Chapter 43: Alas, This Matter Misleads the Masses

  You are currently in the Zhichun Pavilion of Yanxi Palace, with a bowl of light green jade glutinous rice porridge beside you. Luan Fei is quietly lying on the couch, under the palace brocade and satin, her eyebrows and eyes are like paintings, her skin is white as jade, and she is sleeping quietly.

  You looked at the face that was somewhat similar to yours with a puzzled expression, finally taking out the antidote of Lythrum salicaria from your bosom, lifting up Luan Fei, and slowly feeding the medicine into her mouth.

  She wouldn't just stand by and watch someone die.

  After a while, Luan Fei's long eyelashes moved slightly, and Qing Chen called out softly: "Luan Fei."

  Luan Fei's chest rose and fell slightly, "Hmm" a low moan escaped her lips, her long eyelashes trembled as she opened her eyes. After adapting to the dazzling light in front of her for a moment, her gaze focused on Qing Chen's face: "Sister..."

  "You smiled faintly: 'Awake?'"

  Luan Fei looked at Qing Chen without speaking, her usually proud and beautiful willow-leaf eyebrows slightly furrowed. Qing Chen first brought over a little warm water: "Drink some water, then eat the porridge, it's also good for recovering."

  Luan Fei took a few sips of water from the teacup in her hand and suddenly said: "Yanxi Palace?"

  "Ah, it's Yeonhui Palace."

  "Where am I? Why is sister here?"

  "You think you could have woken up if I weren't here?"

  The swan flew low, and a hint of vigilance appeared in its eyes. Qingchen's slender eyebrows slightly raised, sat down beside him and handed over the porridge, saying as if casually: "The antidote given by the Ninth Prince is indeed effective."

  The swan flew in a daze, looking at Qing Chen with a complex expression. Just when Qing Chen almost thought she had miscalculated her move, she whispered: "Isn't it pretending to be dead and escaping from the palace? What about the Crown Prince, how is he?"

  So it was, after leaving the palace, take an antidote again, or just hide in the Wangfu Palace with a pseudonym and wait for the future. Qīng Chén said: "The Crown Prince, to save you, was taken back to the palace by the Jingqi Si together with you, and is now being imprisoned in Songyutai to reflect on his mistakes. I don't know what will happen next. All I know is that if you don't take the antidote now, you'll really die, and no one can save you."

  The phoenix flew and looked ahead, saying: "This medicine can last for a month without killing anyone, why did he want you to come and rescue me?"

  "A month? Not eating or drinking for a month, just starvation would kill someone. The Lian Xin Nai He Cao can only keep someone safe for ten days, after that they'll become a dried up corpse."

  "What?" Luan Fei's body shook: "You're talking nonsense!"

  You don't have to argue with her: "It doesn't matter if you think I'm talking nonsense."

  The phoenix flew silently for a while, then said: "Even so, he still wants you to come and save me."

  "You guys want to do what exactly?"

  Swallow flying raised her eyes, that hint of vigilance reappeared: "He gave you the antidote, didn't he tell you anything?"

  "You nodded and said: 'Right, he didn't say anything. It's just that this antidote wasn't given by him, but was found by me myself.'"

  Luan Fei suddenly raised her head, Qing Chen quietly looked at her, the two sisters sat and stood opposite each other. Luan Fei's eyes were full of complex emotions, while Qing Chen's face was calm and deep, not giving in: "Did you deliberately want to put him to death from start to finish, making Crown Prince Taizhi risk conflicting with the Emperor, almost getting killed by the Emperor's sword in the distant temple?"

  The swan flew into her eyes with a slight movement, but coldly said: "You deceived me."

  "You're right, a soldier is not afraid of deceit. If you can deceive others, you should also think that one day others will deceive you."

  "Yun Fei sank his voice and said: 'What do you want to do?'"

  "Young Master Dust asked in return: 'Does Father know about this matter? Is the Feng family involved?'"

  "Whether you participate or not, what's the difference? Are you going to destroy the Feng family?"

  "What benefit does destroying the Feng family bring to me? When one prospers, all prosper; when one suffers a loss, all suffer a loss. Can I still sever ties with the Feng family?"

  The phoenix flew up and down in her chest, obviously with surging thoughts, hesitating and indecisive. Suddenly she said slowly: "Sister is planning for King Zhen, right?"

  You didn't expect her to ask such a question, with a clear and calm expression, she shook her head and said: "I am not for anyone, I am only for myself."

  "Only for myself?" Luan Fei coldly laughed and said: "Well said, I am also only for myself, but of course also for the Feng family."

  Your eyes are still calm, but with a hint of pity: "The Ninth Prince has made his move, and the game has reached this point. You're already a pawn he's willing to sacrifice. If I don't get the antidote, think about what will happen to you. Even if you leave the palace, you'll still be someone he can't acknowledge in public. Do you really think he'll let you live a peaceful life?"

