FID – Chapter 869

Chapter 869: The Whole Family Arrives in the Capital

“There’s no need for Your Majesty to be so cautious. I am not a greedy man,” Feng Qingbai said coolly. “I only ask for one thing, something that would be an effortless task for Your Majesty.”

“Please speak, Your Highness.”

“Hand over Xue Zhong to me.”

Yan Rongjin was momentarily stunned. “Xue Zhong was once an advisor under Yan Rongwei. After Yan Rongwei’s death, he did indeed appear in Dongyue’s capital, attempting to stir unrest. After I reclaimed the throne, I immediately had him expelled.”

He paused, then continued, “However, since this is Your Highness’s request, I will immediately send people to search for him once I return. If there’s any news, I’ll inform Your Highness at once.”

He dared not give an absolute guarantee that he could hand the man over. The one thing most common in the world is the unexpected. Should something go awry, his promise would become an empty one.

A man who breaks his word is a man to be abandoned.

Catching a brief flash of approval in his imperial uncle’s eyes, Feng Mohan secretly pouted. That pretty boy really knew how to put on an act!

He too had never gone back on a promise made to his Imperial Uncle or Aunt.

He was no worse than that pretty-faced kid!

A gentleman valued his word. When an agreement was made between both parties, there was no need to write it down or stamp it.

Yan Rongjin successfully retrieved the Imperial Jade Seal.

Before leaving, he looked at the heavily pregnant woman sitting on the couch and said, “Take care, Your Highness.”

Liu Yusheng smiled and replied, “You probably won’t be leaving Nanling so soon. If you have time, do drop by the residence again.”

“Certainly.”

Feng Mohan muttered, “Imperial Aunt, he’s an emperor. He’s got a mountain of affairs to handle. How could he possibly linger in Nanling? He’ll probably be gone by tomorrow. There’s no need to invite him again.”

Catching the woman’s amused, almost teasing gaze, Feng Mohan turned his face away. He simply didn’t like that his aunt was treating that pretty-faced brat just as kindly as she treated him.

What was the deal with that?

After Yan Rongjin had left, Feng Qingbai turned to Feng Mohan, his gaze slightly chilly. “Are you satisfied with your behavior just now?”

Feng Mohan hunched his shoulders and didn’t dare make a sound.

“You are the emperor, the sovereign of a nation, not an ignorant child!”

“I am a child. I’m not even sixteen yet,” Feng Mohan mumbled under his breath, thinking he was quiet enough.

Feng Qingbai’s voice dropped lower in restrained anger. “Yan Rongjin is five years younger than you!”

“He looks older than me…”

“You—”

“Hahaha!” Liu Yusheng burst out laughing and leaned against Feng Qingbai, cutting off the man’s scolding.

Watching her laugh to the point of tears, Feng Qingbai steadied her in his arms, his expression softening into helpless indulgence. 

Feng Mohan, meanwhile, quietly let out a sigh of relief. In his heart, he thanked his aunt a dozen times over—his savior, his timely rain in a drought.

With the mood completely defused by her laughter, any attempt at further lecturing would lose its sting. Feng Mohan, therefore, narrowly escaped a scolding.

Back at the palace, Feng Mohan immediately ordered Mo Yan to investigate detailed information about Yan Rongjin. A boy who had just turned ten, yet held the throne with more presence than he did.

Something was not right!

He had to find out how that kid pulled it off.

Meanwhile, the Liu family courtyard was in a flurry of bustling voices and hurried movement.

“Is everything packed up? We’ve got to get going soon, or we’ll arrive in Yunzhou after dark!”

“Almost done, stop rushing me! Xiulan, double-check the valuables and bring a few heavier garments. The capital’s colder than here. We don’t want to get there and catch a chill.”

“Du Juan, pack a couple more bags of dried vegetables. Axiu and Xiao Feng’er both love those. We’ll be staying for quite a while, and the little we bring will be gone in two days.”

“Aiya, Mom, stop dawdling already! Let’s get moving or we’ll be stuck on the boat for half a day longer!”

The earlier we leave, the earlier we’ll get to the capital. Nannan is about to give birth, and we’re still dawdling here. How can there be so much nonsense delaying us?!

