Chapter Sixty-One: A Two-Pronged Approach

Outside the side hall, Feng Jinye composed himself before heading to Qinglan Courtyard to see Feng Qingxuan. Chu Jiu hurried in from outside, unable to find his lord, but instead came upon a toddler of about two or three clamoring in a tree...

As soon as Feng Jinye entered Qinglan Courtyard, he saw Yun Ming fumbling awkwardly with a grape trellis...

Yun Ming was a scholar. Though he had practiced martial arts for several years, he had never engaged in manual labor. Building a trellis seemed simple, but was far from easy in practice. Yun Ming was much like Qianyu learning to cook noodles: “looks easy at first glance, but a total disaster when attempted.”

Feng Jinye stepped forward to help and asked, “Qingxuan is still asleep?”

“Likely she hasn’t been sleeping well lately. She was plagued by nightmares last night and only fell asleep after midnight. She’s not awake yet!” Yun Ming glanced at the long bamboo poles on the ground. He had tried several times and still couldn’t fix them in place...

The emerald green bamboo poles were long. Feng Jinye looked at Yun Ming, wondering where he had found them.

“Sword,” Feng Jinye uttered, and a shadow guard immediately handed him a sword. Feng Jinye drew it, kicked the largest bamboo pole up with his foot, and with a single swing, cut it into several man-high sections.

He then carved round holes in several thick bamboo poles, sharpened one end, and drove them straight into the earth. Next, he threaded thinner bamboo through the holes, connecting them to the round holes in another thick pole, and plunged that into the ground as well...

After Yun Ming had struggled for nearly an hour, Feng Jinye had the whole trellis assembled in a matter of moments.

“You—have you done this before?” Yun Ming asked in bewilderment.

Feng Jinye cast him a disdainful glance. “I watched my father do it.”

Yun Ming nodded. His white robes were now streaked with mud. He bent to pick up a section of bamboo Feng Jinye had just cut, and handed it to him. “This piece is bright green and translucent—you could make a bamboo flute from it. Your princess would like that...”

Yun Ming subtly reminded this blockhead that Qianyu had been wronged yesterday and needed comforting.

Feng Jinye accepted the bamboo and bent down to select another piece...

Chu Jiu, out of breath, rushed into Qinglan Courtyard and reported, “My lord, someone entered Tingfeng Pavilion with a personal decree, claiming to be sent by the Empress Dowager.”

Feng Jinye and Yun Ming exchanged glances and set out for Tingfeng Pavilion. Yun Ming looked back anxiously toward Feng Qingxuan’s quarters...

A clear, bell-like voice sounded, “Your subordinate Jiuman greets the Prince of War and the Prince of Yun!” Feng Jinye and Yun Ming heard the voice before seeing its owner.

Feng Jinye’s handsome brows furrowed; he disliked strangers entering Tingfeng Pavilion or Zhiyu Tower. His tone was cold. “What business?”

Jiuman respectfully reported, “According to the imperial physicians, His Majesty has at most one month left to live.”

The two men looked at each other again.

“The Empress Dowager says, Prince of War, you’ve wasted too much time over the years. You should not squander any more on Miss Qianyu. She sent me to assist you!” Jiuman straightened and continued in detail.

“Miss Qianyu is a rare celestial maiden. Now, the only plan is to send her back to the Qianshao General’s Estate and arrange a marriage for her. Only then might the person behind the scenes be lured out, and the antidote exchanged for Qianyu!”

Feng Jinye had always suspected the Empress Dowager would try to send Qianyu back to the General’s Estate, but he had never imagined it would be for this purpose...

He hesitated. The Emperor had only a month left—what of Yun Ming?

“Prince of War, you mustn’t hesitate. You’ve searched for the antidote since you were thirteen, and only recently found a clue. It was Qianyu who destroyed the Medicine Palace in Xiyan’s capital. Are you really going to let her stop you from saving His Majesty, or the Prince of Yun?”

Yun Ming could clearly see Feng Jinye wavering on his behalf. Gone was his usual gentle warmth; he demanded harshly, “So the poison in me truly came from the Empress Dowager?”

