RMACAUH Chapter 49
by VolareChapter 49 Chapter 49 He’s too calm! Calm to the point of not seeming like he’s going to a…
Feng Xilan was immediately extremely disappointed in him. He had traveled thousands of miles to Southern Zhao, and Si Ming was his only reliance.
He thought that even if there was a rift between them, they could at least live together in harmony and treat each other with respect.
However, the reality was that in Si Ming’s eyes, marrying him was only to secure his position as Prince. Once he left the capital and came to this unfamiliar place, he would be at Si Ming’s mercy.
Si Ming no longer possessed the gentle elegance and refined demeanor that Feng Xilan remembered. All that remained was an icy coldness that kept people at arm’s length and sharp barbs. Even when he looked at Feng Xilan, he couldn’t hide the disgust in his eyes.
After recognizing the reality, Feng Xilan swallowed the bitterness in his throat, widened his sore eyes, and his pride and self-esteem would not allow him to shed tears at this moment, in front of this man.
“These are your Southern Zhao’s rules, not our capital’s rules. So what if I lose this etiquette? Will you divorce me and send me back? I married into Southern Zhao to be the Heir Apparent’s consort, not for a political marriage, not to be superior, not to be your slave to order around!”
“You…” Si Ming didn’t expect him to be so tough. It was their wedding night, and if he wasn’t willing, he couldn’t drag him to the front hall to toast the uncles and elders. If he acted recklessly in the front hall and lost face, Si Ming would also be humiliated.
In the end, Si Ming could only fling his sleeves and leave in anger.
The moment the door slammed shut, the tears that Feng Xilan had been holding back finally fell from his eyes. He slumped down on the edge of the bed, the strength in his body seemingly exhausted in the confrontation with Si Ming just now.
Today was only the first day he came to Southern Zhao, and he was already despised by his husband. How was he going to live from now on?
In the Southern Zhao dungeon, the innermost cell recently held a special prisoner. No one knew what he had done, but the Southern Zhao King personally ordered that he was not to be released without his permission.
This person was Si Mo, the second son of the Si family.
In Southern Zhao, everyone knew that Si Mo was not favored by the Southern Zhao King. The reasons were nothing more than two.
The late Southern Zhao Queen Consort and the Southern Zhao King Si Chang had a deep and loving relationship, but the late Queen Consort died of massive bleeding due to dystocia when giving birth to Si Mo. On that day, the astrologer observed a comet rising, which swept across the Dongjing constellation, a sign of defeat and ruin.
The Southern Zhao King originally wanted to kill him, but after all, he was his own bloodline, and he couldn’t bear it for a moment. So, he sent him to be raised by the Royal Concubine Dowager. Except for the two days of the New Year’s Festival when he was brought into the palace for a family banquet, he spent the rest of his time outside the palace.
For so many years, Si Chang had never cared about him or given him any love.
Si Mo’s only warmth came from his grandmother, but his grandmother was also extremely strict with him, and he would be severely punished for any mistakes.
It was just because he was born with an ominous omen, the astrologer had predicted that he was a jinx who would lead Southern Zhao to decline!
He killed his mother at birth, and he would definitely bring doom to the entire Southern Zhao’s fortune in the future.
No one here liked him, but he stubbornly and stubbornly lived here.
Today was the Heir Apparent’s wedding banquet, and only the important guards were left behind, while the rest went to the front hall to join in the fun.
The Royal Concubine Dowager,zhu zhe guai zhang – leaning on a cane, walked into the dark and damp dungeon, accompanied by an old *momo*.
The guards on duty respectfully saluted her.
“Open the prison door.”
The guards dared not be negligent and quickly opened the prison door, letting the Royal Concubine Dowager in.
Si Mo, who had been unconscious for a long time due to torture, slowly woke up when he heard the sound. When he saw his grandmother, his eyes instantly turned red, and he tightly pursed his lips without saying a word.
When the Royal Concubine Dowager saw the tears welling up in his eyes but stubbornly not falling, she sighed helplessly: “Do you know what you did wrong?”
Si Mo moved slowly, the thin inner garment on his body covered in whip marks. His hands were bound by heavy chains, preventing him from moving freely. He knelt down to his grandmother, and the tears he had been holding back finally dripped into the cracks in the ground, leaving no trace.
“Grandmother, I don’t understand… I’ve grown up so much, why can’t I have the things I like? I just… I just like him, I’m not wrong!”
A trace of pity and affection appeared in the Royal Concubine Dowager’s eyes, but she had to harden her heart: “You must always remember your own identity. You were born as Southern Zhao’s calamity. Being alive is already your father’s grace. How can you covet things that don’t belong to you?”
