FID – Chapter 892

Chapter 892: Buy One, Get One Free — What a Deal

Ten years ago.

After a decade apart, the next move was definitely not simple.

Feng Qingbai and Qin Xiao exchanged a glance, both with frost in their eyes.

First, there was an attempt to slowly poison the emperor; now, an attempt on the current Empress Dowager. On the surface, these seemed unrelated.

Once Xiao Feng’er was dead, perhaps the royal family would once again be thrown into a succession struggle. But what was the purpose of poisoning the Empress Dowager?

Everyone in the court knew that the Empress Dowager no longer had her maternal clan behind her. She had no strong backing. Although she had opposed Feng Qingbai and Feng Mohan before, their relationship had recently begun to ease. Her death would have little real impact on the royal family, and no one would suspect Feng Qingbai or Feng Mohan. Since their relations improved, they have no reason to harm her now.

So what did the people behind this want?

“What if the Empress Dowager is gone, and General Qin’s heart turns to ashes?” Liu Yusheng suddenly said.

Everyone was shocked, multiple pairs of eyes turned toward Qin Xiao; the Empress Dowager also looked at him, her ten fingers quietly clenching beneath her long sleeves.

Qin Xiao closed his eyes. If Aman were gone, what would he do? “If the heart turns to ashes, then what’s the point of still living?”

It was better to turn into a handful of yellow earth and scatter around her tomb.

“In that case, the border will be vulnerable.”

Feng Qingbai’s eyes darkened coldly. “First, investigate how the Empress Dowager was poisoned and catch the perpetrator!”

“I already checked the Empress Dowager’s medicine and possible places in the hall where poison could have been applied. I found nothing. There aren’t many people in the Yangxin Hall, only a few palace maids and attendants who frequently serve Her Majesty; none seem suspicious,” Liu Yusheng said. “The only possible source I can think of is the water used to deliver the medicine.”

At this, the old maid gasped, “That’s right! Her Majesty needs warm boiled water to swallow her pills! It’s always boiled in the small kitchen beside Yangxin Hall. The palace maid responsible for delivering the water is Feicui! But Fei Cui has been at Yangxin Hall for five years and has always been trustworthy…”

If Feicui really poisoned her, then she hid it extremely well! Just thinking about it was terrifying!

“Send someone, bring Fei Cui here immediately!” Feng Mohan ordered outside.

Soon, a palace guard came to report, “Your Majesty, Fei Cui hanged herself in her room and has been dead for a quarter of an hour!”

A quarter of an hour ago, Liu Yusheng had just discovered the Empress Dowager was poisoned.

“The clue we just caught has gone cold again!” Feng Mohan cursed angrily, frustrated in his heart.

Who exactly was this person, repeatedly trying to stir up storms in the Nanling royal family, trying to shake the entire Nanling?!

Feng Qingbai was silent for a moment, then spoke, “No, we have already found a lead. Everything they are doing is to throw Nanling into chaos, destabilize the border troops’ morale, and seize the opportunity. Their scheme targets all of Nanling.”

“Imperial Uncle, who do you suspect?” Feng Mohan asked immediately.

“Baicao Valley,” Feng Qingbai said. “Not long ago, I got some clues from Mother Empress. I sent people to investigate and there’s some progress, though there are still aspects that need to be scrutinized and verified.”

Hearing the Empress Dowager referred to as Mother Empress from his uncle’s mouth still felt strange to Feng Mohan. Since his uncle now called the Empress Dowager mother, he would have to call her ‘Imperial Grandmother,’ which he just couldn’t bring himself to say.

He could only mentally ignore those two words.

Liu Yusheng chimed in beside him, “You must be wondering, if Baicao Valley’s scheme is aimed at all of Nanling, after stirring up the chaos, how do they plan to take the throne?”

Feng Qingbai nodded. “Throughout history, succession to the throne relies on legitimacy; illegitimate or underhanded methods are not accepted by the world. Without a legitimate claim, even if Nanling falls into chaos, they still won’t be able to seize the throne.”

This was the part that needed careful consideration.

“The matter is too complicated; it’s impossible to figure it out all at once. It must be unraveled bit by bit. But the palace will inevitably need another thorough purge. We don’t even know when the enemy planted their spies inside. The Emperor and the Empress Dowager will always be in danger,” Qin Xiao said.

“This Prince will leave this matter to General Qin. Although the commander of the Imperial Guards was appointed by me, nearly half of the guards under his command are spies you planted. Since you have authority over them, you’re the most suitable person to lead this,” Feng Qingbai said.

Qin Xiao smiled without replying, while Feng Mohan’s face darkened—dark greenish-blue.

He only now realized that what he had always thought was an entirely loyal palace force was actually half filled with enemy spies!

He felt utterly useless as an emperor!

And Qin Xiao was even more cunning than a wolf!

Fortunately… glancing quietly at the Empress Dowager’s calm face, Feng Mohan breathed a secret sigh of relief. Fortunately, Qin Xiao was now on their side.

His uncle was the truly crafty one. Taking care of the Empress Dowager was like taking care of the Nanling battlefield’s war god.

Two birds with one stone.

It was quite a bargain.

With that thought, calling her Imperial Grandmother suddenly didn’t seem so difficult after all.

Next time they met, he would—he would change the way he addressed her.

Everyone in the hall had been through many storms; their emotions quickly calmed and returned to normal.

Only Grandma Liu was still dazed and confused. She had heard every word they said but didn’t understand a thing.

“Don’t think about it. With your simple mind, even if I break down each word for you, you still wouldn’t get it. You’d just end up confusing yourself,” the Empress Dowager said, gently pinching Xiao Badou’s tiny paw while playfully tickling Hongdou, completely at ease.

It was almost as if the poisoning didn’t happen to her.

“You really have a big heart,” Grandma Liu snorted. “But the palace is dangerous with so many people. You can’t tell which ones have black or red hearts beneath their skins. If you can’t stay there, just come to my house. You don’t even need attendants. This old lady here can take care of you.”

The old maid grimaced bitterly. “Elder Madam Liu, I’ve served Her Majesty for decades. Please, don’t let her leave me behind!”

The Empress Dowager was very tolerant of Grandma Liu. It wasn’t impossible that she might actually do that.

Grandma Liu waved her hand. “Fine, you come along too! You’ve been to my house before. We’ve got plenty of empty rooms. Even if a few more come, there’s space for all!”

Glancing at Grandma Liu, the Empress Dowager’s eyes flickered with a faint smile that spread to the corners of her mouth.

Qin Xiao, standing nearby, was so captivated that he forgot to hide it.

It had been many, many years since he last saw her smile.

Now, even this faint, almost imperceptible smile made him feel as if it belonged to another lifetime.

It had been so long it made his throat ache and tighten with emotion.

The two little ones stayed in the Yangxin Hall with the Empress Dowager for the entire afternoon, and only when the sun began to set did the group finally leave.

Qin Xiao walked at the very back. Once the others had disappeared from sight, he turned back.

Seeing him return, the Empress Dowager frowned. “Why have you come back again?”

“Aman, I want to ask you something,” he said, calling her by name, bold and improper.

The Empress Dowager pressed her lips together, her palm quietly tightening into a fist, but she said nothing.

“If I die, when you recall the past, will you just once in a while remember me?”