Co-TL: Elanor; Edited by: Zaki and Animeart

  This Bonus Chapter (2 of 3) is for “[EUNE]One Autumn Song”. Congratulations for being one of the winners of the 10K discord members CG-Event contest. 🙂 Hope you enjoy it :)~~Zaki, Elanor, & Animeart

  ———–

  The Emperor was critically ill?

  Lin Shu looked at Ling Fengxiao and saw that he was frowning as he looked at the white linen under the messenger’s armor.

  The letter had been written on plain white brocade, and the messenger was wearing a plain white linen under his armor. He thought that the matter was not as simple as just the Emperor being critically ill.

  He remembered that when he and Ling Fengxiao left Jinguan City, the old Emperor had been unconscious for more than three years. Although he was still breathing, he was confined in bed every day. Nominally, all power was under the custody of the Crown Prince, Xiao Lingyang and the Empress was acting as Regent. But in fact, Xiao Lingyang was idle. The Empress lived in the Inner Palace and all of the government affairs were controlled by Ling Fengxiao.

  Waving back the herald and the cadre of guards, Ling Fengxiao laid a soundproof barrier: “Emperor Father’s situation should not be good.”

  Lin Shu nodded.

  Ling Fengxiao continued: “The Empress has suppressed the news and only said that Father was critically ill. I think the situation in the Capital is bad. If my Father really…… Xiao Lingyang would ascend the throne and he would want me to protect him.”

  Lin Shu said, “Let’s go back to Jinguan city now?”

  Ling Fengxiao said, “Yes, let’s return.”

  Lin Shu gave an “En” and said, “I’ll go with you.”

  Ling Fengxiao: “Thank you.”

  Lin Shu looked at Ling Fengxiao.

  When a new emperor ascended the throne and the Imperial power changed hands, the court and the dynasty would not be very peaceful. But Ling Fengxiao had both military power and the support of Xie Zishe and the aristocratic forces behind Xie Zishe. If he go and escort Xiao Lingyang to the throne, then it was the most surefire strategy, and Xiao Lingyang’s ascension could be easily completed.

  However…… Lin Shu knew that things would not be so simple, because Ling Fengxiao’s Empress Mother had a long talk with him.

  What was the Empress thinking?

  She is Ling Fengxiao’s biological mother, and what she wanted was for Ling Fengxiao to become the Mortal Emperor.

  If Ling Fengxiao became the Emperor, where would Xiao Lingyang be placed?

  The Empress had also admitted that in order to pave the way for Ling Fengxiao, she had raised Xiao Lingyang from his early childhood and grinded him day by day, making him a useless character.

  Ling Fengxiao thought he was going back to the Capital to help Xiao Lingyang stabilize the situation …… In reality, it was not easy to say.

  Hence for this reason, Lin Shu was bound to follow Ling Fengxiao.

  As soon as the discussion was settled, they immediately started their journey back.

  Ling Fengxiao led Zhaoye out. Zhaoye was as beautiful as it was before. It ran through dangerous rivers as if walking on the ground. It ran thousands of miles at night, and its speed was even faster than the wind.

  In less than three hours, they arrived at the boundary of Liang Prefecture.

  There was a roadblock ahead.

  Like the bloody color of the setting sun– a red hunting dress.

  The Master of Phoenix Mountain Villa.

  Ling Fengxiao reined in Zhaoye and dismounted from the horse.

  “Mother.”

  Lin Shu also followed and dismounted, and politely said, “Villa Master.”

  “Pavilion Master Lin.” The Villa Master first greeted him, then turned to Ling Fengxiao: “Xiao’er, follow me.”

  \r \r \r

  Ling Fengxiao didn’t say anything, took Lin Shu by the hand and went with the Villa Master.

  Lin Shu originally regarded Her Majesty the Empress as the biggest obstacle to this trip to the Imperial capital, but he didn’t expect to be stopped by Phoenix Mountain Villa Master first.

  The Villa Master and the Empress were biological sisters. Lin Shu thought that the Villa Master’s intentions would be the same as the Empress’s intentions, and the Villa Master’s words were the Empress’s words.

  He became vigilant.

  The Villa Master took the two of them and walked to the top of a high mountain that was nearby.

  It was twilight, and birds were returning to their nests. Looking down from the high mountain, one could faintly see Liang Prefecture City.

  The Villa Master did not speak, neither did Ling Fengxiao.

  Lin Shu remembered the day when Xiao Shao became the embodiment of resentment. When talking to him, he mentioned the Phoenix bloodline.

  Even though his whole body could be changed at will, the blood that flowed in his body was still the bloodline of the Phoenix.

