When she threw the last stone, Feng Lezhen finally emerged from the prison. Ah Ye quickly wiped her hands and went up to her. “Your Highness.”
“Has Fu Zhixian woken up?” Feng Lezhen asked.
“Your Highness.” Ah Ye rushed over.
“What time is it now?” Feng Lezhen asked.
“It’s the hour of the tiger,” Ah Ye supported her as they walked, “Your Highness hasn’t eaten all day. Shall I have the kitchen bring some food? Please, eat something.”
“I’m not hungry.” Feng Lezhen refused.
Ah Ye bit her lip. “Then… shall I help you to bed?”
“No need. I still have to—” Feng Lezhen started to refuse, but when she met Ah Ye’s reddened eyes, her tone softened. “Why are you crying?”
“I’m not crying,” Ah Ye hastily rubbed her eyes, “I’m just a bit tired.”
“Then go rest early. You’ve worked hard today.” Feng Lezhen gently coaxed her.
Ah Ye agreed softly, lowered her head, and turned to leave. Feng Lezhen watched her retreating, sorrowful figure and suddenly couldn’t help but call out, “Ah Ye.”
“Here.” Ah Ye quickly turned back.
Feng Lezhen silently met her gaze for a moment and asked, “Do you have any doubts about what I had you do today?”
Ah Ye shook her head and answered earnestly, “Any decision Your Highness makes is the right one. I only follow orders. I feel bad… because I worry about you.”
Feng Lezhen smiled faintly. “What is there to worry about? Go on now.”
Ah Ye acknowledged and left. Feng Lezhen watched her until she disappeared around a corner before slowly heading to her own chamber.
It was already the hour of the tiger. At this time, the Eldest Princess Residence was usually dark, even the lanterns in the gardens would be out. Aside from the guards on duty, it was rare to see anyone. But tonight, it was brightly lit throughout, bustling with people as if it were daytime.
When Feng Lezhen returned to her chamber, only Shen Suifeng remained by the bedside.
“Where are the others?” she asked.
“They weren’t of much use staying here, so I told them to go back first,” Shen Suifeng replied lazily, barely lifting his eyes before leaning back in his chair to nap again.
“So, he’s out of danger now?” she asked.
“As long as he doesn’t develop a high fever before dawn, he should be fine.”
“And if he does?” she pressed.
Shen Suifeng opened his eyes and calmly met her gaze.
After a long pause, he snorted, “One in ten chance of survival.”
Feng Lezhen’s eyes flickered, and she walked over to sit by the bed.
Fu Zhixian’s clothes had been shredded and discarded when they first brought him back. He was now bare-chested, with only thick layers of bandages wrapped around his torso—though even through those bandages, faint traces of red still seeped through. Besides the wound near his heart, his shoulders and wrists were covered in large bruises—injuries he had sustained while protecting her in the mountains behind Hongshan Temple.
When she had come to check on him earlier, those bruises had only been faintly yellow and green. She hadn’t expected that, in just one night, they would darken into such a shocking black and purple.
Feng Lezhen stared at those bruises for a long time, then suddenly got up and walked to her dressing table. Shen Suifeng sat with his arms crossed, watching her walk there and back. When she returned to sit by the bed, she was holding a jar of ointment.
He naturally knew what that ointment was for, and when she opened it, he chuckled. “Your Highness is even more meticulous than us doctors.”
“In critical moments, you all were rightly focused on the arrow wound—it’s understandable the bruises were overlooked,” Feng Lezhen said calmly as she gently applied the ointment to Fu Zhixian’s injuries.
The cool ointment glistened on the angry bruises, but Fu Zhixian showed no reaction at all, sleeping quietly as if he were a lifeless statue.
In the flickering candlelight, Shen Suifeng carefully studied Feng Lezhen’s expression, trying to discern what she was thinking at that moment. But no matter how long he looked, all he could see was a pool of calm water. As for what lay beneath that surface, he couldn’t understand at all.
Another candle burned out. Shen Suifeng yawned wearily.
“Mr. Shen, you should get some rest. I’ll watch over him,” Feng Lezhen said.
Taking care of a patient was a long affair, and Shen Suifeng didn’t argue. “Then I’ll trouble Your Highness. Check his forehead every half an hour—if he develops a fever, wake me.”
With that, he yawned again and went straight to the couch to sleep.
At last, the room fell completely silent. Feng Lezhen lowered her gaze and gently held Fu Zhixian’s blood-drained, yellowed hand—and she held it like that all through the night.
