Chapter 23: Imperial Edict (Extra Update)

Due to the Emperor’s early departure, this autumn hunt had to come to an end.

The winner of this hunt, Feng Bai Wei, didn’t even receive a reward from the Emperor due to the horseback archery competition.

After returning to the palace, the Male Empress cried softly and gently in front of the Emperor several times, and only then did the Emperor soften her heart and compensate with some nice things, as well as lift the confinement on Feng Bai Wei.

As for the Second Princess Feng Bai Zhi, she was far less fortunate!

Soon after waking up, before the wound on her head had healed, she was confined to Lanxi Palace by the Emperor. Except for the imperial physicians changing her bandages, no one was allowed to visit her.

Because of this, Qi Gui Jun had gone to seek an audience with the Emperor many times to beg for mercy. Unfortunately, the Emperor wouldn’t even see him.

Having no other option, he went to the Phoenix Palace to seek an audience with the Male Empress, but the Male Empress’s attitude was also somewhat cold. He superficially agreed to plead with the Emperor on Feng Bai Zhi’s behalf, but after waiting expectantly for several days, no news came from the Phoenix Palace.

Obviously, the Male Empress hadn’t taken his words to heart at all.

Thinking of Feng Bai Zhi who had just regained consciousness in Lanxi Palace, Qi Gui Jun couldn’t help but hug Feng Bai Kuan and have a good cry.

Finally, with nowhere else to turn, he had to come find Liu Gui Jun. He thought that if Feng Bai Su, the victim, could go before the Emperor to plead for mercy, perhaps the Emperor would forgive Feng Bai Zhi.

But as he said, Feng Bai Su was the victim. How could it make sense for the victim to plead for the perpetrator?

Even Liu Gui Jun, with his gentle nature, couldn’t help but look displeased: “Qi Gui Jun is being a bit unreasonable! If Su Su hadn’t been lucky, she would be the one lying in bed right now. Isn’t Qi Gui Jun being a bit too much, asking her to plead for the Second Princess?”

It was already good enough that she hadn’t gone to cry to the Emperor. Where did he get the nerve to ask Feng Bai Su to plead for mercy?

Liu Gui Jun was simply furious!

Seeing Liu Gui Jun’s displeased expression, Qi Gui Jun looked somewhat awkward: “I know it was the Second Princess’s fault this time, and I’m not trying to make excuses for her. I just want to ask Little Seven to go before Her Majesty and ask for a few days’ leniency. Once her wounds have healed, I will accept any punishment without complaint!”

His voice carried a hint of tears, “Brother Liu, you’re a father too, please try to understand my feelings. I’m begging you!”

As he spoke, he fell to his knees with a thud, just begging Liu Gui Jun to agree.

“What are you doing?”

Seeing this, Liu Gui Jun immediately tried to pull him up, feeling somewhat repulsed by his forceful behavior.

Just then, Feng Bai Su and Feng Bai Kuan happened to walk in.

Seeing Qi Gui Jun kneeling on the ground, Feng Bai Kuan’s expression changed, and she hurriedly went to pull him up.

“Father!”

Feng Bai Su was a step behind, seeing Qi Gui Jun’s pitiful appearance kneeling on the ground. She looked up at the helpless Liu Gui Jun, a flash of coldness passing through her peach blossom eyes.

Her voice remained nonchalant: “What is Qi Gui Jun doing? Are you trying to force my father to agree to your request? If you do this, I’ll have no choice but to ask the Male Empress to come and judge the situation.”

Hearing this, Qi Gui Jun, who was still kneeling on the ground and refusing to get up, changed his expression slightly, and finally stood up with Feng Bai Kuan’s help.

However, his face still wore that sorrowful expression as he looked at Feng Bai Su who had just entered and said: “Little Seven, I know your Second Sister went too far this time, but could you please go before Her Majesty and ask for a few days’ delay, to let her recover from her injuries before being punished.”

Feng Bai Kuan, supporting Qi Gui Jun, also stammered: “Seventh Sister…”

Hearing this, Liu Gui Jun’s eyes reddened with anger, and he was about to speak.

