Chương 110: Eliminating the Pests
Xianyue leapt gracefully, her white silhouette landing lightly on Feng Xuanling's crystal coffin. With her toes barely touching, she coldly surveyed the black-clad figures hidden among the trees. Was Li Weian truly so arrogant as to attempt an assassination in broad daylight?
Some of the black-clad figures charged toward Xianyue's horse, while others rushed towards the crystal coffin containing Feng Xuanling. Noticing that Xianyue had dismounted, they all diverted their path to the coffin where she stood.
By their movements, it was clear these assailants were from the Feng Kingdom—agile as swallows, possessing remarkable lightness of foot. Their blades swung with force, creating gusts of fierce wind. Meanwhile, Bai Pingting leapt from her horse like a nimble crane, petite yet brimming with strength. She positioned herself defiantly before Xianyue, coldly confronting the assailants.
Her gentle, water-like gaze had transformed into a frosty resolve, brimming with vigor. Armed with curved blades reminiscent of sickles, they gleamed with a silvery sheen, casting a chilling aura that blinded onlookers.
"Pingting, your skills are impressive," Xianyue remarked from behind Bai Pingting, her lips curling upward in an easy tone, reminiscent of casual banter between friends, as if the menacing black figures did not exist at all.
"Who are you?" Bai Pingting queried, her voice icy, without turning around. The soldiers escorting Feng Xuanling charged in, brandishing their spears and surrounding the assailants in the center. Neither side had yet engaged.
"The lord has declared that whoever brings back her head will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold!" The leader of the black-clad figures bellowed, pointing at Xianyue.
Xianyue shook her head, her smile a cold, cruel mockery. "Am I truly worth ten thousand taels of gold?"
The black-clad men paid no heed to her worth; for them, the promise of gold was immense, an opportunity to escape a life fraught with danger and bloodshed. It could guarantee their comfort for the rest of their days.
"Kill!" The battle cry shattered the sky, surging forth like a tempest. The black-clad figures surged toward Xianyue, while the outer ranks of soldiers rushed to encircle and protect her. She was their queen, a divine gift to the Feng Kingdom; like the first Phoenix King, she would safeguard the realm and its people—their family.
With icy determination gleaming in her eyes, these well-trained assassins possessed a ruthless bloodlust, ready to pay any price for gold. The ordinary soldiers were no match for them; one by one, they fell, and for every twenty guards that perished, only one assailant was taken down.
According to the customs of the Feng Kingdom, royal daughters escorting the king should remain untainted by bloodshed. Bai Pingting stood protectively in front of Xianyue, her scythe-like blade swiftly reaping the lives of the black-clad assailants with precision and speed, her actions a stark contrast to her usual gentle demeanor. Blood splattered across her garments and face, yet she bore no frown, merely dispatching those who posed a threat to Xianyue before they could meet their end.
Though Bai Pingting was quick, the black-clad figures were formidable foes. As Xianyue's meager escort dwindled, Bai Pingting found herself obstructed by adversaries, and more of the black-clad figures closed in around Xianyue.
Bai Pingting turned, her blood-streaked lashes fluttering, desperately attempting to reach Xianyue, but she was halted. "Take care of yourself."
The white silhouette resembled a whirlpool in the deep sea, swirling and stirring fierce winds that stung the eyes. Who had decreed she must remain unbloodied? Those who dared to harm her or covet her life would discover the true extent of her wrath.
As she soared into the air, Xianyue twisted her body, her hand darting faster than Bai Pingting's scythe, descending upon her head with blinding speed. Her thin fingernail, capable of piercing the hardest substance, glimmered with a transparent white that had reached the neck of her adversaries. With a gentle swipe, the black-clad man's eyes widened in disbelief, regret, and sorrow. The world claimed that the Phoenix Kingdom's Xihe Princess was a master of martial arts; they had underestimated her, thinking her merely a helpless child, and paid for their arrogance with their lives.
As the remaining black-clad men witnessed their comrades fall one by one, an instinctual alarm surged within them, causing them to retreat several steps. With a knowing glance shared among them, a few advanced toward Xianyue, while others veered toward the crystal coffin. They presumed her presence on the coffin was to protect the late king's remains, believing that if they could seize the body, they would compel her to comply.
Their movements were swift, but behind them lurked something even faster and sharper, propelled by the chilling winds straight toward their spines.
"Ah!"
"Ah!"
"Ah!"
The chilling screams echoed throughout Xianyue Ridge, startling birds and beasts alike. The black figures fell, each arrow striking the same spot, and every one of them tumbled toward the crystal coffin, kneeling in penance, eyes wide, refusing to close even in death.
Those surrounding Xianyue watched their companions fall inexplicably, fear creeping into their hearts. For them, money was paramount; they could sometimes gamble with their lives for it, but the prospect of wealth was meaningless if it meant sacrificing their lives.