Shen Suifeng had thought the noble Eldest Princess wouldn’t stay awake long, so although he had gone to lie down, he never slept soundly. He kept jolting awake, instinctively glancing toward the bed each time—only to see Feng Lezhen sitting upright, her posture perfectly composed, clearly without the slightest intention of dozing off.
After several times, he finally allowed himself to rest fully. When he next awoke, it was already bright daylight.
Feng Lezhen was still sitting by the bed, in the exact same position as the night before. Shen Suifeng yawned as he came over to check on Fu Zhixian, then sat down in the nearby chair. “Your Highness, aren’t you tired?”
“He didn’t develop a fever,” Feng Lezhen answered, not addressing his question.
Shen Suifeng tugged at the corner of his lips. “He didn’t develop a fever. Is Your Highness pleased, or disappointed?”
Feng Lezhen paused and lifted her gaze to meet his. Shen Suifeng spread his hands, looking indifferent.
“When did you figure it out?” Feng Lezhen asked.
Shen Suifeng said, “Those physicians who came to help yesterday are all seasoned, renowned doctors in the capital. With Your Highness’s status, inviting them over isn’t difficult. But to have them all gathered within a quarter-hour of Lord Fu being carried back? That’s impossible—unless Your Highness already knew in advance that Lord Fu would be severely injured and had informed them ahead of time.”
Feng Lezhen looked at him silently for a long moment, then faintly curled her lips. “So it was because of this.”
“Was it not?” Shen Suifeng countered.
“It really wasn’t,” Feng Lezhen said. “These people frequently enter and exit the homes of high-ranking officials. Even if I were careless, I wouldn’t dare tip them off beforehand. The reason they arrived so promptly is because Ah Ye rode swiftly on horseback, returning to the capital ahead of the carriage to fetch the doctors.”
“So it seems I was overthinking it,” Shen Suifeng leaned back in his chair, eyes lazily unfocused. “But Your Highness was careless too. You asked me when I figured it out before I even explained why I suspected—was that not the same as confessing on your own?”
“I never intended to hide it from you,” Feng Lezhen smiled.
Shen Suifeng froze briefly, slowly realizing something was wrong. “What do you mean by that…”
“Your Highness,” Qin Wan hurried in but fell silent when she saw Shen Suifeng.
“It’s fine, Mr. Shen is one of us,” Feng Lezhen said calmly.
At her words, Shen Suifeng’s right eyelid twitched.
Since Feng Lezhen had acknowledged him as ‘one of us,’ Qin Wan no longer held back. “Qing Wangfei passed away last night from excessive shock.”
Hearing the familiar name, Shen Suifeng glanced at Qin Wan.
“She drank that cup of alcohol?” Feng Lezhen asked calmly.
Qin Wan shook her head.
“Pity, it was such a fine vintage,” Feng Lezhen lowered her gaze.
Qin Wan continued, “Your Highness, the imperial physicians His Majesty brought last night are still waiting in the front courtyard. He also sent two more this morning.”
“Let them wait together, then.”
Qin Wan hesitated, “His Majesty has extended goodwill several times. If we keep rejecting him, things might not end well.”
“That’s no goodwill,” Feng Lezhen twisted a handkerchief as she gently wiped Fu Zhixian’s face. “It’s clear he simply doesn’t trust the abilities of my own physicians to save Fu Zhixian’s life.”
Shen Suifeng’s eyelid twitched again. He closed his eyes, pretending to sleep.
“Indeed. At this point, the one most eager for Lord Fu to wake up is the Emperor himself,” Qin Wan mused. “As long as Lord Fu wakes up and personally denies the incidents at the Lotus Banquet, then all the witnesses and evidence we gathered before will become meaningless. After all, no matter how much evidence we have, it can’t outweigh the victim’s own words. And if the entrapment at the Lotus Banquet collapses, even with the confession from Qing Wangfei, the Emperor can still walk away clean.”
After all, all these events are tightly linked. They seem rigorous, but in fact, they’re fragile. Once a single link breaks, the entire scheme crumbles.
“That’s why before the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet, he absolutely cannot wake up.” As the handkerchief passed over Fu Zhixian’s brows, seemingly leaving a trace of moisture, Feng Lezhen’s hand paused briefly, her movements becoming even gentler.
Qin Wan sighed, “But how can something like this be controlled?”
“Why can’t it be? Don’t we have Master Shen?” Feng Lezhen looked tenderly at Shen Suifeng, who was feigning sleep.
Shen Suifeng had already sensed danger the moment Feng Lezhen said Fu Zhixian must not wake up before the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet. Now, hearing his own name, he truly felt the sensation of a blade hanging over his head.
But he kept pretending to sleep.
