FID – Chapter 824

Chapter 824 – Did Something Happen to Feng Qingbai?

“I hope it’s a baby girl,” Feng Mohan said with her chin resting in her hand and a smile on her face. “If it’s a girl, Great-Grandfather and Great-Grandmother will definitely be thrilled.”

Seeing the Empress Dowager look puzzled, Feng Mohan explained, “Your Majesty may not know, but the Liu family is different. They actually prefer girls over boys. My Imperial Aunt, for example, has always been the treasure of the family.”

The Empress Dowager: “…”

The entire world seemed to want sons to carry on the family name, yet the Liu family was so strange—they actually favored girls?

“My Great-Grandmother once said that my Imperial Aunt was absolutely adorable as a child, like a little dumpling. Soft and pink, sweet and cuddly, always speaking in that cute baby voice. She was so obedient and filial, everyone loved her to their bones. It’s a pity I never got to see that.” Feng Mohan’s face was full of longing. “If my Imperial Aunt gives birth to a baby girl, I’ll treat her like my own precious treasure.”

Liu Yusheng couldn’t help but laugh from the side. “You’re still just a child yourself, talking about doting on someone.”

“Why can’t I dote on someone? I’m already an adult now!”

Listening to Feng Mohan describe things, the Empress Dowager couldn’t help but imagine a soft, delicate little dumpling that looked exactly like Liu Yusheng.

It must be adorable.

But then, in a sudden twist of imagination, that soft pink dumpling suddenly morphed to have Feng Qingbai’s face.

The Empress Dowager’s expression instantly darkened. She rose and stormed off into the inner chamber.

Why was she wasting her time listening to such ridiculous nonsense!?

As the Empress Dowager abruptly left with a cold face, Feng Mohan stared blankly at her retreating figure. “What’s with the old lady? Her mood changes faster than summer weather!”

Liu Yusheng sighed softly. What else could it be? The only person who would make the Empress Dowager feel uncomfortable just by thinking about them was none other than Feng Qingbai.

The next day, Qian Wanjin and Shi Xianrou entered the palace to visit.

As soon as they entered the Yangxin Hall, Qian Wanjin couldn’t help but boast, “Xiao Feng’er token is pretty impressive. As soon as I showed it, I didn’t even need to announce myself. The two guards at the gate just let us through.”

The feeling of having someone above you really was too great.

“You two are here. Finished with your work?”

Shi Xianrou sat down next to her with a smile, saying, “Can’t we come see you if we haven’t finished? The way you say it, it’s like we’re heartless.”

“What could be more important than my nephew? Even if you haven’t finished, you should still come.” Qian Wanjin chimed in, moving closer to Liu Yusheng, “Lucky Nannan, do you feel bored staying cooped up in the palace all day? How about we take you out for a walk to clear your mind? Or if there’s something you want to eat, just say it. I’ll make sure to get it for you.”

“What could there be to eat that isn’t available in the palace?” Liu Yusheng raised an eyebrow. The two of them were even more attentive than usual today. “Come on, what’s going on? What’s the real reason you’re here?”

No one gives you unsolicited attention unless they have something up their sleeve.

Qian Wanjin immediately stiffened before laughing it off, “What could we have to ask? It’s been several days since we could visit you and my little nephew. I just thought I should make it up to you.”

Shi Xianrou subtly rubbed her forehead. Xiao Jinzi was still too inexperienced; when he was around people he was close to, he always gave himself away.

“Xianrou, Xiao Jinzi is unreliable, you explain.” Liu Yusheng’s brow furrowed.

She felt more and more uneasy in her heart.

She had known Qian Wanjin for over ten years, and she could see through even the slightest change in him.

Her heart inexplicably sank.

Shi Xianrou sighed and said,“Really, there’s nothing to worry about. It’s just that the southeast border is a bit unstable, and the court has sent more troops to intimidate them. For now, there hasn’t been any fighting, but if anything does happen, we’ll definitely tell you.”

“Is it Feng Qingbai who’s in trouble?” Liu Yusheng suddenly asked.

Both Qian Wanjin and Shi Xianrou paused for a moment.

