Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 281 - 279. State Duke Hua’s Reaction
279. State Duke Hua’s Reaction
After listening to Ye Li’s words, State Duke Hua was initially taken aback and didn’t react. Mo Xiuyao remained silent, holding his teacup and calmly waiting for State Duke Hua’s response. It took quite some time for State Duke Hua to recover. Looking at the calm expressions of the two people before him, he asked, "What is going on? Prince, you..." Mo Xiuyao put down his teacup and looked at State Duke Hua apologetically. "I apologize for not informing the Old State Duke of this sudden event." It took some time for State Duke Hua to fully process the situation. He sighed and glared at Mo Xiuyao unhappily. "Who asked for your apology? I just want to know why you brought the Empress to Prince Ding’s Mansion for no reason. Do you enjoy having even more people watching Prince Ding’s Mansion?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Li gave a faint smile. "We’ve worried you, Old State Duke. Indeed, we were young and inexperienced, and acted impulsively."
State Duke Hua sighed and looked at Ye Li. "Both the Prince and the Princess Consort are not ones to act impulsively. I won’t ask why. Just bring out the Empress. I will find a way to send her back to the palace."
Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao exchanged glances. They hadn’t expected to persuade State Duke Hua to let them take her away with just a few words. However, since Feng Zhiyao had already risked bringing her out, they couldn’t let State Duke Hua take her back until they were certain Feng Zhiyao truly couldn’t persuade the Empress. Mo Xiuyao looked at State Duke Hua and spoke calmly, "That’s why I apologized to you, Old State Duke. I’m afraid we temporarily can’t let you take her back."
"Why is that?" State Duke Hua frowned and asked.
The fact that the Empress was forcibly taken from the palace by Prince Ding’s Mansion was indeed beyond his expectations. He had rushed to Prince Ding’s Mansion hoping to use its influence to investigate the matter, but he hadn’t anticipated this outcome. Regardless of his personal relationship with Prince Ding’s Mansion or the relationship between Great Chu and the Northwest, this matter clearly could not be publicized. Therefore, his proposed solution was undoubtedly the best for everyone. He didn’t understand why the Prince and Princess Consort were objecting.
Ye Li sighed helplessly. It seemed State Duke Hua was unaware of Feng Zhiyao’s actions. At this point, they weren’t sure how State Duke Hua would react upon learning that Feng Zhiyao had taken the Empress out on his own initiative.
Just as Ye Li was thinking and about to say something, the Empress’s voice came from the entrance. "Father, I’ve worried you. I’ll go back with you right now."
They looked towards the entrance. The Empress appeared at the door, still dressed in her bright yellow phoenix robe, having removed the large cloak she wore earlier. Her expression was indifferent, making it unclear what she was thinking. As the Empress stepped into the hall, Feng Zhiyao followed her in. The man in red brocade attire had bloodshot eyes and looked gloomy and weary; his face was even paler than when Xiuyao had struck him the previous night.
"What happened to Third Feng? Why do you look so unwell? Didn’t you see a doctor last night?" Ye Li asked faintly.
The moment State Duke Hua saw Feng Zhiyao following behind the Empress, his expression changed. However, with Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao present, he didn’t say much, though the hand resting on the armrest gradually tightened. Ye Li, noticing State Duke Hua from the corner of her eye, smiled as she continued to question Feng Zhiyao.
Upon hearing this, the Empress turned back to look at Feng Zhiyao, slightly surprised. She had noticed earlier that he wasn’t looking well, but since they had had a disagreement, she hadn’t inquired further, assuming he simply hadn’t slept well the previous night. Now, looking closely, she saw that Feng Zhiyao not only seemed unwell but his face also showed unmistakable signs of fatigue and pallor.
"It’s nothing, thank you for your concern, Princess Consort," Feng Zhiyao replied in a hoarse voice.
Ye Li frowned. "Xiuyao didn’t hold back. Have a doctor look at it later so you don’t leave any lingering illness."
Feng Zhiyao lowered his head in silence, neither rejecting nor agreeing.
With Ye Li’s words, the other two present naturally understood what had happened. The Empress turned pale, and State Duke Hua’s expression darkened further.
Mo Xiuyao waved his hand. "Let’s all sit down and talk. Sister Hua, there’s no rush to return to the palace." The address ’Sister Hua’ made the Empress’s eyes well up with tears. In truth, Mo Xiuyao had stopped calling her Sister Hua after she married Mo Jingqi. This seemingly simple form of address uncontrollably brought back memories of her carefree youth, when she was still a young maiden.
