FID – Chapter 736

Chapter 736: Leave No One Behind!

The eunuchs at Yangxin Hall noticed the approaching procession from afar. When their gaze briefly landed on the leading man, their expressions changed, and they hurriedly ran off to report the news.

The King had returned to court!

Given his influence, there was no way he would easily let go of all the things the Empress Dowager had done during his absence.

What should they do now?

Hearing the report, the elderly woman who had been sitting calmly with her eyes closed, fingers gently turning a string of prayer beads, paused for a moment. Slowly, she opened her eyes, her gaze calm and composed.

“Open the hall doors. Prepare to welcome His Highness.”

The grand doors of Yangxin Hall swung open. Inside, the servants knelt on the ground to greet him with reverence.

The Empress Dowager remained seated at the head of the hall, her expression serene as she watched the figure approaching from the entrance.

Dressed in regal purple robes, he walked forward with a noble, imposing presence. 

A man whose very bearing exuded elegance and power.

That face had not changed much in the past five years. However, the facial features had become more defined, and the aura of dominance around him had grown even stronger.

Gone was the youthful immaturity; the man had become more composed, reserved, and his thoughts were now deeper and more profound.

Now, he could control the aura around him with ease, knowing exactly when to restrain and when to unleash it. His timing was flawless.

As Feng Qingbai entered the hall, he raised his eyes and looked at the elderly woman seated above. She was of the same age as the late Dowager Consort Liu, yet her hair had turned entirely silver. When her eyes met his, they were calm, without a ripple. She showed no sign of surprise at his arrival.

“I heard that Your Majesty has left the Yangxin Hall, so I especially come to visit as soon as I returned to court. Your Majesty, I hope you have been well.”

“Your Highness is very thoughtful. I am doing well.”

Feng Mohan who had initially not wanted to bow reluctantly greeted the Empress Dowager under Feng Qingbei’s stern gaze, “I also came to visit the Empress Dowager and pay my respects.”

If it weren’t for Nanling placing filial piety first, he would have told her to mind her own business!

The Empress Dowager nodded to the two men, “With the Emperor and the King’s presence, this Yangxin Hall has truly become more magnificent. Servants, bring tea and invite His Majesty and His Highness to sit.”

“Your Majesty is too kind. This visit is not only to pay my respects but also to inform Your Majesty of something. Recently, there have been many insubordinate servants in the palace. I don’t know if it’s because Your Majesty has been away from the palace affairs for too long, but these servants have become bold, taking advantage of Your Majesty’s busyness. They dare to deceive and act recklessly. If we don’t punish them severely, they will only become more daring in the future. Such servants cannot be tolerated in the palace.”

“Your Highness may deal with the servants as you see fit; there is no need to inform me,” the Empress Dowager replied. “My thoughts are focused on supporting the Emperor, and I truly have no time for such trivial matters.”

Feng Qingbai smiled, “With Your Majesty saying so, I can rest easy. Servants, bring them in!”

As soon as the words left his mouth, the Imperial Guards immediately brought in the group of soldiers who had previously been guarding Qiande Hall and forced them to kneel in the center of the hall.

“These dog-like servants took advantage of their status as royal guards and even dared to disregard the emperor! They imprisoned His Majesty in Qiande Hall and forbade him to leave for even a step! If I hadn’t returned today, I fear this confinement would have continued indefinitely. For this alone, these people have committed the grave crime of treason!”

“We are innocent! We were only following orders! Her Majesty feared that the Emperor, being young and inexperienced, might be deceived by treacherous officials, so she ordered us to guard Qiande Hall…” The leader of the guards immediately shouted his defense, attempting to explain when he heard he was to be sentenced to death.

However, before he could finish, Feng Qingbai interrupted.

“Ridiculous! Utterly absurd! Have you all forgotten who is the true master of the harem? For the master to go anywhere, must it be at the servants’ consent? This is unheard of!”

His stern rebuke left the men speechless.

The entire world belongs to the Emperor, let alone a mere palace. In this world, who dares to obstruct the Emperor’s path?

But these royal guards had done it.

The King’s insult of ‘servants’ was not just aimed at the royal guards, but also subtly pointed at the Empress Dowager, who sought to control the Emperor.

In the Emperor’s presence, even the Empress Dowager could not act as the master!

Everyone understood clearly. This was the King’s way of establishing authority for the Emperor. The factions of the Emperor and the King had already been positioned in the game against the Empress Dowager.

From the side seat, Feng Qingbei’s gaze was sharp and cold. “How dare you imprison the Emperor in his chambers, and then try to place the blame on Her Majesty—this is an unforgivable crime! They deserve death! Take them away and behead them immediately! Anyone involved in guarding Qiande Hall and imprisoning the Emperor, leave no one alive!”

With the return of the King, orders were issued, and no one dared to disobey.

The guards immediately took the two teams of imperial guards away.

Once the royal guards made the mistake of choosing the wrong target, they had no choice but to become corpses.

If they were left alive, it would be like raising a tiger.

Feng Mohan sat beside the man, his emotions stirring in waves.

Someone like his Imperial Uncle was the true embodiment of imperial authority—decisive in action, quick to strike!

In the future, he must grow into a man like him!

The imperial guards were beheaded with a single word from the King. The servants in and around Yangxin Hall fell completely silent, not daring to make a sound.

The King had specifically brought these people to Yangxin Hall to be dealt with in front of the Empress Dowager. It was clear that these people had been arranged by her. The King’s harsh retaliation was a slap in the face to Her Majesty!

She had arranged for these people to serve her, yet in the end, she couldn’t protect their lives—how disheartening!

In the future, before serving the Empress Dowager wholeheartedly, many people would likely first consider whether it was worth it.

“The King’s return has certainly stirred things up. I must be getting old, for I didn’t even know the Emperor was trapped in his palace and being mistreated. I am truly ashamed. In the future, I will be stricter with my subordinates,” the Empress Dowager said, gently stirring her tea with the lid.

“That’s good. The majesty of the Son of Heaven cannot be violated, and insolent servants cannot be tolerated,” Feng Qingbei responded, his long eyes shifting toward the eager young boy. “During this time, are there any other treacherous servants who have mistreated you? Since Her Majesty is here, let’s drag them out and deal with them as well. Her Majesty cares only for the country and the Emperor, and she will not allow the Emperor to suffer.”

Feng Mohan’s eyes lit up, and he immediately pointed in several directions within Yangxin Hall. “This one, this one, and that one! They have all mistreated me, and when they spoke to me, their eyes were practically at the top of their heads! They claim to be trusted by Her Majesty, and even I have to look at their faces!”

The three servants he pointed to were terrified, their faces drained of color, and they immediately fell to the ground, begging for mercy.

They had always disrespected the Emperor in their hearts, but they had never said that he had to look at their faces!

That was an absolutely false accusation!

Feng Mohan was adamant: it was them!

Every time the Empress Dowager went to Qiande Hall, these were the three who accompanied her. They would smile at the Empress Dowager with servility, but their eyes showed clear contempt and mockery when they looked at him. How dare they!

“Your Majesty, what do you think?” Feng Qingbai turned toward the elegantly sipping tea woman.

Her expression remained calm, as though the three servants Feng Mohan accused had nothing to do with her.

Only when Feng Qingbai asked for her opinion did she speak. “Since they dared to disrespect His Majesty, such servants cannot be kept. Come, drag them out and execute them with a beating.”