Sicherheit

Kapitel 6

"When have I ever stopped believing you! Don't talk nonsense!"

"You refuse to take your medicine, which clearly shows you don't want to forgive me. If you die, everyone in the world will think that I, Ling Yuxiang, killed you. It's already spread all over the streets and alleys that I don't like you as my princess, so I wanted to kill you." Ling Yuxiang spoke logically, "You're not refusing to take the medicine because you're not afraid of the bitterness, so it can only mean you don't believe me. Otherwise, what other explanation do you have to convince the people on the street? After all, I'm the prime suspect in this matter!"

Feng Xinglie glanced at Ling Yuxiang, her heart filled with shock. She understood, of course, that if he could say such things, he must have solid evidence. With his abilities, silencing gossip would be easy for him. Even the emperor could easily cover up the truth. Originally, only a few people knew about this; if anyone else knew, it couldn't be the emperor, so it could only be him! Why would he spread this news…why…?

Seeing that her expression had changed, Ling Yuxiang finally sighed, his dark eyes fixed on her, and gently took her hand, very seriously, without a hint of joking.

“If you insist on not taking the medicine, I will take the medicine that I personally stewed for you every day until you are willing to trust me and take the medicine.”

His eyes revealed a hint of heartache. Feng Xinglie suddenly calmed down, frozen on the bed, half his body turned inward, but his face remained motionless, as if trying to see something from Ling Yuxiang's expression, to see through something.

He stood there, holding the half-bowl of medicine, quietly waiting for her answer. His phoenix eyes were filled with a tenderness that could almost drip water. His gaze was so sincere, and his voice was so calm yet somewhat serious. He was definitely not joking.

Feng Xinglie was furious, furious like never before! So furious that he didn't even know why he was angry!

This guy really wants to ruin his own body! He really will swallow these poisonous substances bit by bit! He really will let those rumors spread until he's completely disgraced! He really will…

She clearly refused to compromise with anyone, yet at this moment, why did she feel such an overwhelming and intense emotion? Her mind seemed to go blank. Given her arrogance and bias, she should have thrown his ridiculous medicine bowl away and told him not to use this method to pressure her! But why, looking at the sincerity in his eyes, at his gaze, at his potentially hurt heart, did she unhesitatingly grab the medicine bowl and drink the remaining half in one gulp?

His brows furrowed without a doubt. It was so bitter! So bitter it made him want to vomit! He had just drunk it without batting an eye? If Ling Yuxiang could do it, why couldn't she? Feng Xinglie's strange pride got the better of him again, and he refused to show the slightest hint of his feelings, stubbornly enduring the strange taste in his mouth without vomiting.

A rock candy was already placed to her lips, and having done enough to save face, Feng Xinglie didn't want to make things difficult for himself. He swallowed it without hesitation and only then did he feel a little better.

Before she could recover, her entire body was enveloped in warmth. Feng Xinglie panicked at the sight and was furious, wanting to jump up: "You've already taken the medicine, what are you trying to do now?"

“I’ll use my internal energy to help the medicine expel the poison. If your internal energy is unstable, you might accidentally suffer a qi deviation, and then all my efforts will be wasted.” Ling Yuxiang winked at Feng Xinglie, then hugged her tightly without any room for negotiation, not giving her a chance to come into contact with the cold air. He placed one hand on her back and sent out a burst of internal energy.

If they were to try to resist at this point, causing their internal energy to become chaotic, both of them would likely suffer reversed flow of energy through their meridians, and even if they didn't die, they would become half-crippled.

You, you, you, you! You're really pushing your luck! You can't even think straight!

How could this guy be so blatant and self-righteous, interfering in her life and invading her private world as if he wanted to do whatever he wanted? Feng Xinglie was almost driven mad by him, but she really didn't dare to use her internal energy to resist. Because of her superior pride, she couldn't say anything. When had she ever suffered such a huge loss in silence? Did Ling Yuxiang want to get back at her for both of her schemes?

Feng Xinglie finally understood the saying: "To be too proud is to suffer for it!"

Yet his chest felt so warm, his arms around her so tight, and the surging, burning heat within him was so comforting, like a warm current that warmed her somewhat chilly body. As always, he used his own heat to pull her into the warmth and gentleness that spring should have.

"Enough! Enough!" Feng Xinglie could only sigh helplessly in his heart and give up the idea of resistance.

