Chapter 003 Teasing

The steaming bowl was placed in front of Feng Qiao, and the aroma of the food in the bowl made her stomach growl.

But Feng Qiao didn't touch it, she just looked up and asked, "Why?"

Liu Xi was taken aback, thinking that Feng Qiao was asking him. He handed the jade pill to Feng Qiao and asked in surprise, "Why what?"

But Feng Qiao ignored him and stubbornly looked at Xiao Minyuan.

Her face was still stained with blood, and her messy long hair covered most of her face, making it difficult to see her appearance clearly, but her eyes were particularly bright.

The girl raised her slender neck, as fragile as if it could be broken with a pinch, and pursed her lips, frowning, "Why?"

Why didn't he save her in the previous life from the beginning, but instead watched an innocent woman being cooked and ruined without any compassion?

Why didn't she let him save her in this life? She didn't owe him anything, yet he suddenly offered to help?

Feng Qiao didn't say anything, but Xiao Minyuan seemed to understand her meaning.

He looked into the girl's bright eyes, and the intense gaze in her eyes made him involuntarily pause, subconsciously turning his eyes away. When he came to his senses, he was surprised that he had been startled by a child.

Xiao Minyuan narrowed his eyes, took a spoonful of hot soup, swallowed it, and said lightly, "No reason, just pleasing to the eye."

Pleasing to the eye.

Just four simple words, spoken as casually as expressing a preference for sweets over spicy food. But Feng Qiao inexplicably felt furious and resentful from the bottom of her heart.

Just because it wasn't pleasing to the eye, could he just watch an innocent person being destroyed?

Just because it wasn't pleasing to the eye, would she have to cower in a dark place for the rest of her life, living like a ghost?

Feng Qiao had always known that people's hearts were unkind. No one in this world had an obligation to help anyone, but she would rather have Xiao Minyuan watch her die with such cold indifference than be saved by him at the last moment due to his own interests, living on like a monster.

She clenched her fists tightly, lowered her eyes to conceal the almost overwhelming murderous intent in her eyes, and stood up directly, walking towards the broken temple.

"Hey, where are you going? It's raining heavily outside, you'll die if you go out like this..." Liu Xi hurriedly spoke up.

Feng Qiao paused, and when she turned back, the icy coldness in her eyes made Liu Xi take two steps back.

"I don't know if I'll die or not, but if you continue to head to Lin'an, you will definitely die!"

Liu Xi was stunned, and Xiao Minyuan suddenly looked up.

Feng Qiao's slender figure stood at the temple gate, with wind and rain outside, but her hoarse voice sounded like thunder in everyone's ears.

"The Cang River has burst its banks, Lin'an has been sealed off. Qiu Pengcheng reported the disaster, but the granaries in Lin'an are empty. After the chaos in Lin'an, Cao Ku has taken three cities. As long as he takes Lin'an, he can directly threaten the capital."

"Qiu Pengcheng sealed the city gates to save his own life, but Cao Ku has already sent troops to besiege the Feng County where Qiu's family is located. Once Feng County falls, Qiu Pengcheng will rebel."

"If you go to Lin'an now, you are just offering yourself as a hostage. It's a dead end."

Xiao Minyuan couldn't help but stand up, his face full of frost.

"How do you know we are going to Lin'an?"

Feng Qiao sneered, "The tribute from Nanling, the royal Yunxiang embroidery, the dragon-patterned belt around your waist, it's obvious that you are telling others that you are a member of the royal family."

"Now that Lin'an is in chaos, the south is full of rebels, ordinary people are avoiding it, and you, a member of the royal family, are heading south at this time. Apart from going to Lin'an to quell the chaos and investigate the Cang River bursting, what else can you do?"

Xiao Minyuan stared at Feng Qiao intently, and the casual look in his eyes had disappeared, replaced by a hint of killing intent.

Liu Xi had already stood close to Xiao Minyuan, his face full of vigilance. His right hand was on the hilt of his long sword, gripping it tightly, as if he would draw the sword and take the life of the person in front of him at Xiao Minyuan's command.

As Feng Qiao exposed his identity, Xiao Minyuan's face twisted instantly.

