Chapter 43 On the Verge of Death: "The Gao family, be captured immediately."
The boy fell into the hot spring pool with a splash, making quite a commotion. The guards who were waiting outside rushed into the hall and saw the King of Chu holding the boy's arm with one hand and gently patting his back with the other, his eyes wide open.
The King of Chu waved his hand, signaling the guards with swords to leave the room. He looked down at Feng Tan, whose face was covered with glistening water droplets, and said, "Hey, you used a bit too much force. Did you choke on the water, little brother?"
Feng Tan tried her best to control her sharp gaze. When she opened her eyes, all that remained was the terror of suddenly falling into the water. Looking at the Chu King's smug smile, she said in a calm and unhurried voice, "I didn't expect Your Highness to be so strong despite your refined appearance."
The King of Chu observed the changes in the young man, his peach-blossom eyes holding a hint of coldness as he looked at Feng Tan with a half-smile. "I have loved riding and archery since childhood, and have trained with martial arts masters for many years. My strength has grown a bit. But Lord Feng, you look rather frail. You should work on your physique. After all, most women in the world prefer strong and powerful men. However... the ladies of the Red Sleeve Pavilion all say that Lord Feng can fight three battles and still remain vigorous. In my opinion, that statement is definitely exaggerated."
Feng Tan sneered and said, "Your Highness, just because you can't do it doesn't mean others can't. I think your silver spear needs some repairs. I do have some medical knowledge, would you like to examine Your Highness?"
The King of Chu leaned back against the stone wall with a leisurely air, looked at Feng Tan, whose clothes were soaked on the water, raised his eyebrows, extended a wrist, and parted his thin, crimson lips slightly: "Come and examine me."
Feng Tan felt a chill run down her spine again at the sight of him displaying his peacock-like manner, and goosebumps rose all over her arms. She walked up to the King of Chu, placed her wet fingers on his wrist, and felt the flow of internal energy beneath her fingers.
He has no internal energy.
Feng Tan looked at the King of Chu with suspicion, pursed her lips, and placed her hand on his chest.
I still couldn't sense the presence of internal energy.
Feng Tan's eyes were filled with complex emotions. Could it be that all her guesses were wrong from the beginning? Was the King of Chu not the Silver-Masked Venerable? No, the King of Chu might also have temporarily lost his internal energy, just like Xiao Yinshi. Anything was possible, and she couldn't jump to conclusions.
Feng Tan moved his hand away, but the King of Chu grabbed it again and placed it back on his chest. The bulging muscles were strong and powerful, and his noble face suddenly came close, his voice alluring, "How did Lord Feng diagnose it? Do I have any hidden ailments?"
Feng Tan remained calm, concealing her clamorous emotions, her voice clear and crisp, "Your Highness has no hidden ailments."
However, there is a psychological aspect to it.
Feng Tan swallowed those words, forcefully pulled his hand away, and bowed, saying, "It's getting late. I have a banquet to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."
She turned to leave, but the King of Chu's thin lips curved into a faint smile, his voice gentle, "It's a hot spring that costs five hundred taels a time, after all. Lord Feng, you've already come in, why don't you take off your clothes and soak to your heart's content before you leave?"
The man had deep-set eyes and dark vortexes in his gaze, as if you could be drawn into them if you weren't careful.
The probing between the two was palpable; they were practically about to ask each other directly.
Are you the Silver-Faced Venerable?
Are you my little niece?
However, despite their suspicions, the imperial court's political maneuvering would never allow them to speak so bluntly. After all, once the question was asked, there was no room for maneuver. Before finding concrete evidence, they would only engage in back-and-forth probing and speculation.
The hot spring was shrouded in mist, with pink lotus flowers and emerald leaves floating on the surface, creating a scene of ethereal beauty, like a fairyland. Feng Tan plucked a lotus flower, a smile playing on his lips, and replied calmly, "A lotus flower for a beautiful lady, may Your Highness enjoy your soak."