Since this guy is so insistent, she should just go along with it. All that Ling Yuxiang has done is to help her get better, so why should she be difficult with him? He's no one to her, he doesn't want to use her for anything, and he doesn't have any ill intentions towards her. He just genuinely wants her to get better, and she knows that perfectly well.

That's why she couldn't bear to ignore Ling Yuxiang's sincerity, his dedication, and everything he did for her.

In the end, she still softened, but Feng Xinglie, that arrogant guy, would never admit it.

Faced with this large bowl of obviously disgusting medicine, Feng Xinglie was helpless. Before that person could spout any nonsense, he grabbed it and, suppressing his nausea, drank it all down with heroic spirit! As usual, Ling Yuxiang sat down at the head of her bed and pulled her into his arms, offering her dessert after the medicine. In the small box, her favorite sweet mille-feuille cake lay quietly in his hand. A look of joy appeared in Feng Xinglie's eyes. Not knowing how to be polite, he grabbed a piece and put it in his mouth, not forgetting to mumble a few infuriating sentences.

"Hmph, don't think that just because you saved me and are nice to me, I'll thank you."

Seeing Feng Xinglie clearly enjoying himself, practically nestled in his arms, yet still stubbornly saying those things, Ling Yuxiang couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. This woman, so stubborn! So concerned with saving face! She'd rather die than admit it! A sharp tongue but a soft heart! But that was fine too; once she'd made up her mind, she'd act decisively, never going back on her word or failing to see things through. Even knowing this, he dared not expose her directly. Who knew if this extreme person, provoked, might do something outrageous? But otherwise, how could he have schemed against her? And how could she, clearly aware it was a scheme, still fall into it?

She couldn't help but sigh inwardly. In truth, her demands weren't really that high. She always seemed indifferent to the kindness others showed her, but she had already taken it to heart. She was indeed very extreme, arrogant, narcissistic, and conceited, with a lot of flaws. But she could see the sincerity of others towards her more clearly than anyone else. Once she saw it, she would not abandon them, nor would she allow them to hurt themselves for her sake.

"Are you still cold?" Ling Yuxiang's hand had already left Feng Xinglie's back. He couldn't rush the process of expelling the poison; he could only proceed gradually day by day. However, even though he had stopped using his power, he still liked to hold her and watch her close her eyes and enjoy the moment. This gave him an indescribable tenderness.

Feng Xinglie rolled her eyes at him, annoyed: "The poison is gone, why are you still cold?" She didn't need to use her internal energy; he took care of everything for her, from eating and taking medicine to washing and expelling the poison. However, she would never say that it was this guy's body temperature that made her feel like spring had arrived.

Hearing this, Ling Yuxiang was finally satisfied with the results of his hard work over the past few days. A deep smile spread across his handsome, almost godlike face. Unfortunately, the arrogant man only glanced at it once and refused to look at it again.

No way! No way! Is he really that good-looking? If she wanted a stunningly handsome man, she'd just dress up as a man herself! She would absolutely never admit that when she saw his smile and felt his hot breath so close to her ear, her heart had truly fluttered.

[The Wind Rises in Kyoto: Chapter Twelve - A Sudden Battle Report]

Spring flowers were in full bloom, their fragrance spreading for miles. That morning, Feng Xinglie stretched and got out of bed. Looking around, he couldn't find that intensely red color that made his eyes burn.

He let out a soft snort, his sneer sounding weak and feeble. "Sigh, that annoying bastard is finally gone!"

In recent days, Feng Xinglie's sympathy for the sheltered young lady has grown stronger. Under Ling Yuxiang's meticulous care, she has been like a porcelain doll for more than a month. He is afraid that her feet will hurt when she stands, that her back will hurt when she sits, that her head will hurt when she lies down to sleep, that she will be cold from the wind outside the room, that she will be cold from the air inside the room, and that she will be cold from the blankets when her cold poison flares up in bed.

Feng Xinglie jumped up and down repeatedly, filled with grief and indignation. Oh my god, how could a once-great war god have fallen to such a state!

Sometimes, in a fit of anger, she would slam her fist on the bed and yell, "Am I made of tofu? How can you, Prince Ling, be so carefree and have so much time to worry about my well-being every day?" At this point, Ling Yuxiang would look at her with a deep, sincere, and gentle gaze that made her hair stand on end, and say in a serious and earnest tone, "You are not made of tofu, but the residual poison in your body has not yet been cleared, so you are probably even less than tofu. Therefore, you are not allowed to be willful! Besides, you are my princess consort! If I don't care about you, who else should I care about?"

