Qingyun's smile gradually disappeared from his face. He instructed Li Nuo beside him, "You secretly protect the princess's safety."Li Nuo left, and Huangfu Qingyun looked at the letter sent to him. He...Feng Lingxi returned to her bedroom, tore off the human skin mask and took a bath. Although she was used to Yu Xi's evaluation of her, after hearing her words just now, anger still surged in her heart. She could only leave quickly to calm down the anger.

"Princess, are you alright"

"I'll be going out of the palace tomorrow."

Feng Lingxi commanded, her beautiful eyes suddenly turning cold. It was time to retaliate.

Xiao Li saw the princess like this, wanting to speak but stopping. After a while, she still opened her mouth.

"Princess, may I leave the palace tomorrow Empress Dowager will allow it, won't she"

"Just said I miss my brother, want to go see him."

Feng Lingxi looked outside, "Has there been any movement from the Empress Dowager's side"

Little Li shook her head, Feng Lingxi frowned. This Empress Dowager is truly patient, it seems she really intends to use her hand to eliminate the imperial concubine. She herself won't make a move.

The next day, Feng Ling Xi left the palace and told the Empress Dowager that she wanted to go out and see her brother. The Empress Dowager only reminded her to return to the palace early before letting her go.

Feng Lingxi had just arrived at the inn when she saw Huangfu Qingyun come out to greet her. When he saw her, Huangfu Qingyun almost called out the wrong name. Feng Lingxi pulled him into the room and only then dismissed everyone to speak privately.

"Xier, I know what's been going on in the palace these days. The Empress Dowager and Shu Taifei are fighting, and they're using you as a pawn, Xier. You have to be careful."

Wind Ling, seeing his worry, quickly soothed him, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. Everything is within my expectations. The plan is going smoothly, and Your Majesty need not worry. In another half month, I will be able to leave the palace."

"Are you sure"

Huangfu Qingyun had never seen Feng Lingxi's poison techniques before and was a little uneasy.

Feng Lingxi responded, "It will take a few days to show results."

Empress Dowager Cen couldn't possibly have imagined that the bird's nest was harmless. It was the spoon and chopsticks she had tampered with. These past few days, as she watched the Empress Dowager drink the bird's nest, she knew it wouldn't be long before it took effect. Soon, the Empress Dowager would pressure her into marrying Dugu City.

"Xi'er, you must be extremely careful. The palace is full of danger. Besides the Empress Dowager, your two sisters also want you dead."

Huangfu Qingyun worried about her safety. These days, he had looked into Xi'er's past and realized how difficult her journey had been.

"Just rest assured, I am Princess Yao Hua in the palace. Who dares to offend me"

Feng Lingxi broke into a smile, "On the contrary, Your Imperial Brother, aren't you finding this rather boring"

Huangfu Qingyun looked at the smile on her face, wondering when she would be able to smile again. Her heart was truly wide open.

"You're not exactly having a good time out in the wild, but it's alright I suppose. Dugu Cheng will come find me for a drink and we can kill some time."

Has he been here

Feng Lingxi's eyes lit up when she heard the name "Dugu City." She hadn't seen him these past few days and didn't know what he was busy with, nor had she received any news from him. This time venturing out of the palace, she had to go see him and find out how things were going on his end.

Huangfu Qingyun took in her expression with a glance. Sure enough, when she mentioned Dugu City, her spirits lifted.

"They all came secretly and told me his maternal aunt entered the palace to help you."

Feng Lingxi responded, "Then what has he been busy with these days Does Your Highness know"

The Emperor has decreed our marriage. We're busy preparing for the wedding, and we'll be married on the eighth day of next month. You've already sent me the betrothal gifts.

Huangfu Qingyun handed the list to Feng Lingxi, seeing her surprised expression, although he felt a pang of bitterness in his heart, he still put on a very happy face.

"Didn't you expect this to happen so soon"

"Why don't I know this"

Early next month, on the eighth day, calculating the time, there were only ten days left. She couldn't possibly not know in the palace. Could it be the Empress Dowager's intention

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

Huangfu Qingyun saw her frown and explained, "Perhaps they want to give you a surprise."