State Duke Hua observed the people in the room for a long moment and then sighed deeply. "Never mind. It has already come to this. Waiting a bit longer won’t make things worse."
Only then did the Empress and Feng Zhiyao take their seats. Feng Zhiyao sat opposite State Duke Hua, but his eyes were firmly fixed on the Empress, as if no one else in the room existed. Seeing this, State Duke Hua frowned but ultimately said nothing.
"Old State Duke, do you really wish to send the Empress back to the palace?" Mo Xiuyao turned to State Duke Hua and asked calmly. "Old State Duke, you should know that news of the Empress’s disappearance has already spread throughout the palace. Even if you manage to send her back discreetly now, this incident will surely become leverage for the new emperor or anyone else wishing to cause trouble for the Empress in the future."
State Duke Hua shot Feng Zhiyao an irritated glare. He was a shrewd old man, having experienced countless worldly affairs, and could easily discern the current situation. Turning to look at his daughter, who sat calmly beside him, State Duke Hua sighed helplessly. "And what if she doesn’t return? If it were truly an option, our Hua Family... I understand your meaning, Prince, but the Empress’s identity is unlike others. If it is discovered later that the Empress has been in the Northwest, it would be a devastating blow to the reputation of both Prince Ding and Prince Ding’s Mansion."
Had State Duke Hua’s Mansion ever truly wanted to marry their daughter to Mo Jingqi, who was then a prince? The Hua Family’s fortune and prestige had already reached their peak. As long as he was alive, whichever prince ascended the throne would grant the Hua Family due respect. A royal daughter-in-law, or even an Empress, was never a blessing for the Hua Family. Unfortunately... the late Emperor, concerned that the Hua Family and Prince Ding’s Mansion were too close, had forcibly tied the Hua Family to Mo Jingqi, who was then the heir apparent. A sovereign orders his subject to die, and the subject must die—what then of a mere arranged marriage?
State Duke Hua had, in fact, always been aware of Feng Zhiyao’s existence. But he had never considered him too important. It wasn’t that he looked down on Feng Zhiyao; rather, Feng Zhiyao was, after all, several years younger than the Empress. When the Empress married, Feng Zhiyao was still a mere youth. Even if something had been brewing then, he would have dismissed it as a child’s fleeting infatuation. That was why, on the night before the Empress’s wedding when Feng Zhiyao snuck into State Duke Hua’s Mansion, not only did he not have him arrested, but he allowed him to meet her. Otherwise, how could Feng Zhiyao, only fifteen at the time, have so easily infiltrated the heavily guarded State Duke’s Mansion?
State Duke Hua naturally wouldn’t voice these thoughts. He looked at the man in red across from him. Feng Zhiyao, now in his thirties, was no longer the desolate, slender youth who had walked away in the heavy rain years ago. His exceptionally handsome features now possessed a calm elegance he hadn’t had in his youth. More importantly, Feng Zhiyao, who was the same age as Mo Xiuyao, had not married, nor had he taken even a single concubine or secondary concubine. State Duke Hua, of course, knew why. In every respect, Feng Zhiyao was undoubtedly the most satisfactory candidate for a son-in-law. It was just a pity... As he looked at the somewhat emaciated yet still undeniably handsome man opposite him, State Duke Hua’s gaze gradually filled with regret and helplessness.
With a faint smile on her lips, Ye Li gently said, "Old State Duke, does the Hua Family intend to support the new emperor?"
State Duke Hua was taken aback; he hadn’t expected Ye Li to ask such a direct question. He glanced at Mo Xiuyao, who was drinking tea calmly, and drawing upon his understanding of Prince Ding’s Mansion and Mo Xiuyao, he shook his head and stated frankly, "State Duke Hua’s Mansion, I’m afraid, has the will but not the power." The younger generation of the Hua Family, while not profligates, lacked any particularly outstanding talents. While he was still alive, he could naturally provide some support. But he was already over eighty; who knew how many more days he could last? Once he passed away, not only would the Hua Family, by supporting a new emperor, face potential annihilation, but the new emperor they supported would likely suffer as well.
"If that is the case... after the new emperor ascends the throne, how will Her Highness Empress conduct herself?" Ye Li asked.
State Duke Hua frowned. The Empress was Mo Jingqi’s legitimate wife; whichever prince ascended the throne would, by convention, have to honor her as Empress Dowager. However, State Duke Hua also understood that while the Tenth Prince’s birth mother was timid and ineffectual, meaning the Empress wouldn’t have trouble managing her, the women of the inner palace were the most unpredictable. Furthermore, if the Tenth Prince successfully began to rule in his own right, the Hua Family, having remained on the sidelines, would definitely not be favored. The Empress’s days would not be easy then. If something were to happen to the Tenth Prince, the Empress, as his official mother, would also face harsh criticism.
