The Prefect of Cangzhou was sentenced to immediate execution, not even waiting for autumn before his head was “chopped” off. It was said that on that day, blood splattered ten feet across at the execution ground, and the watching commoners all clapped and cheered.
Upon hearing this news, Feng Qin fainted dead away. He hadn’t even been bedridden for a few days when another imperial decree descended from His Majesty: The Eldest Prince, Feng Qin, was enfeoffed as the Prince of Duan and appointed Magistrate of Gaocheng County. He was to assume his post immediately without delay.
Meanwhile, the Second Prince, Feng Yu, who had always remained obscure, was also enfeoffed as the Prince of Jing in the same decree.
These successive edicts stirred up huge waves in the court. Everyone couldn’t help but speculate about His Majesty’s intentions: Was he so enraged by the Eldest Prince’s involvement in the Cangzhou Prefect case that he had decided to abandon this son?
When a tree falls, the monkeys scatter. The ministers who had previously flocked around the Eldest Prince now hastily distanced themselves. In contrast, Feng Yu, the newly enfeoffed Prince of Jing, began to step into the limelight. For a time, his residence became bustling with a constant stream of visitors and well-wishers.
Perhaps to wash away the bloody aura of these past days, it had been raining continuously since the Cangzhou Prefect’s execution. Zheng Xiangyi could only stay indoors with her palace maids, playing Leaf Cards to pass the time. After winning three games in a row, she sensed the maids were deliberately feeding her winning cards, and immediately lost all interest, tossing her hand down.
The maids, holding their cards, exchanged uneasy glances, not daring to say a word. Although the Junzhu had explicitly said not to yield, who would dare to actually make her lose? If she got angry from losing, wouldn’t they be the ones to suffer?
Just then, Mu Qin hurried in. Seeing she seemed to have something to say, Zheng Xiangyi called her closer to inquire.
Mu Qin said worriedly, “I heard Prince Duan has fallen ill. Consort Shu is kneeling outside, begging His Majesty to rescind the decree.”
“Kneeling outside in such heavy rain?” Zheng Xiangyi listened to the clamorous rain outside, sounding like rolling jade beads. Even sitting indoors, she felt a chill, let alone kneeling in the rain.
Mu Qin replied, “She’s already been kneeling for over an hour.”
“Oh.” Zheng Xiangyi’s gaze returned to the table, finding the messy Leaf Cards rather an eyesore. She waved her hand, instructing them to be cleared away.
Ruo Wei, since being brought back to the palace by her, had clearly become her second most trusted confidante after Mu Qin. Seeing her stop playing cards, Ruo Wei quickly brought forward the prepared hot tea for her to warm up.
Zheng Xiangyi took a sip of tea and asked, “Is Prince Duan truly ill?”
Feng Qin had been robust since childhood, growing up almost entirely free from illness or calamity. Could he really be bedridden from such a minor blow? He seemed even less resilient than her. At least in her previous life, after experiencing those events, she had dared to run to Feng Yu and give him a thorough scolding.
Mu Qin said, “That’s what the imperial physician said.”
A trace of disdain flickered in Zheng Xiangyi’s eyes. With such fragile spirit, how could Feng Qin aspire to inherit the throne? The difficulties His Majesty faced in his youth were far more challenging.
Consider Feng Qin’s circumstances: holding the title of Eldest Prince, with only one younger brother born to a low-ranking, unfavored mother. It was merely his maternal uncle who had dragged him down, and hadn’t His Majesty still granted him a princedom as consolation?
His Majesty, in his time, had ahead of him a son born to the highly favored Consort Zhuang of the previous emperor, and behind him, covetous imperial clan relatives. He fought his way out from under such arduous conditions.
Feng Qin truly did not take after his father.
After all, there was still the sentiment of their childhood friendship. Zheng Xiangyi said, “Send that Snow Lotus from the storeroom to Prince Duan.”
As for the rest, she didn’t intend to get involved. The Cangzhou Prefect deserved his death. If His Majesty were to truly spare him from execution because of Feng Qin’s pleas, then he would no longer be the Emperor she knew.
In the afternoon, the rain gradually subsided. Zheng Xiangyi had someone move the reclining chair next to the window, where she brewed tea while admiring the rain. The flowers in the courtyard were thoroughly drenched, scattered petals covering the ground. She couldn’t help but worry about the peony garden in Cuwei Garden, wondering if the flower-viewing banquet could still proceed.
It was then that the beaded curtain at the doorway was lifted, a tinkling sound of collision ringing out. Zheng Xiangyi turned her head and saw it was indeed His Majesty who had arrived. She didn’t rise from her chair, and His Majesty, showing no offense, walked towards her calmly.
He still carried a hint of moist humidity about him. His features were clear and bright, his lips thin and pale, like an elegant gentleman who had stepped out of an ink-wash landscape painting, with only a trace of coldness in his eyes. Yet, that chill immediately melted away when his gaze met hers.
