Chapter 76 Will the Daughter Return to Court? Seeking Justice for Them Once Again…

In the Dahuang Dynasty, exile was carried out by the Ministry of Justice. After the summer solstice, the days grew longer, and the afterglow of the setting sun painted the sky golden. The shadows of the guards pulling the prison cart were long and thin. Besides them, at the very front and the very back of the prison cart, there were two guards escorting the prisoner. The general escorting Feng Tan to the border was none other than Mu Long, the leader of the Imperial Guard.

Yesterday, as soon as the Cabinet Gazette was published, news spread like wildfire. The streets thronged with people, all flocking to the city gates to see the once spirited young official. When he first arrived in the capital last year, his appearance had caused quite a stir. Now, confined in a prison cart, his hair slightly disheveled, his head resting lightly against the railing behind him, his eyes closed, revealing no emotion, a sense of desolation pervading his entire being. His former vigor was gone; this devastating setback had utterly crushed him.

All efforts and schemes ultimately lead to mistakes; a grand dream comes to nothing.

As the prison cart left the city gate, the sunset reflected on her eyelids. Feng Tan slowly opened her eyes, looking at the sunset glow, and used her fingers to block the light shining on her, as if she was somewhat afraid of the light.

She was already in the darkness.

Despite risking her life and bones to the point of shattering, she couldn't carve a path to survival for them; instead, she led them to their doom. The demons and monsters of the capital devoured all her life force, and in that darkness, Feng Tan shattered completely.

Feng Tan was drowsy and her eyes were blurry. The fever-reducing pills Xiao Yinshi had given her last night hadn't been very effective. Her heart was burning with anger, and she was burning up. Her energy was depleted, and she slumped listlessly on the withered grass.

The capital city stood behind them, growing further and further away from the procession. The clatter of hooves came from behind, and a young girl on horseback called out, "Mu Long, wait!"

Mu Long looked back and saw Yu Ruxi riding out. He was filled with dread, for he was terrified of running into this ancestor of the Yu family!

Yu Ruxi reined in her horse, dismounted, and came to Mu Long, saying, "I'll talk to her for a bit, just a little while!"

Looking at Yu Ruxi's pale face, Mu Long knew that she had been punished by General Yu yesterday. He couldn't bear to refuse, so he gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, go ahead."

Yu Ruxi walked to the prison cart, looked at the disheveled Feng Tan, her eyes reddening, and stammered, her voice trembling with tears, "A-Tan, I'll go tell His Majesty, tell him you are..."

Feng Tan looked at her and shook her head slightly. "I don't want him to be my father anymore."

From then on, he was born and raised by the heavens, and his life and death were no longer related to Emperor Chongming.

Looking at Feng Tan's haggard appearance, Yu Ruxi reached into the prison cart and touched Feng Tan's forehead, saying, "Ah Tan, you can't be like this. Is your wound infected?"

Menghe Naboul's wound medicine was very effective; Feng Tan's wound did not become infected, but her heart fire was hard to quell, and the fever flared up along with the external injury. She looked at Yu Ruxi's concerned eyes and said, "It's alright. How about you? Has General Yu made things difficult for you?"

Yu Ruxi's eyes flickered, and she said, "Don't you know my father? All bark and no bite!"

They were both lying, and they both knew it.

A cool summer breeze ruffled Feng Tan's long hair that cascaded down her cheeks. Looking at the magnificent capital city, she said, "Since we have eaten the people's food, we should repay some of it before we leave... Yu Ruxi, give this letter to General Yu. He will know what to do after reading it."

She didn't know if Xiao Yinshi had obtained the defense map of Dahuang. If not, that would be fine; if he had, Dahuang's military defenses would have to be replanned. Last night, Xiao Yinshi's eyes were filled with determination as he looked at her, so she turned the tables on him. He was now a cabinet member, and with a beast like him in the heart of Dahuang, it was feared that the region would be devoured without a trace.

With Menghe Nabul in Xiao Yinshi's hands, she dared not reveal his identity and could only take a risky move, sending General Yu to deal with the possibility of the defense map being leaked.

