Chapter 104 Thoughts On the wedding day next month, Li Ling will wear it.
The court officials strongly opposed this, arguing that "a country cannot be without a ruler for a day." However, Emperor Chongming was determined. Even though the officials had been kneeling in the Taiji Hall for three hours and rumors were rampant, he remained unmoved.
A large group of officials knelt before the Taiji Hall. The Grand Secretary Zheng Guanhe was old, so the officials worked together to cover up the incident when it broke out. But there are no secrets in officialdom, and he rushed over after receiving the news.
On the night of the winter solstice, the breaths of Zheng Guanhe were already slightly warm. Having served the emperor for so long, Zheng Guanhe was well aware that the emperor's determination to personally go to Dahua to retrieve his daughter was unshakable. He should still try to persuade him, but he must not force the emperor to abdicate like the other ministers had done, otherwise the effect would be counterproductive.
Zheng Qingru draped a warm cloak over him and handed him a freshly warmed hot water bottle. Zheng Guanhe glanced at his beloved grandson with satisfaction, then turned his gaze to the kneeling officials, coughed, and said, “Since I took over the cabinet, I have carefully managed all matters of state. Your hearts are one with mine. I wish you would heed my words. His Majesty has ruled for twenty years and has only one daughter. He is the emperor, but also a father who longs for his daughter. His Majesty has searched for the princess for eight long years without giving up. Now that he knows the princess is imprisoned in the enemy palace, how can he not be worried?”
At this point, Minister of Works Tu Dechang asked again: "But a country cannot be without a ruler for a day. If Your Majesty wants to go to Dahua in person, the round trip alone will take two months. In addition, if Xiao Yin and the emperor of Dahua refuse to release him, how will Your Majesty deal with the situation there?"
Zheng Guanhe said, "Your Majesty has governed by non-interference for decades, and the administrative mechanisms of the Cabinet and the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs are already well-established. As for Your Majesty's safety... Your Majesty knows what to do."
Looking into Zheng Guanhe's eyes, Tu Dechang knew it was time to stop. He was a man who knew how to play both sides. He stood up from his kneeling position, waved his hand, and said, "Your Excellency's virtue has served three dynasties, your achievements shine as bright as the sun and moon... We will certainly heed Your Excellency's words. Let's disperse, let's disperse for now..."
As the officials dispersed, Zheng Guanhe finally coughed up the thick phlegm stuck in his throat. Zheng Qingru looked at him with concern, but Zheng Guanhe waved his hand to indicate that he was alright, and followed Sheng Honghai into the main hall.
Emperor Chongming stood in the palace, his eyes deep and unfathomable, gazing at the sea of clouds with his hands behind his back. He listened to the footsteps of the approaching figure and said, "I am the rightful heir chosen by the late emperor. Apart from the day I ascended the throne, I have kept all my emotions to myself since then. Only I know that very few things can stir my emotions. But I will always remember the day she was born. Phoenixes came to pay homage, auspicious clouds circled the palace, and I held her in my arms. It was as if all the joy had returned."
Zheng Guanhe said, "Your Majesty's love for his son is something this old minister understands."
Emperor Chongming said in a cold tone, "But the Grand Secretary, she resents me."
"From then on, sandalwood was naturally nurtured by nature."
These words had been weighing on Emperor Chongming's mind for days, suffocating him. "She hates me for killing her mother, her husband, and the courtesan of the Red Sleeve Pavilion. But if I had to do it all over again, I would still do it. I am her father, and I am also the emperor who holds power. The case of the female calamity has far-reaching implications. If they want to reform the system, then they are acting against the law. Where is the ethics?!"
Zheng Guanhe said, "It is unprecedented for a woman to serve as an official. Your Majesty is not wrong in doing so. There is no need to suffer for yourself. The princess will understand Your Majesty."
"She won't understand me, just as I don't understand her." Emperor Chongming sighed, his eyes still filled with worry. He turned to Zheng Guanhe and said, "But no matter what, she is still my daughter. Grand Secretary, I have lost Sang Rou while sitting in this position, and I cannot lose my own flesh and blood as well. Do you understand?"
When Zheng Guanhe met that gaze, the emperor's soft heart beneath his cold exterior was revealed. His wrinkled eyes suddenly welled up with tears, and he said in a bitter voice, "Your Majesty, if you leave, the Grand Secretariat and the Directorate of Ceremonial will fulfill their duties. There will be no trouble in the court."
The founding emperor of the Dahuang Dynasty painstakingly designed a system in which cabinet ministers acted as prime ministers, ensuring that imperial power was not divided and that the emperor's personal authority was highly centralized and could not be replaced by others. Therefore, Emperor Chongming was able to make decisions independently even though he did not attend court for many years. Even if he were to leave the Dahuang Dynasty this time, he would not have to worry about losing territory in the rear.
Having revealed his emotions at the opportune moment, Emperor Chongming quickly suppressed all outward emotions and reverted to his unfathomable imperial demeanor. "I have no son, so the throne is now surrounded by wolves, and factional strife is rampant. If the wolves cannot be killed in a short time, there is no need to confront them head-on. We should just wait for the right opportunity."
