s throbbed. He just wanted to find a crack in the ground to hide in; after all, he couldn't afford to offend anyone."Young Master, Miss's maid Xiaoli has arrived."Lu Nian heard Xiaoli and immediately...Dugu Cheng returned already in the morning of the next day. Feng Lingxi woke up and saw that his face was haggard. She didn't say much, after he fell asleep, she went out to refine pills herself.

Feng Ling Xi had made quite a few pills after two days of brewing. She stuck labels on them, making it easier to identify them when she took them out later.

Dugu City would leave every evening and return early in the morning. He would go straight to sleep upon returning and did not even try to touch her. Feng Ling Xi waited, and eventually forgot about what had happened before. She focused on her own affairs.

"Your Highness, today is the Empress's birthday. All the ladies from the court officials will certainly dress up in their finest attire. Would you like to dress just as elegantly as them"

The Empress has been concocting pills day and night these past few days, and she's lost quite a bit of weight.

Has the Prince returned

The time for the banquet is almost here, and Dugu City hasn't come to find her. It seems he's really busy these days.

Xiaoli heard the princess always mentioning the king, her smile widened.

"Reporting to Her Royal Highness, the King has not yet returned."

Feng Lingxi frowned, put down what she was holding, and glanced outside. "Xiao Li, what time is it Why hasn't the Prince returned yet"

Xiao Li covered her mouth and giggled, "Your Highness, it's still early. You must be missing the King, so time seems to drag on."

Feng Lingxi blushed when Xiaoli said that, and glared at her with annoyance, "You little girl, you're good at making fun of me."

Xiao Li smiled even happier, "Your Highness, how dare a servant tease you I just feel that Your Highness and the King are so loving now, this servant truly feels happy for you."

"There's no need to exaggerate like that. He and I simply understand how to cherish each other. Since he treats me sincerely, I naturally treat him sincerely too."

Dust swirled as Dugu Cheng returned, and he heard Xi'er and Xiaoli talking. As he listened to Xi'er's words, the fatigue on his face vanished instantly.

"Xier, this king is back."

"I have seen Lord Wang."

Xiao Li hurriedly bowed, winked playfully at the Princess, and retreated to the side.

Feng Lingxi saw the fatigue on Dugu Cheng's face and walked to him, "Are you done with everything"

Dugu Cheng responded, "These few days this King personally investigated Zhang Taiyi's matter, Xi'er, you have to be mentally prepared."

Feng Lingxi's face darkened slightly, "Is something wrong with Dr. Zhang"

Dugu Cheng nodded, "After the burial of his mother-in-law, Dr. Zhang was assassinated. The young master Zhang who escorted his mother-in-law sent a message saying you should not investigate Dr. Zhang any further."

"Didn't he investigate the cause of death of that imperial physician"

Seeing Dugu Cheng nod, Feng Ling Xi's face turned even uglier.

What was the young master thinking Could it be that Physician Zhang and his mother were…

"Impossible, Dr. Zhang's body is already at the yamen, confirmed, and the coroner has performed an autopsy."

獨孤城的這句話讓風淩兮很是震驚，也就是說排除了假死，那到底是誰殺死了張太醫？

What was the cause of Dr. Zhang's death

"Suicide."

Feng Lingxi was startled and asked uncertainly, "Is it really suicide"

"Perhaps it was a feigning of death, but it failed, resulting in true death."

Feng Lingxi's face became even paler. Zhang Taiyi's feigned death must have been for his mother, but now he was truly dead. Who was the mastermind behind this

Although it was called a suicide, it was actually a murder.

"I want to see Zhang Taiyi's corpse..."

"Master Zhang was taken away this morning and has already been buried. Master Zhang has also left the capital city."

"Why so suddenly"

Feng Lingxi hurriedly asked, "Did he leave any news about my mother"

"No."

