"I’m sorry!" Zhang Lingzheng bowed heavily, "It was a slip of the tongue from your humble servant!"
Zhang Lingzheng was filled with remorse, but he didn’t know how to save the child. The Imperial Palace was under strict guard, the Emperor was determined to have Feng Shu, and escaping seemed as difficult as ascending to heaven!
If the Emperor discovered she was pregnant, he would undoubtedly force her to terminate the pregnancy.
After Zhang Lingzheng left, a palace maid came with a food box and laid out six dishes and one soup. Feng Shu hadn’t eaten or drunk anything for two days, yet she felt neither hunger nor exhaustion. For the sake of her child, she forced herself to eat.
As the sun set, Emperor Yuan Hui came to see her. Feng Shu had already composed herself and spoke indifferently, "I want to see my parents."
The palace maid reported that Feng Shu had started eating. Emperor Yuan Hui was happy to indulge her and believed that, with time, he would be able to gradually wear her down. Xie Zhang was dead—what could he possibly use to contend with him?
"Where is Chen Lin?" Feng Shu asked, "If my guard is not dead, I hope he can return to my side."
Chen Lin was in prison; he could be released.
Feng Changqing and Su Yuejiao were still in the Ministry of Justice Prison. Emperor Yuan Hui ordered Lin Cheng to lead a squad of Forbidden Army soldiers to escort Feng Shu to the Ministry of Justice Prison. At the prison’s entrance, Feng Shu encountered Fang Chuning.
Fang Chuning squinted upon seeing her. The torrential rain had just ceased, and the night had grown deep. Afraid of mistaking someone, Fang Chuning rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
Seeing Lin Cheng and the Forbidden Army, Fang Chuning seemed to understand something. His temples throbbed—Yuwen Jing... so utterly ruthless!
Feng Shu nodded at him but said no more, passing by Fang Chuning and heading into the prison.
Feng Changqing and Su Yuejiao, gravely wounded and on the brink of death, lay feebly inside. Out of courtesy to Prince Duan, Emperor Yuan Hui had spared Old Mrs. Feng and Feng Changlin’s household, punishing only Feng Changqing and Su Yuejiao with imprisonment.
Thanks to Marshal Fang’s endeavors, Emperor Yuan Hui had already released many military generals and their families. Only a few loyal soldiers of Marquis Zhenbei stubbornly refused to yield, and Fang Chuning had come as Marshal Fang’s emissary to try and sway them.
They refused to surrender, knowing it would only lead to their deaths and implicate their families. Marshal Fang wished they would submit, retire from the military, and live peaceful lives.
Feng Changqing and Su Yuejiao were confined deep inside, in a dark and damp chamber. The jailers unlocked the door, and when Feng Shu entered, she was met with a foul, rancid smell. Feng Changqing lay on a wooden plank bed padded with straw, while Su Yuejiao was tending to him.
"Father, Mother..." Feng Shu knelt before them, tears streaming down her face. Seeing her parents gravely injured and in such dire straits, Feng Shu was overcome with grief, wishing she could bear their pain for them.
"Shu’er?" Su Yuejiao exclaimed in surprise. Mother and daughter embraced, their tears mingling. "Shu’er, is it really you... Thank heavens you’re alive. I thought... I thought..."
Feng Changqing, barely clinging to life, struggled to rise. Feng Shu hurriedly grasped the hand he extended. In a single night, he seemed to have aged ten years—his temples white with frost. Feng Shu’s heart twisted with anguish.
The pain was unbearable!
"Is he troubling you?" Feng Changqing asked.
Feng Shu concealed her sorrows and recounted only good news. "I am fine, Father, not hungry, cold, or harmed. You’ve endured so much—your daughter will ensure you both leave this place."
"Our lives don’t matter. As long as you and Ayu are alive, that’s all that matters," Su Yuejiao said. "If there’s a chance to escape, run far away. Don’t worry about us!"
"Where is Ayu?" Feng Shu asked urgently. "Where did she go?"
The night of the Capital City’s upheaval, the Jinyi Guards surrounded their mansion. Despite their severe injuries, Feng Changqing and Su Yuejiao had donned armor and rallied the mansion’s soldiers and hired darts masters to fight their way out, creating a bloody path for Fengyu’s escape.
Lady Thirteen and the guards of Mudan Building appeared just in time, repelling the Jinyi Guards. As turmoil erupted across the city and soldiers were needed everywhere, Yuwen Jing had only sent a dozen men to besiege the mansion, not expecting Feng Changqing and Su Yuejiao to resist.
Exhausted, Feng Changqing and Su Yuejiao had ordered their bodyguards and Lady Thirteen to escort Fengyu out of the Capital City and never return. They had foreseen that this time the Feng Mansion faced annihilation.
Feng Wan might protect Feng Changlin’s family, but she couldn’t safeguard their Ayu. Feng Shu’s fate was uncertain, and they could only ensure Fengyu’s safety. Fengyu had refused to leave, but Feng Changqing and Su Yuejiao had threatened to die if she stayed.
Understanding that her presence in the Capital would only turn her into leverage against her sister, Fengyu had no choice but to leave. Yet Feng Changqing and Su Yuejiao themselves were unwilling to escape.
Lady Thirteen and Zhang Da had escorted Fengyu out of the city through the rainy night.
Feng Changqing and Su Yuejiao had directed her to the Twelve States, where the Su Family in Jinzhou could shelter her. However, halfway through, Fengyu changed course and headed to the Marquis Mansion.
"Young lady, it’s far too dangerous now. Preserving your life is what matters most. Whatever needs doing, just instruct us," Lady Thirteen implored in earnest.
Fengyu remained calm and resolute. "Marquis Zhenbei has been accused of treason. Even in death, he cannot rest in peace. He defended Yanyang for decades; even if he weren’t my beloved’s father, I still wouldn’t want him to endure disgrace in death. I must retrieve his remains. The troops are battling on Three Cross Street, and they’ll soon head for the North City Gate. The Crown Prince’s forces will all be concentrated there. No one will care what happens to the Marquis Mansion. Reinforcements from the city gates will converge on the North City Gate. We shall go to the Marquis Mansion and then leave through the West City Gate. Zhang Da, send someone to inform Manager Wang—load silver, gold, and provisions onto carts to exit through the West City Gate. By dawn, transport as much as possible."