In the Great Yan Dynasty, everyone knew that Emperor Yongzhen was indifferent and arbitrary, with unpredictable moods. He might have some patience for the favored prince, but he, Xiao Minyuan, was never the son valued by Emperor Yongzhen.

Everyone knew the dangers of this trip to Lin'an. The court allocated a large amount of silver every year to strengthen the Cang River embankment, but just one month of heavy rain washed away the supposedly indestructible dam.

With Lin'an suffering from the disaster, where did the money for repairing the dam go, and where did the relief food go? If one were to seriously investigate, it was likely that no one in the court could escape involvement.

When lives were at stake, who could guarantee that those people wouldn't take desperate measures when their interests were threatened?

In addition, there was turmoil around Lin'an, and Cao Ku was eyeing it, while Qiu Pengcheng was wavering... Every aspect was a crisis.

If Xiao Minyuan were favored, how could Emperor Yongzhen let him go to Lin'an at such a time?

Feng Qiao naturally knew about Xiao Minyuan's situation in the court, and she also understood Emperor Yongzhen's temperament. If Lin'an was really taken by Cao, it would make Xiao Minyuan appear incompetent. Although Emperor Yongzhen might not kill Xiao Minyuan, he would definitely lose favor with the emperor and have no chance of ascending to the throne.

And this would be more distressing to him than losing Xiao Minyuan's life!

Xiao Minyuan strode up to Feng Qiao and grabbed her neck fiercely, his face filled with coldness as he said, "You are seeking death!"

Feng Qiao's breathing became difficult as her neck was being squeezed, but she stood on her tiptoes, her voice weak but determined.

"I never seek death. I am just kindly reminding Your Highness because I am favored by you. If you want to take Lin'an, there may be other ways than directly confronting Cao's army."

"Qiu Pengcheng is not entirely at fault. His hesitation and confinement within the city are mainly due to the delayed report of the disaster. The road from Lin'an to the capital has been mostly destroyed by the flooding of the Cang River, and the heavy rain has made it difficult for messengers to deliver reports in time."

Xiao Minyuan's eyes paused, and he said in a cold voice, "What about the relief supplies?"

"The grain warehouse is under Qiu Pengcheng's control. If he doesn't disclose it, who would know if there is any grain inside?"

Feng Qiao's breathing became more rapid, her face turning from red to pale, and her cracked lips turned blue. Yet, she continued to look at Xiao Minyuan with unwavering eyes.

"According to the laws of Dayan, officials below the third rank are not allowed to open the official granary without imperial decree, and Qiu Pengcheng is only a fourth-rank prefect. His actions are not in violation of the law, so where is the serious crime?"

"As long as Your Highness assures him of his safety and that of his family, and ensures that the Emperor does not investigate this matter, why would he risk joining Cao and becoming a traitor?"

Xiao Minyuan listened to Feng Qiao's words, his expression constantly changing.

The chaos in Lin'an was already apparent, with Cao capturing three cities and firmly holding the southern capital. If he forcefully entered Lin'an, not to mention Qiu Pengcheng's potential defection to Cao out of fear, even if he didn't, he would have to confront Cao head-on.

In either case, the situation in Lin'an would only become more chaotic, and he would gain no benefit. On the contrary, he would likely be criticized by his political opponents in the court.

On the other hand, if he could secure Feng County, rescue Qiu Pengcheng's family, and either use it to threaten Qiu Pengcheng or show him favor, it would be highly likely to take over Lin'an without bloodshed.

With Lin'an and Qiu Pengcheng on his side, he would have numerous ways to deal with Cao. Once Cao was gone, all the chaos would be resolved, and Xiao Minyuan would be the greatest hero in quelling the rebellion.

Feng Qiao watched Xiao Minyuan's changing expression and felt the hand on her neck slowly loosening.

She took a deep breath, forcefully broke free from his grip, staggered back two steps, and leaned against the wall behind her, coughing violently and holding her throat.

Xiao Minyuan looked at her, her face flushed from coughing, her small body curled up, and a glaring bruise visible on her neck.

His gaze turned cold, and he asked, word by word, "Who are you exactly?"

"I am Feng Qiao, the daughter of the provincial governor Feng Qizhou."