"Ah!"
"Ah!"
The chilling screams echoed above the Jinluan Hall, lingering in their minds, causing their hearts to tremble uncontrollably, palms sweating, and a feeling of icy dread spreading through them.
Dressed in white, with white hair, every movement was graceful and composed, a faint smile always present on that youthful face.
Liu Xinyou cast a cold glance at Zhang Mama, who was on the verge of fainting from pain, then turned to look at Xianyue behind her. The officials in the hall were in a state of panic, but Xianyue stood there as if she saw nothing, her innocent face and clear eyes cold and ruthless.
Liu Xinyou tilted her body slightly and effortlessly lifted Zhang Mama off the ground with just two fingers, her slender waist tracing an oval shape in the air. The onlookers looked up, suddenly realizing that something seemed to be flying overhead.
"Thud."
The Jinluan Hall shook as if an earthquake had struck. Everyone turned toward the sound, seeing the plump Zhang Mama spitting blood, collapsing at Qiu Xin's feet. Qiu Xin bit her lip tightly, her eyes wide as she stared at the fallen Zhang Mama, covering her head before suddenly screaming and rushing out.
The guards who had accompanied Ningxiang intended to pursue her, but Li Hanyue acted first, gripping Qiu Xin's hand tightly. If she tried to run, she would forcefully throw her to the ground.
Qiu Xin fell to the ground, her eyes still fixed on Zhang Mama's direction. Her hands hung limply at her sides, devoid of any blood, yet clearly incapacitated. The corner of her mouth was stained bright red, a shocking sight.
"Princess, although Zhang Mama is just a servant, she has taken care of you since you were a baby. How can you be so cold-hearted?" Li Hanyue approached Xianyue, pointing at the bleeding Zhang Mama, continually wiping her tears with her sleeves, looking heartbroken.
The other officials nodded in agreement, a few echoing her sentiment. The princess was only four years old; how could she treat someone who had cared for her like this?
"Your Majesty, you must find someone to teach the princess properly. We cannot let her go down the wrong path. In my opinion, the little princess should be entrusted to the noble consort," one of the officials suggested.
Oh, you, Li Wei'an! If she were really handed over to Li Hanyue, she would undoubtedly be taught to be full of wounds, as if her bones would be swallowed whole.
"Father, please see clearly."
Xianyue took a few steps forward, kneeling before Feng Xuanling from several steps away. "That night, wasn't my brother supposed to be in the Feng'an Palace receiving the congratulations of the officials and envoys? The place where I fell into the water was indeed not far from Feng'an Palace, but what are the odds that I fell into the water just as my brother arrived? Furthermore, there weren't even any patrolling guards there that night. What is going on, Father? There was hibiscus grass in the water."
Her reasoning was clear, each statement logical. How could a four-year-old child think of these things?
Hibiscus grass—no wonder the prince nearly drowned.
Feng Xuanling stared intensely at Xianyue from his throne, as if trying to see through her.
"Master Wang Xigong said that my brother hurriedly left Feng'an Palace that night after receiving a small note. That note was delivered to him by Zhang Mama personally. This indicates that everything was prearranged."
Xianyue turned and coldly announced to the dazed officials on either side, her clear voice ringing like a drumbeat in their hearts.
"Each of you thought my brother was hopeless, never considering that I know a master who possesses the ability to bring the dead back to life. I had Ningxiang reveal the news to Zhang Mama, who, after learning of it, secretly visited the Zhu Xuan Palace."
Everyone present wasn't foolish; they all understood what this implied.
The facts were laid out before them, clearly pointing the finger at the noble consort, Li Guifei. Even if it was a four-year-old child saying it, they could not dismiss it. Was the princess truly just a little girl raised in the deep palace? They felt as if they were witnessing a prodigy.
"Father."
Xianyue suddenly stood up, supporting herself on her knees, pointing at Zhang Mama, who lay on the ground with wide-open eyes. "All these years, she has relied on her age and acted recklessly in the Xue Sang Palace. If it weren't for her minimal contributions, would she have enjoyed such ease for so long? Ungrateful and treacherous servants like her—what use do we have for them?"
Zhang Mama, spitting blood and barely breathing, wept with regret.
"Noble Consort."
Xianyue flicked her sleeve dramatically, her aura powerful, turning to glare at the feigning calm Li Hanyue. Her youthful voice drifted through the silent golden hall.
Xianyue stepped closer to her. Seeing this, Li Hanyue took several steps back, her fists clenched beneath her long skirt. All the officials focused their gazes on her, knowing that the princess showed no mercy to the nanny who raised her. It seemed Li Guifei was in dire straits.
"Princess."
Li Hanyue took a deep breath, steadied her mind, raised her chin, and a faint smile played at the corners of her mouth as she regained her earlier pride.
"Do you think that because you caused my brother's death, Father will act like he did when he took in the consorts, succumbing to pressure from the officials and forcing you concubines to bear children? Just for the sake of having a little prince to inherit the throne of Feng Kingdom?"
Xianyue also lifted her chin, chuckling twice, her clear eyes gleaming with cold light.
Feng Xuanling tightly gripped the dragon heads on either side of his throne, staring intently at Xianyue, his gaze filled with unspoken guilt and deep sorrow.
"What false charges can't be made?"
Though he tried hard to control himself, his voice still trembled, a mix of fear and anger.
"I had no knowledge of this matter at all."
Her slender hand trembled, veins standing out, and her beautiful eyes were filled with panic.
"Noble Consort, whether you are aware of it or not, you should give up on your treacherous intentions. I tell you, as long as I, Feng Xianyue, am alive, no one is allowed to touch my brother's things, regardless of whether he wants them or not. The position of Crown Prince of Feng Kingdom and this kingdom itself—I will never allow anyone to lay a finger on them. The first ruler of Feng Kingdom is a female emperor."
A female emperor? Did the princess aspire to be one? At such a young age, she possessed such wisdom, strategy, and means. If she ascended to the throne, she would undoubtedly lead Feng Kingdom to renewed glory.
To be an emperor or an empress was not Xianyue's dream; she only wished to hold onto a tiny warmth amidst the chaos of the world.
"Is the ruler still alive? What can a little princess do for His Highness?"
Seeing his precious daughter, whom he had always cherished, being bullied by a four-year-old child, Li Wei'an felt a surge of anger and wished he could rush up and slap Xianyue twice. However, there were people around her protecting her, making it impossible for him to act. Now that she was speaking such rebellious words, how could he hold back from speaking out?
Suddenly, Xianyue turned around, taking small steps toward the sunlight, her watery eyes narrowing as she pointed at the rising sun. "I will shoulder the responsibilities of this world; I will stand against its calamities for him!"
The morning sun streamed through the open palace doors, shining down on her. In the sunlight, she glimmered with golden light, like a celestial being descending from the heavens, exuding an aura that demanded respect.
"Come at me for anything; if anyone dares to harm His Highness the Crown Prince, don't blame me for being cold-blooded and heartless, forsaking all relations!"
A four-year-old child—who would take her words lightly? Yet at this moment, every word she spoke resonated in the hearts of the officials present, and they believed her without question.
"Is it you? Did you conceal these matters from me?"
The resplendent and elegant Li Hanyue, filled with rage, suddenly rushed in front of Qiu Xin and raised her hand to deliver a heavy slap.