Chapter 185

As the date for returning to Bo’s grand festival approached, many affairs required attention, which helped divert Jiang Xiurun’s focus.

Due to the past victory against Rong and Anxi’s voluntary submission, Bo’s territory had expanded considerably, significantly alleviating its previous predicament of being surrounded on all sides.

In this life, Liang had been restrained in every aspect due to its hostility with Great Qi.

Unlike her previous life, where Liang harbored ambitions of dominating the other states, it had curbed its aggressive tendencies.

As a result, Bo now enjoyed peace and prosperity.

Years of policies promoting recuperation and growth had eased the burdens on the people, while military reorganization greatly strengthened combat capabilities.

The nation, once on the brink of destruction, had now transformed into a rising power in the northern.

The return of Bo’s empress became a matter of great significance for the entire state.

The citizens eagerly anticipated the return of their married empress, longing once more to bask in the divine radiance of the saintess.

Initially, Jiang Xiurun felt reluctant to part with Feng Liwu for a while.

However, ever since she had unintentionally uncovered hidden truths from her past life through Jieyou Pavilion, her heart had been in turmoil.

Instead, she found it preferable to have some time apart to clear her thoughts before meeting again.

As for Baoli and Xueyan, since they could not bear to be separated from their mother, they insisted on accompanying her back to her homeland.

Watching as the empress arranged their luggage, they were filled with excitement, constantly clamoring about wanting to see their uncle.

Feng Liwu, however, noticed that since their return from the spring outing, Jiang Xiurun seemed somewhat dispirited.

Yet, she refused to tell him what was troubling her, even acting distant towards him in bed.

Sometimes, she even complained that his strength was too overwhelming…

If he had not been by her side the entire time, he might have suspected that she had fallen for someone else and was now finding every excuse to disdain her rightful husband.

Thus, when Jiang Xiurun nitpicked at him for no apparent reason, he could only sigh and retaliate by biting her cheek, asking her if a gentler touch would even scratch her itch.

She merely flushed with embarrassment and refused to speak to him, prompting him to embrace her further to ease her discomfort.

On the eve of Jiang Xiurun’s departure, the decline of the Three Counties finally became apparent, and the stalemate on both riverbanks showed signs of collapse.

Under the leadership of Dou Siwu, the vanguard camp took advantage of a rare foggy day to cross the river and launch an attack on the outer city of the Three Counties.

Their surprise assault succeeded, tearing open a significant breach in the iron fortress of the Three Counties.

Fengwu, realizing that if the two remaining cities fell, their defensive line along the river would be compromised—allowing Feng Liwu’s army to cross unimpeded—quickly dispatched troops to reclaim the lost city.

Reports indicated that fierce battles were underway, with the front lines locked in a deadlock.

Jiang Xiurun noticed that Bai Qian, who was supposed to accompany her back to Bo, seemed distracted.

Several times, when Jiang Xiurun spoke to her, she failed to respond.

Seeing Bai Qian in such a state, Jiang Xiurun let out a soft sigh.

She understood the reason behind it.

The front lines were engulfed in intense warfare, and Dou Siwu had sustained injuries in the battle to capture the city.

However, since Feng Liwu rarely shared military details with her—lest she worry and exhaust herself—she had no idea about the severity of Dou Siwu’s wounds.

Yet, for a general at the front lines to report his injuries to the court, it was unlikely to be something as minor as a mere cut on the finger.

It was no wonder Bai Qian was so restless with worry.

Jiang Xiurun knew that Bai Qian had a stubborn mouth but a soft heart.

Although she had distanced herself from Dou Siwu before, it was only because the Dou family’s status was too high for her to easily integrate into, not because she was truly indifferent toward him.

So when Bai Qian, after much deliberation, requested permission to escort the grain supplies to the front lines, Jiang Xiurun gladly approved.

While some people could not accompany her back to Bo, others were desperately trying to follow her.

In the imperial palace, Concubine Jing—Tian Jing’er—had always clung to Jiang Xiurun, the empress.

Although Jiang Xiurun had given her the cold shoulder several times, Tian Jing’er remained persistent.

Aside from making regular courtesy visits, she frequently appeared in the palace gardens, seemingly by coincidence.

Everyone in the palace knew that Concubine Jing was determined to earn the empress’s favor, showering her with flattery at every opportunity.

Although Jiang Xiurun had initially maintained her distance from Tian Jing’er, she found that the latter remained unaffected by her aloofness.

In the past, back when they were in the Crown Prince’s residence, Jiang Xiurun had actually gotten along quite well with Tian Jing’er and did not dislike her.

After some time, she simply let things be.

After all, life in the palace was dull—observing what Tian Jing’er was up to at least served as a form of entertainment.

However, even after gaining the privilege of staying by the empress’s side, Tian Jing’er still seemed unsatisfied.

She persistently pleaded to accompany Jiang Xiurun back to Bo, vowing to endure the hardships of travel so she could personally attend to her daily needs along the way.

Jiang Xiurun listened with a smile but politely declined.

She was returning to her own homeland for some peaceful leisure—why would she need to bring along one of her husband’s concubines?

Although Feng Liwu had never indulged in the flirtations of the harem, as a woman, Jiang Xiurun simply couldn’t bring herself to feel any fondness for these women.

