Ning Fei muttered while glancing at Xia Jingshi, who stood by the door with his hands clasped behind his back, a statue of contemplation. "Why hasn't she returned yet? Could it be that the Empress Dowager invited her for a meal?" He quickly reached for a piece of cold cake on the table. Just as he was about to put it in his mouth, he turned to see Xue Ying staring at him with wide, disapproving eyes. He promptly changed direction and stuffed it into Xue Ying's mouth instead.
Xue Ying chewed silently, her expression somewhere between amusement and exasperation, gesturing to Ning Fei—who had successfully stolen a second piece of cake—to move the remaining pastries on the plate out of sight. Ning Fei had just moved two pieces when Xia Jingshi suddenly turned around and said, "Serve the meal!"
"Oh, I'm starving," Ning Fei said, his hand awkwardly suspended in mid-air suddenly becoming animated. He grabbed two more pieces and shoved them in his mouth, mumbling as he walked out, words barely intelligible through the pastry, "I'll go to the front and call Wei Ran back…"
"No need," Xia Jingshi stopped him, lifting his robe slightly as he sat down at the table with practiced grace. "Wei Ran went to wait at the palace gate earlier. Let's eat first."
Throughout the meal, Xia Jingshi seemed distracted, his mind clearly elsewhere. He barely touched the dishes before him, pushing food around his bowl before putting down his chopsticks. Xue Ying, while putting food into Ning Fei's bowl with wifely attentiveness, carefully stole glances at him. Finally, unable to contain herself, she whispered to Ning Fei, "Do you think His Highness is ill?"
"Ill?" Ning Fei looked at Xia Jingshi with exaggerated suspicion. "I've never seen His Highness sick before."
Xue Ying snorted. "With his temperament, he wouldn't tell you if he was sick. Normally, you haven't seen it."
Ning Fei immediately protested, "You haven't seen it either! Not only have you never seen His Highness sick, you've never even seen him injured. At least I've seen His Highness injured before."
"But we're talking about him being sick now!" Xue Ying retorted with impeccable logic.
Seeing the two arguing with great enthusiasm, like children debating who had seen more clouds, Xia Jingshi coughed lightly. "I…"
Xue Ying's eyes immediately lit up with vindication, and she pointed at him, laughing. "See? He coughed!"
Xia Jingshi smiled helplessly, a mix of fondness and exasperation crossing his features. "You two, don't you have anything better to do?"
Xue Ying and Ning Fei were stunned simultaneously and very tacitly closed their mouths, lowering their heads to continue eating like scolded children. Ning Fei's silver chopsticks scraped the empty bottom of the bowl with a squeaking sound that echoed in the sudden silence. Xue Ying looked up and gave him a glare, then reached out with her chopsticks to add some food to his bowl, casually calling him an idiot, which earned her an indignant glare from Ning Fei.
Xia Jingshi smiled as he watched the bickering couple before him—this familiar, comfortable dynamic that spoke of home and loyalty. "Since you two are so free, why don't you make another trip to Xu Sha?"
"We just got back, why do we have to go again?" Ning Fei asked, genuinely confused. Almost simultaneously, Xue Ying slammed her chopsticks on the table with enthusiasm, exclaiming, "I want to go!"
A fleeting look—something tender and melancholic—passed through Xia Jingshi's eyes. "Prince Feng has written to ask me to request from the Holy Emperor a status that can protect Yi Xiao. Today, when I mentioned this to the Holy Emperor, he immediately promised to bestow upon Yi Xiao the title of Royal Princess. This way, in at most ten days, when the imperial edict is issued, an envoy will be sent to Xu Sha to deliver the state letter… Moreover, Yi Xiao probably has many things she needs to bring from Jin Xiu."
He glanced at Xue Ying, his voice carrying careful casualness. "I've also inquired, and in a few days, the official kiln will produce a new batch of glazed hairpins. Her previous one was broken last time, so this time, bring a few new ones for her."
Xue Ying hesitated slightly, her joy dimming. "Yi Xiao's mother's death anniversary is approaching, and she asked me in her letter to go and pay respects on her behalf, but if it's ten days later…"
"Now that Yi Xiao has received a title, her mother's grave will also need to be renovated according to the regulations," Xia Jingshi said gently, smoothly providing the solution. "So, the matter of paying respects, leave it to me. It won't be delayed."
"Alright," Xue Ying immediately beamed with joy, her concerns evaporating. "Then I'll trouble Your Highness with this task!"
Watching Xue Ying chatting happily with Ning Fei about what to bring to Xu Sha—their voices animated with plans and possibilities—the smile on Xia Jingshi's lips deepened. His hand unconsciously reached into his bosom, his fingertips lightly touching the narrow wooden box nestled against his heart.
That azure glazed hairpin was the heirloom left to Yi Xiao by her mother on her deathbed. It had once passed through her hair, warmed by her body heat, carrying her scent. Now, the remaining half lay quietly in the wooden box, warmed by his own body heat. In the intersection of time, their body temperatures intertwined—as close as they could ever be.
She was always so stubborn, as if no setback could make her lower her head. She was also like a blank sheet of paper, untainted by any dirt or duplicity. He liked Yi Xiao's bare-faced, clean appearance—that honesty that couldn't be taught or faked. Being able to make her happy, to protect her completely, made him happier than anyone else.
He had once thought he could calmly let her go, to be by another man's side. From Xu Sha to Lu City, and then from Lu City to the Imperial City, the increasing distance only made him miss her more frantically. The tossing and turning of lovesickness had already turned into a blazing flame, almost burning him from the inside out…
Intoxicating to the point of drowning, yet heartbreaking to the point of despair.
