"Madam?" Yuan Shangyi gripped her hand, "Will you accompany me back to Xijing, please?"

It took Feng Yun a moment to snap back to reality, to grasp what the child was saying.

Subconsciously, she took hold of Yuan Shangyi’s small hand and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you, Ayuan, for considering me, but I can’t leave right now. If you must go back, I can send someone to escort you..."

Sure enough, a look of disappointment flashed in Yuan Shangyi’s eyes, and he pursed his lips.

Feng Yun understood and gave a faint smile, "Don’t worry, Ayuan. It won’t be long before we can be reunited as husband and wife. Isn’t Andu about to establish the auxiliary capital and build the detached palace?"

Yuan Shangyi asked, "Madam, is it really not because of me that you’re staying?"

Feng Yun felt very sorry for him.

"Of course."

Yuan Shangyi immediately lit up, "Then great, we’ll stay at Huaxi."

As long as he could be with Madam, he was happy no matter where.

-

The carriage passed by the teahouse.

Ren Rude slightly closed his folding fan and looked back at Jin Ge.

"Was that carriage just now Madam Feng’s?"

Jin Ge had also seen it.

He lowered his gaze, "This subordinate did not notice."

Ren Rude looked at him, a gentle smile on his face.

He didn’t speak but rose and walked outside. He stood silently for a moment as he watched the carriage disappear down the long street, then heaved a soft sigh.

"His Majesty has waited too long. As subordinates, we should be more attentive and relieve His Majesty of some concerns."

Jin Ge knew what he was talking about and after a moment of silence said:

"Madam Feng is wholeheartedly engaged in her business; in this subordinate’s view, she has no intention of returning to Nanqi..."

He raised his eyes to look at Ren Rude, "Forgive the subordinate’s presumption, but instead of waiting hopelessly, it would be better for Mr. Ren to advise His Majesty to withdraw his affections and seek another match."

Ren Rude burst into laughter.

"You really dare to speak your mind, boy!"

He glanced at Jin Ge, lazily opened his fan, looking like a man with deep and calculated plans.

"If His Majesty were so easily persuaded, would I have had to wait until now? You really don’t understand His Majesty’s heart after following him for so long..."

Jin Ge fell silent.

Compared to Ren Rude, he indeed couldn’t guess Xiao Cheng’s heart.

Ren Rude gave a snort of laughter, gave him a glance, and went back home near the West City Gate, then began to write a secret report to Nanqi.

"Since leaving in June, Feng Shi Er Niang and Pei Jue have not been in contact for several months. In this official’s view, their affections wane, and I fear they may soon part ways."

Jin Ge frowned at this.

Wasn’t Mr. Ren adding fuel to the flame with such nonsense?

Even if Feng Shi Er Niang wasn’t interacting with Pei Jue, that didn’t necessarily mean she would return with His Majesty.

He did not understand.

But Ren Rude reassured him with a confident expression.

"Don’t worry; His Majesty enjoys seeing this sort of thing. Just wait to be rewarded."

Jin Ge:...

Accepting rewards on one hand,

Living a carefree and joyful life in Andu on the other.

Indeed, this job wasn’t bad at all.

-

After getting things ready, Feng Yun had the winter clothes delivered from her estate to the Beiyong Army camp.

It was actually still early before winter, but these clothes were made from leftover materials from last year, which would only take up space in the warehouse if kept any longer.

She sent Xing Bing personally to deliver them and also to ask when Wen Xingsu would come for a meal.

Xing Bing returned in less than two hours; he didn’t even secure his horse before rushing in like a whirlwind, panic-stricken.

"To inform Madam, the General has been injured."

Feng Yun was taken aback.

"He’s in Xijing at the Prince of Yonghuai Residence, guarded by the Imperial Guard Camp. How could he be injured?"

Xing Bing looked up at her, "The Prince of Yonghuai was attacked and injured on the way back to Andu."

"Back to Andu?"

Since that last fleeting letter, Pei Jue had not sent a single word.

She had been busy and hadn’t written to him either.

From their fiery entanglement before the departure to their separation and growing apart, they indeed seemed like a couple brought together by convenience, lacking any real interaction aside from those intimate moments.

Feng Yun had no knowledge of Pei Jue returning to Andu.

She asked, "Is the injury severe?"

Xing Bing hesitated for a moment.

"It’s said the General lost consciousness. It must be serious, I suppose?"

Feng Yun’s gaze grew colder.

Xing Bing continued, "The news just reached the camp today. The General was returning to attend the wedding at the Governor’s Office when he encountered a large group of mountain bandits..."

How could ordinary bandits ever get the better of Pei Jue?

Feng Yun felt something was amiss about the situation.

Seeing her calm demeanor, Xing Bing’s pounding heart began to settle.

"The lord said someone has already been sent. He instructed that this side should inform Puyang, the Medical Officer, to hurry to Wanning City for aid..."

Feng Yun’s sharp eyes slightly softened as she spoke indifferently:

"Go call for Puyang, the Medical Officer, and prepare the medicines for injuries. I will change my clothes and accompany you."