The surrounding palace maids hurriedly rose to bow in greeting. Feng Jue casually waved his hand, indicating they were dismissed, and sat down by the window opposite her with a smile. “Watching the rain by the window. Xiangyi is in a pleasant mood today.”
Zheng Xiangyi gently waved her small fan. The sleeve slipped down, revealing a section of snow-white wrist. “It’s raining so heavily outside. Staying inside, there’s nothing else to do besides watching the rain.”
After Mu Qin served the tea, Zheng Xiangyi instructed her to take everyone and leave. Mu Qin knew she disliked being disturbed when with His Majesty, but for some reason, she hesitated today, stealing a few glances at her before pursing her lips and departing.
“I wonder how the flowers in my peony garden are faring.” With no one else around, Zheng Xiangyi naturally began to act coquettishly with him. “I still plan to hold the flower-viewing banquet. The invitations are already sent. What if the guests arrive only to see a few flower buds? Wouldn’t they laugh at me?”
Listening to her, a warmth gradually filled Feng Jue’s eyes. He always loved how unrestrained Xiangyi was with him, willing to tell him everything, even trivial, mundane matters. It could brighten his mood for the entire day.
“Who dares to laugh at this Zhen’s Junzhu? Forget mere buds, even if they saw a patch of weeds, they’d have to praise it a few times.”
Zheng Xiangyi smiled at him. His Majesty was usually gentle as jade, only occasionally revealing the emperor’s unyielding authority between his words. She liked both sides of His Majesty immensely. Thinking about it, the person she had become was likely much influenced by him.
Her delicate, pale fingers tugged gently at his sleeve. “Then, if someone dares to laugh at me, you must teach them a lesson for me.”
Feng Jue looked down at her fingers, his lips slowly curving into a smile. Xiangyi’s attitude of dependency and intimacy warmed him to the core, making him want to agree to any request she made.
“Fine, Zhen will teach them a lesson for you.”
Zheng Xiangyi almost blurted out, ‘Then first teach Feng Yu a lesson for me,’ but then she thought that Feng Yu had been quite well-behaved in this life so far, although his being enfeoffed as a prince did make her very unhappy.
In her previous life, Feng Qin was eventually enfeoffed as Prince Duan, while Feng Yu was never made a prince. Instead, in the 18th year of Jingyuan, he was directly appointed Crown Prince, and she was invested as Crown Princess Consort.
His Majesty paying attention to Feng Yu earlier now… she truly didn’t know if that was good or bad.
She rested her head gloomily against the windowsill, reaching out to catch the falling rain. The icy drops seeped into her palm, flowing through her fingers, impossible to grasp.
Feng Jue frowned, took her hand, and pulled it back. He took out a clean handkerchief and meticulously dried each of her fingers. Zheng Xiangyi remained motionless, letting him. After he finished and looked up, he said with a hint of helplessness, “Why reach out to catch the rain? What if you catch a chill?”
“If I catch a chill, there are imperial physicians, aren’t there? Besides, I’m not that delicate.” Zheng Xiangyi blinked her moist eyes and mumbled.
She was an active person and detested rainy days the most, being confined indoors with nowhere to go. If it were sunny, she could admire flowers in the garden, play a game of chuíwán (ancient golf), or gallop on horseback.
Hearing this, Feng Jue lifted his gaze. The smile gradually faded from his face as he silently watched her.
Zheng Xiangyi’s eyes shifted slightly, and she guiltily bit her lip. She knew all too well that this meant His Majesty was displeased, reverting to his teacher-like demeanor. He never scolded her harshly, but if she went too far, he would look at her with this heavy, pressuring gaze.
“I know I was wrong.” She immediately lowered her head obediently.
Only then did Feng Jue’s expression soften, and he released her hand. He usually enjoyed Xiangyi’s coquettish and willful ways, but occasionally she did overstep. As her elder, he couldn’t always indulge her reckless behavior.
“You are still young, so you should take even more care of your health. Otherwise, you will suffer for it in the future.” He said earnestly, patting her head.
Though Zheng Xiangyi felt perfectly healthy, she still complied meekly. She had always privately worried about His Majesty’s frail health and wanted to advise him to take good care of himself. If she didn’t take it seriously herself, how could she persuade His Majesty to do so?
She subtly changed the subject, asking softly, “I heard from Mu Qin that Eldest Brother is ill… Has Your Majesty visited him? Is his illness serious?”
Feng Jue’s tone cooled. “The imperial physician has seen him. It was said to be acute agitation affecting the heart. He’s out of danger now.” He never imagined that his decree to execute a corrupt official guilty of bending the law for personal gain could anger Feng Qin to the point of illness. His disappointment in this son was profound.
As a prince, even if Feng Qin had no future claim to the throne, he should have become a pillar of the state. At the very least, he could have lived a life of peace, wealth, and leisure. But what had he done? Appointing relatives and cronies, forming cliques for selfish gains, shielding guilty officials… each action chilled his heart.
