FID – Chapter 809

Chapter 809 — Having Once Been Cherished, The Rest of Life Can Be Leaned Upon

Liu Yusheng thought it was the Empress Dowager returning, but when she turned around, all she saw was a figure dressed in brilliant yellow. “Xiao Feng’er, what are you doing here?”

After the grand ceremony, there was still a palace banquet. Because of her pregnancy discomfort, she had only stayed at the banquet for a short while before leaving.

She hadn’t expected him to follow her here — he should have been at the banquet, celebrating with the court officials.

Leaving like this was quite improper.

“Imperial Aunt,” Feng Mohan softly called out as he walked up to her and lowered his gaze to look at her.

“What’s wrong?” Tilting her head up to look at the young man, Liu Yusheng was slightly puzzled.

It was only at this moment that she suddenly realized — the young boy she had in her memory had truly grown up.

She still remembered that when they first met, he had been the same height as her. But now, she had to tilt her head upward just to see his face.

He was almost as tall as his Imperial Uncle now.

Slowly, Feng Mohan lowered his head until his dragon-crowned head stopped right in front of her.

Liu Yusheng was puzzled by his action.

“Imperial Aunt, can you pat my head just like before and tell me, ‘Xiao Feng’er has grown up’? Can you?” With his head lowered, she couldn’t see the faint redness at the corners of his eyes.

But she could hear the slight choke in his throat.

Without hesitation, she reached out and gently ruffled the young man’s hair, straightening his dragon crown as well. “Our Xiao Feng’er has finally grown up. Your Imperial Aunt is very happy, and I believe your Imperial Uncle is too.”

“Mm. Imperial Uncle has been waiting for this day all along — I know.” Feeling the warm, gentle touch on his head, a deep attachment rose in Feng Moxian’s eyes before he quickly suppressed it.

“And what about you? Are you happy?” the woman asked.

Slowly standing upright and lifting his head, Feng Mohan smiled and nodded. “I’m happy too.”

His gaze lingered on her face, taking in her features one last time. Then Feng Mohan turned around. “Imperial Aunt, the officials are still waiting at the banquet. I have to return.”

With that, without waiting for her reply, he strode away.

Behind him, a soft gaze rested gently on his back, watching as he walked farther and farther away.

Feng Mohan looked straight ahead, his eyes deep and dark.

Step by step, he walked out of her sight.

In truth, he wanted to tell her: Imperial Aunt, being an emperor is far less joyful than simply being Xiao Feng’er.

But he had a duty. From this day forward, he could no longer be just the simple Xiao Feng’er.

He had been raised by his Imperial Uncle’s hand. He knew his uncle’s wish. He knew that everything his uncle had done was all for the sake of protecting her — and protecting the Liu family.

From now on, she — and the Liu family — would have one more protector.

Along with his Imperial Uncle, he would protect them both.

Since he was young, he had always followed his uncle’s lead; whatever his uncle said, he obeyed without question.

In this lifetime, the only thing he had done that let his uncle down… was just one thing.

He would never let anyone know.

Especially not her.

He would keep it as a small secret in the depths of his heart.

Buried for a lifetime.

Having once been cherished, the rest of life can be leaned upon.

After the grand ceremony, the Imperial Guard, the Imperial Insignia Guards, the Brocade-Clad Guards (Jinyiwei), and all other military forces directly under the emperor’s control were quietly restructured and purged.

All of this was done in utmost secrecy — most of the court officials remained unaware.

For three consecutive days, Feng Mohan did not appear at the Yangxin Hall.

It was only on the fourth day that he finally came, together with Qian Wanjin and Shi Xianrou.

When the four of them gathered together, the entire Yangxin Hall could be turned upside down with their noise. Qian Wanjin alone could put on a whole show by himself. 

Unable to bear the disturbance, the Empress Dowager would retreat into her inner chambers as soon as she saw him coming, leaving the space to them to make all the commotion they wanted.