Qin Wan glanced at Shen Suifeng too. “Master Shen is highly skilled in medicine. This should be easy for him. But what about those imperial physicians? If Your Highness keeps refusing them, the Emperor will surely grow suspicious.”
The Emperor, despite knowing he was being maligned, hadn’t suspected his own—firstly because Qing Wangfei was indeed rash enough to implicate a ruler in order to save herself, and secondly because he knew Fu Zhixian’s importance to Feng Lezhen. He trusted she would never gamble with Fu Zhixian’s life.
But if Your Highness keeps refusing the imperial physicians’ consultations, the Emperor might start to question who caused Fu Zhixian’s injuries in the first place. Once that suspicion arises, he will certainly retaliate. Though they had prepared many contingencies, no plan is ever foolproof. The best outcome now would be for the Emperor to decide before the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet that it was simply Qing Wangfei’s foolishness and stop pursuing the matter further.
Feng Lezhen understood she couldn’t keep refusing, so she nodded. “Then let them come and treat him.”
“But the imperial physicians are all exceptionally skilled…” Qin Wan still frowned.
“You doubt that Master Shen’s abilities can’t surpass theirs? That he won’t be able to act under their noses?” Feng Lezhen’s tone turned displeased.
“Well… imperial physicians are extensively trained and broadly experienced…” Qin Wan still hesitated.
Feng Lezhen snorted coldly. “So what? When Master Shen takes the field, one man alone can hold off a thousand.”
Shen Suifeng couldn’t stand it anymore and finally opened his eyes. “Flattery is wasted on me, Your Highness. Please spare me…”
“How much do you want?” Feng Lezhen cut him off.
Shen Suifeng laughed in exasperation. “Not a single coin. And I’m not helping.”
“Master Shen, do you really not value the bond we’ve built over these days?” Feng Lezhen asked back.
“Speaking of bonds…” Shen Suifeng thought for a moment. “I just remembered, didn’t I owe Your Highness a favor from before? How about I repay it with this?”
That wasn’t a bad deal—better than paying in silver. Qin Wan immediately looked to Feng Lezhen.
Feng Lezhen said, “No.”
Shen Suifeng narrowed his long eyes and, after a brief stare-down, said, “Then I can only…”
“I plan to use that favor to have Master Shen run a few laps bare-chested through the long street. How could I waste it on such a trivial matter?” Feng Lezhen said gently.
Shen Suifeng: “…”
After a brief silence, Feng Lezhen asked again, “No time like the present. How about today?”
“The Jingyu Festival just passed. The streets are bustling. Having Master Shen to liven things up is truly a blessing for the people of the capital,” Qin Wan added seriously.
Shen Suifeng gritted his teeth and stared straight at Feng Lezhen. “Your Highness went to great lengths to find those antique garments for me—not just to see me make a fool of myself in the streets, I hope?”
“It wasn’t originally, but now it can be,” Feng Lezhen replied with a gentle smile, not wanting to make the atmosphere too tense.
Shen Suifeng was so angered by her smile that he took a deep breath. “Ten thousand gold, cash upfront.”
“We don’t have cash, but we can give you a promissory note,” Feng Lezhen refused directly.
Shen Suifeng sneered, “Your Highness plans to get something for nothing?”
“Don’t make it sound so harsh. I’m the dignified Eldest Princess—would I really default on a debt?” Feng Lezhen raised an eyebrow.
Shen Suifeng stared at her for a long while and ultimately compromised. “Deal.”
“Many thanks, Mister Shen.” As she watched him get up to leave, Feng Lezhen asked, “Where is Mister Shen going?”
“To decoct medicine. From today on, I will personally prepare Lord Fu’s medicine and guarantee he won’t wake up before the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet. You may let the imperial physicians in as you please. If they can find any flaws, I will personally offer my head in apology.” Shen Suifeng didn’t even look back as he left.
“Not only should he remain unconscious, but he must also appear critically ill, as if he could die at any moment,” Feng Lezhen reminded him.
Shen Suifeng didn’t respond and disappeared beyond the door.
Feng Lezhen looked at the now-empty doorway and smiled. “Seems like goading still works.”
“After this is over, does Your Highness really plan to give him ten thousand gold?” Qin Wan, who handled the accounts, was more concerned about this.
Feng Lezhen put on an innocent expression. “What do you think, Wanwan?”
“Of course, it’s…” Qin Wan made a cutting gesture with her hand. Shen Suifeng, who had already walked into the garden, suddenly sneezed.
Feng Lezhen chuckled, “No, I still have great use for Shen Suifeng.”
“His medical skills are indeed extraordinary, a rare talent, but he’s too wild and too expensive to use long-term. I hope Your Highness will reconsider,” Qin Wan continued to advise, still trying to avoid the hefty payment.
