Atop the lookout tower, Master Garu’s robes fluttered as he chanted.
"Which demon dares to hide? Reveal your true form..."
No sooner had he spoken than a low plea ca from beneath the blue cloth.
"Spare us, great master. My sister and I are spirits born of wild grass. We have cultivated for many years and have never brought misfortune to the mortal world. We are kind spirits..."
With hands clasped together, the master said loudly, "You have deceived the Jin Empress Dowager, causing her to speak nonsense and fall from the high platform. How can you claim not to have brought misfortune to the mortal world?"
"We are wronged!" The grass spirit cried out in a high-pitched voice.
"The conference hall used to be a wasteland. My sister and I cultivated here for a thousand years, always wishing to transform into human form. Alas, as a residence was built on this very spot, we were trapped inside and could no longer leave the hall. Today, we saw that the Jin Empress Dowager was with joy, pregnant with a sacred child. We had hoped to take this opportunity to be reborn as humans. Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager tumbled down the wooden stairs herself, leading to the loss of the unborn child..."
Rumors of the miscarriage had already spread, but hearing it from the mouth of the "little demon" felt different.
Around the lookout tower, there was a stir.
The face of Jin’s envoy turned red, "Where did this demon co from, spouting nonsense and tarnishing the good na of the Empress Dowager..."
Master Garu, holding his staff, looked down at the blue cloth on the ground.
"Won’t you confess the truth?"
"Every word I say is true," said the voice of the little demon, sounding sowhat panicked, "My sister and I witnessed it ourselves. Please, master, discern the truth."
Another little demon began to cry out, "By revealing the truth, we little demons have done a good deed. Why won’t the master spare us? It can also be a fortunate opportunity..."
The blue cloth moved without wind, trembling constantly.
But to the discerning eye, it was obvious that no one could be hidden beneath the cloth.
Where was the voice coming from?
A chill wind swept through, and everyone on the scene held their breath and concentrated, daring not to speak further.
Master Garu’s face was solemn as he invoked a Buddhist chant.
"Out of the Buddha’s compassion, little demon, speak the whereabouts of the General’s wife, and you may go and seek your own salvation."
The news that Feng Yun had been taken away by an evil spirit had spread throughout the conference hall.
Ao Qi had just barged up to the lookout tower looking for soone, causing quite a commotion.
Upon Master Garu’s question, the place was imdiately hushed.
The voice of the little demon said, "The General’s wife is of a heavenly fate, not sothing we little demons can perceive. Besides us sisters here, there is also a big house demon. With his powerful magic, perhaps it was he who took her away, who knows..."
"Nonsense!" As silence enveloped the scene, a thunderous shout suddenly broke out.
Ao Qi rushed through the crowd, disregarding the Imperial Guards’ attempts to stop him, and leaped onto the wooden platform, yanking the blue cloth with force.
The blue cloth was removed.
Two wild grasses lay quietly on the wooden ground.
A stretch of green, brimming with life.
No one else.
Ao Qi’s face changed dramatically, and he abruptly turned to look at Master Garu.
"Tell , was this your doing?"
Master Garu twirled his fingers in a mantra, bringing his hands together in a salute to Ao Qi.
"When Ao benefactor lifted the cloth, the spiritual power was dispersed, freeing the trapped souls of the little demons. Now, it will be difficult for this old monk to bring them back for questioning..."
Ao Qi looked at the monk, his face gentle in his monk’s robes, and clenched his teeth tightly.
"Where is the demon?"
"Not outside the mortal realm."
"Where is Feng Shi Er Niang?"
"That requires seeking the will of heaven."
Ao Qi did not believe these words.
But on the quiet, empty high platform, aside from the demon, who else could have taken Feng Yun? Gazing at Master Garu’s stern and solemn face, Ao Qi’s clenched palm began to sweat, becoming slippery...
The show was over.
No one could be found in the conference hall.
Even the Tianzhu monk, due to the disruption of the ritual, could not determine Feng Yun’s whereabouts.
Li Sangruo, who had just experienced embarrassnt because of the little demon’s confession, showed a smile upon receiving the news.
"I knew this conference hall had an ill aura. Not only are there wild grass spirits, but also a big house demon. Now it’s finally quiet."
Tang Shaogong lowered his gaze, expressionless.
"Your highness can be at ease now."
Li Sangruo lay languidly on the soft couch, gently touching the faintly pained spot on her abdon.
"Do you think the General will believe what the little demon said?"
Tang Shaogong said, "Whether he believes it or not doesn’t change anything. The General will always protect your highness."
Certain words, when emphasized repeatedly and heard enough tis, beco believable. Tang Shaogong spoke with such certainty that Li Sangruo cheered up once more.
"Without Feng Shi Er Niang sowing discord, what kind of misunderstandings could there be between and the Great General? I just hope that the big house demon takes good care of her and does not let her co back to seduce n."
Tang Shaogong’s lips curled slightly, remaining silent.
-
At Zhu River’s ferry crossing, the boats stood quietly in the chilly wind.
Go!
Before the horse carriage even ca to a stop, Xiao Cheng impatiently pulled back the curtain for a quick look.
Gongsun Jiong rode closer to the carriage and said softly, "Your Majesty, your wife has been waiting for a long ti."
The ferry crossing was heavily guarded by the Qi army, each man sharp and armored, their gaze intense and spirited. Xiao Cheng walked through them, light-footed, his eyes exceptionally bright, as if afraid to disturb sothing. When he boarded the boat, he lifted his robe hem, each step solemn.
