CHAPTER 250: CHAPTER 250 CONSPIRACY

The sky gradually darkened, the wind rose!

June skies change quickly, and as the gale swept past the lanterns along the long street, shadows danced like ghosts. The sound of the wind pierced the air, like the cry of cranes in alarm, amid the tension that made even the slightest movement fearful. The streets fell silent except for the muffled sound of longswords piercing flesh and bone. Xie Xun had swiftly slain six Forbidden Army soldiers; his brocade robes were stained with blood, his gaze fierce, as he tightened his grip on his heavy sword and strode toward Fengyu with the cold indifference of the autumn wind.

He seized her chin and tilted it upward, then kissed her brutally. Fengyu smelled the thick stench of blood on him, and tears instantly rolled down her cheeks.

"Xie Xun!"

This kiss, intense and hopeless, was like the only solace in a long, endless night. Fengyu’s palm pressed against his pounding heart, whose violent rhythm betrayed his anger and hatred. Xie Xun released her and whispered an apology in her ear before leaping onto his horse. Nuanyang tried to rise but was held back by Qiuxiang. Zhuifeng stamped anxiously, its hooves striking the ground, while Xie Xun looked down at Fengyu from atop his mount as if it was his final gaze, engraving the image of her face deep into his memory.

"Take care of Nuanyang for me!" Xie Xun lingered no longer. He spurred his horse westward, blending into the darkness with a single figure and an ebony steed. Fengyu snapped back to her senses and instructed Qiuxiang, "Bring him home—enter through the side gate. Don’t alarm anyone else."

"Understood!"

Fengyu lifted her skirt and began to frantically run toward the Feng Mansion. The Marquis Mansion was in upheaval, and her elder sister was still inside. Except for the one time she had fled for her life, this was her first time running so desperately with all her might.

She knew—the entire Xie family was doomed to annihilation!

Regicide was a crime that implicated nine generations!

"Nine generations..." How absurd! The Xie family had laid down countless lives for Yanyang over the decades, yet now, only this last branch of Marquis Zhenbei remained. Almost all male members of the last three generations had died in battle.

"When the cunning hare dies, the hunting dog is cooked." The fate of renowned generals seemed cursed—they never met good ends in life.

The Feng Mansion was still celebrating Feng Shu and Xie Zhang’s wedding, hosting banquets for the guests. Marquis Zhenbei and the Feng Family had planned non-stop feasts for three days and nights. The festivities were in full swing. When Fengyu burst through the doors of the Feng Mansion, blood-stained hands and all, Feng Changqing was raising his cup in celebration with his fellow officers. Everything had happened so suddenly—no one had received word yet that the Crown Prince had sent Forbidden Army soldiers to blockade the Marquis Mansion.

"Third Miss—what happened to you?"

"Ayu, what’s going on?"

Fengyu’s tears had not yet dried. Blood stained her palm and dress; disheveled, she rushed to Feng Changqing’s side. "The Marquis Mansion is in trouble! The Crown Prince has sent the Forbidden Army to surround the mansion. Personal guards broke out and found Xie Xun, saying the Marquis has killed the Emperor—regicide and rebellion!"

Fengyu dared not exaggerate, relaying Nuanyang’s original words directly. As soon as her voice fell, silence enveloped the hall where Feng Changqing was surrounded by generals who had fought in Ningzhou for years.

Then—like a bolt of thunder—it exploded. Moments later, anger flared as if fuel had been poured onto a roaring fire.

"Impossible!"

"The Marquis would never commit regicide or rebellion, Third Miss—do not speak carelessly!"

"Third Miss—are you certain of this?"

Cui Lansong, already on his feet, smashed his wine cup. "This is absolutely a setup. The Marquis couldn’t possibly murder the Emperor or plot rebellion. I’m heading to the Marquis Mansion immediately!"

Suddenly, three crimson fireworks exploded in the direction of Marquis Zhenbei Mansion. The expressions of several generals shifted instantly—this was the signal of utmost dread for Ningzhou’s soldiers: the commander was in deadly peril.

The uproar of voices was suddenly silenced.

"The Marquis!" Cui Lansong stormed toward the door, followed by several military generals. Feng Changqing spoke in a low voice, "Men, prepare the horses—assemble the troops!"