Until now, only she could satisfy him, could fill his heart that had become as empty as a bottomless pit—a void that echoed with her name. But she was someone he couldn't touch, couldn't claim, because he bore the mark of taboo…
"Your Highness," Xiao Wei Ran's calm voice came from the outer room, accompanied by hurried footsteps getting closer, interrupting Xia Jingshi's spiral of longing. "The Empress Dowager sent a eunuch with a message that the Princess Consort will stay in Ci Yang Hall today and return to Ming De Palace after breakfast tomorrow…"
The words hung in the air, meaning unspoken but understood.
Fu Yi Xiao coldly faced the dressing mirror, her reflection a stranger dressed for war. She carefully placed a gold-painted emerald on her forehead—the ornament symbolizing her status as a royal lady, a title won through marriage rather than merit. Behind her, the maids bustled about nervously yet orderly, arranging her hairstyle and attire with the precision of soldiers preparing armor.
The assailants who had attacked her at the martial arts competition had all been captured by the prince. Today was the first day of the joint trial by the four departments, and Feng Sui Ge would accompany her, allowing her to preside over the trial personally.
Fu Yi Xiao made a final inspection of her clothing and makeup, then closed her eyes briefly. When they opened again, a smile of cold determination curved at the corners of her lips.
Feng Qi Shan, although I come from a humble background and grew up in the military, completely ignorant of royal etiquette, I will make you understand that sometimes what seems to be a fatal weakness can become a tool for victory.
The victor becomes a king or marquis, the loser a bandit.
What I love is not the challenge itself, but what comes after the challenge—victory.
Feng Sui Ge sat in the large chair placed at the head of the hall, unusually restless. Yi Xiao, uncharacteristically half-leaning against him, was in full makeup and resplendent attire—dressed like a courtesan rather than a judge. She looked more alluring than he had ever seen her before, as if she wasn't here to interrogate serious criminals, but to attend a grand banquet where she was the main attraction.
During a lull in bringing in the prisoners, Feng Sui Ge spoke softly to Yi Xiao, his voice meant for her ears alone. "If it weren't for Marquis Jian Xin suddenly appearing and injuring two of them, the investigation would have been much more difficult. I've questioned them preliminarily, but they still refuse to talk."
Yi Xiao let out a crisp laugh—bright and seemingly carefree—attracting the gaze of everyone in the hall. She leaned lazily against Feng Sui Ge, idly playing with her sleeve like a pampered consort with nothing better to do. "How could that be? You must not have used the right method."
The elderly ministers from the four departments who were assisting in the trial all looked at Fu Yi Xiao disapprovingly, their expressions speaking volumes about their judgment. When the prince had proposed to let the junior consort preside over the trial, they had thought it would surely not pass the Emperor's approval. Who knew the Emperor would agree readily? They had been wondering what kind of formidable character the junior consort was, but now she seemed no different from ordinary concubines—perhaps even more frivolous. Perhaps this trial was just a pretense to placate the frightened junior consort, nothing more than political theater.
Soon, all fourteen criminals were brought in, chains clanking. Yi Xiao sat up slightly, surveying the prisoners below with varying expressions—some defiant, some afraid, all expecting mercy. Her gaze flowed over them, all smiles and seeming sweetness. "Now that you've fallen into my hands, you should be prepared. The lives on my hands—a few more or less of you won't make much difference. The Jinxiu army has ten major punishments, each capable of taking your life, but you each only have one life. So, confess and admit your guilt quickly!"
Hearing her threats delivered in such a pleasant tone, the elderly ministers from the four departments all chuckled secretly, exchanging knowing glances. The fourteen prisoners kneeling below also showed mocking expressions, their fear evaporating into contempt. One of them even sneered, "Oh my, I'm scared to death…" Immediately, all fourteen burst into laughter—harsh, mocking sounds that echoed through the hall.
Yi Xiao didn't show a hint of anger. Instead, she smiled even more pleasantly, like a hostess delighted by her guests' entertainment. "Since you're so scared, let's start with you. Bring up what I asked for."
As soon as she finished speaking, several maids walked up from the side in eerie synchronization—some carrying jars that sloshed with unknown liquids, some holding sacks that seemed to writhe, and some even carrying boxes made by carpenters with suspicious holes drilled in the sides.
Seeing such an eerie setup—props for something no one wanted to imagine—several people in the hall could no longer laugh. The mirth died in their throats.
Yi Xiao leaned back lazily against Feng Sui Ge and instructed the bewildered jailer beside her, her voice still light and conversational. "Knock out all his teeth and administer one hundred lashes."
Everyone's face changed—color draining from elderly ministers who had thought this a game. Everyone's face changed, except for Feng Sui Ge's. As the man was dragged to the back hall for punishment, screaming miserably—the sounds of a man realizing his mockery had been premature—Yi Xiao smiled and gestured for the maids to hand everything over to the jailer.
"Later, insert a long nail into the back of his neck to keep him awake at all times, so he can fully enjoy everything I've prepared."
The casual cruelty of the instruction, delivered like a recipe, made several officials flinch.
One of the elderly ministers hesitated, his voice uncertain. "Isn't the Junior Consort's action a bit excessive…"
"Excessive?" Yi Xiao sneered, her pleasant mask finally cracking to reveal the fury beneath. "When Gu Yu died, why didn't any of you stand up and say it was excessive? If I had died in the forest, I'm afraid none of you would have said a word about it being excessive."
Feng Sui Ge frowned slightly and coldly ordered, his voice cutting through the tension, "Do as the Junior Consort says!"
The screaming from the back hall intensified.
And Fu Yi Xiao's smile returned—sweet, satisfied, and absolutely terrifying.
Sometimes what seems weakness becomes the sharpest weapon.
And she had just begun.
Next
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