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After an incense's time, a red and gold food box sent by Li Yunrong was sent to Madam Xiao's residence at the fastest speed.
After the food box was opened, there was only a small plate of golden cake inside.
There was nothing else.
"Master, what does this mean?" Madam Xiao, who was sitting on the bed, was already more than fifty years old. Strands of silver threads were between her hair that was combed into a round bun.
She looked at the unfamiliar plate of cake, gently rubbing her fingers over the rosary beads. She furrowed her brows slightly.
Xiao Shoufu, who had changed into a green casual suit, sat beside her as if he didn't hear her words. He lowered his eyes and stared at the plate of cake for a long time, revealing a thoughtful expression.
Long before coming to the imperial mausoleum, he had made an agreement with Kang Wang that Princess Consort Kang would test Feng Yang today to see how Feng Yang's condition was.
If Feng Yang was healthy, Princess Consort Kang would send a plate of yam date cakes over.
If Feng Yang wasn't healthy, Princess Consort Kang would send a plate of another cake over.
Xiao Shoufu's right hand formed a fist as he subconsciously knocked gently on the coffee table beside him.
The plate of cake in front of him meant that Feng Yang was seriously ill and didn't have much time left.
The sky outside had already completely darkened, and night fell. The night in the forest was especially silent.
At this moment, apart from the couple, there was no one else in the room. The servants had long been dismissed.
"Master, is there anything wrong?" Madam Xiao asked cautiously.
She wasn't young anymore. She had been tired for the whole day today, and it was inevitable that she would look a little tired.
Xiao Shoufu slowly shook his head and continued to look at the plate of cake in the food box. It was unknown what he was thinking, but he was in a daze for a long time.
The sound of water dripping slowly came from the pot in the corner, gently dripping into the bronze Kirin-patterned water tank, making the room especially quiet.
After a while, Xiao Shoufu sighed faintly. His turbid eyes were filled with blood vessels due to fatigue. "Madam, I just feel that things are going a little too smoothly."
Everything developed according to their expectations without a trace of deviation. It was really too smooth.
Ever since the Eldest Prince returned from the State of Yue, they had never been so smooth. It made Xiao Shoufu involuntarily feel a trace of uneasiness. He kept wanting to carefully consider the details again.
"Isn't it good that it went smoothly?" Madam Xiao stared straight at Xiao Shoufu and raised her hand to rub her sore eyebrows.
Although Xiao Shoufu's tone was very calm, they had been married for decades, so she could naturally hear the uneasiness hidden in his master's tone.
This matter was very important, and no mistakes were allowed.
The corners of Madam Xiao's eyes twitched. She took two deep breaths and quickly stabilized her emotions.
In just a few words, the atmosphere in the room became solemn. Even their breathing seemed to be a little oppressive.
Xiao Shoufu frowned and nodded first. A moment later, he shook his head again and said in a low voice, "To say that it went smoothly, it actually didn't go smoothly either…"
As he spoke, Xiao Shoufu suddenly stood up from the bed. With his hands behind his back, he slowly walked back and forth in the room a few times, thinking carefully about what had happened in the past month in his mind.
As he walked, he muttered to himself, "First, His Majesty repeatedly stopped us from entering the palace to visit the eldest princess, Feng Yang. Then, Feng Yang, who had been ignoring the government for a long time, suddenly went to the court to request the title of Crown Prince for the Eldest Prince…"
"Even when Dou Zixiang suggested a marriage between the two countries, Feng Yang didn't appear."
Apart from the previous request for the title of Crown Prince for Prince Chu Yi and this time's imperial tomb sacrifice, Feng Yang hadn't appeared in public for a while. She hadn't even raised any objections to the marriage alliance between the two countries. She had even allowed the Emperor to send the Eldest Prince in person to the State of Yue. This really didn't seem like Feng Yang's usual style.
Unless Feng Yang was helpless.
Madam Xiao took an elegant sip of tea, her eyes flickering.
Only after putting down the teacup did she say, "The temper of the eldest princess, Feng Yang, is like that of Emperor Taizu. She has always been arrogant. Looks like her lifespan is really coming to an end. Master, what do you think?"
Xiao Shoufu stopped and nodded in agreement. The candle flame was reflected in his eyes.
The evening wind blew from the window. The candles were clearly extinguished, making his eyes look sinister and strange.
He suddenly turned around and faced the evening wind. When he looked up at the full moon in the night sky outside the window and seemed to have thought of something, his eyes darkened.
He snorted coldly. "Back then, the previous Emperor spent a lot of effort to suppress Feng Yang, although he was still one move away… The end of her lifespan shouldn't be wrong."