FID – Chapter 853

Chapter 853 – Who Benefits the Most 

State affairs, personal matters, issues with the Empress Dowager—Feng Qingbai was entangled in everything.

He had become like a spinning top, especially with the matter of the Empress Dowager’s grudge, not a single bit of slack was allowed.

Ever since that day at the Yangxin Hall, he had seen the old maidservant who always accompanied the Empress Dowager nearly every other day.

That face with its fake smile and cold eyes, he’d seen it so often he was practically nauseous.

“Your Highness, the Empress Dowager asked this old servant to relay a message: she’s waiting for your results, and hopes you’ll do your utmost.”

She said the same thing every single day.

His little wife would laugh at him at least once daily because of it.

At this point, the Empress Dowager wasn’t just impatient for answers, half of it was clearly to disgust him as payback for old grievances.

The more upset he got, the happier she became.

At her age, once she decided to act childish, it could make a person grind their teeth in frustration.

Time flew by amid the chaos and exhaustion.

Before he knew it, the year’s end had arrived.

Just after Feng Qingbai returned to the imperial study, having once again been annoyed by the old maid, Feng Mohan slipped over to him with a mysterious grin.

“Imperial Uncle, news just came from the southeastern border. The power struggle in the Dongyue royal family is finally over.”

Feng Qingbai sat down in the round-backed chair and massaged his brow. “Who won?”

He had been so focused on unraveling the mystery from years ago that he hadn’t paid special attention to the Dongyue situation. It turned out the young man had gotten the news before him.

“You’ll never guess who it was. It was Yan Qi, Yan Rongjin, the one whose voice was cured by Imperial Aunt,” Feng Mohan said smugly. 

He had finally scored a small win over his uncle, though he knew the Empress Dowager’s interference played a big part. Otherwise, he’d never have had the chance to show off in front of Feng Qingbai. 

“Originally, the Fifth Prince of Dongyue had the most support. He took out several rival princes and was on the verge of winning—then, out of nowhere, a surprise force showed up and took down all the traitors and rebels.”

“Yan Qi returned to the capital, and since the late emperor had already issued a secret edict naming him successor, it all fell into place. Besides, the Second Prince, who had temporarily seized the throne, acted recklessly. He immediately mobilized a large army against our Nanling border, which led to a full-scale war between the two countries. Dongyue’s army suffered massive casualties and won’t be able to recover for years. Public resentment ran high, and the call to ‘restore proper order’ swept through the land. So Yan Qi’s return and ascension to the throne went smoothly.”

“A surprise force?” Feng Qingbai looked up, eyebrows raised in surprise.

“That’s right, a real shocker. Supposedly it was just a hundred-man unit, but every one of them could fight like a hundred. Extremely powerful.”

Feng Qingbai’s eyes darkened.

The Sacred Dragon Token, the Dragon Cavalry.

Only the Dragon Cavalry had the capability to help Yan Rongjin seize victory with just a hundred men, especially when he had no other support.

That was his greatest hidden trump card.

The Sacred Dragon Token had been split into four parts. It turned out that one piece had been in Yan Rongjin’s possession all along.

“His enthronement ceremony is set for the end of the first lunar month after the New Year. Should we send him a congratulatory gift?”

“When restoring order and rightful succession, it’s only proper to send congratulations,” Feng Qingbai replied with a faint, meaningful smile. “Our Nanling will soon gain a new ally.”

They will meet again soon.

Like a mantis stalking a cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, it was Yan Rongjin who ended up reaping the biggest reward in this power struggle.

His fingers paused their tapping on his knee. Then Feng Qingbai stood up and headed out.

“Uncle, you just got here. Where are you going now?”

“Yangxin Hall.”

“…” Feng Mohan sighed behind him.

His uncle used to spend the most time in the study, but now he was running to Yangxin Hall constantly.

Hadn’t he seen enough of that old granny’s face?

When Feng Qingbai headed toward Yangxin Hall, Liu Yusheng had also just entered the palace and was on her way there as well.

