Ning Fei muttered while glancing at Xia Jingshi, who stood by the door with his hands behind his back, “Why hasn’t he returned yet? Could it be that the Empress Dowager invited him for a meal?” He quickly reached for a piece of cold cake on the table. Just as he was about to put it in his mouth, he turned to see Xue Ying staring at him with wide eyes. He promptly changed direction and stuffed it into Xue Ying’s mouth instead.

Xue Ying chewed silently, gesturing to Ning Fei, who had successfully stolen a second piece of cake, to move the remaining pastries on the plate. Ning Fei had just moved two pieces when Xia Jingshi suddenly turned around and said, “Serve the meal!”

“Oh, I’m starving,” Ning Fei said, his hand, awkwardly suspended in mid-air, suddenly became animated. He grabbed two more pieces and put them in his mouth, mumbling as he walked out, “I’ll go to the front and call Wei Ran back…”

“No need,” Xia Jingshi stopped him, lifting his robe slightly as he sat down at the table. “Wei Ran went to wait at the palace gate earlier. Let’s eat first.”

Throughout the meal, Xia Jingshi seemed distracted and didn’t eat much before putting down his chopsticks. Xue Ying, while putting food into Ning Fei’s bowl, carefully stole glances at him. Finally, unable to contain herself, she whispered to Ning Fei, “Do you think His Highness is ill?”

“Ill?” Ning Fei looked at Xia Jingshi suspiciously. “I’ve never seen His Highness sick before.”

Xue Ying snorted, “With his temperament, he wouldn’t tell you if he was sick. Normally, you haven’t seen it.”

Ning Fei immediately protested, “You haven’t seen it either! Not only have you never seen His Highness sick, you’ve never even seen him injured. At least I’ve seen His Highness injured before.”

“But we’re talking about him being sick now!” Xue Ying retorted.

Seeing the two arguing with great enthusiasm, Xia Jingshi coughed lightly, “I…”

Xue Ying’s eyes immediately lit up, and she pointed at him, laughing, “See? He coughed!”

Xia Jingshi smiled helplessly, “You two, don’t you have anything better to do?”

Xue Ying and Ning Fei were stunned simultaneously and very tacitly closed their mouths and lowered their heads to continue eating. Ning Fei’s silver chopsticks scraped the empty bottom of the bowl with a squeaking sound. Xue Ying looked up and gave him a glare, then reached out with her chopsticks to add some food to his bowl, casually calling him an idiot, which earned her an indignant glare from Ning Fei.

Xia Jingshi smiled as he watched the bickering couple in front of him. “Since you two are so free, why don’t you make another trip to Xu Sha?”

“We just got back, why do we have to go again?” Ning Fei asked, confused. Almost simultaneously, Xue Ying slammed her chopsticks on the table, exclaiming, “I want to go!”

A fleeting look passed through Xia Jingshi’s eyes. “Prince Feng has written to ask me to request from the Holy Emperor a status that can protect Yi Xiao. Today, when I mentioned this to the Holy Emperor, he immediately promised to bestow upon Yi Xiao the title of Royal Princess. This way, in at most ten days, when the imperial edict is issued, an envoy will be sent to Xu Sha to deliver the state letter… Moreover, Yi Xiao probably has many things she needs to bring from Jin Xiu.”

He glanced at Xue Ying, “I’ve also inquired, and in a few days, the official kiln will produce a new batch of glazed hairpins. Her previous one was broken last time, so this time, bring a few new ones for her.”

Xue Ying hesitated slightly, “Yi Xiao’s mother’s death anniversary is approaching, and she asked me in her letter to go and pay respects on her behalf, but if it’s ten days later…”

“Now that Yi Xiao has received a title, her mother’s grave will also need to be renovated according to the regulations,” Xia Jingshi said gently. “So, the matter of paying respects, leave it to me. It won’t be delayed.”

“Alright,” Xue Ying immediately beamed with joy, “Then I’ll trouble Your Highness with this task!”

Watching Xue Ying chatting happily with Ning Fei about what to bring to Xu Sha, the smile on Xia Jingshi’s lips deepened. His hand unconsciously reached into his bosom, his fingertips lightly touching the narrow wooden box.

That azure glazed hairpin was the heirloom left to Yi Xiao by her mother on her deathbed. It had once passed through her hair, warmed by her. Now, the remaining half lay quietly in the wooden box, warmed by his body heat. In the intersection of time, their body temperatures intertwined.

She was always so stubborn as if no setback could lower her head. She was also like a blank sheet of paper, untainted by any dirt. He liked Yi Xiao’s bare-faced, clean appearance. Being able to make her happy, to protect her completely, made him happier than anyone else.

