Mountain and River Festival 279. Duke Hua's reaction

After hearing Ye Li's words, Duke Hua was stunned for a moment and obviously didn't react. Mo Xiuyao didn't say anything either, holding the teacup and waiting for Duke Hua's reaction calmly. It took Duke Hua a long time to come back to his senses, looking at the two calm people in front of him and said: "What's going on? Prince, you..." Mo Xiuyao put down the teacup, looked at Duke Hua and said apologetically: "It happened suddenly and I didn't inform you, old Duke. I'm really sorry." Duke Hua took a long time to really react, and he glared at Mo Xiuyao unhappily and said: "Who asked you to apologize? I just want to ask you why you brought the queen to Prince Ding's Mansion for no reason? Prince, don't you think there are not enough people watching Prince Ding's Mansion?"

Hearing this, Ye Li smiled faintly and said, "I'm sorry to have caused you to worry. It's true that we are young and ignorant, and we acted impulsively."

Duke Hua sighed, looked at Ye Li and said, "Your Highness and Princess are not the kind of people who act on impulse. I won't ask why. Please ask the Queen to come out. I will try to send her back to the palace."

Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao looked at each other. They had not expected that just two sentences would convince Duke Hua to let them take the person away. But since Feng Zhiyao had already risked his life to bring the person out, they could not let Duke Hua take the person away until they were sure that Feng Zhiyao could not convince the queen. Mo Xiuyao looked at Duke Hua and said calmly, "That's why I apologized to the old Duke. I'm afraid I can't let the old Duke take the person back for the time being."

"Why is that?" Duke Hua asked with a frown.

The fact that the Queen was abducted from the palace by Prince Ding's Mansion was beyond his expectation. He hurried to Prince Ding's Mansion in the hope of using the power of Prince Ding's Mansion to investigate the matter. But he did not expect this result. Whether for the sake of his personal relationship with Prince Ding's Mansion or for the relationship between Da Chu and the Northwest, this matter obviously cannot be spread. So now this decision can be said to be the best decision for everyone. He does not understand why Prince Ding and the Princess would object.

Ye Li sighed helplessly. It seemed that Duke Hua didn't know about Feng Zhiyao's affairs. In this case, none of them could be sure how Duke Hua would react when he heard that it was Feng Zhiyao who took the initiative to kidnap the person.

Ye Li was about to say something when she heard the Queen's voice from the door. "I'm sorry to have worried my father. I'll go back with you now."

The three turned around and looked outside. The queen, who had taken off her wide cape, appeared at the door wearing a bright yellow phoenix robe. Her expression was indifferent and it was hard to tell what she was thinking. The queen stepped into the hall and Feng Zhiyuan followed her in. The man in the red brocade robe had red eyes and a tired and gloomy look. He looked even uglier than when he was hit by Mo Xiuyao last night.

"What's wrong with Feng San? You look so bad. Didn't you see a doctor last night?" Ye Li asked calmly.

When Duke Hua first saw Feng Zhiyuan following the Queen, his face changed. Seeing that Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao were both present, he didn't say much but slowly tightened his hands on the armrest. Ye Li glanced at Duke Hua and asked Feng Zhiyuan with a smile.

Hearing this, the queen looked back at Feng Zhiyao in surprise. She had noticed Feng Zhiyao's bad face before, but since they were having an unpleasant quarrel, she didn't ask too much and just thought he didn't get enough rest last night. Now, after a closer look, she found that Feng Zhiyao not only looked wrong, but also had an unconcealable tiredness and paleness on his face.

"It's okay, thank you for your concern, Princess." Feng Zhiyao said in a hoarse voice.

Ye Li frowned and said, "Xiu Yao was very harsh. I should ask a doctor to take a look at it later, so as to avoid causing any root cause of the disease."

Feng Zhiyao lowered his head in silence, neither refusing nor agreeing.

After Ye Li said this, the two people present naturally understood what was going on. The Queen's face turned pale, and Duke Hua's face became even uglier.

Mo Xiuyao waved his hand and said, "If you have anything to say, please sit down and talk. Sister Hua, even if you have to go back to the palace, there is no need to rush now." The Queen's eyes turned red when she was called Sister Hua. In fact, Mo Xiuyao no longer called her Sister Hua after she married Mo Jingqi. This seemingly ordinary address made her recall the leisurely time when she was a young girl.

