Feng Xiyang rested her chin on her fist, staring absently at herself in the mirror. She remembered the first time she saw him, inexplicably feeling a pain in her chest that made her whole body convulse. He sat on horseback, completely soulless, like a corpse emanating the stench of decay—two hours earlier, his younger brother had ascended to the throne of the Jinxiu Dynasty with a smile, while he knelt before the new emperor to accept the title of Duke of Zhennan.
Back in Shusha, unable to shake the image of those agonized eyes that seemed to consume one’s soul, she suddenly felt regret for both him and herself. If only the two countries were on good terms, or if they were just ordinary people, how wonderful that would be.
A few years passed, and she reached marriageable age. When her father asked her, she finally confessed that she would marry no one but Xia Jingshi. Her father lost his temper with her for the first time and stormed off.
Unexpectedly, months later, her father announced at court the decision to cease hostilities with the Jinxiu Dynasty and his intention to marry her to the Duke of Zhennan as a gesture of Shusha’s sincerity for peace. Upon hearing the news, she wept with joy.
Even when he didn’t arrive on the appointed day, she didn’t mind. She waited for four years, never questioning whether she should wait or when he would come. She stubbornly held on to her choice, finally welcoming his arrival with hope amidst near despair.
Though the city wall was high, she could see every change in him. His relaxed brows, calm eyes, and gentle lips, but his cool, ethereal aura isolated him from everything around him. He was there, yet seemed to exist in a world of his own. Perhaps there had once been turmoil, but not for her…
Suddenly, she felt a pat on her shoulder. Feng Xiyang instinctively looked up and exclaimed, “Father!” Feng Qishan smiled as he sat down beside her. “What were you thinking about so intently that you didn’t even notice me come in?”
Feng Xiyang blinked, her eyes regaining their usual lively sparkle. “I was thinking about which ceremonial robe to wear on my wedding day. Should it be bright red with gold embroidery, or black with red accents?”
Feng Qishan patted the back of her hand. “The bright red with gold is vibrant, while the black with red is dignified. Either one would do, but as long as my daughter is wearing it, it will undoubtedly be the most beautiful… Are you certain he’s the one you want, Xiyang?”
Feng Xiyang smiled brilliantly. “Father, don’t you think he’s good?”
Feng Qishan sighed softly. “I never doubt Xiyang’s judgment—it’s just that, after meeting him today, I feel it might be difficult for you to love such a man. Winning the favor of a man like that is already challenging. Even if he comes to like you, there may still be people or things more important to him than you…”
Feng Xiyang’s smile didn’t diminish as she confidently replied, “Father, he might consider many things more important than me, but I believe that no matter what danger we face, he would never abandon me… Don’t you think he’s bound to fall in love with me?”
Feng Qishan gazed at her for a long moment before finally revealing a satisfied smile. “Xiyang has grown up. You’re no longer the little girl who used to pester me for stories. If your mother knew, she could rest easy now.”
When the maid woke Yi Xiao to tell her that a messenger from the royal city had come to summon her, Yi Xiao wasn’t fully awake. Upon learning that King Feng Qishan wanted to see her alone, she slowly descended the tower. She saw the messenger standing at the bottom, hands tucked into his sleeves, pacing back and forth impatiently. Hearing footsteps, he immediately turned around, his eyes clearly expressing dissatisfaction. “Major Fu, you certainly take your time.”
Yi Xiao smiled slightly and bowed slightly. “And you certainly wield your authority, messenger.” The messenger was taken aback, then smiled stiffly. “I was just a bit hasty earlier. Please forgive me, Major Fu.” Inwardly, he regretted his rashness. He had heard much about this woman recently. Not only was she a fourth-rank military officer under the Duke of Zhennan of Jinxiu, personally summoned by the king, but the regent prince’s favor and affection for her meant that if she wanted to, a few words from her could make life very difficult for him.
Seeing the messenger’s face clouding over, Yi Xiao knew he was regretting his words. Not wanting to dwell on it, she nodded slightly. “Please lead the way, messenger.”
As they reached the gate, the sound of urgent hoofbeats approached from afar, followed by Feng Suige’s shout, “Wait!” Yi Xiao didn’t even raise an eyebrow, simply entering the carriage.
The stallion galloped up, and Feng Suige leaped off before it had fully stopped. He strode quickly to the carriage, yanked open the curtain, and angrily said to Yi Xiao, “I told you to wait! Didn’t you hear me?”
Yi Xiao ignored him and said to the messenger, “Weren’t you worried about being late? Why aren’t we moving yet?”
