RMACAUH Chapter 69
by VolareChapter 69 Chapter 69 When the Prince completes this great task, this old servant…
Duke Chen looked at him with a gratified expression, “Feng Yue, I am glad that you can figure out what to choose in such a short time.”
“But…” Feng Yue hesitated.
Duke Chen saw through his concerns at a glance, “Are you thinking about your biological parents?”
Feng Yue: “I just want to know my background.”
Duke Chen could only feel helpless. Perhaps only the Empress and the people around her knew Feng Yue’s background.
That night, the snow that had finally stopped started to fall again.
A ghostly figure in a night suit flew over the walls of the rigorously patrolled city, without anyone noticing.
Inside the official post station in the city, the Empress was warming herself by a brazier, draped in a fox fur cloak, and was copying scriptures.
The old nanny who had accompanied her added silver charcoal to the brazier and looked at her with a worried expression, “Your Majesty, it’s very cold at night, you should rest early.”
Empress Chen turned a deaf ear.
“Your Majesty, since returning from Yanshan, you have been sitting here copying scriptures for more than a dozen hours. Aren’t your hands sore? Would you like this old servant to fetch water to soak your feet and bring some food over?”
“No need, you go to sleep,” Empress Chen finally said.
The old nanny sighed softly, “This is against the rules. If the master hasn’t rested, how can the servants go to sleep first? This old servant will stay here to accompany you.”
Empress Chen finally put down her pen. Only when she relaxed did she feel the soreness in her shoulders and wrists that made it almost impossible to move.
“Go prepare hot water for this Empress to wash up.”
“Alright!”
As soon as the old nanny left, the candlelight reflected the figure outside the window, making it particularly frightening in the silent night.
“Who’s there?”
A high-pitched but steady voice rang out from outside the window, “Your Majesty, I, Yuan Wang, am here to pay my respects.”
Empress Chen sighed softly upon hearing his voice, what was coming would eventually come.
“Eunuch Yuan, come in.”
Eunuch Yuan pushed the door open and walked in, respectfully bowing to Empress Chen, “Your Majesty, long time no see, I wish Your Majesty good health.”
Empress Chen fiddled with the incense burner that was about to burn out, smiling with unparalleled gentleness and dignity as usual.
“Eunuch Yuan, please sit.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty, for the seat.”
Eunuch Yuan took a seat to the side.
Empress Chen sighed, “You finally came.”
“This old servant came for the Prince’s matter.”
Even if he didn’t say it, Empress Chen would have guessed, “You should also advise that child to withdraw his troops in time.”
“As things stand now, this sudden change cannot be stopped by the Prince alone. The arrow is on the string and must be fired. Empress, you should be very clear in your heart what the consequences will be if the Chen family is defeated. Now, do you still want to go your own way?”
Empress Chen fiddled with the prayer beads in her hand, lowering her eyes and remaining silent.
“It’s been over twenty years… Everything should have a result and an end. Your Majesty only adopted the Prince because of hatred. Regardless, after being called mother and son for so many years, the Prince has done nothing wrong, and the Chen family is only trying to gain a chance of survival. Don’t let the hatred in your heart control you any longer.”
“If you want to tell Feng Yue the truth and let him recognize his biological parents, this Empress will not stop you, nor is it necessary to come and tell this Empress. This Empress knows she cannot stop it. After dreaming for twenty years, I woke up one morning and realized that all this love and hate is meaningless.”
Eunuch Yuan stood up and bowed to her, “Your Majesty, take care. This old servant will take his leave.”
With that, Eunuch Yuan’s figure quickly disappeared at the door, like a gust of wind, disappearing silently.
At this moment, the nanny came with hot water, seeing that the door was open, she quickly carried the water in and closed the door, wondering, “This old servant remembers closing the door when I went out. The wind is too strong tonight, it could actually blow the door open. Your Majesty, are you cold?”
“How could I be so delicate?” Empress Chen showed a faint smile, letting the old nanny serve her with hot water for washing up.
Suddenly, Empress Chen asked, “When did you enter the palace?”
“This old servant entered the palace at the age of fourteen, and is now over fifty. I have no children, nor do I have any other thoughts, I only wish to serve by Your Majesty’s side for the rest of my life, that is enough.”
“Do you have any siblings at home?”
“When I was young, there was a great flood at home. This old servant was lucky enough to survive this disaster, but my family all perished in that disaster.”
Empress Chen sighed softly, “You are also a bitter person.”
The nanny only felt that she was a little strange today, thinking that she was worried about the Chen family’s troop withdrawal, “Does Your Majesty want to return to the palace?”
“His Majesty sent this Empress here to persuade the Chen family army to withdraw, so it is impossible to go back.”
The nanny wiped the water stains on her feet, her expression complicated, “Then why did Your Majesty agree in the first place?”
“This Empress also feels that twenty years is too long, and I don’t want to hate any longer.”
