It seems like an old friend has come.
Upon hearing this, Tang Feng was initially shocked for a while, but then calmed down. Could it be that his suspicions were wrong, and Han Jiuhua really wasn't one of the Sixteen Riders of Yanshan? But according to his calculations... it should be her. All the clues pointed to her, whether it was his exposed whereabouts, Han Jiuhua's mysterious never-seen appearance, or... perhaps she was just a spy planted by the Sixteen Riders of Yanshan. Tang Feng was a bit troubled. He had finally made some breakthroughs; he didn't want to ruin everything. "Let me go to the Empress Dowager's place in a couple of days and then we'll talk about it. Maybe I'll get a good result." Zhang Mobai smiled as well. "If we really find some evidence or clues, then indeed, little brother, that arrow wasn't taken in vain."
Tang Feng waited less than two days before discussing with Zhou Ziliang his plan to meet the Empress Dowager. After all, he had been recuperating for so long, and it wouldn't do to keep putting it off. Originally, Tang Feng wanted to go alone, but this time Zhou Ziliang insisted on coming along. "Your injuries haven't fully healed yet. Your legs are weak after just a few steps. If you go in alone and collapse, who will save you?" Tang Feng was displeased upon hearing this and angrily snatched the handkerchief Zhou Ziliang offered, putting it in his pocket. "Yes, yes, I'm so frail. I'll have to trouble you, young marquis, to carry me out of the palace later." "If Xiao Feng is willing, I have no problem." Seeing Zhou Ziliang's words, Tang Feng felt completely unreasonable, snorted, and started to walk out. Zhou Ziliang quickly grabbed him. "Slow down, slow down. The Empress Dowager isn't in a hurry, why are you? You'll be out of breath again soon." Yes, Tang Feng had forgotten his own body, which was already quite weak. Unlike before, Tang Feng obediently slowed his pace and was helped into the carriage by Zhou Ziliang. Leaning against Zhou Ziliang, he couldn't help but smile as he listened to the noise of the bustling city. "Ziliang... I smell Liufuji. I want to eat Liufuji when we get back." Zhou Ziliang pulled the blanket up a bit more while agreeing, "Okay, okay, we'll buy it when we get back." As for Tang Feng's eating habits, Zhou Ziliang never stopped him as long as he didn't have any dietary restrictions. Before Tang Feng got sick, he had a good appetite, and Zhou Ziliang would naturally buy him whatever he wanted to eat. After he got sick, Tang Feng ate less, but it was still manageable. However, since his injury, he ate even less. Even when Madam Zhou cooked his favorite dishes, he would only eat a few bites, always making excuses for himself, saying that his wound hurt too much to eat. Now that Tang Feng was willing to eat, Zhou Ziliang was naturally very happy. Tang Feng, feeling sleepy from the swaying carriage, closed his eyes to rest and murmured, "Han Jiuhua... might not be one of the Sixteen Riders of Yanshan, and the Empress Dowager might not be the one trying to kill me. Ziliang, perhaps my suspicions were wrong from the start." "Rest if you're tired. Don't think about it now. I'll investigate Han Jiuhua for you." Zhou Ziliang noticed Tang Feng hadn't responded for a long time, and when he looked down, he saw Tang Feng had fallen asleep. Ever since Tang Feng was injured, he had become somewhat listless, often dozing off halfway through a conversation. As for investigating Han Jiuhua for Tang Feng, although Zhou Ziliang didn't say it aloud, he was still very concerned about it. He always suspected that Han Jiuhua wasn't as simple as she seemed. He knew from the beginning that the Sixteen Riders of Yanshan didn't use women. Although Tang Feng's initial suspicions were logical and well-founded, if it really was a woman, Zhou Ziliang would immediately dismiss Tang Feng's suspicions. But what if it wasn't a woman?
The coachman, who had been driving without saying a word, suddenly spoke up after overhearing Tang Feng and Zhou Ziliang's conversation about Han Jiuhua. "Young Marquis, were you and the young master talking about Han Jiuhua?" Compared to Tang Feng, Zhou Ziliang had never interacted with Han Jiuhua except for their fight. Hearing the coachman's question, he suddenly became interested. "You know her?"
