FID – Chapter 848

Chapter 848: General Qin Came Flying Down 

“Speak.”

The man’s silence made the Empress Dowager’s expression darken.

She was not someone prone to impatience, but now that she needed something and needed it from Feng Qingbai, she found it hard to keep her composure.

But she had no choice.

If she wanted to find the murderer, Feng Qingbai was the best candidate.

She herself no longer had any leverage, and Qin Xiao had already been stripped of his military power.

There was no one left she could rely on.

“If you find out who it was, we’ll be even.”

“Okay.”

Feng Qingbai stood up. Just before leaving, he glanced at the old woman. “Do you trust me?”

The Empress Dowager remained silent for a moment before replying with self-mockery, “Do I have a choice?”

“Once you’re back in the palace, tell me everything that happened in detail. It may reopen old wounds, but it’ll help in finding clues.”

For once, the man spoke to her in a somewhat lengthy sentence.

Reopen old wounds? She was no longer afraid of pain. She had already endured far worse.

After the wedding celebration, the group stayed at the Liu family courtyard for eight days before setting out to return.

At this time, the army had already returned to the capital, and Feng Qingbai needed to go back to attend an early court session with all the officials to report on the situation at the border and provide a briefing.

There was also Qin Xiao, still awaiting Feng Qingbai’s final decision.

But for Feng Qingbai, there was one more matter of utmost importance.

He needed to go back and teach that arrogant, reckless boy a lesson.

The emperor wasn’t yet in a position to do whatever he pleased. He didn’t have the capital to act with such disregard for everything.

At the farewell, Liu Dalin cried like a child.

He nearly packed his bags to go with them to the capital.

In the end, the scene became so embarrassing—right in front of the Empress Dowager, no less—that Grandma Liu smacked him down.

As the carriage was about to depart, Grandma Liu shoved two tea canisters through the window. “Things got busy and this old woman almost forgot. Your Majesty, this is nourishing tea specially prepared by our Nannan. It can’t be bought anywhere else. Take it back with you. If you like it, I’ll send more later. You’ve got to take better care of yourself. At your age, you can’t afford to be so willful anymore.”

The slight flicker of emotion in the Empress Dowager’s eyes vanished instantly, her face darkening shade by shade.

This crude woman! If she doesn’t know how to speak properly, then speak less!

What a disgrace!

During the journey back to the capital, things weren’t too quiet thanks to Feng Qingbai’s presence keeping order—and Qian Wanjin, who never stopped chattering.

From the moment they left Xinghua Village, Qian Wanjin’s mouth hadn’t stopped moving. Especially after sharing the ‘bond’ of picking grapes with the Empress Dowager; this guy who already feared nothing became even bolder.

He deliberately cozied up to the Empress Dowager, dragging Shi Xianrou along, and started sharing all the juicy gossip from the Liu family courtyard.

Though the Empress Dowager’s face showed little expression, her ears were clearly perked up, and she listened with great interest.

After the ten-day journey, Qian Wanjin summed up the Empress Dowager in three words —— Master of pretense.

Even more so than Feng Qingbai.

In the past, whenever he visited Nannan in the palace, the Empress Dowager would always sit nearby with a scripture in hand, silent and cold. If he got too noisy, she’d shoot him a frosty glare.

Now he finally understood—this old lady was all bark and very little bite. She’d make a scene, sure, but in truth, she rarely got truly angry.

From now on, he could mess around in the Yangxin Hall too. He’d gained another playground.

At this pace, he could almost strut through the Nanling imperial palace sideways.

When the boat docked and the group disembarked, the royal carriage was already waiting by the shore.

After entering the imperial city, the carriage hadn’t gone far before it was stopped by someone.

“General Qin, what brings you here?” Feng Qingbai lifted the carriage curtain and looked out at the man standing outside.

Tall and powerfully built, even without his military armor, Qin Xiao still exuded an imposing and commanding presence.

He stood directly in front of the carriage.

“I just saw the royal carriage from upstairs and came down specifically to greet Your Highness,” Qin Xiao said, his sharp eyes sweeping the interior of the carriage. He bowed. “Your subject pays respects to the Empress Dowager.”

