At the largest restaurant in the royal city, in a private room long reserved by the Qin family, Ye Duan Fang wore a strange smile as he drank his tea, occasionally stealing glances at Feng Sui Ge, who wore an equally peculiar grin and seemed distracted. After a while, Qin Yu, who was in the dark about the situation, finally couldn’t help but cough and asked curiously, “Your Highness summoned Old Qin…”

Feng Sui Ge, as if awakening, exclaimed “Ah” and looked at Qin Yu. “Has Elder Qin obtained any new leads these past two days?” Qin Yu hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice to ask, “Has Your Highness recently received a secret letter from Jin Xiu?”

Feng Sui Ge was startled. “Yes, how did Elder Qin know?” Qin Yu pulled out a folded letter from his sleeve and handed it to Feng Sui Ge. “Is it this one?”

Feng Sui Ge’s expression changed after reading just a few lines, a chill running from his back to the top of his head. Seeing his poor complexion, Qin Yu sighed and explained, “On the day Your Highness and the Junior Consort had the incident, Steward Huang from your mansion came to me with this. He said he was going to seek refuge with distant relatives in the countryside and needed some travel money. I gave him some funds and kept this letter.”

As he spoke, Feng Sui Ge finished reading the last line and angrily threw the letter onto the table. He paced back and forth in the room like a caged beast, then suddenly stopped and said hatefully, “I thought it was strange that he went straight to the palace upon returning to Su Sha. So this is why!”

Ye Duan Fang picked up the letter and glanced at it, shaking his head. “He was clever to escape first… The maid who led the Junior Consort to the inn has also been found, but she was silenced. Her body was abandoned in an abandoned house in the back of the city. I believe that Madam Zhuang alone wouldn’t cause such a great disturbance. The real culprit to investigate should be the one hiding behind her…”

“Marquis!” Qin Yu called out softly, quickly stepping to the door to open it and look around before closing and bolting it. He said in a low voice, “Marquis, be careful of speaking carelessly…” “No,” Feng Sui Ge was surprisingly calm, stopping Qin Yu’s words. “Let him finish.”

“The events of the archery day puzzled me,” Ye Duan Fang continued. “If not for those two fire arrows, if not for Gu Yu sacrificing himself to protect the Junior Consort, I would have been beyond explanation. Why were there over a dozen men hidden in the already sealed forest? Although it was found that Madam Zhuang instructed her relatives to hire assassins, how did they bypass so many forest guards? If they were ambushed in advance, how did so many of them avoid the sweeping inspections of the imperial guards for three consecutive days?”

Feng Sui Ge looked at him coldly. “You mean there’s another mastermind behind this.” Ye Duan Fang looked back at him righteously and said clearly, “Doesn’t Your Highness think so too?”

Feng Sui Ge stared at him for a long while, then suddenly sighed deeply. “How could I not know all this? But I have too many concerns to consider. No matter how excessive they are, I can only try my best to concede. Although this is unfair to Yi Xiao, it’s all I can do. Now, the only hope is to receive the imperial edict from Jin Xiu’s Holy Emperor bestowing honors on Yi Xiao as soon as possible, so that those with ill intentions will be deterred and know to retreat…”

Feng Xi Yang had long been accustomed to taking a short nap after lunch each day. This day was no exception. She had just lain down for a while when she suddenly heard a knocking at the outer door. She was a bit displeased but still called out, “Whatever it is, wait until I wake up…” “Princess,” the maid’s timid voice came from outside the door, “The Holy Emperor has sent someone with gifts, requesting the Princess to receive them.”

Feng Xi Yang was somewhat surprised but quickly got up from her couch. After briefly tidying her appearance, she followed the maid to the front hall.

The impatient palace messenger immediately put on a fawning smile upon seeing Feng Xi Yang. “Princess, I wish you peace,” he said, then waved his hand. A line of small attendants holding gilt trays who had been standing behind him came forward one by one, like flowing water, to Xi Yang. They lifted the red silk covering their trays, allowing her to view the contents.