Feng Ying was in a carriage following close behind.
Arriving at about the sa ti was Lady Chen, accompanied by her two children, Feng Zhen and Feng Liang.
Throughout the journey, mother and children were very silent.
Having heard of Feng Yun’s disappearance in the council hall, they had already guessed what might have happened, yet nobody had spoken it aloud.
As the carriage stopped, Feng Ying hurriedly walked a few steps with the help of her maidservant, ready to follow Xiao Cheng onto that imperial boat, but a guard by the shore stopped her.
"Madam, please halt."
Feng Ying looked at the imperial boat quietly berthed on the water, her lips curving into a slight smile.
"Why can’t I board the boat?"
The guard was all seriousness, pointing towards another official boat moored to the right.
"The Emperor decrees that Madam must accompany Master Feng."
Under the veil, Feng Ying’s face was pale as death.
The imperial boat was for the Emperor to sit, while official boats were for his subjects.
If Xiao San saw her as his wife, she should be boarding that boat, not traveling with the Feng family.
Lady Chen approached, seized her icy hand, glanced at the imperial boat following Feng Ying’s gaze, and clenched her teeth with resolve.
"Aying, there’s no need for sorrow. Even if she sneaks back to Qi Country, what can she do? Without a proper position or the right words, can she really stir any trouble?"
Feng Ying’s gaze seed lost.
"Indeed, why did she co back? Was it not good being with General Pei? Did she not want her noble status as the wife of a first-ranked official? To return like this, unable to show her face, what’s the difference from a concubine?"
Lady Chen scoffed coldly, "She has been jealous of you since childhood. She’s coming back for no other reason than to covet the Emperor and to take your marriage for herself. Your mother has always said... your elder sister never ant well."
Feng Ying silently closed her eyes.
"Xiao Lang has no love for in his heart, and her return has nothing to do with that. I thought him naturally unfeeling, but I did not expect... his love was never ant for ."
Lady Chen was almost overco with anger at her hopeless attitude and was about to reprimand her when Feng Ying began to shed tears.
"Mother, I still insist on using that Golden Boudoir Guest... as long as it can please Xiao Lang, enduring so hardship is nothing."
Lady Chen opened her mouth, but seeing her piteous face, she sighed deeply.
"There’s no need to compete with her now, there will be ti."
Now that vixen has returned to Qi Country, aside from relying on the Feng family, she has no other way out.
Once in her grasp, whether she dies or just has her skin peeled, how could she compete with her daughter?
With this thought, Lady Chen felt slightly reassured, urged Ning Xiu to quickly help Feng Ying onto the official boat, and then stood by the shore, awaiting Feng Jingteng to arrive, scolding him fiercely.
"Your dear daughter has returned, are you satisfied now?"
-
Xiao Cheng strode into the cabin.
Ping’an and Jixiang, among others, noticed that the Emperor was not as composed as usual. Having served him for so long, this was the first ti they had seen him so agitated, in haste to et a woman.
The gauze curtains hung lightly, and a graceful figure was faintly discernible beneath the lamplight.
Watching her, Xiao Cheng’s voice grew hoarse.
"You may leave."
The palace attendants bowed their heads and withdrew at the command.
Only then did Xiao Cheng slowly step forward, his eyes blazing as he approached the delicate lady, letting out a sigh before he embraced her waist, pulling her into his chest. The long loneliness was swept away, and the ensuing satisfaction reddened his eyes.
"Ayun..."
He had fantasized countless tis about holding her like this, mont by mont, year after year. When her warm body actually fell into his arms, Xiao Cheng’s entire heart felt sore, and he couldn’t help tightening his hold.
"Finally, you have returned to my side..."
The delicate lady in his arms was stiff, snuggling against him, motionless.
Xiao Cheng’s fingers trembled slightly, and after a long mont, he lowered his head, his chin settling atop her head as he caressed her gently, before suddenly pausing.
Perhaps her compliance and silence roused his suspicion. He suddenly reached to turn her face toward his, and harshly grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up.
It was a ticulously made-up face, dressed in Feng Yun’s clothes, wearing the makeup Feng Yun favoured, adorned with her beloved huang flower. At a glance, she looked just like Feng Yun herself.
But how could Xiao Cheng ever mistake Feng Yun?
He pushed the delicate body away from his grasp and stepped back.
"Who are you?"
Daman slowly perford a kowtow, her cheeks blushing, "The servant sees the Emperor."
"Are you one of Ayun’s attendants?" Xiao Cheng rarely paid attention to Feng Yun’s servants, but he found this voice familiar.
Yet he could not recall the na.
He darkened his eyes, "Your face... why does it look so much like Ayun? Where is she?"
Daman smiled wryly to herself.
Next to Feng Yun, even the most stunning beauty paled in comparison.
It turned out that after so many encounters, Xiao Cheng had never noticed she was also quite beautiful and bore so resemblance to Feng Yun. With careful makeup, the likeness increased.
"Your Majesty," Daman shifted to the side, knelt before him, no longer raising the face that could win a lord’s favour, and spoke formally, "Madam says she is grateful for Your Majesty’s help and has nothing with which to repay it, so she has sent the servant to attend you."
Each word was like strong liquor pouring onto Xiao Cheng’s heart.
"Where is your mistress?"
Daman pulled an envelope from her sleeve.
"This is from Madam to Your Majesty. Madam said that all will be clear to Your Majesty upon reading it."
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