The birth of the Young Master of Prince Ding’s mansion spread across the realm with extraordinary fanfare in a short time. Moreover, Prince Ding decided to host a grand celebration for the Young Master’s first month, inviting nobles and prominent figures from all nations. Combined with the earlier rumors about the Imperial Seal and ancient treasures appearing in the northwest, countless people began flooding toward the Great Chu’s northwestern region.

At the Xu Mansion in the Chu Capital:

Xu Qingyan’s hands trembled as he held the letter, his expression showing both shock and joy. Xu Qingbai, sitting to the side, observed his second uncle’s barely contained excitement and asked curiously, “Second Uncle, is there news from Second Brother?”

Xu Qingyan passed the letter over, saying, “Li’er has given birth to a boy…” Having matured considerably during his time training abroad, Xu Qingbai maintained his composure, though joy still colored his expression. After carefully reading the letter handed over by Xu Hongyan, he smiled, “This is wonderful news. Grandfather will be overjoyed when he hears this.”

Xu Hongyan nodded repeatedly. After Li’er had gone missing following last year’s danger, his father’s health had deteriorated significantly. Only after receiving news of Li’er’s safety did he improve. Now that Li’er had safely delivered a son, his father would be ecstatic to become a great-grandfather.

The steward standing at the door observed the rare display of emotion from his master and Fourth Young Master, and reminded them, “Master, Fourth Young Master, the messenger who brought the letter is still waiting outside.” Though he too was delighted about Young Miss Li’er having a child, proper etiquette had to be maintained – they couldn’t leave the messenger waiting indefinitely.

Xu Hongyan finally came to his senses and nodded, “A generous reward… no, quickly invite the messenger in. I have some questions I’d like to ask.”

The steward acknowledged and hurried out to extend the invitation. Shortly after, a dressed young man entered and bowed to Xu Hongyan with a smile, “Master Xu, Fourth Young Master, it’s been a while.” Xu Hongyan started, watching as the young man raised his head to reveal a handsome face beneath slightly disheveled hair, and exclaimed in surprise, “Third Young Master Feng?”

The young man was indeed Feng Zhiyao, who should have been in the northwest. Before Xu Hongyan could offer him a seat, Feng Zhiyao had already slouched into a nearby chair, letting out a long sigh and complaining, “To get back before the news reached the capital, this young master wore out three fine horses along the way. I’m exhausted…” He had departed the day after the Young Master’s birth, taking only three days to reach the capital – the news of the Young Master’s birth was likely still en route.

Xu Hongyan stood dazed, staring at Feng Zhiyao in disbelief. It was Xu Qingbai who spoke up, “Third Young Master Feng, is there something besides the matter of cousin Li’er and our young nephew?” Feng Zhiyao’s mouth twitched, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace as he replied, “If there weren’t, would His Highness let me return to the capital to enjoy myself at this time?” Though truth be told, being in the capital might not be any easier than being in the northwest.

Xu Hongyan also recovered his senses and hurriedly asked upon hearing Feng Zhiyao’s words, “Has something happened?” Feng Zhiyao didn’t even wait for water, grabbing a pot of cold tea nearby and taking a direct swig before looking at Xu Hongyan and saying, “His Highness and Her Highness hope that Master Xu and Fourth Young Master will leave the capital with me and head northwest.”

Xu Hongyan’s expression grew stern. He and Xu Qingbai were the only members of the Xu clan remaining in the capital – in plain terms, they were hostages of the court. If they left without the Emperor’s permission, it would mark a complete break between the Xu family and the royal family. Seeing Xu Hongyan’s expression, Feng Zhiyao understood his difficulty and said gravely, “To be frank with Master Xu, the rift between Prince Ding’s mansion and the court is beyond repair. If Master Xu and Fourth Young Master remain in the capital, I fear it will not bode well for either of you.”

Xu Hongyan frowned, “Our leaving isn’t much of an issue – there are only our few family members in the capital. But the Xu clan has been in Yunzhou for centuries – if His Majesty wants to cause trouble, where can’t he find us?” Feng Zhiyao pulled out another letter and handed it over, “This is personally written by His Highness and Her Highness. I’ve already delivered an identical copy to Master Qingyun in Yunzhou. However, I couldn’t stay long in Yunzhou – Master Qingyun and Master Hongyu should have made their decision by now.”

