Xie Jue had already sent ssengers twice to urge him. If Fengyu was safe and sound, Xie Xun should return to the palace imdiately instead of lingering at the Feng Family Mansion. His willful stay left everyone hanging, and in the end, it was Fengyu who would take the bla. The military officials had grown accustod to his behavior, especially those from Ningzhou’s faction, but the civil officials were not as kind with their sharp tongues.
Nuanyang and Feiying didn’t dare to push him, so Ying Si was sent with a ssage: "Your Majesty, the Master says it’s ti for you to return to the palace. If you don’t leave soon, he will co and invite you personally."
Ying Si delivered this ssage from outside the courtyard, speaking in a calm yet audible tone in the dead of night. Every word was clear, and naturally, Fengyu could hear it too. She asked curiously, "What does Second Brother want from you?"
"Oh, nothing major. Likely just that the court officials haven’t yet dispersed their eting." Xie Xun spoke nonchalantly. After entering the city, he had already instructed everyone to head ho and defer discussions to the next day, but this group of people stubbornly insisted on gathering in the palace at such a late hour.
Fengyu’s eyes widened, "You entered the city but didn’t go to the palace?"
"Nuanyang said you were ill, and I was truly worried. Not being able to see you left uneasy. But since it’s nothing..."
"You should leave now!" Fengyu interrupted him and said seriously, "There’s an Imperial Physician watching over at ho. Everything is fine. I don’t want Second Brother to co personally and reprimand as well—quick, go!"
Xie Xun, "..."
The sweet words from just monts ago disappeared faster than a June storm. Now she was already shooing him away.
Xie Xun wanted to say more, but Fengyu had already lain down and pulled the quilt over herself. "Zhixu, see you tomorrow," she said.
Xie Xun flicked her lightly on the forehead, but Fengyu pretended to fall asleep. Helpless, he had no choice but to leave. Before departing, he called over Doctor Zhou and Zhang Lingzheng, instructing them to imdiately update him in case of any unexpected developnts.
Zhang Lingzheng, who no longer dared to argue with him, secretly grumbled in his heart: Even if we had ten tis the courage, we wouldn’t dare conceal anything from you!
Only after hearing Xie Xun’s footsteps gradually fade into the distance did Fengyu calm down. If she had known that a full court of officials was waiting, she wouldn’t have let Xie Xun stay. Although longing had made her ill, she really didn’t want to bear the label of a fem fatale bringing disaster.
Strangely enough, perhaps seeing Xie Xun had genuinely lifted her spirits. Fengyu’s persistent low fever began to subside, and by the next day, her strength returned. She even skipped her herbal dicine. Zhang Lingzheng muttered sothing about how the Emperor could cure all ailnts—the cold she had been battling with such severity for days now seed to vanish just after their eting. Even Doctor Zhou found it astonishing. It just went to show that when a person is in a joyful mood, both their body and mind relax, bringing a quick recovery.
Feng Changqing returned only at dawn. By the ti Xie Xun got back to the palace, it was already past the third watch. After the civil and military officials’ morning audience, a number of trivial matters were discussed, including plans by the Ministry of Rites for upcoming ceremonies. It was nearly daylight by the ti they wrapped up their discussions. As usual, the civil officials attended the morning court session, while the military officers who had participated in the expedition were granted three days of leave. Although Feng Changqing had stayed up all night, he remained full of energy. After freshening up and changing clothes, he ca to check on Fengyu. Confirming that she was well, he then returned to his quarters to rest. Fengyu wanted to ask about the previous night’s court matters, but before she had the chance, Feng Changqing had vanished from sight.
Fengyu thought to herself, as long as no one branded her as a fem fatale, that was enough.
This ti, the grand military victory had mostly stabilized the new dynasty. The only unpredictable factor was Marshal Fang. Marshal Fang’s arrival in the capital would lag behind the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry by a few days. When Fang Lingjun visited Fengyu, she looked apprehensive, worried that her father’s stubbornness might provoke a disaster for their entire family. To make matters worse, her mother’s forr status as a Princess of the previous dynasty made their family’s position all the more delicate.