As soon as he finished speaking, Sheng Honghai, holding a whisk, bowed and approached, whispering, "Your Majesty, a message from the Prince of Chu is urgent."
Emperor Chongming gestured for Sheng Honghai to read the text aloud. After listening, his face turned as cold as iron. He then gave a sarcastic laugh and said, "Very well, if he wants to go to Huachao and not cause trouble in court, why should I stop him? But what is his reason for doing so?"
After he finished speaking, the three people in the hall fell silent, unable to figure out what Wang Huai was thinking.
***
The sedative applied to the bullets fired by the Fengtan pistol was specially made by Menghe Naboul. Although it wouldn't keep the injured person in a coma forever, it would keep them unconscious for at least a month, and the wounds would be difficult to heal.
Feng Tan had no intention of telling Zhu Qi these things, leaving him to frantically pace around like an ant on a hot pan, threatening him from both sides with the heads of the entire Imperial Medical Academy in hand.
Ban Huayun was, after all, Xiao Yinshi's mother. Seeing that the pustules on his skin from the explosion were not healing, that he had a high fever and was unconscious, and that the wound on his shoulder was not healing, she knew she was too ashamed to ask for the antidote, but she still shamelessly came to him.
At that time, Feng Tan was exercising her injured leg in the Imperial Garden. After leaping into the air, she fell heavily to the ground. She carefully explored the way to prevent her body's energy flow from being blocked. She gritted her teeth, stood up from the ground, and flew and fell again. Her expression showed no discouragement. She just frowned and pondered how to break the blockage.
The Rakshasa Army stood in a dark mass behind her, the leader's ancient brown eyes fixed on the armed girl who continued to practice even in the winter when all the flowers had withered, looking at her as if she were full of courage.
Fine beads of sweat clung to Feng Tan's forehead. He casually wiped them away with his sleeve, and as he leaped away again, he caught a glimpse of Ban Huayun walking slowly from the other end of the garden. He stopped and greeted her.
Seeing that her face was rosy and her whole body was full of energy, unlike the paleness she had shown when they last met, Ban Huayun felt a little relieved and smiled, "You are young after all, your body recovers so quickly."
Feng Tan smiled in response, drank the tea that Ban Huayun offered to quench her thirst, sat down at the stone table and invited Ban Huayun to sit down, looking at her with a warm smile.
Ban Huayun felt uncomfortable under her gaze and coughed lightly to ease the awkwardness. It seemed that Feng Tan had seen through her intention, so she stopped beating around the bush and said directly, "The imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital suggested that I rest for a month to allow my body to naturally eliminate the effects of the medicine, but I've noticed that after several days, my injury hasn't improved at all..."
She felt awkward not mentioning the name, and after speaking, she lowered her head and waited quietly for Feng Tan's reply. A cup of tea was handed to her, and she heard Feng Tan say, "I don't have any antidote to suppress the drug. The Imperial Hospital's method is a bit slow, but it's safe and effective."
Menghe Nabul naturally had a quick solution, but Feng Tan couldn't possibly reveal his name. Ban Huayun felt much relieved after getting the answer; it was just a matter of keeping him unconscious for a few more days, as long as it didn't endanger his life.
“He’s been afflicted by the six external evils and the seven internal emotions. He’s been acting like a tyrant for a while now. It’s good to let him quiet down for a while,” Ban Huayun said with a relaxed expression after her worries subsided. She looked at Feng Tan with concern and said, “I’ve heard that your lightness skill is unparalleled, but he’s a ruthless man… You practice every day, have you found a way to break him?”
Feng Tan shook his head. "No, he was already a Grandmaster at the time. A pebble he threw completely blocked the meridians in my left leg."
Ban Huayun was unaware of the inner workings of martial arts, but she understood from Feng Tan's words that Xiao Yinshi had no intention of leaving Feng Tan a way out. He wouldn't let her escape the palace using her lightness skill. She sighed and said, "While he's unconscious, quickly find a way to leave the palace. If there's anything I can help you with, please don't hesitate to ask."
Feng Tan could tell that even though Xiao Yinshi was Ban Huayun's biological son, she was extremely resentful of his behavior. Perhaps it was because she had suffered the pain of being imprisoned and abused that she felt such pity for Feng Tan. She was usually a cold and aloof person, but when facing Feng Tan, she unconsciously became more talkative. "Don't be discouraged. A snake has no claws or teeth, no strong bones, yet it feeds on the earth above and drinks from the underworld below, all because of its focused effort. There will always be a way. Can he really control everything?"
Feng Tan could hear the resentment in her voice, and she thought of the palace maids and eunuchs who died tragically under the Golden Terrace. In the past few days, she dared not contact anyone who might be used by Xiao Yinshi to threaten her. But Ban Huayun was different. She was Xiao Yinshi's mother. He couldn't be so heartless as to shoot his own mother.