She took a few steps back, raised her eyelashes to look at a hidden spot in mid-air, and nodded slightly.
In an instant, a long sword pierced through the air, and Feng Tan shouted in disbelief, "Your Highness, be careful!"
King Chu, bewildered, stood motionless in the pool, allowing the masked Yu Ruxi to assassinate him from behind. Yu Ruxi had already pointed her sword at his heart, but King Chu still made no move. Yu Ruxi's mind sharpened, and she changed the direction of her sword tip inward, turning it to strike King Chu's head with the hilt. With a bang, she knocked King Chu unconscious.
Feng Tan and Yu Ruxi both widened their eyes; he showed no reaction to their probing...
The noise attracted the guards waiting at the door again. Yu Ruxi quickly turned around and flew away. Feng Tan held the unconscious Prince Chu and wailed, "Oh, Your Highness, I told you that soaking for too long and not eating is no good. Look, you've fainted naked like this."
He fainted naked... The head guard touched his nose. This man was certainly outspoken, his words were quite peculiar. He sent two guards to carry the King of Chu out of the pond, bowed, and took his leave.
Feng Tan was the only one left in the huge hot spring pool. She climbed out of the hot spring, soaking wet, found a servant to change her into dry clothes, and left Fangchun Hall under the cover of night.
Fangchun Hall is located on the banks of Longyue River. At the time of the garrison, there are few people around. The shimmering river reflects the calm figure of a young man walking slowly. Turning a corner, Yu Ruxi is waiting under a tree with his sword in his arms.
Yu Ruxi leaned against the tree and yawned. Seeing Feng Tan come out, she coughed lightly and asked, "How is it?"
Feng Tan shook her head, her eyes filled with doubt and confusion. "My intuition is that it's the King of Chu, but I have no evidence. It's very strange."
Yu Ruxi frowned and said, "When I tested him today, he was completely defenseless. In my opinion, it's unlikely that he is the King of Chu. The King of Chu is a notorious playboy in the capital. I've only heard that he indulges in debauchery and endless pleasures. I've never heard of him studying martial arts under any famous master."
This was exactly what puzzled Feng Tan. The two walked side by side to the Feng Grand Tutor's residence. Yu Ruxi stepped forward and knocked on the door, glancing back at Feng Tan.
Feng Tan, feeling apprehensive as he approached his hometown, slowly ascended the steps with Yu Ruxi's encouraging gaze. The old servant Bai Liang opened the door and, seeing a young man he didn't recognize, asked Yu Ruxi in sign language, "And who is this young master?"
Yu Ruxi smiled and introduced him, her voice clear and melodious, "Uncle Bai, this gentleman received help from the Grand Tutor in his early years, and he has come to pay his respects to the Grand Tutor tonight."
Yu Ruxi was someone Bai Liang had watched grow up, so he trusted the person she introduced. He opened the door and led the two of them to the mourning hall.
The mourning hall was completely white. Feng Tan kowtowed deeply before Grand Tutor Feng's memorial tablet, and tears that she had been holding back for a long time flowed down her cheeks. Yu Ruxi looked at her like this and couldn't help but have tears in her eyes as well.
When Grand Tutor Feng passed away, Feng Tan had already left the capital, and the two did not even get to see each other one last time. The Grand Tutor served the court his whole life, but he had no relatives by his side before he died. Of his two daughters, one was dead and the other was imprisoned. Of his two granddaughters, one was trapped in a brothel and the other was walking on the official road with a knife on her back.
Feng Tan bowed three times. Seeing this refined and gentle young man so sorrowful, Bai Liang was moved and asked Yu Ruxi, "Is this young man named Feng Tan?"
Yu Ruxi agreed, and Bai Liang's eyes widened. He took out a letter from his pocket, "Written by the Grand Tutor himself, instructing this old servant to personally deliver it to Lord Feng."
Feng Tanduan knelt on the prayer mat and slowly opened the envelope:
My child, seeing this letter is like seeing you in person.
