After receiving and securing the items, she smiled slightly: “There is still cleaning up to do here. Cousin, please go back and tend to your wounds. We will meet again soon.”
People came forward, intending to help Fu Lingchuan leave, as his wounds were not light. However, Fu Lingchuan brushed them off with a wave of his hand and turned to leave on his own.
His steps were unsteady and dejected, yet he refused others’ support. Victor and vanquished had been decided, but his remaining influence still commanded respect. The army silently parted, creating a path for him to pass through.
Feng Miaojun had already withdrawn the Marrow-Extracting effect of the Star Piercer, so despite Fu Lingchuan’s frightening wounds, with his constitution, he would recover in a few days.
Watching Fu Lingchuan’s retreating figure, Zhao Hongyin felt uneasy: “Your Majesty, are we just letting him go like this?” They had just fought a fierce battle, and now they were letting him leave so calmly. After all, Fu Lingchuan had numerous followers—what if he gathered his remaining supporters to rebel? Then…
“General Zhao worries too much,” Feng Miaojun smiled. “Fu Lingchuan will not rebel.”
To rebel, one must first have public support. He was no longer State Preceptor, no longer controlled the military, and once the charge of treason spread among the middle and upper nobility, how many would be willing to follow him in revolt?
Let’s not forget that Fu Lingchuan had wielded absolute power for too long, offending half the nobles in Wu Se’er and various aristocratic clans throughout the realm. Previously, when he held all power, everyone beneath him had to act according to his wishes. Now that he had lost his position and authority, wouldn’t everyone push over the fallen wall and eagerly trample it?
Not to mention his external enemies—even the King of Yan wanted him dead.
Beset by troubles from within and without.
Fu Lingchuan was wise and experienced. Once he calmed down, he would surely realize all this.
Feng Miaojun stepped forward.
The crowd parted like a tide. Nearby, specialists were tending to Hu Yanbei’s wounds. Seeing Feng Miaojun’s approach, he quickly rose to bow. Back when she first arrived in Jin Capital, he wouldn’t have given this almost eighteen-year-old Queen a second glance. But now, having witnessed her methods against Fu Lingchuan, spontaneous reverence grew in his heart.
True reverence does not stem from power alone.
Feng Miaojun stood before him and smiled slightly: “You, along with General Zhao and Chen Dachang, have rendered meritorious service in saving the monarch. Rewards are due.”
Hearing his name, Chen Dachang also came over and knelt alongside Zhao Hongyin and Hu Yanbei.
Feng Miaojun then announced their rewards.
There were both titles and material rewards.
The rewards for saving the monarch were naturally generous, consisting of silver, pearls, spirit stones, and silk. What truly moved everyone, however, was Feng Miaojun appointing Zhao Hongyin as Great General of Majestic Virtue, Hu Yanbei as Great General of Distant Pacification, and promoting Chen Dachang to Court Warden, assisting in managing the Palace Guard.
Zhao Hongyin and Hu Yanbei were renowned generals who had now performed great service. With such titles, they would subtly rise above others in the aristocratic clans, inspiring envy from other families. Chen Dachang had already been the Queen’s confidant; by taking this opportunity to promote him, Feng Miaojun would be able to sleep more peacefully at night. After examining Chen Dachang’s wounds and giving him medicinal pills, she confirmed there would be no lasting effects, putting her mind at ease.
As for State Minister Wang Yuan and the other two senior officials who had been injured and remained shaken, Feng Miaojun comforted them with gentle words, bestowed spiritual medicines, added rewards to calm their nerves, and implied her intention to promote younger members of their clans.
The three men were experienced officials. Having been summoned by the Queen to witness a great battle, experienced Fu Lingchuan’s plot to usurp the throne, and observed the transfer of royal authority, they understood the monarch’s intentions. When expressing gratitude, they reaffirmed their loyalty to the Queen.
Power had been taken, rewards had been bestowed, and the storm had passed.
The Queen waved her hand, and everyone was pleased. The army withdrew from White Horse Lake, and servants quickly emerged to clean up. The buildings had been smashed to pieces, and the green grounds outside were stained with blood—how could anyone live there?
The Queen relocated to another set of pavilions across the lake for a few days, until the palace was reorganized.
Now that Fu Lingchuan had fallen, not only did the original formations and divine arts in the palace need to be reset, but all palace personnel had to be replaced for the Queen to feel secure.
As everyone dispersed, White Horse Lake returned to its usual tranquility. Feng Miaojun was somewhat fatigued, but her gaze swept back and forth through the nearby green woods many times.
Her spiritual perception was now far superior to before. She sensed someone watching her from the thickets, their gaze fixed on her, but without malice.
Thinking about it, she probably knew who it was.
So he had never gone far, even after leaving in anger. Realizing this, a hint of warmth rose in Feng Miaojun’s heart. When she had put herself in danger earlier, she hadn’t been completely without support—she was at least sixty percent confident that Fu Lingchuan couldn’t subdue her. But knowing someone was watching over her, always concerned for her safety, that feeling… was quite nice.
At this moment, Xu Linghai walked up behind her and bowed.
“Come with me,” Feng Miaojun took one last look at the forest and walked back to the pavilion.
Xu Linghai followed her inside, but he didn’t stay long, emerging about an hour later.
After his departure, the doors of the pavilion closed and did not open again.
In the tree, Yun Ya waited for quite some time but never saw her appear again—she had even closed the windows, clearly indicating she didn’t want to see him.
Ungrateful girl! He had been watching all night, fearing Fu Lingchuan might succeed! Yun Ya clenched his fists until they cracked. When she had met with him earlier, giving him many sweet promises, was it all just to deal with Fu Lingchuan?
Now that Fu Lingchuan had fallen and she had seized military and political power, was she unwilling to continue flattering the State Preceptor of the Kingdom of Wei?
Fine, very well!
But after such a major incident, security forces had increased at least fivefold, so there was no need for him to test them now.
He glared once more at that distant window with hatred, then left.
Back in the pavilion, Feng Miaojun waved her hand: “Everyone leaves.”
The servants filed out, leaving no one behind.
With only two people left in the room, Feng Miaojun sent out her spiritual sense to scan the area several times, confirming there were no eavesdropping techniques or small creatures, before casually setting up a barrier.
Seeing her caution, Xu Linghai assumed she had important matters to discuss and his expression grew serious.
However, Feng Miaojun then retrieved hot water from a small red clay stove, sat at the table, and skillfully brewed a cup of tea.
The fragrance was ethereal and beautiful; smelling it after the battle gave an almost otherworldly feeling.
Then, she pushed the cup toward Xu Linghai: “This is Small Dragon Ball tea given to me by Prince Zhao Yun of Yan. Would you like to try it?”
Xu Linghai was flattered and repeatedly declined, saying he wouldn’t dare. However, Feng Miaojun’s smile carried such authority that he carefully picked up the cup and took a sip, immediately impressed: “Excellent tea!”
After just one sip, he set down the cup and spoke seriously: “Please give your instructions, Your Majesty.” The tea was good, but the Queen had summoned him for business; it would show poor judgment if he kept drinking.