FID – Chapter 867

Chapter 867 – Time for Prenatal Lessons

No sooner had the Emperor of Dongyue ascended the throne than he set off to visit Nanling, stirring up quite a commotion among the neighboring states.

Everyone speculated that, because the new emperor had once been aided by the Princess Consort of Nanling during his time in exile, he forged an alliance with Nanling the moment he took power.

With so many eyes on the visit, Nanling treated Dongyue’s delegation with great importance.

A welcoming banquet was laid on at the palace to wash away the dust of their journey.

Throughout the feast, Feng Qingbai unobtrusively studied the group, weighing Yan Rongjin’s position in relation to his envoys.

From the officials’ expressions it was plain that they held Yan Rongjin in deep respect.

The young emperor must have wielded some thunder‑bolt measures during his rise to cow the court. Whether they accepted him or not, none dared show open dissent.

Besides, Yan Rongjin possessed the late emperor’s edict of succession; even though Yan Rongwei had tried to destroy it, the fact remained.

Yan Rongjin’s enthronement was heaven’s mandate.

This youth, it seemed, would be anything but ordinary in the years to come.

After the palace banquet dispersed, Yan Rongjin and his delegation returned to the envoy station to settle in.

Once they were gone, Feng Mohan still looked irritated and muttered under his breath, “What’s with all the pretending at his age? Just a little brat, trying so hard to act all mature — it’s neither here nor there.”

Feng Qingbai glanced at him sideways. “Are you jealous that he’s more capable than you?”

“I am not! Who’s jealous of him? What’s so great about him anyway? I’m not a bit worse than he is!” Feng Mohan immediately exploded like a cat with its tail stepped on.

But there was a flicker of guilt in his eyes.

He didn’t realize it himself, and he would never admit it.

What was so impressive about that brat anyway?

He only became emperor in his teens, whereas he had sat on the dragon throne since the age of two, ruling for over a decade longer than Yan Rongjin! In terms of seniority, he was clearly the more experienced one.

He, Feng Mohan, the dignified Son of Heaven of Nanling, jealous of a junior? His uncle must be joking.

The young emperor stiffened his neck and stubbornly denied everything. Feng Qingbai didn’t bother to call him out, letting him stew in his own petty bitterness.

It was getting late. He should return to spend time with Shengsheng.

Seeing that the man was about to leave, Feng Mohan grabbed the hem of his sleeve. “Uncle, are you really going to let him visit the Imperial Aunt at the manor? That guy has ‘sly and scheming’ written all over his face. Make sure Aunt is on guard. Who knows what he might be plotting. He looks like a little white rabbit, but when he bites, you won’t see it coming.”

Feng Qingbai raised an eyebrow at the boy but couldn’t even be bothered to reply. He simply turned and walked away.

Behind him, the teenager wasn’t ready to give up. He called out, “Uncle! Don’t forget to remind Aunt. Don’t be fooled by that kid’s innocent looks! That brat’s no good! Not everyone is like me, totally open and sincere with her!”

The man’s footsteps paused for a moment. He turned his face slightly, his gaze icy cold.

Feng Mohan instantly shrank his neck and bolted on the spot.

He realized he’d said the wrong thing and tipped over his uncle’s vinegar jar.

Later, after returning to the royal manor, Feng Qingbai still relayed the boy’s words to Liu Yusheng. 

It was not to warn her, but just to amuse her.

Liu Yusheng, holding her big belly, laughed so hard she nearly fell over.

“Xiao Feng’er’s going after Xiao Qi like that just because he is more talented than him? That kid’s jealousy is way too strong. He’s going to need some serious guidance — an emperor shouldn’t be so petty!”

Feng Qingbai simply smiled without responding.

Feng Mohan’s jealousy wasn’t just because Yan Rongjin was more capable. It was also likely because he resented how he had once diverted Shengsheng’s attention.

Back when she was treating Yan Rongjin, she often mentioned ‘Xiao Qi’ in conversation, and later even brought him back to the Liu family courtyard. That was probably when Feng Mohxian started feeling real animosity toward him.

That kind of mindset was like someone stealing something that belonged solely to him, and he was determined to fight it out to the bitter end.

Selfish and possessive.

Thinking of this, Feng Qingbai rubbed his brow in resignation.

It was his fault. Feng Mohan had even inherited his way of handling things, and he hadn’t guided him properly from a young age.

Because back then, even he hadn’t thought there was anything wrong with acting that way.

Even now, he still didn’t think his temperament was wrong.

If anyone dared to take Shengsheng from him, he would go even further, so far the other person wouldn’t even have a chance at reincarnation.

But Feng Mohan couldn’t be like that, because he was an emperor.

“Is Xiao Qi coming to visit tomorrow?” the woman asked after their laughter had settled.

“He should be,” Feng Qingbai replied with a smile. “If not tomorrow, then the day after at the latest. He won’t be able to wait much longer.”

“Because of the Imperial Jade Seal?”

“Otherwise, what else do you think could have driven him to rush out to visit Nanling right after ascending the throne, before even stabilizing the court affairs? Only by holding the Imperial Jade Seal in his hands can he truly command the civil and military officials. Otherwise, he’s just an emperor in name only. He’s different from Yan Rongwei. Yan Rongwei had the backing of his family’s power, but Yan Rongjin had nothing. He must retrieve the Imperial Jade Seal.”

After he finished speaking, Liu Yusheng leaned forward slightly, getting closer to study him carefully.

“What’s wrong?” Feng Qingbai didn’t dodge; instead, he leaned in as well, raising an eyebrow with a teasing smile. “Not enough? Do you want to come closer?”

Liu Yusheng smiled and bared her teeth, nibbling gently on the man’s prominent nose. “I think you’re up to no good.”

“Yes,” Feng Qingbai’s gaze dropped. “If it weren’t for the baby bump in the way, I’d be doing more than just thinking about it.”

Knowing he was deliberately teasing and trying to distract her, Liu Yusheng didn’t fall for it. “The Imperial Jade Seal is in your hands; you definitely won’t hand it over easily. What’s your plan?”

“Pregnant women worry too much, it’s not good. How about you behave for the next few months and focus on your pregnancy?”

“I’m very well-behaved, just a little bit curious.”

“I’ll tell you gossip every day from now on. For now, how about reading some books or listening to some music? Didn’t you say something about prenatal education?”

The woman blinked at him, saying nothing.

Feng Qingbai sighed and resigned to his fate. “Xue Qinglian has an uncle who is probably the mastermind behind the Cangying Pavilion. He’s likely still in Dongyue right now.”

“You want to use the Imperial Jade Seal as a trade to make Xiao Qi hand over Xue Zhong?” Liu Yusheng understood immediately and exclaimed, “You think it was his orders all along that made the Cangying Pavilion assassinate you?”

Feng Qingbai sat beside her and pulled her into his arms, letting her lean comfortably against him. “I’ve told you what you want to know. You mustn’t dig any deeper because the story is too long. Now it’s ‘prenatal education’ time.”

He took out a travelogue from beside the couch and began reading it page by page.

His voice was clear and gentle, his tone neither fast nor slow… Liu Yusheng gradually drifted to sleep.

In the end, she didn’t even know when she fell asleep, only to feel frustrated that she had been coaxed by him once again.

He knew perfectly well that hearing him read in that tone would make her sleepy. He did it on purpose.

He made her fail to get even a single useful piece of information.

The next day, after noon, there was a visitor at the manor. Yan Rongjin had arrived.