FID – Chapter 713

Chapter 713: Already Thrown to the Imperial Tomb

“Don’t make it sound like I’m indispensable to you.”

“Is it that I’m indispensable to you? Fine, is that better?”

This conversation sounded oddly off to Liu Yusheng, and she frowned, scrutinizing Duan Ting inch by inch. 

The cold look in her eyes made Duan Ting feel uncomfortable all over.

“Miss Liu, don’t misunderstand me, I have no ulterior motives towards His Highness.”

Liu Yusheng raised an eyebrow. Did he dare? Even if he did, he would be the one beneath!

Of course, such a thing was impossible.

The two men were completely unaware of the discord in the girl’s mind, and the conversation continued.

“The matter of the marriage alliance has been resolved. It’s likely that in a few months, Prince Yuan will marry a princess from Nanling…”

“We have princesses in Nanling?” Liu Yusheng asked, surprised.

“Yes, they’ve been abandoned in the imperial tomb for over a decade now. I don’t know how many are still alive.”

Liu Yusheng and Duan Ting both stared at him, speechless, “…”

“You sent them to guard the imperial tomb? After all, they’re your father’s bloodline—didn’t the court officials rebel?”

Feng Qingbai curled his lips, his smile cold and thin. “I didn’t send them; they ‘volunteered’ to pay their respects and guard the imperial tomb for the late emperor.”

Volunteered, my foot! 

Duan Ting sneered. As members of the royal family, who didn’t know the ins and outs of the situation?

If it weren’t for Feng Qingbai holding their lives in his hands, those pampered princesses would never have agreed to guard the imperial tomb and live a life more austere than that of nuns.

What a dream!

Liu Yusheng felt a slight headache coming on. If they hadn’t mentioned it today, as someone from Nanling, she wouldn’t even have known there were still several princesses left in the royal family.

She had overlooked it.

How could there possibly be no daughters under an emperor’s knee? Even the strongest of genes couldn’t produce a whole line of princes without any princesses.

It turns out the people had been thrown to the imperial tomb long ago.

And as the years passed, the people gradually forgot about it, which was why she had never heard anyone mention it.

Feng Qingbai certainly wouldn’t bring it up with her. After all, it was a side of him that he didn’t want her to see—the dark, ruthless side.

“The princesses sent to the imperial tomb clearly weren’t valued by the royal family. Even with the marriage alliance, Prince Yuan wouldn’t gain much, right?” she asked.

What use would a puppet with the title of princess be? Why would the Emperor still arrange a marriage alliance for Prince Yuan?

If he truly wanted to use this to gain power for Prince Yuan, it would be better to choose a noblewoman from a powerful family instead.

“Even if it’s just a puppet, she’s still a Nanling princess. By doing this, the entire court will know that he is favored by the emperor. Won’t the ministers rush to curry favor with him? That’s how connections are made,” Duan Ting hummed.

Liu Yusheng fell silent.

With the support of the Emperor, Prince Yuan’s succession to the throne was all but guaranteed. The officials, always quick to shift allegiances, would eagerly attach themselves to him, and once they did, they would become part of Prince Yuan’s power.

The power structures within the court were inherently fixed. As he rises, other princes will inevitably fall.

The weaker side has little chance of tripping up the stronger side.

The Emperor was indeed a master strategist. For that Eighth Prince, he had put in a lot of effort.

“In a few days, Prince Yuan should come to visit. You can have a nice chat with your Eighth Brother then,” Feng Qingbai said.

“You’ve invited him to my residence?”

“I said I’ve been quite idle recently, so I’m always ready for his invitation.”

“Then I’ll wait for my Eight Brother to come calling.” Duan Ting smiled, but there was a coldness hidden in his eyes.

Once the business talk was over, it was time for food, drink, and entertainment. Since Liu Yusheng was present, Duan Ting was quite well-behaved. He didn’t call for singing girls or dancers, instead instructing Zimei to bring out the best dishes and wine from the house.

“I just saw a few carriages parked at the courtyard gate. Are they all here for a meal?” Liu Yusheng asked.

“Yes,” Duan Ting replied. “This building runs a private dining business. The dishes combine Southern and Northern flavors, offering visitors something unique. Naturally, the prices aren’t low either. Initially, I set up this place not to make money but out of interest, as a quiet escape when I was feeling bored. Unexpectedly, the money it brings in is quite substantial, enough for me to indulge a bit.”

“Next time, bring Qian Wanjin along. He’d definitely be kindred spirits with you,” she said. Both were foodies, after all.

“Next time, let him come on his own,” Feng Qingbai said calmly.

Back home, he should give General Shi a heads-up and urge the Qian and Shi families to finalize the marriage quickly.

He couldn’t have someone popping up and ruining the mood from time to time.

His words left the other two in silent, awkward contemplation, lowering their heads as they quietly continued their meal.

One sentence was all it took to tip over the jar of jealousy. People like him are best left unprovoked.

The private dishes at this building were indeed quite excellent, and Liu Yusheng ate to her heart’s content. When the group finished their meal and stepped out of the residence, they unexpectedly ran into someone familiar at the courtyard gate.

Not far ahead, near a carriage, three people were tugging at each other. 

Among them, Liu Yusheng recognized two—Li Ruibai and Lu Xiangjun—along with a young man with handsome features and a gentle, refined demeanor.

“Miss Lu, I’ve already told you, Brother Huo and I are just ordinary friends. We merely arranged to meet here for a meal to discuss some business matters—nothing more,” Li Ruibai said with a frown as she stood in front of the carriage, facing the woman blocking her path.

“If it’s nothing more, why are the two of you here alone? The eldest son of the Li family is already in charge. If it’s about business, he should be the one discussing it. Or is it that after tasting the power of authority over the years, the ‘second’ young master of the Li family is unwilling to let go?” Lu Xiangjun emphasized the words ‘Second Young Master’ heavily, her tone laced with sarcasm.

Although Li Ruibai had been dressing as a man for many years, how many people didn’t know that she was actually a woman in the upper circles of the capital? That disguise might fool outsiders, but not the locals.

“Xiangjun, Ruibai and I really are here to discuss business matters, and it was I who invited her. Besides, whatever we’re discussing—whether we’re alone together or not—has nothing to do with you. What is the meaning of you blocking us here and making such a scene?” The young man pulled Li Ruibai slightly behind him and looked at Lu Xiangjun with a hint of anger in his eyes.

“You don’t know why I’m making such a scene? Really?” Lu Xiangjun sneered as she stared at him. “Huo Jing, our families are already in the middle of discussing our engagement. We’ll soon be betrothed. If my fiancé is out being affectionate with another woman, am I supposed to just turn a blind eye?”

“It’s true that our families are in talks, but I made it very clear to my elders from the start—I will not agree to this engagement. There is nothing between us!” The man’s expression turned cold as well. He took Li Ruibai’s hand and started leading her toward his carriage. “Ruibai, I’ll take you home first. I’m sorry you had to witness this today.”

“Huo Jing!” Lu Xiangjun glared at their backs, gritting her teeth. “Our engagement isn’t something you can refuse just by saying no! Your Huo family still needs my Lu family. Do you really want to treat me like this? You’d better think it through!”

Li Ruibai stopped walking, gently pulled her hand free from Huo Jing’s grasp, and glanced at him with a calm expression. “I’ll inform my grandfather and elder brother about what we discussed today when I return. Huo Jing, I can go back by myself. As for whatever’s going on between you and Miss Lu, you two should find a place to talk it out clearly. Don’t drag others into it.”