Chapter 1021

How Did Everyone End Up Liking Me?

The palace maid could see the look of suspicion in Zirui’s eyes, and she could not help but laugh, “Princess Yu’s younger brother sure is much more cautious than the other youths of your age. Right before coming, Her Highness said that using His Highness Prince Feiyu’s name might deal with the problem for a moment, but it will definitely be seen through later on. Who knew that the young master would begin to suspect things so quickly.”

Feng Zirui was stunned, and a flash of light exploded in his eyes: “Sure enough, you’re not one of Feiyu’s people! Who is your master? What is your goal in using Feiyu’s name?”

The palace maid quickly explained: “Young master Feng, do not panic and listen to this servant speak. Although this servant is not one of His Highness Prince Feiyu’s people, it cannot be said that this servant is completely unrelated to His Highness. In truth, this servant was sent over by Her Highness Imperial Concubine Shi De to take care of young master. The reason that Her Highness Imperial Concubine De would take care of young master is that Princess Yu went to ask His Highness the second prince for help.”

Hearing her say this, Zirui was startled. He then thought to himself for a long time before saying: “I know of Imperial Concubine Shi De. She’s the second prince’s birth mother and Feiyu’s grandmother.” After saying this, he saw the palace maid nod. Only then did he relax a little and finally adjusted his mood, saying: “Then we are on the same side.”

The palace maid nodded, “Yes, we are on the same side.” After saying this, she advised Zirui: “Young master can rest a little longer. Even if morning court was dismissed, His Majesty will need to tend to official matters until midday. He will not send an invitation over to this side.”

Zirui shook his head and advised her: “Hey big sis, you should rest a little. You’ve stood guard for an entire night and must be very sleepy.”

“This servant is fine. Seeing that young master was sleeping soundly at dawn, this servant also took a brief rest in the hall. These days, the palace has not been very peaceful. Right before coming, Her Highness Imperial Concubine De specifically instructed this servant to remain alert. Regardless of whether it’s day or night, my guard must not be lowered.”

Zirui nodded and agreed with what she said.

During the morning court session in Heavenly Hall, the eighth prince, who had taken a day off due to illness, finally appeared. The Emperor ignored the officials and focused his concern on the eighth prince’s condition. Aside from showing immediate concern, he also rewarded him with a number of nice things, giving him things like money and quality medicines. It seemed as though he regretted that he could not just empty the national treasury. For just a moment, even Xuan Tianming felt an urge to have Feng Yuheng rob the national treasury. All of those nice things must not fall into that criminal old eighth’s den.

The Emperor’s concern for the eighth prince made the eighth prince’s faction very happy, as they all felt that they enjoyed quite a bit of the glory. They felt that they had made the right decision this time around. The eighth prince would definitely be able to succeed the throne. As for those people who had always been following the eighth prince, they also let out a sigh of relief, thinking to themselves that the eighth prince had really found a good idea. Even with the Emperor favoring the ninth prince to heavily back then, he had managed to turn the situation around. This person definitely had some ability to stabilize the country.

When he had just about finished showing his concern, the Emperor invited the eighth prince to remain in the palace to have lunch. He specifically ordered the imperial kitchen to prepare the favorite foods of mother and son.

When the people heard this, very well, they were discussing family affairs in court? The officials had wanted to say a few words, but they then considered the Emperor’s temper and how people had killed themselves on the pillars in court but did not receive the slightest bit of concern from the Emperor. With this, they lost all faith, and they could only hope that the Emperor would recover on his own.

However, it was at this time that Xuan Tianming took a step forward and loudly interrupted the Emperor, saying: “Reporting to Father Emperor, it’s now the end of the year. In the South, Gu Shu and ten of the small countries have sent their tribute to the capital. Son has brought them to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and this is the list of registered items. Father Emperor, please have a look.” As he spoke, he raised the report that he was holding.

The eunuch at the Emperor’s side, Wu Ying, quickly went over to receive it. Just as he was about to bring it back to the Emperor, he heard the emperor’s voice from the throne say: “This trifle doesn’t require Us to look it over. Mo’er, you take a look! In the future, you will need to learn to handle the matter of the tributes. First, you must consider whether or not those small countries have tried to fool our Da Shun. Second, you should choose some nice things to be given to your imperial concubine mother. Over the years, We have truly let her down too much.”

As he spoke, he ended up bringing up family matters from the inner palace. A portion of the officials frowned upon hearing this, but nobody dared to say anything. Even the left and right prime ministers chose to remain silent. They did not want to speak with this old emperor.

Xuan Tianmo respectfully received the report from Wu Ying and said: “Son obeys.” After saying this, he glanced at Xuan Tianming with a delighted expression.

Xuan Tianming did not say anything, only returning to his position. After this, the seventh prince, Xuan Tianhua, also reported that the tributes from the east had arrived. As expected, the Emperor handed this matter off to the eighth prince, once again advising that he remember to choose some nice things for Imperial Concubine Yuan Shu.

Aside from this, it was also announced that the new year’s palace banquet would be held as usual. All officials in the capital of fourth rank or higher were permitted to bring their families into the palace. The banquet would be hosted by the Empress with Imperial Concubine Yuan Shu. The Emperor also said: “During this year’s banquet, We have an important matter to announce.”

Because of the last thing that the Emperor said during court, a new round of discussion began. After court was dismissed, everyone began to speculate on their own. Most people believed that the Emperor would be announcing a crown prince, and there were also some who could not hold back and began to congratulate the eighth prince; however, Xuan Tianmo could not understand. It was too early for the Emperor to announce a crown prince. The way the Emperor was at present, he should not be announcing a crown prince.

