02 Feng Xuan’s Rage
The sky hasn’t lightened but Feng Yi Xuan already rose out of bed, because he needed to attend the morning court this morning. Changing into a black court uniform, Feng Yi Xuan hung the pouch that made him happy an entire night onto his jade belt and then ran to morning court.
Feng Xia Qi was the first one to notice the pouch on Feng Yi Xuan’s waist but when he saw it, he burst into guffaws. Feng Xia Qi’s laugh attracted Jing Wu An and the others’ attention. When they saw Feng Yi Xuan’s pouch, they all burst into laughter.
Amongst the scholarly and martial officials, many people wore jade pendants, satchets, or pouches and such things. This was very normal but no one has ever worn such an eccentric pouch. With this embroidery, a girl of a few years old could embroider much better.
Everyone looked at Feng Yi Xuan standing there, an unmatched handsome face, an indifferent and cold countenance, a lean, broad and tall build, everything was the Prince Ming that everyone respected and feared, but upon seeing the pouch, they inexplicably felt a urge to laugh but the officials didn’t have the guts to laugh as the fourth prince and only lowered their heads fearfully.
But Feng Yi Xuan didn’t care about their guffaws and was instead in a good mood. Feng Yi Xuan took a glance at the satchet at Feng Xia Qi’s waist, asking, “Where’d you get this?”
“This was made by the best embroideress!” Feng Xia Qi said, flaunting it off. Since young, this younger brother was much stronger than him. After Feng Yi Xuan had the ability, the things he ate and used were much better than his. Finally he had an opportunity to flaunt, Feng Xia Qi wouldn’t give this up.
“Hn,” Feng Yi xuan nodded. “It’s a pity no one personally made it for you. My pouch was made by Nian Nian personally. There’s my name on the back!” Feng Yi Xuan said, clearly showing off as he looked at Feng Xia Qi.
Feng Xia Qi ground on his teeth, smiling, “It’s nothing. I’ll go back tonight to ask Bai Lian to make me one. Bai Lian’s embroidery skill is very good. The things she embroiders are life-like!”
Feng Yi Xuan continued to nod and his face remains unchanged, “This is the first embroidery Nian Nian has made and she gave it to me!” Feng Yi Xuan’s meaning was clear. The first time was always the most precious. Yours, who knows how many times Bai Lian has embroidered and given to how many people. It’s nothing rare!
The smile on Feng Xia Qi’s face was starting to crack. He realized this younger brother was born to rip him off. Doesn’t he know to yield to him? Was having a pouch so amazing? Though, from looking at Feng Yi Xuan, it really was amazing.
Jing Wu An, He Chu Yang and the others helplessly shook their head. This wasn’t in their home, this was at court. Can’t the two of you not so naturally discuss such childish things here? Do you not see the horrified gazes of the ministers?
“Announcing his Imperial Majesty!” the sharp voice ended Feng Yi Xuan and Feng Xia Qi’s silly showing off and returned to their own positions.
“May His Majesty live long!” On court, everyone knelt, expect Feng Yi Xuan who stood. In this world, there was no one worthy of him bending down to kneel but it was such a man who so naturally bent down and knelt to help a woman wear her slippers. It really was a strange thinking.
“Beloved subjects you may rise!” Feng Xuan walked up to the throne and sat, overlooking the court with pleasure. Ever since he got rid of the Prime Minister’s faction’s ministers, Feng empire’s court was much cleaner and more honest. This was what an Emperor wished most to see.
“Eunuch Lu, pa.s.s the decree!” Emperor Feng Xuan said to Eunuch Lu beside him.
“With the Heavens as Witness and by Imperial Command! Fourth prince Feng Xia Qi is of good-natured temperament, wise and resourceful, the model of a prince, today fourth prince Feng Xia Qi is conferred as Crown Prince, by Royal Decree!”
Feng Xia Qi wasn’t surprised. He already knew the position of Crown Prince would end up on his shoulders, but didn’t expect the imperial decree to be so late. It looks like the Consort Tao in the harem has really affected Imperial Father, making Imperial Father reconsider even him.
“Subject son receives the decree! Thank Imperial Father’s grace!” Feng Xia Qi knelt, receiving the decree. Whether or not he liked that seat, he must sit on it. In the past, it was to protect his little brother, now it was also to protect that girl, protect his friends, and protect the tens of thousands of citizens.
All the ministers congratulated Feng Xia Qi. Feng Xia Qi smiled modestly and politely. Then morning court began as usual. If you have a report to make, do so, if not, morning court ends.
