Side Story 7: A Year’s Promise
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“Poo…” As Feng Tingye spoke, Yan Ran, sitting lower down, once again tragically sprayed the drink in his mouth.
Leng Ruofeng and Shao Zitang, who sat on either side of him, looked at him with disdainful glances. After all these years, this guy still had the same clueless and miserable appearance. He truly lacked self-control.
As for the officials seated further below, it was as if they had recalled something. They looked up toward the upper seats with uncertain apprehension and awe in their eyes.
Xia Yuqing, however, hadn’t noticed the sudden change in the atmosphere below. She looked at Feng Tingye and then turned to Zhang Sunshi, asking, “Does Royal Mother wish to hear me play the zither?”
Zhang Sunshi was taken aback by Xia Yuqing’s question. She both wanted to answer truthfully and didn’t want to. However, she understood her son’s intention behind the proposal. After hesitating for a moment, she forced a smile and said, “Qing Er’s zither skills are unparalleled in the world. Over this past year, with Qing Er absent from the palace, no amount of music has been as enchanting as hers. I truly miss it. If Qing Er doesn’t mind…”
“Not at all, not at all. Today is Royal Mother’s birthday. Naturally, her wishes are of the utmost importance. How could I refuse her request? Cui Er…”
“Yes, Niang Niang. I have prepared the zither. Niang Niang can go up to the zither platform.”
Cui Er’s gentle voice suddenly came from behind, startling Xia Yuqing. “So soon?”
Cui Er smiled gracefully. “On the Empress Dowager’s birthday, there are already many instruments prepared, including the ancient zither. Naturally, it’s convenient.”
“Oh.” Xia Yuqing nodded, accepting Cui Er’s explanation. She then followed Cui Er to the zither platform.
Shao Zitang and his companions, sitting directly below, couldn’t help but twitch at the corners of their mouths. Seeing Cui Er’s gentle and smiling appearance, they couldn’t help but think to themselves, these troublemakers always want to stir up trouble!
Because of the recent commotion, the officials’ attention was mostly focused on Xia Yuqing. Now that they saw her on the stage and approaching the ancient zither, the expressions of all the officials in the room subtly changed. Some officials who had been forced to concede to Xia Yuqing’s identity but were still skeptical suddenly thought of a possibility, and their faces turned notably unpleasant.
Everyone’s gaze instantly converged on the person on the stage. Facing a variety of stares that were either malicious, inquisitive, or astonished, Xia Yuqing took a deep breath and slowly stretched her hand toward the strings of the zither in front of her.
In the next moment, everyone heard a series of familiar plucking sounds that pierced through the night air. In an instant, the expressions on the faces of the officials froze involuntarily, and their eyes widened with disbelief as they stared at the person on the stage, who was lost in ecstasy while playing the zither.
The powerful magical sound had been silent for a long time but now reverberated through the air above the entire Palace, its might even greater than before. The palace’s court ladies and eunuchs were stunned, all their actions coming to a halt. They gazed at the source of the sound in disbelief. My goodness, this unmistakable spectacle… must be true. Niang Niang is here!
The first to realize this were the palace attendants who had been serving in Xiefang Court. They exchanged glances, astonishment mixed with delight appearing on their faces. They used to find this magic sound terrifying, but now… well… it was still frightening, but within that fear, they felt a trace of nostalgia and reminiscence.
The same feeling also struck the few people who had stuffed their ears and were watching the scene unfold at the night banquet. With a sudden pitch shift, the sound of plucking cotton became a ripping sound akin to sawing wood, hitting their minds like a sharp saw mercilessly tearing through their brains. It was excruciatingly painful.
The faces of those officials, who had initially been dismissive due to Xia Yuqing’s reported death and had paid a heavy price for their arrogance, went from pale to ashen, and finally turned as dark as ink.
At that moment, Xia Yuqing had no idea how much psychological turmoil her ecstatic zither playing had caused the people present. After the piece ended, she breathed a sigh of relief and looked toward Zhang Sunshi not far away. Shy and uneasy, she asked, “Royal Mother, what do you think?”
Zhang Sunshi hadn’t yet removed the cotton from her ears. She saw Xia Yuqing looking at her expectantly and moved her lips. Although she couldn’t hear Xia Yuqing’s voice clearly, she could probably guess what she was saying. She cleared her throat and maintained her dignified and elegant demeanor as she said, “Not bad, not bad. It has been a year since I last heard it. Qing Er’s zither skills have indeed improved, surpassing even her past performance. Truly impressive.”
Xia Yuqing blushed slightly at the praise, her small face reddening. She shyly said, “How can I be as good as Royal Mother says? I’m just showing off in front of experts. If Royal Mother likes it, in the future, I’ll definitely come to the Empress Dowafer’s palace more often to play for you.”