Bai Pingting had already dispatched the adversaries nearby. The remaining black-clad figures retreated, their eyes scanning the surroundings for an escape route. The eerie quiet enveloped them, the faint scent of herbs overshadowed by the stench of blood. Xianyue, having grown accustomed to such an atmosphere, still frowned slightly, letting out a cold chuckle. "Where do you think you are going?"
A casual greeting nearly terrified those present. Having completed numerous missions without a single failure, they now faced near-total annihilation, while their target remained unharmed, even watching their struggles with a smile.
From the grass came occasional rustling sounds, reminiscent of leaves swaying in the wind. Suddenly, a group emerged behind Xianyue, bows in hand and arrows slung across their backs, kneeling in reverence: "Your Highness."
Their voices rang out, powerful and unified, their youthful faces radiating an indescribable spirit, their steadfast eyes reflecting profound loyalty—all of them were women.
"Who sent you?" Bai Pingting inquired, pointing at the black-clad figures once more.
Xianyue turned to the kneeling group and asked, "What of my father's body?"
"It has been safely delivered to Xianyue Mountain, guarded by Yueying," they replied.
Upon hearing this, the faces of those behind her fell pale. She had anticipated sending the remains of the Feng King to Xianyue Mountain, redirecting their gaze towards the crystal coffin and its hidden contents.
Xianyue merely cast a dismissive glance at them, as if mocking their audacity. "Pingting, handle things here; leave me a few survivors."
"You—"
Xianyue pointed to several individuals. "Come with me to transport the crystal coffin to Xianyue Mountain."
"You—"
Xianyue indicated others. "Record the names of the fallen warriors, give them a proper burial, and send the injured back for healing."
Some of the guards lay dead, while others, wounded, collapsed to the ground, unable to continue their journey, having sustained their injuries for her sake.
"Understood."
The journey was remarkably calm. Two days later, Xianyue and her companions reached Xianyue Mountain, where a vast expanse awaited at the summit—lush with verdant grass and thriving foliage, exuding an invigorating vitality, the serene surroundings attesting to its status as a site of auspicious feng shui.
"Princess," Yueying greeted her with a smile, exclaiming, "Princess, you've arrived," yet maintaining an air of utmost respect.
"The Feng King is just ahead."
Xianyue nodded, her attendants carrying the crystal coffin closely behind. Lying in the cold wooden casket, Feng Xuanling's once-vibrant face appeared frail under the brilliant sunlight, aged and emaciated; he seemed far younger than at the time of his passing. Even within the coffin, there was no trace of decay. Xianyue bent down and lightly pressed her lips against his, noting a small transparent jade pendant nestled in his mouth, no larger than half her thumb.
"Wait here," she instructed as she transferred Feng Xuanling from the wooden coffin into the crystal one, squatting down, her demeanor tranquil, her faint smile radiating a calm that enveloped those around her.
In truth, Feng Xuanling was a strikingly handsome man. As a child, she had often gazed up at him; when he smiled, she would think that her brother might one day resemble him. He would occasionally reminisce about their father, lamenting how he no longer possessed the same innocence, how his smiles had waned. The adage "a woman beautifies herself for the one she loves" applies to men too, does it not? After their mother's passing, no matter how handsome their father remained or how much others admired him, his heart had grown distant. Despite the palace maids and eunuchs tending to him diligently, without attention to detail, it was all in vain. His worries about how their mother might perceive his aging visage before his death merely underscored this truth.
"Father, Mother truly loved you; no matter how you changed, she would never forsake you."
These words had crossed her mind but had remained unspoken. The millennium-old tortoise shell had a remarkable effect on maintaining beauty, and when it came time to inter him, she had offered it without a second thought. Though he hadn't provided her with the care and affection a father should, she could not help but harbor a fondness for him, though the reasons eluded her.
Xianyue closed the coffin, instructing those who accompanied her to take Feng Xuanling to the royal mausoleum. Unlike the mausoleum of the Chu Kingdom, which remained eternally dark and confined, this royal resting place allowed sunlight to filter in on clear days, while rainwater never penetrated its sanctity. Such architectural ingenuity left one pondering the skill of its creators.
The mausoleum was vast, illuminated by shafts of sunlight; one could see well enough to avoid tripping, though it remained dimmer than outside. Surrounded by the statues of past Feng monarchs and distinguished ministers, one could not help but feel a surge of emotion, stirred by the immense sacrifices and endeavors of their ancestors, compelling a desire to safeguard this sacred ground.
Following Xianyue's orders, her companions placed Feng Xuanling's coffin beside that of the late king and queen before bowing and retreating. In that vast mausoleum, only Xianyue remained alive.
Standing before the tomb, Xianyue beheld the legendary woman who had captured Feng Xuanling's heart and plagued his thoughts for a lifetime. She lay serenely in a crystal coffin, crafted from the depths of the ocean. After more than a decade, her beauty had remained unchanged, nearly identical to how her brother had described her, eternally youthful with a fair, rosy complexion, her hands and feet still warm. Yet, all her memories of her mother were filtered through her brother's accounts: long eyelashes, eyes closed gently, exuding an undeniable serenity; her lips were a lovely shade of red, enchanting to behold, and her face bore a striking resemblance to Xianyue's own, marked by identical vermillion between her brows. Yet Xianyue never perceived herself as beautiful.
