Chapter 50: The Empress Visits the Phoenix Spring Palace

Chapter 50: The Empress Visits the Phoenix Spring Palace

Feng Xiyao rose to her feet. "Then I must leave now!"

Mo Cangyan frowned. Before he could speak, another unfamiliar servant hurried over.

"Excuse me, are you Mister Mo Yan?"

Mo Cangyan gave a nonchalant nod.

The servant continued, "Mister Mo Yan, my master has sent for you. Do you have time now to visit his residence?"

"..."

Mo Cangyan pursed his lips.

Feng Xiyao stepped forward, displeased. "Who is your master and why does he want Mo Yan to come?"

The servant smiled. "My master is a student of Mister Kong Lu, the Director of Studies at the Imperial Academy. He was very impressed with Mister Mo Yan's writing and wishes to make his acquaintance."

With the conversation reaching this point, everyone understood what needed to be done.

Xiao Feng nodded. "Could you please wait outside for a moment, young man? We'll tidy up and be out shortly!"

The attendant sized up the group. They were all dressed in rough homespun clothing—what was there to tidy?

"Young Master Mo, you'd better hurry. Otherwise, my master will be upset. After all, there are so many who wish to make friends with her!"

The attendant's words implied that being invited by Mo Yan was something to boast about.

Feng Xiyao couldn't bear to listen any longer. She stepped forward, ready to confront the man, but Mo Cangyan quickly pulled her back, turning to face the attendant with a calm tone.

"I understand. Please, trouble you, young brother, to wait just a moment!"

The attendant smiled slyly and left the room.

"Why did you stop me? That dog-eyed servant only knows how to look down on people. I've already shown great kindness not to rip his head off!"

Hearing the protective tone in her words, Mo Cangyan felt a warmth in his heart, and a smile tugged at his lips.

"You still have the audacity to laugh, the Emperor being mocked, and you find it amusing!"

Feng Xiyao stared at him with her large, round eyes, her face brimming with indignation.

Seeing her puffed-up cheeks, Mo Cangyan, almost involuntarily, reached out to pinch them.

"Priority matters first, put others aside for now!" His tone was calm, dismissing Xiao Feng's mockery with disdain.

"Hmph!"

Feng Xiyao swatted away the man's hand, only to have the other side of her face pinched too.

"Ouch, don't touch me!"

She was doing this for his own good, yet he remained indifferent. It was impossible for Feng Xiyao not to feel annoyed.

Mo Cangyan lowered his gaze, his deep, narrow phoenix eyes observing Feng Xiyao's every move.

Witnessing the warm interaction between their master and Feng Xiyao for the first time, Xiao Feng gave them a mischievous grin.

Not hearing Qin Fang's voice, Xiao Feng turned his head to look at him. He noticed Qin Fang's gaze on the two masters, which seemed off. Xiao Feng nudged him with his elbow, wearing an amused yet irritating smile.

"Why aren't you laughing?"

Qin Fang couldn't be bothered to look at him and casually averted his gaze.

Recalling something important, Feng Xiyao slapped her forehead.

"I forgot, I have something to attend to in the palace. I need to leave now!" With that, she lifted her foot to depart.

Mo Cangyan quickly held her back.

"Be cautious of anyone guarding Phoenix Spring Palace. Take Qin Fang along; he can sneak you in!"

As he spoke, his sharp gaze fell upon Qin Fang. His face was expressionless, but a hint of warning flickered in his eyes.

Qin Fang lowered his head.

"What about you?" Knowing the danger Mo Cangyan was about to face, Feng Xiyao asked worriedly.

"I'm fine!"

Feng Xiyao understood and turned to leave the inn with Qin Fang.

Mo Cangyan's gaze followed Feng Xiyao's figure for a long while.

Xiao Feng stepped forward, "Master, let's go!"

...

At Shoukang Palace

"Aunt, Baoning has an important matter to report!"

The Empress Dowager had just finished her lunch when she heard Lin Baoning's loud voice.

She always preferred tranquility. Due to the recent events involving the Lin family, she already held a grudge against them. Now, hearing Lin Baoning's voice only added to her displeasure.

"What is it?"

Observing her rush in, breathless and flustered, the Empress Dowager sipped her tea calmly and inquired with a hint of detachment.

Lin Baoning composed herself, concealing the smile on her face.

"Aunt, I have earth-shattering news to report to you!"

The Empress Dowager set down her teacup, wiped her lips, and replied nonchalantly.

"Go on, what is it?"

Moving closer to the Empress Dowager, Lin Baoning pretended to whisper confidentially.

"Aunt, the Empress has left the palace! She's been gone for an entire month without returning. Moreover, someone told me that the Empress is... involved with a man outside the palace."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager's brow knitted fiercely.

"How could that be possible?!"

She was well aware of Feng Xiyao's demeanor these days; it was impossible for her to leave the palace and engage in reckless behavior.

"How could it be impossible? You can ask this little palace maid yourself; she saw it with her own eyes!"

Upon hearing Consort Li's command, Kong Xue'er promptly knelt down and spoke softly.

"Empress Dowager, this servant swears it's true. I witnessed Her Majesty the Empress being intimate with a man outside the palace, and upon investigation, we discovered that they had been staying at an inn for a whole month."

The Empress Dowager found it hard to believe. She frowned and looked at the palace maid with displeasure in her eyes.

"You dared to investigate the Empress? Let me ask you, who gave you the audacity? Who granted you the authority?"

Kong Xue'er hadn't expected the Empress Dowager to defend Feng Xiyao so fiercely. Stung by the scolding, her face flushed red, and she stared blankly at the Empress Dowager.

As a seasoned veteran of palace intrigue, the Empress Dowager showed no mercy to Kong Xue'er. Her brows knitted tightly together.

"I'm speaking to you, why are you crying?!"

Consort Li despised this weepy woman. If not for needing her testimony, she would have slapped her already. There was no cousin here to shield her, yet she still cried and acted coquettishly.

Feeling the Empress Dowager's anger and Consort Li's displeasure, Kong Xue'er dared not shed any more tears and hastily wiped them away.

"Displeased with the Empress Dowager, this servant loves His Majesty and fears for his well-being. That's why I secretly arranged an investigation outside the palace walls!"

The Empress Dowager lowered her gaze to study the woman before her. A lovely oval face adorned with teardrops, her almond-shaped eyes seemed veiled in a delicate mist, exuding a gentle fragility. If she were a man, he would undoubtedly be moved by compassion.

Contemplating this, the Empress Dowager curved her lips into a faint smile.

Alas, she was a woman herself, one who had grown accustomed to the coquettish pretenses of other women. Thus, she felt no inclination to pity her.

"..."

Observing the Empress Dowager's scrutiny followed by a smile, Kong Xue'er inwardly smiled, assuming that she had pleased her.

Fearing that Feng Xiyao might slip back into the palace unnoticed, Consort Li hastily tugged on the Empress Dowager's sleeve.

"Aunt, let us hasten to Fengchun Palace. Once we see for ourselves, you'll know if our words hold true!"

Seeing her naive niece being manipulated without realization, the Empress Dowager sighed in resignation.

"Very well... I shall accompany you then. If the Empress is found within the palace, I will severely punish the both of you!"

The Empress Dowager was aware of Feng Xiyao's character and, recalling her son's disappearance for the past two months, she deduced that they had ventured out of the palace together on some mission.

However, she couldn't reveal her true intentions too overtly. All she needed was to buy some time until the Empress returned!

Consort Li eagerly nodded as she waited for the Empress Dowager to rise. "Yes, yes, yes! If the Empress is not in the company of another man outside the palace, Aunt can say whatever she likes!"