Chapter 174: Chapter 173: Traitorous Concubine or Worthy Empress? (8)
At the post station
Feng Chengxi was watching Attendants pack up things.
There were still many matters waiting for him in Lu Country, and Feng Chengxi couldn’t afford to delay any longer in Jin Country.
He had already presented the annual tribute, and had delivered Anning to the Prince Jin Palace; thus Feng Chengxi considered his mission accomplished.
After learning that Anning was well-liked by Prince Jin, he proposed to return to his own country.
Feng Chengxi thought it wouldn’t take long before Prince Jin agreed to let him go back.
Perhaps, out of affection for Anning, he might even be rewarded with some gifts.
He was now getting his luggage ready, so that as soon as Prince Jin bestowed gifts upon him, he could leave immediately.
However, Feng Chengxi hadn’t expected to end up waiting several days.
Finally, the day came for a Minister who delivered edicts, but it turned out that Prince Jin didn’t permit him to return to his country. Instead, he was ordered to stay as a hostage, and moreover, Jin Country had already dispatched an envoy to Lu Country.
Feng Chengxi accepted the decree with a face full of disbelief.
"How could Your Majesty wish to keep this subject as a hostage? A few days ago, this subject requested to leave, and though Your Majesty did not grant it, there seemed to be an intention to send this subject back home. How could it be..."
Feng Chengxi was thoroughly baffled.
Since a lady from the Xiao Family was married into Lu Country and became Queen, Lu Country had not sent any hostages to Jin Country.
Furthermore, Feng Chengxi was the Crown Prince of Lu Country; King Lu had more than one son, it shouldn’t have been him to be sent as a hostage.
The envoy smiled and said, "Well, about that..."
Understanding the hint, Feng Chengxi quickly offered some gold and silver, among other things.
Then the envoy softly said, "It was Noble Princess Consort Xie who wanted to keep the Crown Prince."
"What?"
Feng Chengxi was startled: "Xie, Noble Consort Xie?"
The envoy smoothed his sleeve and packed away the gifted gold: "It is the Beauty Xie sent from your country. Your Majesty is very fond of her and has already conferred the title of Noble Consort. I heard it from a Palace Attendant, saying that Noble Princess Consort Xie missed her homeland, and Your Majesty, sympathizing with her homesickness, decided to keep the Crown Prince in Jin Country so that Noble Princess Consort Xie would have someone to talk to when she misses her relatives."
Having said that, the envoy bowed and took his leave.
Feng Chengxi hurriedly saw him out.
After dispatching the envoy, Feng Chengxi returned and exploded in anger.
He had brought Anning to Jin Country to help him, not to hinder him.
Yet Anning had actually suggested to Prince Jin to keep him as a hostage, how could this be possible?
There were still many matters waiting for him in Lu Country; if he didn’t return, the Third Prince would certainly seize the opportunity to expand his power, and someday, even if he could return, he might have no ground to stand on by then.
Feng Chengxi was so angry he wanted to smash something.
But this was a post station; he had to restrain himself.
He cursed under his breath, "Xie Anning, you ruin my plans, you... are so ruthless."
Feng Chengxi was extremely incensed.
He vented his anger for a long while before calling for a strategist to discuss the situation.
By the next day, Feng Chengxi had people ask for permission to see Anning at Prince Jin Palace.
He was eager to see Anning, to ask what she was truly thinking, what was she really planning?
Moreover, Feng Chengxi wanted to convince Anning to whisper in Prince Jin’s ear, to let him return to Lu Country sooner.
Soon enough, Prince Jin granted the request.
And, while dining, he mentioned this matter to Anning.
Anning was eating shrimp at the time, and was startled when Prince Jin said Feng Chengxi wanted to meet her.
Thinking of Feng Chengxi, Anning completely lost her appetite.
"What does he want to see me for?"
While gesturing for a Palace Attendant to change dishes for him, Prince Jin said, "Presumably, he doesn’t want to stay as a hostage."
Anning couldn’t help but cough a few times upon hearing these words.