Seizing the opportunity as Xia Yuqing was descending the stairs with her head lowered, Zhang Sunshi quickly removed the cotton from her ears. Hearing Xia Yuqing’s words, a faint smile froze on her face. She took a deep breath before managing to force a smile and say, “Sure, sure.”
Afterward, Zhang Sunshi shot a reproachful look toward Feng Tingye. Son, your mother has suffered a great loss this time to help you.
Feng Tingye rubbed his nose slightly embarrassedly. Apparently, he hadn’t expected that his impromptu proposal would bring such hidden dangers for his mother. Nevertheless, for the sake of his son and daughter-in-law’s stable future, he believed his mother wouldn’t mind.
Xia Yuqing’s seemingly modest but secretly delighted words were like the last straw on a camel’s back, causing those fragile-minded lords to completely collapse.
“Poo…”
“Poo…”
Accompanied by a few muffled sounds, startled cries suddenly came from behind: “Lord Xie, Lord Ye, Lord Yan…”
“Huh?” Xia Yuqing suddenly heard the commotion from behind and turned her head to see what was happening. However, Feng Tingye covered her eyes before she could see.
“Your Majesty?”
“Shh, little child, don’t look at this.” Feng Tingye’s voice came with a hint of coaxing from beside her ear. However, it only made Xia Yuqing more unhappy. Pouting her cheeks, she protested, “I’m not a little child anymore.”
“Alright, alright, you’re not a little child.”
Feng Tingye’s laugh was low and soothing, mixed with a hint of obvious perfunctoriness. Just as Xia Yuqing was about to protest again, a sharp voice from not far away interrupted them. Xia Yuqing recognized the person as Xiao Shunzi, who was always by Feng Tingye’s side: “Reporting to Your Majesty.”
“What’s going on?”
Xiao Shunzi suppressed his laughter and said, “Lord Xie had an epileptic seizure, Lord Ye’s epilepsy has worsened recently, and as for Lord Yan, I heard that his monthly irregularities has been irregular lately, and his body is weak.”
“Monthly irregularities?” Upon hearing this, Xia Yuqing couldn’t help but interject, “So, this Lord Yan is a woman! Truly a remarkable woman—dealing with such intense waves during her period and still attending the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet. Admirable!”
“Poo…” Lord Yan, who had already spat out blood a few times, fainted again upon hearing Xia Yuqing’s thoughtless remark, thoroughly collapsing.
“…”
Seeing this, the people below couldn’t help but suppress their laughter. Unfortunately, under Feng Tingye’s warning gaze, no one dared to laugh out loud. Instead, they struggled to contain their laughter.
“Alright, alright, they’ve come out despite their serious illnesses. You should quickly send them back home for proper treatment.” Feng Tingye’s stern voice brought the attention back to him. He gestured to the guards who were supporting the fainted officials.
The guards understood and promptly lifted the unconscious officials like they were carrying trash, carrying them out.
At the same time, the palace maids and eunuchs who had been startled by the developing situation quickly exchanged glances. They went forward with significant understanding, tidying up the scene that had turned into a mess and straightening the disheveled tables and chairs.
“Poohahaha…” Yan Ran clutched Shao Zitang’s shoulder, trying his best to hold back his laughter. He was trembling all over, gasping for breath as he said between gasps, “Now those officials who didn’t believe in that girl’s identity are probably convinced. There’s probably only her in the whole world who can turn a perfectly fine zither into that. Hahaha…”
Shao Zitang listened to Yan Ran’s words and involuntarily twitched his mouth. Although he wanted to retort, he couldn’t deny that Yan Ran’s words were accurate. There probably wasn’t anyone else in the world who could play the zither as exquisitely as that girl.
By the time Xia Yuqing’s vision cleared, the vicious bloodstains on the ground had already disappeared. She didn’t notice anything unusual and assumed that Feng Tingye had covered her eyes earlier to spare her from witnessing the horrifying sight of some people having seizures.
Xia Yuqing looked at the suddenly vacant space and showed surprise. Turning her head towards Feng Tingye, she said, “Your Majesty, so many officials are attending today’s celebration for the Empress despite being unwell. Their hearts are indeed commendable!”
“Poo cough cough…” Those among the crowd who had withstood the impact of the demonic sound earlier were taken off guard once again by Xia Yuqing’s words. They choked.
Many showed a hint of shock, exchanged glances, and then rose to their feet. One of them said, “Your Majesty, I… I suddenly feel unwell, my head is throbbing unbearably. To avoid embarrassing myself in front of the court later, with Your Majesty’s permission, I request to retire.”
“I… I feel the same way, too.”
Just as that person finished speaking, many others followed suit, echoing his words. For a moment, a group of officials knelt on the ground.