  The swan flew from a young age, infatuated with Ye Tianming, it was a feeling that had been hidden in her heart for many years. Unfortunately, Ye Tianming married her sister Xianwu, and they were deeply in love, so she could only watch from afar, lost in thought.

  However, the good times did not last long. Xian Wu fell ill and passed away, but for her, it became a heaven-sent opportunity. When Ye Tian Yun was in pain and despair, she comforted him with kindness and care, often taking advantage of the situation to stay by his side. The sisters were originally very similar, and over time, Ye Tian Yun also began to treat her differently. Luan Fei had imagined herself hand in hand with her beloved many times, but she also knew that as a palace maid, it was impossible for her to be married to the prince, so she actively helped Ye Tian Yun plan, hoping that one day after ascending to the throne, she could fulfill her wish.

  However, your words just now were like a ruthless sharp blade that cut open this fantasy inch by inch. Under the majestic throne of the emperor, even fathers and sons, brothers can turn against each other with knives and swords, let alone others. How could Emperor Ye Tianhong allow such an empress to appear in the harem, one who had once eloped with the former crown prince, faked her own death, and was full of mysteries? The jade fingers were tightly clenched, grasping the corners of her clothes, her teeth biting her lips, but she still refused to give up, saying: "He promised me that we would share wealth and power together, and rule the world together. He won't betray me."

  Entangled in a single word "emotion", dyeing the bones and soul, deceiving all living things, no one can see through it, nor can they say anything.

  Yan Fei and Ye Tian Ming are similar in that they both hide their true intentions and are skilled at plotting, but Yan Fei is a woman while Ye Tian Ming is a man. In this regard, women differ from men by a hair's breadth, yet the difference can be as vast as a thousand miles.

  You can't stay here for long, the conversation has reached this point, it's almost done. He stood up and said: "Maybe one day he'll tell you himself. For now, no one will know that you've woken up, be careful yourself." After speaking, he left the Spring Pavilion, lightly closing the palace gate, ordering the guards outside to strictly guard against anyone entering.

  Along the wide and flat bluestone road, Qingchen walked quickly towards the Zhongshu Province's value house. On the square connecting the front hall of the rear palace, the vast Forbidden City seemed extremely empty, as if only she was walking around here, never able to reach the end.

  Can Zhiguan saw Qincheng suddenly coming to the Central Secretariat, somewhat unexpected. Qincheng said: "Has the draft of the Ministry of Rites for the winter sacrifice been submitted? The Emperor is waiting."

  The official in charge replied: "It was just delivered at noon and hasn't been presented for imperial review yet."

  "Bring it over and invite Feng Xiang for me."

  The official in charge of the ceremony went out and soon returned with a memorial which he handed to Qing Chen, then retreated.

  Feng Yan came out afterwards, Qing Chen slightly bowed and called: "Father."

  The long wind was cold and dark, blowing on Feng Yan's body, the bright purple gold thread python robe slightly moved, he nodded his head and smiled: "I didn't expect it to be you." The prime minister's demeanor had been cultivated for a long time, but now it seemed that not only did he not have the arrogance of a powerful minister, but also had a few points of kindness.

  Qing Chen Dao said, "Father, please step aside and talk." As they were in charge of the palace's political affairs separately, to avoid suspicion, the father and daughter rarely met privately. Qing Chen also deliberately avoided Feng Yun, but now she took the initiative to come forward, which made Feng Yun somewhat unexpected.

  Feng Yan followed her out of the Zhongshu Province courtyard and asked: "But what is the emperor's edict?"

  "No." Qing Chen said: "How has your mother's body been recently?"

  Feng Yan nodded: "She's been taking the medicine you prescribed for her and has been doing well."

  "Doesn't your father and brothers know about Luan's flight?"

  "Feng Yan sighed and said: 'If she knew, she might not be able to bear it. It's just that we can't keep it from her for much longer.'"

  "Uh-huh." Qīng Chén nodded: "Luan Fei woke up."

  Feng Yan's footsteps paused for a moment, but his face remained calm. He asked in a low voice, "Really?"

  "You didn't report it to the Emperor, did you? Father should discuss with Ninth Prince and see what to do."

  Feng Yan raised an eyebrow with eyes that had seen the passage of time and slowly asked: "You know everything?"

  "You were told by Luan Fei," said Feng Xian, her voice low and even. With these words from Feng Xian, it seemed that on the surface, the Feng family was harmonious with all four sides, but in reality, they had a close alliance with Ye Tian Miao, secretly manipulating who-knows-how-many things. Now, plotting against the Crown Prince was just the beginning.

  The sky slowly gathered dark clouds, getting thicker and heavier, looking like it would snow soon. The surroundings weren't as cold as before, but still couldn't shake off the gloomy atmosphere that lingered above the palace for a long time.

