FID – Chapter 773

Chapter 773: Did I Sleep at Your Place Yesterday?

“The elder has given the dragon and phoenix bangles, which means this marriage is officially recognized,” Feng Qingbai said, taking the jade bangles and placing them on Liu Yusheng’s wrist. “Later, I’ll submit a memorial to the emperor, requesting that your name be engraved on the royal jade tablet. From now on, you and I are both members of the royal family.”

“Cough, Uncle, I’m right here. There’s no need to submit a memorial. I’ll just have someone engrave Aunt’s name later,” Liu Yusheng replied.

“Etiquette must not be neglected, follow the proper procedures,” Feng Qingbai said calmly.

He wasn’t arrogant enough to disregard the royal customs, even though, in reality, he didn’t put much stock in them.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have killed so many of his own kin in the past.

Looking back at the peaceful Yangxin Hall, Feng Qingbai gently took her hand and started walking toward the Imperial Garden.

“Are we not going back?”

“Since we’re here in the palace, I’ll take you to stroll through the Imperial Garden. Though it’s not yet spring in the capital, there are still flowers to appreciate in the garden.”

Feng Mohan silently walked with his hands behind his back like a little adult beside them.

No matter how many sideways glances Feng Qingbai gave him, he wouldn’t budge.

He’d rather stay and wander the garden with his uncle and aunt than go back to the Qiande Hall and be alone.

Anyway, he wasn’t going to leave, and his uncle wouldn’t explicitly ask him to go either.

“Aunt came here last time before the New Year, in November. It was a cold winter with nothing much to enjoy. Today, if we go to the Lotus Pond, we can see the melting snow, which is quite beautiful. The Imperial Garden also planted winter flowers, which bloom in February. Everything is lovely.”

“Melting snow?” Liu Yusheng tilted her head.

“It’s the ice layer on the Lotus Pond slowly melting, with chunks floating on the surface. When the lake breeze blows, the little ice pieces gather together or scatter apart,” Feng Mohan patiently explained. “The women in the harem really enjoy watching this.”

Actually, he didn’t think it was that interesting, but since the women in the harem liked it, and Aunt was a woman, she’d probably like it too.

The Imperial Garden was the favorite spot for the palace concubines, so it was always kept very clean. The garden featured evergreen shrubs, and in this season, the greenery brought a refreshing mood.

Along the way, they encountered several eunuchs and palace maids who greeted them respectfully.

Thanks to this, the news of the Emperor and the King, along with the Princess Consort, strolling through the garden spread quickly. Soon, the once quiet Imperial Garden became lively.

It was filled with concubines who had rushed over upon hearing the news.

As Liu Yusheng and Feng Qingbai reached the Lotus Pond, a group of lively women came toward them.

“They are looking for you. Go play with them.” Feng Qingbai glanced over in their direction and then gently led Liu Yusheng in the opposite way.

That left Feng Mohan, who had been ordered to accompany them, with a dark expression on his face.

Everyone in the world envied the Emperor for having three palaces and six courtyards, able to embrace women on both sides. But what was the benefit of having so many women?

They constantly came to him, always fighting over something—whether it was this or that.

“Your Majesty …”

“Can’t you all find somewhere else to stay? Why must you gather here in the Imperial Garden to make a scene? Get back to your places!” Feng Mohan’s words were colder than his gaze.

He froze the smiles on the concubines’ faces with his icy tone.

“Your Majesty,” the lead concubine bit her lip and said timidly, “Your Majesty said yesterday that you would accompany me to admire the garden. Did you forget, Your Majesty?”

“Yesterday?” Feng Mohan furrowed his brow in confusion. “Did I sleep at your place yesterday? What’s your name again?”

The concubine’s face immediately turned ashen.

The group of people following her all lowered their heads, hiding the gloating in their eyes.

Yesterday, the Emperor summoned Consort Chen to his bedchamber, and when she returned, she spent quite some time subtly boasting about it.

But it turned out, the Emperor didn’t even remember who she was.

All that talk about receiving the Emperor’s favor and being showered with his grace was just her adding shine to her own face.

Feng Mohan brushed past these people, heading towards the Qiande Hall.

He didn’t look back. As for how things would unfold behind him, he didn’t care.

This scene was actually witnessed by Feng Qingbai and Liu Yusheng, who had walked a little further ahead.

Liu Yusheng now understood that the young boy, who had seemed so immature in front of her, was so cold and ruthless when dealing with others.

“Is this how all the Emperor’s people are? So heartless?” she said as she walked slowly along the path paved with white marble.

Feng Qingbai was silent for a moment, then said, “When you’re the Emperor, all you need to do is weigh the situation.”

Weighing the power of each faction, balancing the forces in the court. This was what was most beneficial to the Emperor.

As for the women in the harem, to the Emperor, they were simply tools for consolidating power and ensuring the continuation of the bloodline.

The Emperor doesn’t need to have feelings.

Liu Yusheng understood the meaning behind his words and sighed softly.

In her view, the Emperor was more like a tool.

A tool for governing the country.

He couldn’t have personal preferences, nor could he indulge in personal emotions..

Every word he said, every action he took, had to be measured against the balance of gain and loss.

Despite the glory that came with his position, Xiao Feng’er might spend his whole life unable to do even one thing he truly liked without concern.

That evening, the palace hosted another banquet, this time to entertain the envoys from various nations who had come to offer their congratulations—a gesture of thanks for their long journey.

Feng Qingbai and Liu Yusheng were required to attend.

These guests had traveled great distances not just to drop off gifts and leave.

Diplomatic etiquette, and the exchanges between nations, needed to be maintained with effort from both sides.

It was Liu Yusheng’s first time attending such a banquet. The scale of it could already be considered a state banquet—even the Empress Dowager was present.

Key officials from the court, such as the senior cabinet members and General Qin Xiao, were also in attendance.

The event was truly grand.

Among the crowd, Liu Yusheng saw Duan Ting, still seated in his wheelchair.

While the various envoys were toasting and conversing with one another, Duan Ting rolled his wheelchair over to their table, raised his wine cup, and glanced at Liu Yusheng with a smile.

“Princess Consort, I’m here to offer my congratulations on your marriage to the Prince.”

Feng Qingbai took the wine cup from Liu Yusheng’s hand and drank it in one gulp.

“You already offered your congratulations yesterday. Still, thank you.”

“I just wanted to offer a toast to the newlyweds,” Duan Ting said, his expression a bit stiff.

Do you really have to be this petty?

Liu Yusheng chuckled and looked at his ‘ride.’ “Are you planning to stay seated like that forever?”

“Why would I get up? I’m just waiting for the right moment,” Duan Ting said as he squeezed into their table, casually seating himself with them. Only the three of them sat there. “If I got up now, I’d die pretty quickly.”

As a cripple, people were far less wary of him. But the moment he stood up again, those who didn’t see him as a threat would treat him like a deadly enemy.

Why invite trouble for yourself when you can take the easy route?

“Is your father still looking for the killer?” Feng Qingbai asked calmly.

At that, Duan Ting let out a cold laugh, the corners of his mouth curving in ridicule.

“Isn’t he just? One of his eight sons died, and now he’s acting like the entire world is his enemy. So many people have been caught in the fallout of this mess. Two of my own brothers have already died because of it. To him, the lives of his other sons are worthless.”