Xia Yuqing raised her head in confusion, looking at the official who had complained about a headache. She thought, Why are you holding your stomach if your head hurts? If it weren’t for that conspicuous beard on your face, I would have thought you were about to give birth!
Feng Tingye glanced at the trembling officials on the ground, a hint of unmistakable irony flashing in his eyes. Let you not believe in the identity of Ai Fei earlier; sometimes, doing foolish things always comes at a certain cost, doesn’t it?
“Since several officials are feeling unwell, it’s really inhumane to keep you all here. You can all go back and rest.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Those officials who claimed to be unwell felt as if they had received an imperial pardon. They hurriedly tidied up their things and rushed out. Only a small portion of officials remained, those who had remained silent about Xia Yuqing’s situation from the beginning.
Seeing that a significant portion of the seats had suddenly emptied, Xia Yuqing felt puzzled. She turned to Feng Tingye and asked, “Your Majesty, these officials are saying they are unwell. Could there be something wrong with the food?”
As those officials who claimed to be unwell reached the palace gates, they heard Xia Yuqing’s words and nearly slipped, barely managing to regain their footing. Without stopping, they hurriedly increased their pace and left without looking back.
Lu Rui, who had been beside Xia Yuqing the whole time, saw her looking concerned at the food in front of her. She quickly said, “Niang Niang, while I cannot confirm if there is an issue with the food of those officials, I can assure you that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the food for you, His Majesty, and the Empress Dowager. I personally prepared the food for you and the Empress Dowager. It’s not mixed with the others, so there’s definitely no issue.”
Lu Rui’s recent goal was to help Xia Yuqing gain weight rapidly. Even if she didn’t become plump and adorable like before, she at least needed to regain a bit of her former fleshiness. To achieve this goal, how could Xia Yuqing not eat?!
Zhang Sunshi also chimed in, “That’s right, that Lu Rui’s culinary skills are the best in the palace. These dishes were made according to your taste, Qing Er. You must eat more. Your current slender figure looks far too thin; you need to gain some weight.”
Reassured by Lu Rui’s promise, Xia Yuqing felt relieved and heard Zhang Sunshi’s words, nodding in agreement. She then immediately launched into a frenzy of devouring the various delicacies that had been tempting her.
The officials had just left, and an old man who looked slightly disheveled rushed into the imperial garden.
Seeing that a significant portion of the garden had emptied, Xu Lao was taken aback. He looked around and asked somewhat puzzled, “Have I arrived too late? Has the celebration ended?”
Several people looked at the belated Xu Lao, and Zhang Sunshi, with a gentle smile, replied, “Indeed, you are a bit late. However, the celebration has not ended yet. It has only just begun. Xu Lao, come over and take a seat.”
Upon hearing these words, Xu Lao seemed to understand something. After glancing at his perfectly fine disciple, he let out a sigh of relief. Leaning on his cane, he slowly sat down at a position slightly below Xia Yuqing and the others.
“Hey? Xu Lao, what’s wrong with your face?” Zhang Sunshi, with her keen eyes, spotted a small bruise on Xu Lao’s face and asked in surprise.
In an instant, everyone’s gaze was fixed on Xu Lao. His status was already special within Ye Country, and even Feng Tingye had to give him some face. Now, someone had dared to lay hands on him, which intrigued everyone.
As everyone’s gaze suddenly focused on him, Xu Lao’s expression grew increasingly unsightly. “It’s nothing, I accidentally bumped into something.”
“Accidentally bumped into something? Accidentally hit your side profile with precision?” Xia Yuqing, unable to keep silent, inadvertently ignited Xu Lao’s short fuse.
Xu Lao raised an icy eyebrow and shot Xia Yuqing an annoyed look. He reached out as if he was about to reprimand her by pinching her ear, but he hesitated because Feng Tingye was in the way. Helpless, he withdrew his hand and glanced at Xia Yuqing, saying, “Don’t blame anyone but my little disciple for this.”
“Blame me?!” Xia Yuqing widened her eyes in disbelief, unable to comprehend how she suddenly ended up in the crossfire.
“Who else can I blame but you?” Xu Lao’s anger grew as he spoke. The two tufts of his beard shook with his agitation. “If it weren’t for you coming to my house a couple of days ago and claiming that there was something hidden under my bed…”
Xia Yuqing was momentarily confused, glancing at the bruise on Xu Lao’s face. Suddenly, it hit her, and she looked at Xu Lao with a teasing expression. “So your injury was from Master’s wife, huh?”
As soon as Xia Yuqing said this, several people who were familiar with the situation were momentarily stunned. Although they had known all along that Xu Lao had a romantic partner in his twilight years—alright, perhaps it wasn’t really twilight years, since the two of them had been together since they were young and even gave birth to Su Wuduan, that beast. However, this elderly couple seemed to have a tumultuous relationship, frequently bickering every three days and having a major quarrel every five days. But even with all that, they had never heard that Xu Lao’s partner had ever laid a hand on him. So, what happened this time? Did this elderly couple actually fight physically?!
