“I’m fine…” Yi Xiao was still a bit dazed, allowing him to hold her. “I thought it was the Emperor…”
Feng Suige’s jaw clenched a few times as if he were viciously chewing on something. He glared fiercely at the maid prostrating herself on the ground, too afraid to move. “Go to the steward’s office for punishment. Are you waiting for me to do it myself?” The maid’s face turned deathly pale, but she didn’t dare plead for mercy, silently kneeling as she backed out.
The guards who had entered with Feng Suige escorted the maid away. Feng Suige called one back, pointing at the bowl of medicine on the table and ordering, “Take this to the physician for examination. Report back as soon as possible.” The guard answered briefly and left with the medicine cup.
Only Feng Suige and Fu Yi Xiao remained in the room.
“I will thoroughly investigate all the servants in the household,” Feng Suige said softly. “This won’t happen again.” Yi Xiao sighed and pulled away from his embrace. “It’s alright, you came quickly.”
“You’re blaming me,” Feng Suige sighed as well. “I admit, putting you in such a dangerous situation was because I was too selfish. But I will truly do my utmost to protect you. You can try to trust me.”
“I do trust you,” Yi Xiao turned to look at him. “But shouldn’t you be more honest with me? How many people are waiting to deal with me? Or rather—is all of Su Sha waiting for me?”
“It’s not that bad,” Feng Suige smiled helplessly. “There are certainly neutral parties, and there are those who support you, like me, Old Qin, and Ju Yu…” Before he could finish, a maid rushed in with a panicked expression. “Junior Consort… ah!” Seeing Feng Suige, she cried out in surprise and quickly prostrated herself. “Long live the Prince!”
“What’s the rush?” Feng Suige frowned and rebuked, “How dare you barge into the Junior Consort’s chambers like this? You have no manners at all.” The maid swallowed and stammered, “Off-Officer Xing Ling and Ju Yu had a conflict at the front gate. When this servant came to report, he was ordering people to lock, lock Ju Yu away.”
“Who does he think he is, daring to arrest someone in the Prince’s residence!” Yi Xiao said angrily. “Why is Xing Ling here at the Prince’s residence? Is it because of me again?”
“Shh, don’t get angry yet,” Feng Suige soothed. “Ju Yu will be fine. Let’s go to the front gate and see.”
Ju Yu was in a standoff with a group of brocade-clad city guards. Scattered on the ground around them were several broken iron chains. Xing Ling, with a pale face, was hiding behind a sedan chair, shrieking, “This is true rebellion! A mere servant daring to assault an official!…”
Just as tensions were at their highest, laughter was heard from the side.
“Yi Xiao, are you cold?” Feng Suige asked with a light chuckle, gently poking her cheek. “You’ve got goosebumps.” Yi Xiao irritably swatted his hand away. “Hearing such a shrill cry, only a block of wood would not react.”
“Pri-Prince, Junior Consort,” Ju Yu, hearing their voices, left the crowd in the courtyard and ran towards the gate. “Ju Yu also, also got… chick…” He couldn’t finish the phrase, gaping stupidly at Fu Yi Xiao.
Yi Xiao cast an icy glance at Xing Ling, who had turned pale upon seeing Feng Suige, then gently instructed, “Bumps.” “Yes, goosebumps,” Ju Yu repeated vaguely, his face beaming with joy. “Ju Yu also gets goosebumps!”
“This subject greets the Prince and Junior Consort,” Xing Ling composed himself and came forward to bow. Feng Suige merely grunted in acknowledgment. “Why are you here, and how did you end up in conflict with Ju Yu?”
“Your Highness, this subject came on the Emperor’s orders to, uh, pay respects to the Junior Consort. But this gatekeeper stubbornly blocked the entrance and refused to let me in… This subject didn’t know the Prince was in residence and has disturbed you. It’s truly unforgivable…” Xing Ling mumbled with his head lowered.
