Not only in the court, but somehow the disputes in the court had spread to the common people. In recent days, the public was also divided into two factions: the war - hawks and the peace - advocates. Whether in teahouses or restaurants, people were constantly arguing about this matter.
Those in favor of war simply thought that the Northern Han was being too overbearing and that they must be given a good lesson to avenge the death of the queen. On the other hand, those in favor of peace believed that the queen had sacrificed herself for the greater good to prevent war between the two countries. If the Great Yong were to attack the Northern Han, it would go against the queen's wishes.
Coincidentally, due to the national mourning order that had cancelled all forms of entertainment, discussing national affairs had become the only hobby of the people recently, thus triggering a nationwide hot - topic.
Ji Feiyu never expected that this matter would intensify after it started to ferment. Recently in Qingzhou, she had heard a lot of arguments between the war - hawks and the peace - advocates, which was completely different from the feeling she had when she first heard others talk about it.
Moreover, there were even rumors that in some places, the Queen's Guards had been organized. They were determined to stir up the matter and let the emperor know so that he would follow the will of the people and seek justice for the queen.
At this point, Ji Feiyu realized that there must be someone behind the scenes fanning the flames. If no restraint was imposed and it was allowed to develop, the situation would become more and more out of control.
This matter originated from the will of the people. Those who joined the guards were all commoners. Whether they had been incited or not, once they caused trouble, it would be completely different from the nature of a vassal's rebellion.
This had become another dangerous situation.
At first, Ji Feiyu was strange about why Yong Yaxuan suddenly issued an imperial edict announcing her death. Later, after sending someone to inquire, she found out that there had initially been a rumor that she had died an unclear death in the Northern Han, which was a disgrace to the Great Yong.
Ji Feiyu couldn't help but sigh. She didn't know who was scheming, but it was really one plot after another.
Ji Feiyu basically lost the mood to travel and enjoy the scenery. She quickly left Qingzhou. However, when she went to the next place, the scene was the same. When she saw people in a teahouse fighting because of her matter and the daughter of the beaten man crying loudly beside them, she suddenly realized that she couldn't stay out of it.
Someone was trying to disrupt the country!
"Enough! If you truly respect Queen Feiyu from the bottom of your hearts, you shouldn't argue about the decisions she made. She surely hopes that there will be no disputes." Ji Feiyu stepped forward to stop the two people who were fighting.
One of them stopped and said, "So, miss, you're on the side of the peace - advocates!"
Seeing that the man looked unfriendly, Hua Hudie immediately stood in front of Ji Feiyu and said, "Everyone, please calm down. She just thinks that a gentleman should reason rather than fight. It's okay to argue with each other, but there's no need to fight. Look, the child beside is crying."
Hearing this, everyone calmed down a bit. The two people who had been fighting let go of each other, but still disliked each other. As soon as they let go, Hua Hudie dispersed the on - lookers. The little girl also stopped crying. After seeing the crowd disperse, Hua Hudie quickly grabbed Ji Feiyu and left. He was really afraid of this ancestor who dared to cause trouble!
Ji Feiyu was led out of the teahouse by Hua Hudie. Her expression was very solemn, and no one knew what she was thinking. After they walked for a while, she suddenly stopped Hua Hudie and said, "Huahua, I've thought it through. I shouldn't avoid this matter. I'm going back to the imperial city."
"What did you say?" Hua Hudie was stunned. "Do you know what it means for you to go back to the imperial city? You've just managed to escape. What on earth are you thinking?" Hua Hudie said in the end, looking disappointed.
Yes, different people have different thoughts when facing the same thing, which is very normal.
Ji Feiyu had been taught since childhood how to pacify the people and govern the country. She deeply understood the saying, "The monarch is like a boat; the common people are like water. Water can carry the boat, but it can also capsize it." In the current situation, it was obvious that someone was trying to disrupt the country. But that person had never expected that she was still alive. Now, as long as she returned to the imperial city and announced to the world that she, Ji Feiyu, was still alive, the disputes among the people would naturally disappear.
So, she wanted to go back.
"Huahua, I know you're very confused. We've gone through so much trouble to escape from that cage. I made a wrong step and went to the Northern Han. As a result, a series of things happened because of my trip to the Northern Han. In the end, I still have to go back to the imperial city to solve this matter. It seems that everything has come back to the starting point, but in fact, it's not. Sometimes, I think that some fates can't be escaped. Just like no matter where I am, I always care about the Great Yong. These days with you, I've been very happy every day, but this kind of happiness is illusory. It always makes me feel like I'm in a dream, not knowing when the dream will wake up. I'm very grateful for your company all the way, but now I have to go back."
Ji Feiyu looked at Hua Hudie with a lot of guilt and self - blame in her eyes. Hua Hudie couldn't stand her look. He said, "Yu'er, it's not that I don't understand you. I just think that people should think more about themselves when they're alive. You clearly don't want to go back, but you have to go back because you're afraid of the chaos in the country. Isn't this a sacrifice of yourself?"
Hearing this, Ji Feiyu smiled bitterly. "Sacrifice? I don't think it's a sacrifice. I'm just going back to tell everyone that I'm still alive. If I'm not happy in that position, I'll still leave. Yong Yaxuan won't stop me."
Hua Hudie shook his head, but he also knew that she had made up her mind. He could only sigh deeply. "I can't stop you from doing what you want. But no matter what, I'll accompany you. Let's go. We'll go to the imperial city now. If necessary, I'll steal you out of the palace again."
Hearing this, Ji Feiyu laughed. She was really grateful to have met someone like Hua Hudie who supported her no matter what she did.
Hua Hudie also knew that their dream had ended. The her in his dream had become the real her again. This was the real her. She could assassinate the eldest prince to protect the country, and naturally, she could also come back to life to prevent the common people from being disappointed in the court. He just didn't expect that her decision to go back would come so soon.
The two rode their horses at full speed and headed south directly towards the imperial city. Along the way, they saw that the situation was really getting worse.
A week later, they arrived at the imperial city. However, the whole imperial city was heavily guarded. It seemed that it had really reached a critical moment.
With Ji Feiyu's current identity, it would be very difficult for her to enter the palace. At this moment, she didn't dare to take the risk of asking Hua Hudie to take her over the walls again.
After all, an inexplicable sense of oppression hung over the entire imperial city, and the enemy was in the dark. She had to be very careful in every step to deal with all the changes.
This scene suddenly overlapped with the time when she was a child, standing in front of the palace gate but finding that she couldn't enter.
Unexpectedly, after so many years, she could make a choice again and tell her younger self that in fact, there was still a way to enter the palace if she tried.