ecree, his eyes filled with helplessness. This was how Du Guyan treated Xi'er, perhaps wanting to let him know that the court had let go of him, as long as he didn't move, they would be fine."Imperial...Huangfu Qingyun glanced at Feng Lingxi. Feng Lingxi complained dissatisfiedly, "Imperial brother, even the Empress Dowager said she likes my straightforward personality. Why are you so worried"
"Yao Hua, before the Empress Dowager, you must not be disrespectful."
Feng Lingxi stuck out her tongue at Huangpu Qingyun, her playful expression making Empress Cen's smile widen.
"Yao Hua, this child, is truly interesting."
"Your Majesty, my elder brother always likes to say that I am more talkative than even our father and mother."
Feng Lingxi, holding onto Cen Taishi's arm, spoke in a coquettish tone and provocatively looked at Huangfu Qingyun. To outsiders, Feng Lingxi and Huangfu Qingyun seemed like siblings playfully bickering.
"Your Majesty, I would like to talk to Xi'er. Would that be convenient"
As soon as Huangpu Qingyun finished speaking, Feng Lingxi retorted, “Your Majesty Dowager Empress, Yao Hua doesn’t want to speak to my brother. He’s definitely going to scold me again.”
"Yao Hua, you mustn't be frivolous. Father and Mother let me bring you here for a betrothal visit, not for you to play around."
When Empress Cen saw how Huangfu Qingyun spoke, she also wanted to find an opportunity to ask about the results of the Empress's investigation. She said to Feng Lingxi, "Yao Hua, you accompany your imperial brother to stroll in the Imperial Garden."
Feng Lingxi curled her lips, "Yaohua listens to the empress dowager."
Huangfu Qingyun bid farewell to the Empress Dowager and, accompanied by Feng Lingxi, went to the Imperial Garden.
Queen Dowager Cen looked at the silent Empress beside her, "Has His Majesty's orders been investigated"
"Reporting back to the Empress Dowager, after being splashed with water, Princess Yao Hua's face showed no abnormalities. This concubine spoke with her and learned that her childhood was different from Feng Ling Xi's. Also, what she said bore no resemblance to anything Feng Ling Xi had mentioned."
"In that case, Yaohua is not Feng Lingxi"
"I believe so."
The Empress, seeing the Dowager Empress's contemplative expression, spoke, "My humble self has investigated and this is how it came to be."
"Looking at Huangfu Qingyun's attitude towards Yao Hua, it was also the attitude of an elder brother to his younger sister. If this Arah Summer Dynasty really wanted to help Feng Lingxi, they shouldn't have used the Arah Summer Dynasty to help. It seems that this imperial concubine thought too much."
Cen Taizi sighed, rubbing her temples. She had a headache.
"Your Majesty," the Empress said, "Mother, let us first find out why you were poisoned. Then all of this will become clear."
"This matter is already being handled, and there are no results for now. Continue to keep an eye on Yao Hua. If anything unusual happens, inform me. If she is truly Yao Hua, that's good. But if she is Feng Ling Xi, this Empress will definitely not let her off."
"I obey your command."
Cen Taizi looked at the Empress leave, and asked, “Liu Ma Ma, in your opinion, who has the greatest possibility of poisoning our family this time”
"Your Majesty, I believe all the women in this palace could be suspects," said Nanny Liu hurriedly.
"That is true, there are indeed many people in this palace who wish for my demise. But I have no idea who poisoned me."
Seeing the Empress Dowager's worry in her eyes, Liu Ma comforted her, "Empress Dowager, the Imperial Medical Bureau has already started investigating, including your diet and daily routines. They are looking into every detail and will surely find the cause."
"The Empress is tired. The result will tell the Empress."
Then, Empress Cen turned around to rest. Liu Ma hurriedly stepped forward to attend to her.
The Garden
Feng Lingxi was dragged to the imperial garden by Huangfu Qingyun. Feng Lingxi shook off his hand and asked unhappily, "Imperial brother, if you have something to say, just spit it out."
"When speaking to the Empress Dowager, be mindful. Don't think that because you are a princess, you can be disrespectful to her. Don't bring shame upon your parents."