State Duke Hua looked at the Empress with hesitation, feeling the guilt he had harbored for this daughter for many years. She had joined the imperial family for the sake of the Hua Family. But, also because of the Hua Family, she could only maintain a facade of dignity in the palace, never winning her husband’s heart or even being allowed to have a son. The Hua Family had always known it wasn’t that the Empress couldn’t bear a son, but rather... Mo Jingqi didn’t want the Empress to have his son.
"Father, there’s no need to feel this way. I’ve lived a life full of honor and haven’t suffered any wrongs," the Empress said, her smile gentle as she looked into her father’s remorseful eyes. She turned to Ye Li, who was sitting next to Mo Xiuyao, and added, "I know the Princess Consort is concerned about me, but some things... if they’re destined, you truly cannot force them."
Ye Li frowned. "Doesn’t Her Highness Empress wish to see Changle again?"
"Changle?" State Duke Hua’s eyes widened. "Changle is in the Northwest?" Although State Duke Hua’s Mansion had dispatched men to protect his granddaughter, for safety reasons, those men had not reported back to the mansion. Thus, State Duke Hua had only surmised that Changle had been rescued by his men and hidden away after her disappearance; he had never thought she would be in the Northwest.
Ye Li smiled. "Of course. Changle is a young lady, after all. How could we rest easy with her out there all alone?"
State Duke Hua looked at the Empress, then at Feng Zhiyao, Mo Xiuyao, and Ye Li, his snow-white brows tightly furrowed. Before he could say anything, Zhuo Jing entered from outside to report, "Prince, Princess Consort, someone from State Duke Hua’s Mansion has arrived. The Regent Prince summons the Old State Duke."
Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow, his expression displeased. "Mo Jingli’s airs are certainly growing."
State Duke Hua, however, remained calm. Standing, he said, "Well, he is, after all, the Regent Prince appointed by the late emperor. There’s nothing improper about him summoning me. My apologies for disturbing you, Prince, Princess Consort. I must take my leave now." With that, he headed towards the door.
The Empress also rose and followed State Duke Hua out. Seeing this, Feng Zhiyao tried to stand but felt an invisible pressure bearing down on him, rooting him to the spot. He could only watch helplessly as the Empress rose and left.
At the door, State Duke Hua suddenly turned around and said to the Empress, "You should stay at Prince Ding’s Mansion for a few days. We’re not prepared at the moment, and it’s not feasible to send you back to the palace just yet."
"Father..." The Empress frowned, sounding somewhat worried.
State Duke Hua, however, gave her no chance to object, stating decisively, "That’s settled. No need to see me out."
"Father, I..." As the Empress watched State Duke Hua leave and was about to follow, she heard a sudden, wet sound from behind. Feng Zhiyao had spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Ah-Yao!" The Empress cried out in alarm. Feng Zhiyao managed a difficult smile at her, but blood kept spilling from his lips, staining his red brocade attire with numerous dark red blooms. The Empress rushed to support him and turned to Mo Xiuyao, demanding, "What’s going on? Why is he so badly hurt?"
Mo Xiuyao sipped his tea calmly, as if the matter had nothing to do with him. "I didn’t hit him that hard last night. Perhaps he simply doesn’t want to live anymore?" In truth, Mo Xiuyao’s palm strike the previous night hadn’t been severe. So, a moment ago, he had added a surge of hidden force, precisely enough to make Feng Zhiyao cough up blood but not enough to cause any lasting damage to his constitution.
"You..." The Empress frowned, glaring at Feng Zhiyao with a hint of anger.
Ye Li interjected quickly, "Her Highness Empress, please help Third Feng back to his room to rest. I’ll have a doctor summoned at once." Seeing Feng Zhiyao’s increasingly pale face and his trembling body after he had spat blood, the Empress could only focus on supporting him as they left, completely forgetting that they could have called for servants to help.
Watching the Empress struggle to support Feng Zhiyao as they departed, Ye Li turned to her husband, puzzled. "These two... are they going to make it, or not?"
Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow. "How would I know? I’ve handled State Duke Hua for him, and I’ve kept the person here for him. If Third Feng still can’t manage it, then let him go die for all I care. This Prince is not his father; I don’t have to plan everything for him."
Ye Li pinched him irritably and sighed. "Oh, those two..." She shook her head, truly at a loss for what to say. She somewhat understood the Empress’s dilemma. Aside from the responsibilities that came with her title, women of this era were still constrained by the belief that a woman should not serve two husbands. Perhaps relinquishing her position as Empress wouldn’t be difficult for her, but accepting Feng Zhiyao would likely be far harder.
