Chapter 98

The Emperor’s public humiliation of the Empress was no small matter. Within just a few days, the entire noble class of Luo’an had heard about it.

In his fury, Emperor Duanqing forbade the Crown Prince from entering the city.

Feng Liwu, ever the obedient son, simply set up camp outside the city walls.

He didn’t even bother with the nearby villas, choosing instead to pitch his tents by the roadside, living in humble conditions to emphasize his plight.

Somehow, the events in the grand hall had also leaked out.

Rumors spread about the Emperor’s drunkenness and his alleged encounter with the Empress, which he had completely forgotten.

The story was told with such vivid detail that listeners couldn’t help but marvel at how utterly foolish the Emperor had become!

It was no secret that the Emperor favored his concubines over the Empress, and that he had blamed the Empress for the death of his beloved consort. But to pin such a scandal on a eunuch who had long been castrated, driving the Empress to attempt suicide in the grand hall, was simply too much.

Honestly, even the most dramatic plays couldn’t come up with such a tragic and unjust plot.

Most wives, especially those of high status, shared a common sentiment: the trope of favoring concubines over the legitimate wife was universally condemned. Across Luo’an, noblewomen sympathized with the Empress and the Crown Prince, who had been dragged into this mess. They couldn’t help but imagine how they would feel if such a scandal befell them and their own children.

The rumors, seemingly guided by an unseen hand, painted the Crown Prince as a pitiful figure.

Here was the heir to the throne, bound by filial piety and his father’s orders, unable to enter the city.

Travelers and officials passing by couldn’t resist peeking out of their carriages to catch a glimpse of him.

However, while Feng Liwu couldn’t enter the city, the affairs within couldn’t be neglected.

Given the scandal involving his mother’s alleged misconduct, even Feng Liwu’s usual confidants couldn’t be trusted with the matter.

Fortunately, Jiang Xiurun had returned, so Feng Liwu sent her to the Wei family under the guise of Jiang Herun, the Crown Prince’s tutor.

Jiang Xiurun understood Feng Liwu’s intentions.

The Empress’s scandal was closely tied to her half-brother, Wei Xun.

While the eunuch in the palace had been castrated, the real troublemaker in the family had to be dealt with.

Moreover, they needed to find out how the news of the Empress’s pregnancy had leaked.

To put it bluntly, the Wei family’s moral compass needed correction.

They couldn’t continue to act with impunity just because their daughter was the Empress.

However, to avoid suspicion, Feng Liwu couldn’t directly summon his grandfather, Duke Wei Zhong.

Instead, he sent Jiang Xiurun to subtly convey the message.

Jiang Xiurun accepted the task and went to the Wei residence.

Under the Crown Prince’s authority, she was ushered straight into the main hall.

When Jiang Xiurun relayed the Crown Prince’s message, revealing that Mao Yunsheng had been recommended to the Empress by her half-brother Wei Xun, Duke Wei was so enraged that he hurled his teacup across the room.

He finally understood why the palace and the Crown Prince had been searching for Wei Xun.

That unfilial son had committed such a heinous act!

However, Wei Xun had left the capital long ago, which was why neither the palace nor the Crown Prince had been able to find him.

When Jiang Xiurun asked how they planned to deal with Wei Xun, Duke Wei snarled, “When he returns, I’ll have his legs broken so he can never leave the house again!”

Jiang Xiurun sighed inwardly.

No wonder the Empress and her half-brother were so reckless.

Duke Wei was truly a doting father.

Even after such a colossal disaster, his punishment was merely a beating.

For an ordinary family, this might be acceptable, but Duke Wei was the head of the prestigious Wei family.

How could he indulge his children to the point of endangering the entire clan?

Feng Liwu had already sent people to search for Wei Xun, but to no avail.

He suspected that his grandfather, out of paternal love, had hidden Wei Xun away.

That’s why he had sent Jiang Xiurun to deliver a message and subtly pressure Duke Wei.

Jiang Xiurun didn’t say much.

She pulled out a bamboo scroll that Feng Liwu had given her before she left.

He had instructed her to present it to Duke Wei if he showed any signs of continuing to shield his children.

Jiang Xiurun had no idea what was written on the scroll.

When Duke Wei took it and read its contents, his hands trembled slightly, and his face turned pale.

Finally, he said weakly, “Please inform the Crown Prince that I will eradicate his concerns. There will be no internal strife…”

Jiang Xiurun didn’t fully grasp Duke Wei’s meaning, but her role was merely to deliver the message.

Having done so, she didn’t linger and soon left the Wei residence.

The camp outside Luo’an was too crude, and Feng Liwu didn’t want Jiang Xiurun to suffer through the cold nights, so he instructed her to return to the Crown Prince’s residence.

Thus, Jiang Xiurun and Qian’er prepared to head back to the Crown Prince’s residence by carriage.

However, before that, Jiang Xiurun decided to visit her brother, Jiang Zhi.

When the carriage stopped at the entrance of the Residence of the Hostage Prince, Jiang Xiurun had the servants unload the various local specialties she had brought for her brother and sister-in-law.

However, she noticed another carriage parked outside the residence, indicating that her brother had guests.