Xu Hongyu accepted the letter with confusion and began reading it with furrowed brows. Soon his expression changed dramatically, anger erupting across his usually calm face. After a long while, he burst out, “Preposterous! How could such things… His Majesty…! This is truly…” He slammed the letter onto the table and stared at Feng Zhiyao, “Third Young Master Feng, is what’s written in the letter true?”

Feng Zhiyao smiled bitterly, “Does Master Xu think these are matters that could be casually fabricated?” Xu Hongyan fell silent. Each incident described in the letter was shocking – how could any of them be easily fabricated? Yet such matters were truly difficult to believe.

Xu Qingbai glanced at his enraged second uncle and quietly rose to walk to the desk, picking up the letter. Despite having steeled himself mentally, what he read still shocked him greatly. Had the royal family truly become so depraved? At the same time, the young Xu Qingbai felt overwhelming disappointment and anger toward both the person sitting on the dragon throne and the court.

Lowering his eyes, he carefully folded the letter and placed it back on the table. Xu Qingbai spoke softly, “Second Uncle… is it worth it for such…?” His father possessed a talent for governing yet could never take office, only able to teach at Lishan Academy. His second uncle, equally capable, had been confined to the position of Imperial Censor for over a decade, watching the court’s schemes and machinations. The five brothers had to suppress their talents and temperaments. But how long would such suppression last? Would it continue until their generation, or until the Xu family’s downfall? No wonder his eldest brother had refused to serve in court – he must have seen that such days would never end.

Xu Hongyan gritted his teeth in silence, but his tightly clenched fists revealed his tumultuous emotions. Prince Ding’s mansion shared the same ancestry as the royal family, and despite generations of devoted service to Great Chu until death, this was their fate – what more could be expected for the Xu family? In the Great Chu dynasty, the Xu family had no path left except to fade into obscurity.

Feng Zhiyao sat silently in his chair watching the two men before him. The Xu family wasn’t alone in feeling this chill – even someone like Feng Zhiyao couldn’t help but feel a heart full of cold fury and anger.

Xu Hongyan put away the letter and looked up at Feng Zhiyao, “Surely Third Young Master Feng has other matters to attend to in the capital. Please allow me two days to consider before giving you an answer.” Feng Zhiyao indeed had many other tasks to handle. He stood and nodded, “Of course. Master Xu can simply send word once you’ve decided. I’ll be staying in the capital for some time, so there’s no rush. I’ll take my leave now.”

As Feng Zhiyao turned to leave, Xu Hongyan frowned and called out, “Third Young Master Feng.” Feng Zhiyao turned back, “Does Master Xu have further instructions?”

Xu Hongyan sighed and said, “If convenient, the Third Young Master should visit the Feng family. This past year and more, Old Master Feng has come to the mansion several times asking about you. There should be no lasting grudges between father and son… Remember, one may wish to care for their parents, but they may not wait…” Feng Zhiyao hadn’t expected Xu Hongyan to bring up this matter and was taken aback. Hearing the phrase about parents not waiting, his expression changed and his smile turned bitter as he nodded, “Thank you for Master Xu’s reminder.” As a concubine’s son, he had never received his father’s attention from childhood. In his youth, he had nearly been driven from home for his wild and unruly nature. Before joining the military campaign last year, he had completely severed ties with his family – the Feng family had publicly declared they no longer had any connection to Feng Zhiyao. Now, where could he go to visit?

 Qingcheng House

Though it had changed owners and lead courtesans, Qingcheng House remained the capital’s most renowned entertainment establishment. However, Third Young Master Feng, once known throughout the realm for his romantic escapades, was no longer an honored guest and could only enter secretly through the back door. Pushing open a door to a secluded room deep in the corridor, someone was already waiting inside. Upon seeing Feng Zhiyao enter, the person looked up with a gentle smile and said, “Third Young Master Feng, seeing you in this state is truly… memorable.”

