Volume 1: The Storm of Regency 062 Wherever you go, I'll follow

  "Attacked?" Feng Yu stepped forward, his face revealing shock. How could the Empress Dowager suddenly be attacked?

  "It's true, not long after the Emperor moved his residence last night, the Empress Dowager's palace was suddenly attacked by assassins." Guo Hui had been following Xiang Ziyu, the Empress, since she was a concubine, and was deeply devoted to her. Now, with his waist bent and a look of shock on his face, he spoke.

  "Will Empress Dowager be greatly affected?" Feng Yu Qi asked with concern.

  "The Empress Dowager was already suffering from heart disease, and last night she received a shock. Now she is unconscious." Guo Hui hastily replied, his eyes glancing at Feng Ao Tian who was approaching slowly, flashing with a hint of sharpness, and quickly knelt down on the ground, "Your Majesty, this inner palace is heavily guarded, how could there be an assassin? The Empress Dowager does not ask about state affairs, nor does she care about worldly matters. This assassin's arrival is indeed too strange. The Empress Dowager has yet to awaken, Your Majesty...".

  Feng Yu listened to Guo Hui's voice, which was almost like a ghostly wail, and suppressed the doubts in his heart. He waved his hand to interrupt Guo's words and then took a step forward.

  "Your Majesty, the time for morning court has arrived. Where are you going?" Feng Ao Tian's icy voice, cool as water, pierced through the deep city walls and entered Feng Yin Qi's ears.

  "Feng Yu stops in his tracks, turns around and looks at Feng Ao Tian, 'Regent Uncle, the Empress Dowager's palace was attacked by assassins last night, she was frightened and has not woken up yet. I will go visit her now.'"

  "The palace has always been heavily guarded, how could there be an assassin's surprise attack? This matter is indeed suspicious. To tell the truth, I haven't visited my sister-in-law in a long time either. In that case, I'll go with the Emperor to pay our respects." Feng Ao Tian raised an eyebrow and slowly walked towards Feng Yun Qi.

  Mu Hanjin followed behind, thinking that since this matter had nothing to do with him now, he might as well go through the motions and attend court as usual.

  "Where Father goes, you go." Feng Ao Tian grasped Mu Han Jin's slightly cold hand tightly and took a step forward, approaching Feng Yun Qi. "Let's go, can't be late for the morning court."

  Feng Rou raised her eyes and looked at Feng Ao Tian. After a moment of silence, she turned to Guo Hui and asked, "Has the assassin been caught?"

  "That assassin's martial arts skills were exceptionally strong, and he killed several palace maids and eunuchs in the imperial chambers before escaping." Gu Hui did not expect Feng Xuan to ask these questions, so she put aside her doubts and replied truthfully. In the past, whenever the Emperor learned of something related to the Empress Dowager, no matter how big or small, he would never ask for an explanation and would hastily rush over. How could it be that now he was acting out of character?

  "What clue can the assassin leave behind?" Feng Yujiao asked immediately.

  "This... I dare not say." Guo Hui raised his eyes, took a glance at Feng Ao Tian, and retreated a step back with trepidation.

  "What are you afraid of?" Feng Yu's eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke in a cold tone.

  "That assassin escaped and inadvertently left this behind." Guo Hui hastily knelt on the ground, presenting the token in both hands to Feng Yurou.

  Feng Yu took the token, glanced at it, and a cold smile played on his lips. "The time for morning court has arrived. The Empress Dowager must have been frightened out of her wits to be unconscious. I'll go pay my respects after the morning court."

  He grasped the token in his hand, with one hand behind his back, turned around and walked towards the Diligent Governance Hall.

  Feng Ao Tian naturally recognized the token, a deep and mysterious evil smile curled up at the corner of his mouth, as he took Mu Han Jin's hand and followed Feng Yin Qi away.

  Guo Hui stared blankly at Feng Yurou's departing back, clearly incredulous. What was wrong with the Emperor today? Why wasn't he worried about the Empress Dowager being attacked at all?

  He suddenly felt something was wrong, hastily got up from the ground and hurriedly went forward to report.

  Early in the morning, Feng Yin Qi had read through all the memorials from last night and roughly understood them. Therefore, when the officials were discussing politics, he was no longer like before, just being a wooden puppet, not hearing or asking anything. Now, he would occasionally raise some opinions or listen carefully.

