Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 204 - 203. Enter the deep palace at night, old friend meet again

Chapter 204: 203. Enter the deep palace at night, old friend meet again

203. Entering the Palace at Night, Old Acquaintances

The birth of the heir of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion was broadcast throughout the world with great fanfare in a short period of time. Furthermore, Prince Ding decided to host a grand one-month banquet for the heir, inviting all the prominent figures from various countries. Coupled with previous rumors about the imperial seal and the appearance of the treasures of the previous dynasty in the Northwest, countless people flocked towards the Northwest of Great Chu.

Xu Mansion, Capital of Great Chu

Xu Qingyan looked at the letter in his hand, his expression a mixture of surprise and joy, his hands trembling as he held it. Xu Qingbai, sitting to one side, observed Xu Hongyan’s unconcealed excitement and asked curiously, "Second Uncle, is there news from Second Brother?"

Xu Qingyan, still holding the letter, announced, "Li’er has given birth to a baby boy..." Having endured several ordeals in the outside world, Xu Qingbai had become remarkably steadier than before, and a hint of joy touched his lips upon hearing the news. Xu Hongyan then took the letter from Xu Qingyan and passed it to Xu Qingbai. After reading the letter Xu Hongyan had given him, Xu Qingbai smiled. "This is wonderful! Grandfather will be overjoyed to hear this."

Xu Hongyan nodded repeatedly. Last year, their father’s health had dramatically declined after Li’er’s misadventure and disappearance. His health only improved after receiving news that Li’er was safe. Now that Li’er had safely given birth to a son, their father would indeed be overjoyed to learn that he had become a great-grandfather.

The butler, standing at the doorway, saw that both the Master and the Fourth Young Master were uncharacteristically overcome with emotion and reminded them, "Master, Fourth Young Master, the person who delivered the message is still waiting outside." Although he too was thrilled about Miss Li’er’s child, he knew they must maintain decorum; they shouldn’t keep the messenger waiting indefinitely.

Xu Hongyan finally composed himself. "Give him a lavish reward... No, bring the messenger in quickly. I have a few questions for him."

The Steward-in-Chief complied and hurriedly went out to fetch the messenger. Shortly, a modestly dressed young man entered. He saluted Xu Hongyan and said cheerfully, "Lord Xu, Fourth Young Master, long time no see." Xu Hongyan was stunned. Beneath the young man’s somewhat disheveled hair, he recognized the handsome face of Feng Zhiyao. "Third Young Master Feng?" Before Xu Hongyan could invite him to sit, Feng Zhiyao sank into a nearby chair, sighed, and complained, "To get here before the official news reached the Capital City, I wore out three fine horses. I’m exhausted..." He had set off the day after the heir’s birth and reached the Capital City in just three days; the official announcement of the heir’s birth was likely still en route.

Xu Hongyan stared, momentarily speechless, struggling to collect his thoughts. It was Xu Qingbai who broke the silence. "Third Young Master Feng, apart from the news about Cousin Li’er and my little nephew, is there something else?"

Feng Zhiyao’s lips twisted into a smirk that seemed more bitter than joyful. "If there were nothing else, would the Prince let me enjoy myself in the Capital City at a time like this?" Actually, life in the Capital City wasn’t necessarily easier than in the Northwest.

Xu Hongyan, recovering from his stupor, heard Feng Zhiyao’s words and hurriedly asked, "Has something happened?"

Feng Zhiyao ignored the offer of water, directly grabbing a nearby jug of cool tea and taking a large gulp before looking at Xu Hongyan. "The Prince and Princess Consort hope that Lord Xu and the Fourth Young Master will accompany me to the Northwest."

Xu Hongyan’s expression turned grim. He understood their predicament. He and Xu Qingbai were the only members of the Xu Clan remaining in the Capital City, essentially hostages of the imperial court. If they were to leave without the Emperor’s permission, it would mean that the Xu Family and the imperial family had completely fallen out. Seeing Xu Hongyan’s reaction, Feng Zhiyao knew he understood the dilemma and said in a grave tone, "To be frank, Lord Xu, the rift between Prince Ding’s Mansion and the imperial court is now irreconcilable. I fear if you and the Fourth Young Master remain in the Capital City, it could be detrimental to you both."

Xu Hongyan frowned. "Our departure might not cause much trouble, as we are just a small family here. But the Xu Clan has been in Yunzhou for a century. If His Majesty wishes to find fault, can he not do so there?"