Listening to Xia Yuqing’s gleeful words, Xu Lao felt his anger rising even more. With a cold snort, he sent a sharp glance Xia Yuqing’s way.
Sensing Xu Lao’s resentful gaze, Xia Yuqing understood that he was genuinely angry. She quickly put on a pitiful expression, trying to defuse the situation. “Master, I didn’t mean to! How could I have known that Master’s wife would hear rumors and rummage through your things? Besides, it’s not all my fault. If you didn’t hide Master’s wife dudou under the bed for no reason, causing her to run out of them, she wouldn’t have been so angry after stumbling upon your stuff. Combine that with her grievances, how could she have been angry enough to give you a beating?”
“Poo cough cough…” Yan Ran was choked again, for the second time tonight. He paid no attention to the disdainful look from Shao Zitang nearby, his widened eyes fixed on Xu Lao. “Du… dao?”
In an instant, everyone’s attention focused back on Xu Lao.
Feeling the expressions of astonishment, shock, disbelief, and even schadenfreude from various people, Xu Lao couldn’t take it any longer. He growled lowly, “Little… disciple!”
He shouldn’t have worried and come running to support his little disciple. Look at what a mess it had turned into. Sigh, the dignity he had earned in his lifetime!
“Ahh, Brother Xu, I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I won’t speak carelessly again. Your Majesty, please save me, save me!”
Another round of gasps and exclamations filled the imperial garden. However, this time, no one stepped forward to stop them. They all watched with faint smiles.
After Zhang Sunshi’s celebration, news of Xia Yuqing’s situation spread throughout the entire Ye Palace and even the entire Ye Country, under the deliberate guidance of Feng Tingye. Suddenly, the entire palace and the common people were stirred up by the news.
As it turned out… the woman who had recently gained the Emperor’s favor was actually the Empress who everyone believed had passed away a year ago! Someone who was thought to have died suddenly came back to life. This was an astonishing and extraordinary occurrence that could captivate anyone’s imagination. In comparison to the earlier news of the Emperor falling for someone new, the Empress making a comeback after her apparent death was a more sensational event that could fuel people’s gossip-loving souls.
As a result, the common people of Ye Country spontaneously formed a gossip group once again, digging into the palace secrets of the Ye royal family. Feng Tingye’s explanations during the banquet were deliberately vague, giving the gossip-hungry populace plenty of room to speculate and fantasize.
Therefore, on the day after the night banquet, various versions of wild rumors spread rapidly among the common people.
According to the rumors, the person who had kidnapped the Empress back then was actually a young lady. The reason she kidnapped and held the Empress hostage was solely due to jealousy. They couldn’t stand the fact that our gentle and virtuous Empress had captured the unwavering love of our Emperor. Showing affection in public, it’s easy to understand why people would be envious!
Rumor has it that the girl who kidnapped the Empress also had a male accomplice. This man was captivated by the Empress’s beauty and couldn’t bear to let her die. So, he orchestrated a substitution and faked the Empress’s death.
According to the rumors, the girl who kidnapped the Empress and the young man had a romantic relationship. When the girl learned of the young man’s intentions, she flew into a rage and, in her anger, destroyed the Empress’s appearance. This outrageous and melodramatic quadrangular love affair is the people’s favorite, you know!
It’s rumored that after her appearance was ruined, the devastated Empress still held onto thoughts of the Emperor and their two children, preventing her from taking her own life. Amidst the inhumane abuse from this inhumane couple, she managed to escape through various hardships. However, her ruined appearance prevented her from returning to the palace to face the Emperor. The pain of her own self-esteem was too heart-wrenching.
Lastly, the rumors say that during her escape, the Empress encountered a renowned divine healer who not only saved her life but also gave her a new face. Only after this transformation did the Empress find the courage to return to the capital and reunite with the Emperor, who had been pining for her.
And finally, the rumors suggest that when the Emperor first saw the transformed Empress, he instantly recognized her true identity. He ignored the puzzled gazes of everyone else and took her directly into the palace to alleviate their mutual longing. So, as it turns out… this is the truth behind the Emperor’s new love interest!
All these rumors were summed up in just one sentence: a melodramatic quadrangular love affair straight out of a cheesy soap opera.
Wait, you might be wondering why people were hesitant to discuss the Emperor’s new romantic interest earlier but now seem to discuss the Empress’s situation so openly and spawn so many rumors. Isn’t it clear?