“I don’t accept it!!” Si Mo tugged at the heavy chains, making a dull clanging sound in the dungeon. He desperately reached out and grabbed his grandmother’s wrist, “Grandmother, Grandmother… I hate it so much! If I have to live so desperately, why didn’t you kill me in the first place?”
The Royal Concubine Dowager gently stroked his face, which was already wet with tears, and said softly, “You are, after all, the child of Qu Wan and your father. Qu Wan gave you this life. You should be grateful to them, not hate them.”
“I didn’t want this life! Why treat me like this?!”
“If you harbor hatred, I can’t keep you there either. After you recover from your injuries here, go to Baohua Temple to practice with shaved head!”
“I, I won’t go! Grandmother, I won’t go to Baohua Temple, don’t drive me away, please! Don’t you want me either?”
The Royal Concubine Dowager took a deep breath, her eyes reddened, and hardened her heart: “This time, you have truly committed an unforgivable mistake. Punishing you to copy scriptures in Baohua Temple is already an act of exceptional grace. A’Mo, one must accept fate. This is your fate, do you remember?”
“I don’t…” Si Mo wailed: “What exactly is fate? Fate is unfair, I don’t accept this fate!!”
“Stubborn!” The Royal Concubine Dowager shook him off painfully, turned around in grief and left.
“Grandmother! Grandmother… I don’t want to stay here, take me with you! Grandmother!!!”
The chains on the prison door were relocked, as if a heavy lock had fallen on his heart. He originally thought that his grandmother loved him somewhat, but it turned out not to be true!
Thinking about it, from childhood to adulthood, his grandmother always told him again and again, don’t cause trouble, you must accept fate, you must never disobey your brother and father, you are Southern Zhao’s calamity, you must be grateful to be alive.
You can live, you must be grateful.
He now knew that his grandmother didn’t really love him, she just wanted to train him into a useless person, a puppet without any threat.
Once this puppet became aggressive and started to disobey, she would discard him like old shoes.
Leaving him alone in that desolate wilderness, to fend for himself.
Si Mo laughed sadly and coldly, his eyes bloodshot, full of ferocity and determination: “I will never beg for your love again. From now on, I will snatch what I want myself! Whoever dares to stop me, I will kill them!”
On the way back, the old *momo* finally couldn’t help but ask: “Royal Concubine Dowager, A’Mo is, after all, someone you’ve watched grow up since he was a child. Do you really have to be so ruthless?”
The Royal Concubine Dowager sighed deeply and painfully: “It is easier to move mountains than to change a person’s nature! That child’s eyes always carry an untamed wildness when looking at people. Sometimes I even feel a little afraid when I look at them.”
She pitied A’Mo, and she also pitied the future of Southern Zhao. If A’Mo’s nature was not restrained, one day, if he found an opportunity, he would definitely stir up the world and create an irreversible situation.
The front hall was already quiet, the guests had dispersed, and the red candles were almost burnt out.
The personal attendant boy walked in and bowed: “Heir Apparent Consort, dawn is approaching. I will fetch hot water for you to wash up and rest early.”
Si Ming was indeed not coming.
Feng Xilan lowered his eyes, hiding that trace of unwillingness and disappointment, but also calmly accepting this result: “Okay, go fetch water for me to wash up.”
“Yes.”
*
More than half a month had passed since Ling Yifu returned it, and a letter of invitation was sent, saying that the accounts had been checked and asking Feng Yue to go over to review them and complete the handover of the land and estates.
After reading the invitation, Feng Yue threw it into the brazier and burned it clean.
“My Lord, are we going over tonight?” Mu Yunhua frowned, holding the long sword in his hand, “That black-hearted thing must have set a trap, waiting for us to go over!”
Feng Yue smiled coldly: “Go, of course we’re going. How can we catch tiger cubs without entering the tiger’s den? But…”
The old eunuch Yuan on the side understood: “Are you worried that the Consort will be assassinated?”
“We must prepare for both possibilities. Eunuch Yuan, tonight you stay in the mansion and guard Xiaofeng. I will take Yunhua and Mr. Yun over, leave a hundred people in the mansion, and have the remaining four hundred people secretly ambush, ready to listen to my orders at any time.”
Eunuch Yuan made a bow: “This old servant obeys.”
Looking at the clepsydra, it was still early. It wouldn’t be too late to see Xiaofeng before leaving.
“You go and prepare, I’ll come after saying a few words to the Consort.”
