Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 604 Safely Arriving in the Capital, I Don’t Want Him to Die (4)

After leaving the Imperial Study, following the path towards the Imperial Garden, the chrysanthemums in the garden were in full bloom, even though winter was just around the corner—clearly, the gardeners had put much effort into this.

"Your Majesty, the weather is turning cold, please put on your cloak," Palace Attendant Lenglei said softly, holding the cloak in her hands and asking the deep in thought Empress.

"Uh, oh, now that you mention it, I do feel a bit cold. Put it on," Feng Xuxu, who had just come back to reality, said with a light smile.

The fiery red cloak enveloped her proud figure as she stood quietly in the chrysanthemum garden, her eyes warm with a gentle smile as she looked at the colorful chrysanthemums in the courtyard.

In the afternoon, Dugu Chen had his men take a large roll of drawings and several eunuchs moved it to Yangxin Hall.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor has sent things over, the eunuchs are asking where to place them," Yingsu reported as she walked into the hall, seeing that the Empress was scrutinizing a delicate brush in her hand, and she bowed deeply.

"Place it in the side hall, lay out a thick cloth on the floor, and then set the drawings on it. Slowly unfold them, careful not to damage or soil them by even a hair," she commanded.

"As you wish, Your Majesty."

Watching her leave, Feng Xuxu carefully put away her brush, rose gracefully, washed her hands, took out a pure white silk handkerchief, wiped her hands, then turned and went to the side hall.

The large drawing took up a third of the side hall space. Once laid out, being before such a map made one feel as if the entire country was at one’s feet, giving a sensation of directing the nation. She waved her hand to the people behind her, "All of you leave. Unless I summon you, or there’s something important, do not disturb me."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Yingsu led the Palace Attendants out one by one, carefully closing the doors of the great hall as they left.

Seated on the floor, Feng Xuxu began searching for the rivers near the Capital City on the map, tracing their course, checking where they started and ended, which villages they passed through, and whether the water was denser in some areas. While she did this, she made mental notes, preparing to write them down later.

Time flew by, and before she had finished studying the course of one river, it was already getting dark. She lit candles, but the flickering, dull light made it hard to see, so she had no choice but to order the servants to roll up the drawings on the floor.

Before she could even rest for a moment, two children were the first to enter the hall. Seeing them pouting with aggrieved faces, and even their frowning alike, she stretched out her hand and pinched each of their cheeks, "What’s the matter? Are you fighting again?"

"Mother, I feel so wronged," Yueyue said, twisting in her chair, her rosy lips still blowing bubbles now and then.

With a slight furrow of her brow, Feng Xuxu was puzzled; her daughter rarely complained of feeling wronged. Who in the palace would dare to provoke these two children: "And you, Qiqi?"

"I... I’m okay," Qiqi pouted, clearly unhappy, her expression indicating she felt very wronged.

"Oh! Who wronged you?" She couldn’t believe anyone would dare to make them feel aggrieved. The only person who could was their father, but according to the time, he should have been busy reviewing documents and had no time to discipline them; who else could control them? She was very curious.

Qiqi and Yueyue exchanged glances, Yueyue clutching at Feng Xuxu’s skirt, whispered, "It was... it was... the tutor."

"The tutor?" Feng Xuxu was momentarily puzzled.

"Mother, it’s the Crown Prince’s Grand Preceptor," Qiqi explained, afraid that his mother would be confused, and rushed to his sister’s aid.

"Right, learning knowledge is good, but why are you aggrieved?"

"The Grand Preceptor hit me," Yueyue’s pout became even more pronounced, extending her hand to Feng Xuxu as she spoke.

Feng Xuxu looked down at Yueyue’s swollen hand, and from the marks, it was clear that she was hit with a discipline ruler. Before Feng Xuxu could ask Yueyue further, Mei Lenglei took quick steps forward, "Your Majesty, it’s reported that the Crown Prince’s Grand Preceptor, Wu Feng, is kneeling outside, seeking an audience with the Empress."

Feng Xuxu frowned slightly, pausing for a moment before asking, "Didn’t he say what he wants?"

"He is here to plead guilty to the Empress on behalf of the Crown Prince and the Princess."

Looking at the two children who turned sour-faced upon hearing the Grand Preceptor had arrived, Feng Xuxu said, "Let him into the front hall. I’ll be there shortly."

"As you command, Your Majesty."

After Mei Lenglei left, Feng Xuxu lifted Yueyue’s hand, gently touching it and seeing Yueyue pull back a little, "Does it hurt a lot?"

"Not... not much," Yueyue said, holding back tears and shaking her head.

Feng Xuxu felt a rage flare up inside her, as if her own heart was being viciously squeezed, seeing her daughter claim it didn’t hurt even as tears welled up in her eyes. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Seeing his mother’s face filled with anger, Qiqi trembled slightly, tugging gently at her skirt, "Mother, don’t blame the Grand Preceptor. It’s because my sister and I were naughty and made him angry, that’s why he hit us."

Seeing her son’s cautious expression, Feng Xuxu felt even more that the Grand Preceptor had been too heavy-handed with them. In the confusion of concern, she completely forgot that in ancient times, even the boldest Minister would not dare to mistreat the future rulers behind the scenes.

Feng Xuxu stormed out of Yangxin Hall, her entire being radiating an aura that screamed ’keep away.’

Following closely behind her, Palace Attendants Yingsu and Mei Lenglei kept up with Feng Xuxu, their faces filled with grim determination. The Crown Prince and the Princess were children they had watched grow up; they might have been mischievous at times, but they never did anything too outrageous. The Emperor and Empress themselves had never laid a finger on them, and now they had been struck by a tutor, leaving both attendants seething with indignation.

Seeing their mother’s face turn an iron shade as she stormed out, Yueyue asked Qiqi in a whisper, "Brother, will Mother have him executed?"

"It’s very possible; I’ve never seen Mother this angry."

"Brother, but... but I don’t want him dead," Yueyue, frightened by her mother’s fury, asked her brother in a soft voice.

"What are you waiting for then? Hurry to the front hall!"