Mu Long made a move to set off as soon as possible, but Yu Ruxi lowered her voice and said, "A'Tan, since you are determined to sever ties with His Majesty, then I, Yu Ruxi, will be your support. Take care of yourself and wait for me to come find you."

"The deceased is gone, A-Tan, do not grieve unnecessarily!" After saying that, she quickly took out a willow branch and a magnolia flower from her bosom, put them in Feng Tan's arms, and said in a low voice, "I will wait for you on the road ahead."

Yu Ruxi came and went quickly. Feng Tan watched her departing figure, gazing at the willow branch and magnolia flower in his palm.

Willow, stay here.

Magnolia flowers symbolize sincere friendship.

The carefree Yu Ruxi was subtly telling her not to be afraid, that she would come to save her.

Feng Tan put them into her bosom, and when she looked up, she saw Jin An running towards her, panting heavily.

He had lost a lot of weight recently, and his round face had a touch of handsomeness. Leaning against the railing of Feng Tan's prison cart, he said, "Thank goodness! I arrived just in time... Brother Tan, you have no idea how difficult it was to see you under the noses of those people in the Sixth Bureau!"

Seeing that Feng Tan was no longer as talkative as before, he felt a slight sense of loss and pity. He sighed and said, "Brother Tan, ever since you asked me for the map of the underground palace that day, I had a premonition that what you were going to do was extraordinary. See, my intuition in Jin'an is still very accurate. Brother Tan, let's be honest, to be able to stir up such a bloody storm under the emperor's nose, Brother Tan is still a great hero in my heart!"

Seeing Feng Tan's pale and haggard face, Jin An paused, then leaned closer to her and said, "Tan'er, don't be afraid. Yesterday, I secretly sent a message to an old friend in Lingnan, asking him to help take care of you and not let them give you any heavy work! With your small frame, how could you possibly do that kind of hard labor? Also, don't worry about having no friends on the road ahead. I, Jin An, will work hard to get promoted in the capital. Once this matter has faded from the capital's memory, I'll find a way to bring you back!"

Feng Tan treated Jin An with seven parts sincerity, and Jin An reciprocated with ten parts sincerity. Feng Tan's eyes reddened again, and she said, "Having gained Jin An as a confidant during my trip to the capital is enough."

The prison cart had already set off, and Jin An followed behind, trying his best to encourage Feng Tan, hoping to help her regain her spirits. He said, "Tan-ge'er, you are a pure person. The filth needs pure people to cleanse it. Don't give up on yourself. With people like you, the court is bright. I'm waiting for you to come back!!!"

As the sun set behind the mountains, casting a twilight glow over Feng Tan, shrouding her in darkness. Leaning against the prison cart, she tightly embraced her legs, watching Jin An leave before lowering her head and burying herself completely in the darkness.

Now she has nowhere to turn, and her enemies lurk in the shadows, laughing at her scarred body.

Should we march back to the imperial court? Should we seek justice for them once again?

It's easier said than done.

Feng Youming, Hu Shu, Ren Pingsheng, Yao Niang, Jian Niang, Zhang Niang, Jian Niang, Zhan Niang, Fan Niang, Fu Niang... Their images kept flashing through her mind. Huo Ye was already her devastating nightmare. Every time she closed her eyes, it was another heartbreaking experience. She buried her head and cried silently.

***

The fire at Hongxiu Pavilion caused chaos in the capital for several days. Officials from the Six Ministries and Thirteen Circuits impeached Feng Tan. In the end, the Court of Judicial Review made the final decision and sentenced him to exile. This caused many shrewd officials to speculate: why was he only sentenced to exile when he had committed a capital crime?

Grand Secretary and Minister of Personnel Zheng Guanhe was also uneasy about this matter. The letter from Grand Tutor Feng in his bosom seemed to be getting hotter and hotter. Since Feng Tan had not been sentenced to death, it was not appropriate to hand over the letter left by the Grand Tutor to His Majesty.