Back then, there was no Empress around the Emperor, and who knew what kind of mood he was in? Talking about royal matters haphazardly might have cost someone their head. But now that the Emperor is all lovey-dovey with the Empress, why would he care about these common folks and their love for gossip? And even when it comes to rumors, there are good ones and bad ones. The current rumors are praising the Emperor and the Empress’s faithful love rather than tarnishing the Emperor’s image. Why should they be afraid? Perhaps the Emperor would prefer them to say more nice things and praise him. So, being a cultured, refined, and knowledgeable gossip enthusiast is quite a profound endeavor!
The Ye common people, on one hand, were boiling with excitement over this melodramatic love affair, sympathizing with the tragic plight of the Empress, and on the other hand, praising the unwavering love between the Empress and the Emperor that saw through appearances. They sighed and exclaimed that they finally believed in love once again.
If the commoners outside the palace were fired up by these rumors and could hardly contain their excitement, then those palace maids and eunuchs who were familiar with Xia Yuqing had more complex emotions. When they heard that Xia Yuqing was still alive, they were excited beyond words. But upon learning about Xia Yuqing’s “tragic” experience, their hearts went out to her.
Thinking about how well they had treated their Niang Niang in the palace, how could she suffer such harm and mistreatment in an unknown place after leaving? Not only did she suffer disfigurement, but she was also abused by those villains. After finally escaping, she endured hardships and tribulations, suffered from low self-esteem, and couldn’t even bring herself to return. No wonder Niang Niang lost so much weight after coming back. She was truly pitiable. The group in Xiefang Palace imagined Xia Yuqing’s experiences over the past year and cried so much that they almost flooded the palace.
The young maidens in the palace, who had previously been worried about Xia Yuqing’s sudden reappearance and Feng Tingye’s unusual behavior, suddenly felt relieved. It wasn’t that the Emperor had fallen for someone new; it was that the Emperor’s discerning eyes and spiritual connection had allowed him to recognize the Empress with a single glance. Their deep and genuine feelings for each other were so touching. They realized they were wrong to harbor suspicions about the Emperor.
After feeling sad and guilty, everyone focused their efforts on helping the too-thin Xia Yuqing regain her health and fattening up the two precious children.
As a result, when Xia Yuqing returned to Xiefang Palace, she was greeted with numerous affectionate pink gazes, which made her skin crawl.
Nevertheless, no matter how luxurious other places were, there’s no place like home. As soon as she returned to Xiefang Palace, Xia Yuqing felt a sense of relief washing over her.
On this day, Xia Yuqing sat in an open space in her sleeping chamber, with a pile of snacks and pastries beside her. Not far away, Big Baby was playing with Second Baby and the two dogs, Xiao Bai and the ever-following Xiao Hei.
Speaking of Xiao Bai, his temperament had grown even more dominant after a year. The first thing he did when he saw Xia Yuqing was to pounce on her. If Cui Er hadn’t been quick to intervene, Xia Yuqing might have gotten hurt on her first day back to Xiefang Palace.
As a result, Lu Rui punished the increasingly spoiled Xiao Bai by not feeding him for a night, but in the end, Xia Yuqing couldn’t stand it and secretly gave her some food. For this meal of kindness, Xiao Bai gradually warmed up to Xia Yuqing. Animals often tend to be more sensitive in some respects than humans. In just a few days, Xiao Bai had fully recognized Xia Yuqing and was now comfortable enough to jump into her arms to be spoiled.
“Royal Mother, osmanthus cake.” After playing for a while, Second Baby came running back to Xia Yuqing, clamoring for treats.
Xia Yuqing snapped back to reality, taking a piece of osmanthus cake from the plate beside her and stuffing it into the mouth of Second Baby. She advised, “Don’t eat too much. We’ll have a meal soon, and if you’re full, you won’t be able to eat when the delicious food comes.”
Second Baby nodded hurriedly, swallowing the cake before joyfully joining Big Baby to play.
Observing the adorable scene of the two children and the dog rolling around, listening to the occasional giggles in the distance, Xia Yuqing couldn’t help but curl her lips, feeling that living such ordinary days could also be a kind of happiness.
“What are you thinking about?” Xia Yuqing continued to watch the two children while smiling slightly. Suddenly, a pair of slender hands extended from behind her and embraced her completely.
Xia Yuqing was startled and turned her head to see that at some point, Feng Tingye had actually sat down behind her. He reached out, enveloping her in his embrace.
Xia Yuqing was taken aback and then relaxed as she realized who it was. She nestled in Feng Tingye’s arms, sighed comfortably, and said, “Nothing much, just watching the two kids play together, finding it quite interesting.”
While saying that, Xia Yuqing glanced at the two children, the fluffy Xiao Bai, and the somewhat… doggy Xiao Hei following closely behind.
Xia Yuqing finally noticed something amiss. Wasn’t it just a year ago that Xiao Bai was frantically chasing after the Female Queen Fan Xiao Hei who had no interest? How come now it was Xiao Hei chasing after Xiao Bai? It didn’t make sense! And the way Xiao Hei looked, it was like… an overbearing husband!
