Jinyi Spring

Chapter 200 Reception

Uncle Qian's expression hardened, and he hurriedly went to the east courtyard to report to Feng Chuchen.

“Miss Feng, Prince Consort Shangguan and General Ming have returned to the capital. They captured Xue Jipeng alive and took him directly to the palace upon arrival. General Wang, accompanied by Prince Shangguan, was also escorted into the palace.”

Xue Jipeng was the garrison commander of Jincheng and a relative of the Xue family. He led eight hundred soldiers to the Qilian Mountains without authorization to intercept "Wang Tu" and Jian Heniang. They were ambushed in the mountains by Ming Changqing and the arriving Prince Consort Shangguan, who attacked from both sides and captured him despite being outnumbered.

The garrison in Jincheng numbered only one thousand, yet he mustered eight hundred. Dereliction of duty was a capital offense, let alone leading troops out of the city, which was tantamount to rebellion.

Feng Chuchen and Chen Qingrui's eyes met—the final showdown had finally begun. The sixteen-year-old case should finally be settled today.

This morning at court, in front of all the officials, even if Empress Dowager Xue tried to cover it up and resolve the matter, it wouldn't work.

Feng Chuchen, along with two maids and Aunt Qian, began to busy themselves, erasing all traces of Chen Qingrui here and tidying up the underground cave.

There was a small hut in the tunnel, about ten paces square, containing a small bed, a small table, and a cabinet. Though simple, it was clean. Chen Qingrui was going to move down there temporarily for the next few days.

The reason they didn't send her elsewhere was twofold: first, Feng Chuchen could still find an excuse to meet her here; second, the most dangerous place is often the safest.

Once Feng Chuchen's identity is confirmed, this courtyard and this village will never be peaceful again. From now on, when Feng Chuchen is not around, all the welcoming and sending-off affairs will be handled in the west courtyard, while no unauthorized personnel are allowed to enter the east courtyard.

Just past noon, Chen Qingrui and Feng Chuchen's hearts were in their throats.

Although the two tried their best to suppress their anxiety, it was still clear that they were worried about each other.

Chen Qingrui was fiddling with beads in her hand, her lips moving slightly as if she were chanting some sutra.

Feng Chuchen stared at the small window.

The two maids were even more anxious, pacing back and forth in the courtyard from time to time, listening to the sounds outside.

At the end of the hour of Wei (1-3 PM), the sound of horses' hooves finally came from outside the courtyard gate.

Feng Chuchen hurried to the west courtyard, where Duan Yan rushed in.

He was covered in sweat and bowed deeply to Feng Chuchen.

It turns out that the girl in front of me is a princess; no wonder she's so different from others.

He lowered his voice and said, "Miss Feng, my young master sent me to deliver a message."

Feng Chuchen's heart was pounding, but she remained calm on the surface. "What did you say?"

Duan Yan said, "Young Master said that General Wang, Commander Ming, and Prince Consort Shangguan have all arrived at the Golden Palace. My esteemed son, Lord Ming, pleaded for the emperor, recounting the events of that year from beginning to end. With witnesses and physical evidence, the emperor and his ministers were all shocked upon hearing it."

He paused, lowering his voice even further, "The adult male members of the Xue family, the female officials and eunuchs serving Consort Xue have been taken to the Imperial Prison by the Flying Eagle Guard. Consort Xue is under guard, and the female members of the Xue family and the underage male members are also being kept under the watch of the Flying Eagle Guard."

"Not only is the case of the baby swap being investigated, but there's also the case of the 'Mandarin Duck Pendant' from many years ago. Oh, Young Master Feng, Aunt Wang, and Miss Banxia have also been invited to the Flying Eagle Guard. Young Master, please rest assured, Lord Ming, my young master, and Lord Xiao will all take care of Young Master Feng. Also, young master, please be prepared, the Emperor may very well summon you to the palace tonight."

Feng Chuchen nodded. "Thank you for your hard work. Go back and tell your son that I understand."

Not long after Duan Yan left, the quiet Bai Ma Village became noisy. A squad of Flying Eagle Guards entered the village and took Zhao, the village head, away.

The Zhao family was so frightened that they burst into tears, wondering what heinous crime Zhao Lizheng had committed to alarm the Flying Eagle Guard.

The news spread like wildfire, drawing crowds from neighboring villages. Despite the freezing weather, many people stood outside discussing it. Feng Chuchen gazed at the crimson sunset on the western horizon, so intensely red it made her squint slightly. When she opened her eyes again, the world was bathed in a gentle warmth, even the remaining snow on the rooftops glowed with an orange-red light.

She thought that the future would probably be like this—not always sunny, but even with wind and snow, there would always be times when the sun shines. Just like now, that somewhat dazzling light, wasn't it just right to make her shadow long and warm?

As dusk settled, lamps were lit in the courtyard.

After dinner, Feng Chuchen sat alone in the main room, staring blankly at the solitary lamp. Chen Qingrui had already gone down into the tunnel, leaving her alone above in the utter silence.

As the night deepened outside the window, her heart pounded with each passing moment.

Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from outside the courtyard gate—not just a few, but many, shaking the earth, coming from afar and becoming particularly jarring in the quiet night.

Feng Chuchen's heart skipped a beat. She stood up and strode towards the west courtyard.

The whole village was alarmed, and many people threw on their coats and came out to see what was going on. Seeing that those people were heading for the Feng family, Zhao Lizheng's son and Feng Changfu and his son hurriedly ran towards the edge of the village.

The west gate was banged on.

Uncle Qian opened the door and saw that the outside was brightly lit by torches. Shangguan Ruyu and Commander Xie rode tall horses, followed by hundreds of men and two carriages. The torchlight made their faces appear to be lit up and then dimmed.

Feng Chuchen came out.

Shangguan Ruyu smiled brightly, dismounted, and walked up to her, saying, "Cousin, congratulations! The Emperor summons you to an audience."

Several villagers had already run to the door, but upon hearing this, their legs went weak with fear.

I thought the Emperor had summoned Miss Feng to the palace to treat some concubine, but what did this handsome young man mean by calling her "cousin"? Besides, if it were just to call a doctor, two eunuchs or palace maids would have been enough, so why did so many soldiers and two high-ranking officials come?

Feng Changfu mustered his courage and asked in a low voice, "Chen girl, what... what happened?"

Before Feng Chuchen could answer, a soldier next to him glared at him fiercely, and Feng Changfu trembled in fright and immediately fell silent.

Commander Xie stepped forward again, smiling like a fox, and bowed, saying, "Miss Feng, His Majesty summons you to the palace immediately. Please get in the carriage."

Two palace maids stepped forward and curtsied. One of them lifted the carriage curtain. Feng Chuchen and Shaoyao boarded the carriage.

Commander Xie and Shangguan Ruyu mounted their horses and escorted the carriage as it sped into the city.

The night was deep, and the sound of horses' hooves echoed. Feng Chuchen lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, watching the shadows of trees flash by outside the window, her heart pounding. Finally, she was going to that golden cage she didn't like.

At this moment, the city gates were wide open, and countless torches were burning on the city towers, their light illuminating half the sky.

Carriages and people filed in, and the city gates slowly closed only after the last person had entered.

Unbeknownst to Feng Chuchen, in the shadows some distance away, two men wearing straw hats were intently watching the two heavy city gates. A night breeze swept in, causing the hems of their clothes to flutter loudly.

There was also a little bird perched on one of the men's shoulders, its two tiny green eyes staring intently at the man.

It was Ah Xuan.

It was so excited. After so long, its owner had finally come to see it. (End of Chapter)