  The resentment core may have changed his body into a body made of blood mist, but his subconscious mind was deeply rooted, and he knew that he was a person of Phoenix Mountain Villa. Hence his blood would always have the inheritance of Phoenix Mountain Villa.

  After a long time, the Villa Master said, “The day before yesterday, the Imperial Capital of Northern Xia was in chaos. Although there was no news, the spies that were installed in the Capital City came to report and said that the matter was related to the Great Wizard.”

  “The Great Wizard is dead.” Ling Fengxiao said, “It was me and Shu’er who did it. There was something strange with the matter and the clues had not been clarified, so I did not report it.”

  “So that’s how it is ……” The Phoenix Villa Master gave him a profound look: “I did not expect that you directly remove the Great Wizard……That was beautifully done.”

  Ling Fengxiao said, “Mother is praising me without cause.”

  After a while, he looked at the Phoenix Villa Master: “Mother, how is the situation in the Capital?”

  “I am here precisely to discuss this matter with you.” The Phoenix Villa Master said slowly, “Have you thought about going to Jinguan City?”

  Ling Fengxiao frowned slightly: “Mother…… What does this mean?”

  “Your Majesty is dying, and His Highness the Crown Prince is about to be crowned in these dangerous times.” Phoenix Villa Master looked at the distance, but the conversation changed direction and she continued: “You have shown yourself as a woman for 22 years. Have you ever thought about when you can return to your true face?”

  “Of course I have thought about it.” Ling Fengxiao said, “But this is the will of my Mother and the Empress Mother, so I cannot go against it.”

  “You have no complaints about this for life?”

  Ling Fengxiao: “None.”

  “In the end you still have a man’s body ……” the Phoenix Villa Master sighed. “As the Villa Master, I can’t ignore the future of the Villa. However, I often felt guilty when raising you up.”

  “I have no regrets.” Ling Fengxiao said, “My mother made a decision in the past, so I don’t have to worry about it today.”

  “However, this time is different from the past.” The Phoenix Villa Master always had an austere expression but at this moment, she showed a little gentleness. “In troubled times, Phoenix Mountain Villa needs to do its best to protect and preserve itself. Now that the Great Wizard is dead and the troubled times would be calmed soon enough. Now I don’t have to worry about the day when I will be killed by the enemy and there will be no one to support the Villa.”

  Ling Fengxiao said, “Mother’s intention is to let me return to my male body?”

  “Sister Jin must have removed the Mantra from you,” Phoenix Villa Master said. “I’m determined like her to restore you to your true face.”

  Ling Fengxiao looked at her: “However, the world only knows that there is the eldest princess of Southern Xia, the Phoenix Mountain Villa has the Big Miss, there is no Xiao Shao in this world, how to restore my true self?”

  “The secret affairs of the Palace are not known to outsiders, Xiao’er, how much do you know?”

  Lin Shu listened quietly to the two playing charades.

  Ling Fengxiao gazed at the mortal city at the foot of the mountain with a thoughtful look on his face. After a while, he suddenly looked at the Phoenix Villa Master and said: “When I was in the Palace, I heard older maids talk about how my mother had given birth to an eldest son in the early years, but died unexpectedly. After I heard that, I punished them by sending them to the Laundry House.”

  “Presumptuous talk about noble people should be indeed punished.” The Phoenix Villa Master said slowly, “However, what they discussed was not in vain. Long before you were born, Sister Jin gave birth to a son for His Majesty, but unfortunately the child was not destined for the world, and died unexpectedly before he was old enough. Sister Jin was devastated and fell seriously ill. In order to prevent her from being hurt by the scene, His Majesty dismissed all the people related to the child, and ordered that from now on, no one in the palace should mention a word about the child. Therefore, by now, there are no more people who know about the child.”

  “Does mother want Xiao Shao to be that child?” Ling Fengxiao asked.

  “Although others don’t know, His Majesty knew that the child was indeed dead. Phoenix Mountain Villa had concealed your true identity…… This cannot be easily revealed as this is a capital crime of deceiving the Emperor.”

  “Now that Father is dying, so you can consider it?” Ling Fengxiao asked.

  The Phoenix Villa Master said, “Back then, everyone thought that the child died prematurely, but in fact, he was saved by an Immortal Lord from far away lands. The child was adopted for more than twenty years, and now he has returned.”

  Having said that, she looked at Lin Shu: “The Phoenix bloodline in Xiao’er’s body cannot be faked, the Royal bloodline is also absolutely true. If the Sword Pavilion Master also testifies, the world would immediately accept the person Xiao Shao…… If you are willing to help me, I will immediately inform Sister Jin, and prepare for it immediately.”