Feng Lezhen looked back calmly at the unconscious Fu Zhixian. “What I need from Shen Suifeng is far more than just his remarkable medical skills.”
A flicker of confusion passed through Qin Wan’s eyes, but since Feng Lezhen offered no further explanation, she didn’t press the issue.
“Where’s Li Tong?” Feng Lezhen suddenly asked.
Qin Wan respectfully answered, “Per Your Highness’ orders, we abducted him from the palace last night and have settled him in a separate courtyard. His subordinates have already reported his illness to His Majesty. As long as we don’t slip up, Li Tong’s absence and no one to advise His Majesty will prevent him from figuring out recent events.”
“In the next few days, make sure the court officials stay diligent and keep His Majesty busy. If that’s not enough, have the beauties of the harem put in some extra effort. Before the Mid-Autumn Festival, do not let His Majesty labor in the imperial study,” Feng Lezhen instructed calmly. “Be natural. When everything comes to light, don’t let His Majesty suspect them.”
Qin Wan agreed and went to handle it.
Only Feng Lezhen remained in the main chamber. She walked slowly to the bedside and gently held Fu Zhixian’s hand.
The ever-shifting palace and court intrigues had nothing to do with the common people struggling to make a living. With the Jingyu Festival just past, the Mid-Autumn Festival on the fifteenth of the eighth month was fast approaching. Shops that once sold incense and paper offerings now displayed all kinds of delicate, beautiful mooncakes, and the streets were filled with the joyful air of family reunions.
Since the late emperor’s reign, a grand banquet had been held every Mid-Autumn Festival for the officials and their families. Feng Ji continued this tradition after ascending the throne. Feng Lezhen had spent every Mid-Autumn Festival in the palace since birth. This year, the only difference was that she had attended this same palace banquet in her previous life.
Recalling this day from her past life, Feng Lezhen grew a little absent-minded.
“Your Highness, it’s ready,” Ah Ye reminded her.
Feng Lezhen looked at her reflection in the mirror. Dressed in fine silks and adorned with pearls and jewels, her elegant brows and imposing beauty exuded a commanding aura. Even just sitting there, her presence was overwhelming.
“This won’t do. Redo it,” Feng Lezhen said softly.
Ah Ye was taken aback. “Why not? You look stunning. You have a tough battle to fight tonight—you need to hold your ground with your presence…”
“Tonight, I am the pitiable woman whose fiancé’s life hangs by a thread. I mustn’t look stunning, nor can my presence overshadow anyone,” Feng Lezhen immediately saw through her intention.
Since Her Highness insisted, Ah Ye couldn’t object, but she glanced at the sky outside and hesitated slightly. “There’s only half an hour left until the banquet starts. I’m afraid we won’t make it if we redo everything.”
“Then let them wait.” Feng Lezhen met her reflection’s gaze in the mirror. “I am the pitiable woman whose fiancé’s life is uncertain. Don’t I even have the right to be late?”
Ah Ye could only agree with a helpless smile.
By the time she changed outfits and redid her hair and makeup, nearly an hour had passed. The palace banquet was filled with music and dance, but the atmosphere was far from cheerful—because the Emperor had worn a dark expression from the moment he took his seat.
Understandably so—his future brother-in-law’s life was on the line, and his only sister hadn’t yet arrived. His sour mood was expected. The officials invited to the banquet were all seasoned courtiers. Seeing their sovereign unhappy, they naturally didn’t dare to enjoy themselves either. Thus, a bizarrely awkward scene unfolded at the palace banquet—
On the central stage, the dancers performed joyfully, but the audience sat below as if mourning a funeral. Only the hostage prince from Tayuan still drank and partied without a care.
This tense, strange atmosphere lasted for over an hour, until the shrill voice of a palace eunuch announced, “The Eldest Princess Hengkang has arrived,” finally shifting the mood slightly.
Everyone turned in unison to look toward the entrance, where they saw Feng Lezhen approaching in plain clothes and a bare face.
Ah Ye silently followed behind Feng Lezhen, quietly observing everyone’s expressions. When she saw those spoiled young masters who had accompanied their parents to the banquet looking utterly captivated, she couldn’t help but sigh in her heart.
Her Highness’s looks were simply too stunning—there was no way to make her not beautiful.
A performance on stage happened to finish just then. In the silence that followed, Feng Lezhen had already walked up to the high platform where Feng Ji was seated. Yu Shou, standing below the platform, glanced at her a few extra times but quickly averted his gaze when she looked his way.
“Greetings to Your Majesty.” She curtseyed.