Prince Jin looked at her with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile: "However, if my Noble Consort wishes to keep him as a hostage, then he must stay. Isn’t that right, Noble Consort?"
Anning’s face turned slightly red from coughing: "Your Majesty, it’s up to you whether I meet him or not."
"Let’s meet."
After saying this, Prince Jin lowered his head and continued to eat.
Anning slightly narrowed her eyes, and then went back to eating shrimp.
Prince Jin was quite efficient in handling matters.
He had just mentioned to Anning about meeting Feng Chengxi, and not long after, Feng Chengxi was brought into the palace.
Entering Prince Jin Palace again, Feng Chengxi felt an even more oppressive atmosphere than the last time.
At the same time, there was a particularly unpleasant feeling in his heart.
Thinking of Anning accompanying Prince Jin in the palace every day, and the fact that he was the one who personally brought Anning here, made Feng Chengxi feel increasingly despondent.
He followed a Palace Attendant into Qifang Palace, standing outside the hall, waiting for Anning to summon him.
By now, the sun was already very high, and it was somewhat hot outside of Qifang Palace. Feng Chengxi stood there, and in no time at all, his skin felt dry from the sun.
It was only after he was drenched in sweat that Anning called him in.
Entering the room from under the harsh sun, Feng Chengxi felt a sudden coolness.
Inside the hall at this time, several basins of ice had been placed. Anning was dressed in a light purple gown, her hair pinned up high, wearing a smile on her lips, sitting there dignified.
Suddenly, Feng Chengxi didn’t know how to face Anning.
He mustered his courage to greet her: "Greetings to the Imperial Concubine."
Anning laughed: "Cousin, no need for formalities."
Feng Chengxi looked left and right: "I have a few words to say to the Imperial Concubine; I wonder if it’s convenient for her?"
Anning waved her hand, and the palace attendants filed out.
"What does cousin wish to say?"
The smile at the corner of Anning’s mouth deepened, a sparkle of interest flashing in her eyes.
"I heard it was Imperial Concubine who suggested to His Majesty to keep me as a hostage?"
Feng Chengxi stared steadily at Anning, trying to discern her thoughts.
Unfortunately, no matter how long he observed, he couldn’t fathom what Anning was truly thinking.
Anning smiled very heartily: "Yes, I can’t bear to part with cousin."
Feng Chengxi showed anger in his expression: "You’re simply being absurd, you... Didn’t I say that once I ascended the throne, I would take you back home?"
Anning looked innocent, her eyes reddening slightly, sniffling: "Cousin previously told me your father wanted to appoint the Third Prince as the Crown Prince, and if you were deposed, you would certainly be sentenced to death. I came here for cousin’s life. But now cousin has sent me to Jin Country, and I thought, if you stay in Jin Country, we could still see each other often. Moreover, if you stayed, even if King Lu appoints the Third Prince as Crown Prince, he couldn’t possibly do anything to you. Cousin would not be demoted to a commoner, nor would you be harmed. We could meet often and talk. Isn’t that a win-win situation?"
Anning said this, managing a faint smile, looking somewhat pitiable: "I thought long and hard before coming up with this plan. Cousin does not need to commend me, but why would you scold me?"
"You..."
Feng Chengxi was nearly infuriated to death.
He simply couldn’t understand what was going through Anning’s head to think keeping him as a hostage in Jin Country was for his own good.
How was he supposed to explain that?
Could he possibly say that there was no threat to his life, and that sending Anning over was just to confuse Prince Jin, all to aid his ambition of seizing power?
No matter what, he dared not speak such words to Anning.
His wild ambitions could not be revealed to anyone.
Looking at Anning, Anning blinked her eyes: "Cousin, rest assured, if you stay in Yang City, I will also look after you, ensuring no one bullies you."
Feng Chengxi was almost enraged to death, feeling a taste of blood in his throat. He forcibly took several deep breaths to suppress the feeling.
At that moment, he wanted to strangle Anning.
At the same time, he resented why he had come up with such an excuse back then; now it has backfired, like lifting a stone to smash his own foot.