Chapter 53: Welcome Banquet

The border town of Ye City was different from the exquisite brocade-like atmosphere everywhere in Fengling City. The street scenery and architecture were more rugged and grand. The people on the streets were not as bustling as in Fengling City, gathering in twos and threes.

On the streets, there were both men and women among the common people, and even unmarried young men laughing loudly and playing freely on the streets. The local customs were quite open-minded. The people here had a touch of wildness compared to those in Fengling City!

As soon as Feng Bai Su and Hu Jiao entered the city, they immediately attracted the attention of passersby on the street.

Ye City was a border town, and its area was not very large. Moreover, most of the residents in Ye City were the family members and children of the stationed troops. Naturally, most people knew Hu Jiao, the lord of Ye City.

Therefore, seeing her looking at the red-clothed woman beside her with full respect,

Everyone couldn’t help but become curious about who the other person was. She actually made Hu Jiao treat her so carefully.

Those young men couldn’t help but let their gazes fall on Feng Bai Su’s delicate and beautiful face, looking back and forth very boldly, with both curiosity and amazement in their eyes.

Who was this woman? They had never seen such an outstanding woman in Ye City before. Perhaps only the Great General could compare somewhat!

Unfortunately, the Great General did not often come to this Ye City, so they couldn’t tell who was superior at the moment!

Feng Bai Su was completely indifferent to the gazes from the passing crowd, her lips habitually curled upwards, with a somewhat careless expression on her face. Her peach blossom eyes fell on the empty space ahead, walking forward slowly.

Hu Jiao led the way in front, and after passing through a street, they arrived at the residence.

She turned to look at Feng Bai Su, her face full of smiles: “Your Highness, this is the residence I have prepared for you. I hope you won’t mind!”

“The back of this residence is where I live. If you need anything, feel free to send someone to find me.”

After saying this, she bowed and was about to retreat.

“Wait!”

Feng Bai Su suddenly called out to her, asking slowly: “The City Lord should know that I have come here in response to the Empress Mother’s decree to resist the southern barbarians. The situation is urgent and brooks no delay. When can I meet the Mighty General?”

“Your Highness may not know, the Great General resides in the military camp all year round and does not often come to this Ye City. There is still some distance between the stationed camp and Ye City. Since you have just arrived today, why don’t you rest well today? Tomorrow morning, I will send someone to take Your Highness there. How about that?”

“That’s fine…”

Hearing this, Feng Bai Su nodded, her voice unhurried: “Indeed, there’s no rush for the moment.”

She smiled and cupped her hands towards Hu Jiao, “It’s troublesome for the City Lord!”

“No, no!”

Seeing this, Hu Jiao immediately waved her hands with a panicked expression on her face, “This Ye City is the first line of defense in the south of Fengling. The people in the city can live in peace and prosperity, all thanks to the Great General’s years of hard work. I have only contributed a little bit of meager effort!”

After Hu Jiao left, a short woman ran out from the residence. Seeing Feng Bai Su, she immediately came forward: “Your Highness, you’ve arrived! This humble one pays respects to Your Highness!”

“No need for formalities.”

Feng Bai Su raised her hand to let her rise, looking at her and asking: “You are?”

“This humble one used to be a steward working in the City Lord’s mansion. You can call me Liu Si’er.”

The woman bowed with her body, smiling so much that all the wrinkles on her face showed.

Feng Bai Su nodded almost imperceptibly, “Steward Liu.”

“Your Highness…”

At this moment, a soft call suddenly came from inside the carriage. Wei Jing Mo lifted the cotton curtain and walked out.

Perhaps he had just woken up, the blush on his cheeks had not completely dissipated, and his ink-black eyes were not as cold and clear as usual, looking misty. He appeared very innocent and harmless.

Hearing his voice, Feng Bai Su immediately turned around, “Awake? We’ve arrived in Ye City.”

She walked forward and single-handedly embraced Wei Jing Mo, who was standing on the carriage shaft.

Steward Liu, standing behind, glanced at Wei Jing Mo’s exquisite and otherworldly appearance, then immediately withdrew her gaze.

