RMACAUH Chapter 31
by VolareChapter 31 Chapter 31 He was so easily moved by her words…
After waiting for a long time, the heat and impulse in his body gradually subsided.
Wei Xiaofeng, fully dressed, hid behind the screen, afraid to come out. Recalling the scene just now, he was so ashamed that he wanted to cry.
He was afraid that he would never be able to face this person again.
Seeing that he hadn’t come out for a long time, Feng Yue went forward to call him, “Are you done changing?”
Wei Xiaofeng awkwardly and stubbornly poked out half of his head. The moment their eyes met, Wei Xiaofeng quickly looked away.
Feng Yue could only pretend to be calm and said, “What happened today, let’s pretend it never happened. I will naturally not mention it to anyone. You don’t need to feel burdened.”
Wei Xiaofeng also knew that he was doing this to protect him, but for some reason, he felt a pang of sadness in his heart. He didn’t know why, nor could he sort out the reasons.
“Thank you, Your Highness, for your help today. If it weren’t for you, I really don’t know what I would have done.”
As he spoke, he gave Feng Yue a serious salute.
Feng Yue sighed inwardly and called Yuan Gonggong to send him back to Zidong Pavilion.
After he left, Feng Yue leaned against the soft couch in disappointment, and a lot of messy things flooded into his mind like a burst dam.
What he had to do in this life was too difficult.
Because of the struggle for the throne, he wanted too much, and he had many taboos about his feelings for Xiaofeng.
The lives of many of his close relatives in this life were in his hands, and he had to save them!
He couldn’t be willful and had to restrain himself. Every step had to be careful and cautious.
Feng Yue closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, the confusion and disappointment were gone, and his twinkling star-like eyes contained a firm light.
This was originally a road of no return, and he had no choice. The current situation was unclear, and involving Xiaofeng too early would do more harm than good.
The most important thing right now was the Empress Dowager’s birthday. It would be best if it could proceed according to plan, but if unexpected incidents occurred, he could only adapt to the situation.
*
On the first day Feng Xiao returned to the palace, he first went to greet the Empress Dowager. In the past two days, Feng Chao had not yet returned to the palace, and Renshou Palace seemed even more deserted.
The Empress Dowager didn’t like Feng Yue, but she disliked Feng Xiao even more.
“Your grandson greets the Imperial Grandmother.” Feng Xiao bowed down, but didn’t straighten up for a long time.
The Empress Dowager closed her eyes and dozed on a rocking chair covered with soft and warm fluff. The Persian cat coiled on her lap stared at Feng Xiao with round, green eyes when it saw a stranger.
The green smoke from the incense burner swirled upwards, and time seemed to pass particularly slowly. Feng Xiao hunched his back, maintaining the posture of greeting, and gradually became strenuous. Fine beads of sweat had seeped out from his temples.
It was unknown how long had passed, long enough for Feng Xiao’s knees to tremble, before he heard the Empress Dowager say lazily, “You may rise!”
Feng Xiao gritted his teeth, his voice cold and suppressed, “Thank you, Imperial Grandmother.”
“Give the Second Prince a seat.”
A female servant brought a stool and placed it below the Empress Dowager, and Feng Xiao had no choice but to sit down.
“Imperial Grandmother, has your health been well recently?”
“Listening to your words, it seems you are hoping that I am not well.”
Feng Xiao could only smile, “Imperial Grandmother, what are you saying? Your grandson has no such intention.”
“I see that you were doing well on the estate, which is also a blessing for you.” The Empress Dowager slowly opened her eyes, and the loose, drooping corners of her eyes gathered the cold light in her eyes even more, with no trace of her usual kindness. It looked somewhat eerie.
“It’s all your father’s fault. His filial piety is something I can’t refuse. He hurriedly brought you back to celebrate my birthday.”
At this time, Feng Xiao couldn’t even force a smile. He could only sit upright on the stool and listen without being able to refute.
“Speaking of which, it’s still the Empress who is negligent in her discipline. Feng Yue is more fortunate than you. Relying on the Chen family, he gained first-class military merit. You made such a big mistake, and being punished for these few years is considered light. These two are both worries!”
