Chapter 869: Chapter 599 Grand Finale (Epilogue)_11
It felt as though someone was crying in a dream.
A large hand covered her eyes, then gently wiped them with a handkerchief.
"Why are you crying?"
Feng Yun did not open her eyes and said calmly, "I thought we had changed our fate. I thought it would not be like my past life anymore..."
Pei Jue fell silent for a moment. "You have succeeded."
Feng Yun: "But my elder brother still died. Still died in such disgrace..."
Pei Jue said, "I will grant him dignity."
-
Pei Jue arranged a grand burial for Wen Xingsu.
His tomb was placed in Xinyi County, the place he had once guarded.
Puyang Yi was buried alongside him, and their memorial tablets were placed together in Chunmeng Hall. The tombstone read, "Wife of Wen Hui of the Wen Family of Jiangnan."
This decision had taken Feng Yun a long time to make.
It was only after Princess Chang and Puyang Zong nodded in agreement that it was done.
Princess Chang said, "This was Pingyuan’s chosen path."
Puyang Zong said, "My younger sister is willing to accompany him."
So Feng Yun thought, her elder brother was fortunate after all. To have such a woman who admired him, loved him, regardless of wealth or destitution, through life and death, willing to accompany him for eternity—he would not be alone, even in the afterlife.
-
At the onset of spring in the Ninth Year of Jingning, envoys from Nanqi arrived in Xinjing.
They did not seek the Emperor, nor the Empress, nor discuss matters of the state, but instead inquired about Doctor Yao from Huaxi.
The envoys wished to bring Yao Ru to Qi Country.
The spies of the Imperial Cavalry Division kept a close watch.
Every minor disturbance in Nanqi was caught in their sights.
Wei Zheng personally went to the Emperor’s Imperial Study, reporting thus and so, and the next day, the envoy was summoned before the Emperor.
The Emperor of Zhengchu was gravely ill, medicines were ineffective, the Imperial Physicians were helpless, and only out of desperation did they think of the divine Doctor Yao from Huaxi.
Xiao Cheng’s illness was peculiar, rumors spread widely among the court and the populace of Nanqi.
Some said it was the doing of Consort Xian, who smeared drugs on the Emperor’s cup before requesting to leave the palace...
Others said the drug was not recent but had long been planted in the Emperor’s food; Consort Xian was ruthless, having loved the Emperor for as many years as she hated him.
Still, others speculated the Emperor was not ill but poisoned, and the poison was called "Golden Boudoir Guest," a substance that, when applied on the skin, caused hives and, when ingested, became a slow-acting suicide.
The envoys spoke with tears, begging the Da Yong Emperor for mercy.
Since Qi Country withdrew its troops from Hengqu Pass, Xiao Cheng had signed a peace treaty...
Pei Jue had personally agreed, promising ten years of peace between the two countries.
No wars meant more frequent trade between the citizens of both nations. Everyone considered the other as friendly allies. The envoys argued that the Emperor had no reason to, nor could he, prevent a civilian doctor from traveling to Qi Country to treat the Emperor.
They added, "The world says that Emperor Yong is magnanimous, not one for trifles, broad-minded, unlikely to... begrudge such a minor issue?"
The envoys returned home to report, crying before their Emperor.
Indeed, the Da Yong Emperor was magnanimous, but his magnanimity differed from others...
He was exceptionally petty about the matter of treating the Qi Emperors’ illness.
He restricted Yao Ru’s travel to Qi Country, seemingly determined to watch the Qi Emperor die.
Half a month later, the envoy returned to Xinjing.
This time, instead of seeking out Huaxi’s doctor, she entered the palace to plead her case before the Emperor.
She brought gifts of Qi Country’s specialties and offerings from the Qi Emperor...
Neither gold, silver, jewels nor antiques nor land deeds, but rather a "Childhood Drawing," depicting a child seated in a study room, his gaze both focused and curious, his small hand gently stroking an open book. Sunlight streamed through a partially ajar lattice window, illuminating his tender face. The Four Treasures of the Study—the writing brush leaned askew—clearly evoked the semblance of the Qi Palace.
The envoy explained, "This was painted by the Qi Emperor during his illness, presented humbly to the Da Yong Emperor."
Pei Jue sat in his Imperial Study that day for a long while, placing the painting within his study.
Later, one day, Rui Bao accidentally found it and laughed as he asked.
"Father Emperor, why are you secretly hiding a portrait of a child?"
"Which painter crafted this? Such lifelike and exquisite skill!"
"Oh, here..."
The signature bore Xiao San’s characters.
Zicheng.
Pei Jue chuckled softly, covering it with his hand.
"Come now, let’s accompany your mother for a meal and discuss your studies."
At the mention of studies, Rui Bao forgot about the painting.
Later, Pei Jue locked the painting away, even Feng Yun could not glance upon it...
Because Xiao Cheng had never met Rui Bao.
-
When Yao Ru returned from Qi Country, she was immediately summoned by Feng Yun.
Feng Yun inquired about Qi Palace affairs, finding herself somewhat astonished.
Xiao Cheng was truly ill.
Feng Ying had truly vanished.
Since that day seeing her in Wen Xingsu’s small courtyard, she had disappeared.
Feng Yun was unwilling to let her off easily, sending people to search high and low but found nothing, and eventually let it go.
Unexpectedly, in June of the following year, Guan Wei led people to Yunchuan to procure graphite. Upon returning, she reported encountering a troupe of entertainers in Yun City, who displayed something utterly horrifying called the "Beauty in a Jar." Performers would place beauties inside jars, painting their faces with exquisite makeup, singing melancholic tunes for the audience.