A sudden realization struck Xia Yuqing, remembering that when she had given something to Xiao Bai, she had also noticed that Xiao Hei seemed to secretly want to give something to Xiao Bai? And in these past few days, when Xiao Bai clung to her, Xiao Hei didn’t come over to compete for attention as it used to. Instead, it stood not far away, staring intently at the two of them, with a gaze that seemed to say… adulterous couple!
Xia Yuqing was startled by her own imagination and shivered involuntarily. It wasn’t until the person holding her noticed her strange behavior and asked worriedly, “What’s wrong?” that she was saved from the sudden explosion of her wild thoughts.
“Ahahaha, it’s nothing, really.” Xia Yuqing nervously brushed it off and sneakily looked at Xiao Hei. Then, as if remembering something, she asked in a low voice, “By the way, where’s Little Shuyan and that… what’s his name, the Young Master? After coming back, I haven’t seen them. Could they have returned to the Yue Clan?”
As soon as Xia Yuqing said this, Feng Tingye’s aura visibly changed, startling her. Worriedly, she called out, “Your Majesty?”
Upon hearing Xia Yuqing’s voice, the fierce look in Feng Tingye’s eyes instantly softened. After confirming that she was safe and sound in his embrace, he calmed down and said, “Ye Shuyan and Ying Yue left Ye Kingdom a few months ago. I’ve heard that the Yue Clan’s chieftain position has been passed from Ye Shuyan to Ying Yue. Ying Yue is in the Yue Clan, but Ye Shuyan’s whereabouts are unknown. No one knows where he went.”
“Ye Shuyan’s whereabouts are unknown?” Xia Yuqing was surprised and asked with a shocked expression.
“Yes, I don’t have the specifics. It’s just hearsay. But let me reiterate, it’s best that they’re gone. I can let go of the past, but my Ai Fei should have no further contact with them.”
While Feng Tingye’s tone was steady, Xia Yuqing could sense a trace of irrefutability in his words.
Biting her lip, Xia Yuqing obediently nodded in agreement. After all, her body was her original version from modern times, so Ye Shuyan’s words about her having the blood of the Yue Clan no longer applied. Cui Er had already severed her ties with the Yue Clan long ago. Those two individuals probably wouldn’t appear before her again.
Seeing Xia Yuqing nodding, Feng Tingye breathed a sigh of relief and casually changed the topic, “You’ve just returned not long ago. If you find the palace too stifling, how about accompanying Zitang to fetch someone these two days?”
As expected, as soon as Feng Tingye brought up this topic, Xia Yuqing was immediately intrigued, “Accompany little Shangshu to fetch someone?”
Who needed such grand arrangements that even the little Shangshu had to personally fetch them? Xia Yuqing’s eyes flickered with a hint of confusion. Just a few days ago, news came from Shu Kingdom that Yun Xi had heard about her and wanted to rush over. Unfortunately, she was newly pregnant, and her fetal movements were unstable. Yun Zhong couple didn’t want her to endure the hardships of traveling to Ye Kingdom at this time.
But how could Yun Xi give up without meeting face-to-face? In the end, Yun Zhongyue had to return first, and once Yun Xi’s fetal movements were stable, or after she gave birth safely, they would come to Ye Kingdom.
If it was the Second Senior Brother, his identity was indeed significant, but they were all familiar with each other. Logic dictated that there was no need for little Shangshu to personally welcome him. Then…
Seeing the confusion in Xia Yuqing’s eyes, Feng Tingye smiled and explained, “Yes, we’re going to fetch the Xue Empress.”
“Xue Empress?” Xia Yuqing was momentarily puzzled but quickly realized, turning to Feng Tingye and asking, “You mean the little Doctor? Is little Doctor coming back?”
Feng Tingye nodded, “Yes, Xie Enqing will be returning to stay briefly.”
“Staying briefly? Is Young Master Yin coming back with her?”
Feng Tingye hesitated for a moment and then spoke in a low voice, “No, he isn’t.”
“Young Master Yin isn’t coming back with her?” Could it be that Young Master Yin had also learned from the Gorgeous Grand Tutor and was ready to abandon Xie Enqing and their child?
Xia Yuqing wrote everything directly on her face. Seeing this, Feng Tingye couldn’t help but pinch her little face affectionately and said, “It’s not what you think. Recently, there have been some troubles in the Xue Country. Yin Xiang is worried that some people with no foresight might harm Xie Enqing. Besides, Xie Enqing has been away from Ye Kingdom for a long time and misses her hometown. So, he contacted Zitang and took this opportunity to send Xie Enqing back. They plan to bring them back after the situation in the Xue Country settles.”
“Troubles? What kind of troubles?”