Seeing Feng Bai Su being so intimate with him, her eyes flickered, and she immediately stepped forward: “Your Highness, who is this gentleman?”

“This is the Seventh Male Empress,” Feng Bai Su said briefly.

“So it’s the Lord Consort! This humble one has been disrespectful!”

“Enough.” Feng Bai Su interrupted her words and said: “Lead us inside.”

Hearing this, Steward Liu immediately stepped aside and invited: “Yes, Your Highness! This humble one will show you the way.”

The residence prepared by Hu Jiao was indeed very grand, even luxurious, exquisite everywhere. She was afraid that Feng Bai Su, the Seventh Princess, would not be accustomed to living there.

Although the decor of this residence was out of place with the scenery of Ye City, if placed in Fengling City, it would definitely be in perfect harmony.

This City Lord Hu Jiao was indeed capable! In just a few days, she had transformed this residence into the style of Fengling City.

Everyone says that this border town is austere, but Hu Jiao could arrange such a residence, probably spending a lot of money.

It’s hard to say whether she’s clever or foolish…

Feng Bai Su’s peach blossom eyes had some indescribable meaning, her lips curling into a faint arc.

After dismissing the Steward Liu sent by Hu Jiao, Feng Bai Su pulled Wei Jing Mo into the room.

After the two sat down, Wei Jing Mo asked with some confusion: “Is this City Lord trying to curry favor with Your Highness?”

“It seems that this Ye City Lord is not as harmonious with your second elder sister as she appears on the surface.”

Feng Bai Su picked up the teacup on the table and poured a cup of hot tea, holding it in her hand and gently swirling it.

“Our coming here this time, to put it nicely, is to provide support. But in others’ eyes, it looks more like we’re here to replace your second elder sister. Everyone knows that the Mighty General Wei Yang is seriously injured now. It’s difficult to recover in a short time. It’s the best opportunity to seize power!”

“Your Highness won’t do that!”

Wei Jing Mo immediately frowned and said firmly.

Seeing him answer so decisively, Feng Bai Su couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow slightly, with a smile on her lips.

“Hmm… I indeed won’t, but outsiders won’t think so.”

“But Your Highness has already taken me as your husband, even this border town should have heard something. Why would they still think like this?”

Wei Jing Mo really found it hard to understand.

Logically speaking, Feng Bai Su and the Northern Marquis’s mansion had already formed a marriage alliance. The Northern Marquis’s mansion would naturally stand on the side of the Seventh Princess. The one guarding the border is Feng Bai Su’s sister-in-law, there’s really no need to seize power.

Feng Bai Su lowered her eyelids slightly and took a sip of hot tea, saying jokingly: “Perhaps they don’t believe in the feelings between us…”

After all, everyone knows that the royal family is the most cold-hearted and ruthless, and of course, it’s most secure to hold power in one’s own hands.

They naturally wouldn’t think that Feng Bai Su would let go of such an opportunity!

Moreover, Feng Bai Su has always presented herself as a prodigal and careless person. Even the people in Fengling City haven’t seen through her, let alone this distant border region.

Given her prodigal nature and those rumors of her being frivolous and unrestrained, they wouldn’t think she would really care about Wei Jing Mo.

And there’s the most important point!

It would be much better for this military power to fall into the hands of her, a prodigal princess, than into Wei Yang’s hands. After all, she would be easier to manipulate and control than Wei Yang, right?

The smile on Feng Bai Su’s lips became somewhat dangerous, and her eyes also darkened.

—

City Lord’s Mansion

After Steward Liu retreated, she quietly came here.

Looking at Hu Jiao sitting in the main seat, she bowed and reported: “Master, the man accompanying the Seventh Princess is actually the Primary Husband! And this servant saw that their behavior towards each other was very intimate. Are you sure you still want to continue with tonight’s welcome banquet?”

Hearing this, Hu Jiao answered a different question: “I’ve heard that this Seventh Princess has quite a notorious reputation in Fengling City! The most famous are the rumors of her being frivolous and unrestrained.”