Yun Ming still cared nothing for the title the Empress Dowager had bestowed upon him...

“I do not know,” Jiuman answered calmly. It was “do not know,” not “it is not.”

Yun Ming, Feng Jinye, and Qianyu had all guessed as much: the poison in Yun Ming was likely from the Empress Dowager. Yun Ming’s heart toward his family had long since grown cold, his emotions dulled...

He hadn’t thought he could still feel anger. When he first heard the Empress Dowager wished to adopt him as her son, he had accepted it, even resigned himself to being a tool for her political ambitions!

But Yun Ming could not forgive her for using him to threaten Feng Jinye—her plan relying on sacrificing Qianyu so he might live!

At Zhiyu Tower, Consort Liu and Luo Shuqing had just left together when Feng Qingxuan—lethal as a reaper—stormed toward them...

Consort Liu and Luo Shuqing were terrified, clinging to each other and shaking...

Qianyu, seeing them, dared not expose Feng Qingxuan’s true identity. She barked sharply, “Guards, seize the assassin!”

Dong Nuan and Qianyu’s aunt immediately shielded her. Lu Yanran, thinking of her son, panicked and tried to flee, but Qianyu stopped her. “There are shadow guards—he’ll be safe!”

Feng Qingxuan was after her. Where were Yun Ming and Feng Jinye? The very day Feng Qingxuan was given freedom of movement, disaster struck!

A throng of shadow guards surrounded the side hall. Feng Qingxuan, unarmed, advanced step by step. “Would Feng Jinye let you hurt me?”

At her words, the guards threw down their swords but still barred the way to Qianyu...

Qianyu frowned, guessing that Feng Qingxuan had come to terms with her dissociative identity and realized her true self...

“Today, Qianyu must die!” Feng Qingxuan, recalling being knocked out from behind last night, was filled with rage...

Luo Shuqing watched Feng Qingxuan and the shadow guards closely. The Prince of War forbade anyone from harming this woman, yet she sought Qianyu’s life—how interesting!

Qianyu’s head throbbed. This relationship between sisters-in-law was nothing but open hostility—blades drawn, threats shouted!

“Ye Jiu...” Qianyu quickly ordered, “Protect Consort Liu and Lady Qu—see them safely out of the estate!”

Ye Jiu led Consort Liu and Luo Shuqing away from Zhiyu Tower. Luo Shuqing looked back several times. Qianyu did not miss her reluctant expression. She had hoped to watch others perform today, but ended up as the spectacle herself!

Qianyu was furious!

Feng Qingxuan fought viciously. The guards, unwilling to hurt her, struggled to hold their ground...

Within moments, Feng Qingxuan was at Qianyu’s side, grinning as she stooped to pick up a sword...

“Second Miss, Madam, help the princess back!” Dong Nuan stood in front...

Dong Nuan had seen Feng Qingxuan’s seductive alter ego match Ye Eleven blow for blow. She knew that once Ye Jiu escorted the others out, she would go find her lord. She just hoped she could hold the line—her mistress was still injured!

Dong Nuan’s aura flared as she drew a fiery red whip from her waist...

Qianyu said coldly, “Aunt, give me a sword as well!”

If Dong Nuan faltered, she would have to protect them herself! She could not let Feng Qingxuan kill Dong Nuan!

“Was it you who knocked me out last night?” Feng Qingxuan demanded.

“Yes.” Dong Nuan did not hide it.

Feng Qingxuan’s gaze burned with fury, the same look she had given Qianyu yesterday. Qianyu’s heart sank: if the seductive alter ego had split off to protect Feng Qingxuan, then Dong Nuan was in grave danger!

Ye Jiu arrived at Tingfeng Pavilion to find both her lord and the Prince of Yun behind closed doors with a mysterious woman. She was barred from entering...

If the princess asked, this could be a disaster...