Duke Hua stared at the people present for a long time before he heaving a long sigh and waving his hand, saying, "Forget it. It's already like this anyway. It won't be any worse if we delay it a little longer."

The Queen and Feng Zhiyao then sat down on the left and right. Feng Zhiyao sat opposite Duke Hua, staring at the Queen as if the people around him didn't exist. Duke Hua frowned but didn't say anything.

"Old Duke, do you really want to send the Queen back to the palace?" Mo Xiuyao looked at Prince Hua and asked calmly, "Old Duke should know that the news of the Queen's disappearance has spread throughout the palace. Even if the old Duke sends her back without leaving a trace, this will definitely be a handle for the new king or someone else to cause trouble for the Queen in the future."

Duke Hua glared at Feng Zhiyuan in anger. He was also an old man who had experienced countless things in the world. Seeing the situation before him, how could he not know what was going on? Looking sideways at his daughter who was sitting beside him with a calm expression, Duke Hua sighed helplessly, "What if I don't go back? If it were possible, why would our Hua family be willing to do so... I understand what the prince means, but the status of the queen is different from that of others. If people find out that the queen is in the northwest in the future, it will be a huge blow to the reputation of the prince and the Ding Palace."

How could the Duke Hua's Mansion really want to marry their daughter to Mo Jingqi, who was still a prince? The Hua family's wealth had reached its peak. As long as he was still alive, no matter who ascended the throne, they would keep some face for the Hua family. A prince's wife or even a queen was never a good thing for the Hua family. It was a pity... The late emperor at that time was worried that the Hua family and the Dingwang Mansion were too close, so he forcefully tied the Hua family to the ship of Mo Jingqi, who was about to succeed the throne. If the emperor wants his subjects to die, they have to die, not to mention that it was just an arranged marriage?

The Duke of Hua has always known about Feng Zhiyao's existence. But he never took Feng Zhiyao too seriously. It's not that he looked down on Feng Zhiyao, but Feng Zhiyao was several years younger than the Empress after all. When the Empress got married, Feng Zhiyao was actually still a half-grown child. Even if there was something wrong at that time, he just thought it was caused by the child's momentary infatuation. So when Feng Zhiyao sneaked into the Duke of Hua's mansion on the eve of the Empress's wedding, he not only did not arrest him, but let him meet him smoothly. Otherwise, with Feng Zhiyao only fifteen years old at that time, how could it be so easy to break into the heavily guarded Duke's mansion?

Duke Hua naturally wouldn't say these things, looking at the man in red in front of him. Feng Zhiyao, who is already over 30 years old, is no longer the thin young man who left in the heavy rain. His handsome face has a bit more calmness and elegance that he didn't have when he was young. More importantly, Feng Zhiyao, who is the same age as Mo Xiuyao, doesn't even have a concubine or a maid until now, let alone a wife, and Duke Hua naturally knows why all this is. No matter from which aspect, Feng Zhiyao is undoubtedly the most satisfactory candidate for son-in-law, but it's a pity... Looking at the man opposite who is a little thin and haggard but still handsome, Duke Hua's eyes gradually turned into regret and helplessness.

Ye Li smiled faintly and said softly, "Old Duke, does the Hua family intend to support the new emperor?"

Duke Hua was stunned. He didn't expect Ye Li to ask such a question so directly. But seeing Mo Xiuyao drinking tea calmly without any dissatisfaction, he still shook his head and said bluntly, based on his understanding of Prince Ding's Mansion and Mo Xiuyao: "I'm afraid the Huaguo Duke's Palace is weak-minded." The descendants of the Huaguo Duke's Palace Although he is not a playboy, he does not have any particularly outstanding talents. Of course he could help a little while he was still alive, but he is already over eighty, who knows how many more days he can last? Once he passes away, not only the Duke of Hua, who supports the new emperor, will be destroyed, but the new emperor who is supported by them will also be in trouble.

"If so... after the new emperor ascends the throne, how will the Empress deal with herself?" Ye Li asked.