The Empress Dowager nodded slightly but did not look at him.

Liu Yusheng, meanwhile, leaned her head to the side with a faint smile tugging at her lips.

What General Qin said sounded perfectly reasonable—he saw the Prince’s carriage and came down to say hello.

But the carriage had been moving fast. To see it from above and then rush down in time to stop it, the general would’ve had to fly.

And in fact, he had flown down. Liu Yusheng had just lifted the side curtain and saw it happen with her own eyes.

So this little interception was likely not just to greet Feng Qingbai. The general didn’t have that kind of close relationship with him.

He was here to check on the Empress Dowager.

After all, the conflict between her and Feng Qingbai was deep and seemingly irreconcilable. And yet, she had suddenly gone to Xinghua Village.

Naturally, General Qin would be worried—worried that the Empress Dowager might have been wronged in any way.

The story in between was quite intriguing.

“This Prince will return to the manor first. As for the general’s matter, we’ll discuss it another time.”

“Respectfully seeing off Your Majesty and Your Highness.”

Qin Xiao stepped aside.

The carriage passed by him.

A young man walked out from behind Qin Xiao and stepped forward, standing at his side. “Godfather, it’s time to go back.”

“Head to the palace and protect her well.”

“As you command. Godfather, please return as well.” With that, Qin Yi swiftly made his way toward the palace.

Ever since his godfather had returned to the capital and heard that the Empress Dowager had gone to Xinghua Village, he had been keeping watch daily at the teahouse closest to the city gate.

Now, at last, he could be at ease.

Back at the royal manor, Feng Qingbai didn’t go straight to the palace. Instead, he took a short nap with his wife and spent the afternoon handling manor affairs.

It wasn’t until after nightfall, having eaten dinner with her, that he finally rode slowly to the palace.

Feng Mohan had learned early that morning that his Imperial Uncle had returned to the capital and had wanted to visit him and his aunt at the manor—but he didn’t dare.

When his uncle wasn’t around, he could come and go freely in the palace, but now that the man had returned, if he acted recklessly, he’d definitely be in for a scolding.

So he spent the entire day obediently waiting in the Imperial Study, diligently attending to state affairs in the meantime—determined to leave his royal uncle with the impression that he was a hardworking and benevolent ruler.

“Imperial Uncle, you’re back!” As Feng Qingbai entered the Imperial Study, he was greeted by the cheerful, smiling face of the young emperor seated behind the imperial desk, holding a purple wolf-hair brush and scribbling boldly on a memorial.

Feng Qingbai walked over and picked up a stack of memorials that had already been handled, flipping through them to check the notes written on them.

Feng Mohan pressed his lips together, his slightly widened eyes revealing a trace of nervousness.

He didn’t know why, but he was always especially nervous around his Imperial Uncle.

Even though he hadn’t been slacking off, he still worried that he might be told he’d done something wrong.

“Not bad. Your annotations are detailed, you’ve added your own insights, and your responses to the ministers’ proposals are fairly appropriate.”

Hearing the man’s approval with his own ears, Feng Mohan’s eyes lit up brilliantly. “Uncle?”

Did he just praise me?

“You’ve shown slight improvement compared to before. Keep working at it,” the man said calmly.

“I will, Uncle!” he beamed, flashing a toothy grin.

A bit silly looking—just like when he was a child.

Putting down the memorials, Feng Qingbai took the purple wolf-hair brush from the boy’s hand and turned to leave. “You’ve only just begun managing state affairs—there’s no need to charge ahead blindly. Balance work and rest; know when to relax. Let’s go out for a walk.”

“Wait for me, Uncle!” Feng Mohan chased after him, his steps light and lively.

His face was glowing with a constant smile.

“Why are you smiling like that?”

“I’m happy you’re back, Uncle! Did you bring any of the dried vegetables Great-Grandmother made? Did anyone from the Liu family mention me? How are they doing? Has Xinghua Village become even prettier?”

With non-stop chattering, the boy’s voice followed all the way behind him, overflowing with joy.