Mo Xiuyao held her in his arms and chuckled softly. "Don’t worry. This time, at the very least, Feng Zhiyao should be able to persuade her to go to the Northwest. After all, Changle is still in the Northwest." Once she shed the burden of being Empress, Changle would undoubtedly become the most important person to her. As long as the Empress still wanted to see her daughter, there was no concern she wouldn’t agree to leave. As for how to get her to accept Third Feng—that truly wasn’t his business. He was a Prince, not a divine matchmaker.
Ye Li considered Mo Xiuyao’s words reasonable. Even if they were acting with the Empress’s best interests at heart, they shouldn’t interfere too much in her romantic affairs. Who to accept or not accept was ultimately the Empress’s choice. One couldn’t argue that just because Feng Zhiyao had sacrificed the most for her, she was therefore obliged to accept him. Besides, the situation was already much better than they had initially expected. At least State Duke Hua no longer seemed so determined to take the Empress back to the palace. As long as State Duke Hua didn’t object, the resistance to the Empress leaving the Capital City would be considerably less.
"Did you perhaps strike too hard just now?" Ye Li asked, thinking of the blood Feng Zhiyao had coughed up. That was real blood, not just an act to fool the Empress.
Mo Xiuyao replied nonchalantly, "Third Feng has had a lot of suppressed frustration pent up in his chest these past few days, and he was also stubbornly holding onto the effects of last night’s injury. Letting him cough out that stagnant blood is actually a good thing. Don’t worry about it."
Was that so? Ye Li remained somewhat skeptical. Was it not possible that Mo Xiuyao was simply taking the opportunity to punish Feng Zhiyao for dragging them into such significant trouble?
「Deep within Prince Ding’s Mansion, in a courtyard shaded by lush trees.」
The Empress had already changed out of her ornate phoenix robe. A simple white dress made her appear less noble and more tender, and she looked much younger.
After dismissing the doctor who had come to examine Feng Zhiyao, the Empress held the prescription, her elegant brows tightly furrowed. She remembered the doctor’s words: Feng Zhiyao’s heart had been burdened by melancholy for a long time, and it was feared this could shorten his lifespan. She turned to look at the man lying on the bed, his face pale, heavy shadows beneath his eyelids. A sudden ache gripped the Empress’s heart. She sighed softly and turned to find someone to get the herbs and brew the medicine.
"Don’t go..." The hem of her dress was caught. Feng Zhiyao’s voice was audibly weak. His eyes, fixed on the Empress, were filled with pleading, sorrow, and a cautious hope.
The Empress hesitated, conflicted for a moment, before finally yielding. She walked to the stool beside the bed and sat down, looking at him. "Ah-Yao, rest for a while. I won’t leave. After you fall asleep, I’ll have someone brew the medicine."
Feng Zhiyao looked dissatisfied. "You can’t leave even after I fall asleep."
The Empress was troubled. She needed to find someone to brew the medicine. She didn’t know if Ye Li had done this intentionally or if Prince Ding’s Mansion was genuinely short-staffed, but there wasn’t a single attendant in Feng Zhiyao’s courtyard. To get anything done, she either had to do it herself or leave the courtyard to find someone.
Feng Zhiyao stared stubbornly at the Empress’s face, clearly intent on not closing his eyes unless she agreed.
Seeing the Empress’s worried frown, Feng Zhiyao said in a low voice, "I’m alright... The injury isn’t serious. I’ll get better even without medicine." In truth, his injury wasn’t that severe. After coughing up that blood, the tightness in his chest had actually eased a lot. It was, however, genuinely painful. Feng Zhiyao knew without a doubt that Mo Xiuyao had secretly aggravated his condition. But for this moment of peaceful companionship, he would have been grateful to Mo Xiuyao even if he had been truly gravely injured.
"Nonsense. How can you not take medicine when you’re injured? Do you think you’re still a child?" the Empress scolded gently.
Feng Zhiyao smiled faintly. He remembered when he was young, Mo Xiuyao would often beat him until he was covered in bruises, yet he would stubbornly refuse any medicine. The woman before him now used to scold him in exactly the same way.
"Wait a little longer before you go. Don’t sneak away while I’m asleep."
"Alright, rest well," the Empress said softly, her expression visibly softening. It was as if she could see him from over a decade ago—that stubborn, remarkably handsome youth, not even ten years old at the time.
Having received her promise, Feng Zhiyao finally closed his eyes, satisfied.