The two took their orders and went to mobilize the guards in the mansion, dividing their forces into two groups.
The child in his womb would be three months old tomorrow. Xiaofeng, who had never liked being quiet, had actually found a *xiuniang* (embroiderer) and was learning to do some needlework in the house.
It was just a pity that he didn’t have much talent. He didn’t know how many needles he had pricked his left fingertips, but he wasn’t someone who gave up easily. Finally, today he embroidered a sachet.
Two mandarin ducks were embroidered on the sachet, and only the shape of birds could be seen. Besides himself, no one could tell what species they were.
Seeing Feng Yue walk into the house, he happily raised the results of his labor these days, “A’Yue, look, the sachet I made for you is embroidered!”
“Really?!” Feng Yue was pleasantly surprised, taking two steps forward in three, taking the sachet from his hand and looking at it, his eyebrows and eyes filled with joy, “These mandarin ducks are embroidered extremely well!”
Wei Xiaofeng’s eyes widened, very surprised: “How do you know I embroidered mandarin ducks?”
“Isn’t it?”
“Yes, yes!” Wei Xiaofeng said with a happy smile: “It’s mandarin ducks! Then it seems that I didn’t embroider so badly!”
Without saying a word, Feng Yue threw his original brocade sachet back on the table and generously pinned the one Xiaofeng embroidered for him on his waist: “Beautiful, my *fulang* is really clever, I will always wear it.”
As he spoke, he patted the sachet on his waist as if it were a treasure.
“It’s getting late, you’re still pregnant, rest early.” Feng Yue gently stroked his hair and kissed his forehead.
“What about you?”
“Yunhua and a few brothers asked me to have a drink. I haven’t been out for a long time, and it’s not convenient to take you with me. They’re probably going to get me drunk tonight, and I won’t be back until very late, so don’t wait for me.”
“Oh…” Wei Xiaofeng was thoughtful, then smiled at him: “Okay, then I’ll go to sleep. You have to be careful and watch out for that Ling Yifu giving you trouble.”
“Afraid of him? If he dares to come, this *wang* will kill him!”
Wei Xiaofeng was frightened, but didn’t show it on his face, just responded softly, watching Feng Yue turn and leave.
After a while, Sangcai brought hot water to serve him to wash up. Seeing him looking absent-minded, she comforted him with a few words: “Don’t worry too much, thinking too much is not good for you and the child.”
“He lied to me about going out to drink.”
“How do you know he’s lying to you?” Sangcai wiped his face with a handkerchief, very surprised.
“Do you think I look like a very stupid person?”
“Of course not,” Sangcai said sincerely: “You didn’t used to think so much.”
“A’Yue never goes out to drink, and he has never drunk with his subordinates along the way. He has always been very cautious. Recently, there have been many troubles, and Ling Yifu will definitely not let it go. It is even more impossible for him to go out to drink at this time.”
“What is he going to do then?” Sangcai gasped and said angrily, “He wouldn’t be going out to play with *ge’er*, would he? You’ve only been pregnant for a short time, and he can’t hold back?”
“Oh dear, what are you thinking? A’Yue is not that kind of person!”
“You just trust him too much. How can you completely believe a man’s words? You’ll suffer a big loss.”
“I naturally don’t believe other men’s words, I only believe A’Yue.”
Sangcai put her hand on her forehead, the men, daughters, and *ge’er* in this world are all like this. Once they fall in love, they completely lose their minds.
“Then you tell me, if he’s not going out to fool around in the middle of the night, what is he going to do?”
“I don’t know either…” Wei Xiaofeng was disappointed: “He doesn’t tell me many things, because if he tells me, I can’t help, and I’ll worry for nothing.”
“Why don’t I follow him and take a look for you?”
Wei Xiaofeng pulled him over, “Don’t go. What if there’s danger and the situation is too chaotic? What if you get hurt?”
Sangcai wrung the handkerchief and wiped his hands again, “Listening to you, is this how people who are going to be fathers are, so worried? You weren’t like this before.”
“Maybe…” He only knew that along the way, he couldn’t possibly be the Wei Xiaofeng he used to be. He had to grow up quickly and become steady. Even if he couldn’t help Feng Yue, he must never hold him back.
*
Four hundred guards secretly dispersed and guarded outside the Commissioner of the Administration Office. Feng Yue only brought Mu Yunhua and Yun Yumu with him. As soon as he got out of the carriage, Ling Yifu led his wife with a smile to greet him.
“Your Highness, I’ve been waiting for you. I just got two jars of good Shaoxing wine, very fragrant! We can drink and chat while handing over the accounts, which is also a beautiful thing!”