The National General Mansion housed 300 personal guards who were enjoying the festivities tonight with their commander. Following Feng Changqing’s orders, the guards swiftly armed themselves. Due to the wedding feast, all soldiers had laid down armor and weapons, leaving them unprepared. Fortunately, the Feng Mansion had a weapons cache, though it wasn’t enough for everyone; still, half the guards managed to equip themselves.

The banquet was now engulfed in panic. Everyone knew something serious had happened. Feng Changlin approached Feng Changqing to block his path, shouting anxiously, reverting to the childhood nickname, "Little Brother—things at the Marquis Mansion remain unclear. If the Crown Prince truly sent the Forbidden Army to besiege the mansion, taking up arms against them would mean rebellion. The lives of hundreds in the Feng Family would all be lost. We should best wait and see—do not involve yourself in this conflict!"

"Mother, Elder Brother, I am the Marquis’s personal commander. If he is in danger, I cannot sit idly by!" Feng Changqing knelt and kowtowed heavily toward the old matriarch. "Shu’er is still at the Marquis Mansion, her fate unknown. Mother, forgive me for my lack of filial duty!"

"Shu’er’s life—is her singular life more important than the lives of everyone in the Feng Mansion? If the Marquis truly murdered the Emperor and plotted rebellion, the Crown Prince’s execution of the Marquis would be justified. What are you going to do by bringing troops—join in the rebellion?" Feng Changlin reproached sharply. "The Marquis Mansion and the Feng Family may have marital ties, but we are not among the Marquis’s nine generations. If you gamble everyone’s lives, I cannot agree!"

"The Marquis would never murder the Emperor or plot rebellion. This must be a framing!" Feng Changqing declared unwaveringly. "Tonight is Xie Zhang and Shu’er’s wedding—who would storm the palace and rebel on the night of their eldest son’s wedding?"

Feng Changlin still intended to debate, but the old matriarch spoke softly, "Changqing—go!"

Moved, Feng Changqing kowtowed three more times, rose decisively, and swiftly donned the armor brought by the personal guards. Su Yuejiao embraced Fengyu, tears streaming as she said, "Ayu, I’m sorry that we must leave you again."

"Mother—you and Father must return safely." Fengyu’s voice choked with emotion as the numerous generals attending the Feng Mansion’s banquet followed Feng Changqing out.

The mansion descended into chaos. The celebratory banquet had been abruptly disrupted by the shocking turn of events—the implications of regicide threatened to implicate nine generations. Some sought to dissociate themselves, others trembled in fear, speculating and panicking endlessly.

The old matriarch, supported by Mrs. Rong, slowly rose. "Shu’er’s wedding was meant to be a joyous occasion, inviting friends and relatives to celebrate together. Who could have expected catastrophe to strike tonight? Sudden calamity cuts across our plans. The fate of the Feng Family is uncertain; life and death await us. Here I thank all of our dear guests, and I wish you all safety and longevity. Tonight’s banquet ends here; everyone, leave, and protect yourselves with wisdom."

The guests dispersed quickly, leaving Fengyu and the old matriarch to courteously send off each of their relatives. The Marquis An Yuan family was the last to leave; the Duchess pulled Fengyu aside and said, "Ayu, if something truly happens to the Marquis Mansion, the outcome will surely be dire. After we leave, you and Feng Ling must quickly find a place to hide—save yourselves if you can."

"Ayu thanks the Duchess for her concern." Ayu bid farewell to the Marquis An Yuan family with poise and grace, though Commandery Princess Xue Lan turned back again and again, as if reluctant to believe she might never see Fengyu again in this lifetime.

Once the guests were gone, only relatives remained. The Feng Family didn’t have many relatives in the Capital City; most were from Liling. Some hastily packed their belongings and prepared carriages to flee overnight. Fengyu calmly said, "Tonight there’s a curfew—the Forbidden Army and Jinyi Guards will soon spread across the Capital City. The city gates are already closed. Within the next few days, leaving the city will likely be impossible. Uncles and aunts, first go hide in the outer residence. Once the storm blows over, you can leave the city. Go to Three Cross Street and look for Shopkeeper Wen—she will make arrangements for you."