She often wondered just how deep and unfathomable Tian Jing’er’s schemes must be for her to act so devoted and attentive toward her.

At times, Jiang Xiurun almost felt moved enough to slip up and grant her an opportunity to be in Feng Liwu’s presence.

But while she couldn’t quite make sense of it, others saw the situation with clear eyes.

Feng Liwu, after handling matters of the court, left the imperial study early, eager to spend time with his Xiurun before her departure.

Yet, as he walked past the bamboo grove by the imperial garden, he caught sight of his empress through the ornate window carvings of the palace wall—standing together with a concubine.

Jiang Xiurun was seated at a small incense mat, unfurling a scroll of fine paper, carefully sketching a blooming peony.

Meanwhile, the concubine had dismissed her attendants and was kneeling beside her, personally fanning her.

Ordinarily, concubines currying favor with the empress was an unremarkable affair—hardly worth noting.

But… when Feng Liwu saw the way that particular concubine was looking at Jiang Xiurun, his expression darkened, and his steps halted.

He had never before seen a concubine gaze at the empress with such an intense and blatant look.

Because Jiang Xiurun preferred comfort, she often avoided elaborate golden hairpins in the palace, sometimes even dressing in light and loose men’s clothing for a refreshing change.

Today was one such occasion—she wore a flowing light smoke-colored linen robe, paired with a finely crafted white jade headpiece inlaid with tourmaline.

Her hair was gathered high, exuding an air of effortless elegance.

And that woman—she was looking at his Xiurun with the hungry stare of a famished she-wolf, an unmistakable, smoldering gaze of infatuation.

Yet Jiang Xiurun, instead of dismissing her, simply added a few more brushstrokes to her painting before turning to smile, “Concubine Jing, do you think my painting has declined compared to when I was in the Crown Prince’s residence?”

Tian Jing’er, staring at the radiant “young master” before her, felt her heart pound wildly.

She couldn’t help but lean forward slightly and murmur, “Your skill has only improved… I still treasure the peony painting Your Majesty gifted me back in the Crown Prince’s residence… Perhaps… Your Majesty could also bestow this one upon me? That way, they would be a matching pair and not lonely anymore…”

Hearing this, Jiang Xiurun couldn’t help but wonder—was this it? Had Tian Jing’er finally worked up the nerve to ask her, the empress, to arrange for her to serve the emperor in bed?

Amused, she set her brush aside, propped herself up with one arm on the mat, and casually leaned back, resting her other hand on her knee.

She gazed directly at Tian Jing’er and asked, “Are you saying you’re feeling lonely, Concubine Jing?”

Her movements were languid, yet to Tian Jing’er, every gesture exuded an effortless charm.

Even knowing she was a woman, she couldn’t help but feel captivated, as though ensnared in vines she couldn’t break free from.

Now, as Jiang Xiurun leaned in, a hint of mischief glinting in her eyes, Tian Jing’er’s heartbeat grew erratic.

Her face flushed, and in a daze, she unconsciously tilted her head up, closing her eyes—waiting, as if anticipating a gentle kiss to fall upon her lips…

Jiang Xiurun blinked in surprise at her reaction.

Before she could even speak, a frigid voice suddenly rang out from the other side of the garden wall—

“Get away from her! Now!”

Jiang Xiurun looked up to see Feng Liwu standing at the moon gate of the garden, his face dark with fury.

To anyone unaware of the situation, he looked as if he had caught his wife in the act of an affair.

Tian Jing’er snapped out of her daze, mortified at her loss of composure—especially in front of the emperor.

She hastily scrambled up, bowed, and fled in shame.

Jiang Xiurun watched her retreating figure, but she couldn’t be bothered to hold a grudge.

Instead, she stood up, approached Feng Liwu, offered him a formal greeting—and then turned to leave.

But Feng Liwu had had enough of her deliberate coldness these past days.

He grabbed her hand tightly and demanded harshly, “You didn’t even realize you were fooling around with her like that? No wonder you complain that I’m too rough—was it that woman who pleased you instead?”

His furious outburst was completely incoherent. Jiang Xiurun half-opened her mouth, utterly baffled by what he was trying to say.

It wasn’t until he dragged her all the way into the bedchamber and continued his enraged interrogation—demanding to know how long she had been having an affair with Tian Jing’er—that Jiang Xiurun finally pieced together what was going on.

But once she understood, her anger flared instead.

She merely asked, with delicate sarcasm, whether His Majesty had been so overwhelmed with state affairs that his brain had stopped functioning properly—because otherwise, how could he come up with such utter nonsense?

Yet Feng Liwu had seen it with his own eyes! If he hadn’t stepped in when he did, his wife and that concubine would have been kissing right then and there!

Coldly, he pressed on—he had caught her red-handed, so what was there to argue?

Perhaps there was some truth to the saying that one cannot have both an empire and a beauty.

He had merely been preoccupied with quelling the chaos in the Three Counties, neglecting his empress for a short while—only for her to start entangling herself with the shameless concubines of the harem? If he didn’t put a stop to this now, would he not be wearing the biggest green hat in the empire?

He could not allow his empire to be stable while his harem fell into disorder!

But Jiang Xiurun, with a clear conscience, feared no accusations.

Compared to this man, who had stolen his subordinate’s woman, she was practically the epitome of virtue!