Chapter 13: Double Joy Arrives

Chapter 13: Double Joy Arrives

Recalling the letter her brother had sent through an intermediary that morning, stating the Emperor's suspicion of his disloyalty and his confinement, she was asked to plead with the Emperor on his behalf. If it were in the past, she would have undoubtedly requested her son to release her brother without hesitation. Fortunately, Consort Li's unintentional intervention had halted her, and now, after hearing the Empress's thoughts, she realized how little she had considered her son's feelings before.

Feng Xiyao stayed for dinner at Shoukang Palace, where the food was abundant, and the Empress Dowager's hospitality was warm. She ended up overeating due to the feast and the Empress Dowager's generosity.

The Empress Dowager, for some reason, was exceptionally delighted. She bestowed upon Feng Xiyao numerous treasures of gold and silver, so many that Feng Xiyao's hands could barely hold them all. Throughout the day, the corners of her mouth never dropped from the joy.

After accompanying the Empress Dowager in conversation for a while, seeing her yawn, Feng Xiyao stood up. "Mother, if you're tired, go ahead and rest. I can come back tomorrow to accompany you!"

"Very well, very well. You must be exhausted from accompanying me today. Go back and get some good rest!" The Empress Dowager nodded with a gentle smile.

Once Feng Xiyao rose to leave, the Empress Dowager felt as if everything that transpired today was surreal. She had suddenly gained insight into someone's thoughts and learned so much about the situation.

"..."

After a moment of silence, she instructed the nanny by her side, "From now on, if the Imperial Uncle sends a letter to the palace, don't bring it to me. Just burn it!"

The nanny nodded. "Yes!"

The Empress Dowager sighed. She could do nothing for her son now and did not wish to burden him!

Her family had been suppressed and suspected after assisting the previous emperor's ascension to the throne. She knew the pain of such circumstances, so when her brother helped their son ascend, she put his interests first in everything. Never did she expect that she would be nurturing a potential threat.

...

Upon Feng Xiyao's return to Fengchun Palace, she found the tyrant already seated at the dining table, seemingly waiting for her.

"Your Majesty, please eat without me. I've already had my meal with Mother!"

Mo Cangyan turned at the sound of her voice and saw Feng Xiyao's face aglow with an irrepressible smile as she rushed into her room without even looking at him.

"..."

Mo Cangyan's expression darkened instantly. He had skipped his meal, waiting for Feng Xiyao, only to be ignored by her.

He had grown accustomed to having meals with Feng Xiyao recently. Watching her enjoy her food made his own meals more appetizing. Little did he expect that she would have eaten outside without informing him, making him wait here for half a day.

Mo Cangyan was about to erupt in anger when he suddenly realized that he had allowed Feng Xiyao's presence to affect his emotions. He paused, taken aback.

Controlling his fury, he calmly picked up his rice bowl and said, "Well, if you're not here, no one will compete with me for the food!"

However, despite his initial hunger, Mo Cangyan found himself unable to eat much of the dishes on the table. After finishing a bowl of porridge, he got up with a stern face and headed for his study.

At the door, he coldly remarked, "The food today was terrible. I don't want to see these dishes again!"

Eunuch Hai: Weren't you enjoying it the other days?

In the study, Mo Cangyan read through several memorials but noticed Feng Xiyao's absence as she hadn't come to grind ink for him. He stood up and walked towards her room, curious about what she was doing.

Upon hearing the door open, Feng Xiyao instinctively hid the treasure she received from the Empress Dowager behind her back.

Spotting her guilty demeanor, Mo Cangyan approached her.

Feng Xiyao promptly stood up, blocking his path. "Hehehe, is the Emperor here to fetch me for ink grinding? I can go right away."

"..."

Feng Xiyao's eyes curved into a delightful smile. Mo Cangyan glanced behind her.

"Is there something the Empress is hiding that I'm not supposed to know about?"