The eldest matriarch was already overwhelmed with panic, collapsing weakly onto a cushioned bench. Feng Changlin and the old matriarch were locked in a furious dispute, while Feng Ling wept incessantly from the side.

Amid the chaos, Fengyu was the only one keeping her composure, methodically handling the arrangements for the family members.

If the Feng Mansion faced disaster, the nine clans wouldn’t avoid being implicated—but the matter was not yet settled. There was still a glimmer of hope. The extended family harbored resentment toward Feng Changqing’s insistence on bringing troops to the Marquis Mansion. They feared that affiliation with the rebellion would lead to the execution of all nine clans. Fengyu understood their terror—for the hundreds of elders and children in the family, survival seemed increasingly elusive.

"Zhang Da—lock the mansion gates tightly tonight, defend the entrance with your life! Other than Father, don’t open the door for anyone else!"

"Understood!" Zhang Da set off to carry out her orders.

Fengyu instructed Chunlu, "Go to the merchant guild and summon everyone available—bring them all here to guard the mansion. In the midst of chaos, we need to prevent opportunists from stirring trouble."

"Understood!"

Chunlu exited through a side gate. Fengyu had already dispatched anyone she could. Uneasy, she rubbed the Soul Suppressing Pearl clasped in her hand. Xie Xun—please, let this mean you’ve already escaped the city. Live on. Only by living can hope survive!

For the first time, Feng Changlin defied the old matriarch, growing so angry that he smashed a bowl. His eldest son held office in Liling, while his eldest daughter, Feng Wan, was married to Prince Duan and already one month pregnant. If implicated in treason, Feng Wan might be spared—but the rest of the family would surely meet their end. Feng Changlin was adamantly opposed to Feng Changqing and Su Yuejiao bringing troops to the Marquis Mansion.

Rescue?

With the Marquis accused of murdering the Emperor, what grounds could there be for a rescue?

Rebellion?

With the Forbidden Army and Jinyi Guards saturating the city, what could they use to stage a rebellion? The Crown Prince must have taken every precaution in besieging the mansion—going to him would be a journey of almost certain death, dragging the family down with it.

"If not for the Marquis’s support, you’d still be a minor official in Ningzhou. Changqing wouldn’t be the National General, and the Feng Family wouldn’t have achieved this level of glory. Since the day Shu’er and Xie Zhang were betrothed, the fates of the Feng Mansion and the Marquis Mansion have been entwined—we cannot simply wash our hands of this and remain uninvolved. The Marquis Mansion sheltered us from storms for over a decade; the Feng Family and the Marquis Mansion should stand as one, rooted together. If not, we would be no better than ingrates. To enjoy prosperity while abandoning those who share trials of adversity—is this not the behavior of beasts?" The old matriarch had weathered three reigns, enduring decades of life’s highs and lows. She had seen too much. "Wait—life and death... will be decided tonight!"

Suddenly, the sound of cavalry galloping outside the mansion tore through the night, the clatter of hooves nearly breaking the darkness as the troops surged ahead with alarming speed. Fengyu glimpsed the fluttering tiger banner.

The banner of the Northern Iron Cavalry!

What was happening?

Chunlu returned to the mansion, successfully summoning over 200 guards from the escort agency and merchant guild. Along with her came troubling news. "Mistress—the worst has happened. The young Marquis has led 3,000 Mounted Cavalry towards the Marquis Mansion!"

Fengyu’s heart pounded violently. Xie Xun hadn’t escaped the city? Didn’t Xie Zhang instruct him to flee and avoid returning to the mansion? Yet he turned around and led the cavalry directly to the Marquis Mansion!

No matter the truth of whether Marquis Zhenbei was guilty of rebellion, the moment the cavalry charged the Forbidden Army would confirm the rebellion—it would become irreversible.

But this was Xie Xun!

Fengyu felt both sorrow and pride. The young Marquis, dashing and unyielding, adorned in fine raiment astride his steed—how could he possibly obey Xie Zhang’s order to live quietly alone? Knowing he was throwing himself against an immovable force, challenging the heavens to uproot the earth, he would still fight with all his might, carving out a path to survival—or choosing to be buried with his family.

Shouts of battle echoed endlessly, accompanied by firelight and slaughter climbing toward the heavens.

Tonight, the Capital City was a scene straight from hell!