"Look at what you're saying! How could a rough man like me possibly see the most beautiful courtesan in Qinghui Lane? Qinghui Lane isn't what it used to be. Back then, it was the most popular brothel on that street. When Han Jiuhua first became the most beautiful courtesan, I had her parade through the streets once. Although I couldn't see her face clearly, her figure was truly unforgettable." Hearing this, Zhou Ziliang leaned forward, lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, and asked, "When did she become the most beautiful courtesan?" "The thirteenth year of Qingyun. I remember that very clearly. My wife gave birth to my son that year." "The thirteenth year of Qingyun..." Since his family forced him into marriage, Zhou Ziliang had run away to the border and stopped caring about things in Xiling. Tang Feng had written him many letters, which he had returned one by one. However, Zhou Ziliang was very clear about one thing: Tang Feng fell from his horse that year, when he was sixteen years old.
Zhou Ziliang wanted to ask more questions, but then he heard Tang Feng start coughing. Thinking the carriage had caught a draft, Zhou Ziliang quickly lowered the curtain. Tang Feng coughed up blood, covering his mouth with a handkerchief, and leaned back against the carriage wall. Seeing the worried look in Zhou Ziliang's eyes, he reassured him, "Not used to it yet? I'm used to it. It's nothing, just an arrow to the chest. Everyone has their own fate. Besides, you can't expect me to still be a sixteen or seventeen-year-old kid going out and fooling around every day. I'm almost thirty." "I just don't want you to leave too soon," Wu said. He Zou was right. Even if Tang Feng didn't say anything, Zhou Ziliang would have noticed. The Marquis's mansion bought Tang Feng a lot of tonics, and Tang Feng drank every single one. Even if it wasn't for good, it was probably for no good either. Ever since Tang Feng was shot, he'd been like a landslide victim; all medicine seemed to sink without a trace. Tang Feng didn't respond to Zhou Ziliang's words. He knew he wouldn't live much longer, and he knew he would definitely die before Zhou Ziliang. He wasn't cold-blooded; he just didn't want to see Zhou Ziliang suffer while he was still alive. Tang Feng tugged at Zhou Ziliang's sleeve. "Don't think too much. Life is long."
Since Tang Feng uttered those eight words, the two hadn't spoken again until the coachman stopped the carriage. Zhou Ziliang then spoke, "Xiao Feng, get out of the carriage, we've arrived." Tang Feng was helped down from the carriage by Zhou Ziliang and looked at the vermilion palace gate, which was quietly open. Apart from two guards, no one was waiting for them. "Are we going to walk in ourselves?" Zhou Ziliang shook his head. "Miss Zizhu will lead us in. Until then, let's wait." After saying that, he helped Tang Feng pull his clothes up and took a clean handkerchief from his bosom and handed it to him. Actually, Tang Feng wasn't cold, but Li Yunyu's arrow was indeed powerful, making Tang Feng feel like his lungs were filled with cold air. He would cough without warning while talking, but Tang Feng didn't feel cold. "I have a feeling I'll likely encounter some people I don't want to see today," Tang Feng said. Before Zhou Ziliang could reply, Zizhu, a servant of the Empress Dowager, emerged from the palace. "Zizhu greets the young marquis and the Grand Tutor," she said. Tang Feng and Zhou Ziliang returned the greetings. Even though Tang Feng was unfamiliar with etiquette, he understood that Zizhu was a servant of the Empress Dowager, and proper courtesy was essential. After returning the greetings, Zizhu looked at Tang Feng and asked, "Grand Tutor, how are you feeling? The Empress Dowager has been very concerned about you." Although Tang Feng didn't understand why the Empress Dowager's attitude towards him was so unusual, he still nodded and said, "Much better. Thank you for your concern, Empress Dowager and Miss."
