Chapter 26: Killing Three Birds with One Stone
The night was dark in Haofeng Courtyard, with only a few lanterns swaying.
Feng Wu quickly stepped into the corridor and saw the young master standing in the moonlit courtyard. He followed the young master's gaze and saw the busy figures of maids reflected on the window paper, changing the princess's bloodstained clothes.
"How is his injury?" Feng Yanhao asked.
Feng Wu whispered, "The second young master's needle poison has been cured, but the knife wound..." He paused, "The injury is too severe and he has not woken up yet."
Feng Yanhao sneered, "With his mediocre skills, he dares to act like a hero. Those swordsmen usually give him the benefit of the doubt, but he really thinks he's someone important. He deserves to suffer for getting into trouble this time."
Feng Wu looked towards the brightly candlelit room and couldn't help but ask, "Why did the young master save this hot potato..."
After following the young master for so many years, Feng Wu still often couldn't fathom his master's intentions: For the past year, the young master had been counseling the Empress and her former most loyal servant, Prince Zhao. Now that the grand plan was taking shape, abducting the little princess was the final step. While no one had expected the little princess's sudden arrival at the Feng household, it was the young master who had tipped off Feng Wu about her whereabouts. Yet, after seeing Prince Zhao's men succeed, the young master, dressed in nightgown, personally ambushed the princess deep in the forest—the sheer complexity of the situation was beyond his comprehension.
"It's hot, but this is no pushover." The moonlight condensed into two cold stars in Feng Yanhao's eyes. He lowered his voice very low, "Since we have entered the Feng family's territory, no matter who succeeds in the end, we cannot be abducted from the Feng family."
"But as for King Zhao..." Feng Wu started to speak but was interrupted.
"King Zhao wants information. Now that he's succeeded, we've fulfilled our duty." Feng Yanhao tapped the railing with his fingertips. "As for the kidnapping, it's because his men were incompetent. Besides..." Thinking of the assassins falling like leaves under his flying knife in the moonlight, a sneer curled his lips. "The dead can't speak."
Feng Wu was stunned for a long moment before he suddenly realized what was going on. He said sincerely, "Young Master is wise."
Feng Yanhao suddenly turned around and asked: "Has Wangyue Valley received the news?"
"The Feng spy has already left." Feng Wu's voice was filled with awe. "After eight years of silence, this guy...is finally making a comeback."
Feng Yanhao smiled coldly: "It's time to stir up this stagnant pool of water."
In Yuanfeng Courtyard, the moon was cool and the place was quiet.
Yun Yuan lay on her side on the bed, staring at the moonlight through the gauze window, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
When she arrived at Yuanshanzhai today, she saw Feng Yanyuan releasing a carrier pigeon. He turned around and saw her, his eyes expressionless as he lowered his gaze and handed her a green brocade bag.
"Tomorrow will be dangerous, but it will also be Yuan'er's chance." He left a cool scent of pine ink as he passed by her. "You decide for yourself."
Yun Yuan looked at the brocade bag in her hand: He has been like this since the trial, unwilling to look at her or say a word to her.
The sachet was grasped in her palm, and she frowned: What is the opportunity he mentioned?
Finally, it was dawn. Yun Yuan hurriedly got up and went to Haofeng Courtyard, but was stopped by two armored guards with spears.
She knew there was no point in saying more, so she turned and headed back to Xuanfeng Courtyard. Pausing in the corridor, she suddenly smelled the faint aroma of medicine and heard the faint sobbing of a woman from inside the house. She peeked through the crack in the window and saw Feng Yanxuan lying on his back on the bed, the knife wound across his chest jarring.
Yun Yuan knew it was pointless to bother him, so she turned and left, searching for the Langya King's men. Unexpectedly, the Langya King's men were even more surprised to see Yun Yuan than she was: "Miss Yuan! The young prince has been looking for you all night!"
Yun Yuan's eyes flickered slightly, and she said softly, "Please, Lord Wei, take me to Haofeng Court to see the prince and princess."
The follower looked hesitant, but was defeated by Yun Yuan's eyes: "Please follow me."
As Yun Yuan stepped into the inner chamber with delicate steps, she was struck by a stagnant atmosphere. Feng Yanhao stood beside the carved window lattice, his hands behind his back. He raised his eyelids only slightly when he saw her enter, an unreadable look flashing across his eyes. The Prince of Langya stood beside the bed, his usually gentle face now tinged with an unwavering anxiety.
"I'll go back to the palace and tell my mother right now!" The princess' voice was hoarse but still full of arrogance. She clenched the quilt tightly, and said, "I will definitely kill all nine generations of their clan!"
Prince Langya rubbed his brows and suddenly shouted in a stern voice: "Enough!" This shout startled the princess into silence, her almond eyes full of disbelief.
At that moment, the princess caught sight of Yun Yuan and immediately leaped barefoot from the bed, throwing herself into her arms. "Yuan'er..." she sobbed, her tears soaking Yun Yuan's clothes. "We will no longer care about Brother Rui..."