Feng Tingye looked at Xia Yuqing’s curious expression, smiled slightly, and said, “Yin Xiang managed to overthrow the Li Yuan’s father and ascended to the throne. Many people in the court don’t accept him. He hasn’t been in power for long, and his foundation is not very stable. There are many who want to pull him down from that position. This time, a few prominent figures have emerged.”
“Oh.” Xia Yuqing nodded vaguely. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she said, “By the way, do you also know about the situation between Xiang Er and my Eldest Royal brother? My eldest royal brother used to be so considerate of Xiang Er. It doesn’t make sense that he hasn’t come to find her after she left home for so long. Could it be that he’s also…”
“You have become smarter after going back once.”
“I was already very smart, okay?” Xia Yuqing protested with a pout.
Feng Tingye smiled and ruffled Xia Yuqing’s hair. “Well, your eldest royal brother has some troubles at home recently and can’t get away for a while. But this is his internal concern, and we can’t interfere. Moreover, if he can’t handle even this, I’m afraid he won’t sit on the throne for long.”
“Oh, I see.” Xia Yuqing nodded and didn’t ask any more. She believed in her eldest royal brother’s ability. Although he was a bit inferior to their Ultra Seme Lord, dealing with the affairs of the court should not be too difficult.
Seeing that Xia Yuqing didn’t ask further, Feng Tingye brought the topic back and continued, “Although Yin Xiang didn’t come back with Xie Enqing this time, their son came with them. He is the Crown Prince of Xue Country, the future Emperor. If Yin Xiang really intended to abandon them, would he let his son come with them?”
Feng Tingye’s words carried an obvious teasing tone, and Xia Yuqing knew he was joking about her previous unfounded thoughts. Blushing, she gave him a playful glare. After a moment, as if remembering something, she exclaimed in surprise, “Little Doctor? Has she given birth to a son?”
“Yes, they had a child during our time in Xia Kingdom. He should be about a year and a half old now.”
Xia Yuqing’s eyes lit up, and she couldn’t help but be curious about what kind of child Xie Enqing and Yin Xiang had together.
Seeing her reaction, Feng Tingye couldn’t help but chuckle as he rubbed Xia Yuqing’s head, continuing, “Xie Enqing, after all, is the Empress of Xue Kingdom. If only Zitang went to receive her, it might seem a bit impolite. If my Ai Fei is willing, it would be even better for you to meet her.”
Xia Yuqing quickly nodded in agreement and expressed her anticipation, “Sure, since I have free time, I’ll go with little Shangshu to receive Little Doctor. When will she arrive?”
“Based on the current schedule, it should be two days from now.”
“Two days later…”
Two days later, Xia Yuqing stood with Shao Zitang at the city gate, watching the magnificent procession of carriages and horses approaching in the distance. Joy couldn’t be concealed on her face.
Soon, the carriages came to a halt. Before anyone could speak, a head emerged from the foremost luxurious carriage.
Everyone was momentarily stunned, blinking their eyes to see clearly. They realized that indeed, a head had emerged from the carriage, and it was… a pig’s head!
Could it be… could it be that Little Doctor had turned into… a pig due to the bumps along the journey?! Xia Yuqing was dumbfounded by her own thoughts, staring blankly at the little pig that was making noises at her.
“Ah, Daidai, why did you run off again without permission? Don’t you know it’s dangerous?”
Just as Xia Yuqing and the others were at a loss for how to react to the sight before them, a familiar voice came from the carriage.
In the next second, two fair hands extended from the carriage and directly lifted the little pig back into the carriage by its belly. Simultaneously, a familiar figure emerged from the carriage. With the assistance of the person beside her, she jumped down from the carriage, still holding the mini pig in her arms.
“Enqing.” Shao Zitang was the first to speak, waking everyone up from their shock.
Xie Enqing looked up at Shao Zitang and exclaimed happily, “Cousin.”
Then, she saw Xia Yuqing standing beside Shao Zitang and looked puzzled. “And who is this?”
“Uh… Little Doctor, it’s me.”
“Hmm?” Xie Enqing was taken aback for a moment and then realized with astonishment after a while, “You’re the Empress?”
Seeing Xia Yuqing nod, Xie Enqing quickly walked up to her and carefully observed her for a while, her expression showing concern and compassion. “So the rumors are true! Empress, you’ve had a difficult year.”
Looking at Xie Enqing’s undisguised sympathy and tenderness on her face, Xia Yuqing’s heart moved, and she smiled faintly, “It’s actually not a big deal, not a big deal at all. It’s all in the past now.”
“…” Shao Zitang, who knew the truth, unconsciously twitched the corner of his mouth. He looked at his cousin’s expression of endless pity and sighed inwardly. Another ignorant girl deceived by a rumour!
As the two of them were caught up in reminiscing, another small figure emerged from the carriage that Xie Enqing had just come out of.