Feng Lingxi glanced at him, "Brother Emperor, are you sure this is a surprise and not a fright"

With the wedding day approaching, this bride is still unaware. The Empress Dowager and the Imperial Consort spend every day with her, yet none of them have mentioned a word about it. It's clear that the Imperial Consort is oblivious, while the Empress Dowager is deliberately concealing it from her.

Huangfu Qingyun saw her say this, "I received the news three days ago. The Empress Dowager didn't tell you because she probably wanted you to learn the so-called etiquette in peace within the palace."

"She probably wants to use me to poison her stepmother, afraid that if I knew the wedding date and left the palace, I would ruin her plans."

Feng Ling Xi's eyes suddenly turned cold, "I'll just pretend you never told me about this, Imperial Brother. I'm going to the General's Mansion and the Fourth Prince's Residence, you help me conceal my identity."

Feng Lingxi got up, tore off the human skin mask, changed into a set of men's clothing in the room, and left the inn with Xiaoli from the back door without attracting attention.

Feng Lingxi, with Xiaoli in tow, did not directly seek an audience with Feng Aotiān. Instead, she scaled the wall and went straight to the back garden of the General's Mansion, avoiding prying eyes and arriving at her mother's courtyard. Seeing that no one was around, she entered her mother's room.

"Who!"

Yao Wan'ying noticed someone entering and quickly stepped forward, immediately engaging in a fight with Feng Lingxi. Feng Lingxi, upon receiving the attack, hurriedly said, "Mother, it's me."

Yao Wan'ying then saw clearly the female disguised as a male, Feng Lingxi, in front of her. She stared at her in surprise.

"Xier, how did you get here"

Yao WanYing let go of her. Feng LingXi looked around, "Xiaoli, go keep watch."

Feng Lingxi finished giving her instructions before turning to Yao Wan'ying and saying, "I came out of the palace today and happened to stop by to see you. Princess Yaohua's identity is too conspicuous and it wouldn't be convenient."

"Yao Wan-ying looked at her attire, "If you hadn't called out to me, your mother wouldn't have recognized you."

Feng Lingxi pulled her mother down to sit, "These days, have you gotten used to living here Has Zhao shi been mistreating you"

"Mother is doing well here. Mother is not like the Lady Feng she used to be, with so many rules to follow. But you, something has happened in the palace, why did you leave"

"Everything in the palace is going smoothly, I just came out to take a look at His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Feng Lingxi, looking at her mother's concerned eyes, softly said, "Mother, in a few days my goal will be reached, and soon I will be able to clear my name."

Yao Wan'ying patted her hand, "Don't worry, with mother here, nothing will happen to Xi'er."

Feng Lingxi nodded and smiled brightly at her mother. "By the way, the Fourth Prince's Mansion and the Emperor have already begun making preparations for my marriage to Dugu City. Mother, you need to get ready and help Dugu City."

"Xier, if you were to marry him, would you have to reveal that Yao Hua Princess is actually Feng Lingxi"

She was worried that something might go wrong. This empress dowager had already gone mad for Zi Xing, she was truly afraid she would hurt Xi'er.

"Just wait and see, Mother. You only need to follow my arrangements."

Have you gone to see the Fourth King yet

"No, I came to see Mother after meeting the Crown Prince. I'll be returning to the palace later and still have time to see him."

She didn't know if Dugu Cheng was in the palace, and she hadn't figured out how to find him yet. Scaling the walls wouldn't be easy. While she was familiar with the Si Wangfu, its defenses were strict, unlike the General's Mansion which was easier to penetrate.

"Mother will go to the Fourth Prince's residence in a while, Xi'er, change into another set of clothes and accompany Mother."

Yaowan opened her mouth, Feng Lingxi nodded. Just as she had finished changing her clothes, Xiao Li cried out, "Someone's here."ather has been asked by the Fourth Prince to raise an army and persuade him to attack the Tianqi Nation. He must also retrieve the treasures of the Yao Clan, completing the task given to father by the...