For each item, the messenger announced its name, “Gold-threaded phoenix hairpin… Dragon jade button… Emerald double flower earrings… Dragon and phoenix gold bracelet…” Seeing Xi Yang’s confusion, the messenger hurriedly stepped forward to explain, “His Majesty learned from the Empress Dowager that the Princess’s birthday is approaching. He specially ordered this servant to come in advance to offer congratulations and present these birthday gifts.”

Birthday. Xi Yang suddenly wanted to laugh out loud, yet also wanted to cover her face and weep.

Her birthday was also the death anniversary of her mother. During that time, her father always seemed particularly irritable, and the palace servants were extra cautious. Even laughter was almost extinct in the palace. So from childhood to adulthood, she had never celebrated her birthday. Therefore, she had almost forgotten her birthday.

Yes, it was her birthday. It will arrive tomorrow. But the one who remembered this day was not the one she wanted in her heart.

It was truly sad. She didn’t need a grand celebration. She only wanted Xia Jing Shi to spend a peaceful day with her.

At the Nine-turn Corridor, Xi Yang encountered Xia Jing Shi, who was hurrying along. She quickly went up to him, smiling, “Good morning, husband.” Xia Jing Shi hadn’t expected to meet her here. He was taken aback for a moment, simply replied “Morning,” and made to go around her.

“Husband,” Xi Yang instinctively grabbed his sleeve, looking up pleadingly, “Can you listen to Xi Yang for a moment? Just a moment.” Xia Jing Shi then stopped, quietly waiting for her to speak.

Xi Yang, with a slightly flushed face, implored, “Tomorrow is Xi Yang’s birthday, and also the death anniversary of Xi Yang’s mother… If your husband doesn’t have any important matters to attend to, could you accompany Xi Yang for a day, or even half a day would be fine.” Xia Jing Shi hesitated for a moment, then said simply, “I will have someone arrange a theater troupe for you later…”

“Husband—” Xi Yang said frustratedly, “I just want…” “I understand,” Xia Jing Shi interrupted her, “But I do have important matters to attend to.”

Just then, a military officer came running over excitedly. Seeing Feng Xi Yang present, his face immediately fell. He made a perfunctory bow, “Greetings, Princess,” and without waiting for Feng Xi Yang’s acknowledgment, straightened up and said to Xia Jing Shi with a smile, “Your Highness, the carriages and horses are ready, and everyone has arrived. I guessed you must have lost your way in Ming De Palace after being away for so long, so I came specially to escort you!”

Xia Jing Shi smiled gently, “You’re so anxious after just a slight delay. In the future, if we go to war again, I must send you all as scouts. I’ll have you lie in ambush in the weeds for three days and three nights, and see if you’re still so restless afterward.” The officer thumped his chest loudly, “With just one word from Your Highness, you could take this subject’s life on the spot. What’s lying in ambush for three days compared to that!”

As he spoke, he glanced at Feng Xi Yang. “Come to think of it, it’s been a long time since we’ve fought in a war, and my heart is truly itching for it. If we hadn’t negotiated peace, this subject would want to have a real fight with the Su Sha people on the battlefield again. It would be best if we could take down their royal city. The brothers who went with Your Highness to welcome the bride this time said…”

“What nonsense are you talking about,” Xia Jing Shi lightly rebuked, though his face showed no trace of blame. “If the two countries go to war again, it’s still the common people who will suffer. Alright, why are we talking about this? Let’s go quickly.” As he spoke, he nodded slightly to Feng Xi Yang and strode forward.

The officer grinned and responded, following behind while gesticulating animatedly, “Just before Your Highness arrived, the brothers were talking about His Majesty’s rewards for dealing with the Commander this time. Heh, everyone says Your Highness is loyal and righteous. Where in the world can you find a noble prince like Your Highness, personally supervising the construction of a mausoleum and erecting a monument for a subordinate’s late mother every day…”

Long after the two had disappeared, Feng Xi Yang still stood dazed on the Nine-turn Bridge.

So, it turns out that a broken heart does make a sound.