“Your Highness, should we turn back? If His Highness catches us here, both Zisu and I are definitely going to be in big trouble,” Chenxiang said with a distressed face, nervously supporting her alongside Zisu.

They were clearly worried about being caught sneaking the pregnant consort into the Empress Dowager’s quarters.

Now that the Princess Consort was seven months pregnant, it made everyone increasingly anxious. The Prince barely allowed her to move around freely, terrified she might accidentally bump into something, fall, or jostle her belly too much.

But today, the moment the prince had stepped away, the consort had sneaked out to visit the Empress Dowager.

The two handmaidens were worried sick, but Liu Yusheng paid them no mind.

“It’s fine. Feng Qingbai’s busy. There’s no way he’d just happen to go to Yangxin Hall right now.”

That man practically felt sick just looking at that grandma’s face—would he really go out of his way to suffer more of it?

Definitely not.

It had been two months since she returned from Xinghua Village. She’d been meaning to visit the Empress Dowager, so her quarters wouldn’t feel so lonely and desolate.

But just her luck, right at the gates of Yangxin Hall, she ran straight into him.

Facing the man’s narrowed eyes, Liu Yusheng gave a dry, sheepish smile.

What were the odds?

“Feng Qingbai, what brings you here too?” Hahaha… What a painfully unlucky coincidence.

“I should be asking you that. Shengsheng, what are you doing here?” The man stepped closer, causing Liu Yusheng to instinctively step back in surprise, which in turn made his face change drastically.

He immediately reached out to steady her. When he saw her guilty, innocent expression, any urge to scold her melted away.

“You’re charging around like this. What if I hadn’t been here?”

“You’re here, so I dared to rush in recklessly.” Sticking out her tongue, the woman answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

It made him both exasperated and amused, his heart softening.

“Come on in.” Since she was already here, could he really send her back?

“Next time I come, I’ll definitely let you know first.” The woman clung to his arm, trying to curry favor.

Casting her a sideways glance, Feng Qingbai snorted lightly. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

If she were really that obedient, she wouldn’t have sneaked into the palace today.

The Empress Dowager had just sat up from the soft couch when they entered the hall. She must have been napping earlier, her eyes still drowsy with sleep.

It was likely their voices had disturbed her.

As soon as she saw Liu Yusheng, the Empress Dowager’s gaze landed on her large belly. “Are you here to have your belly touched again?”

Liu Yusheng, “……” So in the Empress Dowager’s eyes, I only came around when I needed my belly touched?

This stubborn old lady clearly knew she had come especially to visit her.

Letting Feng Qingbai help her over to sit beside the Empress Dowager, she said, “Without Your Majesty’s help, I wouldn’t know what to do when the baby gets restless. It seems the little one has taken a liking to you. Only your touch can calm it.”

Sneaking a glance at the Empress Dowager’s gradually relaxing brows, Liu Yusheng pursed her lips and chuckled. She was happy.

Even when pleased, the Empress Dowager showed no expression, only shifting her brows. How exhausting it must be to hold it in like that.

Strangely enough, the whole way in, her belly had been calm. But the moment she sat beside the Empress Dowager, the baby started moving.

Especially when the Empress Dowager reached out and lightly patted her belly; the little one inside even seemed to respond with a playful punch.

The Empress Dowager’s brows smoothed out even more, her expression unconsciously softening, though her voice remained cold, “Have you found any leads?”

These words were directed at Feng Qingbai, who was standing to the side, unwilling to leave.

“No.”

“You’re the dignified King of Nanling, and yet so useless.”

The ‘useless’ King’s face darkened a shade. “I just thought of something and need to confirm it with the Empress Dowager.”

“What did you think of?” The Empress Dowager immediately looked at him.

Before this, she hadn’t even given him a proper glance.

“When your grandson was harmed, who stood to gain the most?” Feng Qingbai said calmly. “Previously, I was looking in the wrong direction. I thought the other party only wanted to provoke hatred in the Empress Dowager toward me, to create more obstacles. But thinking about it again, that may not be the whole story.”