Thinking back to how she had jokingly thought Ling Yuxiang must have been incredibly stupid when he yelled at her, "You are my princess," she now understood the true meaning of "you reap what you sow." Why was it that her predictions of good things were always wrong, but her predictions of bad things were always incredibly accurate?

Even though this bastard might be acting, Feng Xinglie was mostly helpless in the end.

The cold poison within her body had been mostly cleared away during this period. Now, unless she fought desperately at the cost of her life, she was practically the same as before. Even a fight with Ling Yuxiang probably wouldn't have much of an effect. It must be said that his care for her during this time had indeed been very effective.

Feng Xinglie shook his head and smiled slightly. Although he wouldn't admit it, and although he always clamored for that person to get lost, he would really feel a little lost and reluctant once he actually left.

"Your Highness, His Highness instructed you to tell Zimo if you have any requests, and Zimo will take care of everything." Hearing the commotion inside, a woman dressed in purple, who looked about eighteen or nineteen years old, walked in. Her expression was shrewd and clear, unlike those little maids who used to talk about being servants all the time.

Having served as regent for so many years, Ling Yuxiang naturally had his own group of people. However, he would never allow these people to have contact with him unless they were his closest and most trusted confidants. Feng Xinglie felt a slight warmth in his heart, a bright smile curving his lips as he got out of bed to wash and dress himself.

"What did the Prince do today? Why did he only send you by my side?"

"Your Highness, His Highness was urgently summoned by the Empress Dowager and the Emperor today. It seems there was some urgent military matter that forced him to go to the palace. Before leaving, His Highness instructed Guard Ye and Zi Mo to stay behind. We will do whatever Your Highness needs us for." Zi Mo smiled kindly and stepped forward to carefully tidy Feng Xinglie's long, dark hair. This girl was a shrewd and considerate person. Ling Yuxiang's judgment of people was indeed excellent.

"Why isn't Guard Ye by the Prince's side?" Feng Xinglie asked lazily and casually, gazing at himself in the mirror. His clear, bright eyes narrowed slightly. Military intelligence? Silently calculating the days, his right index finger, resting on the dressing table, began to tap out an unusual rhythm...

"This military intelligence is extremely important. Although Your Highness holds a high position, you still need to avoid suspicion. After all, Guard Ye is a member of the Dark Pavilion. It's fine on ordinary days, but his comings and goings at this sensitive time will make the Empress Dowager and the Emperor uncomfortable."

Feng Xinglie smiled and nodded: "What urgent military situation is it?"

Zi Mo paused for a moment, her hand holding the comb slightly, her fingertips touching her extremely smooth black hair, her expression quite surprised.

Feng Xinglie smiled gently: "Aren't you also a member of the Dark Pavilion? Ye Piao should have told you about my general situation. Even if she didn't explain it clearly, you should know that I am not the good-for-nothing princess that is rumored. I can naturally guess these things."

Zi Mo pursed her lips slightly, her surprise tempered with composure: "Your Highness is right, Zi Mo is a member of the Dark Pavilion, but I cannot disclose matters related to military intelligence."

"What did Ling Yuxiang say when he left?" Feng Xinglie asked calmly.

"The prince said that everything is at the princess's command..." Zi Mo looked up in surprise, clearly understanding something.

He casually tied his hair up with a red string, then tossed his head with an air of nonchalance. Feng Xinglie raised an eyebrow and said, "It seems that something has indeed happened in Qin."

Zi Mo opened her mouth instinctively, almost stunned. She knew the princess was not a fool, but there was still a big difference between not being a fool and being a shrewd strategist now, right? The prince's attitude towards the princess had already spread throughout the manor and the capital. Zi Mo had never seen the prince care so much for a woman before.

Since Zi Mo is in the Dark Pavilion and has Ling Yuxiang's trust, she is absolutely loyal to her master. She will carry out Ling Yuxiang's orders without hesitation. She is extremely intelligent and knows what she can ask for and what she cannot. She has never even thought about the position of princess, so naturally she is not jealous of Feng Xinglie. She is just very curious about what kind of woman this prince is.

At this moment, she guessed so much information in just a few words, as if nothing could escape her eyes. This truly made Zi Mo admire her from the bottom of her heart, and she nodded heavily.