Feng Ling lowered her head and listened to Huangfu Qingyun's reprimand. The maids and eunuchs around her glanced at this side from time to time, but no one dared to speak.
When all the eyeliner was gone, Feng Lingxi only then gave Huangfu Qingyun a knowing look. Their eyes met, and they walked to a stone by the lake and sat down. "We're safe for now," Feng Lingxi said, "Let's play it cool."
Huangfu Qingyun hummed softly, looking at the coldness in her eyes. He felt sorry for her current situation, but he couldn't help her.
If a fight broke out on Dugu Yan's territory, even if they won, Xi'er would only be burdened with more charges. They couldn't take that risk.
"If you want to leave the palace, just tell your older brother."
The Empress treated Yao Hua very well, and this time the Empress was poisoned, so Yao Hua had to take care of her.
Feng Lingxi rushed towards Huangfu Qingyun with a smile, seeing him nod, she continued, "In a few days it will be Yao Hua and the Fourth Prince's wedding day. Once they are married, this mission of alliance will be complete."
"Is the Empress really alright"
Huangfu Qingyun lowered his voice. He wanted to know if Xi'er had really cured the Empress Dowager's poison.
"Feng Ling Xi's eyes were smiling, "Of course, the Empress Dowager is in good health. The imperial physician has checked her and said that with some rest, she will be fine."
Huangfu Qingyun looked at the smile on her face, feeling a hidden worry in his heart. He was afraid something might happen to her, but he couldn't say anything here. After giving her a few words of advice, he left the palace.
Huangfu Qingyun frowned and said to Dugu City, "Empress Cen was not poisoned, so Xi'er's mission failed."
Dugu Cheng curled his lips into a smile. "Who said the mission failed Xi'er said Tai-Hou's body was fine, and she even laughed, saying that this meant the poison in Tai-Hou hadn't been cured, and we had nothing to worry about."
"Are you sure"
Dugu Cheng nodded. Xi'er's personality, if the Empress Dowager was really alright, she wouldn't have smiled and said she was fine.
"What should we do now"
"Wait for her message."
Dugu Cheng looked at Huangpu Qingyun, "The preparations for the wedding are going smoothly. As long as they can't find out Xi'er's handle and her identity, everything is under control."
He believed in Xi'er's abilities. After they got married and he cleared his name, Feng Lingxi would appear, and that's when the real show would begin.
"Has there been any news from the Lord"
Huangfu Qingyun suddenly asked, she hasn't been seen coming out for a while, and I wonder if she knows about Xi'er's affairs
She was doing well staying at the General's Mansion.
Speaking of his mother-in-law, Duguo Cheng's tone was calm. "Feng Aotian treats her very well, and he has this General's Mansion under control."
"Even this General Wind, who has fought across battlefields his whole life, lost to a woman in the inner court."
Huangfu Qingyun shook his head. Too many women lead to trouble.
"This is all his own doing. He promised to be good to his mother-in-law, so he should have kept his promise. If he can't, then he deserves his current life."
Dugu Cheng thought of Xi'er's past days at the General's Mansion. His favor for Feng Aotien grew colder and colder. If it wasn't because he was Xi'er's biological father, he definitely wouldn't let him off easily.
"Your Highness, General Feng and Madam Yao request an audience."
"Aunt Yao"
Huangfu Qingyun and Dugu Cheng looked at each other, surprised that Yao Wan Ying had become Feng Aotian's aunt.
"Let them come in."
Dugu Cheng let Ye Xi go out to guard. Looking at Feng Aotian and Yao Wan'ying who came in, his eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"I have seen Lord Four and Crown Prince Huangfu."
Feng Aotian bowed, then stood beside Yao Waning. His aura was noticeably weaker.
It seems that Yao Wan'ying didn't spare him when she went back to the General's Mansion. It's truly remarkable, even a man of iron has his day. Yao Yi."Elder Two, what you say is all true. Elder Three is also an elder of our Yao clan, how could he possibly break the clan rules and meet with chiefs from other tribes"Yao Yi hurriedly said, "Ch...