Feng Bai Su stepped forward and took his hand, her peach blossom eyes looking at the two with coldness, “Qi Gui Jun, as far as I know, the Emperor hasn’t forbidden imperial physicians from entering Lanxi Palace. The Second Princess is merely confined there and not allowed visitors. Are you dissatisfied with the Emperor’s order, or do you think the punishment for the Second Princess is too severe?”

She led Liu Gui Jun back to sit down, “Or perhaps you think my father and I are pushovers that you can manipulate at will, that we should be fools who don’t hold grudges, is that it?”

“No, no, that’s not what I meant…”

Qi Gui Jun hurriedly shook his head, seeing Feng Bai Su looking at him expressionlessly, his face turned pale and helpless.

Feng Bai Kuan also hurriedly explained: “Seventh Sister, please don’t be angry. I know my father and I are being unreasonable, but—”

But Feng Bai Su didn’t give her a chance to continue, coldly interrupting: “If you know you’re being unreasonable, then don’t say anymore. It’s getting late, Third Sister and Qi Gui Jun should head back early.”

She coldly withdrew her gaze and picked up the tea on the table, taking a light sip.

Feng Bai Kuan choked, seeing her turn her head away, knowing that no matter what they said now, it would be useless.

“…We’ve disturbed you.”

She pulled the anxious-looking Qi Gui Jun and turned to leave.

Even after the two had completely left, Liu Gui Jun’s chest was still heaving violently with anger.

He looked at Feng Bai Su sitting in the chair and couldn’t help but shed a few tears.

“It’s all because this husband isn’t favored that my child has to endure such grievances. They’re simply too much! What face does he have to come here and ask for mercy!”

Liu Gui Jun truly hated his own soft nature, otherwise he should have slapped Qi Gui Jun’s face a few times!

Feng Bai Su put down the teacup in her hand and took out a handkerchief to wipe the tears on Liu Gui Jun’s face.

She comforted him softly: “Father, don’t be sad. You see, I didn’t agree to their request, did I?”

Liu Gui Jun took the handkerchief from her hand and wiped his own face, still sitting in the chair and crying softly.

Seeing him in this self-blaming and distressed state, Feng Bai Su doubted for the first time whether her stubborn pursuit of the so-called peaceful life was really correct.

——

In the end, Qi Gui Jun couldn’t get the Emperor’s forgiveness for Feng Bai Zhi, who was confined in Lanxi Palace.

Feng Bai Su continued to work at the Capital Garrison. And whether it was because of Qi Gui Jun’s fuss or not, she seemed to have restrained her perfunctory attitude somewhat, and actually went to the Capital Garrison every day with rare seriousness.

Even Cong Bai couldn’t help but find it strange, thinking that her princess had changed her nature, rarely seeing her slacking off or being lazy, and instead taking on a more serious demeanor.

Just as she was full of joy, the Emperor suddenly sent down an imperial edict, promoting Feng Bai Su to the position of Jingzhao Prefect in the Jingzhao Prefecture, to take office immediately.

Although the Jingzhao Prefect was in charge of maintaining order in Fengling City, in plain terms, it was just an honorary position. After all, Fengling City was right under the Emperor’s feet, and unless someone was truly stupid beyond redemption, no one would choose to cause trouble here.

Compared to the Capital Garrison, the difference was more than just a little!

After receiving the imperial edict, Feng Bai Su sat in her chair with her head lowered, her thick eyelashes hiding the emotions in her eyes.

Cong Bai found it hard to accept: “Your Highness, why did Her Majesty suddenly issue such an edict out of the blue?”

Your Highness had been working at the Capital Garrison for less than two months, yet the Emperor suddenly issued such an edict. How would the ministers at court view Your Highness?

Wasn’t the Emperor blatantly telling everyone that the Seventh Princess was incompetent? How was this any different from publicly slapping her face?

The more Cong Bai thought about it, the more stifled she felt, feeling a lump in her chest that she couldn’t dispel.