"Yes, Your Highness is very perceptive. Something has indeed happened in Qin, and it happened in the palace."

"Brothers killing each other?" Unexpectedly, this drama didn't happen in the Great Ling Kingdom, but it happened first on Qin Han's side.

“That’s right. The Third Prince, Qin Yue, somehow found a strategist who secretly mobilized troops and devised ingenious plans, blocking the Qin army, which had been demoralized and retreating at the front lines, at the mouth of the West River. The King of Qin then launched a strong counterattack. Qin Yue, who had rebelled, hadn’t expected to be unable to swallow such a large piece of meat at once and was choked. At this time, internal strife had broken out in Qin, and the two sides were locked in a stalemate, causing other surrounding vassal states to become restless one by one.” Zi Mo nodded again, reporting with complete conviction. “Furthermore… the Southern vassal state has raised an army…”

"What?" Feng Xinglie's expression suddenly turned serious. The Southern Kingdom has raised an army? What kind of joke is this? How could the Southern Kingdom possibly raise an army at this time?

Glancing at Zi Mo and the stiff, indifferent figure at the door, it was no wonder that Ling Yuxiang had left them here. The Dark Pavilion held the power of life and death, and even if they were members of the royal family, no one else was allowed to interfere with the matters they handled. If it weren't for the people from the Dark Pavilion being here, and if it weren't for Ling Yuxiang's sake, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor might have already taken some action against her, the princess from the Southern Kingdom who was being sent to marry a foreign ruler.

If Zi Mo hadn't been there, Feng Xinglie would have already slammed his fist on the table and started cursing! Does that old vassal king have shit for brains? First he sent her here for a marriage alliance, then he started a rebellion. What does he think the Southern Warlord's few acres of land, a few plots of land, and less than ten thousand soldiers can do? It's like throwing an egg against a rock... no, it's more like throwing a pigeon egg at a mountain!

A fierce glint suddenly flashed in Feng Xinglie's eyes. He raised an eyebrow and asked inexplicably, "Is the current Empress Dowager the Emperor's birth mother?"

Zi Mo paused for a moment, but still replied, "No, Empress Dowager Xiao Yun was the late emperor's favorite concubine. She lost her fertility in an accident. The prince and the emperor's birth mother, Consort Xiao, passed away a long time ago..."

With his eyes slightly closed, Feng Xinglie gently rubbed his temples with his index finger. He had no interest in asking about the intrigues and schemes of the harem. Suddenly, he lightly tapped his feet and was already outside the door. Looking at Ye Piao, who was coldly basking in the sun, his dark eyes shone even brighter than the blazing sun.

"Then let me ask you one more question, Ye Piao, did Ling Yuxiang issue a second order?"

Ye Piao's hand holding the sword trembled slightly, and she finally opened her clear eyes.

"Yes, His Highness said that if anyone comes to capture her after noon, all members of the Dark Pavilion must fight to the death to escort the Princess out of the city!"

Is anyone coming?

"There was... a group, not many people, presumably just a test. It has been resolved. We are waiting for the princess to wake up, and also waiting until after noon."

A sudden smile appeared on his lips, and Feng Xinglie's eyes flashed with sharp light as he laughed in extreme anger.

Okay! Okay! So it was you!

All my hard work, almost costing me my life, to win over an emperor was for nothing, and you, Empress Dowager Xiao Yun, want to emulate Wu Zetian and destroy all my hard work! I knew it! Although Ling Yuhan lacked foresight, he at least knew what he was doing and that his power was still weak. Why couldn't he be patient and expose everything? It turns out he was just a pawn and a puppet! It turns out you're the one who truly wants to seize power in the Ling Kingdom!

At this time, Qin was in chaos, and all the surrounding states were eyeing Qin. Empress Dowager Xiao Yun knew the advantages and disadvantages. If she did not act now, the opportunity would be gone, and it would be difficult to wait for such a good opportunity again. That is why she was so eager to plot to seize power.

I had long heard that Empress Dowager Xiao Yun had fought alongside the late king to build the empire, and that she had offered him advice and strategies that surpassed even those of men. She had also lived among the Southern tribes for a period of time, so it was understandable that she had influence in the Southern region. This rebellion in the Southern region was probably just an excuse to transfer Ling Yuxiang away so that she could quickly seize power in the city. In that case, Ling Yuxiang would be alone in the country, while a large number of newly recruited soldiers would be under the Empress Dowager's control, creating an effect not much different from the confrontation between Qin Han and Qin Yue.