"Mother, Xianyue has come to see you."
Xianyue knelt upon the ground, perhaps because she was alone in this place, or perhaps due to the suffocating emotions that engulfed her after Feng Xuanling's departure. She pondered that even if she had never felt her mother's love, that woman was capable of softening her heart.
Her brother often told her, "Yue'er, if only Mother had not left us." She had thought the same; indeed, if that woman, whom she called mother, had remained by her side, the harem would not have been shrouded in chaos, and she would have truly been a princess—an authentic child of privilege. Her father would have cherished her as he did her brother, granting her every wish, even the stars and moon from the heavens. Moreover, her mother, as her brother had said, would have been profoundly concerned for her well-being. She shared that belief, imagining that if her mother had lived, they—she, her father, her mother, and her brother—would have formed the happiest family.
Her brother always recounted how their mother tended to him, preparing hearty meals as any ordinary woman might do, celebrating their birthdays with longevity noodles and gifts, and sewing his garments with her own hands. She felt this woman had shared her life with them. Through her brother's descriptions, she wished fervently for her mother to be alive, not only for herself but for her brother as well, for those years without her mother had left him lonely.
"Mother, it is now summer; the snow on Xianyue Mountain has melted, revealing a verdant landscape brimming with life," she whispered.
It was atop Xianyue Mountain that her parents first met, a moment that marked the beginning of their beautiful love story, a cherished memory of their lives. Because of this love, she wished her life could mirror that exquisite encounter, free from troubles. In her last moments, her mother had asked her father to give her the love she had lacked.
Her brother resembled their father but inherited their mother's kindness, while she bore her mother's visage, though in certain aspects, she mirrored the man Feng Xuanling—traits of obsession and madness.
As Xianyue knelt, wiping the tears from her cheeks, she recounted the years gone by to the late queen, mirroring the tales of Feng Jiulan—mostly whimsical anecdotes from the rivers and lakes, filled with the bittersweet flavors of life, yet she glossed over the most profound sorrows with barely a mention.
"Mother, soon I will marry a man rare in this world—one who possesses my father's deep affection but bears a resoluteness he lacks. He has risked his life for me, pledging to marry no one but me, and I have promised to wed no one but him. Just wait and see; I will be happy. I have found someone who will protect me for a lifetime, even in these chaotic times, he will keep me safe. You need not worry. As for Father, he marries those women, but they do not bear him children. If they do, he ensures they are lost. You might see him as cruel, but such acts stem from a love that runs deep. He married those women merely to safeguard the foundation of Feng Nation for my brother. I know you will understand; you have endured solitude for so long, just as Father has, for our sakes. Now, he goes to accompany you, and neither of you will feel alone anymore. Do not fret about my brother and me; we have grown, and we will take care of ourselves. In time, we will both be well."
To the other women, Feng Xuanling may appear cruel, but she could not condemn him or lay blame, for that woman was her mother, and those other women were compelled by ministers to marry him, not by his own desire. This imbalance arose from the power struggles between the royal family and the officials, sacrificing the lifelong happiness of young women. They may have enjoyed honor but at the cost of the most precious treasures, their happiness, buried by their parents for the sake of wealth and status.
Xianyue spoke to herself, uncertain of her own words, repeating them endlessly. This was her first encounter with the woman who had given her life and perhaps her last. She had countless things to express, yet all her thoughts coalesced into a single sentiment: "Mother, how wonderful it would have been if you had never left us."
Neither Su Zhixin nor Feng Xianyue had ever basked in the warmth bestowed by a mother. Long ago, she had harbored a dream of sleeping beside her mother at night, sharing whispers, conjuring feelings of profound warmth. Yet, those were mere dreams, unattainable now.
Her mother, the late Empress of Lanyixuan, was no longer present.
Xianyue spoke for an extended period, repeating certain phrases multiple times, oblivious to her own repetition until her lips grew dry, and her kneeling posture transformed into a seated one, her knees numbed before she finally rose. She tilted her head back and spun in place.
"Ancestral spirits of the Feng Nation, listen to me! I, Feng Xianyue, the twenty-fifth monarch and the second queen of Feng Nation, will not allow your sacrifices to be in vain. I shall dedicate everything to protect the citizens of Feng Nation. Watch over me!"
Her clear and resonant voice echoed through the vast yet dim mausoleum, lingering in the air long after she spoke. Then, she approached Feng Xuanling, addressing him with solemnity.
"Your kindness and indecision have allowed pests to fester; I will eradicate them all."
She had no time to hunt them down individually; instead, she would unleash a great fire to burn them all away, uprooting their existence entirely.
With that, she turned and left without hesitation. Outside the mausoleum, Yueying and others waited, and upon seeing Xianyue emerge, they greeted her in unison: "Princess!"
Xianyue nodded. "Prepare to depart for Fengdu immediately."
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