Chapter 811: Falling Frost Flower

d the amount of gunpowder made Dugu Cheng's eyes widen."This is the gunpowder I developed after you left. I've given the formula to General Sun. We now have about a thousand units of gunpowder. These..."Are all of these for the Fourth Prince's Manor"

Ping Bei Wangfei pointed at the remaining gifts in disbelief. This Feng Ling Xi and Shu Taifei didn't want any, so wouldn't that just be extra

Grandmother Zhang nodded, "Your Highness, the Empress Dowager's gifts to the Fourth Princess have always been plentiful. You wouldn't think that those few medicinal herbs requested by the Fourth Princess are all there is to it, would you"

"But didn't she want to"

The Pingbei princess was a little agitated. After speaking, she tried hard to calm down her inner displeasure, "With so many rewards, isn't the Empress Dowager being too cold-hearted"

"Is it jealousy"

"Grandmother Zhang corrected her, looking at Ping Bei's Princess' face that kept changing between pale and white. She clarified again, “The Empress Dowager said, when bestowing rewards, they should be given to those who deserve them. As for those who are coveting the rewards, she doesn't even give them a glance.”

Zhang Ma ma finished speaking, and towards the palace maids and eunuchs beside her, she said, "What are you all standing around for Take everything to the Fourth Princess's courtyard."

Princess Pingbei glanced at Feng Lingxi, her eyes full of disdain. Feng Lingxi raised an eyebrow but didn't say much.

"Fourth Princess Consort, later the Emperor will hold a banquet to welcome the Fourth Prince back. The Empress Dowager asks if you would like to enter the palace together"

Feng Lingxi turned to look at Shu Taifei, Zhang Mama hurriedly said, "The Empress Dowager said, Shu Taifei should also enter the palace, saying that it has been a long time since the family had a proper meal together."

Shutai's concubine opened her mouth and said, "Zhang Ma ma, please trouble yourself to inform the Empress Dowager that we will enter the palace later."

Princess Pingbei smiled and said, “Let’s go together later.”

Grandmother Zhang then said, "King Pingbei has entered the palace for a banquet and did not allow Queen Consort Pingbei to enter the palace with him." She then bowed to Feng Lingxi and Empress Shu, "This old slave takes her leave."

Feng Lingxi responded and commanded Xiao Li, "Escort Zhang Mama."

After seeing off Zhang Mama, Feng Lingxi looked at Shu Taifei, "Mother concubine, I'll come pick you up later. I have something else to take care of first."

The Empress Dowager's sudden kindness towards her mother-in-law is perplexing. Is she truly trying to mend their relationship, or does she have ulterior motives The Empress Dowager and the mother-in-law have always been at odds. Now, with these gifts and gracious attitude, she is elevating the mother-in-law's status, causing court ladies and officials' wives to flock to her. If this continues, it will inevitably lead to misunderstandings.

Pingbei's Princess watched Feng Lingxi nod towards her and then leave. Unhappy, she said to Shu Taifei, "Your daughter-in-law is really arrogant. She hasn't been pregnant since marrying into the Fourth Prince's Mansion, let alone agreeing to take a concubine. In front of our elders, she acts so rudely, truly treating us, the relatives of the vassal kings, as nothing."

Shu Taifei smiled faintly, looking at Pingbei Wangfei's sour expression, and said softly, "Xi'er is like this in front of the Empress Dowager, please bear with her, Pingbei Wangfei."

The face of Pingbei's Princess turned stiff all of a sudden. With this statement from Shutai, she couldn't even scold Feng Lingxi anymore.

"Empress Dowager, it's Tai Chong Xier."

Shutai smiled, watching Pingbeihou Wangfei's embarrassed expression. She added, "Didn't Pingbei Wang and Lanfei tell you"

"When... of course, but how to say it, I'm also a senior."

The words from Pingbei Princess consort caused Shutai Empress to laugh. Pingbei Princess consort became a little restless, looking at Shutai Empress. "Shutai Empress, were all those rewards for the Fourth Princess Consort"

"This is a gift from nature, bestowed by the Empress Dowager. How could I refuse"

Pingbei's Crown Princess' envious eyes turned red, but she still held back.

