Did he really resemble Feng Luo?
Feng Xie pondered this question with doubt. His memories of Feng Luo had faded. He only knew that Feng Luo possessed a feminine, gentle appearance, much like their mother, unlike their father, whereas both he and Feng Lie resembled their father.
"Good. Everyone go out and search. Do not spare any place except the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace. Announce it is by my decree."
Feng Xie issued the command, and the young eunuchs scurried out to search.
In an instant, the vast Wei Yang Palace was ablaze with lights, figures bustling about, and flickering lamplight. The sleeping quarters were soon empty of people, with only Hong Xiu and Ming Yue remaining by his side. Liu Liu, her face stern, looked towards Ming Yue.
"Ming Yue, speak. Who put the medicine in the Zisha pot?"
Liu Liu recalled Ming Yue's somewhat dazed expression earlier, thinking she must have suspected something, or she wouldn't have been so distracted. She had initially believed Ming Yue was feeling unwell and was taking medicine. But then she realized it didn't add up; Ming Yue had seemed fine moments before, so how could she have suddenly felt unwell?
Hearing the Empress's question, Ming Yue's face turned deathly pale. She immediately knelt down. She already had a bad premonition. Cai Xia had been murdered, so she had nothing left to hide.
"Reporting to the Empress, this servant saw Sister Cai Xia handling that Zisha pot. Earlier, when I saw the Empress drinking tea, I had some doubts. Since there was no evidence, I went out to search. Later, I found Cai Xia missing. I suspect she met with foul play."
Ming Yue began to cry after speaking. She hated Cai Xia's ignorance but also pitied her. After all, they were sisters. Now that she was dead, how could Ming Yue not be heartbroken?
Liu Liu's expression remained somber. She hadn't expected that the people around her would be used. It was truly terrifying that this Feng Luo had been hiding in the palace all along.
If he had wanted to harm the Emperor, wouldn't he have succeeded already? She wondered if he intended to torture the Emperor slowly or if he simply hadn't had the opportunity.
Liu Liu mused silently. Feng Xie's face had already turned extremely grim. He hadn't expected Feng Luo to have been hiding in the palace all this time. If this Ah Feng was indeed Feng Luo, then how long had he been in the palace?
"Your Majesty, are you alright?"
Liu Liu looked up. In the dim candlelight, his face, as beautiful as jade, now radiated an icy chill. His eyes were filled with anger, yet tinged with an indescribable heartache—a helplessness and powerlessness in the face of fratricidal strife.
Feng Xie shook his head, gazing at Liu Liu. She was his sole reliance. Although an emperor possessed supreme power, he was, in turn, devoid of any reliance. A single thought of his could cause the deaths of many, yet it could also provoke unwarranted thoughts in many.
Therefore, he needed someone to accompany him, someone to remind him, and this person had to be someone he willingly loved and admired.
Falling in love with someone was not an easy feat for him. Fortunately, he had fallen in love with her. Feng Xie suddenly smiled. Wasn't it true? He ought to smile. At least he still had someone by his side, someone who cared enough to ask, "Your Majesty, are you alright?"
"I am fine, Liu'er. Do not worry. However, why did that Ah Feng say there was a man in your sleeping quarters? Since he said it, he must have arranged for someone to enter your chambers."
Feng Xie walked to Liu Liu's side and sat down, taking her hand. Her hand was always so warm, countering his chill.
He was clearly a grown man, a supreme emperor, yet his palms were perpetually cold. And she, a petite woman, happened to possess a pair of warming hands, warming not only his hands but also his heart. How could he ever let her go?
At this moment, Feng Xie had figured it out. This was a scheme, a plot to frame Liu'er. The thought that this was a plot to frame Liu'er made Feng Xie's expression grow even colder, and strands of icy air emanated from his palm.
Liu Liu looked at him with concern. Since their return to the palace, he had been trying so hard, accompanying her with utmost caution, fearing she would leave.
At this moment, she suddenly wanted to offer him some calming strength. For the first time, she held his hand back, her small hand enfolding the Emperor's large one, and spoke softly.
"Your Majesty, it will be alright. Believe in our wisdom. We will surely be able to outwit Feng Luo. That's right, he arranged for a man to enter the sleeping quarters, but you should know that I am not so easily bullied."
She flashed a playful smile, as beautiful as blooming flowers, gentle as if bathed in sunlight and rain. Feng Xie also smiled, and much of the icy chill around him dissipated. He nodded.
"I have no doubt about that, Liu'er. Your capabilities, I fear, are even beyond my own, let alone that person's," he said teasingly. Seeing that he had relaxed somewhat, Liu Liu turned her gaze towards Hong Xiu within the sleeping quarters.
"That person is outside the sleeping quarters. Take him to the Imperial Household Department and deal with him properly."
"Yes, Empress," Hong Xiu replied, accepting the order and withdrawing. She instructed a few young eunuchs to take the unconscious rapist to the Imperial Household Department.
As a result, all the eunuchs and palace maids were in a frenzy all night. The Grand Eunuch of the Inner Court was nowhere to be found. Everyone searched everywhere they could think of but couldn't locate the Grand Eunuch, not knowing where he had gone.
From this, Feng Xie and Liu Liu concluded that Ah Feng must have been Feng Luo in disguise, or if not Feng Luo himself, then someone placed by Feng Luo to impersonate him. They were absolutely certain.
If Feng Luo was still hidden within the palace, then who was he impersonating? There were too many eunuchs and palace maids in the palace; it was truly difficult to discern who was who. Liu Liu glanced at the Emperor, wanting to speak but hesitating. She was truly afraid that the Emperor might find what she was about to say difficult to accept.
Seeing Liu Liu's watery eyes gazing at him, her desire to speak evident but held back, Feng Xie immediately asked, "Liu'er, is there something you wish to tell me?"
"Has Your Majesty ever considered this: if Feng Luo is manipulating the Lou family from behind the scenes, would he not use his most valuable piece?"
Liu Liu countered his question with one of her own. As soon as she spoke, Feng Xie's expression flickered. For an emperor, this was the most cruel suggestion. This question made him recall that child, Yu Lou. Yu Lou was thin and delicate, possessing a gentle aura.
Previously, he hadn't thought deeply about it. But now, he wondered why that child didn't resemble him at all. Who did that child resemble? His expression suddenly turned dark, his breathing unintentionally heavy. He felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.
Did that child resemble Feng Luo?
His memory of Feng Luo as a child was already blurred, but his effeminate demeanor did indeed share some similarities. Could Lou Si Jing dare to be so audacious and publicly shame him?
"Damn it! I will investigate this matter. If that woman dares to do such a thing to me, I will tear her into ten thousand pieces!"
Feng Xie was almost driven mad. He paced back and forth in the sleeping quarters. He regretted his past decision to strike Mu Xing to protect that woman's child and wished he could smash his head against the bronze pillar of the sleeping quarters.
Was this divine retribution for him, an emperor, to bear such a shameful reputation?
"Your Majesty, do not be anxious. It is merely our speculation; it has not been confirmed yet. From today onwards, we must closely monitor everything in Chang Xin Palace. We absolutely must not alert the enemy. Let's see where Feng Luo truly is. If Lou Si Jing is his pawn, then he will make a move."
Liu Liu spoke calmly. In this matter, the Emperor could not handle it with composure, so she would take charge. Involving such a matter, she feared the Emperor would immediately confront Lou Si Jing. Would she admit to such a thing?
At this time, it was better to remain inactive.