“Your Majesty, this subject has something to report!” An old minister stepped out under Feng Xia Qi’s smile, “It is inappropriate for Consort Tao to leap up to the position of consort as the daughter of a merchant. And now Consort Tao has been lacking in etiquette during Lan manor’s birthday banquet, this minister asks Your Majesty to cancel Consort Tao’s position as consort!”
Emperor Feng Xuan looked at the old minister below. He knew this minister was a subordinate of his fourth son. But Feng Xuan didn’t expect since he already gave the Crown Prince position to his fourth son and compensated his sixth son as much as he could, these two sons still did this. At his age, he wanted a confidante to stay by his side, yet they wanted to stop him. His affections for their Consort Mother has never changed, why do these two children always never understand his hards.h.i.+p?
“Consort Tao is respectful in the harem and is a very good woman. She is suited to the position of consort!” Emperor Feng Xuan glanced at Feng Xia Qi and looked at Eunuch Lu and dismissed the court but Feng Xuan didn’t see the mockery in Feng Xia Qi’s eyes.
Feng Xia Qi once had expectations towards this Imperial Father, but day after day, year after year of expectation, it no longer mattered. His Imperial Father seemed to do all this for the good of Feng empire, but he was only a good Emperor, not a good husband or a good father. Yet this man was starting to become enraged for a woman on court, then why when Consort Mother was still alive, didn’t he made such efforts for Consort Mother?
Feng Yi Xuan and Feng Xia Qi walked shoulder to shoulder out of court. Feng Yi Xuan’s voice was without undulation as he said, “You’re too ras.h.!.+” Though Imperial Father’s actions were indeed loathsome, this couldn’t affect Consort Tao in any way. Instead, it will only make Consort Tao increase her vigilance and Imperial Father would only take pity on this woman.
Feng Xia Qi looked at the rising sun, smiling, “I know. I only wanted to see how much sincerity Imperial Father has towards this woman who only has the outer sh.e.l.l. Ha, it looks like Imperial Father really like that woman!” He could treat a subst.i.tute like this but why did he hurt his wife so much?
“You shouldn’t have any illusions!” Feng Yi Xuan’s said indifferently. Perhaps others will think Feng Xuan disappointed Consort Mother because he had no choice, but that was merely that man’s excuse. If he really loved Consort Mother, he wouldn’t have abandoned Consort Mother. He wouldn’t have caused her to die to tragically. And now he hypocritically treated a woman who looked so much like Consort Mother so well, this was simply insulting Consort Mother!
“A long time ago, I no longer had any illusions. I merely want to see. That way I have some confidence when dealing with Consort Tao!” Feng Xia Qi said. Since Imperial Father cared for Consort Tao so much, he can only crumble it from the foundation. Otherwise, everything else would be in vain. Though he was now the Crown Prince, it was still merely a Crown Prince.
“Crown Prince wait, Prince Ming w.a.n.g!” Eunuch Lu jogged over to the two, greeting them customarily, sweat still hanging on his forehead from running.
Feng Xia Qi offered a friendly smile as he asked, “Why has Eunuch Lu let this crown prince and imperial brother to wait?” Feng Xia Qi’s image outside has always been good. On court, there was many praises for Feng Xia qi, and not like the fear for Feng Yi Xuan.
“His Majesty summons the Crown Prince into Peach Palace. It was this old slave who overstepped and wanted Prince Ming to go with!” Eunuch Lu has watched Feng Xia Qi and Feng Yi Xuan grow up and had a benevolent elderly heart towards the two.
Hearing this, Feng Xia Qi knew something has happened in the harem and it was related to him. Feng Xia Qi said to Eunuch Lu, “This crown prince doesn’t know what has happened. If I were to recklessly go, I fear I will anger Imperial Father. May I ask Eunuch Lu to tell this crown prince what has happened?”
Eunuch Lu already planned to tell the two. After all, Eunuch Lu didn’t like Consort Tao, but His Majesty liked her so as a servant, he couldn’t say anything. Eunuch Lu hastily reported the happenings of the harem to Feng Xia Qi and Feng Yi Xuan.
It turns out after Feng Xuan left court, he headed to Peach Palace but he didn’t expect once he entered Peach Palace, he saw several corpses and Consort Tao who has crumbled to the ground, trembling. Feng Xuan saw Consort Tao like this and thought of Jing s.h.i.+ and felt even more heartache. He directly picked Consort Tao up and roared at the palace maids and eunuchs in the Peach Palace to tell him what happened.