  Feng Yan furrowed his brow: "How could Luan Fei wake up at this time, was the medicine given by Jiudian wrong?"

  "When should it be done? In a month?"

  Feng Yan's face was gloomy, and he said, "If we can drag it out for a month, I will find a way to send her out of the palace myself. But for now, it's not easy to make any rash moves."

  If they hadn't been discovered, their plan would have been perfect. Luan Fei would have been taken out of the palace and become a different person from then on. Man proposes but God disposes, Qing Dan's lips curled up slightly, her whole person seeming to carry a hint of quiet determination: "Father must have been afraid of being used as a corpse back then."

  "What did you say?" Feng Yan turned his head to look at her.

  "You smiled and said: 'If the heart is not solved in ten days, it will be unsolvable. If Ruan Fei doesn't wake up today, I'm afraid she won't wake up again. Didn't the Ninth Prince tell Father?'"

  Feng Yan's eyes flashed with a sharp light, which was caught by Qing Chen. A moment later, Feng Yan said in a low voice, "What's the use of waking up again like this?"

  You faintly closed your phoenix eyes, implying that Luan Fei had truly become a discarded son, and waking up would only lead to more trouble for the Feng family. Feng Yan was indeed straightforward, and what he thought and asked was exactly this sentence.

  "Yuan Fei is a member of the Feng family." Qing Chen said calmly, "How can we let others deceive and take advantage of us? Is this Ninth Prince thinking that the Feng family has no one to stand up for them?"

  Feng Yan said: "The Ninth Highness and the Feng family have a long history together."

  "Your father must have known this person. The cunning rabbit dies, the running dog is cooked, the flying bird is exhausted, and the good bow is hidden."

  It was unclear who had stepped on a withered branch, but the sudden "crack" sound was particularly jarring in the cold silence. Feng Yan suddenly laughed and said, "Looks like you're here to plead on behalf of King Zhen."

  It's unexpected that it's all just speculation, and the relationship between Tian Xuan and Ye Chen is indeed a bit unclear. Ye Chen didn't distinguish himself, with an unchanged gentle smile on his face: "In my opinion, it's better to be impartial and not take sides for now. It's still too early to say who will win or lose, after all, the world is still in the hands of the Heavenly Emperor, and none of you can gain the upper hand. If you really care about the Feng family, why not be consistent inside and out, harmonize with all parties, and use calmness to control the situation? That's the best strategy."

  Feng Yan looked at Qing Chen with a profound meaning, Yuan Fei was the chess piece he had placed on Ye Tian Ming's body at night, and Qing Chen was the chess piece he had been thinking about for Ye Tian Ming.

  You raise your eyebrows and remain calm and wise, players of chess, who knows who is who?

  A few days ago, Qing Chen led the donation of silver to relieve the disaster in the name of the Feng family in front of the Heavenly Emperor, and was deeply appreciated by the Heavenly Emperor. This also made Feng Yan look at this "daughter" with new eyes. Now, a word from him made him even more attentive, and he was quite interested in Qing Chen's opinion: "As your father, I'd like to hear, what do you think is good for the Feng family from now on?"

  "You frown slightly: 'When the sprouts are just born, and the sharp edges are just exposed, if you decide on a person at this time and make a mistake, won't all the eggs be broken under the overturned nest? Why not wait quietly for the dark horse to emerge from the crowd, and then find a way to tame it? Wouldn't that increase your chances of winning? Compared to personally entering the situation now, it's much better.'"

  Feng Yan smiled with satisfaction, stroking his beard: "You're indeed worthy of being a descendant of the Feng family, I didn't misjudge my daughter." His words already showed some emotional turmoil, after all, the Emperor's attitude towards the Crown Prince was ambiguous, and now there were unexpected changes happening here.

  Your eyes shine brightly, yet gaze at the distant horizon. If the Phoenix family can remain neutral among various forces, at least one arm of the Night Sky will be severed, and everything will still be in a state of balance. Perhaps many years later, this daughter of yours may become the thing that Phoenix Huan regrets the most.

  The chess game is changing, and good and evil are right and wrong in it, and it's hard to say.

  The fluttering snowflakes finally fell quietly, dancing and covering the clear yellow glazed tiles and crimson high walls. The human scenery was once again beautiful. Qing dust brushed off the light snow in front of her hair and said to Feng Xian: "Everything still needs Father to decide for himself, I will return to Zhiyuan Hall now, Tian Di is waiting."

  Feng Yan nodded and said: "Now that you are by Tian Di's side, it is also more convenient for many things, be careful with everything."

  "You're not getting what your father wants, are you?" she said with a smile. She then curtsied slightly and turned elegantly, her white fox fur cloak tracing a light and agile arc in the snow, as gentle as an orchid, yet as stable and elegant as a peach tree. Even Feng Yan was bewildered, and before he knew it, the person had already disappeared into the snowy landscape.