In the cabinet office, Tu Dechang, the second-ranking minister and Minister of Works, kept nagging in my ear, “The fiscal deficit is not a recent phenomenon. If we want to revitalize the glorious empire of Dahuang, it’s not enough to just focus on the salt administration, horse administration, and grain transport; land tax is still the biggest expense… Besides that, there’s something else that needs to be changed: we need to reform the postal system! The postal system is in dire straits. Many corrupt officials, after arriving at the post stations with their official documents, act recklessly, demanding exorbitant food and lodging, and some even pawning their horses when their desires are not satisfied, leaving the post station officials to pay for their return! I have a good idea about this. We should emulate the personnel management system of the Northern Garrison Command and their speed of communication and investigation. That way, if someone causes trouble at a post station, the capital will know quickly and send ruthless officials to suppress it. After one or two crackdowns, I don’t believe anyone will dare to use the post station’s carriages and horses without authorization!”

After he finished speaking, he looked at Zheng Guanhe with an air of composure. Seeing that the Grand Secretary was staring at him intently without replying, he tentatively asked, "Prime Minister?"

Zheng Guanhe then came to his senses, his voice slightly hurried, "Rong Wei, you just said that our reform of the post station system can be modeled after the Northern Garrison?"

Tu Dechang nodded.

Zheng Guanhe suddenly stood up from his chair and asked, "Where is Wei Shengxian? What has he been doing these past two days?"

His words changed so quickly that Tu Dechang, not knowing what Zheng Guanhe meant, coughed lightly and said, "He hasn't appeared since the fire at Hongxiu Pavilion that night. It's been about three days now. Does the Grand Secretary have something to discuss with him?"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Guanhe frowned. Wei Shengxian was the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the most capable henchman of Emperor Chongming. He would not leave the capital without permission unless His Majesty assigned him something to do.

Zheng Guanhe's right eye twitched violently, and the letter in his arms seemed to be burning hot. He stood up abruptly and said sternly, "I want to see His Majesty!"

The cabinet office was not far from the inner palace. Zheng Guanhe presented the document urgently and Jiang Lili personally welcomed him into the Taiji Hall.

Preoccupied with something on his mind, Zheng Guanhe casually asked, "Shouldn't it be Eunuch Sheng's turn to be on duty today?"

Jiang Lili replied, "Your Excellency is unaware that the Chief Seal went to the Prince of Chu's residence a few days ago. After returning, he developed a high fever and remained unconscious for several days. I have been taking over the Chief Seal's duties for the past two days."

Zheng Guanhe said "Oh" and sighed, "We're all getting old, and our bodies aren't as strong as they used to be. We should take care of our health. Please give my regards to Eunuch Sheng."

Jiang Lili agreed. As they spoke, the two arrived at the Taiji Hall. Zheng Guanhe stepped over the threshold, walked to Emperor Chongming, bowed, and said, "This old minister has something to report."

Jiang Lili tightened her grip on the whisk. Old Master Zheng wouldn't speak without reason; he must have something important to report to the Emperor. Emperor Chongming understood this as well and waved for him to speak.

Zheng Guanhe cut to the chase and asked, "Your Majesty, if I may be so bold as to ask, where is Wei Shengxian, the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, now?"

Emperor Chongming was puzzled. Wei Shengxian, whom he had sent to kill Feng Tan, had left the capital two days ago, and there was still no news from the Imperial Dragon Camp. He figured that Wei Shengxian was still holding back. He frowned and asked, "Why is the Grand Secretary asking about him?"

Knowing Emperor Chongming was suspicious, Zheng Guanhe stepped forward, his sleeves billowing in the wind from the sea of ​​clouds, giving him an air of otherworldly elegance. Yet, his expression was tinged with anxiety, his usual composure as a Grand Secretary completely abandoned. He said sternly, "Your Majesty, are you sending him to kill the Imperial Dragon Camp that is rescuing Feng Tan, so that we can wipe them out in one fell swoop?!"

Having served as his subject for many years, Zheng Guanhe had long since figured out Emperor Chongming's temperament. Seeing the Emperor's increasingly unfriendly expression, he knew he had guessed correctly. After letting out a long sigh, he took out the letter from his bosom and said, "Before Grand Tutor Feng passed away, he entrusted this letter to this old minister, instructing me to present it to Your Majesty when Feng Tan's life was in danger."