My grandfather witnessed the rise and fall of three dynasties throughout his life, experiencing firsthand the hardships the nation faced and the suffering of its people. Officials either adhered to the doctrine of the mean, blending in with the crowd, or endured hardship for the sake of the country, pursuing their own ambitions. When I first entered officialdom, I strictly adhered to official precepts, spending half my life in busywork, achieving neither benefit nor harm to the people or the country, and failing to advance the aspirations of those with lofty ideals. However, my son is a brilliant and innovative genius, greatly benefiting industry, agriculture, and commerce. If Dahuang listens to his advice and utilizes his talents, the ambition to strengthen the nation will be within reach in no time. But currently, no one believes this, which is Dahuang's mistake.
My son is innocent, why is he imprisoned? I am heartbroken and hateful, yet powerless to change anything. I know that Yongle is on this trip and that overturning the verdict is as difficult as climbing to heaven. If we fail, I hope that Yongle will be safe and sound. Best wishes for a peaceful autumn and winter.
A century is but a dream. If I could be young again, I would soar like an eagle, roaming freely across the vast world.
Do not dwell on Yongle, do not linger.
Feng Hengdao
The first day of the first month of the seventeenth year of Chongming
A breeze blew through the room, lifting strands of Feng Tan's hair that fell beside her cheeks. She wiped away her tears with her sleeve and placed the letter in her hand on the candlelight.
The flame ignited the letter, turning all the secrets and unspoken words into dust. Yu Ruxi led Feng Tan out of the Feng residence and teased her, "How amazing! How come your grandfather, who is clearly blind, knew you were back the moment he saw you? Is this the power of bloodline?!"
Feng Tan looked back at the dilapidated gate of the Feng family, paused for a moment, and said, "Yes, how did he recognize it?"
Grand Tutor Feng has passed away, and this problem remains unsolved. Feng Tan walked on the deserted street, slowly exhaled, and said to Yu Ruxi, "Actually... Grandpa still has one regret."
Yu Ruxi became interested and asked, "What?"
Feng Tan said, "In the eyes of the world, my grandfather only married my grandmother and never took a concubine. But that's not true. My mother said that once when my grandfather was drunk, my grandmother's maidservant seduced him and gave birth to a daughter with him. My grandmother was kind-hearted and wanted to take the maidservant as a concubine, but later, the maidservant ran away and the daughter disappeared."
Yu Ruxi opened her eyes wide and said, "The Grand Tutor has lived a life of integrity and uprightness, yet his reputation has been tarnished by a mere maid!"
"This matter hasn't spread far, and very few people know about it," Feng Tan said, squinting at the road ahead with his hands behind his back. "Why are there so many Imperial Guards?"
Yu Ruxi followed her gaze and saw a man riding a horse in front of the street, followed by dozens of imperial guards on horseback.
As the man drew closer, Feng Tan recognized him clearly. It was Mu Long, the commander of the Imperial Guards, whom he had met just over a month ago. Mu Long tightened the reins in front of Feng Tan and called out loudly, "Lord Feng, where is Meng Henabul?!"
Feng Tan asked, "What business does the general have with my Uncle Meng?"
Mu Long dismounted and strode to Feng Tan, saying, "My sister, the princess, was beaten and seriously injured by the prince consort. The imperial physicians in the palace were helpless. The Noble Consort heard that Lord Feng's servant was a disciple of the Ghost Doctor Xia Rui, so she requested Meng He Nabuer to come to the palace immediately to treat her!"
Feng Tan paused for a moment, then said carefully, "My Uncle Meng is not from the Central Plains. He doesn't speak well and isn't good at handling people. I have to go with him."
Mu Long said, "Of course, then please mount your horse, Lord Feng, so that we can go quickly to pick up the person!"
Mu Long rode his horse at breakneck speed, taking Feng Tan to his residence and then Menghe Nabul to the palace in less than half an hour. The palace gates were wide open, allowing them to pass through easily, which showed how urgent the situation was.
