“If it’s too difficult, don’t involve Susha,” the Empress Dowager leaned on her forehead, advising worriedly. “If things get out of control, it won’t benefit Jinxiu.”
The Holy Emperor paced a few steps and sighed, “I never imagined that a plan cultivated for so long would make me so hesitant and conflicted when implemented.”
“If you’re only wary of the troops under his command, you could find a suitable reason to revoke his military authority,” the Empress Dowager shook her head. “Why does Your Majesty insist on starting with Feng Xiyang and involving Fu Yixiao?” Hearing this, the Holy Emperor laughed coldly, “If the reason isn’t sufficient or if word gets out, with Xia Jingshi’s methods, it’s likely to cause a military rebellion in Jinxiu. And if he rises, Feng Xiyang will certainly use Susha’s troops to assist him.”
“So, we can only start from between them, defeating them one by one. I also want to personally witness his desperate look when he sees his cherished possessions destroyed, just like back then…” At this point, a gleam flashed in the Holy Emperor’s eyes and quickly disappeared. “None of them can escape!”
Feng Suige’s even breathing sounded beside the pillow. Yixiao squinted, watching the sky slowly brighten outside the window.
Feng Suige had arranged everything. By noon, Xueying would set out. Despite this, the vague sense of unease in Yixiao’s heart was gradually expanding. An irrepressible restlessness lingered in her mind, preventing her from falling asleep.
She had once told Xueying to remember what she looked like when she was happy, fearing that there would be no more joy in the days to come. Yet as time passed and she looked back, those days when she couldn’t smile seemed to have passed many years ago, as blurry as a previous life.
She had also thought that her memories of him would be like the withered yellow leaves swirling and falling in the garden, drifting to a sheltered corner, gradually buried deeper, until finally even their veins rotted and turned to soil inch by inch.
She never imagined that all the pain of partings and deaths she had experienced would not be washed away by time. Even if everything else had long since perished, it was easily dug up overnight by the sudden bad news, spread before her eyes. In her bewilderment, she could only let the slightly sour smell envelop her entire body.
It turns out that the pain of the soul is the most real and unforgettable feeling in life.
But, in the end, she learned to remain composed.
And similarly, she was exhausted in body and mind.
When Fu Yixiao and Ling Xueying arrived at the outer city gate, both sides of the road were already crowded with onlookers. In the center of the road, besides the long line of carriages and horses, there were also formations of soldiers. The spectacle was even grander than when Feng Xiyang left for her distant marriage.
Feng Suige strode over, smiling, “Everyone has arrived, and everything that needs to be prepared is ready. Do you want to check if anything is missing? I’ll have them bring it quickly.”
Exchanging a puzzled glance with Xueying, Yixiao pointed at the winding procession of carriages and asked, “What are all these carriages for? Even if Xueying used a different one each day, she couldn’t use them all before reaching Jinxiu.”
Feng Suige smiled and took her hand, walking forward while explaining, “The carriages at the back are filled with medicinal herbs for Xueying. The middle ones contain necessary utensils and provisions for the journey. There are also four physicians and ten female attendants…”
Xueying listened carefully beside them, then suddenly put her hands on her hips and said, “Excessive enthusiasm without reason is either treachery or theft. Feng Suige, what’s your ulterior motive for preparing so much for me?” Feng Suige laughed in surprise, “You’re quite clever. So tell me, what ulterior motive could I have?”
“I can see through this little trick easily,” Xueying rolled her eyes impatiently. “But I won’t help you. Don’t think you can say that even if you marry more consorts, you’ll still love Yixiao the most—I don’t believe it!” At these words, Yixiao’s gaze immediately fell on Feng Suige’s face.
Feng Suige’s smile froze halfway. He glanced awkwardly at Yixiao and gritted his teeth, speaking in a low voice, “If it were for that reason, I’d rather use my thoughts and efforts on Yixiao.”
“Is that so?” Xueying glared at him for a moment, then suddenly looked suspiciously at Yixiao’s flat abdomen. “Could it be that you want Yixiao and me to make a prenatal agreement…” Before Yixiao could react, Feng Suige was already laughing heartily, causing the surrounding soldiers to steal glances in their direction.
Finally containing his laughter, Feng Suige put his arm around Yixiao’s shoulders, beaming, “See, even Xueying is anxious for us. You should hurry up… Ouch!” Before he could finish, Yixiao elbowed him hard in the chest. He grimaced in pain, rubbing his chest and glaring, “In public, you don’t even give me a little face—if you injure me, who will accompany you to Jinxiu?”
This time, not only Yixiao but even Xueying widened her eyes in disbelief. Yixiao tilted her head, asking with extreme surprise and caution, “You mean… we’re going to Jinxiu too?”
“Yes,” Feng Suige pulled her into his embrace, speaking seriously, “As a princess, it’s only right for you to return to pay respects at the ancestral temple. Moreover, it wouldn’t be right if you didn’t go back to see your mother, would it?”
“You’re being too reckless,” Yixiao struggled to find her voice, trembling as she spoke, “You have so many daily affairs, how can you just leave them… Even if the old ministers agree, the Emperor, the Emperor might not agree. I don’t want you to do this for me…”
Feng Suige chuckled softly. He should have known that this woman, once she made a choice, would, like him, resolutely use all her strength to protect the other. “Father was displeased when he heard about this, but after all, he had no strong reasons to make difficulties or prevent it. Besides, after so many years in court, I have established a certain foundation. Being away for a month or so won’t affect much. You can rest assured.”
Yixiao lowered her head and asked softly, “Aren’t you worried that when I see His Highness…” Feng Suige interrupted her, his tone calm but sincere, “I’ve thought about it for a long time. If he’s in your heart, even thousands of mountains and rivers can’t erase the feelings between you. But I believe that the fact that you won’t fall in love with him again won’t change because of any meeting at any time.”
At this point, he grinned again, “Of course, I also know that you love me very much, so I’m doing you a favor. You know it in your heart, no need to be too grateful.”
Yixiao snorted with laughter, her eyes slightly red as she raised her hand as if to hit him. Her hand was raised high, her expression fierce, but when it fell on his chest, it was just a gentle touch.
Xueying stared for a while, then suddenly pouted and turned towards the carriage. As she walked, she said, “If you’re going to flirt, find a place without people—I’ll go to the carriage first, my feet are numb from standing.”