FID – Chapter 822

Chapter 822 – Mister Xue

The border palace of Dongyue lay ten li outside the military encampment, right against the frontier city.

It had been built with opulent grandeur.

Though the palace had existed previously, it had not been so lavish—originally intended only as a resting place for the emperor when visiting the border.

After ascending the throne, the current Emperor of Dongyue had ordered a complete renovation within days, transforming it into a symbol of imperial majesty.

A small unit of guards stood stationed at the entrance of the palace.

When Feng Qingbai arrived, the guards did not stop him and instead led him inside.

Inside the grand hall, enchanting music filled the air. Dancers in gauzy silks twisted their waists seductively, their movements graceful and provocative.

The Emperor of Dongyue was already seated, with fine wine and delicacies laid out before him.

A court eunuch stood at his side, ready to attend to his needs at any moment.

“Your Highness, you’ve arrived. Come, have a seat and enjoy the music and dance first.”

Feng Qingbai smiled and walked over to sit down.

“Your Majesty is certainly in high spirits.”

“Hahaha! Once you sit on this throne, you must enjoy everything that comes with it. Otherwise, if you’ve risked your life to fight for it, wouldn’t it be a waste?” the Emperor laughed heartily. “Truthfully, I have great admiration for the King. From the age of twelve, you supported a child emperor and served loyally and diligently for years. I’ve heard the Emperor of Nanling turned fifteen this year, and recently underwent the capping ceremony to formally take the imperial seal. You’ve served him faithfully for years. It must finally be time for you to step back and rest a while.”

Feng Qingbai simply smiled without responding.

The Emperor continued, “It’s just that I feel a bit concerned for you, Your Highness. As the saying goes, ‘when the birds are gone, the bow is put away.’ The young emperor has now grown strong wings, yet in Nanling, your reputation far surpasses his. Are you not worried that one day this might lead to a fate you’d rather not face? Of course, perhaps I’m being overly suspicious, but throughout history, those whose merit overshadowed their ruler rarely met with good ends. Don’t you think you should start planning for your own future?”

“When the mission is complete, one should naturally step into the background. As for the claim that my merit threatens the ruler—such talk is exaggerated. I have only done what I was meant to do,” Feng Qingbai replied as he lifted his wine cup, a faint smile playing across his brow.

“On the contrary, Your Majesty—though you now sit upon the throne, you still lack something. In my humble opinion, at a time like this, you should be focused on seeking what you truly desire, not entangling yourself with Nanling. What you’re searching for isn’t with me, nor is it in Nanling. If you remain fixated on this path, are you not worried it might lead to unexpected complications? You’ve climbed to the peak with great effort—if a moment’s misstep causes all to crumble, I fear even deep regret would come too late.”

“Are you threatening me, Your Highness?” the Emperor narrowed his eyes.

“I am merely reminding Your Majesty what your real priority should be.”

The man’s smile was calm and composed, like a breeze passing through clouds, unaffected by the surrounding tension. That kind of poise and boldness was deeply admirable.

But in the eyes of an opponent, it inspired intense wariness.

The Emperor of Dongyue suddenly laughed aloud. “You’re right, Your Highness, I should seriously consider what truly matters right now.”

After laughing, the Emperor’s smile faded, replaced by unbridled arrogance. “Your Highness, you’ve stood tall in Nanling for years, your reputation unmatched. Now you hold power over half the kingdom, with countless loyal followers—you are the very backbone of Nanling. Tell me, if that backbone were to break, could Nanling still stand among the great nations as it does now? Without the King of Nanling, chaos would erupt. Such a vast and prosperous land—who wouldn’t want to carve it up and feast on it?”

Without Feng Qingbai, Nanling would undoubtedly fall into turmoil, and the neighboring nations—already eyeing it hungrily—would seize the chance to strike. Nanling would have no power to resist.

Feng Qingbai raised his eyes and calmly met the gaze. “Is Dongyue also among those circling like vultures?”

