Fall Of The God - Yang Xiu
010..Huang Taihou— Liang Feng Mian's Suspicion

YANG XIU knew what the servant girl was thinking, she was worried about Lan Lingxi. Yang Xiu admitted, even though Fei was a foolish girl, her loyalty could not be doubted. That was why, Yang Xiu kept the servant girl by his side, after all it was good for the girl to be ignorant. That would ease Yang Xiu in his plans going forward. After all, he never likes to involve others if he wants to ‘play’.

Before long, the horse carriage stopped right in the main courtyard of the palace. Yang Xiu again smiled strangely. Then he glanced at Fei who was about to come out.

“Your Majesty, we have arrived,” the coachman told us before Fei got off the train. While outside, he waited for Yang Xiu to extend his hand. As the Queen's personal servant who went into exile with her, Fei was extremely loyal.

Yang Xiu inhaled a breath for a moment before flipping the curtain of cloth that was the barrier at the entrance of the carriage, letting Fei lead him down the stairs. In this world, she would actually behave like a woman even though her pride was slightly nudged, but for the sake of mission! Yes, right, for the sake of the mission!

Like, he's never done anything more shameful before. There are many types of missions that are worse than the current mission. And he can finish it well, right?

Back at this moment.

The first thing he saw was light and splendor, in that place there were many red cloths and lanterns hanging in the trees or on the pillars of the building. Actually Yang Xiu had already seen this from the first time they entered the capital city gate.

Even along the way to the palace, their entourage was sprinkled with flowers by the residents who rejoiced to welcome the Emperor who had returned bringing victory from the war. And actually, this already coincides with the autumn festival next month. Now entering the beginning of autumn, the weather becomes a little cool and pleasant. There are some trees that have changed the color of their leaves.

And the atmosphere is quite lively. A little relieve fatigue because the actual trip is not too long. It took them only three full days to circle the forest and reach the capital.

Especially along the way is not so boring with all kinds of beautiful scenery on the right left side of the road. Also, Yang Xiu would occasionally chant songs with his melodious voice or play with his bamboo flute.

And in an instant, the rough soldiers were melted down with his music, they became more respectful of the recently returned Empress, and no one else would remember if Empress Hong who was rumored as useless and without any talent. Moreover, his attitude became very friendly to anyone and never looked down on them when he spoke, he would be very pleasant with the many jokes he told on the way.

Well, Yang Xiu did indeed easily take everyone's heart, just like the meaning in his name, Aixin.

Back again at this time ….

Up ahead, in the courtyard of the palace where they stopped, there were already several royal members as well as palace officials who greeted them. There were also some nobles and also hundreds of soldiers lined up neatly on the left and right side of the road.

Yang Xiu knitted his brows, he felt somewhat familiar with the 35-year-old female-looking figure that stood at the very front. Yang Xiu frowned feeling that he had met that woman, but where?

After watching for a long time. Yang Xiu finally shook his head slowly, perhaps he remembered the woman from Lan Lingxi's memories. Well it was possible, so he only heeded that familiar feeling. Because there were too many people he met in his life in the mortal world.

At the same time, the woman also looked at Yang Xiu with a meaningful look. No one knows what he's thinking.

Gu Shan Bing himself walked up to Yang Xiu and invited him to face the people who welcomed their arrival. His actions slightly shocked the palace residents.

Yang Xiu spread his thoughts and smiled faintly towards Gu Shan Bing. He followed the young Emperor from the side, walking lightly like a graceful noblewoman.

As they walked, the soldiers immediately knelt down with one foot touching the ground, they saluted the two. The servants who followed them stopped behind with prostrations. None of them dared to move before being ordered.

With such a strong prestige, Gu Shan Bing and Yang Xiu looked domineering. For the Emperor, it was common because indeed the aura of the Emperor had been attached to him. Yet for a foolish Empress like Lan Lingxi? A little hard to believe.

That made the people who knew Lan Lingxi as a shy girl carelessly look at her with complicated and surprised looks. But what they saw at this moment was completely different from the previous Lan Lingxi. His figure became more charismatic like a great man.

The aura and radiance of his eyes were also sharper and intimidating making them doubt if the figure of Lan Lingxi who was walking over to them was fake. It was just that he was so similar to the Lan Lingxi they knew.

