FID – Chapter 833

Chapter 833: The One He’s Loyal To Is the Empress Dowager

“What kind of gift did you prepare?”

Qian Wanjin grinned smugly. “With Zhiqiu’s stingy, penny-pinching nature, I guarantee he’ll love what I’ve got for him—everything is shiny and golden. He can display them in his room and see them all the time. That’s exactly his taste!”

Liu Yusheng and Shi Xianrou exchanged a glance and couldn’t help laughing.

Shi Xianrou spread her hands helplessly. “You know how my Xiao Jinzi’s taste can be… a bit unique.”

“It definitely is,” Liu Yusheng agreed. Everything has got to be gold and sparkly.

“What’s wrong with my taste? I like gold! Gold means money, and money makes the world go ’round!”

“Don’t be upset. Your taste is excellent—truly one in a million. I love it.” Shi Xianrou pacified him seriously. “If we ever fall on hard times and are short on cash, all that gold thread and jewelry you wear will come in very handy.”

“Exactly! I’m just being prepared in advance—though of course, we’ll never actually hit rock bottom.”

“My wife is absolutely right.”

Liu Yusheng kicked the lovey-dovey pair out, then told Zisu and Chenxiang to start packing.

She didn’t need to bring much—just a couple of changes of clothes that still fit her now.

There were clothes at home in Xinghua Village, of course, but none that would fit her current condition.

“I still need to prepare a gift myself,” Liu Yusheng said, propping her cheek with her hand and glancing toward the Empress Dowager, who was reclining on the soft couch with her eyes closed. “My Second Brother is really tight with money, a total miser. What do you think I should give him that he’d actually like, Your Majesty?”

The Empress Dowager ignored her.

This had become the usual lately—the Empress Dowager only cared about her belly.

As if saying, Care about the child, not the mother.

“I don’t have anyone else to talk to here. Your Majesty, just humor me for a moment, just a short while, and give me an idea?”

As she spoke, Liu Yusheng stood up, supporting her belly, and walked over to the couch, sitting beside it.

The elderly woman opened her eyes, gaze falling directly on her stomach. “You want me to touch your belly?”

“…Sure, go ahead.” The baby wasn’t acting up. Clearly, she just wanted to play with him. “What do you think I should give? My Second Brother, he’ll be this child’s second uncle in the future.”

“Gold, silver, or jade are most valuable. Since he’s so money-minded, give him something valuable.” For someone who loves money, practical and flashy gifts work best.

“A gold-plated item, maybe?”

The Empress Dowager said calmly, “I have a strand of Flying Fish tourmaline. It’s worth more than gold. Tourmaline symbolizes blessings—giving that would be appropriate.”

Gold-plated? The nerve of her to even think of that. If she really wanted to fall out with her brother, that would be the way to do it.

“How could I possibly give a gift using something from Your Majesty…”

“Then go find something yourself.”

“…Thank you, Your Majesty.” With less than a day left, where was she supposed to find something suitable?

It wasn’t that she couldn’t send Zisu back to the King’s Manor to search the warehouses, but in her current heavily pregnant state, sorting through thousands of items to find the right one was simply beyond her energy.

The next morning, Qian Wanjin came to the palace to pick her up.

Just before she left, the Empress Dowager had her old maid hand over a brocade box — inside was the string of flying fish tourmaline. Vivid green and crystal clear, it made a crisp, ethereal sound when touched. It was a rare and exquisite piece of jade.

With everything packed, she was ready to leave the palace. Strangely, Xiao Feng’er hadn’t shown up today as expected.

“Could something have delayed Xiao Feng’er?”

Qian Wanjin was unconcerned. “He’s the emperor. He has morning court sessions every day. Maybe something came up at court and held him back. Lucky Nannan, let’s get going. It’s not like you’re leaving for good. Does he really have to come see you off?”

“At least let him know I’m leaving. Otherwise, he’ll pester you to death when I get back.”

“What, am I afraid of him pestering me? Hahaha! Worst case scenario, I just won’t go back into the palace.”

Liu Yusheng ignored him. If he didn’t return to the palace, Xiao Feng’er would just pester her instead.