Feng Zhiyao produced another letter and handed it over. "This was personally written by the Prince and Princess Consort. I have already delivered an identical one to Mr. Qingyun in Yunzhou. However, I couldn’t stay long in Yunzhou. Mr. Qingyun and Mr. Hongyu must have reached a decision by now."

Xu Hongyan took the letter and began reading it with a frown. Soon, his expression changed drastically. His usually solemn and calm face, uncharacteristically, flushed with a burst of anger. After a long moment, he seethed, "Absurd! How could such a thing happen... His Majesty actually...! This is simply..." He slammed the letter onto the table, glaring at Feng Zhiyao. "Third Young Master Feng, is what’s written in this letter true?"

Feng Zhiyao gave a bitter smile. "Does Lord Xu believe such things can be easily fabricated?"

Xu Hongyan was speechless. The accounts in the letter were horrifying; which of them could possibly be fabricated? Yet, these events were so outrageous they were difficult to believe. Xu Qingbai glanced at his clearly furious Second Uncle, then quietly rose and picked up the letter from the desk. He had thought himself mentally prepared, but what he read still shocked him profoundly. The imperial family... were they truly capable of such monstrous acts? At the same time, the young Xu Qingbai felt an overwhelming sense of disappointment and rage towards the man on the dragon throne and the entire imperial court. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

He lowered his gaze, neatly folded the letter, and gently placed it back on the table. Xu Qingbai chuckled softly under his breath. "Second Uncle... for such people... is it worth it?" His father, a man of great talent capable of benefiting the world, was unable to secure a position in the government and could only teach students at Lishan Academy. His Second Uncle, equally a man of practical talent, had languished as a mere Imperial Censor for over a dozen years, witnessing the ceaseless political intrigues of the court. Their generation of five brothers had all been forced to suppress their talents and ambitions. But for how long? Until their Xu Clan was utterly destroyed? No wonder their eldest brother had refused to serve in the court; he must have long seen that such a life would be an endless torment.

Xu Hongyan bit his lip, saying nothing, but his tightly clenched fists revealed the turmoil in his heart. Prince Ding’s Mansion and the imperial family shared the same lineage. For generations, they had served Great Chu with utmost dedication, only to meet such an end. What then, could the Xu Family expect? It seemed that for the Xu Family, under the Great Chu dynasty, there was no other path left but to fade into silent demise.

Feng Zhiyao sat silently in his chair, observing the two men before him. It wasn’t just the Xu Family whose hearts were chilled by these revelations; even someone like Feng Zhiyao couldn’t help but feel a surge of cold rage.

Xu Hongyan put the letter away and looked up at Feng Zhiyao. "Third Young Master Feng, you must have other matters to attend to in the Capital City. Please allow me a couple of days to consider before giving you an answer."

Feng Zhiyao did indeed have much to do. He rose and nodded. "Of course. Once Lord Xu has made a decision, simply send word to me. I will be staying in the Capital City for some time, so there’s no rush. I shall take my leave now."

As Feng Zhiyao turned to go, Xu Hongyan frowned slightly and called out, "Third Young Master Feng."

Feng Zhiyao looked back. "Does Lord Xu have further instructions?"

Xu Hongyan sighed. "Third Young Master Feng, if it’s convenient, you should return to the Feng Family for a visit. Over the past year, Old Master Feng has come to our mansion several times asking about you. There’s no such thing as an overnight feud between father and son... You must remember, ’The child wishes to provide, but the parents are no longer there.’"

Feng Zhiyao clearly hadn’t expected Xu Hongyan to say this and was taken aback. His expression shifted upon hearing the proverb, and a bitter smile touched his lips. "Thank you for the reminder, Lord Xu." He was a concubine’s son, neglected by his father since childhood. His wild and unruly behavior as a youth had nearly gotten him expelled from the family. Last year, before departing for the military campaign, he had completely severed ties with them. The Feng Family had even publicly declared that they no longer had any relationship with Feng Zhiyao. Now, where could he possibly go?

Qingcheng Workshop

Even though Qingcheng Workshop had a new owner and a new favored courtesan, it remained the most renowned music and dance establishment in the Capital City. However, Third Young Master Feng, once famous throughout the land for his romantic exploits, could no longer be a guest of honor. Instead, he had to enter secretly through the back door. Pushing open the door to a secluded room deep within a corridor, he found someone already waiting. Seeing Feng Zhiyao enter, the person looked up and smiled. "Third Feng, it’s truly... memorable to see you like this."

