FID – Chapter 770

Chapter 770: Who Did You Learn That From?

Liu Yusheng was stunned by the phrase ‘From all directions, they come to offer their congratulations.’

She took quite some time to regain her senses.

“Does Your Highness not know how famous His Highness is in the surrounding countries?” Li Ruibai’s smile stiffened slightly.

“He’s a prince, not a general renowned for fighting on the front lines,” Liu Yusheng said, still confused.

From what she knew, Feng Qingbai rarely went on diplomatic missions over the years.

So how did he manage to dominate the surrounding areas?

Li Ruibai rubbed her temples, unsure of what to say.

The princess didn’t understand, and she wondered what the Nanling King would think about that.

She had to explain it to Miss Liu, or it would be a laughingstock in the future.

“A general who earns fame on the battlefield is certainly well-regarded, but that fame is built on killing. His Highness, however, is a strategist. He was granted the title of Prince Regent at the age of twelve, helped the young monarch secure the throne, eliminated threats, removed the Dowager Consort, and defeated the prime ministers. With the strength of a single person, he holds half of the country. He plans from the shadows and wins from a thousand miles away. People fear him and revere him far more than they do a warrior. His Highness is that kind of person.”

A strategist commands warriors, but a warrior can never surpass a strategist.

The King held a position in Nanling far higher than the Emperor.

But no one dared to speak this out loud.

Furthermore, Nanling was a powerful country. 

In the past, there was internal strife that served as a restraint on the King. However, since the fall of Dowager Consort Liu and Prime Minister Zuo, no one in the Nanling Kingdom could challenge his power. Wouldn’t all the countries take this opportunity to form alliances?

It was a way to add flowers to the brocade, showing goodwill, and perhaps reducing potential risks for their own country. Why not?

Thus, this grand ceremony saw congratulations coming from all directions.

This was a spectacle that even the coronation of the Emperor of Nanling didn’t have.

And this also foreshadowed that Nanling would continue to rise higher.

Reaching the peak of powerful nations was only a matter of time.

As Liu Yusheng listened to Li Ruibai’s explanation, she scratched her nose awkwardly, suddenly remembering the promise the man had made.

One day, there would be congratulations from all corners.

He had done it.

And he did it quietly.

If it weren’t for Li Ruibai informing her, she would never have known that their marriage was a grand event in Nanling.

From afar, the lively hustle and bustle from the front courtyard could be heard even in the room, making it easy to imagine the scene on the other side.

“Aside from Beicang, those who came to congratulate include the neighboring powerful nations like Dongyue, Xiliang, and the Yue Court, as well as smaller nations. The Nanling post station is completely full.” 

Fortunately, their family had business dealings with the Qian family. With the protection of Elder Master Qian, they were able to secure a guesthouse in the capital for her and Prince Ting’s entourage. Otherwise, they would have had to squeeze into an inn.

And when she said squeeze, it was not an exaggeration at all.

Because even the inns were completely full.

Since the news of the King’s wedding spread, wealthy merchants and influential figures from all over Nanling rushed to the capital. Even if they couldn’t attend the wedding banquet at the King’s Manor, they still wanted to witness this grand event.

This wedding alone had made the major shops in the capital a fortune.

Naturally, the fullest was the warehouse in the King’s Manor.

It was filled with rare and precious treasures from various countries.

“I came to check on you, but I need to go out soon to continue the banquet. Prince Ting is still waiting outside,” Li Ruibai said with a smile.

As a man, it was inconvenient for Duan Ting to enter inside. The congratulations would be conveyed by her instead.

“Thank you for coming,” Liu Yusheng said as she grasped the woman’s hand.

After finishing the exchange, Li Rui Bai stood up and winked at her. “Don’t mention it, Your Highness. Although we came to offer congratulations, we also benefited. With so many powerful people from various countries gathered together, isn’t this a great opportunity to build connections?”

Liu Yusheng couldn’t help but smile. It seemed they were treating her and Feng Qingbai’s wedding as a perfect opportunity to establish connections with various nations.

In the grand hall, the guests were exchanging drinks and chatting merrily.

Feng Qingbai moved between the tables, toasting and exchanging pleasantries with the guests who had come to congratulate. Though he wasn’t fond of socializing, he always managed to handle such occasions with ease.

Feng Mohan followed closely behind him, step by step. With the Emperor by their side, even the officials had to be cautious when attempting to get Feng Qingbai drunk.

Of course, the Emperor couldn’t command the same level of authority as the King, but when the two of them were together, it was a different matter.

Everyone in Nanling knew that the Emperor and the King were one and the same. Offending the King meant offending the Emperor, and displeasing the Emperor was essentially causing trouble for the King.

Thus, when the King came to toast and greet the guests, the officials responded carefully. Only after he left could they finally relax.

“Imperial edict arrives—The Empress Dowager has sent her congratulations, wishing the King a grand wedding and a lifetime of happiness. She presents a pair of jade Ruyi!”

The eunuch’s announcement came somewhat abruptly, causing the lively atmosphere of the wedding banquet to quiet down significantly.

Behind the scenes, many officials exchanged subtle glances.

The relationship between the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the King was delicate. On the day of the King’s wedding, the Empress Dowager, as the matriarch of the harem, didn’t offer to help host the event. Furthermore, the King hadn’t even mentioned inviting her to the banquet.

Everyone assumed that this was a sign of estrangement between the two parties.

Unexpectedly, in the end, the Empress Dowager still sent a gift. Although she didn’t attend in person, the gesture was still an acknowledgment of the situation.

She had recognized Lady Ruyi as the Princess Consort of the Prince Regent.

And there was no additional difficulty imposed.

“Steward, take the gift to the storeroom and be careful not to damage it,” Feng Qingbai instructed the steward, who then took the gift from the eunuch’s hands.

The eunuch wished them congratulations, bowed, and left immediately.

The brief pause in the celebration was quickly followed by the resumption of festivities.

“Uncle, what do you think that old hag is up to?” Feng Mohan asked in a low voice, following behind Feng Qingbai.

When the Emperor and Empress Dowager had not shown any attitude during the wedding preparations, he had assumed that she intended to mind her own business and avoid any involvement with the King. 

After all, her two sons had both died at the hands of the King.

He hadn’t expected her to send a gift today.

“Imperial Uncle, we should still be cautious. Don’t people say that the sting of a wasp’s tail is the most dangerous? I think she’ll cause trouble later.”

Feng Qingbai took a step toward another table and said, “Who did you learn that from, one of the palace maids? The mighty Emperor turned into a gossiping old woman?”

Feng Mohan’s eyes widened in shock.

He was angry but didn’t dare to speak up.

Was he really acting like this, being so annoying and talkative, all for whom?

Wasn’t it all for his uncle’s sake?

If that old hag made any trouble, with his own methods, he definitely wouldn’t be able to handle it. In the end, it would be his uncle who had to step in.

Here he was, worrying himself to death, yet his uncle didn’t even care.

Ugh! The emperor’s not worried, but the eunuch is!

In the deep palace, a graceful and noble woman, accompanied by her elderly maid, walked slowly along the white marble palace path.

“Your Majesty, the gift has been delivered.”

“It’s enough that it was sent. I could not attend in person. I hope the King will not hold it against me,” the woman said calmly.

“How could he? Your Majesty’s jade ruyi is worth a fortune, such a treasure is hard to find in the palace. It is a heavy gift, the King will not be upset with Your Majesty,” the elderly maid replied cautiously.

The woman smiled but didn’t say anything more.

They walked slowly, and before they knew it, they arrived at a quiet palace.

The elderly maid looked up and read the inscription above the palace doors—Qingning Palace.