And Gu Shan Bing himself was so astonished by Yang Xiu's innate nature. All she knew was that Yang Xiu was a strange, silly and cheerful Lan girl. But now why does it look so graceful? Where was the bar-bar girl who used to fool and tease him yesterday? Who would drag him to hunt, who told him to do anything when he was a respected Emperor.

Well, blame Yang Xiu. He has lived for too long in the human world, knows many people with different traits, has seen a lot of cultural diversity. Makes her have a thousand and one clothes in her.

At the moment when everyone was watching the change of Empress—Lan Lingxi, Gu Shan Bing and Yang Xiu were already in front of the woman who was watching them. She is known as the Hong Empire's ‘Huang Taihou’, Liang Feng Mian, which means she is the grandmother of the present Emperor and the mother of the previous Emperor.

Note: Huang Taihou ( ⁇ ) means Empress Dowager.

Gu Shan Bing was the only child of the previous Emperor and Empress. And automatically he is the Crown Prince who will become the next Emperor.

But, unfortunately, he is a poor prince. Her mother, the previous Empress, died after giving birth. And his father, the Emperor followed three years later. The death of the Emperor caused the country to become chaotic. Coupled with the absence of concubines who gave other offspring. Until only Gu Shan Bing was the only pure descendant of the royal family.

At that time, the Crown Prince was still too young to ascend the throne. The atmosphere in the palace became uncontrollable due to the matter of the successor to the throne. There was a rebellion of greedy officials wanting power.

And that was when, the Queen Mother, Liang Feng Mian resolutely and boldly fought the rebellion with her strength until she finally won the war. After that, it stabilized. It's just that the empire is still messed with successors.

Then Liang Feng Mian made up his mind, he would lead the Empire until the moment Gu Shan Bing grew up, the throne would be instantly handed over to him. And at the same time, it was he who took custody of Gu Shan Bing. There was nothing to be trusted from the Emperor's backyard woman. He disbanded everything.

He continued to train and teach the only Prince how to become a leader until he could become what he is now. To be a generous Noble Emperor so respected and loved by the people. But to be tyrannical before the enemy. He was feared and respected by everyone under the heavens, and lived the pinnacle of life at a young age. It was the result of the upbringing of a Liang Feng Mian.

~ *~* *~* ~

The royal family as well as the officials welcomed the arrival of Yang Xiu and Gu Shan Bing with salutes, except for the Old Queen Mother.

“Honor to His Majesty the Emperor and His Majesty the Empress!” They spoke simultaneously.

News of the Empress's return had already spread throughout the capital. And the news that had also saved the Emperor in the middle of the forest made everyone wonder.

So, all this time the first lady was not in the palace. Then where does he live? In forests? Will it happen? What really happened in the palace? Very fishy.

“Zumu!” call the Emperor salute followed by Yang Xiu. He doesn't talk much now.

Note: Zumu means grandmother (from the male parent's side). GSB calls in a formal manner. Proving his respect for the LFM.

Liang Feng Mian smiled warmly holding onto Gu Shan Bing's shoulder. “You're home safely. Heaven has truly blessed you. May long life,” he said giving do’a simple sincere.

After which, he turned to Yang Xiu who was still downcast. “Empress,” call him makes Yang Xiu hold his head up. “Thank you for saving Emperor.” That remark felt so foreign to be heard as a Huang Taihou to the Empress. It was clear from his remark that only Lan Lingxi was regarded as a stranger or perhaps something else.

Rumor had it that Lan Lingxi's relationship with Huang Taihou was not so good. No one knows the truth of the rumor, but if you look at it now, the rumor is not entirely a lie either.

Some say that the reason why Lao Taihou disliked Lan Lingxi was because of the Empress's stupidity. Their distinctly different natures and behaviors create a great estrangement between the two.

The atmosphere became tense in the midst of silence. Yang Xiu smiled before he replied. “It was the duty of the servant as a wife as well as a servant of the state to the Leader.”

That confident reply clearly made Liang Feng Mian shocked. It was just hidden by his flat face. In his heart he wondered about the figure of Lan Lingxi. Where did that cowardly girl go? And a suspicion emerged from the bottom of his heart.

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