“Of course,” the Emperor declared. “If I can take Nanling, that would be a greater accomplishment than any of my ancestors. At that point, even the so-called Imperial Seal would be meaningless. Without it, I would still hold the people’s hearts—why would I worry about the stability of my throne?”

“So this invitation today truly is a Hongmen Banquet.”

“Even knowing it’s a trap, you still dared to come alone—Your Highness, I admire your courage!” The Emperor flung his wine cup to the ground with a sharp crash.

The music stopped. The dancers and musicians swiftly retreated. Around the grand hall, layer upon layer of soldiers began to close in, swords and blades all pointed straight at Feng Qingbai.

He glanced around, unfazed by the weapons surrounding him. “So this is how Your Majesty plans to keep me here in this palace?”

“You walked in on your own—did you not consider the consequences?” the Emperor said, his tone full of mad confidence. 

“With the kind of person Your Majesty is,” Feng Qingbai said evenly, “Having just taken the throne, you should be focused on securing it. Yet instead, you choose war. Clearly, the strategist behind you has ambitions even higher than the heavens.”

“Hahaha! Everyone says the King of Nanling has a brilliant mind. Today, I see it’s true.” The Emperor’s gaze shifted toward the inner hall, behind a veil of silk curtains. “Sir, the King seems eager to meet you. Why not come out and show yourself?”

The soft creaking of wheelchair wheels echoed from within the inner chamber—slow and heavy.

A moment later, someone slowly emerged from behind the curtain.

Dressed in black robes, the man had an unremarkable, ordinary face—one that could easily blend into any crowd. He wore a short beard and sat in a wheelchair in a slightly awkward posture, as if his back couldn’t straighten fully.

But what caught Feng Qingbai’s attention were the man’s eyes—dark and unfathomable, impossible to read.

This was someone of immense depth and calculation.

And what confirmed Feng Qingbai’s suspicions was the presence of Xue Honglian standing behind the man.

The leader of Cangying Pavilion and heir to Baicao Valley—standing there with uncharacteristic humility and deference.

Someone who could command respect from the proud and willful Xue Honglian was certainly no ordinary strategist, and certainly no insignificant figure.

Moreover, the Emperor of Dongyue had addressed him as ‘Sir’—a title reserved for those of the highest counsel and influence.

“I’ve long heard of Your Highness’s great name,” the man said with a faint smile and emotionless face. “It is an honor to be regarded so highly by you. As it happens, Your Highness and Honglian are old acquaintances—do you still remember?”

Looking over at Xue Honglian, Feng Qingbai gave a calm, faint smile. “How could I dare forget?”

The man turned to him and gave a cold order, “Take him.”

Despite having the advantage of numbers, he still didn’t dare underestimate Feng Qingbai.

Better to act swiftly—before anything unexpected could occur.

Blades flashed as the soldiers advanced, swords raised, converging on Feng Qingbai.

Feng Qingbai remained still, his expression unchanged. “For Your Majesty to listen to the words of a single advisor and attempt to capture me—what a regrettable outcome. Are you all right?”

Across from him, the Emperor of Dongyue’s expression had already changed drastically. He slammed the table and shouted, “Stand down!”

The elite guards surrounding them immediately halted at his command.

The emperor’s eyes turned cold and sinister as he leaned heavily on the table. “Feng Qingbai, a dignified King of Nanling, would stoop so low as to drug me?!”

“You, the Emperor of Dongyue, set up a banquet of death for me—should I really be so concerned with manners just to survive?” Feng Qingbai curved his lips into a faint smile. In a flash, he struck like lightning. Just as Xue Honglian moved to rescue the emperor, Feng Qingbai seized his throat and lifted him off the ground.

“The situation leaves no choice. Bear with it, Your Majesty. As long as I get out safely, you’ll be just fine too.”

His hand lightly brushed over the sachet at his waist—inside were various pills prepared for him by Shengsheng. They were divided into two categories: deadly poisons and life-saving antidotes.

He hadn’t expected they’d come in handy at a time like this.