Third Young Master Feng was known for his flamboyance; even on the battlefield, he wore eye-catching red brocade robes. Now, however, he was dressed in common cloth, his striking handsome features deliberately made to look more ordinary. Feng Zhiyao snorted in dissatisfaction, glancing disdainfully at his attire. "This is precisely why I detest these clandestine dealings. They utterly lack grandeur."

"Have you just been to the Xu Mansion?" asked the young man. It was Leng Haoyu, Second Young Master of the Leng Family and son-in-law of General Murong. Leng Haoyu now managed all the properties and forces belonging to Prince Ding’s Mansion within Great Chu, operating discreetly behind the scenes and no longer making public appearances. The two most famous libertines of the Capital of Great Chu had thus vanished from the social scene, much to the disappointment of the city’s talented scholars and beautiful ladies.

Feng Zhiyao nodded. "Don’t worry about the Xu Family. Lord Xu and the Fourth Young Master are intelligent men. It’s our own tasks that are more troublesome. What about the matter I asked you to investigate? Any news?"

Leng Haoyu shook his head helplessly. "Mo Jingqi is an extremely suspicious person. No one knows the whereabouts of the Bilo flower. I’m afraid not even his own mother, the current Empress Dowager, knows."

Feng Zhiyao sighed as well. "It doesn’t matter. The item is somewhere in the Palace of Great Chu. We’ll find it even if we have to turn the entire palace upside down!" Knowing Mo Jingqi’s nature, he wouldn’t keep such a treasure too far from himself. After a moment of thought, Feng Zhiyao continued, "First, let’s find the Great Ancestor Emperor’s edict and get Lord Xu and Young Master Xu settled. If we still haven’t found the Bilo flower by then, the others can escort the Xu Family and the items back to the Northwest. I’ll stay behind and continue the search."

Leng Haoyu raised an eyebrow. "The Prince and Princess Consort didn’t intend for you to remain in the Capital City, did they? Besides, I won’t be leaving the Capital City anytime soon. I can search for it. Why do you need to stay?"

Feng Zhiyao glared at him. "I will naturally report my intentions to the Prince and Princess Consort. You have so much on your plate; how long would it take you to find the Bilo flower?"

Leng Haoyu touched his nose sheepishly. Did he really seem like someone who couldn’t prioritize his tasks?

Seeing Feng Zhiyao staring at him intently, Leng Haoyu conceded with a sigh and a wave of his hand. "Fine, if the Prince and Princess Consort agree, then it’s settled. I won’t interfere in your affairs."

Only then did Feng Zhiyao look satisfied. He hummed lightly in approval and poured himself a drink from the cup on the table.

「Late at night」

Several shadowy figures swiftly flitted over the palace walls and into the Imperial Palace. For over a month now, security within the Palace of Great Chu had been significantly tightened. Patrols of palace guards and eunuchs were frequently seen, yet they posed no obstacle to those determined to infiltrate. Like phantoms, the shadowy figures deftly evaded the patrols and vanished into the depths of the palace.

In the Empress’s chambers, Empress Hua had changed out of her heavy, formal daytime attire and elaborate adornments. Dressed only in a light, lavender silk gown, her dark hair casually secured with a purple jade hairpin, she sat holding a scroll, lost in thought. Without the exquisite and opulent makeup, the Empress’s beautiful face seemed less regal and more gentle and youthful. She looked less like the mother of a nine-year-old child and more like a lovely young woman in her early twenties.

A sudden breeze rustled through the half-open window, causing the candle flames in the chamber to flicker. The Empress, startled from her reverie, sensed an unfamiliar presence. Whirling around, she saw a tall, black-clad figure standing in a shadowy corner, watching her. The Empress gasped, "Who’s there?!"

"It’s me." The man in black stepped forward, his handsome peach blossom eyes, filled with complex emotions, gazing at the woman in the lavender gown under the lamplight.

The Empress was taken aback by the voice—unfamiliar yet strangely familiar. When she saw the man’s face clearly, she was utterly stunned. "How did you get into the palace?" she exclaimed, then remembered her cry of alarm. Fearing she might have alerted the guards and palace maids, she quickly moved to the window and closed it.

"Don’t worry, no one will come," said the man in black. It was indeed Feng Zhiyao, Third Young Master Feng.

