NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1137: Characters
The Empress Dowager of Yan saw this and swept her sleeves as she left.
Although she felt reassured, knowing that A Yan would not leave Yan Kingdom and their mother and son, she, as A Yan's sister-in-law, couldn't help but feel heartbroken on A Yan's behalf for falling for such a cold-blooded woman as Bai Qingyan, fearing that A Yan might be hurt by Bai Qingyan in the future.
Since ancient times, love is the most helpless thing for people.
She didn't know whether she should tell A Yan about this, so that he could guard against Bai Qingyan.
Feng Yao saw the Empress Dowager of Yan stepping over the threshold of the main hall and quickly bowed to her.
Seeing Feng Yao, who was sent here by Murong Yan, the Empress Dowager of Yan felt even more aggrieved for Murong Yan and vented her anger on Feng Yao: "The Ninth Prince is leading the army for the country, and Eunuch Feng, with your martial skills, instead of guarding him, you are here currying favor with the Emperor of Zhou. How come... Is it that you intend to follow the Emperor of Zhou in the future?"
This was the first time the Empress Dowager of Yan had lost her temper with Feng Yao, yet Feng Yao still maintained his composed demeanor: "The Ninth Prince is surely safe with Yue Shi guarding him! This old servant is already old and incapable. I brazenly asked the Ninth Prince for a task, and that's why he sent me here as a messenger between the two armies. I have never intended to serve the Emperor of Zhou."
The Empress Dowager of Yan firmly grasped Ah Nu's hand, let out a cold hum, and left in a huff, but inside she felt even more guilt towards Murong Yan.
Previously, she even doubted A Yan's loyalty to Yan Kingdom and Ah Li, not realizing... A Yan is the most pitiful one caught in the middle. She must ensure that this Emperor of Zhou doesn't exploit A Yan.
After sending off the Empress Dowager of Yan, Bai Qingyan also stepped out of the main hall, hoping her words would allow the Empress Dowager of Yan to dispel her doubts about Murong Yan, making it smoother for Murong Li to bring up the merging of the two kingdoms in the future.
"Your Majesty..." After bowing to Bai Qingyan, Feng Yao said, "This time, the Empress Dowager coming to Pingdu City to seek Your Majesty, the Ninth Prince probably doesn't know. If there's anything that offended Your Majesty, please forgive us!"
"No offense taken, Eunuch Feng. The army is about to set out; let's discuss as we walk..." Bai Qingyan said.
"Please lead the way, Your Majesty. I'll follow behind." Feng Yao was very humble towards Bai Qingyan, following behind as he began, "Is Your Majesty interested in the jade cicada?"
"Indeed, I want to ask Eunuch Feng, the jade cicada that Empress Ji once gave to A Yan, was it something he carried since childhood, or was it presented to Empress Ji at a later time?" Bai Qingyan glanced sideways, seeing Feng Yao still slightly bent over, in a respectful manner.
"In response to Your Majesty, when I served Empress Ji, she was already in the palace, and she carried the jade cicada with her. I once heard Empress Ji say this jade cicada was a key for her to return home, a peace talisman given by her mother, and she even mentioned... If it weren't for this jade cicada saving her life, there would have been no way she could enter the palace! Later... amidst turmoil in the palace, Empress Ji then placed this jade cicada on the Ninth Prince." Feng Yao answered truthfully.
Given by Empress Ji's mother—it even saved Empress Ji's life...
Bai Qingyan subtly grasped the pouch containing the jade cicada—could it be that Empress Ji had once used this jade cicada to travel through time?
"I've read many records stating Empress Ji's maternal family is unknown?" Bai Qingyan inquired further.
"Empress Ji's maternal family is not actually unknown; it's because her father favored a concubine and neglected the wife, driving Empress Ji's mother out of the house. Therefore... she followed her mother's surname, changing it to Ji, and the once illustrious Great General of Yan, Ning Chuao, is Empress Ji's full brother." Feng Yao said.
This was something Murong Yan had previously mentioned to her, but she never expected that General Ning Chuao was Empress Ji's full brother.
General Ning Chuao was born into a prominent aristocratic family of Yan Kingdom.
With Murong Yan's prior instructions, Feng Yao told Bai Qingyan everything he knew, including Yan Kingdom's closely guarded secrets.
"Then, is there a possibility the jade cicada of Empress Ji came from the Ning family?"
"That, this old servant truly does not know." Feng Yao replied.
Bai Qingyan nodded: "I was just curious, thank you Eunuch Feng for being forthcoming. Please relay a message to the Ninth Prince; our Zhou army will set off immediately, moving northeast alongside the Yan Army, north of the Danshui River."
"Yes!" Feng Yao responded.
"Qingzhu, see off Eunuch Feng..."
Shen Qingzhu made a gesture of invitation towards Feng Yao: "Eunuch Feng, this way!"
"Please wait a moment, young lady..." Feng Yao bowed to Shen Qingzhu before turning and bowing again to Bai Qingyan, "Your Majesty, when the young master had me organize the bamboo slips left by Empress Ji and send them all to the Emperor of Zhou, I also heard about Your Majesty implementing new policies in the Zhou Kingdom. It suddenly reminded me of that... egalitarian society Empress Ji once described to this old servant during her lifetime! If Empress Ji knew her theories on governance are valued by the monarch of her allied nation and are being implemented, she would be immensely pleased! This old servant truly hopes to see it realized in my lifetime so that when I go to follow Empress Ji, I can tell her that the world she envisioned has come to fruition! This old servant... also wishes to tell the one who wronged Empress Ji that her methods of governance are correct!"
Bai Qingyan looked steadily at the kind-hearted elder before her, whose eyes had completely shed their former wariness and were now filled with expectation, even expressing goodwill towards Bai Qingyan.
"About those bamboo slips and books, I was the one grinding ink... while Empress Ji wrote, she would often chat with me simultaneously. I know many contents not written on those bamboo slips! This is also why the young master sent me to Your Majesty! Should Your Majesty need, feel free to summon this old servant anytime, and I will divulge all I know! Hoping to contribute to Your Majesty's new policies and see the establishment of the state Empress Ji wished for as soon as possible." Feng Yao bowed once again to Bai Qingyan before saying, "This old servant takes leave!"
Bai Qingyan watched Feng Yao's slightly hunched back, her lips curled into a faint smile, this Eunuch Feng was truly loyal to Empress Ji, protecting her child after her passing. Now... seeing her using the governance theories left by Empress Ji to implement reforms in governance, he has expressed his wish to clear Empress Ji's name after her death.
He perhaps not only wants the Emperor of Yan, who wronged Empress Ji, to see that Empress Ji was right, but to also let the whole world see that Empress Ji's methods of governance were correct!
Such unwavering loyalty… even supporting Empress Ji's governance ideologies; it shows that Feng Yao is indeed a deeply honorable and righteous person.
For Empress Ji to have such a loyal servant, it indicates what kind of person Empress Ji herself was.