“Then this *wang* will thank Lord Ling for his hospitality.”
That Ren Lijun walked behind, looking at Feng Yue with eyes that wished they could gouge out two bloody holes in his body.
Feng Yue naturally noticed it, but since he was here to put on a show, this show had to be performed realistically.
Ling Yifu led him to a secluded pavilion. Wine and dishes had already been set up on the table. Seeing that the two people Feng Yue brought were standing there like door gods, Ling Yifu smiled awkwardly: “Why don’t you two also have a few drinks?”
Mu Yunhua said lightly: “No, thank you for Lord Ling’s kindness. As a guard, protecting my *wangye* is my duty. It is not appropriate to drink. Lord Ling can accompany my *wangye* for a few more drinks.”
While speaking, he didn’t even give them a straight look.
Ling Yifu sneered in his heart, this guard has such a temper, even more arrogant than their master.
Wait until he leaves this door, let’s see how he can still be arrogant!
Feng Yue took sobering medicine when he came, and was extremely cautious when drinking, wiping the rim of the cup every time, only drinking the wine poured from the same jar as Ling Yifu.
The wine was indeed good wine, mellow and fragrant. Ling Yifu tried to get him drunk several times, but Feng Yue refused without showing any signs, “I still have a *fulang* waiting for this *wang* to go home. He is heavily pregnant, I can’t get drunk.”
“Oh dear, that’s a happy event, congratulations to the Prince’s Palace for soon adding a new member.” So he found another opportunity to pour him a cup.
Feng Yue didn’t want to just drink like this, so he asked: “Has Lord Ling sorted out those accounts properly? If it’s convenient, I’ll take some back to the mansion today. I’ll come back to get the rest later.”
“Half of them have been sorted out. Someone, send the accounts to the *wangye*.”
When the people went to get the accounts, Ren Lijun brought up some snacks, warmly entertaining them: “Your Highness, these are some Guangling snacks that I have prepared long ago and personally cooked. Would you like to try them?”
Feng Yue didn’t move. Mu Yunhua stepped forward and tasted a piece of each snack, saying: “Don’t blame us, this is the rule. There are too many people who want to poison our *wangye*, it’s really hard to guard against. We subordinates always try these foods first to see if they are poisonous, and only give them to our *wangye* after confirming that there is no problem.”
Ren Lijun hated him so much that her teeth itched, but she could only accompany him with a smile, nodding and saying: “It’s good to be cautious. After all, the *wangye* has an extraordinary identity. The life of a noble is naturally more precious than ours.”
Feng Yue secretly sneered, this Ren Lijun’s words were full of instigation, really despicable enough.
If a person with a weak mind was afraid that he would be alienated by her words, but Mu Yunhua was his confidant and also his confidant.
Feng Yue didn’t eat much snacks, they were too sweet, and he wasn’t used to them.
At this time, a dozen servants entered one after another, each holding a stack of account books. Feng Yue called one of them forward and randomly took one and flipped through it. The accounts were divided into income, payment, storage, and owed. The accounts in his hand were the income for January of this year.
“Currently, the accounts for the first half of the year all match up.”
“Is that so?” Feng Yue looked at the accounts in his hand, which were recorded in great detail, and didn’t seem like fake accounts.
If he had murderous intentions, there was no need to give him a fake account, it wouldn’t be of much use.
“This *wang* has never learned to manage accounts, and can’t see any clues. I’ll ask the bookkeeper to verify it when I get back.”
“Yes, come, come, let’s drink!”
This wine was intoxicating. After the two drank a jar of wine, Feng Yue propped up his forehead and pretended to be drunk, waving his hand and saying, “It’s getting late, this *wang* should go back now. When I have time, I’ll invite Lord Ling to have a good drink together!”
Ling Yifu was very enthusiastic, and even stepped forward to personally help Feng Yue, who was staggering. Seeing this, Mu Yunhua quickly stepped forward and took the staggering Feng Yue from Ling Yifu’s hands: “No need, I’ll do it!”
Ling Yifu was about to scold him for his rudeness. The words had already reached his throat, but he choked them back in a muffled voice.
This guard is really annoying. When he falls into their hands later, they will definitely tear him to pieces!
“Slowly, slowly, *wangye*, be careful of the steps.” Ling Yifu led the way in front, his face flushed red from drinking, looking very kind and easy to talk to. Who would have thought that he had murderous intentions tonight?
He carefully and cautiously escorted Feng Yue and the others out of the Commissioner of the Administration Office, onto the carriage. The couple did not forget to ask a few questions.