Breathing a sigh of relief, the Empress looked at the young man, who appeared even more strikingly handsome in his black attire, and sighed softly. Turning, she poured a cup of tea and gestured to a nearby chair. "Sit down and talk. Weren’t you in the Northwest? How did you return? And how did you get into the palace?"

Looking at the blue-and-white teacup placed before him, Feng Zhiyao said in a low voice, "I returned on the Prince’s orders to handle some matters and took the opportunity to visit you. Are you not pleased to see me?"

His voice, which had suddenly turned melancholic, caught the Empress off guard. She chuckled. "Why wouldn’t I be? It’s rare for old acquaintances to visit me here. In this palace, it’s always the same faces."

Feng Zhiyao stared at her. "Have you been well all these years?"

The atmosphere in the chamber grew heavy. The Empress smiled faintly. "As the Empress of the nation, a mother to the realm, what could be amiss? Let’s not talk about this... It has indeed been many years since we last met."

Feng Zhiyao said somberly, "Twelve years... Eleven years and six months, to be exact."

The Empress’s smile seemed a little strained. "I didn’t realize you remembered it so clearly."

For a while, they sat in silence. Feng Zhiyao studied the woman before him intently. Everyone claimed Su Zuidie was the most beautiful woman in the Capital City, but he had never found her particularly stunning. In his eyes, the most beautiful girl would always be the one who, with gentle kindness, had helped him up when he was just nine years old, pushed to the ground and beaten by his legitimate elder half-brothers in the family mansion. She had wiped the dirt from his face and told him with a smile that if he didn’t want to be bullied, he had to strive to become stronger. She had taken his hand and led him quietly to Prince Ding’s Mansion, asking Xiuyao to practice martial arts with him. When he fell ill and no one in his family cared, she had secretly sent him medicinal herbs and taels of silver. From that moment, that gentle and noble lady had always been the most beautiful woman in Feng Zhiyao’s heart. Regrettably, the distance between them was far too great. He was a concubine’s son from a merchant family. Even though the Feng Family was one of the four wealthiest merchant clans in Great Chu, they were still at the bottom of the social hierarchy: scholars, farmers, artisans, and then merchants. She, on the other hand, was the most honored legitimate daughter of the State Duke Hua’s Mansion. Later, she was chosen by the former Emperor as the primary consort for Mo Jingqi, who was then still an imperial prince. The closest they had ever been was when he called her Sister Feng. Yet, even that form of address, he had stopped using after he turned thirteen.

She clearly felt uneasy under his intense gaze. They truly hadn’t seen each other in twelve years. The boy who had once seemed so young and delicate had matured into an exceptionally handsome and distinguished man. Even secluded within the palace, she had heard of Third Feng’s reputation in the Capital City. She still vividly remembered the eve of her wedding. It had been raining heavily when the young man, drenched and disheveled, had somehow slipped past the numerous guards of the State Duke Hua’s Mansion to appear at her door. With a face full of apprehension, he had asked her, "Can you not marry Prince Qi?"

The moment she shook her head, the light in the young man’s star-like eyes had dimmed. At the time, she hadn’t understood his feelings, thinking he was merely sad to part with her, the older sister who had cared for him. But seeing the disappointment in his eyes as he gave her one last look before turning away despondently, she had inexplicably felt a tightness in her chest, tears welling up. By the time she slowly came to understand the reason for his despair, they had already drifted far apart. She was the primary consort of Prince Qi, the Empress of Great Chu, while he remained Third Young Master Feng, a celebrated, dashing figure in the Capital City. Perhaps, indeed, it would have been best if they had never seen each other again.

"Ah-Yao," the Empress finally said, breaking the long silence, "how have you been all these years?"

"Don’t call me Ah-Yao!" Feng Zhiyao retorted, glaring. The Empress paused, then suddenly recalled that she used to call the young Mo Xiuyao ’Ah-Yao’ as well. Though written with different characters, the names sounded identical. That was why he always used to throw a fit whenever she called him Ah-Yao. Yet, unable to think of another suitable name, she had persisted. At this thought, a small smile touched the Empress’s lips. Feng Zhiyao, clearly remembering his childhood embarrassments, stiffly turned his head away; the dim candlelight in the chamber made it hard to tell if he was blushing.

The Empress rose and smiled gently. "You’re a grown man now, still prone to childish tantrums? You wouldn’t have come to the palace so late at night just to see me. Is there something you need?"

Feng Zhiyao gazed at her beautiful face, illuminated by the lamplight, and said abruptly, "Leave this place with me!"