FID – Chapter 800

Chapter 800 — I Must Go

Feng Mohan’s expression turned sharply alarmed. He opened his mouth to object, but Feng Qingbai silenced him with just a glance.

“Your Highness’s decisions have always been difficult to overturn, and I too believe this course is more prudent than marching straight into battle,” Qin Xiao remarked with a faint smile as he rose to his feet. “If we clash now, Dongyue’s forces—riding high on morale—would gain the upper hand. Moreover, their emperor is currently blinded by rage and acting impulsively. If Your Highness goes to negotiate directly, it might be possible to change his mind.” With that, Qin Xiao bowed out. “I’ll take my leave and let Your Majesty and Your Highness deliberate.”

After Qin Xiao departed, Feng Mohan immediately strode over to Feng Qingbai, his voice rising in anger, “Imperial Uncle, do you even realize what you’re suggesting? That is the treacherous, ambitious Dongyue! You going there alone is handing them a perfect opportunity! The Dongyue emperor will do everything in his power to eliminate you! If something happens to you, all of Nanling will fall into chaos—and what about Imperial Aunt…!”

Zuo Xiang had most likely fled there and was colluding with their emperor. His uncle going straight into their trap was practically courting death!

If something happened to him, could his Imperial Aunt even survive it? 

Feng Qingbai steadily regarded the young emperor. Seeing his agitation and fire, he slowly curled his lips into a faint smile. “You’ve grown. You actually dare speak to me like that now.”

“…” Is this the time to say that? Feng Mohan quickly suppressed his anger.

“I worked so hard to persuade Qin Xiao to lead troops to war, and now you show up saying you want to personally go to the border. Why does such a dangerous task have to be done by you? I’ve got a court full of officials for exactly this kind of thing! In short—in short, I do not approve of you going!”

“This time when I go to the border, your imperial aunt will remain in the capital. You are to watch over her for me—she must come to no harm. If even a single hair on her head is lost, I’ll hold you personally accountable when I return.”

Feng Mohan seethed with frustration. He knew it. Once he made a decision, it was nearly impossible to change. If he couldn’t convince him, then he’d go find his aunt—

“Don’t even think about running to her,” Feng Qingbai cut him off coolly. “Feng Mohan, this is no child’s play; it’s a matter of the state. If I’ve made my decision, it’s after thorough consideration.”

“Zuo Xiang is probably waiting for you to walk right into his trap in Dongyue, and you’re really set on stepping into it?”

“A defeated dog is no cause for concern.”

Turning on his heel, Feng Mohan swept the entire stack of documents from the table to the floor, his face so dark it seemed it could drip ink.

Feng Qingbai calmly found a chair nearby and sat down, his expression composed. “I have no choice but to go. The so-called evidence Dongyue submitted is surely already known throughout the entire court. The blame has been pinned on your imperial aunt. If Qin Xiao leads troops to war, regardless of victory or defeat, she will become the target of everyone’s scorn. Everyone will believe she’s the one who caused the disaster, yet it will be Nanling as a whole that suffers the fallout. At that time, you know exactly what they’ll say about her. Feng Mohan, I must go.”

Feng Mohan fell silent.

Of course he knew that.

The reputation and prestige that his aunt had accumulated over many years could very well be destroyed by this incident.

The higher one stands, the greater the responsibility, and there is no room for the slightest mistake in words or actions.

As long as someone seizes even a single piece of leverage, it could send her tumbling into the mud, never to rise again.

Clenching his fist tightly, Feng Mohan relented. “Uncle, be careful of everything during your journey. You need not worry about Aunt. I will protect her thoroughly.”

It wasn’t until the evening that Liu Yusheng learned Feng Qingbai planned to go to the border.

After dinner, having washed and gone to bed, just as she was about to fall asleep, the man finally told her.

Her drowsiness vanished instantly, completely startled awake.

“You’re going to the border?!” Liu Yusheng’s heart sank heavily.