Feng Xiyao shook her head and waved her hands. "No, everything I have belongs to Your Majesty!"

Mo Cangyan didn't believe she would be so innocent. He walked over, pulled her aside, and lifted the covers. His gaze fell upon jade ruyi scepters and gold and silver jewelry...

He furrowed his brow, picked up an exquisite phoenix hairpin, and looked at Feng Xiyao, whose face showed pain at the loss. He couldn't understand why she needed to hide these.

"Does the Empress like these items?"

Feng Xiyao nodded guiltily.

"Of course, who doesn't like gold and jewels?!"

Mo Cangyan chuckled, setting the item down. He said nonchalantly, "Since the Empress likes them, the treasury has plenty. Tomorrow, I'll ask Zhou Fuhai to send you some gold leaves!"

"..."

Feng Xiyao's eyes widened in disbelief. The sudden surprise had left her momentarily dazed.

Regaining her composure, her eyes sparkled as she exclaimed, "Wonderful, wonderful, thank you, Your Majesty!"

Worried he might change his mind, she reached out to him, "Promise me, Your Majesty. You can't deceive me. Send Eunuch Hai over with it tomorrow!"

Looking at her outstretched hand, Mo Cangyan replied grumpily, "I am the emperor, my word is law!"

"..."

Unconvinced, Feng Xiyao persisted with her raised hand.

Reluctantly, Mo Cangyan reached out to hook pinkies with her. As their thumbs touched, he suddenly came to his senses, wondering why he was engaging in such a childish act with this woman.

But before he could ponder further, Feng Xiyao pressed her saliva-coated thumb onto his...

Afterward, Mo Cangyan wiped his thumb repeatedly with a handkerchief, clearly disgusted by the contact with Feng Xiyao's hand.

Meanwhile, Feng Xiyao skipped away happily to tend to her treasures.

The following morning.

When Feng Xiyao woke up, she didn't see Mo Cangyan. It was only after asking Ruyi that she learned he had gone to the early court session.

Pushing open the door, she stepped out and saw a little eunuch approaching with a box in his arms.

"Empress, His Majesty instructed me to bring this to you. Eunuch Hai is occupied, so I, your servant, had to deliver it!"

"Thank His Majesty on my behalf!"

Feng Xiyao was surprised by the Tyrant's promptness. With a thrilled heart and trembling hands, she took the box and swiftly ran back into her room, quickly shutting the door behind her.

She placed the box on the bed and carefully opened it. Inside was an entire box filled with gold leaves. Overwhelmed with excitement, she picked one up and took a bite.

"It's real, it's really real! The Tyrant didn't lie to me. This weighty load is truly a sign of his sincerity."

"Congratulations, Host. Your Life Value has increased to 18%."

A mechanical voice echoed in her mind again, and Feng Xiyao's mouth gaped wide open. "What kind of incredible luck do I have today, to receive not one but two surprises!"

As she watched her vitality slowly increase, she vowed to save every coin she could. Once the original male lead took control of Great Xia, she planned to run away with all her savings.

Thinking about the treasure chest that had now reached 30%, she swallowed hard. "It's almost there, almost there."

Feng Xiyao gathered the treasures she received from the Empress Dowager along with the gold leaves, intending to hide them under her bed. However, she was afraid they might be stolen, and placing them under her pillow risked discovery by the tyrant.

After much deliberation, she decided to wait until nighttime when everyone was asleep. Then, she would dig a hole in the courtyard to bury her valuables!

"That's a great idea!" she nodded contentedly.

...

When she emerged again, a smile couldn't help but grace her face as she called out to Ruyi, who was tending to the flowers and plants.

"Excellent Ruyi, we have double joy today! Prepare more meat!"

Ruyi paused, then her gaze shifted to Feng Xiyao's abdomen. Recalling how the Emperor had been spending his nights in Fengchun Palace these past few days, the scissors in her hand slipped and fell to the ground.