When Ji Feiyu and Yong Yaxuan appeared together at the court assembly, the ministers immediately erupted into a hubbub like a colony of agitated ants.
However, just as Ji Feiyu had settled herself behind the curtain and before Yong Yaxuan could make his grand announcement to the world, an urgent report arrived. It was an eight - hundred - li express from the border. The content was that a coup had taken place in Beihan. The old emperor had abdicated, and a new emperor had ascended the throne! This new emperor was none other than Yu Chi Yanyan, the second prince of Beihan who had once pretended to be an envoy and visited Dayong.
As soon as this news spread, the court officials became even more animated in their discussions. Ji Feiyu and Yong Yaxuan were also a bit caught off guard. Although they had long known that the second prince had great ambitions, they never expected him to act so swiftly, and the arrival of this urgent report was so timely!
Yong Yaxuan gave a soft cough, and the chattering among the court officials finally subsided. Only then did Yong Yaxuan announce to the court that Ji Feiyu had survived a near - death experience. Inevitably, he mentioned how Ji Feiyu had been replaced by Yu Chi Yanyan and how Princess Ranwei had helped Ji Feiyu escape. Of course, the most important thing was the agreement between Ji Feiyu and Yu Chi Yanyan. Although Yong Yaxuan described this matter quite casually, when the court officials saw the agreement with Yu Chi Yanyan's signature written in his own blood, they were deeply shocked. They couldn't even begin to imagine how Ji Feiyu had managed to get Yu Chi Yanyan to sign this agreement. For this agreement, combined with the news of Yu Chi Yanyan's ascension to the throne, was like a great gift to Dayong.
Princess Ranwei's noble act of assistance was finally recognized and magnified. Moreover, Ji Feiyu's heroic act of killing the enemy prince had become an exemplary story passed down by the people. Therefore, when Yong Yaxuan issued a new imperial edict on that day, and the people of Dayong learned that their queen was not dead and had brought back a promise from the new king of Beihan of a thousand fine horses and a vow of no more wars, the whole nation was in an uproar! The queen once again became the topic of intense discussion.
There is an unofficial history that records:
"In the fourth year of Tianhe in Dayong, the emperor was deeply saddened by the supposed death of the queen. The ministers were divided on the issue of war and peace and debated day and night. One day, the queen returned, bringing with her the promise of no war from the new emperor of Beihan and three thousand fine horses. The whole nation was shocked. Upon inquiry, it was learned that her faked death was part of a plan, and the promise was written by the new emperor as a result of the queen's help in his ascension to the throne. After that, the two countries had a hundred - year truce and became good friends forever. The queen deserved the greatest credit."
Of course, Ji Feiyu couldn't see this record at present. For in the long river of history, they were all too insignificant.
After the court assembly ended that day, Yong Yaxuan's face clearly showed that "I'm very happy" from any angle. His relaxed mood infected Ji Feiyu, making her feel at ease as well.
Just like this, the previous crisis in the court was smoothly resolved thanks to Ji Feiyu's timely appearance. And because of her great contributions, Ji Feiyu returned to the central palace openly. The concubines in the harem all came to congratulate her, except Concubine Xin, who looked at Ji Feiyu indifferently, seemingly still resenting Ji Feiyu for causing the loss of her child.
A few days later, after chatting with the empress dowager, Ji Feiyu was on her way back to Qiwu Palace. Unexpectedly, she ran into Concubine Xin on the way. As soon as Concubine Xin saw Ji Feiyu, she immediately tried to leave, but was stopped by Ji Feiyu.
"Concubine Xin, why do you turn around and leave when you see me?"
Concubine Xin stood still without saying a word, nor did she prepare to turn around to pay her respects.
Ji Feiyu smiled faintly and walked over with her entourage. She whispered in Concubine Xin's ear, "Do you still think it was me who poisoned your unborn child?"
Concubine Xin suddenly turned around angrily. "If it wasn't you, then who was it? The evidence was conclusive at that time! Although you have the ability to come out of the cold palace, it doesn't mean I'll let this matter go easily."
Seeing her anger, Ji Feiyu couldn't help but shake her head. "No wonder you couldn't even keep your own child. You're so stupid."
"What did you say!" Concubine Xin was enraged.
But Ji Feiyu acted as if she didn't see her anger and said calmly, "I said you're stupid because you don't even know who wanted to harm you, yet you make an enemy of me for no reason..."
Concubine Xin's face changed.
Ji Feiyu sneered, "Why don't you think about why I would want to harm your child? What good would it do me? If I really did it in my own palace, why didn't I dispose of the evidence in time and wait for you all to come and investigate?"
Concubine Xin was emotionally excited. After thinking for a while, she said, "You harmed my child because you didn't want my child to be the eldest son. You were afraid of losing the emperor's favor, so you struck first."
Ji Feiyu laughed, "Such a shallow view. As the queen, even if I have no children, I can adopt any prince under my name. Children are not a threat to me at all. And when a sister is pregnant, there are more opportunities to serve the emperor. Why would I be afraid of losing favor?"
Concubine Xin was immediately speechless.
Ji Feiyu continued, "You might as well think about who would benefit the most from this situation after you lost your child and I was sent to the cold palace."
"Do you mean...?" Concubine Xin calmed down a bit, but her eyes were full of suspicion.
"That's right. There's someone else behind this." Ji Feiyu winked at her. "To be honest, I also thought you framed me on purpose when I was in the cold palace, but now seeing your expressions, it doesn't seem to be fake. If you're willing to cooperate with me, I'm sure I can find the real culprit in this case."
"What do you want me to do?" Concubine Xin was a bit hesitant. She still half - believed and half - doubted Ji Feiyu's words.
Ji Feiyu smiled, "For now, you don't need to do anything. Just continue to act as if you hate me. I'll investigate this case slowly and won't let anyone involved go."
"Okay..." Concubine Xin finally made up her mind to cooperate with Ji Feiyu and see how things went. Thus, the two reached a secret agreement.
After watching Concubine Xin leave, Ji Feiyu felt a bit eager. She hadn't played the harem game for a long time. It was time to have some fun with them. She thought to herself, "My dear harem ladies, now that I'm back alive, since you all want to play big, I'll accompany you to the end. Ladies, are you ready?"
Ji Feiyu curled her lips into a smile and headed towards Qiwu Palace. She feared that the current calm was just the last tranquility before the storm. Looking at the sinful palace shrouded in darkness, Ji Feiyu seemed to be able to foresee the bloody drama that would unfold here in the future.
However, the storm couldn't stop their steps, for only strength could prove the value of their existence.
...
After the earth - shattering event, there were always several pairs of eyes watching the movements in the harem. So in these days, Ji Feiyu was extremely leisurely. She either chatted with the empress dowager or admired the autumn chrysanthemums with Yong Yaxuan in the courtyard.
Ji Feiyu never thought that she and the empress dowager, who used to be so incompatible, would one day become good friends who could talk about anything.
When talking about the past, the empress dowager always laughed at Ji Feiyu for being so arrogant back then, while Ji Feiyu made fun of her for being so stubborn. But anyway, the two had reconciled.
Sometimes when Yong Yaxuan came to pick up Ji Feiyu from the empress dowager's place and saw them laughing without any restraint, he couldn't help but smile, feeling content in his heart.
In the empress dowager's eyes, the emperor was her pride, while in Yong Yaxuan's eyes, Ji Feiyu was his pride.