Phoenix Reigns Over The Nine Heavens - Chapter 43

Si Cang followed her, silently.

Yun Zishu asked, “Has there been any movement from the Feng family recently?”

Si Cang shook his head. “They are still observing Your Highness’s attitude.”

“Observing my attitude?”

“Your Highness is the only bloodline of the Empress. The Feng family certainly hopes that Your Highness will live well, but if Your Highness herself does not strive for success, they will not risk offending the Emperor to help Your Highness.”

Yun Zishu nodded calmly. “In the end, it’s all about self-preservation.”

But it was normal. The Feng family didn’t belong to any single individual. Whether it is the Empress Dowager or the Feng uncle, they all had to protect the entire Feng clan. That was beyond reproach.

Back then, she could easily swap her own daughter for gaining status through a son. Now, of course, she would not easily put the Feng family in danger.

“Si Cang.” Yun Zishu looked up, gazing at the endless sky. “I don’t want to be controlled by others anymore.”

Si Cang’s tone was calm yet firm. “Your Highness will never be controlled by others again.”

Yun Zishu was silent for a long time after hearing this, then turned to look at him. “Do you know what I want to do?”

“No matter what Your Highness wants to do, I will assist Your Highness.” Si Cang raised his eyes slightly, staring at her beautiful face, with deep and suppressed feelings in his eyes, “Your Highness doesn’t have to worry about anything.”

Yun Zishu smiled faintly. “What if what I want to do is something rebellious?”

Si Cang’s voice was as steady as a rock. “Every dynasty’s founding ruler did things that were treasonous before they succeeded.”

Yun Zishu nodded slowly and then dropped the topic. “Gu Qiubai, who was recently recommended as Minister of Revenue—who does he belong to?”

The person who recommended him was Prime Minister Wei, and the person Prime Minister Wei supported was Prince Qi, Yunhui.

Si Cang paused slightly. “Your Highness is interested in Gu Qiubai?”

Yun Zishu laughed. “Don’t say it in a way that will cause misunderstandings.”

Si Cang also smiled almost imperceptibly and then said seriously, “Gu Qiubai can become Your Highness’ ally.”

Hearing this, Yun Zishu wasn’t the least bit surprised.

She remembered that after she died in her previous life, Gu Qiubai had appeared once when Si Cang was putting her into the coffin. When Si Cang went to the Xiao family to avenge her, Gu Qiubai had also tried to stop him from risking his life alone. However, Si Cang at that time had already been consumed by hatred, truly killing gods when he met them and killing Buddhas when he met them.

Gu Qiubai was unable to stop him.

Although she didn’t know what happened to Gu Qiubai later, this confirmed that Gu Qiubai and Si Cang must have had some connection.

“I want to see the Empress Dowager on the day of Consort Wu’s birthday.”

Si Cang nodded. “I will arrange it.”

Yun Zishu’s lips curled up slightly. “Si Cang.”

“Your Highness.”

“In this huge palace, with so many relatives, the person I trust the most is actually you.” Yun Zishu looked at him, a hint of a smile on her lips. “With you here, I feel extremely at ease.”

A hint of warmth appeared on Si Cang’s handsome face. “Your Highness.”

“Should I be grateful for the time we spent growing up together?” Yun Zishu’s face showed a hint of recollection. “I lost my mother when I was young and was left to fend for myself in the palace. At that time, you were training in the Dark Shadow Pavilion, still just a boy. Although those times were difficult, remembering them now brings a sense of warmth.”

Si Cang pressed his thin lips lightly together, and he couldn’t help but recall the extremely difficult but precious days.

The training in the Shadow Pavilion was dark and hopeless. Every day, he faced only ruthless fighting and death. His whole body used to be enveloped in the smell of blood. There was not a single day when he was not injured, and at one point, he had been so severely wounded that he nearly lost his life.

It was she who took care of him tirelessly, found ways to procure medicinal herbs to dress his wounds, and personally decocted the two doses of soup medicine every day.

During that time, seeing her every day became the only motivation for him to keep living.

Over the years, Si Cang had understood that Yun Zishu was the only light in his life. For her, he would not hesitate to stand against the entire world.

The Xiao family was ruthless and unjust to her, so he helped her deal with them. The Crown Prince treated her with indifference, so he made sure the Crown Prince would never ascend the throne. The emperor wanted to harm her, so he made the emperor live in constant unrest day and night.

As long as he was alive, no one would ever be able to harm her again.

“The eldest grandson of the Feng family is a man of both literary and military talents.” Si Cang suddenly spoke, his voice deep and calm. “He can be of use to Your Highness.”

Yun Zishu looked at the beautiful scenery of the garden with various flowers blooming. “Aren’t you hostile towards him?”

Si Cang pursed his lips. “The subject holds no animosity towards him.”

“Just jealousy, then?”

Si Cang was stunned and swiftly turned to look at Yun Zishu.

“I’m not that oblivious,” Yun Zishu said in a leisurely tone. “Feng Ci is not the type of man I like, so you don’t need to worry.”

Si Cang wanted to ask what type of man she favored, so he could strive to be that type of man.

However, when he thought of his current identity…

How could the ruthless and merciless commander of the Dark Shadow Pavilion, a fearsome killer who showed no mercy, whose hands were stained with blood, and who was like the god of death in the eyes of everyone, be worthy of the pearl who had always lived in the sunlight?

Pulling back his thoughts, Si Cang suppressed the restlessness in his heart and tried to keep his voice steady. “Feng Ci is a talent worth employing. His gentle and refined demeanor is just a facade. Over the years, though, he has seldom ventured outside his mansion; few can surpass him in knowledge, military strategy, or tactical acumen.”

Yun Zishu nodded. “True.”

“Ji Changqing, the young master of the Ji family, can also be of use to Your Highness.”

Yun Zishu frowned. “Ji Changqing?”

“Yes,” Si Cang nodded. “The current head of the Ji family, Ji Hong, is a lecherous man. He has six wives and concubines in his backyard, each married into the family for business alliances. This is also one of the reasons why the Ji family grew rapidly back then. Merchant families are skilled at calculations, and these women were taught the ways of commerce from an early age. As a result, the struggle in the backyard of the Ji family is very fierce, comparable to the emperor’s harem.”

Yun Zishu said thoughtfully, “In that case, the life of the young master of the Ji family must be quite difficult.”

“Ji Changqing holds real authority and is quite adept in family affairs, but he is not in good health.” Si Cang explained. “Since childhood, Ji Changqing has been poisoned repeatedly by the wives and concubines in the backyard. It’s not fatal, but his body is getting weaker and weaker every day, leaving him almost dependent on daily medicinal decoctions to survive.”

Yun Zishu could easily picture the scene.

A young master growing up amidst all kinds of plots and schemes, even with the legitimate status of an heir, could not escape the machinations of those around him. No matter how capable he might be, as a child, he was still vulnerable.

“This subject has a divine physician under my command.”

Yun Zishu looked at him in surprise. “Si Cang.”

“Your Highness.”

“You’ve given me a lot of surprises today.” Yun Zishu said, frowning slightly. “Why do I feel like you’re far more formidable than you appear?”

Si Cang felt silent, unsure whether he should tell her that the surprises he had prepared were far more than this.

However, he was worried that she might struggle to accept too much at once, so he decided to keep it to himself for now.

He would hand her the chips he held one by one when she needed them.