Chapter 1185: War Clouds Gather

Xi, how long does it take to get to the nearest town from here""Do you want to take them all away"Feng Lingxi looked at these refugees, “I just want to get some food.”"Wait."Chu Xi said a word, walke...Ten days later, Duguxing received an imperial decree from the court, asking him to return to the capital to celebrate Empress Dowager Shu's birthday. Upon learning the news, Duguxing began preparing gifts for his trip back to the capital. As the Duke of Chen now, this trip would be different from his previous ones. A celebratory gift for the empress dowager was a must.

Feng Lingxi checked the items in the mansion, her face filled with melancholy.

The county of Linxi has always been impoverished. Dugu City didn't collect taxes from the people, allowing them to live comfortably and establish their lives. However, with his birthday approaching, he couldn't possibly let it pass unnoticed. This left him with no choice but to seek solutions from the Yao clan and Tianxiang Tower.

Okay, Dugong City is unwilling to use the resources of Tiangxiang Building, and Dugong City may not be able to obtain Yaozu's items for the celebration of his birthday.

"Mother, are we going to see Grandma"

Wan'er ran over, Xiaoli catching up to her steps and panting, "Your Highness, the little princess heard the news and said she wanted to come ask you. The servant girl really couldn't stop her."

Feng Lingxi nodded, crouched down, and looked at Wan'er's expectant eyes, smiling and saying, "Wan'er wants to see grandma"

"Grandma doesn't like me."

Wan'er's words reminded Feng Lingxi of Taifei Shu's attitude towards her after she lost her memory. This time at the birthday celebration, she wondered if Taifei Shu had recovered her memory and if she would like Wan'er. If she didn't like Wan'er, then this trip might add a few more points of displeasure to Wan'er's heart.

"Grandma forgot about the past, not because she disliked Wan'er, but because she simply didn't remember her anymore."

Feng Lingxi soothed, looking at Wan'er's expression of seeming understanding and not understanding, and stroking her head.

"Wǎn'ér, after you arrive in the capital, listen to your mother. Don't wander around or talk carelessly. Be good, Grandma will love you."

"If Wan'er does well, Grandma still wouldn't like Wan'er"

Wan'er's serious question pricked Feng Lingxi's heart like a needle.

Last time's incident really affected Wan'er's heart, leading to her current mindset.

"Wan'er, how do we know Grandma doesn't like you if we haven't even tried Let's not make assumptions like this. We should face the situation head-on before making any decisions, okay"

Wan'er looked at her mother and nodded.

"Listen to your mother, Wan'er."

"Good girl."

Stroking Wan'er's head, he looked at Xiaoli, "Xiaoli, you take Wan'er downstairs to play, I still have something to do."

Xiaoli looked at the ledger on the table and, holding Wan'er's hand, retreated.

Feng Lingxi checked the Yao clan's income. Over the past two years, she and Dugu Cheng had been in Linxi County with 500,000 troops. The amount of rations needed was too much, and they paid a lot more than the court could account for.

If this time, upon celebrating the birthday he were to take out gold, silver, jewels and various rare items, the court would probably suspect that they were amassing troops in Linxi County to usurp the throne. This hard-won peace might vanish once again.

"Xi'er."

Du Gucheng walked in and saw Feng Lingxi's tightly furrowed brows. He went forward and helped her up. Feng Lingxi looked at the smile on Du Gucheng's face, but the dark circles under his eyes made Feng Lingxi feel heartache. Since the imperial decree came down, Du Gucheng hadn't slept well, worrying and working hard about it.

"I'll take care of the birthday gift list, don't worry about it. Just now, Xiao Li and I talked, and she said you haven't been sleeping well these past few days. It's not good for your health."

Though Du Gucheng still had a smile on his face, Feng Lingxi couldn't feel at ease.

"You said we still don't know what kind of gift is appropriate."

