The Eldest Princess made her way to the palace in a luxurious carriage as if she meant to remind the world of her unquestionable status. Along the road, commoners who recognized the emblem of Great Qi's Eldest Princess whispered among themselves, their voices hushed yet restless.
"Was the Old Emperor truly killed by his own daughter?"
"Then why does the Eldest Princess still travel so openly?"
At his residence, the Duke of Huguo received news of her departure. His expression darkened immediately. Without wasting time, he ordered his horse to be prepared and set off for the palace.
In truth, he should have been assisting the emperor in eliminating this troublesome woman. But with her unexpected pregnancy, he now had no choice but to protect her until the child was safely born.
"Your Majesty, the Eldest Princess requests an audience." Eunuch Li hurried into the study, breathless.
The cup in the emperor's hand nearly slipped from his grasp.
Since ascending the throne, he had never held real military power. Most of his authority was only symbolic, his position was propped up almost entirely by the name of the Duke of Huguo. Even his personal guards were far fewer than the forces under Feng Yao's command.
"Is she here to rebel?" he muttered, panic rising in his voice. "Where is the Duke of Huguo?"
"Your Majesty, please remain calm," Eunuch Li replied quickly. "The Eldest Princess came only with her maid and a few personal guards. There are no signs of troop movement."
Wasn't it His Majesty who summoned The Eldest Princess?Eunuch Li couldn't understand why the Emperor suddenly looked so panicked.
The emperor released a shaky breath, relief washing over him. A terrifying image filled his thoughts, vivid as reality, as though the palace gates might be torn down at any moment.
"Summon reinforcements—and arrest her!" The emperor's voice cracked through the hall like a blade.
General Li stepped forward to obey, but before he could move, the emperor's expression twisted.
"No… no. Don't be reckless," he said sharply. "Invite her in."
His brows knit together tightly. He wanted nothing more than to strip Feng Yao of every last shred of power she possessed. Yet irritation simmered beneath the fear—why had the Duke of Huguo not appeared? Was the man truly prepared to stand aside and watch the palace burn?
General Li let out a silent breath. Great Qi is doomed under this new emperor.
The doors opened, and Feng Yao entered with grace. By privilege granted by the late emperor, she did not kneel, an audacity that only made her seem more arrogant in Feng Tianyu's eyes.
Let's see how long you can keep that arrogance… he thought darkly. A tense silence stretched between them until the emperor finally spoke.
"Imperial Sister, your audacity is astounding,"
"You are a monster—a cold-blooded monster who murdered her own father and brother for power."
Feng Yao didn't flinch. Instead, disgust flickered across her eyes. To hear such accusations… she could almost imagine how delighted the Fourth Prince must have been when he heard about the emperor's and Feng Tianwei's deaths.
"You must have been the happiest of all when you received that news," she said coolly.
The emperor's jaw tightened. With a sharp wave of his hand, he dismissed everyone in the hall. "Leave. All of you."
Once they were alone, his gaze hardened.
"I will give you two choices, death… or marriage to the Yan Kingdom."
Feng Yao let out a mocking laugh. "You know I married Ye Langhuan, and you still want to send me to Yan? Have you lost your mind?"
"The Prince of Yan doesn't seem to mind," the emperor replied sharply. "Even if you can't be the primary wife, you can still become his concubine. And I will never recognize your so-called marriage to Ye Langhuan."
A smug grin curled on Feng Yao's lips. "And what will you do if my father-in-law accepts our marriage?"
Feng Tianyu's expression twisted in an instant, He had known from the start that the old man couldn't be trusted.
He stepped forward, fury burning in his eyes, he wanted to strangle her right there.
"Then I'll give you two choices again," he hissed. "Die… or marry the Prince of Yan."
The Eldest Princess showed no fear. She lifted her chin and deliberately leaned her neck toward his hand, exposing her throat in open provocation.
"Go on," she said calmly. "Choke me. If I die, you lose your bargaining chip with the Yan Kingdom."
Feng Tianyu's hand trembled midair. Anger surged through him, but fear followed close behind. After a brief struggle, he took an unsteady step back.
At that moment, Eunuch Li slipped inside and bowed quickly. "Your Majesty, the Duke of Huguo has arrived."
Feng Tianyu's expression darkened. "Send him away." The order came out harsh and clipped. Eunuch Li did not dare delay and quickly withdrew.
Now, the balance of power in the room had shifted. The emperor was no longer the one pressing forward. He was the one being forced into a corner.
"Imperial Brother… I'll give you a way out," Feng Yao said softly, but the cold curve of her lips betrayed the venom beneath.
He swallowed hard. "What do you want?"
"I can marry into the Yan Kingdom…" She took a step closer, her presence heavy and terrifyingly calm. "But you must hand someone over to me."
His brows knitted. "Who?"
Feng Yao's smile deepened. "The Empress Dowager."
His breath caught.
How could she still be alive after everything? After all those years? After the blood she had spilled? Now is the time. The time to finally take hold of the woman who had slaughtered her mother.
Feng Yao's gaze sharpened. "I want her alive,"
"Death would be far too easy for her."