In the end, this son did not take after him.
“How does he even have the face to be angry?” Zheng Xiangyi puffed up her cheeks indignantly. “You haven’t even held him accountable yet!”
Feng Jue reached out a finger and gently poked her puffed cheek. The soft flesh gave way, forming a little dimple. Xiangyi looked up in surprise, seemingly not expecting such a sudden action from him, appearing especially sweet and lovely.
A faint smile touched his eyes. “Is Xiangyi feeling indignant on Zhen’s behalf?”
“Of course!” she replied immediately, her voice full of conviction. “You are his father, the Emperor. Everything you do is naturally for his own good. If he can’t understand that himself, how can he turn around and resent you?”
As she spoke, her voice even held a hint of bitterness. “I… I would give anything to have a father like you. He, on the other hand, doesn’t appreciate the good fortune he has.”
Feng Jue couldn’t help but cover his mouth with his fist and chuckle softly. Seeing Xiangyi’s eyes gradually reddening, wearing an aggrieved expression that seemed to say, ‘How can you still laugh at me?’, he took a step forward and gently drew her into his embrace, patting her back soothingly as he coaxed:
“Silly Xiangyi, haven’t you long called Zhen ‘Father’? Zhen’s Xiangyi is naturally blessed as well.”
He truly did love her as a daughter. A subtle flutter stirred in Zheng Xiangyi’s heart. She rested quietly in his arms, her fingers unconsciously clutching his robe, remaining silent for a moment.
After a while, Feng Jue asked softly, “Then, does Xiangyi know why Zhen insisted Feng Qin take up his post in Gaocheng County?”
His Majesty often quizzed her on political matters like this. Zheng Xiangyi thought briefly and replied, “Gaocheng County was under the jurisdiction of the former Cangzhou Prefect. Your Majesty wants Eldest Brother to personally see the realities of the people’s livelihood there, to experience their hardships firsthand.”
Let him see with his own eyes the people who suffered under the corrupt official. Then see if he would still think his father’s punishment of the Cangzhou Prefect was too severe.
Feng Jue let out a light sigh, his gaze appreciative. “Indeed, only Xiangyi truly understands Zhen.”
In his life of ruling the world, he had always disdained worldly opinions. Officials, consorts, even his own children, all regarded him with fear. Only this girl in his arms truly and wholeheartedly relied on and trusted him.
Filled with affection, he lowered his head and gently kissed the crown of her hair—this was the girl he had raised himself, upon whom he had poured all his unspoken tenderness and favoritism.
Zheng Xiangyi, however, gave a soft, displeased hum. “So that’s why. I thought it was because I mentioned not wanting to be bothered by Eldest Brother anymore, so Your Majesty deliberately sent him far away.”
Feng Jue loosened his hold slightly, his fingers gently smoothing her hair back from her forehead, his voice deep and gentle. “And if Zhen said that was indeed part of his private thoughts?”
Zheng Xiangyi’s heart skipped a beat. She lifted her face to look at him. “Really?”
“Really.” His gaze was warm and soft, looking at her with a smile.
At that moment, Zheng Xiangyi felt as if the gloom of the past few days instantly dissipated. So what about Feng Qin? In the end, the one His Majesty favored most was still her!
As the two shared this tender moment, Mu Qin walked in, her expression hesitant as she reported, “Your Majesty, Eunuch Gui sent someone to report that Consort Shu fainted from kneeling outside… He asks for Your Majesty’s instructions on how to handle it.”
Zheng Xiangyi was taken aback upon hearing this, her eyes widening. Consort Shu Yao had been kneeling outside all this time? With such persistence, was she truly desperate out of love for her son, pleading with all her might, or was she trying to force His Majesty’s hand?
No discernible emotion showed on Feng Jue’s face. He only said mildly, “Send someone to escort her back. Since she has fainted, let her recuperate well. She is not to leave her chambers for three months.”
Mu Qin’s heart gave a slight jolt. His Majesty’s words clearly meant confining Consort Shu for three months.
After Mu Qin withdrew, Zheng Xiangyi stole a glance at His Majesty’s refined profile. In her memory, His Majesty had never shown the slightest partiality towards the consorts in the rear palace. In recent years, he had almost stopped visiting the inner chambers altogether.
He seemed to possess not a trace of warmth belonging to romantic love. Even towards his own children, he was always distant and cool. Even when smiling gently, his eyes held no desire or longing, like an immortal looking down upon the mortal world. Zheng Xiangyi sometimes wondered what exactly she possessed that earned her such different treatment from him.
But even though His Majesty doted on her, it was always the care of an elder for a junior. She remembered in her previous life, she had also shared moments of deep affection with Feng Yu. That face, sixty or seventy percent similar to His Majesty’s, was especially captivating when moved by love.
Then what about His Majesty? His Majesty, even more handsome and aloof than Feng Yu—what would he look like if he were truly moved by passion?