Xia Yuqing and the others focused their gaze to see a child who appeared to be over a year old. The child was lifted down from the carriage by a guard and stood beside the carriage, wearing a smile that strikingly resembled Young Master Yin. The child called out gently, “Mother.”
A childish voice came from behind, causing Xie Enqing to turn around abruptly and exclaim, “Oh dear, I forgot.”
Saying that, she hurriedly walked up to the child, holding the little pig named Daidai in one hand and leading the child by the other. She approached Shao Zitang and said, “Cousin, this is my child, Yin Hui. Hui Er, call your uncle.”
The child looked up at Shao Zitang and obediently said, “Hello, Uncle.”
Only then did Xia Yuqing and Shao Zitang get a clear look at the child’s appearance. This little one was a miniature version of Young Master Yin. Well, to be more accurate, he was a Q-version of Young Master Yin. The facial contours were almost identical to Young Master Yin’s, and the faint smile that resembled Young Master Yin’s, along with the gentle aura that emanated from him, naturally made people feel close to him. If there was any noticeable difference from Young Master Yin, it was probably in his eyes. Unlike Young Master Yin’s clear and innocent eyes, the child’s eyes were brimming with intelligence, giving him a fresh and approachable appearance.
Shao Zitang furrowed his brows, feeling a sense of displeasure looking at this child who was practically a spitting image of Young Master Yin. It had been so many years, and his relationship with Young Master Yin was still much the same as it had been back then. Their compatibility was truly off. In Shao Zitang’s eyes, that rascal Young Master Yin was like the big bad wolf that had abducted his little white rabbit, whom his family had cared for half their lives. It was as if a family that had nurtured a big cabbage for decades had it stolen by a pig. Naturally, there couldn’t be a favorable impression of that pig.
However, this child was still Xie Enqing’s, and Shao Zitang couldn’t bring himself to go too far. After all, the child was innocent. So, even though Shao Zitang harbored resentment in his heart at the fact that this child looked exactly like that annoying guy, he put on a somewhat friendly smile, patted Yin Hui’s head, and said, “Yes, very well-behaved.”
Seeing how well the uncle and nephew were getting along, Xie Enqing felt a bit more relieved. Just as she was about to speak, she felt something tugging at her dress. She looked down in confusion and saw her son Yin Hui looking up at her.
“Hui Er, what’s the matter?”
“Little fox said it’s hungry.”
Hearing the conversation between mother and son, Xia Yuqing finally noticed the small silver fox in Yin Hui’s arms. The little silver fox was looking at Xie Enqing with an air of pitiful expectation. Meanwhile, the little pig in Xie Enqing’s arms heard someone mention hunger and happily made a sound, as if showing support.
“Is Daidai hungry too? Shall we go eat first?” Xie Enqing picked up the pig in her arms and said gently.
The little silver fox, which had originally sought attention, narrowed its eyes at Xie Enqing’s words. Its sharp teeth were bared, and it looked rather aggrieved as it glared at the pig in Xie Enqing’s arms.
“Ha…” Unable to contain herself, Xia Yuqing burst into laughter. Weren’t these two little pets competing for attention? Why did this family seem so interesting?
“Oh, what’s happening?” Xie Enqing heard Xia Yuqing’s laughter and looked over in confusion.
“Nothing.” Xia Yuqing hurriedly stifled her laughter and said, “Little Doctor, your two pets are quite cute. I also have two. If you have the chance, you can bring them to the palace to play. By the way, Dudu and Dundun are also in the palace, so they can play with your son too.”
Xie Enqing’s eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly, saying, “Sure, sure.”
Shao Zitang cleared his throat and said, “Let’s do it another day. Enqing and her party must be tired after the journey. I will take them back to rest first and arrange for them to visit the palace another day.”
“Alright.”
After making an appointment with Xie Enqing, Xia Yuqing reluctantly parted ways with the child and pets.
A few days later, Xie Enqing really did bring her pets and child to the palace. As a result, the usual standoff between the two pets turned into a chaotic battle with the addition of the new arrivals.
Xiao Bai looked at these two pets that suddenly appeared in its territory, showing displeasure by baring its teeth. It tolerated the arrogance of that dead cat, Xiao Hei, when it swaggered in front of it. Now, these two little ones also dared to vie for attention on its turf. Unacceptable! If the wolf dog doesn’t show its strength, do they really think it’s just an ordinary native dog!
Xiao Bai took the initiative to display a great deal of vigilance and hostility towards these two creatures that had suddenly intruded into its territory. On the other side, Little Silver Fox, which had previously shown contempt for Daidai, also dropped its prejudice at this moment and pointed its cannon muzzle outward.
However, the standoff between these mini-pets fell into the eyes of their owners, two individuals who were quite obviously missing a screw in their heads, and it presented a different scene.
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