As per the palace maid’s words, Feng Xuan knew as Consort Tao was rising, she encountered an a.s.sa.s.sination. Those a.s.sa.s.sins were the dead eunuchs in the courtyard. Feng Xuan thought if he didn’t fear someone will cause harm to Consort Tao and sent some eunuchs with powerful martial arts to Consort Tao’s side, he feared Consort Tao would have perished.
But when Feng Xuan saw the dead eunuchs, he became even more enraged. Those eunuchs were other people but those who have once served Feng Xia Qi. They can be said to be Feng Xia Qi’s spies in the palace. Feng Xuan always knew but because he wanted to deal with the Empress, Feng Xuan has never stopped him, even indulging him. But he didn’t expect these people gave rise to the desire to harm Consort Tao. Feng Xuan felt his child has becoming more and more outrageous.
“Imperial Father!” Feng Xia Qi and Feng Yi xuan walked into the luxurious Peach Palace. The same smile appeared on the brothers’ lips.
Feng Xuan wanted to vent his anger on Feng Xia Qi and even wanted to scold Feng Xia Qi but seeing his sixth son staring at coldly, Feng Xuan felt as if he couldn’t say a word. He always felt his sixth son’s icy gaze was like the one he wore on the day of Jing s.h.i.+’s death, so cold it made Feng Xuan afraid.
“You look! Look what you’ve done!” Feng Xuan pointed at the corpse and comforted Consort Tao who kept weeping. Consort Tao looked fearfully at Feng Xia Qi as if Feng Xia Qi was an evil monster, making Feng Xuan even angrier.
Feng Xia Qi glanced at the dead bodies on the ground, feeling quite strange. These eunuchs were indeed the spies she placed in the palace. Last night when Bai Lian came back, she told him this Consort Tao might be a threat to little sister Nian’er. Both Feng Xia Qi and Bai Lian were extremely worried. Hence, Feng Xia Qi had these spies come to Peach Palace to work to find information, but Feng Xia Qi didn’t expect these people not only died, Consort Tao would bite him back.
“What’s wrong?” Even though Feng Xia Qi has learned the happenings from Eunuch Lu’s mouth, Feng Xia Qi still had to pretend not to know anything.
“What’s wrong?” Feng Xuan’s rage blew over his head, “You still ask? This slave is so daring he dared to a.s.sa.s.sinate a consort. Old four, doesn’t this slave deserve to die?”
“Oh? This slave is actually so daring. He really deserves to die! I just don’t know if they really die innocently!” Feng Xia Qi said smiling and looked at Consort Tao, “Or is that to say Consort Tao is really lucky to be safe and sound?”
“Old four!” Feng xuan looked at the trembling Tao Fei, scolding, “Don’t be overdoing it!” Feng Xuan didn’t want to admit this was connected to his fourth son. If others were to know, how could his fourth son sit firmly on the seat of Crown Prince? And his fourth son truly was suited to this throne.
Feng Xia Qi checked the reason for the the eunuchs’ death and found it was instant death. It looks like Imperial Father really expended a great price for this Consort Tao. Ha, with no comparison in the past, he didn’t know, but there there was, it really was frightening!
“Imperial Father, if you sent people to protect Consort Mother, would Consort Mother have died?” Feng Xia Qi said and left Peach Palace with Feng Yi xuan. Because of these words, Feng Xuan dropped all the words intended to blame Feng Xia Qi.
Consort Tao lowered her head, her teary eyes filled with malice. She miscalculated, such angering!
Feng Xia Qi wasn’t so upset when he left. The words he said was merely using Imperial Father’s guilt. He only just sat on the position of Crown Prince. He didn’t want to receive any punishment.
“A’Xuan, have you noticed something?” Feng Xia Qi asked.
“The eunuch by Consort Tao’s side is off!” Feng Yi Xuan declared with certainty. From first glance, as he was observing the people in Peach Palace, Feng Yi Xuan noticed there was something off with the eunuch behind Consort Tao. No matter how well the eunuch disguised himself, it couldn’t escape from his eye.
“Oh?” Feng Xia Qi didn’t notice, “A’Xuan, what are you going to do?”
“Watch a good show!” Feng Yi Xuan said, leaving. He still had to go back to eat the morning meal with Nian Nian. Who let him be so chatty?
Feng Xia Qi watched Feng Yi Xuan use qinggong to leave, grumbling, “Think I don’t have a wife? Hmph!”