“A few days ago, the grand ceremony ended — our Xiao Feng’er is officially an adult now, how joyous and worth celebrating! From now on, you should handle more state affairs personally. Don’t keep pushing everything onto your Imperial Uncle, the cabinet, or the Imperial Hanlin Academy, then wash your hands of it. If people start manipulating things behind your back, you won’t even know,” Qian Wanjin rambled on endlessly, repeating his old lecture.

Feng Mohan grabbed a pastry from the table and stuffed it into his mouth. “Can you stop nagging for a moment? Do I need you to teach me? I hear this same speech a hundred times a day. Those old ministers have lectured me so much my ears are growing calluses!”

“Well, don’t just listen, you have to act! Look at you — what emperor is as idle as you? Every time I visit, I see you here! Can’t you let me witness you diligently governing for once? Just think about your Imperial Uncle. When he was handling state affairs, he worked from dawn to dusk and only slept two hours a day! Xiao Feng’er, you have to learn properly from your uncle, ah, don’t slack off — you’re the emperor now.”

Liu Yusheng and Shi Xianrou had already retreated several paces away from Qian Wanjin, relocating to another table to watch the show from a safe distance.

Massaging his temples forcefully, Feng Mohan turned to them and asked for permission, “Imperial Aunt, Aunt Xianrou, can I beat him up?”

“Beat me up? I’m your uncle!”

“I’m the emperor above your head!” 

With that, Feng Mohan stood up and lunged straight at Qian Wanjin.

And he says I’m slacking off? If he were slacking off, would he have been unable to visit Yangxin Hall for three days?

These past few days, he had barely slept two hours each night!

Inside the hall, wails and shrieks echoed as Qian Wanjin fled with his head in his arms, chased around relentlessly by the young emperor.

Inside the hall, even the old attendants were starting to get headaches. “Your Majesty, shall we ask them to quiet down a bit?”

“No need, they’re not disturbing me,” the Empress Dowager replied calmly, eyes closed, as if she wasn’t bothered in the slightest.

Her patience was truly formidable.

In the end, the two troublemakers were drenched in sweat, both sprawling out on the couches inside the hall, panting heavily.

Liu Yusheng couldn’t even bring herself to look at them. “Xianrou, has there been any news from the border on General Shi’s side? Has Feng Qingbai reached the frontier yet?”

There were Shi Kexian’s people stationed at the southeastern border. Once Feng Qingbai arrived at the front, he would undoubtedly enter the military camp first, and they would immediately send word back.

“Not yet,” Shi Xianrou shook her head. “My father has been closely monitoring the situation there. It’s unlikely to be so soon. Sailing from Nanling to the southeastern border takes nearly a month, and on top of that, messages also take time to travel back. Don’t worry — the prince will be fine. Just be patient for a few more days.”

“Then if we send a message from our side, would Feng Qingbai be able to receive it?”

“He should be able to. What message do you want to send him?”

Qian Wanjin suddenly rolled upright, eyes sparkling. “Nannan, are you thinking of telling Feng Qingbai the good news? If he finds out you’re expecting, I reckon he’d drop everything and come running straight back!”

“…Then it’s better not to tell him just yet, so as not to distract or unsettle him,” Liu Yusheng immediately abandoned the idea of sending a message.

Besides, this was news she wanted to tell him in person.

“Imperial Aunt, my Imperial Uncle has always acted with careful deliberation. He would never make a move without absolute confidence, so you don’t need to worry. He’ll definitely return soon.” Feng Mohan stood up, poured a cup of plum soup, and handed it to her. “On my side, I won’t be sitting idle either. At the military camp, I still intend to station troops in reserve. If the Emperor of Dongyue dares to make any moves, then we’ll go to war.”

He wasn’t afraid of war, nor was he afraid of losing.

He only cared about one outcome — that his Imperial Uncle returned safely.

As for matters like the turmoil of the nation or the suffering of the people, he wouldn’t take those into consideration.

His Imperial Uncle and Imperial Aunt both hoped he would be a wise and virtuous ruler, and he would strive for that.

But if anyone touched his bottom line — then they shouldn’t blame him for abandoning all principles.

His Imperial Uncle had once said: A ruler has no need for emotions.

He didn’t care about the common people. He only cared about the things his Imperial Uncle cared about.