Fengyu smiled gently and said, "Don’t worry. Even if the Marshal’s deanor is less than respectful or his words ungracious, he is an elder after all. Zhixu will let it go in one ear and out the other. He won’t take it to heart, and your family certainly won’t face any danger of annihilation."
No matter the reason, Xie Xun would never act against the Fang Family.
"I know that. Jiangnan being Father’s territory makes His Majesty wary, but...my father’s personality is just too obstinate." Fang Lingjun sighed. She didn’t even dare stay ho to listen to her mother and elder brother discuss the current situation. Her brother had sumd it up in one sentence: "The matter is settled. Father won’t bow willingly, but he’ll have no choice. And he can’t relinquish military authority—not right after the establishnt of the new dynasty. The optics would be terrible. He’d rather lay down his arms and retire to the countryside than imdiately submit."
"Handing over military power will have to wait a few more years. Or maybe he will go to guard Jiangnan—that’s another option," she continued.
"Stop worrying yourself needlessly," Fengyu said with a light chuckle. "Your brother is right. The matter is settled, and the Marshal has no alternatives. While I sense he may be unwilling to submit deep down, for the sake of Jiangnan’s garrison, he has no choice but to recognize Xie Xun. Otherwise, Jiangnan’s borders will remain unstable, and that wouldn’t be good for the people either. Han Ziqi has also co to Shangjing to discuss the situation in Sannan. Leave it for them to resolve. In the anti, we can just eat, drink, and wait for updates."
Fang Lingjun sighed again, "I’m just worried Father and my brother will fight again. Their opinions diverge, and now that my brother’s stance is clear, Father is bound to lose his temper. If that happens, their relationship will only worsen."
Ever since she overheard old rumors while in Jiangnan, Fang Lingjun had been haunted by a sense of unease, dreading any conflict between her father and brother.
Fengyu didn’t dare ddle in the Fang Family’s affairs and could only try to reassure Fang Lingjun to ease her mind.
Once Xie Xun returned to the palace, it beca nearly impossible for him to find ti to visit Fengyu again. The demands of governing were simply too imnse. While in Ningzhou, he only managed military matters, leaving administrative affairs to Xie Jue. Back in Shangjing, Xie Jue continued residing at the old Marquis Zhenbei Mansion and even brought Ruyi there, taking a ten-day break from all mundane duties and declining all visitors.
Xie Xun was desperate, practically begging his Second Brother to lend a hand, but Xie Jue retorted coldly, "You are the Emperor now. For to continue managing administrative affairs would be against propriety. Handle them yourself and stop pestering ."
Xie Xun had no choice, too intimidated to argue with his Second Brother and left to tackle the issues on his plate. During his midday break, he wrote a heartfelt letter to Fengyu, railing against his Second Brother’s refusal to aid him. He complained that Xie Jue was enjoying peace and quiet at ho, even bringing their lively companion, Ruyi, along. Xie Xun lanted that with Xie Jue’s return, even the Feng Mansion could no longer keep Ruyi, leaving him with no choice but to let Ruyi follow Xie Jue ho.
Xie Xun had suggested that Xie Jue and Ruyi co stay in the palace. After all, the palace was spacious enough. But Xie Jue simply rejected the idea, citing decorum as his reason.
Who would willingly live in this rigid, four-walled Imperial Palace, surrounded by towering palace walls?
It was utterly stifling.
Xie Jue may have enjoyed solitude, but that didn’t an he wished to be confined to the palace.
And so, Xie Xun found himself alone in the Imperial Palace, feeling utterly isolated. In his letter to Fengyu, he pitifully recounted his grievances about the trials of being an Emperor. He even asked her if she’d consider eloping with him, leaving Xie Jue to take the throne in his stead.
If that wasn’t feasible, then perhaps Ruyi could ascend the throne, and Second Brother could serve as the Regent King instead.
Reading between the lines, Fengyu could practically see Xie Xun’s resentnt as he wrote. She couldn’t help but laugh and feel both amused and exasperated. Once she had recovered slightly, she went to the palace to keep him company.
Otherwise, leaving him all alone in that vast, empty palace truly felt too pitiful!
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