"I heard that the Empress Dowager bestowed the Huo Ruying Necklace on the Fourth Princess. Is there any truth to this"

Shu Taifei looked at Pingbei Wangfei's curious eyes, nodded slightly, took a sip of the tea beside her, and smiled, "Why does Pingbei Wangfei ask about this"

Pingbei's Princess smiled, "This news is known to everyone. Just now, I saw that the Fourth Princess wasn't wearing it either, so I was curious and asked."

The Empress Dowager's gifts were naturally kept properly, how could they be carried around If they were lost or damaged, it would be a problem.

The words of the Imperial Noble Consort left Pingbei Princess awkwardly smiling. “What the Imperial Noble Consort said, that…matter of taking a side consort”

When it came to talking about Consort Nà, Shū Taifei’s gaze toward the Pingbei Princess turned cold.

"Princess Pingbei, this Fourth Prince's courtyard truly doesn't need any more people. Your niece should find another suitable husband."

But…

Before Madam Pingbei could say anything else, Imperial Noble Consort Shu rose and said, “It’s getting late. This noble consort still has to attend the imperial banquet later, so I won’t keep you any longer. Butler, see Madam Pingbei out.”

Seeing Shutai's receding figure, Pingbei's princess was so angry that she stamped her feet.

I'd heard that this Fourth Princess was running rampant in the mansion, and it seems to be true. No wonder there hasn't been a concubine yet.

Feng Lingxi walked out of Shu Tai Fei's courtyard, and Xiao Li turned back to see the princess coming out. She hurried forward, "Princess, Zhang Mama has already been sent out of the house."

"Xiao Li, have there been any news about Yingliu recently"

Lixi shook her head, "There's still no news about the mistress."

Feng Ling's footsteps came to a halt, her gaze fixed on Xiao Li. Her beautiful eyes were cold and sharp, "You have the fourteenth and fifteenth investigate the matter of Luoshang Hua, and secretly probe into the poisoning of Dugu Su back then. I want to know the whole truth about everything, remember to be careful, don't let the people from Su Wangfu discover it."

"Your Highness, are you suspecting the King of Su of something"

Xiao Li caught up to the princess's footsteps. Feng Lingxi entered the room, changed her clothes, took out a silver needle and placed it on the table, staring at it for a moment, "Luoshuang flower is not a deadly poison."

Feng Lingxi put the silver needle away, "You first investigate this matter with them. Also, I want to meet the Yao clan official in the court."

Xiao Li's face was astonished, and she hurriedly asked, "Your Highness..."

"Do as I ask."

Xiao Li responded and Feng Ling Xi tidied her appearance. Thinking of Ping Bei's Princess, she chose a bracelet from the rewards and put it on. After dressing up, Xiao Li returned with Xiao Li to pick up Shu Tai Fei.

When she entered the palace for the banquet, Feng Lingxi was wearing her usual clothes. They were simple and understated, giving off an air of cleanliness and sophistication. Her style was always straightforward and unadorned, eschewing any frills or extravagance.

The Empress Dowager was quite fond of Feng Lingxi's attire.

"Mother concubine, it's about time, I should head to the palace first."

The makeup of Shutai was more traditional, as befitted her status. Since she had lived in the residence of the Fourth Princess for so long, she couldn't call herself "Ai Jia" like the Empress Dowager, and could only refer to herself as "Taifei."

Wind Ling Xi knows that this is a bit of a drop in status for her, but compared to a lifetime of peace and well-being, what's the difference It's just a title she claims, what does it matter.

Getting into the carriage, Feng Lingxi sat beside Shu Taifei and lifted the curtain to look at the sky. After finishing dinner, it would probably be three hours before they returned.

"Xi'er, don't take Pingbei Wangfei's words to heart today. She wants to send her niece into the palace as a concubine, so she spoke those words to wound you."

Wind Ling Xi heard Shu Taifei's explanation and nodded.

"Xier understands, she won't take it to heart, and neither will mother."

The Imperial Noble Consort patted her hand, "How can outsiders understand that we, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, have no relationship As long as our family is well, the Empress Dowager will be content." keeping her safe. Empress Cen and the people from Dugu City definitely wouldn't let her mother go. They would certainly try every means to capture her and threaten her into doing things."It's not tha...