Chapter 641 - 419: Xu Ji Seeks to Reside in the Royal Temple

Chapter 641: Chapter 419: Xu Ji Seeks to Reside in the Royal Temple

The sudden turn of events made Song Yunzhao pause, and Feng Yi was also clearly displeased.

Cold sweat beaded on Meng Jiuchang’s forehead. He hurried forward and said, "Lady Xu Ji, what are you doing?"

The one who had rushed out was none other than Xu Mingying.

Song Yunzhao stood a short distance behind Xu Mingying, not taking another step forward. But Feng Ze had clearly seen his mother. He scrambled over, shouting as he ran, "Mother, Mother..."

Song Yunzhao had no choice but to step forward to meet her son. Just then, Xu Mingying also turned her head to look at her, then curtsied. "Greetings, Lady Ming."

Song Yunzhao sized up Xu Mingying. She wore plain clothes and her complexion was poor. Song Yunzhao couldn’t help but frown slightly. ’She’s been recuperating for so long, why does she still look so unwell?’

Song Yunzhao picked up her son. "Xu Ji, there is no need for such ceremony." With that, she looked at Feng Yi. "I will take the Eldest Prince back first."

Feng Yi strode over, reached out, and took Feng Ze from Yun Zhao’s arms. He then turned and handed him to Anshun. "Take the Eldest Prince back and get him settled."

Feng Ze resisted, but Feng Yi shut him up with a single sentence: "I’ll take you horseback riding tomorrow."

Feng Ze’s face immediately lit up with a smile, and he was happily carried away by Anshun.

Song Yunzhao watched the entire exchange, momentarily at a loss for words.

Feng Yi didn’t allow Song Yunzhao to leave. He stood by her side and looked down at the still-kneeling Xu Mingying. "Xu Ji, what did you wish to see me about?"

Xu Mingying kept her head bowed, her gaze fixed on the ground. She trembled slightly upon hearing the Emperor’s words, then finally spoke. "Your Majesty, I have been recuperating for several months, but my condition shows no sign of improvement. Therefore, I wish to request the Emperor’s grace in allowing me to go to the Royal Temple to cultivate my spirit for a time."

Song Yunzhao was shocked.

Feng Yi was also clearly a little surprised to hear Xu Ji’s words. "You want to go to the Royal Temple?"

"Yes. I cannot sleep at night or eat during the day. Enduring like this, I fear I won’t last much longer. The Imperial Physician says I am frail, lacking in energy, and consumed by worry, and that I need quiet rest. However, I am truly unable to find peace of mind, so I thought of going to the Royal Temple, that pure and tranquil place, to seek Buddha’s guidance."

Song Yunzhao looked at Xu Mingying. Her condition really did look dire. Even with makeup, the exhaustion on her face was plain to see. ’It seems her claim of sleepless nights isn’t false.’

’But I can’t quite figure it out. Is Xu Mingying’s condition psychological, a case of scaring herself, or is there some other reason?’

Feng Yi’s expression was calm and unreadable as he looked at Xu Mingying. "Since this is a harem matter, you should report to the three concubines and let them decide."

Xu Mingying’s body stiffened, but she quickly replied, "I only thought that if I asked the three ladies to decide, I would be burdening them with my troubles. That is why I mustered the courage to come and ask for the Emperor’s decree."

Hearing Feng Yi’s question, Song Yunzhao finally began to grasp the situation, her expression turning complex as she looked at Xu Mingying.

But she still didn’t speak, remaining quietly by his side.

"Since you find it so agonizing in the palace that you cannot recuperate, then go to the Royal Temple." After saying this, Feng Yi took Yun Zhao’s hand and strode away without giving Xu Mingying another glance.

As Song Yunzhao walked away with Feng Yi, she glanced back after a few steps. She saw Xu Mingying still kneeling with her head bowed, making it impossible to see the expression on her face.

"Let’s go." Feng Yi squeezed Yun Zhao’s hand and continued walking forward.