As she entered, her sister-in-law, Wenniang, greeted her warmly. “Little brother, why didn’t you send word ahead of your return? I could have prepared better. Fortunately, we have guests today, and the kitchen is preparing a feast. You’ll have a hot meal as soon as you sit down.”

Jiang Xiurun was curious.

Seeing that the residence seemed to have ordered a lot of food from outside, she asked who the guests were.

Wenniang blushed slightly, too embarrassed to answer, but a maid beside her quickly chimed in, “Congratulations, Young Master Jiang! You’re about to become an uncle!”

It turned out that during Jiang Xiurun’s absence, Wen Niang had discovered she was pregnant.

Overjoyed, Jiang Zhi had taken his wife to a temple to offer prayers and give thanks, as they had made vows there during their wedding.

However, while traveling on a narrow path, their carriage had suddenly gone out of control, putting everyone in danger.

At the critical moment, a nobleman passing by with his entourage had sent strong servants to stop the runaway horses, saving Wenniang, her unborn child, and everyone in the carriage.

Jiang Zhi, being a gentleman of integrity, couldn’t simply thank the nobleman and let him go.

He invited him to the residence for a meal.

After hearing this, Jiang Xiurun became curious about the nobleman.

Wenniang mentioned that he had left Luo’an as a child and had recently returned from his hometown to visit relatives.

Before Jiang Xiurun even entered the main hall, she could hear her brother’s hearty laughter, suggesting that the guest was quite congenial.

However, when she stepped into the hall and saw the man sitting and drinking with her brother, her expression changed drastically.

The man, with his tall hat, dark beard, straight nose, and smiling face, was none other than Feng Liwu’s half-brother—Feng Wu.

Jiang Xiurun’s eyes widened, and she was about to call for guards to arrest Feng Wu when he calmly spoke first, “So Tutor Jiang is actually the younger brother of Prince Jiang Zhi of Bo. I had no idea. My apologies for the oversight.”

Jiang Zhi, sitting beside him, asked, “Brother Feng, you know my younger brother?”

Feng Wu, using the alias Feng Shan, smiled and said, “We’ve met a few times before, and I felt an instant connection. Recently, when I returned to the capital with Wei Xun, the son of Duke Wei, he told me about the exploits of Tutor Jiang, the Crown Prince’s right-hand man. My admiration for you has only grown.”

Jiang Xiurun swallowed the words she was about to shout upon hearing “Wei Xun.”

Why was Wei Xun returning to the capital with Feng Wu?

Although Feng Liwu had already had Mao Yunsheng castrated, Wei Xun, who had sent him to the palace, knew whether Mao had been a eunuch at the time.

If Wei Xun were to testify in court, it would be disastrous.

Jiang Xiurun glanced at the strong guards standing behind Feng Wu.

A few of them looked familiar—they were actually imperial guards from the Emperor’s personal retinue.

They were staring intently at Jiang Xiurun, their hands resting on the hilts of their swords, ready to draw them at the slightest provocation.

It seemed the Emperor had already reconciled with his beloved second son and had even sent his personal guards to protect him.

That explained why Feng Wu was so brazenly flaunting his presence in Luo’an.

Even if Jiang Xiurun wanted to arrest him now, it wouldn’t be easy.

Thinking of this, and seeing her oblivious brother and pregnant sister-in-law, Jiang Xiurun steadied herself. She sat down, raised her cup, and toasted Feng Wu, saying, “It’s been a while. How have you been?”

Feng Wu smiled, picked up the wine jug, and filled Jiang Xiurun’s cup.

“When we parted last time, it was so rushed that we didn’t even have time to say goodbye. How could I possibly be well?”

Jiang Xiurun looked at the clear wine in her cup, then raised her eyes to Feng Wu.

“What brings you to the capital? If you have important matters to discuss with the Crown Prince, you’ll have to wait. Fortunately, although the Crown Prince can’t enter the city, his personal guards are stationed both inside and outside the city. If you need to send a message, someone will be at your service in no time.”

Feng Wu couldn’t miss the veiled threat in Jiang Xiurun’s words: don’t even think about causing trouble in her brother’s residence.

Even with the Emperor’s backing, Feng Wu would have to think twice before acting, given the Crown Prince’s forces outside the city.

Feng Wu simply smiled and said, “I’ve already enjoyed Prince Jiang’s hospitality, but I have matters to attend to and won’t delay your family reunion. Oh, and please convey a message to the Crown Prince for me. Tell him I wish to meet him outside the camp. I hope he’ll grant an audience to an old acquaintance.”

With that, he stood up to leave.

Jiang Xiurun couldn’t let him leave so easily.

She excused herself to see him off and walked with him to the end of the long alley. In a low voice, she asked, “What’s the meaning of your visit to my brother’s residence?”

Feng Wu’s smile faded, replaced by a mocking smirk.

“Nothing much. I just wanted to see if your brother is as cunning as you. Unfortunately, such a gentleman has a sister who’s a deceitful, scheming liar.”

Jiang Xiurun, rarely outmatched in verbal sparring, replied without batting an eye, “Every family has its black sheep. Doesn’t the Crown Prince also have a half-brother who’s a lowlife with a head full of wicked schemes?”