The Feng family—of course Eunuch Xu knew who they were.
But that was Empress Feng’s maiden family, and also one of Xiao Yunting’s strongest sources of support. In the past, everyone in the capital had shown them great respect.
Their return only meant one thing: Xiao Yunting’s position was even more secure now.
So what exactly was there for His Highness to be so happy about?
Eunuch Xu was puzzled, but seeing that Qi Wang’s expression had turned indifferent and that he didn’t wish to speak further, he sensibly held his tongue and asked no more.
He understood very clearly that if they wanted to survive now, they had to avoid causing any more trouble. The best thing to do was to leave the capital—quickly.
But as Qi Wang thought about it, he actually let out a laugh.
For some reason, the sound of his laughter made Eunuch Xu break out in goosebumps. It sent a chill down his spine.
Had His Highness gone mad from anger? Otherwise, how could he be smiling like this—after being driven out of the capital like a beaten dog?
Just as he was thinking that, Qi Wang called out to him: “Before we leave the capital, help me take care of one thing.”
Eunuch Xu jumped in fright and was just about to urge caution when he saw Qi Wang’s bloodshot eyes as he said, “Don’t worry. I’m not like Baorong, overestimating myself and throwing away my life in vain. I won’t do anything foolish this time.”
Really?
Eunuch Xu had his doubts.
But seeing Qi Wang’s unstable emotions, he dared not say anything more that might agitate him, and quickly agreed.
That same night Qi Wang stayed in the palace, Xiao Yunting also remained in the palace.
Only, he had gone to visit Empress Feng.
Her palace hadn’t had any outside visitors in a long time. Whether it was due to the long absence of guests or the lack of vitality, the place always felt colder than the rest of the palace.
When Xiao Yunting arrived, Empress Feng was writing.
Life in the deep palace was lonely. Other consorts could still go out and attend banquets, but she was like a prisoner—this grand palace was her gilded cage.
Staying in this square courtyard day after day, if she didn’t find something to keep her occupied, she might even forget how time passed.
Seeing Xiao Yunting, she looked up and smiled, nodding. “You’ve grown even better looking than when you first came back. You really take after your mother.”
The Crown Princess, Lady Lu, had been extraordinarily beautiful—yet the Crown Prince never liked her.
Thinking of that made Empress Feng’s head throb faintly again. She rubbed the back of her neck and, still smiling, motioned for Xiao Yunting to sit down.
Xiao Yunting was deeply respectful toward his grandmother.
Back when he was just a small child, not only were the Crown Prince and Crown Princess estranged and indifferent to protecting him, even if they had wanted to, they couldn’t have done so under the pressure from Duke Chu’s household and Noble Consort Liu.
It was Empress Feng who had carved out a narrow path of survival from what should have been a fatal trap, and forced a way to send him to Mao Mountain.
Later, when Princess Baorong had a nightmare and claimed it was a demonic illness, Duke Chu made a huge fuss, and over a thousand people at Mao Mountain were slaughtered.
Empress Feng realized Mao Mountain couldn’t protect him either, so she quietly arranged for the Feng family to send him and his master to Mount Longhu under the pretense of a pilgrimage.
Only then did he survive.
Without his grandmother, there would be no Xiao Yunting today. He smiled and gently helped her sit before taking his own seat.
Empress Feng beamed. “What brings you to visit me today? Something on your mind?”
Though her face was smiling, Xiao Yunting knew full well she wasn’t as calm as she appeared.
With just the right touch of excitement, he knelt before her: “Grandmother! Great-grandfather’s injustice has been cleared! And the wrongful accusations that have hung over the Feng family all these years—they’ve been cleared too!”
He told her everything: how Duke Chu had been behind Liu Wangfei’s tragedy, and how Liu Wangfei had chosen to live in a Daoist temple of her own accord.
Empress Feng froze for a moment, then immediately covered her face and burst into wailing sobs.
Even the palace attendants watching from the side couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sorrow.
Xiao Yunting knelt beside her, trying to gently calm her down.
Empress Feng clutched his hand tightly: “I said it back then, I knew this couldn’t have been my father’s doing, nor my brother’s! And now, after so many years, the Feng family has finally been vindicated!”
Xiao Yunting quickly said, “Yes, so Grandmother doesn’t need to—”
But Empress Feng’s eyes were bloodshot as she gripped his hand even harder: “How can I not be sad? My father was old, and the southern regions were full of miasma and poisonous insects. Annam watched like a tiger eyeing its prey. As soon as he arrived, he lost his life! My brother didn’t last much longer either… How many of my family have died these years?”
That Xiao Yunting had come today was no doubt by Emperor Yongchang’s design.
After so many years as husband and wife, Empress Feng naturally understood his deep-rooted suspicion toward her and the Feng family.
So both she and Xiao Yunting knew that none of this was being said merely between the two of them—they were saying it for Emperor Yongchang to hear.
There were undercurrents swirling through the capital, but Qi Yuan wasn’t worried in the least.
She had just returned to the capital and, unsurprisingly, soon received word that Qi Wang had already entered the palace. She couldn’t help but curl her lips in a sneer.
So scared of dying, huh?
Still, she had no intention of storming into the palace to kill anyone. Instead, she simply went to the Taibai Building to meet Lai Chenglong.
When Lai Chenglong saw her arrive safe and sound—with all her limbs intact—he finally let out a breath of relief.
Qi Yuan had already cleaned herself up before coming. If she’d entered the city still covered in blood, she would’ve been arrested before taking a single step inside.
Now, facing Lai Chenglong, she smiled and asked, “So, did Lord Lai cut off Huailiang Qin Wang’s head?”
…
Lai Chenglong had originally wanted to ask if she was alright, but after hearing that, he immediately realized he’d been asking a pointless question.
Come on—whether she was alright or not was obvious, wasn’t it?
He silently rolled his eyes. “Thanks to Miss Qi’s great blessings, yes, I cut it off. The head’s perfectly intact.”
As he spoke, he knocked on the table: “Miss Qi, didn’t you promise me that if I killed Huailiang Qin Wang, not only would I be free of blame, but I’d even climb to greater heights? Isn’t it about time to cash in on that promise?”
“Of course,” Qi Yuan replied confidently, raising her eyebrows with a grin. “Come on, let me show you your glorious reward.”
Chunlin followed behind them, trailing closely and whispering to Lai Chenglong, “My lord, what does Miss Qi mean by that?”
Lai Chenglong gave him a cold glance. “You know what kind of people die the fastest?”
Chunlin shook his head.
“People who talk too much.”
Lai Chenglong patted his shoulder and gave him a meaningful look.
Chunlin instantly shivered.
But when they arrived at a private residence in the northern part of the city and saw a few people there, he immediately froze.
He couldn’t help but whisper to Lai Chenglong, “My lord! These people—their clothing, aren’t they those short, scrawny Easterners?!”
How could there still be a group of them here after they’d already killed the last batch?!
Lai Chenglong snapped his head around to look at Qi Yuan.
Want to show your support? Go donate at Paypal or Ko-fi to show your appreciation! Want to get early access to at least 20+ chapters in advance? Go to my Patreon to join now! :)