Before Feng Suige could speak, Ju Yu had already begun shouting angrily, “He told Ju Yu to go in and call Junior Consort. He lied… lied… said Emperor… wanted to see Junior Consort…”
“Your Highness, please see, this lowly official never said such things,” Xing Ling interrupted Ju Yu, kneeling pitifully to bow. “It must be that this gatekeeper misunderstood this lowly official’s meaning!”
Ju Yu was already sweating profusely, his face flushed red, breathing heavily like a bellows, repeatedly muttering, “He lied… Ju Yu didn’t…”
“What’s this?” Feng Suige seemed not to have heard Xing Ling’s words and casually nudged the broken iron chains on the ground with his toe. “These seem to be the chains used by the city guard to restrain people.”
Xing Ling laughed awkwardly, “The Prince’s eye is indeed sharp.”
Seeing Feng Suige examine the chains, Ju Yu lowered his head like a child who had done something wrong. “Broke it, but, they used it on Ju Yu, not on purpose.” Feng Suige chuckled, “My gatekeeper has no other skills except for his iron-body kung fu. He should be unmatched in Su Sha. If Officer Xing wanted to chain him, you’d need to find some thicker ones.”
Fu Yi Xiao could no longer suppress her anger and said with a cold laugh, “Officer Xing certainly has forceful methods. If it were me, I’m afraid I would have been chained away by now.”
Xing Ling’s forehead was covered in cold sweat. He smiled sycophantically, “The Junior Consort is worth ten thousand gold. For this subject to lay a finger on you would be a capital offense. How could I dare use these chains…”
Yi Xiao snorted derisively, “Ten thousand gold? Don’t make me laugh. Everyone in the world knows that Fu Yi Xiao isn’t worth even a thousand gold. How did I suddenly become worth ten thousand? Officer Xing, you’re flattering me too much.”
“How could that be?” Feng Suige interjected with a smile. “Forget ten thousand gold, even if offered ten million gold for you, I wouldn’t be willing to part with you.”
Yi Xiao gave him a sidelong glance, not wanting to dwell on words any longer. She raised her voice and asked, “Does the Emperor wish to see me?” Xing Ling looked awkwardly at Feng Suige, then lowered his head and said, “Actually, it’s like this. The Emperor has been thinking of…” “Just answer yes or no,” Yi Xiao impatiently interrupted him. Xing Ling had no choice but to answer honestly, “Yes!”
“It’s time we paid our respects to Father King,” Feng Suige came forward to support Yi Xiao. “As it happens, I have state affairs to discuss with Father King. You may go back and report first. We need to change our clothes.”
Xing Ling reluctantly agreed and left, crestfallen.
“What does Sui Ge think?” Feng Qishan said coldly, keenly observing the young couple who had arrived hand in hand. He had heard early in the morning that Feng Suige had spent the night in Fu Yi Xiao’s chambers—if this continued, who could guarantee that the royal heir would still come from the direct line of Su Sha?
Feng Suige’s face showed difficulty. He stepped forward before Fu Yi Xiao could speak, “Father King, Yi Xiao has not been involved in military affairs for several years. I’m afraid she might disappoint Father King’s expectations.”
“How could that be?” Feng Qishan raised an eyebrow. “Those two arrows of Fu Yi Xiao are still fresh in my memory. Add to that the newly acquired legendary bow and I have great confidence in her—Fu Yi Xiao, what do you think?”
Yi Xiao calmly asked, “Is the Emperor asking Yi Xiao to train archers for Su Sha in preparation for future wars?”
Feng Qishan hadn’t expected this question from her. After pondering for a moment, he slowly said, “Now that you are a Prince’s secondary consort of Su Sha, you should prioritize Su Sha’s affairs. Over these years, Su Sha’s cavalry and infantry have been well-trained. The only lacking area is our archers…”
“If Yi Xiao remembers correctly, during the protracted war between Su Sha and Jin Xiu, Jin Xiu’s archers played a significant role throughout the conflict,” Yi Xiao raised her head slightly, her voice firm and clear. “Although I have married into Su Sha, my soul and flesh are from Jin Xiu. Yi Xiao will not do anything that might harm Jin Xiu. Therefore, I cannot agree to the Emperor’s request!”