Feng Tan had been speaking to few people these past few days. Ban Huayun noticed her loneliness and talked with her for a while in the Imperial Garden. The two came from different countries and had different experiences and observations, but they got along very well and chatted for a long time.
As the sun began to set, Ban Huayun reluctantly rose to bid farewell to Feng Tan. However, before she even left the Imperial Garden, she saw Xiao Liling leading two groups of palace maids in a leisurely procession.
The palace maids, all dressed in pink palace attire, carried various red wedding gowns embroidered with phoenixes and cloud patterns. Their magnificent shawls were adorned with intricate and exquisite designs, primarily featuring auspicious dragons and phoenixes, flowers, birds, and animals; every stitch revealed the artisans' superb skills and their ultimate pursuit of beauty. Another group carried a variety of phoenix crowns, their designs elaborate and delicate, each crown inlaid with countless dazzling gemstones, pearls, and gold flakes.
Xiao Liling smiled shyly, greeted Ban Huayun and Feng Tan, and said softly, "I really can't make up my mind, so I brought it here for you to take a look and see which set is better?"
Ban Huayun glanced at Xiao Liling, then at Feng Tan, before finally turning her gaze back to the phoenix-embroidered cloak belonging to the Empress, and said, "Liling, you can choose whichever one you like."
Xiao Liling wasn't the type to openly display her thoughts; she was usually very patient. Today, she seemed to have been provoked into playing the palace intrigue game. Ban Huayun noticed that Xiao Liling's eyes were constantly fixed on Feng Tan, and she vaguely felt that she had never truly known Xiao Liling.
This terrifying thought sent a chill down Ban Huayun's spine. She looked at Xiao Liling and heard Xiao Liling whisper in her ear, "Liling really can't make up her mind. Miss Feng, please give me some advice. Which outfit would look better on me?"
Arslan's gaze, seemingly casually, fell on Feng Tan from behind. During his investigation a few days ago, he had already shared some clues with Feng Tan. Had this princess of Dahua noticed something? Was that why she came to Feng Tan today, dressed in her wedding gown, to put on airs?
The cause of Feng Youming's death has not yet been solved. Combining the information that Arslan found out and Xiao Liling's unusual behavior today, Feng Tan keenly sensed the slight unease beneath Xiao Liling's calm surface. No, perhaps she wasn't in a state of panic, but rather acting intentionally.
Feng Tan's gaze fell on the first bright red wedding dress, and she said, "I think this one is quite nice."
Xiao Liling looked over in the direction of her reply and chuckled, "Good eye. Then Liling will wear it on our wedding day next month."
After saying this, she greeted Feng Tan, took Ban Huayun's arm, and left the Imperial Garden together.
The garden returned to silence. Feng Tan watched their departing figures and slightly curled the corners of her lips. She then ordered the Rakshasa Army behind her, "Xing Yi, come here."
Feng Tan couldn't remember all of their names at once, so she arranged them in order of their positions. Hearing this, Arslan approached, bowed, and asked, "What are your orders, Miss Feng?"
The two spoke in hushed tones. Feng Tan looked at the tall young man in black armor and said, "Speed up the process. It will be difficult once Xiao Yinshi wakes up."
Xiao Yinshi is too shrewd and suspicious, so we must speed up the investigation while he is unconscious.
Arslan squinted at Xiao Liling's departing figure and said in a deep voice, "Although there is no conclusive evidence yet, my intuition tells me that the final result of the spies' investigation will still be this princess."
Feng Tan frowned and said, "But she has no reason to kill my husband."
Arslan raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, realizing that while Feng Tan might be clever as an official, she was a fool when it came to matters of the heart. He said, "Don't underestimate a woman's love for a man; when she loves to a certain extent, she can be insane."
Feng Tan stared at Arslan for a while, then tapped her knuckles lightly on the stone table, making a crisp tapping sound. "Arslan, even if you're wearing a human skin mask, please control your expression."
Arslan touched his face and said, "What expression am I making?"
After resting for a while and regaining her energy, Feng Tan got up and began to circulate her qi again, leaving Arslan with a cold and indifferent back view. "Your face is all about 'The show is finally about to begin'."
“The show is indeed about to begin,” Arslan said with a hint of excitement in his voice, the more he thought about it, the more thrilling it became, and his tone also carried the hearty spirit of a grassland boy. “The Emperor of Dahuang traveled thousands of miles to bring his daughter home, only to find that the Emperor of Dahua was getting married, and the one who would become the empress was not even his own daughter... Of course, what’s even more interesting is that this new empress is very likely to be your nemesis, tsk tsk tsk, what a mess.”
The fleeting thoughts that flashed through her mind made Feng Tan momentarily lose her composure. She had hurt her knee when she fell from above, but she rubbed it casually, got up, and gathered her strength again. She said to Arslan, "Hearing the drums of war, one thinks of a good general. Now it is time to think of a way to break the formation. Arslan, please stop daydreaming and prepare for battle."
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