Emperor Chongming stepped down from the high platform. He looked at the yellowed letter that Zheng Guanhe was holding in his hands and gestured for Jiang Lili to present it.

The ink on the Xuan paper had long since dried, but the brushstrokes were vigorous and skillful—it was indeed the handwriting of Grand Tutor Feng. Emperor Chongming held it in his hand and read it word by word from beginning to end. As he finished, his face grew increasingly gloomy, and suddenly, overcome with anger, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

The entire hall was filled with shock, and shouts rang out, "Your Majesty!"

"Summon the imperial physician! Summon the imperial physician immediately!"

Despite his advanced age, Zheng Guanhe struggled to support Emperor Chongming's collapsing body. According to the Grand Tutor, he had never seen the letter and didn't know its contents. Seeing Emperor Chongming's condition, his suspicions deepened. "Your Majesty..."

After coughing up blood, Emperor Chongming was finally able to utter the words that had been stuck in his throat. He gripped the letter in his hand tightly and clutched Zheng Guanhe's lapel, saying, "Quickly issue an order to the Embroidered Uniform Guard! They are not allowed to harm Feng Tan in the slightest. Hurry...hurry! Make them send her safely back to the palace!"

Zheng Guanhe gestured for Jiang Lili to take care of it, and then tried to calm Emperor Chongming down, saying, "Your Majesty, why are you so emotional? Your health is of utmost importance!"

Emperor Chongming handed the letter to Zheng Guanhe, gesturing for him to read it. After reading it, Zheng Guanhe's expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed in surprise, "So that's how it is! Feng Tan is actually Princess Yongle!"

Emperor Chongming felt a pang of pain in his heart, and suddenly everything became clear. No wonder he hadn't seen Feng Tan often, yet he always felt a sense of closeness to her; no wonder she had saved him when the white tiger attacked. No wonder... even though the person impersonating the princess could recount her entire past, he still felt something was amiss.

His daughter, Feng Shi, should be as spirited and ambitious as Feng Tan, proud and determined in the officialdom.

Emperor Chongming recalled that when Feng Tan first arrived in the capital, he had her flogged twenty times because of Gao Yu. Later, he sent her to the Linzhang sea area where she faced near-death experiences, and finally had her interrogated in the imperial prison. Her husband and friends all died in the fire that night, so she asked him to interrogate her personally that night because she wanted to tell him who she was.

But upon seeing the head of her old friend, Princess Yongle no longer deigned to use her status to secure her safety; Yongle would never be such a despicable person.

Eight years later, she came to the capital, stirred up a bloody storm, and left in a miserable state. That night, she must have been filled with resentment and anger... That night, he sent the most ruthless Iron Yama of Dahuang to interrogate her. What did Xiao Yinshi do to her to make her confess? Did she suffer a lot of torment?

From then on, the sandalwood was naturally nurtured by nature.

Naturally nurtured by nature...

She was telling him that she no longer recognized him, so she would rather leave the capital in a sorry state than call him "father".

Seeing His Majesty's distressed expression, Zheng Guanhe said, "Your Majesty, do not worry. According to their pace, they have not yet left Dahuang. Even if the Imperial Dragon Camp wants to break the prisoners, they will not be in a hurry! The Yu family army has many elite troops. The cavalry can ride at full speed to stop the Embroidered Uniform Guard. There is still time!"

Emperor Chongming looked at his fingers stained with his heart's blood and closed his eyes in regret. It was he who had personally whipped the arrogant young man in the officialdom until he was covered in blood.

His daughter, his Yongle, was born amidst auspicious phoenix clouds, and possessed the unyielding and indomitable spirit of a phoenix rising from the ashes. She would never easily turn back.

Emperor Chongming composed himself, strode behind his desk, and said, "All land under heaven belongs to the emperor. She is in Dahuang, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard is always following the prison cart. I will definitely be able to find her!"

Author's Note: The two didn't hate each other in the last chapter, my darlings. I'll say something before we do hate each other, because I'm terrible at getting things approved!

I've already hinted at some subtle foreshadowing, and I'll explain why he's so lustful towards the female lead later.