  “I ……” Ling Fengxiao frowned, and had a rare hesitation: “I want to think about it again.”

  “There is no hurry.” The Phoenix Villa Master seemed to have a gentle look in her eyes, “I’ve read through the letter that you sent before. If the eight peerless manuals are gathered together, they can not fall into the hands of people who have an intention to cause disaster. According to your words, to prevent this, you want to burn them with the forging platform Heavenly fire? But Heavenly Luck can not be underestimated. Even for the forging platform, I am afraid that you can only burn the secret manuals during the seventh month when the Heavenly fire is at its peak. We still need to wait for some time.”

  Ling Fengxiao said, “Thank you, Mother, for your kindness.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” said the Phoenix Villa Master, “then hand over the three peerless manuals to me today, I will seal them in the secret room, and during the seventh month, enter the forging platform to burn them.”

  Lin Shu handed the three manuals to the Phoenix Villa Master.

  The Phoenix Villa Master put the manuals into her sleeve and said, “Don’t worry, Pavilion Master.”

  Lin Shu said, “Many thanks.”

  The Phoenix Villa Master nodded at him and said, “Xiao’er has suffered a lot since he was young. Phoenix Mountain VIlla is deeply grateful to you from the bottom of our hearts for not abandoning him.”

  “No need.” Lin Shu, still not quite used to communicating with people other than Ling Fengxiao, he only said: “I …… I am also grateful to him for not abandoning me. ”

  The Villa Master smiled: “It’s really a strange fate.”

  This is a very light statement, like talking to oneself, after a moment, she turned to Ling Fengxiao and said, “Mother has been feeling really guilty for you, now I just hope you will think about it soon.”

  “Thank you, Mother,” said Ling Fengxiao. “I…… Will give you an answer soon.”

  “Good.” The Phoenix Villa Master looked deeply at him: “It’s late, go see your Empress Mother.”

  Ling Fengxiao replied “yes”, took Lin Shu to leave the Villa Master and the two of them headed South again.

  On the way, Ling Fengxiao was obviously preoccupied.

  Lin Shu asked him, “Do you not want to regain your male body?”

  He thought it was possible.

  After all, a person who could distinguish between rouge red, consort red, vivid red, small vivid, red sandalwood, red vermilion, red …… The person was definitely not an idle person and it was not impossible to think that he did love female clothing.

  Ling Fengxiao hugged him from behind and said sullenly: “I previously, never thought about this matter.”

  Lin Shu: “Hmm?”

  “I am the Big Miss of Phoenix Mountain Villa. I have luxurious clothes and good food. My Emperor Father and Mother are very fond of me. However, I know that my life was like a duckweed and that war was imminent. I thought I would one day die in the battlefields and live no more than 25 years.” He seemed to be mocking himself. Ling Fengxiao smiled: “If so, why care about what kind of skin I used?”

  “It’s just that …… After I met you, I felt I had something to hold on to in this world and wanted to live longer, but I felt that my life was going to fall like the morning dew, gone in the morning, and even if I wanted to stay, it was just a dream. You have cultivated the Heartless Dao, but that is good in a way because if I passed away one day then, you will not be sad.”

  Lin Shu responded coldly, “Oh.”

  Ling Fengxiao then said, “However, today is really different from the past. The Great Wizard is dead and my cultivation is now matchless. These days, I gradually feel that I too, have a future for me. My Mother wants me to recover my male body, and I feel moved by her intention. ”

  Fortunately, he was moved.

  Lin Shu thought, although this person was addicted to rouge red, concubine red, vivid red, small red, sandalwood red, vermilion red, but there is still hope……

  He asked, “Then why do you hesitate?”

  “There is something definitely strange about this. My Mother has never expressed regret for 20 years, but now she suddenly wants me to restore my male body. I can’t figure it out.” Ling Fengxiao’s voice gradually became suspicious: “Secondly, if I restore my male body, I will be the first born son. Then don’t I have to inherit the throne? Didn’t Xiao Lingyang wanted to be a rich, noble and idle Emperor? I definitely could not be the one to let him evade his responsibility.”

  Lin Shu: “.……”

  This man would rather wear women’s clothes than let his brother be a hardworking emperor. His earnest concern was earth shattering.

  Gege, you need to seek your own good fortune.

  ————

  The author has something to say:

  Please raise your hand if you want to be an emperor.

  Xiao Lingyang: I don’t want to be.

  Xiao Shao: I don’t want to be either.

  Xiao Xuan: Don’t look at me. My biggest mole just got rid of the Great Wizard for me.

  The country seems to be hopeless.

  ———-

  I also would like to thank “Jas” for the wonderful and cute drawing of Fruit.~~Zaki