Song Yunzhao noticed Feng Yi’s expression was not very good. After a moment’s thought, she said, "Why are you angry?"

"You couldn’t tell?" Feng Yi asked, looking at Yun Zhao.

Song Yunzhao hesitated. "I think I could, but then again, maybe I couldn’t."

Feng Yi was speechless.

’What kind of answer is that?’

"Let’s talk about it when we get back."

Song Yunzhao knew this wasn’t the place to talk, so she silently returned to Yaohua Palace. Once the two of them entered the inner hall, they finally sat down to speak.

"What were your thoughts just now?" Feng Yi asked, looking at Yun Zhao.

Song Yunzhao wasn’t sure if her thoughts were correct, so she said to Feng Yi earnestly, "I observed Xu Ji’s complexion carefully. It really is quite poor. Her cheeks are gaunt and sallow, she has dark circles under her eyes, and her eyes are bloodshot. She truly looks like she hasn’t been sleeping well. I don’t think she was lying; her physical condition is indeed very poor right now."

"And?"

"And?" Song Yunzhao glanced at Feng Yi again. "What is this ’and’ you’re referring to?"

Feng Yi almost laughed out of exasperation. "What, are you trying to deceive your Emperor?"

Song Yunzhao retorted irritably, "If you’re going to talk like that, then I’ll just shut up."

Feng Yi sighed. "You figured it out, didn’t you?"

The smile vanished from Song Yunzhao’s face. "A few days ago, I received a thank-you gift from Xu Ji. At the time, I thought the gift was too valuable, a bit much for what happened before. Now, I suspect it was for what happened today."

Feng Yi frowned. "She sent you something? Have someone return it to her. If you’re lacking anything, go pick something from my treasury."

Song Yunzhao snorted softly. "I wouldn’t dare. If the Empress Dowager found out, I’d be accused of gross disrespect and lose half my life."

Feng Yi immediately said, "Then I’ll have Meng Jiuchang bring the treasury ledger to you later. Once you’ve made your selections, he can deliver them directly to Yaohua Palace. That should work."

By not going to the treasury, she wouldn’t arouse the Empress Dowager’s suspicions.

Song Yunzhao’s face immediately lit up. She called Nanny Yu in loudly and instructed, "Nanny Yu, take the gift that Xu Ji sent a few days ago and return it to her. Just say the gift is too valuable and I feel I don’t deserve it, so she should keep it for her own use."

’Who knows, maybe one day she’ll be at the forefront of taking down the Empress Dowager. I can’t just grind her face into the dirt.’ Song Yunzhao was giving Xu Mingying a way to save face.

How could Feng Yi not see through her thoughts? He said, "You’re still too soft-hearted. Xu Ji tried to bribe you with a gift, and you’re just sending it back. That’s far too lenient."

Song Yunzhao didn’t dare let Feng Yi know she was thinking of using Xu Mingying to her own advantage, so she quickly said, "It’s not easy for a helpless woman like her. She suffered so much before and nearly lost her life. It’s only human nature for her to start planning for herself now. Besides, no matter what she’s plotting, as long as the Emperor is aware of it all, I have nothing to fear."

Feng Yi met Yun Zhao’s utterly sincere gaze and, for a moment, felt a pang of guilt.

He knew he loved Yun Zhao and their son, Feng Ze. But he also knew that no one could guarantee love for a lifetime. When his own father, the former Emperor, was young, his affection for his wife was genuine and deep. But later, he still took one beautiful young Beauty after another, women he also genuinely adored.

An Emperor’s affections were always plentiful and fickle.

Feng Yi could guarantee that his heart wouldn’t change for Yun Zhao in five or ten years, but what about after ten years, or twenty?

He didn’t know what kind of person he would be in ten years. All he could do was make the most thorough plans for her future now, while his feelings for her were at their deepest.

He promoted Song Nanzhen and Song Buran. The former was for Yun Zhao’s present glory; the latter was for the security of the second half of her life.