Princess Xiangsi - Chapter 33
Startled, Feng Xue quickly adopted a coquettish tone, "Father! Xue'er is really doing very well! Xingyun treats Xue'er very, very well."
She then glanced at Situ Xingyun quickly before lowering her head shyly, revealing her girlish charm.
"Hehe..." The emperor laughed, "As long as you're doing well! Your father can rest assured! I only have one son! And I'm getting old."
Situ Xingyun's eyes flickered slightly, "May His Majesty live a long and prosperous life, a pillar of Fengxi."
“That’s right! Xingyun is right, Father Emperor is still as sharp as ever! How could he be old?” Fengxue snuggled up to the emperor in a coquettish manner.
"A married daughter is like water spilled from a cup! Before, my son would only stand by my side, but now that he's a princess, he stands by his husband's side," the emperor lamented.
Feng Xue turned her head away and said defiantly, "Father is being unreasonable!"
"Alright, alright! It was your father's fault, my son, don't be angry." At this moment, the emperor was not an emperor, but a father who doted on his daughter.
Fengxue was born to the Empress and was not only the first princess of Fengxi but also its only princess. Children born to the Fengxi royal family had a history of early death; several concubines had given birth to children, but all had died before their first birthday. This emperor's only descendant was Fengxue. Moreover, Fengxue was clever, intelligent, and well-liked from a young age, making her very popular. Therefore, the emperor and empress doted on her.
Feng Xue then turned her head, her willow-leaf eyebrows curved. She smiled and said, "How could Xue'er possibly upset Father Emperor?"
"Yes! Xue'er is almost nineteen, a young lady now. How could she possibly upset the Emperor?" the Empress said, beaming with joy.
"I'm still a few months away from turning nineteen. It's a long time!"
"My son, you should celebrate your first birthday as a wife properly." The emperor looked at Feng Xue with a kind expression.
Feng Xue frowned. "Father, you know perfectly well that Xue'er dislikes extravagance and crowds."
At this moment, Situ Xingyun spoke up: "Your Majesty, let me celebrate Xue'er's birthday at the Prince's residence! I will make sure Xue'er is satisfied and has a wonderful birthday."
After saying that, he looked at Feng Xue tenderly.
Feng Xue smiled slightly, her eyes filled with tenderness.
"Father, Xue'er wishes to celebrate her birthday at the Prince's Palace."
The emperor shook his head and said helplessly, "Alas! Let it be as my son wishes!" The doting look in his eyes was self-evident.
The Empress smiled and said, "Your Majesty, Xue'er is already a wife." She took Xue'er's hand and said, "Xue'er, it's been a long time since my daughter and I had a heart-to-heart talk."
The emperor waved his hand, "Go!"
"Your Majesty, I take my leave." The Empress bowed slightly, pulled Feng Xue away from the pavilion, and Qingyi followed closely behind.
Seeing Feng Xue leave, Situ Xingyun also prepared to take his leave.
The emperor seemed to understand his meaning and said calmly, "Xingyun, accompany me to enjoy the scenery! It's already autumn..."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Volume One: A Woman of Noble Character Enters the Palace (Part 3)
"Xingyun, my son is the apple of my eye! A hundred years from now, she will be the only one left in the royal family. It's a pity that my son is not born a man! The century-old legacy of Fengxi will end when it is passed down to me. In the afterlife, I will surely feel ashamed before the late emperor." After the emperor finished drinking the last sip of tea, the eunuch behind him was about to pour more tea when the emperor waved his hand and dismissed the eunuch.
At this point, only the Emperor and Situ Xingyun remained in the pavilion.
“A dragon prince will surely be born in Fengxi in the future to inherit Fengxi’s century-old legacy.”
"I am old, and there are some things I am powerless to do! I am truly ashamed to face the late emperor." The emperor sighed slightly, and continued, "It is a pity that in the hundreds of years of Fengxi, there has never been a precedent of a woman inheriting the throne."
Situ Xingyun's eyes flashed, and he immediately understood the emperor's meaning. He smiled and said, "If there is no precedent, Your Majesty can create one."
The emperor raised an eyebrow. "According to Xingyun's intention?"
"Your Majesty may appoint Xue'er as Empress, and I will do my utmost to assist her in becoming an empress for all time. Then the century-old foundation of Fengxi will naturally not end," Situ Xingyun said eloquently.
"Heh... Xingyun's idea is good, but..." The emperor suddenly stopped smiling, "My son has no such intention. She is inexperienced and too soft-hearted. She is really not suitable to be an emperor!"
"Your Majesty, character can be cultivated."
"Ah, Xingyun, if only you were my child!" The emperor stroked his chin and smiled, his eyes slightly narrowed.
Situ Xingyun immediately knelt down, his voice hurried: "The royal bloodline is noble, how could a mere warrior like your son dare to lay a finger on it?"
The emperor laughed heartily, helped Situ Xingyun up, and said in a cheerful voice, "I was just saying 'what if,' why are you so alarmed, Xingyun? Get up."
Then he straightened his expression and said, "Minister Gao retired and returned to his hometown a while ago."
When the emperor suddenly brought up something completely unrelated, Situ Xingyun paused for a moment, then cautiously said, "Minister Gao has returned to his hometown to enjoy his retirement and find pleasure in holding his grandchildren."
"Yes—" the emperor sighed, "I also long to hold a grandson, but alas, my son is disappointing!" He glanced lightly at Situ Xingyun and shook his head. Though his gaze was indifferent, it contained a sharpness, a penetrating insight that saw through everything.
Situ Xingyun immediately understood, and he smiled and said, "Your subject will certainly work hard after returning."
"Hehe..." The sharp look in his eyes disappeared, and the emperor said with a smile, "That's good."
Meanwhile, in the Empress's palace.
"Xue'er, is Xingyun good to you?"
"Mother, Xingyun is very good to Xue'er, really very good. Didn't you just say that in front of Father?" Feng Xue smiled at the Empress.
"Xue'er, is it really that good?" The Empress's eyes flickered.
Feng Xue nodded gently.
"Xue'er, although your father is old, his eyes and his heart are as clear as a mirror. It is very difficult to deceive your father. According to the secret agents, Xue'er has not yet consummated her marriage with Situ Xingyun since the wedding night." The Empress said with a serious face, suddenly rolling up Feng Xue's long sleeves as if it were true.