Third Young Master Feng had always been flamboyant – even on the battlefield, he wore striking red brocade robes. But now he wore ordinary cloth garments, and even his strikingly handsome features had been disguised to appear more ordinary. Feng Zhiyao let out a dissatisfied snort, looking at his plain clothes with distaste, and said, “This is why I hate doing these covert affairs – it’s so unglamorous.”

“You just visited the Xu mansion?” The young man was Cold Haoyu, the second young master of the Cold family and General Murong’s son-in-law. Cold Haoyu now managed all of Prince Ding’s enterprises and forces within Great Chu’s borders, and could only work behind the scenes rather than appear in public. Ironically, the capital’s two most famous young gentlemen had both vanished from public view, much to the disappointment of the city’s talented ladies and beauties.

Feng Zhiyao nodded, “Don’t worry about the Xu family. Master Xu and Fourth Young Master Xu are both clever people. What we need to do is more troublesome – how about the matter I asked you to investigate? Any news?”

Cold Haoyu shook his head helplessly, “Mo Jingqi is extremely suspicious by nature. No one knows the whereabouts of the Biluo Flower. I fear even his birth mother, the current Empress Dowager, doesn’t know.” Feng Zhiyao also sighed, “Never mind, the item must be somewhere in the palace. I refuse to believe we won’t find it even if we turn the entire palace upside down!” With Mo Jingqi’s personality, he wouldn’t keep such a treasure far from himself. After some thought, Feng Zhiyao said, “First let’s find the Founding Emperor’s last edict and settle Master Xu and Young Master Xu. If we still haven’t found the Biluo Flower by then, let others escort the Xu family and the items to the northwest while I stay behind to continue searching.”

Cold Haoyu raised his eyebrows, looking at him, “His Highness and Her Highness didn’t intend for you to stay in the capital. Besides, I won’t be leaving the capital recently so I can search – what do you need to stay for?” Feng Zhiyao glared at him angrily, “I’ll naturally report to His Highness and Her Highness. You have so many matters to handle – how long would it take you to find the Biluo Flower?” Cold Haoyu helplessly rubbed his nose – did he look like someone who couldn’t prioritize tasks?

Seeing Feng Zhiyao staring at him unblinkingly, Cold Haoyu sighed in defeat and waved his hand, “If His Highness and Her Highness agree then fine, I won’t interfere in your business.” Only then did Feng Zhiyao give a satisfied snort, grabbing the wine from the table and beginning to drink.

 Deep Night

Several shadows swiftly crossed the palace walls and entered the imperial palace. Since a month ago, security in the Chu Palace had become even stricter. Patrols of palace guards and eunuchs could be seen passing by frequently. But these posed no challenge to those intent on entering – the shadows moved like ghosts, avoiding the patrolling guards and heading deeper into the palace.

In the Empress’s palace, Empress Hua had changed out of her heavy, dignified daytime ornaments and formal wear, wearing only a light purple silk robe. Her beautiful hair was casually pinned up with a purple jade hairpin as she sat holding a book, lost in thought. Without the elaborate and gorgeous makeup, the Empress’s beautiful features had less imperial dignity and more gentleness and youth. She looked less like the mother of a nine-year-old child at just thirty, and more like a beautiful young woman barely in her early twenties.

A sudden breeze blew through the half-closed window, making the candlelight flicker. The Empress started and came to her senses, suddenly feeling something different in the hall. She whirled around to see a tall figure in black standing in a corner not far away, watching her. The Empress’s heart jumped, and she quickly called out, “Who’s there?!”

“It’s me.” The black-clothed figure stepped forward, his handsome phoenix eyes gazing at the purple-robed woman in the lamplight with complex emotions.

The strange yet somewhat familiar voice made the Empress pause. When she saw the black-clothed man’s true appearance, she was completely stunned. Frowning, she asked, “How did you get into the palace?” Then she remembered her earlier cry might attract guards and palace maids and hurriedly went to the window to close it.

“Don’t worry, no one will come,” said the black-clothed man – it was Third Young Master Feng, Feng Zhiyao.