The Empress Dowager's residence, Yueyang Palace, was located in the very center of the inner palace. Several people walked through the long corridor of the Changsheng Hall and entered a secluded path. "Cough cough cough," Zizhu heard Tang Feng coughing ahead and couldn't help but turn around. "Grand Tutor, do you need to rest for a while?" Tang Feng leaned against the wall, caught his breath, and smiled. "I'm sorry, I might need to rest. Cough cough cough, I'll rest for a while." Zhou Ziliang gently helped Tang Feng catch his breath, then said to Zizhu, "Miss, how much longer?" "Soon, about half an incense stick's time. Just cross the path and turn left." The young girl looked at the end of the path, then at Tang Feng, a smile hidden in her eyes. "Grand Tutor, don't worry, the Empress Dowager should be very lenient with you." Tang Feng finally couldn't hide his doubts and asked, "Why do you say that, Miss?"
"Perhaps..." Zizhu tried hard to recall what the Empress Dowager had said that day, but couldn't quite recount the words clearly, so she said, "I'm not really sure, maybe it's just a connection." "A connection?" She had almost died lying in bed when the Empress Dowager came in to bring her medicine... A connection? It seemed unlikely no matter how she looked at it, but Tang Feng didn't press Zizhu. After Tang Feng had rested, he continued walking towards Yueyang Palace.
Compared to the Hall of Longevity, the Moonlit Palace was more peaceful and less bustling. Even before entering, one could hear the gentle sounds of string and wind instruments. Zizhu stood outside the door and softly reported, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, I have brought Grand Tutor Tang and the young Marquis here." The group waited outside for a while before a frail voice slowly rang out, "Come in." Tang Feng followed Zizhu into the Moonlit Palace and saw an old woman reclining on a soft couch, with two palace maids standing beside her. An incense burner sat nearby, its smoke swirling around them. Upon seeing Tang Feng, she beckoned him in. Tang Feng and Zhou Ziliang knelt down and quickly bowed. "No need for formalities. You are different from others." Tang Feng and Zhou Ziliang exchanged a puzzled look but did not rise. "Your father, when he was young, often came to my house to play with the Emperor. Back then..." "She's just a princess consort of the Prince of Yan's mansion. Wu Hai is vain and skilled in martial arts, so whenever they invite him to dinner, he always escapes by climbing over the wall, and no one can catch him. Zhao Nan always has a stern face when speaking to anyone and is very particular about etiquette, so they can always persuade him to stay. Ruo Ming is a particularly clever child, and he speaks with great control. The old prince has always liked him very much." Afterwards, the Empress Dowager was helped up by the palace maids and waved to Tang Feng and the others again. "When they were in the Prince's mansion, they called me 'Auntie.' So, disregarding my status, you should also call me 'Grandmother.' So now... you can come over, right?" Tang Feng hadn't expected that his father had such a past with the Empress Dowager. He lowered his guard, exchanged a glance with Zhou Ziliang, and then walked forward. He lifted his robe and knelt down again in front of the Empress Dowager's bed. "How old is Xiao Feng this year?"
"Twenty-six years old this year"
"Twenty-six..." The Empress Dowager suddenly seemed a little dazed. Tang Feng and Zhou Ziliang kneeling below looked remarkably like those two people. "They look so alike." Tang Feng didn't quite understand what the Empress Dowager meant, and tilted his head, tentatively calling out softly, "Your Majesty...?" "Nothing, I was just thinking about someone from back then who may have passed away long ago." The Empress Dowager helped Tang Feng up and gestured for him to sit beside her. She then had a palace maid bring a stool for Zhou Ziliang. "Your injuries haven't healed yet. Come, sit down. Let me take a good look at you. I'm old, and my eyesight isn't what it used to be." Tang Feng obediently sat down, then asked softly, "Perhaps already passed away? What do you mean?" The Empress Dowager... After a moment of silence, she smiled and said, "No one knows if he's still alive. You may have heard of the emperor and empress living in perfect harmony, a picture of marital bliss." Tang Feng nodded, a flicker of doubt crossing his mind. Before he could speak, the Empress Dowager continued, "Unlike you, back then, men were forbidden from marrying each other; it was against ethics. So I didn't agree. But I must acknowledge his contributions to Yan Yun, so I betrothed his sister to the emperor as empress. Now, thinking back, I feel both regret and no regret. As a mother and elder, I feel sorry for that child, but as the Empress Dowager, I haven't done anything wrong."
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