Phoenix Reigns Over The Nine Heavens - Chapter 20

“Madam Xiao went back by herself?” In the study of the Feng residence, an imposing elderly man sat in a mahogany chair behind the desk, his voice deep and solemn.

The man in black nodded and said, “Yes, and judging from her expression and reaction, she should have been snubbed at the princess’s mansion.”

The old man raised his eyes: “In your opinion, is the legitimate princess really at odds with the Xiao family this time?”

The man in black nodded. “It seems that way, and there is no possibility for reconciliation.”

The old man turned his head to look out the window, his expression dazed: “Have Ci’er come over.”

“Yes.”

The man in black turned and left. The old man got up and walked to the window, his expression pensive, as if lost in profound thoughts.

Before long, a young man in white robes entered through the door. His stature was tall and graceful, his features handsome and dignified. The light white robe accentuated his ethereal elegance, like an orchid or a jade tree.

“Grandfather.”

The old man turned his head to look at him: “You should pay attention to the movements of the legitimate princess over the next couple of days and see what attitude she holds toward the Xiao family.”

The eldest grandson of the Feng family, Feng Ci, was silent for a while. “I overheard some things earlier.”

“Speak.”

“The Emperor issued a strict order to General Xiao last night, requiring the Xiao family to make sure that the legitimate princess returns back. Madam Xiao went to the princess’s mansion early in the morning and, from what I heard, even knelt before the princess.” Feng Ci lowered his eyes. “But the princess is determined to sever all ties with the Xiao family.”

The old Duke Feng was silent for a moment, then sighed heavily. “His Majesty will not allow the legitimate princess to continue causing such a stir.”

Feng Ci didn’t speak, tacitly agreeing with his grandfather’s assessment.

“What exactly is going on with Si Cang?”

“It seems that the Dark Shadow Pavilion has been a little out of the Emperor’s control recently.” Feng Ci speculated, his voice gentle, “I wonder if it has something to do with the princess.”

The old Duke Feng was stunned. “The Dark Shadow Pavilion is out of control?”

“Yes.”

The old Duke Feng fell silent, his brow furrowed in deep thought. The Dark Shadow Pavilion was the sharpest weapon in the hands of emperors of all dynasties, monitoring the officials, consolidating the imperial power, and having the power to act first and report later.

If the Shadow Pavilion was beyond control, the emperor would surely be uneasy day and night.

The emperor, who was high above, would never allow people who were not under his control to live, especially when the threat posed by the Shadow Pavilion was fatal to anyone. Once they turned against him, even the emperor would tremble with fear.

“Keep a close watch on the movements of the legitimate princess over the next couple of days. If it is confirmed that Si Cang is the legitimate princess’s man, the Feng family cannot sit idly by.”

“Yes.” Feng Ci nodded. “Grandson will pay attention to it; Grandfather can rest assured.”

The old Duke Feng looked up at his grandson, of whom he was so proud, and a trace of melancholy colored his expression. “The Feng family was originally a family of military generals, but from your generation onwards, it is destined to fade into silence and decline, gradually withdrawing from the center of power.”

The Feng family is the Empress Dowager’s family and the current emperor’s uncle.

The old Duke Feng had been in charge of military power for many years. At the height of his power, he had accumulated many military achievements, and the influence of his family rivaled that of the imperial authority. The emperor’s successful ascension to the throne was greatly indebted to the Feng family.

However, the once most trusted confidant has now become a thorn in the emperor’s side, and he has long wanted to get rid of them.

Moreover, the matters involving the Empress and the eldest prince were also entangled in this.

The expression of the old Duke Feng turned cold.

The Empress passed away early, and the legitimate eldest son had died young. The emperor’s next targets were the Ninth Princess, Yun Zishu, and the Feng family.

The emperor was just waiting for the right opportunity to uproot the Feng family, so they had to be careful.

At this time, in the inner courtyard of the Xiao family, Xiao Yuanting’s face was grim as he looked at Madam Xiao return alone, surrounded by her maids. “What did Her Highness the princess say?”

“She…” Madam Xiao’s face changed slightly, and she gritted her teeth. “She doesn’t want to come back.”

“Doesn’t want to return?” Xiao Yuanting’s expression turned icy. “Doesn’t want to come back, and that’s it? Didn’t you think of another way?”

“What can I do if she refuses to return?” Madam Xiao was, after all, the legitimate wife. Being rebuked by him like this in public was humiliating, and her anger flared. “She is a princess. I can’t exactly tie her up and drag her back! Early in the morning, I waited outside the gate of the princess’s mansion for a full hour. Not only did she make me wait, but she also put on the airs once I entered, demanding that I kneel. I knelt down for her, but even then, she refused to come. What else can I do?”

The humiliation she had suffered in the princess’s mansion, combined with her husband’s reproach, was too much for Madam Xiao, who had always been domineering and accustomed to having her way.

“You know she’s a princess now? What were you doing before?” Xiao Yuanting slammed the table and stood up, glaring at her with fury. “I was counting on you to manage the inner house, and this is how you manage it? Allowing Yun Heng to favour his concubine while neglecting his legitimate wife? Indulging Li Xue in framing the princess and openly insulting her. What kind of mistress of the house are you? Even if she weren’t a princess, in any aristocratic family, favoring a concubine over the wife is not allowed. You’re nothing but a fool!”

Mrs. Xiao endured his furious scolding, her face alternating between pale and flushed. She wished she could storm out on the spot.

But when she thought of the current situation of the Xiao family and Yun Heng, who was seriously injured and bedridden, her defiance vanished. At this time, her legs were aching, and she felt utterly wretched. She sat on the chair without saying a word, her face stiff and pale. “I regret it now, and I know that what I did was wrong, but the most urgent thing is how to save the situation… Yun Zishu is unwilling to come back; what do you think should be done?”

Anyway, what’s done is done, and even if she were torn to pieces, time could not be reversed.

Rather than venting his anger and scolding her, it was better to calm down and think of a solution.

Xiao Yuanting paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. “What exactly did the princess say?”

“What else could she say? She repeatedly insisted that she no longer has ties with the Xiao family.” Madam Xiao’s expression was gloomy. “Her marriage was bestowed by the Emperor. Can she do whatever she wants? What a joke.”

Xiao Yuanting said coldly, “Although the letter of divorce is not valid, if this continues, it won’t affect the princess much, but it will be a fatal blow to the Xiao family.”

Madam Xiao’s face changed. “Isn’t it just a slight damage to our reputation? Once the princess cools off and returns, over time, people will gradually forget about this…”

“A woman’s shortsighted views!” Xiao Yuanting interrupted her sharply, “If this escalates further, everyone will know that the Xiao family has no respect for the monarch and even dares to bully the princess. You wait and see, tomorrow there will be censors impeaching the Xiao family for having an improper family style! And as for your brother, hasn’t he been suspended from his job and sent home? This is already the emperor’s mercy. If it weren’t for the crown prince’s protection, do you really think that Li Wenzhong would only be demoted instead of being exiled from the capital? Do you still think the situation is not serious enough?”

Madam Xiao’s face was as white as a sheet. “Is it… is it really that serious?”

Xiao Yuanting suppressed his anger and sat down wearily. “The current emperor is not a benevolent ruler. Right now, he needs the Xiao family, which is why he is protecting us. But later on, when the Xiao family becomes a threat to him, every act of disrespect today will become his excuse to destroy the Xiao family in the future.”

These words sent a chill down Madam Xiao’s spine.