Prince Langya gazed at the princess's reckless behavior and finally sighed. The swaying bamboo shadows outside the window cast mottled shadows on his handsome face.
"Wanwan, there are some things you should know."
Prince Langya stood in front of the window with his hands behind his back, tapping the window frame with his knuckles. The muffled sound was particularly clear in the silent room.
"Your Highness is having a private conversation. All outsiders please leave first." Feng Yanhao glanced at Yun Yuan who was caressing the princess.
"Secret... what secret?" The princess froze. Noticing Yun Yuan's slight movement, she suddenly hugged her tightly, "You can't leave."
Prince Langya waved his hand and smiled bitterly, "At this point, what's the point of a secret discussion?" He glanced at Yun Yuan, a hint of tenderness flashing across his face, "Yuan'er, if you stay, you can just keep Wan Wan company."
This matter started with the rebellion in the Eastern Palace last year.
First, the Crown Prince, having drunk countless cups that day, had, under a spell of intoxication, scribbled down a treasonous statement. Before the ink had even dried, the Empress deposed him, accusing him of "treason." Despite the criticisms of the veteran court officials, they ultimately could not resist the imperial edict. Unexpectedly, the day before yesterday, a shocking event unfolded: the deposed Crown Prince had suddenly died in his cell. A horrifying story spread: the Empress sent a personal maid to deliver a bowl of medicine. The Crown Prince, seeing the black liquid bubbling in the bowl, suspected it was poison and vowed to never drink it. The maid, possessed by a demon, seized the pestle and struck the Crown Prince on the head...
This rumor was truly absurd; the idea that the empress had "granted death" was more plausible. So the Prince of Langya only mentioned "granted death"—but these two words shocked the little princess so much that she turned pale as paper. She suddenly broke free from Yun Yuan's embrace, her embroidered shoes making a crisp "thump" sound as they treaded on the blue bricks.
"Nonsense!" Her voice was so sharp that it almost broke. She suddenly rushed to the front of Prince Langya, and grabbed his sleeve tightly with her ten fingers: "My mother clearly... clearly... when the crown prince came of age, my mother personally selected the reward..."
Prince Langya lowered his eyes to look at the wrinkles on his sleeves, his Adam's apple rolling several times before he finally shook his head gently. This movement seemed to drain all the strength out of the princess, and she stumbled back two steps.
In fact, the queen also denied it - what was sent was indeed medicine, not poison. How could she know why the dog she had raised suddenly went crazy?
Unfortunately, no one believed it.
The rift between the Central Palace and the Eastern Palace had long been an unspoken chessboard within the Taiji Hall. The Crown Prince, enthroned by the late Emperor's will, was not the Central Palace's son. Since the late Emperor's death, the veteran ministers beneath the Danchi had been calculating—waiting for the Crown Prince to ascend the throne, for the return of power. The veneer of morning and evening visits between the Central Palace and the Eastern Palace was but a thin veil over the scuffles of swords.
However, the death of the crown prince was not the real thunderclap at the moment.
As the court and the public debated the matter, another devastating blow struck. The Prince of Zhao, long considered the Empress's lackey, forged an imperial decree to besiege the palace. He personally led three thousand armored guards and silently surrounded the imperial city. He then entered the Pepper Room with the Secretary of State and publicly read out the Empress's twelve grave offenses of "plotting to murder the crown prince," deposing her as a commoner. The Empress, before her phoenix crown was even properly placed, was dragged from her throne, her chastity robe ripped open on the jade steps in front of the palace. Then, another imperial decree, bearing the imperial seal, arrived: awarding the deposed Empress a cup of gold-dust wine. According to palace attendants, upon receiving the decree, the deposed Empress laughed three times before consuming the poisoned wine in one gulp.
When the dream was awakened, the world changed drastically. Not only the Prince of Langya and the little princess, but the entire court and the people were in a state of confusion.
Only then did the Prince of Langya realize that perhaps this had been Prince Zhao's plan from the very beginning. He had first intensified the relationship between the Crown Prince and the Empress, then used a false summons to force the Emperor to execute the Empress, and finally, captured the Emperor's beloved little princess alive to force the Emperor to abdicate. A single swinging arrow pierced three eagles.
He had expected something untoward to happen in the Imperial City, but he hadn't imagined it would be something like this. Now that he thought about it, the Emperor's whispered instruction not to send the Imperial Guards to escort the Princess was truly wise—those were all under the command of Prince Zhao. Could it be that His Majesty, always so prudent and honest, had already seen through Prince Zhao's evil intentions?
At this moment, the little princess curled up in Yun Yuan's arms like a wounded cub. Her pale lips trembled as she tried to protest but couldn't. Finally, her vision went black and she passed out. When Youyou regained consciousness, her tears had soaked Yun Yuan's clothes.
"It's a lie...it's all a lie..." Her voice was hoarse, but she still struggled to get up, "I want to see my mother...now..."
Just as everyone was in a panic, Feng Wu suddenly burst in, knelt on one knee and reported urgently: "Young Master! The county soldiers have surrounded the Feng family's outer house and threatened that we are holding the princess hostage and plotting something bad. If you don't hand her over..." He gasped, "They are going to storm!"
