But now was not the time to pursue accountability—whatever Feng Caiwei did inside the palace could drag the entire Feng family into ruin, and even bring Empress Feng down with her.
She still bore the surname Feng, after all!
Empress Feng shot a sharp glare at Feng Yuzhang, then immediately snapped at her trusted eunuch: “Go find her—now! Don’t alert anyone. Bring her back to me at once!”
The eunuch responded urgently and rushed out.
But before the search party could return, Eunuch Xia, who served Emperor Yongchang, arrived.
Seeing Empress Feng, he lowered his head deferentially and said, “Your Majesty, His Majesty requests your presence.”
Now?
Empress Feng was startled and immediately thought of Feng Caiwei, unease rising within her. “Do you know why the emperor has summoned me?”
Eunuch Xia offered a subtle smile. “Her Majesty will know upon arrival. This servant dares not presume His Majesty’s thoughts.”
Ever since the incident with Pu Wuyong, Emperor Yongchang had grown more suspicious of those around him.
Even Eunuch Xia had become increasingly cautious in his conduct.
Empress Feng took a breath, raised an eyebrow, and answered calmly, “Understood,” before changing into formal attire and making her way to the emperor.
When she arrived at Taiji Hall, she was shocked to find Feng Caiwei already there.
Her heart sank instantly with a dreadful premonition.
She couldn’t help but regret—why had she given the Feng family another chance? Why had she given Feng Caiwei another chance?
After all the terrible things Feng Caiwei had done, just as Xiao Yunting had said, she should have been dealt with decisively. Why had she let her into the palace again?
But now it was too late for regrets.
She kept her expression steady and stepped forward to bow.
Emperor Yongchang waved his hand and greeted her warmly. “Empress, I summoned you because I have good news.”
Good news?
She didn’t even know how Feng Caiwei had gotten here or what she had said—what good news could there possibly be?!
But the emperor didn’t seem to notice her tension and simply smiled. “Since the Feng family returned to the capital, I’ve been meaning to reward them. But matters kept delaying me.”
Now that Li Changqing’s case had been reopened, the old incident—how the Feng family once saved Xiao Yunting—had come to light as well.
The emperor had not blamed the Fengs. After all, they had saved Xiao Yunting’s life.
As Empress Feng listened, still confused, she heard Emperor Yongchang say: “Now, your grandniece and Jingzhao seem genuinely fond of each other, so I’ve decided to grant them a marriage. What do you think?”
…
Empress Feng snapped her head up, her face full of shock and disbelief.
What had the emperor just said?!
Fond of each other?
With whom?!
Jingzhao? Xiao Jingzhao?!
Frowning, she turned—and saw Xiao Jingzhao standing quietly beside the emperor.
So he was here too.
But why was Feng Caiwei marrying Xiao Jingzhao?!
Her mind buzzed in chaos.
Seeing her stunned, Emperor Yongchang laughed heartily. “Surprised, aren’t you? I was too, when I saw them tugging on each other in the imperial garden! Who would’ve thought—after I asked, they admitted they liked each other!”
The imperial garden?!
So Feng Caiwei had sneaked out to meet Xiao Jingzhao?
But for what?
How could they have been pulling on each other’s sleeves?!
Empress Feng felt she was on the brink of grasping something important, but her mind only grew murkier.
She frowned and said, “Your Majesty, your grace to the Feng family is already immeasurable. Allowing them to return to the capital is a great kindness. Forgive me for speaking bluntly, but the younger generation in my clan varies greatly in ability—truly, we are unfit to produce another prince consort…”
By custom, Xiao Jingzhao was only a County Prince for now.
But once the crown prince ascended the throne, he would likely be granted a full Prince of the First Rank title and be sent to establish his own domain.
So Feng Caiwei would be a future prince consort in any case.
What she said wasn’t wrong.
Feng Caiwei kept her head lowered, feigning innocent obedience.
Xiao Jingzhao’s face remained expressionless, making it impossible to guess his thoughts.
Emperor Yongchang, hearing the objection, assumed it was due to the hardships Empress Feng had endured over the years. He chuckled: “No need to be so serious, Empress. It’s just a county prince’s consort. She saved my most beloved grandson, and Jingzhao likes her. Why not bless this match? I’m giving both her and the Feng family face.”
That phrase—“my most beloved grandson”—made both Feng Caiwei and Xiao Jingzhao’s expressions visibly shift.
Xiao Jingzhao’s fists clenched tightly at his side.
At this point, he had no choice but to kneel and thank the emperor. “Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace.”
The emperor stroked his beard, clearly pleased. “No need. Now that you’re about to marry, you should conduct yourself more steadily. Learn more from your elder brother in all things.”
Xiao Jingzhao responded respectfully.
Empress Feng didn’t even know how to react.
Once they left and she brought Feng Caiwei and Xiao Jingzhao back to her own palace, she finally turned to Feng Caiwei and asked sharply: “What’s going on?!”
Her gaze swept to Xiao Jingzhao as well.
She didn’t believe for a second that he genuinely liked Feng Caiwei.
They’d barely met!
How could he be so enamored?
If not, why would he allow himself to be manipulated by her?
She rubbed her temples, her anxiety finally boiling over.
At this point, Feng Caiwei had nothing left to hide.
With the emperor’s decree, no one—not even Empress Feng—could touch her now.
She glanced at Xiao Jingzhao with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile. “As Your Majesty just saw, the truth is, His Highness the Nanan County Prince and I are deeply in love.”
Empress Feng turned a cold glare to Xiao Jingzhao. “Jingzhao, what do you have to say?!”
Even she, slow as she sometimes was, now understood.
Xiao Jingzhao wasn’t a fool.
He knew how precarious Feng Caiwei’s situation was.
There was no way this was genuine affection.
There was definitely some secret leverage Feng Caiwei had over him.
Xiao Jingzhao fell to his knees with a thud. “Royal Grandmother, I have long admired Miss Feng. That Daoist Li Changqing’s slander—I don’t believe a word of it!”
Empress Feng let out a cold laugh.
She stared down at him and said icily: “Do you take me for a three-year-old child? Xiao Jingzhao, why did you really say to His Majesty that you and Feng Caiwei are in love?”
Xiao Jingzhao slowly closed his eyes. “Royal Grandmother… I… I was confused for a moment…”
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