âDonât scare me, ah!â Hearing the palace maid in green say that, the palace maid in pinkâs face turned a bit pale. She grasped the clothes around her neckline and looked around.
âWhat I said is the truth! From beginning till now, eight imperial noble consorts have died here. After noble consort Yue disappeared, everyone from Long Autumn palace were arrested and killed. It seemed like one of the palace maids serving noble consort Yue had run to the empress dowager and asked for the empress dowager to save her. In the end, a thrashing from the empress dowager beat her to death!â
âWow, really?! Didnât the empress dowager always abstain from eating meat, prayed to the Buddha and had a very good heart?! Why was it like this?!â The palace maid covered her mouth with a disbelieving look on her face.
âYou, ah!â The fingers of the palace maid in green poked the forehead of the person opposite her. âTo be able to survive in this palace, who is really kindhearted?! How many times have I told you, if you want to survive in this palace, you need to pretend to be blind, deaf and mute! You must remember!â
âMm! Big sister, Iâll listen to you!â
It turned out that these two palace maids were a pair of sisters. When they left, Feng Xie immediately sprung out and left Long Autumn palace.
The words of the two sisters continued to echo in Feng Xieâs ears. What kind of secret was there in Long Autumn palace? Why was everything in the chamber the same as Wanyan Ming Yueâs boudoir? What kind of secret was there inside this?
All the problems were stacked up together, making Feng Xie unable to find the door inside this. It was just, thinking about what the little palace maid had said just now, once someone had begged the empress dowager for help. Feng Xie quietly went to Jinxuan palace, wanting to find some clues from there.
Inside Jinxuan palace, the old empress dowager was just having a lunch break. She was a bit happy because of yesterdayâs birthday banquet and played for a while more. Today, it was difficult for her to manage.
After drinking tea, Dongfang Lan comfortably let out a sigh. She held Little Snow and gently combed her hairs.
âQing Gu, howâs Chun Xing?â
âThe injuries on her body are almost healed. Chun Xing is grateful that miss saved her and also let this slave bring her kowtow for miss.â
âForget the kowtow. Let her take good care of the injuries and then come see aijia.1 Recently, aijiaâs eyelids have been jumping badly and aijia doesnât know what it means. Itâs just the right time to let Chun Xing come and explain the matter of Long Autumn palace to aijia, so that aijia has an understanding about what kind of things have happened inside that palace in recent years.â
Speaking till here, Dongfang Lan thought about Murong Qi Qi and Feng Cang.
âAy, when aijia saw Cang erâs2 expression, he didnât get his heart back from Qi Qi. Qing Gu, ah, what should be done?! Cang er likes Qi Qi so much. Now, they happened to have the relation of siblings. These two children really let peopleâs hearts ache for them. It was just, in the end, blood relations shouldnât be mixed. If they go on like this, aijia is worried, ah...â
Hearing Dongfang Lanâs voice once again, Feng Xieâs eyes got warm. He couldnât forget how mother-in-law treated him and Wanyan Ming Yue in the past. If he said that in this palace, there was still someone he trusts, then that person would only be Dongfang Lan.
After all, a tiger, though cruel, will not devour its cubs. Dongfang Lan only has a daughter Wanyan Ming Yue. Naturally, she would love her.
A tiger, though cruel, will not devour its cubs: even wild beasts look after their young
Thinking till here, Feng Xie took advantage of the fact that no one was around and entered the chamber. He found some ink and wrote a few words. He folded it and put it in an envelope. After he came out, Feng Xie quietly whistled.
âWoof!â Little Snowâs ears were more sensitive compared to humans. The whistle that humans couldnât hear, she could hear.
Immediately, Little Snow jumped down from Dongfang Lanâs arms. She spread her four legs and ran out.
âLittle Snow!â Seeing that the small dog had run away, Dongfang Lan stood up. âQing Gu, quickly, go find Little Snow quickly!â
When Qing Gu found Little Snow, Little Snow was returning. Something was dangling from her mouth. Looking at it closely, it turned out to be a letter. Qing Gu quickly looked around, but she didnât see anyone. In the end, she took the envelope out of Little Snowâs mouth. She put Little Snow in her arms and went back inside Jinxuan palace.