Duke Hua frowned. The Queen was Mo Jingqi's legitimate wife. It was common sense that no matter which prince ascended the throne, he would have to respect her as the Queen Mother. But Duke Hua also understood that although the Tenth Prince's biological mother was cowardly and useless, he was not afraid that the Queen would not be able to suppress her. However, women in the deep palace were the most fickle. And if the Tenth Prince succeeded in ruling the country in the future, the Hua family, who had been standing by and watching, would definitely not end well. The Queen's life would not be easy at that time. If something happened to the Tenth Prince, the Queen, as his legitimate mother, would not have a good time either.

Duke Hua looked at the Queen hesitantly. He had always felt guilty about his daughter. She married into the royal family for the Hua family, but because of the Hua family, she could only maintain her dignity in the palace. She could never win her husband's heart and could not even have a son. The Hua family had always known that it was not that the Queen could not give birth to a son, but... Mo Jingqi was unwilling to let the Queen give birth to a son.

"Father, you don't have to do this. I have lived a life of honor and glory, and I have never been wronged." Looking at the guilty eyes of the old man, the queen smiled faintly. She turned her head to look at Ye Li who was sitting next to Mo Xiuyao, and smiled: "I know that the princess is thinking about me, but some things... are destined to be like this, and it is really impossible to force it."

Ye Li frowned and asked, "Don't you think the Queen wants to see Changle again?"

"Changle?" Duke Hua's eyes widened. "Changle is in the northwest?" Although the Duke Hua's mansion had sent people to protect his granddaughter, those people did not return to the Duke Hua's mansion for safety reasons. Therefore, Duke Hua only guessed that Changle was missing because she was rescued by the people sent and then hid, but he did not expect that she was in the northwest.

Ye Li smiled and said, "Of course. Changle is a girl after all. How can anyone feel at ease if she is alone outside?"

The Duke of Hua looked at the Queen, then at Feng Zhiyao, Mo Xiuyao, and Ye Li, and his snow-white brows were tightly locked. Before he could say anything, Zhuo Jing came in and reported: "Prince, Princess, someone has come to the Duke of Hua's mansion. The Regent summoned the old Duke."

Mo Xiuyao raised his eyebrows, looking unhappy, "Mo Jingli is becoming more and more arrogant."

Duke Hua was not angry. He stood up and said, "Forget it. After all, he was appointed as the regent by the late emperor. There is nothing wrong with summoning me. I am sorry to disturb the prince and princess. I will take my leave now." After saying that, he walked out the door.

The Queen also stood up and followed Duke Hua out. Feng Zhiyao wanted to stand up, but he felt an invisible pressure coming towards him, which made him unable to move. He could only watch the Queen stand up and leave.

When Duke Hua reached the door, he suddenly turned around, looked at the Queen and said, "You should stay in Prince Ding's Mansion for a few days. We can't send you back to the palace until everything is ready."

"Father..." The Queen frowned and said worriedly.

The Duke of Hua did not give her a chance to refute and said decisively: "That's it, you don't have to send me off."

"Father, I..." Watching Duke Hua go out, the Queen wanted to follow him, but she heard a sound behind her and Feng Zhiyao spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Ayao!" The queen was shocked. Feng Zhiyao smiled at her with some difficulty, but the blood on his lips kept falling. Countless dark red flowers bloomed on his originally red brocade clothes. The queen hurriedly stepped forward to support him and looked at Mo Xiuyao and asked, "What happened? How could you be injured so badly?"

Mo Xiuyao was indifferent to the matter, and drank tea calmly, saying: "I didn't hit him hard last night. He didn't want to live anymore, right?" Mo Xiuyao's palm strike last night was indeed not heavy, so he added a bit of hidden strength just now. It just forced Feng Zhiyao to vomit blood but didn't hurt his body.

"You..." The queen frowned and glared at Feng Zhiyao with slight anger.

Ye Li said quickly, "Your Majesty, please help Feng San go back to his room to rest. I'll ask someone to call the doctor over." Seeing Feng Zhiyao's face turn even paler after vomiting blood and his body staggering as he was about to fall, the queen could not care about anything else and had to help Feng Zhiyao up and walk out, completely forgetting that they could still call for help from the servants.

Seeing the queen helping Feng Zhiyao away with some difficulty, Ye Li asked her husband beside her in confusion, "Are these two people... capable or not?"

Mo Xiuyao raised his eyebrows and said, "How do I know this? I have sent the Duke of Hua away and kept him here. If Feng San still can't do it, then let him die. I am not his father who has to think about everything for him."

