The Emperor was quite satisfied with Nan Feng’s attitude, but he did not show it on his face; instead, he maintained a faint demeanor, “Then go back and start preparing, you may set out in three days.”
Three days later.
Nan Feng and Xiaoqing were waiting with their bundles at the palace gates for the assembly.
While they were waiting, Consort Jiang arrived. This time, Consort Jiang could acpany the Emperor on his southern tour, and she was exceptionally thrilled about it. She had decided that she must attend to the Emperor diligently and strive to conceive the Dragon Seed when she returned.
As for Nan Feng?
Consort Jiang had actually discussed with the Dowager Empress very clearly that once the Emperor set out on his southern tour, they would settle scores with Nan Feng. But now, Consort Jiang had run into Nan Feng at the gateway.
Consort Jiang, dressed opulently and still wearing a white tiger fur shoulder cape in the moderately cold weather, was followed by four or five palace maids and eunuchs, while Nan Feng had only Xiaoqing.
Consort Jiang approached Nan Feng and glanced at her sidelong, “You wouldn’t happen to be thinking of acpanying His Majesty, would you? I’ve seen the list, and your name is not on it.”
Nan Feng understood that the Dowager Empress’s targeting of her definitely had something to do with Consort Jiang whispering in her ear.
“Oh, my name might not be on the list, I was added at the last minute, His Majesty notified me,” Nan Feng said with a smile.
“Notified at the last minute?” Consort Jiang was half-doubtful, half-believing.
“There might be some people who would want to take action against me halfway through the journey if they knew I was going. If I go unaware, then those people wouldn’t have the chance,” Nan Feng said, looking at Consort Jiang.
Consort Jiang snorted coldly, “People with dark hearts always feel like others are out to get them wherever they go.”
“People without dark hearts can grow Passion Fruit from any sprout they pick,” Nan Feng said with a chuckle.
“You…” Consort Jiang was furious.
“His Majesty has arrived,” Nan Feng pointed to a spot not too far away where the Emperor was sitting in the royal carriage, flanked by a dozen or so eunuchs and palace maids.
Suddenly, everyone knelt to the ground.
The journey was to be fully undertaken by carriage. The Emperor was in a grand carriage; Nan Feng enjoyed the same treatment as the consorts, riding in a medium-sized carriage, followed by a smaller carriage, and acpanied by three thousand elite soldiers on horseback, infantry, and others—it was a grand procession.
Nan Feng and Xiaoqing were sitting inside the carriage.
Although a medium-sized carriage, it was not small at all and was even more luxurious than some carriages she had ridden in the Provincial City before. It had a charcoal fire, which was not needed now due to the warm weather. The floor of the carriage was laid with thick carpet, the space was spacious, and one could even sleep on it if tired.
Nan Feng never treated Xiaoqing as an inferior person, so after they left the Capital City and when Xiaoqing appeared sleepy, they lay down to sleep together.
She did not know how long she had slept when the carriage suddenly stopped, and Nan Feng awoke.
Nan Feng, familiar with the travel itinerary, knew that the journey was supposed to continue without delay, except for designated rest stops; the carriage should not have stopped. She lifted the curtain to peek and saw they were still on the official road. Thinking it was rest time, Nan Feng asked Xiaoqing to go and fetch some water.
Behind the vehicle formation, there were special water carts and food carts.
However, Xiaoqing returned shortly, reporting that it was not a rest stop but that someone was suffering from motion sickness and was calling for a break.
That sick person was none other than Consort Jiang.
Nan Feng also stepped out of the carriage. Her vehicle was following behind Consort Jiang’s, and there was Consort Jiang beside a tree, violently vomiting, while her palace maid tended to her.
Consort Jiang looked in terrible shape, but upon turning her head and seeing Nan Feng, she glared at her.
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