“Is it?”

Her voice had started to tighten.

Qian Wanjin hurriedly said, “It’s really not that. If Feng Qingbai were in trouble, do you think we could hide it from you? Even if we wanted to, we couldn’t. It’s just that the negotiations between the two courts have been stalled, and the court here is worried about a possible change in Dongyue. That’s why they sent troops to reinforce. The one leading the troops is General Shi. With him there, Feng Qingbai definitely won’t be in any danger.”

“General Shi leading the troops?” Liu Yusheng stared at Qian Wanjin, her gaze sharp. “Before this, the Emperor had already sent General Qin to send troops to the border.”

Qian Wanjin was left speechless, cursing himself internally. Damn it, he’d said the wrong thing.

Shi Xianrou felt a headache coming on. Originally, Liu Yusheng didn’t know that her father was leading the troops, but now, thanks to Xiao Jinzi, her suspicions had turned into certainty.

How could she cover this up now?

“Imperial Aunt, there’s no need to worry. I had previously told you that I would station troops at the Dongyue border to assist Uncle in negotiations,” Feng Mohan’s voice came from the door as he entered steadily, “These two recent troop deployments are just precautionary measures. General Qin has always been stationed at the northern border, and most of his forces need to remain there to keep the north stable. He can’t easily mobilize them, or else it would cause instability and give the Tartars a chance to cause chaos. That’s why General Qin only brought less than thirty thousand soldiers this time. I was worried the deterrent might not be enough, so after consulting with the Cabinet, we decided to send General Shi as reinforcement.”

“Is that really the case?”

“Would I lie to you, Aunt? Uncle is like a teacher and father to me. If anything were to happen to him, I’d be the first to be unable to sit still.”

This explanation temporarily suppressed the woman’s doubts, and the group quietly sighed in relief.

To achieve this, Qian Wanjin received several discreet kicks from Feng Mohan, but didn’t dare to make a sound.

After leaving the Yangxin Hall where they had lunch, Liu Yusheng’s eyes immediately clouded with worry.

The reason given by Feng Mohan was logical, but how could she be so easily deceived?

Something must have happened on Feng Qingbai’s side; otherwise, Feng Mohan wouldn’t have mobilized troops twice in such a short span of time.

Her mind was in turmoil, and that afternoon, Liu Yusheng didn’t brew any medicine. She spent the entire afternoon in a daze at Yangxin Hall.

That night, Liu Yusheng developed a high fever.

It was Zisu, who was on night watch, who came into the inner chamber and noticed something was wrong. Immediately, her face went pale with fright, and she rushed to find the granny to summon the imperial physician.

The Empress Dowager, who was lightly sleeping, awoke when she heard movement outside the hall. She vaguely heard Zisu’s voice, tinged with tears, and furrowed her brow.

“Granny, what’s going on?”

“Your Majesty, the Princess suddenly developed a high fever. I have already sent someone to summon the imperial physician,” the old maid quickly answered aloud.

As soon as she finished speaking, the Empress Dowager emerged from her chambers, draped in a robe.

“Your Majesty, it’s the middle of the night. You’re not in good health—please don’t get up…”

“Let’s go and see,” came the voice, firm and unquestionable.

Unable to stop her and not daring to insist further, the old maid had no choice but to follow reluctantly.

They entered the side hall and went directly into the inner room, where Chenxiang was anxiously keeping watch by the bed.

The woman on the bed seemed to be in a deep sleep, her eyes closed, her brow tightly furrowed.

The Empress Dowager approached, and after a long pause, hesitated before placing her hand on the woman’s forehead. It was scaldingly hot. Her face immediately darkened. “How could you have let her burn like this and not noticed sooner?”

Chenxiang and Zisu quickly knelt. “We were negligent. Please punish us, Your Majesty!”

“Once the princess recovers, you will go to the punishment room and receive ten strokes of the cane! Maid, have someone urgently summon the imperial physician!”

“We thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!”

The Empress Dowager urgently issued the order, and the imperial physician arrived quickly. Following him was Feng Mohan, who hadn’t even had time to put on his robe.