“Your Highness, take care. Drive the carriage slower. This *wangye* is swaying badly after drinking, I’m afraid he will have a headache.”
“If there is anything that is not well-received, please forgive Your Highness.”
The servants successively carried ten stacks of account books onto the carriage, and then helped Feng Yue up.
Feng Yue pretended to be drunk and leaned against the carriage, not wanting to pay attention to the hypocritical two.
At this time, Mu Yun two had already jumped onto their horses and followed the moving carriage towards the Prince’s Mansion.
After they didn’t go far, Ling Yifu raised his hand and waved, and the guards who had been secretly ambushing, dressed in night clothes, chased after them.
Tonight, they shouldn’t think about leaving this alley!
After seeing off Feng Yue, Ling Yifu was in a good mood and went back to continue drinking,deyi dao – gloatingly said: “This Guangling Prince has courage, but his brain is not smart enough!”
“Of course, he can’t compare to my husband.”
“It’s a pity for this good wine, he let this dying person drink half of it.”
“I’ll pour you wine, this time it can be regarded as venting a bad breath for A’Xiu!”
……
Just as the carriage was about to drive out of the alley, the coachman suddenly pulled the reins and stopped. The light was dim, and it was difficult to see clearly. Only a few blurred figures were sitting on tall horses, holding knives and wearing ghost masks, staring at them with murderous intent.
The coachman didn’t panic and asked: “May I ask who you are, blocking the road in the middle of the night, and what is your purpose?”
“We’re here to kill you!”
As soon as the words fell, four flying grappling hooks flew out from the roof, hooking over the roof of the carriage. The four sides used force together, and with a loud bang, the solid walls of the carriage flew apart, giving a panoramic view of the scene inside the carriage.
It was seen that Feng Yue lazily supported his forehead with his hand, still maintaining his leaning posture. He didn’t move at all when he heard the movement, and he was still in the mood to drink tea to relieve the alcohol, watching the scene in front of him with great interest.
“Your Highness has great courage, you’re really not afraid of death?”
Feng Yue sat up and smiled: “Is Director Shen a thief in the middle of the night? Wearing a mask to meet guests is too unfamiliar, isn’t it?”
Suddenly, the atmosphere became tense. After a long silence, the person on the horse raised his hand and took off the mask, revealing a resolute face, thick eyebrows and a beard, and hawk-like eyes full of murderous intent. The roughness and boldness of a military general were fully revealed.
“Isn’t this pretty good? This *wang* doesn’t think this face is too ugly to be seen.”
Shen Yitang sneered: “Tonight, I’ll let you die with a clear understanding. After all, Guangling Prince was wise in his lifetime. Don’t be a confused ghost when you get to the King of Hell’s Palace!”
“Is that so? Are you sure it’s this *wang* who dies tonight, not you?”
Shen Yitang’s scalp was inexplicably numb, and he only felt that something was wrong. He was too calm! Calm to the point of not seeming like he was going to die.
But at this time, he couldn’t think too much. He raised his hand and shouted: “Shoot the arrows!”
After waiting for a few breaths, there was no movement around. Shen Yitang became even more uneasy and ordered again: “Shoot the arrows!!”
Damn it! He’s probably been tricked!!
Shen Yitang decisively turned his horse’s head and wanted to leave.
“Mr. Yun, capture him.”
As soon as the words fell, Yun Yumu flew up and chased after him with his sword. Although Shen Yitang’s martial arts were strong, how could he be a match for the world’s number one assassin?
In less than ten moves, Yun Yumu took him down.
“Feng Yue, how dare you!!”
Feng Yue’s smile was bright, but in Shen Yitang’s eyes, it was a chill.
“Come out!” As soon as the words fell, more than fifty corpses of crossbowmen hidden on the roof were thrown out. A well-trained team dressed in night clothes flew out of the darkness and bowed to Feng Yue.
At this point, Shen Yitang didn’t panic either, and smiled: “If you dare to move me, your adorable little *fulang* will not survive either. I heard that he is already pregnant, and may die with the fetus.”
Feng Yue’s smile froze, gradually twisting and becoming hideous. He got off the carriage, picked up the saber of a guard, and walked straight towards Shen Yitang, who was being held on the ground.
Shen Yitang broke out in cold sweat, “You, you dare?! I am an official appointed by the imperial court! Do you not want your *fulang*’s life?!”
Feng Yue’s suppressed anger made the muscles on his face twitch. He raised his hand and dropped the knife, decisively and ruthlessly. A head rolled to his feet, staring with horrified eyes.