That guy — he might seem easygoing, cheerful, and simple most of the time, but when he got stubborn, ordinary people couldn’t deal with it.

Even Feng Qingbai had once been worn down by his persistence.

Just as they were speaking, someone arrived outside — a figure in bright yellow stood out clearly.

“Aunt! Aunt! Uncle has sent a letter!” Feng Mohan’s eyes lit up instantly, joy radiating from every corner of his face.

Liu Yusheng hurried forward two steps. If Qian Wanjin hadn’t grabbed her, she might’ve run to meet him. “The letter? Quick, let me see it!”

Just hearing his name made her heart thump and her whole body fill with joy and excitement.

He had written — which meant he was safe and well.

“Here, it just arrived.” On his way over, he’d seen a carrier pigeon flying overhead and had turned back to retrieve the letter — otherwise, he wouldn’t have been late. “Uncle wrote that things on the border have calmed down. He’ll go through Yunzhou directly from there, and meet you in Xinghua Village!”

The secret letter was indeed in Feng Qingbai’s handwriting. After reading the few short lines, Liu Yusheng’s lips curved high with a broad smile.

No more regrets.

“Let’s go, we’re heading to the docks now!” She lifted her skirt and was about to leave, but suddenly paused, turning back to look at the elderly woman quietly seated on the chaise. Her expression was hollow and distant.

Liu Yusheng was overjoyed that Feng Qingbai was safe — but the Empress Dowager still harbored old resentments and might not share that joy.

“Your Majesty, I haven’t forgotten what I promised you. I will find out the truth, and give you a clear answer,” Liu Yusheng said, lips pressed tightly. “I believe… it absolutely wasn’t him.”

“What do you mean, ‘find out the truth’? What answer?” Qian Wanjin and Feng Mohan were both confused.

The elderly woman’s eyes slowly lifted to look at Liu Yusheng. Her hands, folded on her lap, twisted together tightly, her knuckles turning white. “Feng Qingbai has gone to Xinghua Village?”

“Yes.”

“And what about General Qin?”

The group was stunned, not understanding the sudden shift.

The Empress Dowager’s question seemed completely unrelated to what had just been said — at least to them.

What connection could there be between Feng Qingbai and General Qin?

Liu Yusheng focused on the Empress Dowager’s lost and dazed expression, a flicker in her eyes. “Feng Qingboai is safe. I believe General Qin must be safe too. He led reinforcements to the border, and the letter said the situation there has been resolved. That must mean Nanling’s army was victorious. General Qin is probably already on his way back.”

But the Empress Dowager shook her head, her face growing increasingly pale.

Not necessarily.

He might not be safe.

He might not be coming back.

Feng Qingbai was sharp and cautious. If Shi Kewei had led troops to the border after Qin Xiao, he would surely grow suspicious.

He had been wary of Qin Xiao for over a decade. If an opportunity arose, would he let Qin Xiao go?

“Your Majesty?” The sudden sorrow emanating from the elderly woman made Liu Yusheng’s heart tighten.

She saw the Empress Dowager stand up, staring at her with a fixed gaze. “I… I need to go to Xinghua Village.”

“The Empress Dowager wants to go to Xinghua Village?!” Feng Mohan was surprised, his face darkening.

The Empress Dowager and his Imperial Uncle had never gotten along, and now that his uncle had safely returned, this expression of hers wasn’t surprising. But for her to want to go to Xinghua Village… What was her intention?

Liu Yusheng met the Empress Dowager’s gaze for a moment before nodding. “Alright, I’ll take you back.”

The Empress Dowager could no longer wait. She couldn’t wait to ask Feng Qingbai in person. It wasn’t just about her grandson’s matter from years ago. She was even more worried about General Qin.

She understood the situation, and besides, the Empress Dowager wasn’t hiding her worry very well under these circumstances.

Liu Yusheng felt as though she had a vague inkling of what was going on.

Qin Xiao, General Qin, had once been part of the powerful ‘Iron Triangle’ faction in the court with Consort Liu and Zuo Xiang. However, the truth was that he hadn’t been fully loyal to Consort Liu’s faction.

He had pledged his allegiance to the Empress Dowager.