"We've been so poor these past two years, scraping by. This army of 500,000 is all thanks to you. When I return to the capital this time, I've already figured out what gift to give my mother for her birthday. Don't worry about it."

What to send

"These cattle and sheep raised on the grassland are the best things on the grasslands."

Dugu City chuckled lightly, his tone also becoming more relaxed.

Last year, we subdued several tribes. They have to send cattle and sheep to us from their grasslands. We can't get gold, silver, or jewels, but these cattle and sheep are possible.

"Since the capital is so far away, what's the point of sending this"

Then, let's convert it into items and send them over. That way, it will be both practical and won't make the court look down on us.

Dugu Cheng smiled with confidence, looking at Feng Lingxi's furrowed brows that couldn't stretch out. He reached out and smoothed them away.

"Don't think too much, you'll worry yourself sick. This king feels sorry for you."

"You're quite the comforter, aren't you But we're an old married couple, don't you blush saying that"

Feng Lingxi was embarrassed by Dugu Cheng's smiling gaze, but she heard his laughter in her ear.

"Only married for a few years, you're already an old couple"

Feng Ling Xi raised her eyes to meet Du Gu Cheng's gaze. There was tenderness in his eyes, and she nodded lightly, pretending to be relaxed.

"I'll leave this to you. But I want to go with you to prepare the birthday gifts. This time when we enter the capital, who knows when we'll be able to see our mother again… No, Empress Dowager, we have to prepare well."

At the sound of "Empress Dowager," Dugu City felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity. He still preferred his biological mother, but now that he had entered the palace, she was no longer just his mother, but the Empress Dowager of the Great Yuan Dynasty.

"Yeah, this meeting, after this meeting, there will be even fewer chances to meet. We have to prepare well."

Dugu City held Feng Lingxi's hand, his eyes full of tenderness, "Come, this King will take you out..."

"Your Highness, someone is looking for you."

Xiao Li rushed in, her expression grave. Seeing Dugu City was also there, she said, "This man has been shouting at the door demanding to see you."

"Who is it"

"That beggar from last time insisted on seeing you."

Feng Lingxi looked at Dugu City, "Then you go first, I'll go see what he has to say, and come find you later."

Dugu City nodded, watching Feng Lingxi's back, and instructed, "Send someone to follow that little beggar and investigate, who this person really is."

"Yes."

Feng Lingxi came to the gate of Chen Wangfu. Seeing a small beggar sitting by the steps, she walked in front of him. The little beggar saw Feng Lingxi and got up with a smile.

"Greetings, Your Highness. I have seen the Princess Consort."

Feng Lingxi looked at this little beggar, still the same as that day, grinning. She stretched out her hand and opened it again, revealing the '卍' symbol.

"This time it's the same as last time, wanting me to meet someone outside the city"

"Yes, the little one is the one who delivers messages. He asked the Princess to meet someone at a ruined temple outside the city."

"What dilapidated temple outside the city You're talking nonsense."

"Small grove."

The little beggar corrected, looking at Feng Ling Xi's sharp eyes, and Xiao Haha continued with a smile, "That man said that if the Princess Consort of Chen saw him, he would give the Princess Consort of Chen many surprises."

“Just a fright, that’s enough. Tell this person for me that I'm not feeling well and I don't want to get involved with the Yao clan's affairs anymore.” If there were problems with the Yao clan here, they would naturally come to her. What business did the Yao clan of Guisheng Kingdom have with her

"The little one is retiring."

The little beggar, seeing the wind and waves rising, was unwilling to go further. He didn't insist much either, and left again.

Feng Lingxi stared at the little beggar's back, her eyes filled with hesitation. Who was this person Why did he want her to meet him twice

If it's really about something, why not go to the Chen Wangfu to see her

This move is indeed strange, it's necessary to be cautious.rmies, if the surrounding water sources were problematic, it would easily lead to trouble. It was too risky to take chances."Alright, I will continue to research the antidote tomorrow."Feng Lingxi pon...