---
As the Eldest Princess stepped out of Feng Qi Palace, the first thing she saw was the stormy expression on the Duke of Huguo's face.
Feng Yao instantly put on a sorrowful expression as if she had just endured a grievous injustice. Of course, the duke didn't believe a single tear that woman shed.
A trace of curiosity flickered in his eyes. Had the emperor truly let her leave so easily? Had she agreed to marry into the Yan Kingdom? Impossible. Absolutely impossible. Suspicion tightened in his chest.
Feng Yao did not spare him a glance. She passed by without slowing, her expression already cold and distant.
"I'm tired," she said curtly. "We're leaving."
A-Li stepped forward, supporting her arm. "Where to, Your Highness?"
"The Princess Mansion," Feng Yao replied without turning back. "Has Wu Ming returned?"
"Yes, Your Highness," A-Li answered, keeping pace beside her.
A faint curve touched Feng Yao's lips. She left the Duke of Huguo standing alone, burdened by doubt and unease.
Back at the Princess Mansion, Feng Yao settled into her study, stacks of sealed reports waiting on her desk. She carefully unfolded the dossiers Wu Ming had gathered from Lingxiao Palace.
"Thank you for your hard work," Feng Yao said with a faint smile.
Wu Ming bowed deeply.
The Eldest Princess was in an unusually good mood, a strange reaction, considering the reports in her hands contained information dangerous enough if mishandled.
Wu Ming had reached an even bolder conclusion: Ye Langhuan might be a descendant of the Lang Clan. When the princess showed no change in expression, Wu Ming felt a sense of relief. It was clear that Her Highness already knew the truth.
To protect Young Master's identity, everyone who had accompanied Wu Ming to Lingxiao Palace had already been dealt with—silently and without exception.
The only reaction the princess showed came when she reached the final section of the report.
The Lang Clan possessed a secret method that allowed two women to conceive a child together.
Wu Ming could not understand why this information pleased Her Highness so greatly. Still, seeing the faint satisfaction in the Eldest Princess's eyes, Wu Ming assumed she had completed her task well—and said nothing more.
Her good mood didn't last long. A-Li rushed in, bowing urgently. "Your Highness, the Prince of Yan is here."
Feng Yao's smile vanished at once. She rose from her seat and went out to meet him.
The Prince of Yan was already waiting in the pavilion, his expression bright with barely concealed excitement. Since hearing from Feng Tianyu that Feng Yao had agreed to marry him, he had been unable to calm himself.
He had also heard the rumors—that the woman he desired was already married to Ye Langhuan. But he refused to believe them. An imperial decree had already been issued. What reason was there to doubt it?
After all, she was indifferent and untouchable, unlike anyone else. There was a time when he even wondered if the Eldest Princess disliked men.
His obsession had twisted over the years. He took many concubines into his mansion, selecting women who resembled Feng Yao. From those women, he fathered several children, all of whom he kept hidden, pretending to be a loyal and devoted man just to win her heart.
And now, finally, the day he had dreamed of had arrived. "Yao'er…" he called out softly, voice dripping with affection.
She remained silent, her expression unchanged.
The prince stepped forward, but Wu Ming moved instantly, blocking his path. His expression darkened.
"What do you think you're doing?" the Prince of Yan snapped. "She is my future wife." He raised a hand to push Wu Ming aside.
Feng Yao's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Before you call me by my name, you should first remember where you are standing."
Even Lang Huan, who shared her pillow and her secrets, had never addressed her so casually.
How dare this hypocritical man presume such familiarity?
The Prince of Yan's face twisted, frustration and desperation mingling together.
"Yao.. Your Highness," he corrected himself hastily. "Did you agree to marry me? Why are you so cold?" His voice wavered. "I have pursued you for ten years. Does your heart truly remain unmoved?"
"Your Highness…" The familiar voice she had been waiting for finally came. Her lips curved almost imperceptibly. Her little brat had arrived sooner than expected.
Lang Huan approached, her gaze locking onto the Prince of Yan, a murderous intent radiating from her presence.
The Prince of Yan recognized this man at once—but before he could speak, Lang Huan brushed past him with deliberate arrogance, shoulder slamming into his.
Though they were the same height, the Prince of Yan was broader… yet in that moment it was he who staggered back.
To Feng Yao, Lang Huan was utterly unique. When she smiled, her face softened, delicate and lovely. But now, there was no trace of that gentleness.
Her brows were neat, her lips thin, her nose sharply defined. The expression she wore was cold, bordering on ruthless.
In that calm sharpness, she appeared even more striking than the Prince of Yan—handsome enough to captivate countless hearts.
She walked straight to Feng Yao, ignoring everyone else, and gripped the princess's shoulders with both hands.
Lang Huan demanded. Her voice was low, dangerous. "Did he force you to marry him?"
Feng Yao bit her lip. She was still momentarily stunned, mesmerized by Lang Huan's presence, by how infuriatingly attractive she looked when angry.
Mistaking her silence for confirmation, Lang Huan's calm cracked, revealing a dangerous edge beneath. She reached for her waist belt, pulling it free and wrapped it tightly around her palm.