Because of endurance, Feng Xiao’s breathing was trembling, “Imperial Grandmother, you are right to teach me!”
The Empress Dowager snorted coldly, “You better listen to it. Don’t make this muddleheaded mistake again in the future. If there is another time, I will see who can protect your little life?”
“Your grandson will remember Imperial Grandmother’s teachings and will definitely abide by my duty.”
“Go, don’t disturb my rest.”
Feng Xiao breathed a sigh of relief and got up to bow to the Empress Dowager: “Your grandson takes his leave.”
After he left, the Empress Dowager felt uneasy and called the chief female servant who was serving beside her, “The Eldest Prince has been out of the palace for several days. Why hasn’t he returned yet? Tell someone to urge him. Don’t lose the advantage because of this moment.”
That evening, Feng Chao received a letter from the palace, telling him to return quickly.
Lin Huai felt sorry that his body was still weak and watched him brewing medicine by the stove, saying, “The Empress Dowager is really… Why rush at this moment?”
Feng Chao folded the letter and threw it into the charcoal fire in front of him. His jade-like face showed no emotion. He picked up the pen and continued to paint a picture of red plum blossoms in the snow on the table.
The Empress Dowager had always been extremely selfish. She only had herself in her eyes. Everything in the world was a tool for her to cling to power. This person was ruthless but had her own way, so she could succeed and must be a ruthless character.
There was a reason why she was so eager to summon him back.
From choosing his mother to enter the palace to supporting him, it was all in order to have useful pawns in her hand for her to use.
How could the emperor not see through this point?
The Empress Dowager could no longer restrain herself since he had not yet established an heir. Otherwise, she would not have returned to the palace during her birthday.
However, his father was also very deep-minded, but the Empress Chen… was even more unfathomable!
Even the easiest-to-understand third brother was now incomprehensible.
Feng Chao sighed wearily, put down his pen, and rubbed his temples, “Lin Huai, do you think my thinking has been slow recently?”
“Ah?” Lin Huai was shocked, “Why does Your Highness ask this question?”
“Maybe I have been a little tired recently…”
At this time, the medicine was ready. Lin Huai poured the bitter medicinal juice, which had been boiled into a small bowl, into a jade bowl. The smell of medicine filled the air, as if even the air inhaled into his lungs was bitter.
“Leave it there, I’ll drink it later.”
“This medicine will be cold after a while, Your Highness, you should drink it while it’s hot!”
Feng Chao looked reluctant, picked up the medicine bowl, and brought it to his mouth several times, but found it difficult to swallow.
Lin Huai stared at him earnestly, with a coaxing smile, “Yes, yes, Your Highness, just close your eyes and gulp it down…”
“Wouldn’t that be bitter then?”
“As long as you swallow it fast enough, you won’t taste anything.”
“You are so smart.” After saying that, Feng Chao really listened to him and gulped down the medicine in the bowl.
After taking the medicine, Lin Huai stuffed a candied plum into his mouth, “Have something sweet.”
Feng Chao chuckled, “Yeah, it’s very sweet.”
He suddenly remembered that when he was a child, when he was sick, his mother also took care of him like this, and then Lin Huai learned it all.
“Pack up, we will return to the palace tomorrow morning,” Feng Chao’s eyes darkened, and he said obscurely, “Call him over…”
“Call who?”
“Call the one named Chu here.”
“Ah~ Yes! Let him come and take your pulse again. This old servant will arrange it.”
So that night, Chu Lingqiao was ‘invited’ over again.
Chu Lingqiao had lost his temper about this kind of thing. He entered the room familiarly, put down his medicine box, “Where is the young master feeling uncomfortable today?”
He looked back at the person in the tent, sitting upright on the edge of the bed, his beautiful figure looming.
“Actually, I’m not feeling uncomfortable anywhere. Your medical skills are very good. My body is already refreshed.”
Chu Lingqiao was organizing the medicine box, listening to him with a frown, “Then what did you call me here for? Don’t you want to sleep? I still want to sleep. I don’t know how many patients I have to see in a day. You rich people are always tossing people. Not only do you toss yourselves, but you also toss others.”
