The Slender Waist-Chapter 784 - 557 Imperial Concubine Commits Murder
Tai City.
Xianyang Hall’s Eastern Pavilion.
The morning light just started to seep in, and looking out from the half-open window, one could see the red walls and green tiles wet as if carrying the tide’s moisture with dew.
Last night’s rain had left the incense ashes in the bronze beast incense burner cold.
Dawn was approaching, but Xiao Cheng still had not slept.
Sitting alone by the window, the curtains fluttering in the wind, his handsome eyes deep in thought.
Jixiang bent down, refilling the cup with water again.
He had been adding water all night while His Majesty sat through it.
Outside the hall steps, Feng Jingteng, Feng Ying, and the second elder of the Feng Family, Feng Jingchao, along with Feng Jingyao’s two sons who held positions in the court, had come early to see the Emperor but were told that His Majesty had not yet arisen and they had not been summoned.
The news of Feng Jingyao’s imprisonment by the Jin Court reached Tai City last night. Since Feng Jingteng was in Bingzhou, he received the news even earlier, practically arriving on the heels of the messenger.
Initially, the Feng Family couldn’t believe that the Jin Court would behave so recklessly.
Once the news was confirmed, they hurried to seek an audience with the Emperor before daybreak.
The Feng Family was extremely anxious.
But since the Emperor did not summon them, they dared not act.
"Your Majesty," in the room, Jixiang handed up the tea cup and, gathering courage, added, "The Feng Family has been waiting outside for a long time."
Xiao Cheng said, "I know."
Jixiang couldn’t discern the Emperor’s mood and dared not say more, silently retreating to the side.
Xiao Cheng rested his forehead in his hand, eyes closed, quietly massaging his temples for a moment before finally opening his eyes and slowly pulling open a drawer.
This drawer was always locked and even Ping’an and Jixiang were not allowed to touch it, not knowing what was inside.
Only Xiao Cheng knew.
Inside were letters written by Feng Yun, her drawings for him, birthday gifts, and some objects from the past, as well as a letter from Feng Yun to Pei Jue that was seized in Bingzhou.
Xiao Cheng’s brow furrowed, his hand freezing.
He hesitated for a long time to open the drawer, then slowly pushed it back.
"Let Feng Jingteng wait at the Western Palace. Others, you may leave."
Jixiang paused, then complied, "Yes."
The Eastern Pavilion is where His Majesty steals leisure moments.
Here, he would write, read, daydream, and reside in silence; a private place where he often slept when tired.
However, the Emperor never handled political affairs in the Eastern Pavilion.
Moreover, he never allowed anyone but himself and Ping’an to set foot inside.
Jixiang actually knew that this room held many personal belongings of Shi’er Niang collected by the Emperor from the Feng Residence, Bingzhou, and even Andu.
He did not understand what the Emperor was thinking.
All these years...
That woman had long been with Pei Jue. As the Emperor, why could he not let go, ignoring the thousands of beauties in the Imperial Harem, obsessing over a hopeless past love?
The unattainable is always the most desirable.
This is what Jixiang thought.
-
The Feng Family had been waiting so long, and seeing the Emperor only summoned Feng Jingteng alone, not even the Imperial Concubine Feng Ying could meet His Majesty, they grew increasingly tense.
They all knew that the entire Feng Family relied on Feng Jingyao; without their pillar, not to mention their cohesion, having someone who could uphold the family’s prestige in the Imperial Court was none existent.
A whole family came, but only Feng Jingteng was seen.
The Emperor’s attitude was enough to leave them terrified.
"Father," Feng Ying, with a worried expression, pulled her father aside and said softly, "The best course of action now is to find a way to ensure uncle’s safety."
Feng Jingteng sighed, "Of course. But your uncle is in the Jin Dynasty, his life and death are at their mercy... If only we had known, he would not have been sent to Xijing."
Feng Ying gave a hollow laugh, much colder than usual.
She still wore a veil hat this morning, and Feng Jingteng couldn’t see her face clearly.
"Father, it was the Emperor’s assignment, not due to uncle’s own will."
Feng Jingteng entirely missed the implication in Feng Ying’s words, anxiously responding, "The situation has already arisen, we should first see what His Majesty intends. You all go back first, father should not make the Emperor wait longer."
Feng Ying nodded.
As Feng Jingteng turned to leave, she caught his sleeve again.
"Father,"
Feng Jingteng, sensing her unease, frowned and asked, "What is it?"
Feng Ying said, "No matter what His Majesty says, do not contradict him; keeping uncle safe and ensuring his return to Tai City is the priority."
Feng Jingteng felt she was being overly nagging today.
The Emperor had been waiting a long time, and yet she continued to fuss.
Feng Ying had always been highly favored by Feng Jingyao, her respect for her uncle far surpassing her respect for her less capable father, which Feng Jingteng found unsettling, and today’s repeated warnings irritated him all the more.
"Your uncle is my older brother, would I not save him if I could? Such a woman’s perspective."
Feng Jingteng withdrew his sleeve, turned away with a scowl, and left.
Feng Ying stood still, slowly retracting her hand, clenching her fist tightly.