There must be trouble within the Southern Domain as well! Thinking of that old vassal king, Feng Xinglie's anger flared even more.

You dare to mess with someone I've disciplined?

Ling Yuxiang always prioritizes the overall situation and will definitely send a large army to the Southern Kingdom to quell the rebellion. As for her, she is, in name, the princess of the Southern Kingdom, and the Empress Dowager will naturally not allow Ling Yuxiang to see her. Moreover, given the current situation, holding her as a pawn will have some impact on Ling Yuxiang and will also give an explanation to the Southern Kingdom. She will not kill her but only capture her.

Even knowing the Empress Dowager's conspiracy, Ling Yuxiang could only take action against her after she launched a coup, to avoid giving the people of Ling Kingdom a reason to criticize her. The Empress Dowager's crime was too grave, and without evidence, Ling Yuxiang could not take action to seize the initiative.

Under these circumstances, he even transferred his most trusted secret service operative to her...

You bastard, you really are...

"How many members does the Dark Pavilion have in total?" After sorting out his thoughts, Feng Xinglie was as calm as a still pond. He closed his eyes slightly, leaned against the wall, and enjoyed the warm sunlight.

"A total of ninety-eight people."

"How many people are there in the Imperial Guard and the city's defensive forces?"

“Three thousand Imperial Guards, ten thousand City Protectors, and another five hundred Imperial Guards. All of these are elite soldiers.” Although Ye Piao was somewhat puzzled, he still answered truthfully.

“Thirteen thousand five hundred men… Hmph!” Feng Xinglie’s eyes suddenly flashed with killing intent, and a sharp, bloody aura slowly rose. Coupled with the arrogant smile on his lips, Ye Piao and Zi Mo, who had just stepped out of the door, were inexplicably filled with fear. This kind of pressure was something they had only felt before Prince Ling went to the battlefield!

“Since the killing has begun, there’s no need for politeness. Ling Yuxiang will probably lead his troops out of the city this evening. Before that, they won’t alert us. We still have more than ten hours to prepare…” She glanced at Zi Mo and Ye Piao, who were quite puzzled. Even if they had received Ling Yuxiang’s mission, they certainly couldn’t see the whole picture. They would only understand after the event. Even if she could explain it clearly now, it would still require a lot of talking. Ling Yuxiang couldn’t do that because of his status, but she didn’t need to worry about her status!

"Let's go, time is limited." These two are both intelligent people, there's no need to waste words with them.

Zi Mo respectfully asked, "Where is Your Highness going? We'll go prepare the horses right away."

"No need. Find me some men's clothing. I'm going to Anxiang Pavilion."

Zi Mo and Ye Piao were stunned. They exchanged a suspicious glance before Zi Mo asked in a low voice.

"What is the princess doing going to a place like that?"

"Of course it is..." Feng Xinglie slightly curled the corners of his lips, turning back with a captivating smile: "Seeking pleasure with women!"

[The Wind Rises in Kyoto: Chapter Thirteen - Shadows of the Dark Moon]

Anxianglou was the number one brothel in the capital. The capital of Daling was prosperous and thriving. In the decades since the founding of the country, everything that should and should not have developed vigorously, which could not be said to be good or bad.

Girls in brothels are known for their fiery and bold nature, though some are quite shy. However, these girls would never stand in the open; the ones outside are the long-term patrons, with sharp eyes who can usually tell at a glance who are high-ranking officials, who are easy targets, and who are not to be trifled with.

So when she saw Feng Xinglie and his two companions stroll to the door, several women had already quietly watched her, laughing and talking as they went inside.

Feng Xinglie was dressed in fiery red robes, over which was a magnificent black robe. His jet-black hair was tied into a ponytail with a small piece of fabric embroidered with exquisite patterns, held tightly by a red ribbon, and flowed freely behind him. A thin veil covered his eyes, and a folding fan swayed slightly in his hand. Despite this attire, his heroic spirit was undeniably revealed. His every move was elegant and poised, his expression sharp yet completely unpretentious, showing no trace of femininity. He was utterly natural, resembling a handsome and dashing nobleman.

As Ye Piao and Zi Mo stared in disbelief as she changed her clothes and walked out of the room, Zi Mo muttered something to Ye Piao in a low voice.