âWhat is this?â Seeing the letter in Qing Guâs hand, Dongfang Lan frowned.
âWhen this slave saw Little Snow, this thing was dangling from Little Snowâs mouth. From this slaveâs point of view, someone mustâve take advantage of this opportunity to tell you something.â
Dongfang Lan took the letter from Qing Gu. She opened it. Only a few words were on it.
âWanyan Ming Yue had died unjustly.â
âBang...â Dongfang Lan knocked over the tea cup in her hand. The tea spread on the table. In the end, it dropped on Dongfang Lan.
Dongfang Lan was familiar with the handwriting of the letter. Itâs Feng Xieâs handwriting. Could it be that Feng Xie didnât die? Could it be that heâs still alive? Then what about her Ming Yue? Since Feng Xie is alive, why didnât he come see her? Why did he say that Ming Yue had died unjustly? What happened fifteen years ago? What let Feng Xie not dare to show up?
Dongfang Lanâs lips trembled slightly. She didnât dare believe the contents of this letter. If the contents of this letter were true and Wanyan Ming Yue had truly died unjustly, then what had happened at Yandang mountain that year?n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âMiss, miss, whatâs the matter?â Sensing Dongfang Lanâs strangeness, Qing Gu quickly went forward to support Dongfang Lan. When she saw the words on the letter in Dongfang Lanâs hand, Qing Gu was surprised.
âWhy is it like this? Who wrote this?â
âItâs Feng Xie.â Dongfang Lan held back her tears and once again looked at that sentence on the letter. Thatâs right, this was Feng Xieâs handwriting. In the past, it was Feng Xie whoâd used such beautiful handwriting to write letters to her Wanyan Ming Yue.
At that time, her Ming Yue was still a girl and not yet married. Every day, they would correspond by letter. One time, the two had a fallout. Wanyan Ming Yue burned these letters. It was her, this mother, who pulled these letters out of the brazier. It was that time that she saw Feng Xieâs letters and also remembered Feng Xieâs handwriting. The handwriting was handsome and beautiful like him.
âWhat? Great general is still alive?â This news was truly too shocking. Qing Gu covered her mouth. She then carefully read the contents of the letter. âMiss, since great general is alive, why didnât he show up and would use such a way to tell you?â
What Qing Gu said was what Dongfang Lan had been thinking about. Only a little while later, did Dongfang Lan recover her reason from grief.
It was too shocking that Feng Xie was still alive. However, he was alive, but he didnât come to see her. This only meant one thing. That is, it was like what was written in the letter, that Ming Yue felt injustice, and he also felt injustice. And the person who didnât pass the judgement on the war at Yandang mountain until the lid was on the coffin, was Wanyan Lie. Itâs not that Feng Xie didnât show up. It was that he didnât dare to show up!
âQing Gu, burn Feng Xieâs letter.â At this time, on Dongfang Lanâs face appeared an unprecedented killing intent, making Qing Gu feel startled. It seemed as if this empress dowager was amiable looking for a very long time. She hadnât seen such a Dongfang Lan for many years.
However, talking about it, born from a generalâs family, then accompanying Wanyan Zhi to the battle at the south, how could this empress dowager be someone mediocre?!
After Qing Gu burned the letter, she returned to Dongfang Lanâs side, âMiss, what should we do?â
âInvestigate...â
âHowever, miss, that year when it happened, didnât our people already investigate and didnât find anything, ah!â
âInvestigate Li Qiu Shui! Before, Li Qiu Shui said that Ming Yue had given her Qi Qi. Why would Li Qiu Shui be at Yandang mountain? What did she have to do at Yandang Mountain? Aijia wants to know all of this. Aijia wants to know everything about Li Qiu Shui!â
Although Dongfang Lan had tried to keep herself sober-minded, but everything had muddled in front of her and she couldnât see the end of it. She didnât know what to do. The only thing that Dongfang could grab on to was the matter of Li Qiu Shui.