  If it were in the past, a second-class official's mansion would be engulfed in flames overnight, and more than 300 people in the mansion would be burned to death. Such a big thing has been making the whole city nervous since yesterday. At today's early court meeting, officials didn't dare to speak, they just went through the motions of reporting this matter.

  Feng Ao Tian said calmly, "The Minister of the Ministry of Justice is the head of the six ministries, in charge of the appointment and removal, evaluation, promotion, demotion, transfer, and enfeoffment of officials in Fengguo. This position cannot be vacant for a day. This matter will be handled by the Inspectorate's Censor. Within today, you can promote someone from within who is capable. As for the case of the original Minister of Justice's mansion fire, it will be handed over to the Jingzhao Prefect. If the case is not solved within three days, you will come to see me with your head in hand."

  "Yes, sir!" The Prefect of the Imperial Capital trembled and replied, unable to help but wail in distress. He thought that now the Regent Prince had ordered him to rectify the law and order in the capital within a month, and now he had received this hot potato, it seemed that his life was not guaranteed.

  "The border victory is announced, but the country temporarily retreated. However, such repeated back-and-forth is not a long-term plan. How much is left in the national treasury now?" Feng Ao Tian said in a deep voice.

  The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Song Yan, stepped forward and bowed his head, saying, "I report to the Regent King that in recent years, disasters have been frequent, officials are scarce, and land has yielded no harvest. The taxes collected are less than two-tenths of the grain."

  "How long can it last?" Feng Ao Tian naturally knew what state the national treasury was in at present, so he asked in a low voice.

  "At most two months." Song Yan replied immediately.

  As soon as this was said, the officials did not dare to speak again, fearing that they would bring trouble upon themselves. They naturally knew that the national treasury was empty, but who dared to remonstrate directly? Wouldn't that be looking for death?

  "This matter will be discussed later." Feng Ao Tian swept his gaze over the officials in the hall, and he already understood the situation.

  After the early morning, Feng Yi Qiu walked out of the Diligent Government Hall. He turned around and gazed at Feng Ao Tian who was walking towards him, "Regent Uncle, I'm going to pay respects to Mother Empress."

  "This king will also go and take a look." Feng Ao Tian said with his hands behind his back, turning around to face Mu Han Jin, speaking in a low voice, "Yesterday, the king had something to attend to, so he didn't communicate with Mu Han Yao. I suppose that when we return to the manor later, we will be able to receive his reply. What do you think he should say in response?"

  Mu Hanjin hung her head low, and a soft, gentle laughter came from beside her ear, with an extra hint of ambiguity, which was quite eye-catching in the vast outer hall.

  He only then remembered the letter she wrote to her elder brother a few days ago, and a blush appeared on his face. Looking at him like this, it was as if he had just been bathed in the gentle morning dew of a lotus flower after a spring rain, and the whole city was filled with the vibrant spirit of spring, which made Feng Ao Tian feel delighted for a while.

  She pulled his hand, and he stuck to her bosom, raised his eyes, gazed at the smile at the corner of her mouth, and quickly lowered his head, secretly scolding Feng Ao Tian a few times. In such a solemn and majestic place, how could she say such words?

  Feng Yu raised an eyebrow, looking at Feng Ao Tian with a deep smile that teased Mu Han Jin, his eyes flashing with a hint of displeasure, this kind of smile should only belong to him.

  He stretched out his hand and pulled at Feng Ao Tian's sleeve, "Regent Uncle, I recall that you are well-versed in medicine. Later, can you diagnose Mother Empress for me?"

  Feng Ao Tian was pulled by Feng Yu Qi La, lowering her eyes to look at him, not with the usual extremely affectionate smile, but rather with a tone close to that of a spoiled child. The corners of her mouth were slightly raised, and her smile deepened. "If Qi Er speaks up, this king will reluctantly give him some face."

  Digression

  Everyone, the second update will be available soon, hehe... Although Little Emperor is a good kid, sometimes he can also be a bit sinister... Haha...

  Thank you Saeneny (10), 15067242656, Fuhailian (4), Bingliangyoufeng (6), Mo Yan Yan (5), Mengyunnii (60), Vv515921 (50) for the flowers, muah!

  Thank you very much ddd3home for rewarding 100 coins, muah!

  Thank you for the cool breeze brought by the gentle wind, muah!