“Yes,” Feng Qingbai replied calmly. “This was a decision I made after discussing with the court ministers. If we directly engage in battle, it will exhaust our people and resources, unsettle the hearts of the citizens, and result in heavy military losses. As for the emperor of Dongyue, half of his motives stem from a fit of temper. If I can persuade him to withdraw his troops, it will be beneficial for the people of both nations.” As he spoke lightly, he gently stroked the woman’s back.

After a long silence, Liu Yusheng spoke softly, “Is it true that everyone already knows I treated Xiao Qi’s injuries?”

“Why do you say that?”

“If Dongyue dares to raise troops and start a war, they must have secured concrete evidence and already presented it to the Nanling court to justify their actions. And for them to have found that evidence so quickly, there must have been someone within the court leaking information. Feng Qingbai, in truth, there are people in the court who want to use this to deal with you, aren’t there?”

She was his weakness. Those targeting Feng Qingbai had chosen to strike through her.

She had caused him trouble once again.

The man let out a soft laugh.

“Ever since you married me, you’ve started thinking more and more deeply. It’s not as complicated as you imagine. You are a healer — a doctor’s heart is compassionate, and healing knows no boundaries. You did nothing wrong. The ones at fault are those using this to stir up court turmoil and vie for power. Shengsheng, to me, this is merely a minor skirmish. The reason I chose to go to the border is simply to try diplomacy before resorting to force. If talks fail, war will be inevitable. This is a battle of the court, and it has nothing to do with you, a little woman of the inner courtyard.”

“You’re the little woman of the inner courtyard,” she teased.

She knew he said all this just to ease her heart, so she would take it as her heart was already being put at ease and not make him worry further.

“This trip might take a few months. You’ll stay in the capital — I’ve instructed Xiao Feng’er to take good care of you. Wait for me obediently to return.”

“Okay.”

The man immediately pressed her down, murmuring, “I haven’t even left yet and I’m already thinking about you. While I’m still here for these couple of days, my lady, indulge me more — let me enjoy myself, will you?”

“Again? We just…”

“Once you taste the sweetness, it’s impossible to stop.” He kissed the corner of her lips, his voice hoarse and wickedly seductive, the ending note laced with temptation. “I truly wish I could die on top of you.”

“……”

Two days later, on the morning of the first day of July, Feng Qingbai boarded a passenger ship headed for the southeastern border.

Liu Yusheng saw him off at the dock, accompanied by Feng Mohan and several cabinet ministers from the court.

The man traveled light. Aside from Wei Zi, he brought no one else.

The ship was already waiting nearby. Liu Yusheng gripped the man’s hand tightly. As the time to board drew near, she still couldn’t bear to let go.

A strong morning wind swept across the dock, tousling the strands of hair around the woman’s cheeks. There was still a trace of fatigue on her face from a late night — mostly his doing.

Reaching out, he tucked her loose strands behind her ear and said, “I’ll hurry back as quickly as I can. If anything comes up that you can’t handle, look for Shi Xianrou or Xiao Feng’er.”

As for Qian Wanjin — best forget him. He had never exactly inspired confidence.

Liu Yusheng nodded. “Be careful in everything. I’ll wait for you.”

“Alright.” He smiled, and using the wide sleeves of his robe to shield them, he leaned in and pressed a kiss to the corner of her lips.

A short distance behind them, the group of elder ministers all tactfully turned their heads to look at the river and sky. Feng Mohan, on the other hand, covered his eyes with both hands — but left a wide gap between his fingers.

“Chenxiang, take good care of the Princess Consort.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The man turned and boarded the ship. The vessel pulled away from the dock.

As the passenger ship slowly sailed farther and farther away, the man standing at the stern watching her also gradually receded into the distance. Liu Yusheng’s eyes reddened bit by bit, her nose stinging with emotion.

This was her first time seeing him off like this — watching him head into the unknown.

The feeling was hard to describe, layered and complicated.

The morning breeze lifted her robes as she stood at the front of the dock, her figure appearing especially slender against the vast expanse of the canal.

Feng Mohan did not urge her to return to the city. He simply stood quietly behind her, watching her for a long time.