Her expression became somewhat deep, losing the enthusiasm and kindness she had shown in front of Feng Bai Su.

Turning the ring on her hand, she smiled with some profound meaning: “It doesn’t matter, tonight we’ll just test whether this is true or false…”

Hearing this, Steward Liu thought of Wei Jing Mo’s appearance she had seen earlier and became somewhat thoughtful: “But these rumors might be true… This servant just glanced at that Wei Primary Husband’s appearance, cold and otherworldly like a banished immortal! This Seventh Princess even brings her Primary Husband with her to this border region, what else could it be besides lusting after beauty?”

After all, the Primary Husband at home is a proper husband. After marriage, besides serving the wife-master, he also has to manage the household and the wife-master’s back courtyard.

How could he stick to the wife-master’s side like this, like a little servant relying on his looks to curry favor.

I’ve heard that this Wei Primary Husband is the legitimate son of the Northern Marquis’s mansion. Behaving like this, it must be because he’s being forced by that Seventh Princess!

Hu Jiao’s eyes were deep, her voice low, “It’s best if it’s so, then we won’t need to worry too much.”

—

When the sky darkened, Feng Bai Su received an invitation from Hu Jiao to hold a welcome banquet for her at the City Lord’s mansion.

After hearing the news, Feng Bai Su smiled: “That Steward Liu must have already passed your information to Hu Jiao. This welcome banquet is probably just a pretext, the real purpose is to test me under this opportunity. How interesting!”

She wanted to see what tricks this Ye City Lord had up her sleeve.

Hearing this, Wei Jing Mo frowned, becoming somewhat worried: “I didn’t expect that on this trip, before we even face the southern barbarians, we’ve already clashed with the people in Ye City. Your Highness must be very careful!”

“Don’t worry.” Feng Bai Su raised her hand and stroked his hair, “I’ve roughly guessed her tactics.”

The smile in her peach blossom eyes became somewhat playful.

Then, she stood up. Looking at Wei Jing Mo, she said in a gentle voice: “You’ve been tired from traveling these past few days. Rest first! No need to wait for me.”

Wei Jing Mo also stood up, seeing her off to the door. He anxiously reminded her once again: “Your Highness, be careful!”

“Go back to the room!”

Feng Bai Su waved her hand at him, then turned and walked outside.

The City Lord’s mansion was brightly lit at this time, with the bright hall filled with officials of all ranks from Ye City. They were all subordinates of City Lord Hu Jiao and officials with close relationships to her.

After Feng Bai Su entered following the servant, she took a general glance around. She didn’t see any military personnel among them.

A flash of dark light passed through her eyes.

It seems that Wei Yang was not without suspicion, managing the military like an impenetrable fortress, not allowing the official forces of Ye City to infiltrate.

When Hu Jiao saw Feng Bai Su enter, she immediately stood up.

With a face full of smiles, she welcomed her: “Your Highness, you’ve arrived!”

As she spoke, she offered the main seat, “Quickly! Your Highness, please come and sit here!”

The officials below also hurriedly stood up and bowed.

Feng Bai Su nodded with a somewhat arrogant expression, her face looking a bit casual.

She lifted her robe and sat down, leaning back against the chair. Her long fingers tapped on the table surface, her eyes slightly lowered as she said in a faint voice: “Everyone sit down! Isn’t this supposed to be a welcome banquet for me? Let’s start quickly!”

After saying this, she clicked her tongue lightly, seeming a bit impatient: “I’m still waiting to go back and embrace my beauty for sleep, so let’s start quickly and end quickly!”

Seeing her suddenly change her demeanor, the officials below couldn’t help but look at each other. Their gazes involuntarily turned towards City Lord Hu Jiao.

Seeing Feng Bai Su seem like a completely different person, her current irritable appearance vastly different from her polite and courteous manner when entering the city.

She couldn’t help but frown.

It seems those rumors were not false, with such a changeable personality and superficial behavior, she doesn’t look like someone with deep thoughts!