“Your Majesty…”
Empress Chen took off the golden hairpin on her head and handed it to the old nanny, “There is nothing I can leave you, keep this.”
The nanny was overwhelmed and hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed, “This servant’s life is cheap, I cannot use such a precious hairpin, Your Majesty is killing this servant.”
Empress Chen looked at her panicked look and only said, “It’s just a memento of our time as mistress and servant.” As she spoke, she pinned the hairpin in her hair.
The nanny’s eyes were red and swollen, and she had to accept this kindness.
*
Two days later, the Chen family army led by Feng Yue advanced triumphantly and broke through Shanhaiguan.
The general guarding the city did not resist much. The most capable of fighting in Da Yuan now belonged to the Yuan family army. Although their soldiers trained every day, most of them had not experienced actual combat since they had been guarding the city.
If they were to confront the Chen family army, it would be like hitting a stone with an egg, and there would only be death.
He cherished the soldiers under his command and only had one request when letting Feng Yue and the others into the city, not to kill innocent people indiscriminately.
Feng Yue looked at the general guarding the city who was kneeling on one knee in front of him to ask for orders, and said, “You have the compassion of a gentleman, but not the loyalty of a general.”
The general guarding the city cupped his hands and said, “This subordinate is loyal to the people of Da Yuan, and also loyal to the Feng family’s kingdom, how can there be disloyalty?”
Upon hearing this, Feng Yue couldn’t help but laugh and first took him and his soldiers into custody.
The Empress stood on the city gate, watching the Chen family army marching mightily, their murderous aura shaking the sky, and so easily entering the city.
Today the snow was much smaller, but the north wind was still blowing, whistling across her face, as cold as a knife.
Feng Yue left the matter of taking custody of the soldiers to Chen Suian.
Chen Suian saw him jump off his horse, took two steps forward on his horse, and hesitated to speak.
Only when his figure walked away did Chen Suian chase after him on horseback, “A Yue!”
“What’s wrong?”
“Bring her down, don’t hurt her.”
Feng Yue smiled, “How could I? It’s windy on the city tower, I’m just persuading her to come down.”
Hearing him say this, Chen Suian was relieved.
Feng Yue took a cloak and stepped onto the city tower, looking at the Empress from afar for a long time, until she turned her face to look at him, opening her mouth and not knowing what to say, the wind was too strong, he couldn’t hear clearly.
So Feng Yue walked closer, hesitated for a while, and put the cloak in his hand on her.
In that instant, tears flickered in Empress Chen’s eyes, and were quickly dried by the wind.
“Mother, why are you crying?”
Empress Chen subconsciously raised her hand to wipe away the moisture from the corner of her eyes and smiled, “I just remembered a lot of the past, it is inevitable that I feel a little sad.”
Feng Yue wanted to ask, in her past, could there be any memories about him?
He was silent for a long time, but couldn’t ask anything.
Empress Chen raised her hand and gently stroked his face, it had been a long time since she had been so affectionate and caring, as if there was endless love and affection.
Feng Yue’s heart was severely stabbed, and he smiled sarcastically, “I thought Mother had a trace of heartache and reluctance towards me, but it was all just my wishful thinking.”
“Yue’er, I’m sorry.”
“Why suddenly say sorry?”
“You have called me Mother for so many years, but I only thought about using you to take revenge on the Chen family, I…”
“There is no need to repeat these things, I already know.”
Empress Chen stopped abruptly, suddenly saying, “This Empress remembers when you were still in swaddling clothes, Eunuch Yuan loved you very much, and I only transferred Eunuch Yuan away from you when you were three years old.”
“He is outwardly loyal to me, but in reality, his heart is always towards you. When you were demoted to Guangling, he finally had the opportunity to leave the prison of the palace.”
Feng Yue choked on the wind, couldn’t help but cough a few times, and asked with difficulty, “What is his relationship with me?”
“He hasn’t told you?” Empress Chen was astonished.
“No.”
“He will tell you, maybe the time has not yet come.”
“Mm…”
There was a silence between them.
“It’s windy up here, Mother should come down with me first.”
Empress Chen only said, “You and Suian must get along well in the future.”
“Before I came up, Suian told me not to hurt you.”
Empress Chen’s face lit up upon hearing this, “He really said that?”
“Yes.”
“That child is also hard-mouthed and soft-hearted.”
“So don’t make him worry, and come down with me.”
“Okay, you go down first, Mother will look at the scenery of the distant mountains again.”
Feng Yue nodded. When he turned and stepped down the city tower, he suddenly heard exclamations coming from below. In that instant, it felt as if a cone had pierced a hole in his heart. He turned his head sharply to look, and the place where she had just stood was empty.
He stood there like a statue, until his whole body stiffened and he was helped down by the Chen family members who came to find him.
The mourning hall was simply arranged, and the coffin was not considered decent, but it was already the best that could be found in the city.
She lay inside, her expression very peaceful.