By this time, Feng Bai Su had already raised her head, her expression as usual, not revealing what she was thinking.

She stood up and put away the imperial edict, then looked at the still frowning Cong Bai and spoke calmly: “Alright, since the imperial edict has been issued, there’s no use thinking too much about it.”

She let out a lazy chuckle, her voice becoming casual: “Let’s go, accompany this princess to take office at the Jingzhao Prefecture!”

Seeing her stride out, Cong Bai had no choice but to hurry after her.

Not long after the two left Qingfeng Palace, they happened to run into Feng Bai Wei who was walking out of the palace.

Seeing Feng Bai Su, she stopped with a smile on her face, her heroic countenance shining brightly.

Feng Bai Su raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly and greeted Feng Bai Wei: “Fifth Sister.”

“Seventh Sister.”

After Feng Bai Wei responded, she said in a warm voice: “Is Seventh Sister going out of the palace? I’m also heading to the Capital Garrison to take up my post. Let’s go together!”

Her brows were relaxed, her expression gentle as she looked at Feng Bai Su.

Hearing her words, Feng Bai Su couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow again.

So the Capital Garrison job had been given to the female protagonist Feng Bai Wei. No wonder the Emperor suddenly changed her mind.

Feng Bai Su felt it was within expectations and didn’t feel much depression or unfairness in her heart.

After all, in the original story, the Emperor did let Feng Bai Wei enter the Capital Garrison.

She thought the plot had deviated, but it turned out that after twists and turns, it had returned to the original storyline.

However, Feng Bai Su was somewhat annoyed. If they were going to follow the plot, that was fine, but using her as a tool, what was that about?

Seeing that she remained silent for a long time, Feng Bai Wei’s smile deepened: “What’s wrong, Seventh Sister? Is there something inconvenient?”

Hearing this, Feng Bai Su raised her eyes to look at the smile on her face. Then she curled her red lips and said: “Nothing inconvenient. Let’s go, Fifth Sister.”

Seeing her expression unchanged, still with that lazy and casual demeanor, Feng Bai Wei’s black eyes flashed almost imperceptibly.

After the two left the palace together and until they parted ways, Cong Bai couldn’t help but mutter: “I didn’t expect Her Majesty did this for the Fifth Princess. Her Majesty is really too biased!”

Feng Bai Su neither agreed nor disagreed with Cong Bai’s words. After all, the Male Empress was the Emperor’s true love, so it was natural to extend that love to the female protagonist Feng Bai Wei, and favoritism was normal.

The Jingzhao Prefecture was located in the southwest corner of Fengling City, adjacent to two bustling main streets, and was also the place where disputes were most likely to occur in Fengling City.

After Feng Bai Su entered with Cong Bai, she saw that two deputy prefects were already standing at the entrance, looking as if they had been waiting for a long time.

When the two saw Feng Bai Su, they hurriedly approached with smiling faces, “Greetings to the Seventh Princess!”

Feng Bai Su raised her hand to let the two rise, “No need for such formalities. In the future, we’ll be working together, so we can be more casual.”

The two deputy prefects naturally hurriedly agreed, and then led Feng Bai Su inside.

Meanwhile, when Feng Bai Wei arrived at the Capital Garrison, she first went to report to the Northern Marquis’s camp.

Wei Yun had naturally received the Emperor’s edict early on, and she was somewhat displeased with this sudden change of personnel.

The Capital Garrison wasn’t a place for the royal family to play around, and the Emperor seemed to be too casual about it.

Therefore, her attitude towards Feng Bai Wei was somewhat lukewarm, “Fifth Princess, just like the previous Seventh Princess, you will be responsible for training the military officers in the camp.”

After saying this, she directly had her personal guard escort Feng Bai Wei out.

Feng Bai Wei hadn’t expected Wei Yun to be so cold, and her intention to show goodwill also faded a bit. She felt slightly displeased inwardly.

It’s just a titled marquis after all, isn’t it all due to the honor bestowed by the royal family!