Upon hearing this, Feng Yanhao crushed the teacup in his hand with a "crack".
Feng Wu was naturally well-built, with a pair of large, powerful eyes beneath thick brows, a commanding presence. In his panic, his voice was like thunder, sending dust rustling down from the beams. The room, filled with noise, suddenly fell silent. The little princess was so frightened that she forgot even to sob. Her tear-stained face paled, and her frail body trembled uncontrollably.
"They are totally confusing right and wrong! I will go and argue with them!" Prince Langya waved his sleeves and was about to rush out the door.
Feng Yanhao stood in front of the doorway, his dark robes fluttering like ink. "Wait a minute, Your Highness." He placed a fingertip on the wrist of the Prince of Langya and whispered, "Prince Zhao now holds the Tiger Talisman, and this isn't your fiefdom of Langya. We should proceed as planned..." He then turned to Feng Wu and said, "Are you ready?"
After receiving a positive response, he turned to the princess, his gaze softening slightly. "I had hoped to wait until Your Highness's injuries had healed..." Before he could finish his words, a horn suddenly blasted from outside the window. Feng Yanhao's eyes darkened. "It seems we can't wait any longer. The secret passage has been opened, and there's a carriage with green curtains in the forest to meet us. However, to avoid detection, I dare not use the imperial carriage. I hope Your Highness will forgive me."
The princess's slender fingers tightly grasped the hem of her skirt, her voice trembling a little: "Where... are you going to send me?" Her eyes were blank and unfocused, as if she was in a nightmare, and even her breathing became rapid.
Feng Yanhao knelt on one knee, his gaze level with the princess's. His voice was steady and powerful. "Hejian Prince's Palace. The Prince of Hejian is Your Majesty's trusted minister, commanding a large military force. Even if the Prince of Zhao knew your whereabouts, he would not dare to act rashly." He paused. "All those accompanying you on this trip are top-tier experts in disguise, sworn to protect the princess and the prince at all costs."
This arrangement was agreed upon by Feng Yanhao and the Prince of Langya last night. The Feng family had been exposed, so it was not advisable to stay for long, and the Prince of Langya's fiefdom had no heavy garrison. However, they had not expected the Prince of Zhao to act so quickly, mobilizing the county troops to besiege the Feng family so quickly.
"Let's go." Prince Langya sighed softly.
The little princess seemed to be sleepwalking, following Yun Yuan's steps woodenly, but still holding Yun Yuan's hand tightly and refusing to let go.
Feng Yanhao's gaze lingered on their clasped hands for a moment, and he said in a deep voice, "The accompanying carriage can only carry one more person. Your Highness wants her to accompany you?"
The princess said nothing, only tightly grasping Yun Yuan's arm, refusing to let go. Tears slid down her pointed chin, leaving dark stains on her clothes.
Feng Yanhao said no more, but just explained the secret passage mechanism in detail. He watched the figures of several people gradually disappear into the darkness, pressed the mechanism, and the stone door of the secret room slowly closed.
Feng Wu stood quietly to the side, feeling quite calm. The "county soldiers" who were about to attack him didn't seem to be in a hurry anymore - it was clearly a good show he had put on. But he was a little worried about Yun Yuan who was following him on the road, "Young Master, that slave girl..."
Feng Yanhao bent down and picked up the silk handkerchief left by the princess. There were still traces of tears on the white silk.
"Follow her in secret. She's nothing more than a burden. If she still has breath left, throw her to Wangyue Valley." Feng Yanhao brought the handkerchief to his nose and sniffed, a meaningful smile curling the corners of his lips. "Remember, once the princess is safely outside the Feng family's territory, pass the news to King Zhao and King Hejian."
Feng Wu nodded, and then a look of admiration emerged on his rugged face: "Young Master, this trick is really brilliant." He counted on his thick fingers: "If the people of Prince Hejian arrived first and took the princess away, then the Feng family would be the heroes. If Prince Zhao arrived first, the people guarding the princess would also be scapegoats of the Guitou Gang who were paid to do so, and Prince Zhao would definitely not be able to find any trace of the Feng family. When Prince Zhao captured the little princess alive, the Feng family would still..." He suddenly choked.
Feng Yanhao raised his eyebrows, "What's wrong?"
"Young Master..." Feng Wu frowned, "This princess and Prince Langya were taken away by Prince Zhao. What will happen if they reveal that it was Young Master who arranged for her rescue?"
"The Prince of Langya is young and loyal. He will protect the Feng family if he survives. Besides, he may not survive. As for the princess..." He stroked the hibiscus flowers embroidered on the handkerchief with his fingertips. "What can a little girl say to make the Prince of Zhao give up this fine sword of the Feng family?" The silk handkerchief wrapped around his fingertips. "Now that the person is in our hands, that old thief won't..." His eyes sternly, and he sneered, "He won't dare to do anything to the Feng family."
Suddenly a startled bird flew past the window, casting a fleeting shadow.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
