Chapter 11
"Of course, ye-" Xiao Feng's eyes went wide and close her mouth with one hand and looks at Shan Yuan who had small smile which he tries to hide.
"Y-yeah, as a friend" Xiao Feng just looks at the sky while laying down and Shan Yuan also lay down and the smile, he tried hard to hide was visible clearly.
It was the morning and everyone was planning their own schemes. Xiao Feng was sitting in one of the hey cart.
"Why are you here? Aren't they planning something?"
"Yeah, I have already told my plan" Xiao Feng went to her tent. Shan Yuan following her from behind.
In the court a soldier came with a memorial and emperor read it and throw it to the ground.
"The man who leads Wei army is crown prince. Crown prince is alive" Everyone gasped.
"You all know crown prince and princess royal grand are best friends. So, princess royal request for another military advisor. She has recommended lord Xie. What do you think?"
"Lord Xie, has excellent skills for art of war. I think it's a good idea" A minister said.
"Lord Xie, handle this matter"
"Yes, your majesty"
Xiao Feng was sitting in her tent and Linlin and general Mu came inside.
"Greetings, Princess"
"General Mu" Xiao Feng took out a paper that was folded and gave it to general Mu. General Mu unfolded the paper.
'Tomorrow night I want to sneak attack to Wei's camp. I want to take 3rd princes head and go back to capital. I have already sent a memorial to the emperor to send a military adviser in case. I will take that bastard's head and wait in the nearest city to capital and wait for emperor's edict. I have already prepared everything. We only need to take action tomorrow'
"What do you think?" Xiao Feng asked after seeing general Mu had read the content. General Mu burned the paper and back away bowing went outside.
Xiao Feng entered prince Jing's tent.
"Your highness"
"Xiao Feng, come here. Sit down" Prince Jing said dismissing everyone. Xiao Feng sat down as prince Jing took her hand in his.
"Your highness, I have decided to go back to capital"
"But why?"
"Your highness, if we work as planned, we don't need second attack. We will surely win but I really can't bear to kill crown prince" Prince Jing let go of Xiao Feng's hands.
"I was once engaged with him. I once spent most of time with him, though I don't feel the same now for the sake of past relationship I don't want to see him die again because in my heart crown prince has already died" Xiao Feng looks at down. Anyone who see Xiao Feng will have the thought to protect her and hug her and console her. Prince Jing took her hand again.
"Okay, then when are you going?"
"Tomorrow"
"Okay. How about red moon?"
"I didn't put them in the plan because I decide to take them with me for my protection. I am afraid I will meet crown prince. If you want, I can let you keep them"
"No. No. they are good for your protection"
"Thank you, your highness. I will go back. I have to see of packing"
"Okay"
Xiao Feng's maids were packing. In the night Shan Yuan, general Mu, Linlin and Xiao Feng was sneaking behind the tents. It was snowing heavily. Finally, they get inside 3rd prince was in bed with a woman. Xiao Feng was standing in front. Only her shadow can be seen to 3rd prince.
"Who are you?" 3rd prince stopped what he was doing and stand up from his bed.
"Your highness?" The woman called out and general Mu put the sword in her neck.
"If you dare to shout you will die"
"Who are you? Who send you here?" He took his sword and observe around.
Xiao Feng stepped one step by one step till there was only 3 steps between them. There was a dragger head inside her waist belt. The dragger was phoenix carved dragger with word 'Feng'. Her right hand held the sword which was shining even though there was only darkness. Her grip tightened in the sword and her left hand gripped the dragger.
Xiao Feng put another step closer and attack 3rd prince and 3rd prince who was ready blocked it with his sword and look at Xiao Feng. "Xiao-?" He could only say Xiao when Xiao Feng's left hand went fast and attacked right in 3rd prince's chest and Xiao Feng went to the side as 3rd prince spit blood from a mouth. The sword in 3rd prince's hand loosened and fell to the ground. His left hand was on her chest as he pointed Xiao Feng. "You-" 3rd prince gritted his teeth and the next second the blood splash with a slashing sound and the woman in the bed gasped. The head of 3rd prince rolled away from his body.
Linlin went towards the rolling head with a bag. They just came outside the tent when the woman screamed but they could get away without any encounter of their enemies.
The next day Xiao Feng, Shan Yuan and red moon was riding back to Sui kingdom's capital.
In the war crown prince retreated as Sui's soldiers killed all the enemies with Xiao Feng's idea.
Coming to the palace after reporting to the emperor Xiao Feng went directly to imperial memorial and put the bag with head there and spent the whole day in the memorial.
Within 12 days prince Jing and Sui army came back with the victory. A grand celebration was placed in the palace. Xiao Feng informed the emperor that she wants to go to West kingdom to visit her mother and clear her mind.
"My empress, do you think Xiao Feng deliberately avoiding the court?" Emperor asked from her empress.