Back at Zhiyu Tower, Dong Nuan exchanged a few blows with Feng Qingxuan. The latter’s attacks were ruthless, while Dong Nuan, still holding back, quickly lost ground. Within moments, she was sent flying by a kick.

Gritting her teeth against the pain, Qianyu forced herself to stand and shield Dong Nuan, blocking Feng Qingxuan’s sword...

Death did not frighten her today. The shadow guards would not let Feng Qingxuan die, nor would they let Qianyu suffer a fatal blow. But her ribs were injured—one careless move, a bone might snap, an organ be pierced, and her life would be forfeit...

Qianyu began to silently blame Feng Jinye for his absence!

Just then, she heard hurried footsteps approaching. Her heart leapt, but Feng Qingxuan only smiled coldly: “Heh...”

It was Ye Eleven and Ye Jiu who arrived—not Feng Jinye.

Seeing Ye Eleven, Qianyu realized Feng Jinye must still be in the estate. He had abandoned her!

“Lu Yanran, help Dong Nuan up!” Qianyu snapped, closing her eyes in anger, forcing herself to calm down. “Aunt, help me sit.”

When Dong Nuan had recovered, Qianyu spoke again. “We are going home.”

Late winter turning to early spring, the days had warmed, but suddenly a chill swept in.

Affection often blossoms in an instant; heartbreak, too, can strike just as swiftly.

Qianyu’s impulses—her foolishness, madness, stubbornness—all stemmed from Feng Jinye.

Just so, now, burning with anger, Qianyu led her three maids, her aunt, and Lu Yanran with her son—seven of them, old, weak, ill, or injured—preparing to leave the Prince of War’s estate...

As they exited Zhiyu Tower, they encountered Feng Jinye and two others. Qianyu’s gaze fixed on the graceful figure by his side, an eyesore.

Jiuman, noticing Qianyu’s group, immediately clung to Feng Jinye’s arm, her clear voice ringing out, “Brother Jinye, are you taking Jiuman to see Princess Qianyu?”

Feng Jinye flung his arm, pushing Jiuman back several steps. The force of his inner strength almost made her cough blood...

He turned to see Qianyu staring at him, face expressionless and unwavering. He was about to approach her, but she coldly instructed Qingxia behind her, “Let’s go.”

“Where are you headed? I’ll come with you,” Feng Jinye stepped forward, blocking her path...

Qianyu said nothing. Feng Jinye crouched in front of her, took her hand, and coaxed, “You’re still injured. Why not wait until you’re better?”

If he hadn’t mentioned her injuries, she might have let it go. But at his words, all her grievances welled up, her eyes reddening, though she stubbornly held back tears.

Feng Jinye’s heart twisted at the sight, but he was at a loss for what to do...

“Everyone leave us,” Yun Ming dismissed the servants, even Qianyu’s aunt and Lu Yanran, who followed Qingxia and the others back into Zhiyu Tower...

Qianyu had strained her injury just now, pain wracking her body. She hadn’t even the strength to shake off Feng Jinye, yet she endured, refusing to acknowledge him, all the while noticing that Jiuman remained—a most unwelcome presence...

Was it because of this Jiuman that he hadn’t come to her rescue?

Qianyu scrutinized Jiuman. Her attire was that of a maid—she must have entered with Consort Liu, clearly a pawn of the Empress Dowager. Whatever her identity, Feng Jinye had brought her into Tingfeng Pavilion!

And she had just called him “Brother Jinye”—how intimate...

Feng Jinye noticed Qianyu watching Jiuman. Jiuman met her gaze openly, their eyes locking...

Feng Jinye longed to draw his sword and slay Jiuman then and there. But the thought of Qianyu’s jealousy left him no time to savor it, for he suddenly saw something was wrong—beads of sweat, as large as beans, stood out on her brow...

“Eleven!” Feng Jinye called out.

Qianyu answered instead, “Eleven is dealing with the assassin.”

Feng Jinye and Yun Ming could both guess the assassin was Feng Qingxuan. Qianyu had already deduced Jiuman was the Empress Dowager’s agent—the Empress Dowager was attacking from both fronts!