She vaguely felt that this Li Qiu Shui wasnât a simple person. Then, did Li Qiu Shui also participate in the matter of that year? Since Feng Xie felt injustice, naturally this matter wasnât that simple. Li Qiu Shui, a woman, what kind of perilous situation could she cause? There was definitely someone behind her whoâd supported her. It was just, who was this supporting person? Could it be him...That was why Feng Xie didnât dare to show up?
Inside the palace, an undercurrent was quietly surging. This didnât seem to affect the lovers at Lion Ridge.
When Murong Qi Qi woke up from hunger, she had already left the bed and was sitting in Feng Cangâs embrace. In front of her was a table full of food.
âAwake?â Feng Cang kissed Murong Qi Qiâs forehead. In his eyes was a pampering love, âHungry? Iâll feed you!â
âIts better that I do it myself!â Feeling that on her body was only a thin, single layer of clothes, Murong Qi Qi blushed and wanted to leave Feng Cangâs arms. However, when she moved, she couldnât help but shout: âAiya.â
âWhatâs the matter?â Feng Cang put down the chopsticks and looked concerned at Murong Qi Qi. âQing Qing, are you feeling unwell somewhere?â
How could Murong Qi Qi answer this question? Now, her whole body ached. She wanted to get up, but her legs went soft. She could only fall back in Feng Cangâs embrace. Seeing the concern in Feng Cangâs face, Murong Qi Qi blushed. She didnât speak. Feng Cang became even more anxious.
âWhatâs the matter? Is it...that it still hurts?â
These words from Feng Cang made Murong Qi Qiâs face turn redder. Thinking about the hotness of last night, she buried her head in Feng Cangâs arms and refused to raise it.
Murong Qi Qiâs performance let Feng Cang immediately guess the inner thoughts of this little woman. He tightly hugged Murong Qi Qi and chuckled, âYou and I are already husband and wife, how come Qing Qing is still so shy?â
âIs it not because of you?!â Murong Qi Qi spoke in a low muffled voice in Feng Cangâs arms while âcomplainingâ. It was just, the slight sweetness in the complaint let the feelings of these two people get closer.
âItâs entirely my fault! Although I always wanted to restrain myself, but Qing Qing, youâre too delicious...â
âDonât speak anymore!â Murong Qi Qi raised her head. Her small hand covered Feng Cangâs mouth. âDonât say it out loud!â
Seeing the shyness in Murong Qi qiâs beautiful eyes, Feng Cang stuck his tongue out and circled once on her palm, making Murong Qi Qiâs palm feel a burst of numbness. She quickly took her hand from his mouth.
âCang, you learned the bad things!â Hearing the coquettish protest of the woman in his arms, Feng Cangâs mood was very good. He was just about to kiss Murong Qi Qi, but heard a burst of âgoogooâ sounds from her belly. He looked once again. Murong Qi Qiâs head was almost to the ground.
âCome, Iâll feed you!â Knowing that his little wangfei3 was thin-skinned, Feng Cang didnât tease her any longer. Instead, he fed Murong Qi Qi, bite by bite.
Donât know why, probably because she was really hungry and also very tired; thatâs why Murong Qi Qi ate two bowls of rice.
Touching her bulging belly, Murong Qi Qi revealed a satisfied smile. Only now did she discover that Feng Cang hadnât even eaten one bite. She looked at the dishes on the table. Many of them had been eaten by her. Only âcold leftoversâ were left. Murong Qi Qi laughed embarrassingly.
âThat, do you want them to bring more? I was too hungry and ate it all.â
âNo need. These are enough!â
After feeding Murong Qi Qi, he ate three bowls of rice with soup.
Seeing Feng Cang devour the food ravenously, it was really difficult for Murong Qi Qi to link this person in front of her to the usually graceful man. Seeing Murong Qi Qi with a look of surprise and slightly open mouth, Feng Cang revealed a smile which was able to bewilder people to death.
