emperor himself as the legitimate wife for Prince Mo Jingqi. Even in their closest relationship, he only called her 'Feng Sister'. After turning thirteen, he refused to call her even that.
The Empress felt somewhat uncomfortable under his stare; they had indeed not seen each other for twelve years. The youth who once seemed immature and delicate was now a handsome young man without peers. Feng Zhirao's reputation in the capital city was something she had heard about even while inside the palace walls. She still remembered that rainy night before her wedding, when the youth, looking disheveled, evaded Duke Hua’s Mansion's heavy security to come to her room and nervously ask her, "Can you not marry Prince Qi"
When she shook her head, his eyes, which shone like stars, gradually dimmed. At that time, she didn't understand the youth's feelings and thought he was merely unwilling to part with a sister who had taken care of him again after he'd been neglected for so long. She only watched as the youth gave her a disappointed glance before leaving silently, unable to help but shed tears at an inexplicable feeling of oppression and melancholy in her heart. As she gradually understood why the youth was disappointed back then, they were already growing apart from each other. She became the legitimate wife of Prince Qi and later Dachu's Empress, while he remained a young man famous for his debauchery as Third Young Master Feng. Perhaps it would have been better if they had never met again.
"A Yao, how are you doing these years" After a long silence, the Empress finally broke it.
"Don't call me A Yao!" Feng Zhirao growled with his eyes narrowing. The Empress was taken aback and suddenly remembered that she had also called the young Xiuyao 'A Yao'. Though the names were different, they sounded the same when pronounced, so he would always throw a tantrum whenever she called him A Yao. But perhaps there weren't any other ways to call each other, so she continued using this name for him all these years. Thinking of this, the Empress couldn't help but smile slightly; Feng Zhirao seemed to remember his youthful embarrassing moments too and turned away with a stiff expression on his face - it was hard to tell if he was blushing under the dim palace lamp.
The Empress got up and said softly, "You're already so grown-up, can you still be throwing tantrums like a child Coming into the palace at this late hour surely isn't just for visiting me; is there something you need"
Feng Zhirao looked at her beautiful face under the lamp and suddenly said, "Leave with me from here!"e. Qin Feng, take care of this."Qin Feng laughed loudly, "Thank you, Your Highness Consort. Just as I was teaching the young men under my command how to interrogate prisoners; their progress has been...