“Are you unhappy?”
“If you were me, would you be happy?”
Feng Chao chuckled, “If the person I’m seeing is Doctor Chu, then I’m naturally happy.”
Chu Lingqiao’s heart skipped a beat and muttered, “Shameless!”
“What outrageous thing have I done to make Doctor Chu think I’m shameless? These past few days, I have undressed and slept with Doctor Chu, staying up all night until dawn. Why be so distant?”
“Young master, be careful with your words!”
“Then am I stating the truth?”
As he spoke, he lifted the gauze curtain and walked out with a chuckle.
Chu Lingqiao was momentarily flustered, and turned his face away in a slightly flustered manner, but saw the finished picture of red plum blossoms in the snow on the table.
He was very surprised and couldn’t help but go forward to take a closer look, “Did you paint this?”
“Is it pretty?”
“It’s pretty!”
“Then I’ll give it to you.”
“Give it to me?” Chu Lingqiao was a little flattered to accept such a big favor, “It must have taken a long time to paint this, right?”
“Not long, just two or three days.”
Chu Lingqiao lovingly stroked the scenery on the paper with his fingertips. The vast white snow and the vast sky were connected as one, and the clusters of red plum blossoms bloomed spectacularly in it.
The person who could create such a painting should have a broad and lonely heart, with a nature like the red plum blossoms in the snow, passionate as fire.
Chu Lingqiao really loved this painting and couldn’t bear to refuse, so he said, “Today, I, your humble servant, will accept this painting from the young master, and it will offset ten taels of consultation fees, how about that?”
“Then will you keep me company and chat for a while longer?”
Chu Lingqiao took a breath, seemingly unwilling.
Feng Chao smiled bitterly, never feeling so frustrated, “Since you are unwilling, then I won’t force you. I’ll have them send you back.”
“What do you want to chat about?” Chu Lingqiao suddenly interrupted him.
Feng Chao was stunned for a moment, and a bright smile bloomed on his face, “Doctor Chu, please sit down.”
Chu Lingqiao sat on the couch, took the boiling water from the charcoal fire, and brewed tea himself, not at all like an outsider.
Feng Chao propped his chin up with his hand, his eyes sticking to his face without any hesitation.
Chu Lingqiao pretended to blow away the floating tea leaves, took a sip of the sweet hot tea, and then raised his eyes to meet his presumptuous gaze, “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You’re good-looking, I want to take a few more glances.”
“You’re also good-looking, why don’t you look at yourself.”
Feng Chao smiled again, “How can I be as good-looking as Doctor Chu? Doctor Chu is the most good-looking.”
Chu Lingqiao’s soul was about to melt, he closed his eyes and waved his hand, “Stop, let’s talk about something else.”
“I’m leaving early tomorrow morning.”
“Where are you going?”
“My grandmother at home is urging me to go home, and I won’t be able to see Doctor Chu so easily in the future.”
“Why do you want to see me?”
“Doesn’t Doctor Chu know?”
Chu Lingqiao couldn’t help but tighten his grip on the cup, “How would I know?”
“Then naturally…” Feng Chao said playfully, “I am fond of you.”
After that, Chu Lingqiao didn’t hear anything else. He stayed for a short time, found an excuse, and left with the painting.
That night, Chu Lingqiao stayed awake until dawn, tossing and turning, his mind full of those lewd words.
He didn’t even know his name.
It was just a joke from a bored second-generation noble who wanted to tease him, but he was so easily moved by his words that he couldn’t sleep all night.
This person is really bad. Why can he say ‘I am fond of you’ so easily?
The speaker doesn’t mean it, but the listener takes it to heart.
Killing people!
*
Soon it was the day of the Empress Dowager’s birthday. The palace banquet when Feng Yue returned wasn’t as grand as it was today.
The ministers came forward to wish the Empress Dowager a happy birthday and then took their seats.
The stage was set up long ago, and various songs, dances, and acrobatics gathered today, performing non-stop from morning to night.