Her intuition was very accurate. Ever since Xiao Cheng had dispatched Feng Jingyao on a diplomatic mission, she had felt an underlying unease.
Her uncle held a significant post, overwhelmed with governmental affairs. Even though the enthronement of a new Emperor of Jin was a major event, it wasn’t absolutely necessary to send Feng Jingyao.
Any prince from the royal family or a duke could be sent as an envoy just as well; why must her uncle be the one to go?
Over the years, members of the Feng Family had entered the court, and many were promoted, all thriving under the patronage; it could be said that upon Xiao Cheng’s ascension, the Feng Family of Xuzhou reached the pinnacle of glory, prominent and distinguished.
If an Empress could be added to their ranks, it would indeed be icing on the cake.
Therefore, her uncle had connected with many high officials in the court, repeatedly submitting memorials, requesting Xiao Cheng to establish her as the Empress...
But at this critical moment, her uncle had been sent on a mission to Xijing.
Feng Ying truly hoped her suspicions were wrong, but the frantic pounding of her heart screamed otherwise, forcing her to doubt... that Xiao Cheng did it on purpose.
He was no longer the Xiao Cheng of the past.
Sitting high on the Dragon Throne, he no longer wanted to be constrained by the Feng Family.
Feng Ying didn’t read history books, but she had heard plenty about former dynasties. Many who had helped the Dragon rise ultimately overshadowed their rulers, many loyal officials and good generals became thorns in the Emperor’s side.
She had always feared the Feng Family might tread this path, reminding them countless times to be cautious, to restrain their brilliance, to avoid showing arrogance...
Unfortunately, as their family’s business grew and their numbers increased, not to mention her cousins, even her own mother often couldn’t help but show off, causing many troubles...
The Emperor kept all these matters in his heart.
Feng Ying felt a chill in her heart, glanced at the window of the Eastern Pavilion, and silently withdrew.
Just as she left Xianyang Hall, she saw Daman standing in the morning light.
Feng Ying was silent.
Daman coldly curled her lips, watching her mockingly as she approached leisurely.
"The Imperial Concubine emerges from Xianyang Hall before dawn... Did you spend the night serving there?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮
Feng Ying felt a pang in her heart, a bitter taste rising in her throat.
Knowing full well that Daman was taunting her, yet she had to endure it.
"Lady Huaxi." Feng Ying forced a smile, "If there’s nothing else, I will take my leave."
As Feng Ying spoke, she walked past Daman with her palace maid.
"Stop!" Daman suddenly grabbed her wrist.
She was trained in martial arts, and her strength was considerable.
Feng Ying struggled but couldn’t free herself, turned to glare at her, just about to voice a warning, when Daman slapped her across the face.
The curtain fell to the ground, revealing Feng Ying’s disheveled face.
On her face, unevenly flushed red, was a look of astonishment.
"Ah!"
The palace maids were momentarily stunned before they screamed out loud.
Feng Ying was, after all, of a concubine rank.
Daman was merely a lady.
How dare she strike an Imperial Concubine?
The crowd was shocked, but Feng Ying was not.
She slowly raised her chin, looking coldly at Daman.
"Born of the same root, why torment each other so hastily? Daman, we are sisters, sisters from the same root."
"Ho?" Daman seemed to hear a joke, rubbing her reddened palm, she coldly sneered, "Hearing those words from the Imperial Concubine is absurd to the extreme. Did you think of us as sisters from the same root when you betrayed your own sister and replaced her in marriage?"
Feng Ying glanced sideways at her, "And you, aren’t you the same? Who are you to claim moral high ground? While you served in the Xianyang Hall, did you ever spare a thought for your sister?"
"I am not like you." Daman curled her lips in derision, looking askance with scoffing eyes, suddenly grabbed Feng Ying’s chin, clicking her tongue twice.
"Look at this face, turned so ugly, and still dreaming of becoming the Empress? Feng Ying, who gave you the courage, thinking with such looks, you could mother the whole nation?"
"How audacious!" Feng Ying gasped for breath, "Lady Huaman, I am an Imperial Concubine! How dare you commit such insubordination?"
"Oh." Daman’s eyes mocked further, and she slapped her again.
"You are an Imperial Concubine, and I am a Favored Lady. A fallen Imperial Concubine isn’t even worth a chicken, haven’t you heard? That first slap was on behalf of our older sister, this one, is for my mother..."
Feng Ying was furious, her chest heaving with suppressed anger.
"What are you all staring at? Are you all dead?"
She cried out angrily to the palace attendants, and suddenly pushed hard at Daman with both hands.
Daman, always strong, didn’t expect to be pushed like this; she staggered backward and heavily hit the wall of the palace, making a loud bang...
Then, Daman trembled pointing at Feng Ying, her pupils dilating slightly as she collapsed, fainting on the spot.
"Lady!" The palace maid screamed and rushed over.
A stream of blood trickled from Daman’s lips, flowing down her neck and quickly soaking into her collar...
The smell of blood was pungent.
The palace maid screamed loudly.
"The Imperial Concubine has committed murder!"
"Someone come quick, the Imperial Concubine has committed murder!"