âWhat, is it that the more you look, the more you feel that your eyes are good and youâve found a good man?â
Seeing Feng Cang acting so cheeky, Murong Qi Qi couldnât help but stick out her tongue. âItâs not that! Itâs just that Iâm used to seeing an elegant young master. Occasionally seeing your abnormal side makes me scared.â
âHaha, so, in Qing Qingâs heart, Iâm an elegant young master!â After putting down the bowl and cleansing his mouth, Feng Cang put his chin on Murong Qi Qiâs hair. His heart was filled with happiness.
In the past, heâd never thought about such things. He didnât dare to think and also couldnât imagine it. Now, the person he loves was in his arms, shared a bed with him, shared a meal with him; such times were so beautiful. Feng Cang wished that he could always immerse himself in this happiness and never wake up from it!
âIn the past when I led the army, we often ate like this. Sometimes, in the wild, we could only eat dry food. After the dry food was finished, weâll eat wild vegetables. Sometimes, we could catch a prey and would eat meat. As for vegetables and fruits, those were a luxury. Iâm a general. The treatment was a lot better. However, those soldiers were having a very hard time. They often boiled wild vegetables. Those days were very difficult to let people miss them...â
Following Feng Cangâs description, Murong Qi Qi seemed to see the Feng Cang who once swiftly swayed his sword like a young god. How mighty was that? So, this man had such an experience. It seemed that what she usually saw was just a part of him. She needed to dig to see more parts of him.
âNow, there is no war. After returning to the capital, and living like a prince for a long time, I became lazy and turned into an elegant young master!â
Hearing the faint layer of reminisce from Feng Cangâs words, Murong Qi Qi put her hand into Feng Cangâs palm. âCang, how come I can hear from your words that you particularly want to fight in a war...â
âA good man would aspire to travel and make oneâs mark. As long as youâre a warm blooded wolf, you would wish to gallop through the battlefield and cast an ambition. Iâm a man amongst men. Naturally, Iâm no exception!â
Murong Qi Qi could understand Feng Cang. Feng Cang, who had been raised at Feng Xieâs side, naturally he was influenced from young. Presumably, since heâs young, he saw Feng Xie as his idol and wanted to become a great general and fill the battlefield with blood!
Murong Qi Qi didnât say anything for half a day. Feng Cang thought that she had been scared by his thoughts. He immediately teased her to happiness, âDonât worry. Now, I have you and wonât only think about those fighting and killing things. I want to protect you, protect our children. Youâre my everything and the person I want to protect!â
While talking, Feng Cang put his hand on Murong Qi Qiâs belly. Seeing him like this, Murong Qi Qi became shy, âWe still donât know when weâll get a baby! Cang, do you like a boy or a girl?â
âI like them all! As long as theyâre our children!â While talking, Feng Cangâs hand began to not be so honest. Across the thin layer of clothes, he began to explore Murong Qi Qiâs body.
When that numb feeling came, Murong Qi Qi screamed lightly. She quickly grabbed Feng Cang dishonest hand. âCang, now, itâs daytime...Perhaps Su Yue already went to Wu Ji Gong. We still donât know what the result is...â
âIn this world, thereâs already no Wu Ji Gong...â
After experiencing the night before, Feng Cang was a lot more skilled. In only two steps, he removed her thin layer of clothes and revealed a beautiful landscape. That beautiful landscape stimulated Feng Cangâs eyes, making his originally sleeping body immediately wake up, begin to stir and eager to give it a try.
âDonât ...during daytime, itâs too shameful...â Murong Qi Qi wanted to push him away, but Feng Cang lowered his head and bit her delicate collarbone. Here was originally white. After one lingering night, it had been filled with red stars.
âQing Qing, youâre so beautiful...,â Feng Cang whispered. âReally so beautiful...no matter how I eat, I canât become full...â
1. Aijia: I, used by an empress dowager
2. Er: term of endearment
3. Wangfei: main consort/wife of the prince of first rank