Liu Dalin stood in front of the carriage with his bundle in hand, looking thoroughly disgruntled.

“Don’t worry, Uncle, the carriage is fast. We’ll definitely reach the Yunzhou dock before late afternoon,” Liu Zhiqiu said cheerfully, squatting at the front of the carriage, munching on a tender carrot.

“How can I not worry? It takes at least three hours to get to Yunzhou. The sun’s already high in the sky! And once we get there, we still have to stop by the prefect’s office before heading to the docks. By then, the sun’ll be setting!” Liu Dalin was so anxious that sweat beaded on his nose. 

“Why don’t we skip the prefect’s office? Zhixia can’t leave anyway, and if he doesn’t go, Yuzheng can’t go either, and Xiao Maodou absolutely can’t be without his mother. Let’s just head straight to the dock.”

“You’d go all the way to Yunzhou and not stop by? What, are you sick of seeing my big brother’s face? Don’t you think Xiao Maodou misses you too?”

“That’s true. Alright, we’ll swing by quickly, have a look at Xiao Maodou, then head to the docks.”

“Sounds good. Whatever Uncle says.”

Still grinning, Liu Zhiqiu leaned back and called into the carriage, where everyone was already packed and ready, “Qian Wanjin opened a few teahouses and restaurants in the capital. When we get there, I’ll take you out for some good eats—on the house.”

“Alright.” Inside the carriage, Liu Muqiu smiled gently, her eyes forming crescents.

As long as she was with Zhiqiu, she was happy to go anywhere.

“Father, Mother, Wife, Second Brother—hurry up! The sun’s practically baking our backsides already! How much stuff do you people need to bring?!”

In the time it took to say just two sentences, Liu Dalin was already urging them again from the front of the carriage.

He nagged so much that Grandma Liu, flustered and annoyed, came out and gave him a hard smack before climbing up into the cart. “Nag, nag, nag. You’re like a soul that came to haunt me! If we don’t pack everything properly, what, you think we’re just going for a day or two and then coming back?”

Liu Dalin took the hit without a word of complaint.

This time, the whole family was mobilized, leaving only Wei Lan, Wei Hong, and Elder Jiu at home to watch the house.

They had originally invited Elder Jiu to come along to the capital, but he was too used to living in Xinghua Village. The old man had no desire to leave and happily stayed behind.

The carriage rolled leisurely down the main road, and voices could still be heard from inside. “Dad, Mom, shouldn’t we at least send a message ahead?”

“Send what message? We’re already on the road! Besides, by the time the letter arrives, we’ll likely already be in the capital. No need to trouble ourselves.”

“Exactly. Once we’re in the capital, it’s not like we won’t recognize the way to the King’s Manor! What? Do you think we need someone to come fetch us?”

There was no arguing with that logic.

Meanwhile, Liu Yusheng was still nestled in the warm pavilion every day, completely unaware that her grandparents, parents, and the rest of the family were already charging toward the capital.

Not only her, even Liu Zhixia had no idea. He only found out they were all heading to the capital when they suddenly showed up at the prefect’s office.

The whole family barely stayed long enough to show their faces at the office and hug Xiao Maodou before Liu Dalin pulled them away in a rush, shouting for everyone to keep moving.

Watching her father-in-law’s anxious, hurried figure as he walked away, Fu Yuzheng pressed her lips together with a soft smile. “It’s a pity you have official duties, and Xiao Maodou is too young to endure a long boat journey. Otherwise, I would’ve gone too to keep Nannan company.”

Ever since getting married and staying with Zhixia in Yunzhou, her visits home had become rare. That was her greatest regret.

“Nannan already has so many people doting on her. She won’t be missing the two of us. If too many go, it might actually end up bothering her,” Liu Zhixia said as he took Xiao Maodou from her arms and gently pulled her inside. “Even if we can’t be with the family now, one day I’ll retire, won’t I? When that time comes, we’ll return to Xinghua Village, grow old there, and be with Grandpa, Grandma, and our parents every day.”

“Okay.”

They shared a smile, their eyes filled with a gentle light—an unspoken promise to each other, and a quiet hope for the future.