Wind Ling Xi's expression was complicated. Could it be that her mother had also met with misfortune

"Xier, Lord Zhang leaving the capital must have been because he knew something. He's also preventing you from continuing the investigation for your own good. Our current situation means that anything we do will be watched. It's best to put this aside for now and let me investigate secretly."

"You're still being watched, this matter can be put aside for a while. Today is the Empress's birthday, and it's almost time. Let's go to the palace banquet first."

"Well then, let's wait until after the Empress's birthday to discuss this."

Dugu City went to bathe and change his clothes, Feng Lingxi also went to tidy up. An hour later, the two were ready and went to the palace for the banquet.

When Feng Lingxi arrived at the palace gate, she finally saw the extravagance of the Empress's birthday banquet. All the civil and military officials seemed to have brought out their best treasures to please the Empress. The ladies were even more dazzling, each one adorned in elaborate finery. It was said to be the Empress's birthday banquet, but those who didn't know better might think it was a selection of concubines for the Emperor, with a hundred flowers vying for attention.

Feng Ling Xi's clothes were sent to her from the palace by Shu Fei, asking her to wear them to the banquet today. Compared to the others, they were much simpler and elegant, but still carried a sense of grace.

"Fourth Princess."

The sound of Feng Yu Xi's voice reached her, and Feng Ling Xi turned to look as the elaborately dressed Feng Yu Xi walked towards her. The jewelry she wore truly opened Feng Ling Xi's eyes. As the eldest daughter of the Feng family, she had never worn such valuable jewelry before.

"Oh, it's Third Sister."

Wind Ling spoke in a slightly flat tone, "Third sister, you are really beautiful today."

Feng Yu Xi stretched out her hand to cover her face, explaining, "I don't want to dress like this either, but Father said that as the eldest daughter now, I can't disgrace the Feng family. I have no other choice."

"As the eldest daughter of the Feng family now, I haven't congratulated Third Sister on her promotion to the position of legitimate daughter. Congratulations, Third Sister."

Feng Yu's face changed slightly as he looked at Feng Ling Xi's indifferent eyes. His expression stiffened.

“Fourth Princess, please don’t tease me. How can I, a legitimate daughter, compare to you My mother and I have achieved what we have today all thanks to the Fourth Princess’s grace. After Madam left, my father promoted my mother to the position of mistress. My mother and I had no right to refuse, we could only accept. If the Fourth Princess wishes to punish us, my mother and I are at your disposal.”

Feng Ling Xi, seeing her earnest attitude, took her hand.

"Third Sister, since it's the Wind General's wish, how dare I have an opinion."

Wind and rain, her face changed slightly, she felt uneasy at the implication of her words.

Fourth Princess, do you think my mother and I purposely had Father elevate me to the status of eldest daughter

Looking at the worry in Feng Yu Xi's eyes, Feng Ling Xi smiled, "Third Sister, don't worry too much. After my mother passed away, I had nothing to do with General Feng's Mansion anymore. Matters concerning General Feng's Mansion are up to General Feng to decide."

"So you, the Fourth Princess Consort, also agree to have Eldest Sister and Second Sister be listed under your husband's name"

Feng Yu Xi's words, spoken under the setting sun, caused Feng Ling Xi's smile to vanish instantly. Gazing at Feng Yu Xi's eyes filled with anger and grief, one might think she was fiercely protective of her.

If it weren't for her mother saying she was wary of them, she might truly believe that Feng Yu Xi wouldn't harm her.

“My mother only has one daughter. If her sisters want to become legitimate daughters, they can move under your mother's name. After all, they would become legitimate daughters either way, so there's no need to move under my mother's name.”

In the face of wind and rain, she shook her head. "How could this be possible If they were to become legitimate daughters, how could I ever repay Madam and the Fourth Princess's kindness to our mother and daughter"ngxi inside the room."Xi'er is a woman, she can't fight with us as carefree as we do. If she could just let loose in a good old brawl, all that tension would vanish.""Oh no, haha... ha..." Lu Nian bur...