The mourning hall was filled with sorrow. Duke Chen seemed to have aged several years overnight. The heaviest grief in this world was none other than a white-haired person sending off a black-haired person.
Chen Suian squatted alone outside the mourning hall, wiping away tears silently, feeling a little regretful in his heart.
The last time he saw her, he said the most heartless words in his life. If he had known that it was the last meeting, he would definitely not have said that.
Suddenly, Chen Minghui angrily overturned the table, “Let’s take her coffin and kill our way into the capital as soon as possible, and let that dog emperor be buried with her!!”
She didn’t have to die, but the emperor forced her to become an unfaithful, unrighteous, and unfilial person. It seemed that she had no choice but to die.
Feng Yue’s fists gradually tightened, and he said in a hoarse voice, “As soon as it dawns tomorrow, we will set off immediately.”
Suddenly, a soldier came to report, saying that an old nanny had been found. She said that she was an old servant who served by the Empress’s side, and wanted to come and keep watch over the Empress’s spirit tonight.
Feng Yue immediately knew who she was and ordered, “Let her in.”
Sun Nanny walked in, only paying her respects to Feng Yue. Her eyes were red and swollen, obviously she had been crying.
Feng Yue asked his uncle to help his grief-stricken grandfather to rest in the house first. Only he and Sun Nanny were left in the mourning hall.
Sun Nanny lit incense, knelt on the futon in the mourning hall and folded yellow paper, while nagging, “Her Majesty has always been a strong person in her life, and she never tells others what she is thinking in her heart. In that deep palace, she seems to have unlimited glory, but in reality, she is extremely lonely.”
Feng Yue didn’t know in his previous life that she, such a quiet and elegant person, was actually wearing a sea-deep hatred, and endured more than 20 years of loneliness that no one understood.
Feng Yue knelt on the other futon, silently folding yellow paper with Sun Nanny.
He then heard Sun Nanny say, “When the Prince first came, his body was weak and not easy to raise. Her Majesty was terrified, and as long as the Prince was sick, she would take care of him for several nights without sleep.”
“Is that so? This Prince was too young to have any impression.”
“Then the Prince had some impressions when he was young, how did Her Majesty treat you? Was it really without any care and protection?”
“Mother herself said that it was just using me.”
“Because she wanted to use the Prince, she loved and protected him for twenty years? Using you is true, but her heart for you is also true! This old servant says this without any other intention, but only hopes that the Prince will not resent Her Majesty any longer. If it is possible to resolve the misunderstanding between your mother and son…”
“Sun Nanny!” Feng Yue interrupted her, very calmly and soberly, “There is no misunderstanding between me and her, it is true that she used me, and perhaps her maternal love for me was not entirely acting, this Prince admits this. You don’t have to say these words for her, I have my own measure in my heart.”
Sun Nanny was speechless, gave a blessing, and didn’t continue to speak.
Feng Yue slept lightly in the mourning hall for two hours. When he woke up, it was dawn. He was probably too tired and slept too deeply, delaying the time, but no one came in to call him.
The ashes from the burning yellow paper in the basin were already full, and Sun Nanny was nowhere to be found. He got up and walked out of the mourning hall.
Commands came from the drill ground, it should be to prepare to set off.
Eunuch Yuan came over on time, bringing breakfast, “Please have breakfast, Prince.”
Feng Yue responded lightly, took a bowl of steaming beef noodles from his hand, sat down on a wooden stake to the side, and ate heartily.
At this time, the accompanying maidservant had already brought hot water, and he could set off after washing up after eating.
Feng Yue ate half of it, couldn’t help but raise his eyes to look at Eunuch Yuan, who was bowing and guarding on the side, and asked a question, “Have you had breakfast?”
“Reporting to the Prince, this old servant has already eaten.”
Feng Yue thoughtfully withdrew his gaze from him, he quietly looked at him a few times, the first time he had looked so carefully.
But he didn’t see anything strange.
How could Eunuch Yuan not know his thoughts? He sighed inwardly, “When the Prince completes this great task, this old servant will take you to see them.”
“Them?” Feng Yue’s heart stirred.
“Isn’t this what you want to ask this old servant?”
“I thought you didn’t want to say it.”
“It’s not a secret that can’t be said, but saying it now, I’m afraid it will mess up your heart.”
“So, they are still alive?”
Eunuch Yuan smiled, “Of course, you also have a younger brother and sister, they have been living in seclusion.”
Feng Yue felt a burst of disappointment, “In that case, it’s actually better for me not to look for them.”
Eunuch Yuan: “How could the Prince think like this?”
Feng Yue suddenly didn’t want to mention his biological parents anymore, gave the empty bowl to Eunuch Yuan, and ordered, “Serve me for washing up.”
The news that the Chen family army had passed Shanhaiguan was passed on to the emperor.
“Feng Chao.”
“Your son is here.”
“I will give you ten thousand soldiers and horses, and you must stop Feng Yue.”