The rules of the Dahuang Palace are strict; unless the princess is critically ill, no man is allowed to enter the inner palace. Feng Tan and his party passed through many palace gates and arrived at Jinrong Palace.
Upon seeing the arrival of the people, the eunuch on duty immediately went inside to report. Mu Qingling, the capable maidservant of Consort Su, jogged up to them, panting, and said, "Which one of you is Mr. Meng? Please come with me!"
Feng Tan glanced at Meng Henabul and nodded to him. Feng Tan was an outsider and could not enter the inner hall. He had already told Meng Henabul everything he needed to say on the way here. After watching him go in, he found a corner to sit down.
Feng Qinghuang came out of the palace and walked up to Feng Tan to tell him the whole story. "Since Gao Zhizhen's lower body was crippled, his temperament has changed drastically. He killed several concubines in his room to vent his anger. Sister Feng Dai mocked him and today said that she would recruit several male concubines into the mansion and would not waste her time on this rootless good-for-nothing. When Gao Zhizhen heard this, he was so angry that he beat someone in the palace, causing her to miscarry."
Feng Tan frowned slightly; this was not the same as their initial plan.
In the initial plan, Feng Tan was used as a pretext to cause Gao Zhizhen to be injured in his genitals. Then, under the name of Meng He Nabo, Gao Yu was lured to come to the door to ask for medicine. At this time, Feng Tan would use the false testimony of the woman's calamity case to blackmail Gao Yu into admitting in front of the court officials that the woman's calamity case was a misjudgment and to reopen the case.
Feng Tan looked at Feng Qinghuang, his suspicion undisguised, and said, "You never intended to use this plan from the beginning, but rather wanted to use the princess's death to stir up a court debate about imperial power, male power, and female power, right?"
“Yes, Ah Tan, you’re really smart,” Feng Qinghuang said, looking into Feng Tan’s eyes. “But admitting to the mistake in the female calamity case means the end of Gao Yu’s official career. My intuition tells me that even if we threaten him with our son, he won’t confess. No problem, we can make the Gao family cause even bigger trouble by seducing Gao Zhizhen and inciting him to kill Feng Dai’s sister! Feng Dai’s sister is a princess; she represents imperial power and women’s interests, while Gao Zhizhen is her husband, and he stands on the side of male supremacy!”
Feng Qinghuang laughed, her voice carrying a calm madness, "If you side with the imperial power, then you must be linked to the interests of women, which would prove that you are innocent! If you side with the male power, then you are tantamount to going against the imperial power and making all the civil and military officials argue and fight! Don't you think that's interesting, A-Tan?"
She looked at Feng Tan's face, her expression serious. "You're not ruthless enough, nor are you evil enough, so I will be."
The night was still and quiet. The main hall was magnificent and opulent. Palace maids carried basins of bloody water as they moved through the courtyard. Feng Tan and Feng Daijie stood in the shadows of the covered walkway, one standing and one sitting.
Feng Tan lowered his eyes, gazing at Feng Qinghuang's upturned face, his flickering gaze revealing Feng Qinghuang's inner turmoil.
Feng Tan leaned over and half-embraced her, sighed, and patted her back, saying, "Feng Tan doesn't hate Hu Shu, nor does she look down on him. Hu Shu did a good job. Sister Feng Dai indiscriminately killed palace maids, and Gao Zhizhen defiled virtuous women. They deserved their punishment. As for the debates in the court, leave them to me."
The palace was crowded and noisy. Feng Tan hugged her briefly and then separated. She glanced sideways and saw a moth fly into a spider web hidden among the branches of a tree under the corridor. She lowered her brows like a Bodhisattva, but her expression was cold. "The Gao family, be caught immediately."
Author's Note: Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 19:41:53 on August 6, 2024 and 21:04:26 on August 7, 2024!
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: 40 bottles for those who like brainy plots; 34 bottles for those who like Hsinchu King.
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