The right prime minister, Fung Qing, thought things over then walked over to Xuan Tianming and quietly asked: “What does Your Highness the ninth prince think about this matter?”

Xuan Tianming said: “It’s unrelated to announcing a crown prince. It should be announcing a noble imperial concubine.”

“Noble imperial concubine?” The right prime minister frowned, “Will this be promoting Imperial Concubine Yuan Shu? Your Highness, if things continue like this, our side will need to make preparations to prevent the situation from completely flipping. When that happens, we would be caught unprepared. Seeing how His Majesty currently is, this old official… hah!” He sighed heavily and did not continue; however, his tone showed that he was very disappointed in the Emperor. In the past, the old emperor had also been willful; however, he did not act inappropriately. He also favored the ninth prince, but it would not conflict with things in court; moreover, comparing the ninth prince to the eighth prince, the ninth prince was far better. He also had far more abilities. Not to mention the fact that the ninth prince had Feng Yuheng standing behind him! She truly was a deity.

The right prime minister did not say anything else, and his pace gradually slowed, quietly following along to exit the palace. Xuan Tianming, however, spoke up and said to Xuan Tianhua: “Has someone been sent to the South?”

Xuan Tianhua nodded, “Someone has already been sent over, but the distance is great. A reply cannot be obtained in just a few days. We need to search in the capital. The person raising the gu must be hidden in the capital or even the palace.”

“A-Heng is searching the inside of the palace. I will entrust the capital to seventh brother. I need to head over to the military camp for a few days. I fear that I won’t be able to handle many things.”

On this side, the brothers discussed how to resolve the Emperor’s situation. On the other side, the eighth prince, Xuan Tianmo, had already begun to head in the direction of Cun Shan Palace. When it came to yesterday’s matter, he needed to quickly give Imperial Concubine Yuan Shu an explanation. After all, when he entered the palace this morning, he had already heard about Imperial Concubine Yuan Shu searching the entire palace the previous night. She was trying to find a person, but that person was currently at his residence.

In Cun Shan Palace, Imperial Concubine Yuan Shu was still delightedly listening to the flattery coming from the two palace maids. She only dismissed the two palace maids after the eighth prince walked in, leaving only Yue Xiu to take care of her.

Immediately after sitting down, Xuan Tianmo recounted yesterday’s situation to Imperial Concubine Yuan Shu, and this story caused Imperial Concubine Yuan Shu to feel quite shaken.

She was the same as Xuan Tianmo. Neither could figure out what sort of person had entered the Sheng Palace nor what methods were used. They were able to silently leave a person in Xuan Tianmo’s bed and drug her son. All of it had been done so smoothly that it left the two no room to defend against it. What if the other side had wanted to kill him? Would her own son not have died without even knowing how he had died? She became soaked in a cold sweat from the shock. Reaching out to grab Xuan Tianmo’s sleeve, she said: “It must be investigated. If this sort of person can’t be found, it’s too dangerous for you.” After saying this, she asked: “Could it be old ninth? Of your brothers, this One has heard more than once that he is the one with the best martial arts ability.”

Xuan Tianmo nodded: “Imperial concubine mother, don’t worry. Son will definitely investigate it carefully. As for old ninth, he is indeed strong, but son is not bad. It might be that I could not defeat him in a head-on fight, but he is not quite as mysterious as this. It’s just…” He thought for a bit and said with some uncertainty: “The girl at his side always gives off a feeling of being a monster. I fear that this cannot be unrelated to them.”

“You’re saying that it was Imperial Daughter Ji An?” Imperial Concubine Yuan Shu asked with her brow furrowed: “A few days earlier, weren’t you saying to this One something about getting Imperial Daughter Ji An? This One said that that girl is different from others. Imperial Concubine Li also has her eyes set on her. She even began performing a funeral for old ninth in the palace, but isn’t he still just fine? That girl is strange. It would be best if you don’t get any ideas about her.”

“But if there is a day when she can stand at my side and do things for me, it would be far better than ten-thousand Zhu Kongshans.” When Feng Yuheng was brought up, Xuan Tianmo became spirited once more. He also told Imperial Concubine Yuan Shu about the benefits of marrying Feng Yuheng, causing Imperial Concubine Yuan Shu to sigh.

It was just that they would never think that all of this would be heard by Feng Yuheng. The person that they had described as being mysterious was currently hidden just under their noses. It was just that neither of the two knew.

At this moment, Feng Yuheng was so disgusted that she wanted to pull out her whip and begin lashing people. Just one Imperial Concubine Li was not enough, now there was an extra Xuan Tianmo added. Just how did she end up so desired? Her face was not particularly magnificent? At most, she could be considered in the upper-middle tier. In this country of Da Shun that was filled with beautiful girls, it should not be enough to capture the attention of so many princes.

She was unable to understand this despite much thought. How did so many people set their sights on her? What exactly was good about her? What had they taken a liking to? Could she not change it? She did not like this.

Feng Yuheng felt very dejected, but she needed to continue observing, as she heard Imperial Concubine Yuan Shu say: “Let’s talk about that girl later. This One wishes to advise you to not desire her too much. This sort of thing is improper. As for how that girl ended up in your residence, this One will no longer continue searching the palace.” She thought a bit more then solemnly said: “If things truly don’t work out, we need to work quickly. Each day that passes without you on the throne causes me to feel uneasy. The sooner that you are instated, the sooner I can feel at ease. This One has also gotten tired of taking care of the old man.”