Feng Ji looked at her simple, plain attire, his expression unreadable. “Why is Royal Sister dressed so plainly today?”
“Zhixian is critically ill. I truly had no mind to attend the banquet, but then I remembered Your Majesty mentioned there was something to announce today, so I forced myself to come. I planned to leave right after hearing it, so I didn’t dress carefully.” Feng Lezhen raised her eyes to meet his. “I ask Your Majesty’s pardon.”
Feng Ji stared at her for a long while, then suddenly let out a short laugh. “Royal Sister can’t even wait through a meal?”
“I ask Your Majesty’s pardon,” Feng Lezhen replied with the same words.
Those present overheard their conversation and exchanged glances, all curious about what the Emperor planned to announce today. But as they looked around, they realized no one else seemed to know either. They could only pretend not to care while quietly straining their ears to listen.
Feng Ji’s hand clenched slightly on his knee. A nearby eunuch noticed his movement and quietly slipped out. After the eunuch left, Feng Ji said aloud, “Before getting to the announcement, I have something I’d like Royal Sister and all of you to see. Why don’t you take your seat first, Royal Sister?”
Feng Lezhen’s gaze flickered slightly, but she ultimately sat down in her seat.
A traditional opera started on stage, lively music filling the hall. Feizhan approached with an alcohol pot, smiling as he sat down beside Feng Lezhen. “Your Highness, would you drink a cup with me?”
The officials were long used to his brazenness. Seeing that the Eldest Princess didn’t order him to leave, they left him be. Only Yu Shou showed clear displeasure, coldly snorting without hiding it.
The singers on stage performed enthusiastically, while Feizhan leaned lazily against the table, playfully twirling his alcohol cup. “I heard Fu Zhixian was injured?”
Feng Lezhen’s face was calm. “What are you trying to say?”
“What can I say? I just remembered Your Highness once told me the ‘swap under the heavens’ plan would wait until after the Emperor left the palace on the ninth of August. Now I’m curious—could Your Highness have some ability to predict the future? You somehow knew Fu Zhixian would be seriously injured on that very day, and the Emperor would leave the palace because of it?” Feizhan downed his drink in one gulp, then casually poured himself more.
“Your Highness is truly ruthless. The person you’ve loved for so many years—yet when you decide to strike, you strike, leaving him no dignity. Even I felt a bit of heartache for Fu Zhixian. But…” Feizhan’s gaze lazily lifted. Despite the smell of alcohol, his grey-blue eyes were crystal clear. “Since you’ve already acted, why not be thorough? Why leave him alive?”
“He’s just lucky,” Feng Lezhen replied.
Feizhan chuckled. “Before leaving the palace on the ninth, the Emperor went to the Imperial Study. If I’m not wrong, he was probably checking whether those incriminating documents were still there. Did Your Highness know that?”
Why would he check? Naturally, his first reaction upon hearing of the assassination was to suspect that Fu Zhixian had turned and colluded with Feng Lezhen—that the two of them were staging a show to fool him. Upon seeing the documents still in place, he confirmed Fu Zhixian hadn’t betrayed him, and only then did he rush out to check on Fu Zhixian’s condition.
Faced with Feizhan’s question, Feng Lezhen lowered her eyes and poured herself a drink. “Though we’re not born of the same mother, we share the same father’s blood. His temperament, habits, and even his deepest, darkest thoughts—I know them best.”
Feizhan’s smile deepened. “So Your Highness knew.”
The eunuch Feng Ji had sent out returned. Even from a distance, the officials at the banquet could clearly see the thick stack of documents in his hands.
While everyone’s attention was drawn to the documents, Feizhan suddenly leaned closer and whispered in Feng Lezhen’s ear: “Guess, Your Highness—what do you think the boy’s bringing over? Evidence of your rebellion, or the replacement documents you had me swap in?”
Feng Lezhen’s hand paused, and she sharply looked at him.
Feizhan smirked. “Though I don’t know exactly what Your Highness is planning, the fact that Fu Zhixian still hasn’t woken must mean his awakening would interfere with your plan. From that perspective, killing him would have been simpler, yet you insist on keeping him alive. Is it because you can’t let go of old feelings?”
“I risked my life in the palace to help Your Highness swap those documents, yet here you are painstakingly protecting him. I’m not pleased. When I’m displeased, I also want to see Your Highness displeased. So, two hours ago, I paid another visit to the Imperial Study.”
Bathed in bright lantern light, he leaned casually against the table, his wild grey-blue eyes locked on Feng Lezhen’s, full of mischief.
After a long moment, Feng Lezhen coldly uttered, “Madman.”
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