Chapter 51: Consort Li, Did You Incite This?

Chapter 51: Consort Li, Did You Incite This?

"Quick, quick, they're almost here!"

Crouching low, Feng Xiyao tugged Qin Fang to hide from the patrolling guards.

After some contemplation, Qin Fang spoke up.

"Your Highness, I could actually carry you on my back and fly to Fengchun Palace across the rooftops!"

"..."

Feng Xiyao was jolted back to reality by his words. She turned around, her face flushed with anger, and whispered through gritted teeth.

"Why didn't you say so earlier?!"

Qin Fang looked at her quizzically. He couldn't understand why she had been the one rushing him along from the start, pulling him into the palace in a mad dash. When he tried to speak, she wouldn't let him, saying it slowed her down!

Yet, he dared not express these thoughts, so he could only watch Feng Xiyao in silence.

Seeing the hint of grievance on his handsome and authoritative face, Feng Xiyao felt like teasing him, but alas, she lacked the time. With a stifled laugh, she held back her urge.

"Feng Xiyao, alright, alright. Take me back to Fengchun Palace now, or we won't have time!"

After Feng Xiyao finished speaking, Qin Fang wrapped his arms around her slim waist and said, "Empress, forgive me!"

In an instant, the two soared onto the rooftop. Qin Fang then lightly tapped his toes, and Feng Xiyao felt the surroundings blur into afterimages.

Before long, they landed steadily in the courtyard of Fengchun Palace.

As soon as Feng Xiyao was set down, she took two steps back and retched, "Ugh!"

Qin Fang raised his hand, intending to pat her back, but remembering their respective statuses, he clenched his fists and let his hand drop.

When Feng Xiyao finished vomiting, she turned to look at Qin Fang, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

"Qin Fang, your lightness kung fu is incredible! Are you interested in taking on a disciple?"

Qin Fang heard this and curved his lips into a smile.

Indeed, this Empress was different from other women; no wonder his Master had been captivated by her.

At this thought, a pang of discomfort struck him, and he was about to decline her offer when the sound of approaching footsteps echoed in his ears.

"Quick, Your Highness, they're here!"

...

"Aunt, let's hurry inside. Feng Xiyao surely isn't in the palace!"

Consort Li's arrogant tone infiltrated the air, followed by the forceful push of the main door from outside.

Seeing the palace maid sweeping the courtyard, Consort Li grinned.

"What's the point of sweeping? The Empress isn't in Fengchun Palace. Who are you sweeping for?"

Ruyi looked up, spotting Consort Li, and promptly bowed in respect.

"Your humble servant pays respects to Consort Li, pays respects to the Empress Dowager!"

Consort Li was now eager to expose Feng Xiyao's true colors before the Empress Dowager and impatiently added her question.

"Your Grace asked you something. Is the Empress currently in the Phoenix Spring Palace?"

Ruyi maintained her composure and nodded.

"In response to Consort Li, my Empress has indeed been in the Phoenix Spring Palace the whole time!"

Seeing Ruyi's sincerity, Consort Li glanced doubtfully at Kong Xue'er behind her. Upon receiving an assuring nod from her, Consort Li's concerns eased.

Almost having been deceived, she narrowed her eyes menacingly. "You're lying!"

"Humble servant doesn't lie. My Empress has truly been in her chambers!"

Consort Li refused to believe it and instructed the palace maidens behind her, "Bind this lying dog of a servant. We'll deal with her later!"

Just as the Empress Dowager was about to intervene, a sluggish voice echoed from within the room, interrupting her.

"Who's causing such a ruckus out there?!"

The crowd turned to the source of the voice and saw the Empress lazily stretching her arms as she emerged from her chambers, looking as if she had just woken up.

Upon recognizing the Empress Dowager standing outside, she hastily bowed in greeting. "Your Imperial Daughter pays her respects to Mother Empress. I didn't expect your visit and came out without proper attire to greet you. Please forgive me!"

Feng Xiyao appeared calm on the surface, but she was drenched in sweat internally.

"Lucky for me, Mo Cangyan sent Qin Fang to escort me back. Otherwise, I would have been caught red-handed!"

The Empress Dowager instantly grasped the entire situation upon hearing this, understanding that her daughter had gone out with her son on an errand. She smiled gently, expressing her concern. "It's alright, alright. Someone summoned me here as well!"

Her words subtly implicated Consort Li and Kong Xue'er, who exchanged bewildered glances.

Kong Xue'er's eyes widened in disbelief. How could this be? Feng Xiyao was clearly outside the palace. Did she just return now?

Consort Li, unable to contain her anger at Feng Xiyao's presence, lashed out.

"Feng Xiyao, what are you doing here? You sneaked out of the palace to rendezvous with some random man!"

If the Empress Dowager had not been present, Feng Xiyao would have surely slapped this vulgar woman senseless. She held back her anger and instead offered a faint smile to Consort Li.

"Consort Li, please look carefully. I've always been in Fengchun Palace, and now I stand right before you."

At this point, she paused and cast a glance at Kong Xue'er, who was standing behind the crowd, before continuing.

"I dare ask, what evidence do you, Consort Li, possess to accuse me of leaving the palace to be with another man?"

"..."

Consort Li, flustered by the rebuttal, turned around in anger and pulled Kong Xue'er forward.

"It was this palace maid who informed me, and we did come to your palace earlier. You weren't in Fengchun Palace just now!"

Spotting Kong Xue'er, Feng Xiyao taunted, "Consort Li, has your mind gone dull? You actually believe the words of this lowly palace maid?"

"I was sleeping all this time. None of you bothered to check my chambers before concluding that I'd run away from the palace. Isn't that a bit hasty?"

Upon hearing Feng Xiyao refer to herself as nothing but a lowly palace maid, Kong Xue'er's hands, concealed beneath her garments, clenched into fists.

"You..."

Seeing Feng Xiyao twist the truth with such audacity, Consort Li trembled with rage.

Observing Consort Li's weak response, Kong Xue'er stepped forward.

"Your Highness, we did indeed come to Fengchun Palace and heard your maid claiming you were not in the palace. If that's the case, you must have hurried back just now, wouldn't you say?!"

As she spoke, she appraised Consort Li from head to toe. "That's why you didn't have time to change and had to rush out like this!"

Feng Xiyao admired this woman's composure but regretted that she was dealing with someone as unpredictable as herself.

Noticing her mistress's gaze, Ruyi promptly understood and strode over to slap Kong Xue'er across the face.

"Disgraceful dog! Don't you know your place? To dare slander Her Majesty the Empress like that without any evidence – do you wish for a longer life?"

Kong Xue'er was stunned by the blow and stared blankly at Ruyi.

"What are you staring at? Do you want another slap?"

Upon hearing this, Kong Xue'er immediately lowered her head in fear.

With the performance concluded, the Empress Dowager stepped forward.

"Everyone has now seen that the Empress has been in Fengchun Palace the entire time, and she did not, as your despicable servant claimed, leave the palace to engage in an illicit affair with a man!"

As she spoke, she turned her gaze towards Consort Li.

"Baoning, do you still recall what you told me just now?"

Recalling her bold claim that she would accept any punishment from the Empress Dowager, Consort Li's face paled. Sobbing, she clung to the Empress Dowager's leg.

"Aunt, I was misled by this wretch! Please forgive me, Aunt!"

The Empress Dowager knew that although Lin Baoning was spoiled, she lacked the cunning to plot against the Empress. She looked at Kong Xue'er, who was kneeling on the ground, trembling with fear.

"Consort Li, did you instigate this?"