He had once thought he could calmly let her go, to be by another man’s side. From Xu Sha to Lu City, and then from Lu City to the Imperial City, the increasing distance only made him miss her more frantically. The tossing and turning of lovesickness had already turned into a blazing flame, almost burning him from the inside out…

Intoxicating to the point of drowning, yet heartbreaking to the point of despair.

Until now, only she could satisfy him, could fill his heart that had become as empty as a bottomless pit. But she was someone he couldn’t touch because he bore the mark of taboo…

“Your Highness,” Xiao Wei Ran’s calm voice came from the outer room, accompanied by hurried footsteps getting closer, interrupting Xia Jingshi’s thoughts. “The Empress Dowager sent a eunuch with a message that the Princess Consort will stay in Ci Yang Hall today and return to Ming De Palace after breakfast tomorrow…”

Fu Yi Xiao coldly faced the dressing mirror, carefully placing a gold-painted emerald on her forehead, symbolizing her status as a royal lady. Behind her, the maids bustled about nervously yet orderly, arranging her hairstyle and attire. The assailants who had attacked her at the martial arts competition had all been captured by the prince. Today was the first day of the joint trial by the four departments, and Feng Sui Ge would accompany her, allowing her to preside over the trial personally.

Fu Yi Xiao made a final inspection of her clothing and makeup, then closed her eyes briefly, a smile of determination curling at the corners of her lips.

Feng Qi Shan, although I come from a humble background and grew up in the military, completely ignorant of royal etiquette, I will make you understand that sometimes what seems to be a fatal weakness can become a tool for victory.

The victor becomes a king or marquis, the loser a bandit.

What I love is not the challenge itself, but what comes after the challenge – victory.

Feng Sui Ge sat in the large chair placed at the head of the hall, unusually restless. Yi Xiao, uncharacteristically half-leaning against him, was in full makeup and resplendent attire, looking more alluring than he had ever seen her before. It was as if she wasn’t here to interrogate serious criminals, but to attend a grand banquet.

During a lull in bringing in the prisoners, Feng Sui Ge spoke softly to Yi Xiao, “If it weren’t for Marquis Jian Xin suddenly appearing and injuring two of them, the investigation would have been much more difficult. I’ve questioned them preliminarily, but they still refuse to talk.”

Yi Xiao let out a crisp laugh, attracting the gaze of everyone in the hall. She leaned lazily against Feng Sui Ge, idly playing with her sleeve. “How could that be? You must not have used the right method.”

The elderly ministers from the four departments who were assisting in the trial all looked at Fu Yi Xiao disapprovingly. When the prince had proposed to let the junior consort preside over the trial, they had thought it would surely not pass the Emperor’s approval. Who knew the Emperor would agree readily? They had been wondering what kind of formidable character the junior consort was, but now she seemed no different from ordinary concubines. Perhaps this trial was just a pretense to placate the frightened junior consort.

Soon, all fourteen criminals were brought in. Yi Xiao sat up slightly, surveying the prisoners below with varying expressions. Her gaze flowed, all smiles. “Now that you’ve fallen into my hands, you should be prepared. The lives on my hands – a few more or less of you won’t make much difference. The Jinxiu army has ten major punishments, each capable of taking your life, but you each only have one life. So, confess and admit your guilt quickly!”

Hearing her threats, the elderly ministers from the four departments all chuckled secretly. The fourteen prisoners kneeling below also showed mocking expressions. One of them even sneered, “Oh my, I’m scared to death…” Immediately, all fourteen burst into laughter.

Yi Xiao didn’t show a hint of anger. Instead, she smiled even more pleasantly. “Since you’re so scared, let’s start with you. Bring up what I asked for.” As soon as she finished speaking, several maids walked up from the side, some carrying jars, some holding sacks, and some even carrying boxes made by carpenters. Seeing such an eerie setup, several people in the hall could no longer laugh.

Yi Xiao leaned back lazily against Feng Sui Ge and instructed the bewildered jailer beside her, “Knock out all his teeth and administer one hundred lashes.”

Everyone’s face changed, except for Feng Sui Ge’s. As the man was dragged to the back hall for punishment, screaming miserably, Yi Xiao smiled and gestured for the maids to hand everything over to the jailer. “Later, insert a long nail into the back of his neck to keep him awake at all times, so he can fully enjoy everything I’ve prepared.”

One of the elderly ministers hesitated, “Isn’t the Junior Consort’s action a bit excessive…”

“Excessive?” Yi Xiao sneered, “When Gu Yu died, why didn’t any of you stand up and say it was excessive? If I had died in the forest, I’m afraid none of you would have said a word about it being excessive.”

Feng Sui Ge frowned slightly and coldly ordered, “Do as the Junior Consort says!”