Chapter 650 - 428: The Emperor Wants to Give His Son Everything He Never Had

Chapter 650: Chapter 428: The Emperor Wants to Give His Son Everything He Never Had

Mu Qing’s shoulders slumped. "But I really don’t have any other ideas."

Yingxue glanced at her. The two had served their mistress side-by-side for many years and shared a special bond. She knew Mu Qing had an honest nature, so she spoke frankly. "This business with Lingshuang seems fishy to me. Our mistress asked you to investigate, so she must be suspicious too. Since you can’t find anything and you don’t have the heart to do anything malicious, why not spread a false rumor to test them a little?"

"What kind of false rumor?" Mu Qing asked quickly.

Yingxue chuckled. "You know how Xu Ji left in such a hurry? People in the palace have been speculating about it all this time. Why don’t we pin this on her? She’s not in the palace anymore anyway, so it won’t really harm her."

Mu Qing was speechless.

’We can do that?’

"You’re too soft-hearted for this. I’d better do it myself. When they come asking you about it, just make sure you don’t let anything slip. I want to see what this Qin Wan Yi of ours is really made of—whether she’s friend or foe. She keeps claiming she wants to cooperate with our mistress, but it’s all empty words. I’ve yet to see her do a single useful thing."

Yingxue grew angry just talking about it. ’Who does she think she’s fooling?’

...

After bailing Feng Yunjin out, Song Yunzhao told her, "Don’t worry for the next few days. Just stay here in Yanqing Palace for now."

Feng Yunjin nodded. "I understand. I’ll send a message out and wait for my mother’s reply."

"You shouldn’t get involved personally. It’s not convenient since you’re being watched. I’ll have Zhang Maoquan go and inform my eldest aunt. She can then find Mrs. Feng to help relay the message back here," Song Yunzhao advised.

’Judging by the Empress Dowager’s expression today, it doesn’t seem like she was the one who tried to smear Feng Yunjin’s name. It looks like she genuinely just summoned her for a scolding to let off some steam.’

’If I rule out the Empress Dowager, who else in this palace could have done something like this?’

’I’ll investigate Xu Mingying’s side first. The rest of the suspects are all here in the palace, so there’s no rush.’

Feng Yunjin went directly back to Yanqing Palace, and Song Yunzhao returned to Yaohua Palace. To her surprise and delight, she found Feng Yi and their son waiting for her when she got back, and she entered with a joyful heart.

"What brings you here, Your Majesty?" Song Yunzhao asked with a smile.

Feng Yi looked at Yun Zhao. "I heard about what happened at Yanqing Palace and came to check on you."

Before Song Yunzhao could reply, she scooped up her son as he rushed toward her. She could barely lift him anymore; the boy had a healthy appetite and felt quite substantial in her arms.

Feng Yi stood and took their son from her, amused by the sight of Yun Zhao frowning as she struggled to hold him.

Song Yunzhao shot him a look.

’What’s so funny?’ she thought. ’I’m supposed to be a delicate beauty, as fragile as a willow in the wind.’

Holding their son in one arm and Yun Zhao’s hand in the other, Feng Yi sat down on the large daybed by the window. He then set Feng Ze down. Unable to stay still, Feng Ze played with his mother for a little while before taking Anshun and the others outside.

Song Yunzhao sighed, exasperated. "This child’s getting wilder by the day. You need to help rein him in."

"He hasn’t started his formal schooling yet, so this is his most carefree time. Let him play," Feng Yi said, unconcerned. "I plan to have him begin martial arts training next year to build a foundation, then start his academic studies the year after."

"Isn’t that a bit too early?" Song Yunzhao immediately countered.

"There are established rules for when princes begin their schooling. I can’t easily make an exception," Feng Yi said with a smile.

Song Yunzhao silently mourned for her son. "Did you have to start studying so young as well?"

Feng Yi shook his head. "No. Back then, the late Emperor’s Empress and Imperial Concubine saw the Empress Dowager as a threat and suppressed her at every turn. As her son, they conveniently used the excuse that my health was poor and that I shouldn’t undertake strenuous studies. So, the matter was dropped."

Song Yunzhao had read about this in the novel, but hearing Feng Yi mention it himself, she still felt a pang of sympathy for him. "Things must have been very difficult for you then, weren’t they?"

"As long as you kept your head down and didn’t compete for anything, it was tolerable." Feng Yi used to dwell on that period of his life, but in recent years, with Yun Zhao and their child by his side, he rarely thought about those things anymore.

Song Yunzhao sat beside Feng Yi and said with a smile, "In that case, let Ze’er go. You can arrange his studies however you see fit."

’She understood now. He wanted to give his son everything he himself had once desired but could never have.’

’Yep, that’s a great mindset. Please keep it up,’ she thought.

After they talked for a while, the conversation turned to Lingshuang, and Yun Zhao’s expression grew serious. "I don’t think her death was an accident."

Feng Yi looked at her. "You suspect foul play?"

Song Yunzhao sighed. "I’m not entirely sure, but it’s all just too much of a coincidence. Not long ago, it was Lingshuang who accidentally started that fire in the small tea room of Qingxin Hall. Now, just a short while later, she supposedly slips, falls into the water, and dies. For so much misfortune to befall one person, one thing after another... it just feels suspicious."

"I’ll have Meng Jiuchang investigate," Feng Yi said.

Having Feng Yi order Meng Jiuchang to investigate was certainly better than her fumbling around in secret. After a moment’s thought, she told him about the Empress Dowager summoning Feng Yunjin. "I have a feeling this incident has nothing to do with the Empress Dowager, but it’s hard to say whether An Shutong is involved. She’s been getting very close to Qin Xiyue lately."

Feng Yi’s expression darkened slightly. Hearing Yun Zhao mention Qin Xiyue, he inevitably thought of the retired Grand Tutor Qin. "You suspect she’s involved?"

"I have no proof. It’s just speculation," Song Yunzhao said, shaking her head. "It might be her, it might not. We’ll only know for sure after an investigation."

Then, Yun Zhao mentioned her plan to spread the rumor about Xu Mingying. "It’s not that I’m being overly suspicious, but as soon as Xu Ji left the palace, these incidents started happening one after another. She hasn’t made any untoward moves at the Imperial Awakening Temple, but that’s the thing—the fact that she’s adapted so well to life there is what I find strange. A monastery is a place of ascetic hardship. She’s a pampered young lady who grew up in the Marquis Wuxin Mansion and has never had to lift a finger. For her to suddenly be able to endure such a life... the more I think about it, the more bizarre it seems."

Feng Yi grew thoughtful. "That’s a rather novel perspective. We’ll proceed with your plan for now and see what comes of it. Meng Jiuchang will be investigating Lingshuang’s death, so tell him everything you know to avoid wasting time."

Song Yunzhao nodded. "I’ll have Zhang Maoquan assist Manager Meng. A couple of days ago, I sent him to investigate Lingshuang’s recent activities and her family situation. He should have some useful information."

Feng Yi nodded slightly. "You’re very thorough. I’ll have Meng Jiuchang follow up on those leads. You look like you’ve gotten thinner. Your health should be your top priority."

Song Yunzhao leaned into Feng Yi’s embrace. "With Your Majesty supporting me, I’m not tired at all. I’ll only be able to rest easy once we’ve dragged this mastermind into the light. Otherwise, I’m constantly on edge, worrying about what might happen next. It’s no way to live."

At this, Yun Zhao suddenly added, "Oh, right. There’s one more thing I wanted to discuss with you."

"What is it? Go on," Feng Yi said with a smile, his hand supporting her waist as he pulled her closer.