"I think so, 3rd sister is afraid people will threat your majesty and try to bring the decline of the Xiao family"
"But I will not"
"I know. My sister also knows but we can't shut the old men in the court"
"I didn't talk about the divorce letter to Xiao Feng, I decide to pass the edict tomorrow"
In the West kingdom. Xiao Feng went inside the West kingdom's great hall. In front there was emperor of West kingdom, Xiao Feng's grandfather and mother.
"Xiao Feng, pay her respect to royal grandfather"
"Xiao Feng, come here. Let me look at you" Xiao Feng went near her grandfather and spin twice.
"You have grown up"
"Grandfather, I have brought few gifts for you and also his majesty and father send you few gifts you too and also prince Jing" Emperor notice Xiao Feng's change mentioning prince Jing. Xiao Feng let servants show the gifts and a eunuch lead the maids and eunuch out of the great hall.
"I heard that you are married"
"Grandfather, it was late empress dowager's wish and late emperor's order"
"So, you did"
"Mother, see grandfather. We didn't end the rituals. We didn't kowtow nor did he take off my veil. Particular we just namely husband and wife because of the edict"
"I know it. Your mother said it. I am asking about the rumor that happen in North West border"
"You already know?" Xiao Feng then looks at her mother and then back at grandfather.
"Is it true? Its not that we are not allowing you to take your own" Xiao Feng cut off the remaining word.
"Weining was there, nothing happened it was just an act I came up with to suppress other rumors talking bad about royal family"
"Yes, your majesty. Nothing happened. Princess and I was the only one there and prince Jing were drunk and princess came up with the plan"
"You're Weining?"
"Yes, your majesty"
"The other two? This lad why is you wearing a mask?"
"Grandfather, since I am going to stay here for a time how about you send the other servants out this 4 is enough for me"
"If you want it's okay. After all West kingdom is not loss of servants" He signal for one of eunuch and he went out leading all the Sui kingdom's people.
"So, what about these people who you decide to keep? I should know them if they're capable to serve my granddaughter"
"Yes. Grandfather you already know Linlin" Xiao Feng went down as she went towards Linlin as Linlin bow to the emperor.
"This is Weining, she helped a lot when I was in prince Jing's manor" Weining bow down as Xiao Feng went to Shan Yuan and nod to him. Shan Yuan took off his mask.
"This is Shan Yuan, my friend. Since I don't want to lie to grandfather, he is from Yang kingdom"
"Shan Yuan, prince of Yang, pay his respect to emperor of West kingdom"
"Prince of Yang? The one you talked about?" Emperor looks at her daughter and she nodded.
"And this is his follower, Bai Qi" He also bow.
"An Ping, why don't you bring Xiao Feng to show her room, since it's rare a thing for someone in kingdom Yang to visit here I will have a talk with him"
"Yes, your majesty" Princess Heping walks towards Xiao Feng.
"Let's go. You sister Mei is missing you" Xiao Feng walks few steps towards the entrance and look back.
"Grandfather, he is my friend. Don't be too harsh" Xiao Feng smile at Shan Yuan before leaving the hall. Xiao Feng and her mother was walking through a corridor.
"Mother, will Shan Yuan be, okay?"
"Don't be afraid. Your grandfather will not do anything to your man"
"W-What my man?" Xiao Feng asked frustrated. Prince Heiping chuckled.
Emperor went near Shan Yuan.
"So, I heard that you help my little Xiao's a lot of time"
"It's only a little help"
"Follow me"
"What's your relationship with Xiao Feng?"
"We are-"
Before coming to west kingdom on the post house Xiao Feng was walking here and there as Linlin, Weining, Shan Yuan and Bai Qi was sitting looking at Xiao Feng who finally stopped.
"If my grandfather asks anything just simply answer don't beat the bush" Emperor asked again,
"You are?"
"Friends"
"Just friends?"
"Yes, for now" Shan Yuan said looking at emperor's eyes. Emperor pat Shan Yuan's shoulder.
"You're quite brave, you and Xiao Feng will make great couple" Emperor said hugging him while laughing.
"C-couple?" Emperor stopped his laughing and let him go.
"You don't like my granddaughter? She is the most perfect and the most beautiful woman. I have already sent divorce letter to Sui kingdom and the answer must be already coming"
"But even though Xiao Feng doesn't like prince Jing, I don't think she will like the idea of divorce. She also said I am her friend"
"If you understood her, it's good. I know that silly girl thinks about others before her. She doesn't care about her feelings, just give her time. Also, that's why I want someone who put her as their priority to be her partner. Someone who cherish her and love her, that's the good husband. If they refused the divorce West kingdom will declare war. So, will you take care of my granddaughter?"
"About that Xiao Feng, I don't think she likes me back"
"Do you like her?"