Hearing this, the messenger awkwardly said, “Your Highness, His Majesty has summoned Major Fu. We’ve already been delayed quite a bit. Please don’t make things difficult for your humble servant.”
Feng Suige gritted his teeth and threw his riding crop to the ground. He climbed into the carriage and barked, “What are you waiting for? Go!”
The carriage finally stopped, ending the suffocating silence of the journey. Yi Xiao avoided Feng Suige’s attempt to help her and leaped down from the carriage. She followed the messenger slowly up the long steps, taking in the place where the Shusha king was about to receive her.
It was a three-story high platform building with a two-story palace hall. Ten chambers of varying sizes were distributed on both sides of the hall, connected by corridors and ramps. The walls were adorned with colorful silk murals, and the corridor floors were paved with white jade carved with dragon and phoenix patterns. The atmosphere was majestic and opulent.
“This is Bi’an Palace,” Feng Suige said gruffly, noticing her looking around. “Xiyang’s mother used to live here.” Yi Xiao was somewhat puzzled. “This is the inner palace? Shouldn’t foreign officials be received in a dedicated side hall?” Seeing that he only grunted in response without further explanation, Yi Xiao didn’t press the matter.
Feng Suige harbored the same doubts. On the day Xia Jingshi entered the city, his father had summoned him to the palace that night to inquire about Yi Xiao. After he briefly explained the situation, his father showed no signs of blame, only instructing him to report promptly in the future if similar incidents occurred, whether or not Jinxiu’s schemes could be confirmed.
He thought the matter was settled, but earlier he had suddenly received word from the Shuihuiyuan guards that his father had sent someone to summon Yi Xiao. He hurriedly abandoned his affairs and rushed back, initially thinking that Xia Jingshi had grown impatient and personally asked his father for her return. Who would have thought that… He frowned deeply, casting a worried glance at Yi Xiao.
The messenger led Yi Xiao and Feng Suige to the garden in the rear courtyard of Bi’an Palace before stopping. He respectfully said, “His Majesty said that Major Fu could enter directly upon arrival. As for the prince…” He hesitated slightly, but Feng Suige was already looking at him sharply. He quickly added, “Of course, the same applies to Your Highness.”
Although he had already seen her on the city wall, when Feng Qishan saw Yi Xiao again, he couldn’t help but examine her once more. When he learned that Feng Suige had brought back a woman from Jinxiu upon his return and housed her in Shuihuiyuan, he knew his son had always been unrestrained and paid little attention. On the day the Duke of Zhennan entered the city, when Feng Suige brought her to an occasion only open to royal nobility, although it surprised him, if it weren’t for Xia Jingshi’s originally indifferent gaze suddenly igniting with intense passion upon seeing her, he might not have given her a second glance.
A poisonous flower—this was Feng Qishan’s first thought. And now this poisonous flower stood not far from him, with his son by her side.
Yi Xiao stood steadily under his gaze. Sitting in the stone pavilion, Feng Qishan was entirely different from her imagined Shusha king. Although his features closely resembled Feng Suige’s, their dispositions were strikingly different. While Feng Suige exuded a sharp, flamboyant air, Feng Qishan was gentle and reserved. If not for his piercing eyes, he wouldn’t have resembled a ruler at all.
“I’ve long known that the Duke of Zhennan of Jinxiu had a female general renowned for her archery,” Feng Qishan finally shifted his gaze. “Seeing you today, you are indeed extraordinary.”
He had expected Yi Xiao to offer a few humble words, but after several breaths, he still hadn’t heard her speak. Feng Qishan was somewhat surprised. Looking at Yi Xiao again, he saw her lips curved in a slight smile as if she had heard something amusing. Feng Qishan immediately frowned, but before he could speak, Feng Suige stepped forward to change the subject. “Father, what brought you to Bi’an Palace today?”
Feng Qishan raised an eyebrow. “With Xiyang’s wedding approaching, I came here to speak with her mother—You should be in the council hall at this hour. I don’t recall summoning you.” Seeing him at a loss for words, Feng Qishan continued calmly, “As the regent prince, if you cannot share in the hardships and leisures of your officials during peaceful times, who will stand by you in times of crisis?” His tone was soft but full of authority.
“Your son acknowledges his mistake and will return immediately,” Feng Suige reluctantly bowed and retreated to Yi Xiao’s side. He paused briefly and said quietly, “If Father becomes angry, just humble yourself and apologize. If not for yourself, think of the Duke of Zhennan.” Yi Xiao hesitated slightly before softly agreeing, and only then did Feng Suige bow his head and leave.