FID – Chapter 902

Chapter 902 – A Gentleman’s Revenge Is Never Too Late

When Feng Qingbai returned to the residence, it was already evening.

He had been gone the entire day, and Liu Yusheng didn’t know what he had been doing, though she suspected it was related to Shan Lai.

If things were truly as they suspected, then this little imperial female doctor had already begun plotting against the palace concubines long before she officially entered the harem. Her plan must have been in the making for a very long time.

She had laid her groundwork step by step. Now she was inside the palace and pregnant with the imperial heir. She was just one final step away from success: giving birth to a prince.

The entire matter even implicated the Imperial Medical Academy, making it extremely complicated.

“Did you send people out to investigate today?” After dinner, as she returned to the room with the two babies to nurse them, Liu Yusheng asked the man beside her.

Feng Qingbai sat next to her and reached out to support the baby in her arms. “Several imperial physicians in the academy are under suspicion. We’re currently investigating their backgrounds, and so far, we’ve found that at least three of them have falsified their identities.”

“Falsified identities? Then it’s very possible they’re from Baicao Valley?”

“We need concrete evidence before we can draw a final conclusion. But if that’s true, then it’s very likely that my father’s death wasn’t so simple either.” Feng Qingbai’s gaze darkened.

The implication in his words left Liu Yusheng speechless for a long moment.

Silence hung in the room.

“Say… about what happened back then, and Baicao Valley’s ambition… could Mother Consort have known about it?”

“What do you mean?” The man’s eyes deepened, turning pitch black like ink that couldn’t be diluted.

Liu Yusheng steadied her thoughts and said, “If Mother knew about Baicao Valley’s ambition, with the deep affection she had for Father Emperor, she would surely have tried to warn him, to make him more cautious. But doing so would mean betraying her maternal family, and she would have felt guilty toward them. That kind of dilemma, torn between loyalty to both sides and carrying guilt for both, might have been one of the reasons she chose to flee the palace with you back then.”

Feng Qingbai’s breath hitched for a moment, becoming heavier. Gazing intently at her, he said, “Or perhaps there was another reason. Baicao Valley discovered that she had ruined their plans and ordered her eliminated.”

A fiery light slowly surfaced in his eyes, flickering and growing ever more intense.

Just like that night, years ago, at the foot of Mount Luofu, that blazing inferno that devoured everything in its path.

Feng Qingbai clenched his fists tightly, veins bulging across the backs of his hands.

He had watched his mother burn to death with his own eyes. That scene had driven him mad for three whole years, a nightmare that could still tear him apart in the dead of night.

Even now, just thinking about it made him feel as if his whole body were burning in flames.

And yet, he still forced himself to recall every detail of that night.

Were those men in black truly sent by someone from the palace? Was everything really as simple as his mother had claimed before they fled?

Was it really just a case of a mother’s courage? His mother was unable to watch him suffer any longer at the hands of the harem, so she took him far away from all the chaos, to start anew?

A warm, soft hand gently covered the back of his, offering silent comfort.

When he lifted his bloodshot eyes, they met a pair of gentle, water-like eyes—brimming with concern and heartache for him.

“Aya—”

“Ah—”

Soft, milk-scented sounds rang out as two tiny hands reached out and landed on his strong arm at the same time.

Looking down, he saw the two little ones, who usually gobbled down their food like ravenous wolves, never letting go until they were full, now tilting their little heads up, wide black eyes blinking at him in unison.

The redness in Feng Qingbai’s eyes faded quickly, replaced instead by a flush around the rims of his long, narrow eyes.

Three pairs of equally clear eyes, all carrying the same look of concern. In their gaze, there was only his reflection.

He gathered the three pairs of hands—one big, two small—into his palm, as if holding his entire world. He smiled and said, “I’m fine.”

“Ah-ah.”

“Yah.”

“Father is fine.” With a smile on his lips, he repeated it formally to the two little ones.

“Mm.”

“Ah-woo!”

Immediately, the two little heads dove back toward their food bowls.

Their just-recovered-from-worry father was instantly forgotten.

Still touched, Feng Qingbai leaned down and gave a kiss on Hongdou’s chubby cheek.

When he turned to Xiao Badou and leaned in— SMACK!

A tiny foot landed squarely on his face.

“Pfft!” Liu Yusheng covered her mouth, collapsing into laughter in the man’s arms.

“No big deal. A gentleman’s revenge is never too late,” the man said through gritted teeth, smiling as if unfazed.

“I think our son is holding a grudge over the nickname you gave him.”

“No matter. In time, I’ll teach him what filial piety really means.”

Hongdou ate contentedly and peacefully.

Xiao Badou, however, closed his eyes and quietly pulled back his tiny feet.

This time, after the two little ones were full, they fell asleep. When Feng Qingbai tried to carry them back to the next room, he realized that each of them was holding tightly—one hand gripping his sleeve, the other clutching Liu Yusheng’s collar.

Their delicate, tender little fingers were so fragile it seemed they could break with the slightest bend. Feng Qingbai moved his fingers slightly, feeling an inexplicable reluctance.

Reluctant to let go.

“Shall we let them sleep here tonight?”

“All right.” Liu Yusheng’s lips curved into a gentle smile as she looked at the two kids.

The little ones were probably still worried about their father.

The main bedroom light stayed on all night, making it easier for the woman to feed the children.

The night was deep. Inside the bed canopy, the soft, shallow breaths of three people echoed nearby, stirring a swelling warmth in the heart.

Feng Qingbai gazed at the three peaceful sleeping faces, completely entranced.

Early the next morning, the ranked consorts of the harem went as usual to Yangxin Hall to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.

Although most of the time, the Empress Dowager only sent the old maid serving her to inform the concubines that she had received their regards, and they were not even allowed to enter the gates of Yangxin Palace, no one dared to neglect their duties just because she was absent.

They had to come every day without fail.

Today, everyone had originally expected that they would again only see the old nanny, but unexpectedly, the nanny actually invited them into the palace.

She said that the Empress Dowager was in good spirits today and wanted to enjoy some tea with everyone and chat about everyday matters.

This made the group of concubines very happy. Everyone knew that recently the Emperor had been coming to Yangxin Hall every day. If they could stay longer inside the palace, they might have a chance to see the Emperor and show their faces in front of him.

While following the old maid into the palace, one of the concubines at the very back whispered softly, “We came without notifying that lady. Should we send someone to call her?”

“To pay respects to the Empress Dowager requires sincerity. Now that she is pregnant with the Dragon Heir and has been granted the title of Concubine, she must be feeling proud and might not even care about the Empress Dowager anymore. Why should we bother to be petty?”

“That’s right, we don’t have that intention. If we went to greet her, she might even think we’re meddlesome.”

Their soft laughter faded as they entered Yangxin Hall.

All the charming and graceful concubines sat together on the soft couch to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.

“Rise. I have not been well these past few days and could not bear noise, so I did not summon you all. The old maid told me you still come every day. How thoughtful of you.”

“Your Majesty speaks humbly. Your Majesty is our elder. It is only right and our filial duty to come and pay respects to you.”