Ye Li pinched him unhappily and sighed, "These two..." She shook her head and didn't know what to say. In fact, she understood the Queen's thoughts. In addition to her responsibilities as a Queen, women in this era were still bound by the idea of ​​not serving two husbands. Maybe it would not be difficult for her to give up the position of Queen, but it would be more difficult for her to accept Feng Zhiyuan.

Mo Xiuyao held her in his arms with a smile, and said softly, "Don't worry, at least Feng Zhiyao should be able to persuade people to go to the northwest this time. After all, Changle is still in the northwest." Once the responsibilities of being the queen are relieved, Changle is definitely the most important person to the queen. As long as the queen still wants to see her daughter, there is no need to worry that she will not leave. But how to make her accept Feng San is really none of his business. He is a prince, not a matchmaker.

Ye Li thought that what Mo Xiuyao said made sense, and even if they were thinking about the Queen, they shouldn't interfere too much in her emotional affairs. It was the Queen's freedom to accept whoever she wanted or not. It couldn't be said that because Feng Zhiyao had paid the most for her, it was natural for the Queen to accept Feng Zhiyao. And now it was much better than they expected, at least the Duke of Hua didn't seem to want to bring the Queen back to the palace. As long as the Duke of Hua didn't object, the Queen would have much less resistance to leaving the capital.

"Were you too harsh just now?" Ye Li thought of the blood that Feng Zhiyao spit out. That was real blood, not just an act to deceive the queen.

Mo Xiuyao said nonchalantly, "Feng San has been feeling depressed these days, and he has been enduring the pain even after getting hurt last night. It's a good thing for him to spit out the blood. Don't worry about it."

Is that so? Ye Li was somewhat skeptical. Was it really not because Feng Zhiyao had caused such a big trouble that Mo Xiuyao took the opportunity to take revenge?

Deep inside the palace, in a courtyard shaded by green trees, the empress had already changed out of her gorgeous, eye-catching phoenix robe. The plain white dress made her look less noble and more feminine, and she looked much younger.

After sending off the doctor who treated Feng Zhiyao, the queen held the prescription left by the doctor and frowned. She remembered what the doctor said about Feng Zhiyao being depressed for a long time and was afraid that he would die. Looking back at the man lying on the bed with a pale face and heavy shadows under his eyelids, the queen's heart suddenly ached. In the end, she could only sigh and turn around to find someone to get the medicine.

"Don't go..." Feng Zhiyao's voice was clearly weak as someone pulled her clothes. His eyes were filled with hope, sadness and caution as he looked at the queen.

The queen held out helplessly for a while, but finally gave in. She walked to the stool beside the bed, sat down, looked at him and said, "Ayao, have a good rest. I won't leave. I'll ask someone to boil the medicine after you fall asleep."

Feng Zhiyao was dissatisfied, "I can't walk even if I fall asleep."

The queen was in a dilemma. She needed to find someone to boil the medicine. She didn't know if Ye Li did it on purpose or if there were too few people in Prince Ding's mansion. There was not even a single servant in Feng Zhiyao's courtyard. If the queen wanted to do anything, she had to go there in person or find someone outside the courtyard.

Feng Zhiyao stared at the Queen's face stubbornly, as if he would not close his eyes unless she agreed to his request.

Seeing the Queen's worried frown, Feng Zhiyao whispered, "I'm fine... The injury is not serious and I will be fine without taking medicine." In fact, his injury was not serious. After spitting out the blood, his heart, which had been depressed, felt much relieved. But it was indeed very painful. Feng Zhiyao knew without thinking that he was tricked by Mo Xiuyao. But for being able to have such a warm relationship at this moment, even if Mo Xiuyao really beat him seriously, he would only be grateful to him.

"Nonsense, why don't you take your medicine? Do you think you are still a child?" the queen scolded softly.

Feng Zhiyao smiled, remembering that when he was a child, he was often beaten by Mo Xiuyao and his body was covered with wounds, but he refused to apply medicine. The woman in front of him also scolded him in the same way.

"Wait a little while before you go. You can't sneak away while I'm asleep."

"Okay, you should have a good rest." The queen said softly. She seemed to see the stubborn boy who was not even ten years old but already stunningly handsome more than ten years ago. The queen's expression softened a lot.

After getting the promise, Feng Zhiyao closed his eyes in satisfaction.