The Empress relaxed and sighed softly as she looked at the young man whose black clothes made him appear even more handsome. She turned to pour tea, gestured to a chair, and said, “Sit and talk. Weren’t you in the northwest? How did you come back? And how did you get into the palace?” Feng Zhiyao looked at the blue and white teacup placed before him and said softly, “I came back on His Highness’s orders to handle some matters. I thought I’d visit you – am I not welcome?” The suddenly plaintive tone made the Empress pause before she smiled gently, “How could that be? I rarely get visits from people I knew before. In this palace, it’s always the same people coming and going.” Feng Zhiyao stared at her and asked, “Have you been well these years?”

The atmosphere in the hall grew heavy. The Empress smiled faintly, “As the nation’s Empress, mother of the realm, what could be wrong? Let’s not talk about that… It’s been many years since we last met.”

Feng Zhiyao said quietly, “Twelve years… eleven years and six months.”

The Empress’s smile became somewhat forced, “I didn’t expect you to remember so clearly.”

For a moment, both were silent. Feng Zhiyao carefully studied the woman before him. People said Su Meidie was the capital’s greatest beauty, but in Feng Zhiyao’s eyes, he had never thought Su Meidie particularly beautiful. To him, the most beautiful would always be that gentle girl who once helped up a nine-year-old boy who had been pushed down and beaten by his legitimate brothers. It was she who wiped the dirt from his face and told him with a smile that if he didn’t want to be bullied, he needed to become strong. It was she who secretly took him to Prince Ding’s mansion and asked Xiu Yao to teach him martial arts together. It was also she who secretly sent medicine and money when he fell ill with no one to care for him. From that time on, Feng Zhiyao’s eyes had only seen that gentle and noble lady. Unfortunately, the distance between them was simply too great. He was a merchant’s son by a concubine – even though the Feng family was one of Great Chu’s four great merchant families, they still couldn’t overcome the hierarchy of scholar, farmer, artisan, and merchant, with merchants being last. She was the most noble legitimate daughter of the Hua Duke’s mansion, and later became the primary consort personally chosen by the late emperor for Mo Jingqi, who was still a prince then. Between them, even their closest relationship was just him calling her “Elder Sister Feng.” Even this form of address, he refused to use after he turned thirteen.

The Empress felt somewhat uncomfortable under his stare. They truly hadn’t met for twelve years. The once young and delicate boy had grown into a strikingly handsome man – even in the palace, she had heard of Third Young Master Feng’s reputation in the capital. She still remembered that year, the night before her wedding when it was pouring rain, that boy had evaded the heavy guard of the Hua Duke’s mansion to reach her door, anxiously asking her, “Can you not marry Prince Qi?”

When she shook her head, the boy’s eyes, once as bright as stars, slowly lost their luster. At that time, she still didn’t understand the boy’s feelings, thinking he just couldn’t bear to part with an elder sister who had cared for and protected him. But watching the boy gives her a disappointed glance before leaving dejectedly, her heart felt inexplicably heavy and sour, and she couldn’t help but shed tears. By the time she understood the reason for the boy’s disappointment then, they had already grown far apart. She was Prince Qi’s primary consort and Great Chu’s Empress; he remained the Feng family’s Third Young Master, though now known throughout the capital for his romantic escapades. Perhaps never meeting again would have been best.

“Ah Yao, have you been well these years?” After a long while, the Empress finally broke the silence.

“Don’t call me Ah Yao!” Feng Zhiyao glared and growled softly. The Empress started, suddenly remembering that she used to call young Mo Xiu Yao “Ah Yao” as well. Though different characters, they sounded the same when spoken, so whenever she called him Ah Yao he would always throw a tantrum and act sulky. But since she couldn’t think of another way to address him, she had continued calling him that. Thinking of this, the Empress couldn’t help but smile. Feng Zhiyao had clearly also remembered his embarrassing younger days, and turned his face away stiffly. The dim lamplight in the hall made it impossible to tell if he was blushing.

The Empress stood up, smiling softly, “You’re all grown up now, still throwing childish tantrums? You wouldn’t have come to the palace so late just to see me – do you have some matter to discuss?”

Feng Zhiyao gazed at her beautiful features in the lamplight and suddenly said, “Leave this place with me!”