Chapter 99 - Closer To The Truth? (2)

In Lou Zemin's kingdom, two positions in the imperial court held almost as much power as his majesty. The Right and Left Prime Ministers ruled by two family clans. A suitable title for their position. They were the opposite of each other and did not get along. Making the two parties always at each other throats and opposing the other side. 

It doesn't matter if the other side was making excellent suggestions. The opposition party will always find a flaw in it, and try to find a "different" solution to the problem. They want to be first and be the winner. If neither side can come to an agreement, that is when his majesty will step in to make the final decisions.

So his majesty is mostly stuck listening to his subjects arguing in the early morning. When they seemed to have calmed down. He will assert his final decisions and close the court for the day. In other words, decisions are made by his majesty, and suggestions are made by his subjects.

They know they can fight and argue all day to be the winner. At the end of the day, neither side can overpower the other side. The system of two prime ministers was intentionally set up to balance out the power. For one to never have more influence than the other. 

This system mostly benefited his majesty. It was easier for him to control his subjects, who had a tremendous amount of influence on his people. He didn't want his prime ministers to gain more power than him. A rebellion can rise if a weak emperor was sitting on the throne. Making his majesty a puppet being controlled in the background.

However, a power balance in the imperial court made a sudden shift a few years back. 

There was one clan that was not on either side, the Yin clan. Even though they do have a great influence on the people as well. They were considered the neutral ones and never voiced that they are siding with anyone. That was the case until a marriage tied them with the Xiong clan. Their most beloved daughter Yin Yingtai marrying into the Xiong clan. 

The Yin clan didn't need to make their stance clear. They were already roped into the Right Prime Minister's side. 

The Xiong clan has and always remained on the Right Prime Minister side. It's been this way for a very long time. The Xiong clan had never once thought of switching sides, and the Yang clan never let them down either. 

Needless to say, the Xiong clan loyalty runs deep for his majesty. He will always be the uttermost priority. A promise that has been passed down from one generation to the next. 

The Xiong and Yang clan were on the same side when it comes to the opposition parties. Except, they never tied a marriage with each other. It was kept this way until the first marriage blooming between both families, Xiong Jingfei and Yang Zheyan. 

Tying not only the Xiong family closer to the Yang family. They also got the Yin family too because of Xiong Jingfei's mother. 

So, there is only one person Xiong Jingfei can think of that wants to put her family in danger. The Left Prime Minister, whose position is held by the Wen clan. Except, she has no evidence this was the case when it was all speculation.  

"Miss, what are you thinking so hard about?" Asked naive Xu Song. The way her Miss was looking at the Yin's disciple wasn't just a "look." Her mind most likely wandered off already. 

"Why is only our family in one place? Fighting against the enemy." Xiong Jingfei immediately bit her tongue after those words slipped out. 

If anyone heard her say those words, they could accuse her of questioning his majesty order. Not only will she be in trouble, but her entire family could be in jeopardy because of a slip of the tongue. 

"Huh? What do you mean our family?" Xu Song questioned, unable to understand the deeper meaning in Xiong Jingfei's words. 

This wasn't the proper place to discuss such a topic, so Xiong Jingfei touched Xu Song's freezing hands. Using the heat in her hands, she squeezed those hands to give them a little warmth. In a caring voice, she said, "You should go back and wear more layers. The weather is getting colder."

Xu Song instantly retracted her hands away from Xiong Jingfei. She put them on her side and took a step away. She reported, "Miss, Xiong Guang's recovery is going well. She was able to get up and walk around today."

Walking past them were two soldiers on guard duties. They were assigned to walk around the camp area for safety purposes.

"Good afternoon, Miss." One of the two soldiers greeted, and the other one nodded his head. 

"Keep up the good work," Xiong Jingfei said with a smile, boosting up the morale in the two soldiers. 

They smiled and nodded their heads. Why wouldn't they be happy when someone like Xiong Jingfei is willing to speak with them! It was only a quick greeting between them before the soldiers went on to finish their inspection routine. 

"Xu Song, go back first and warm yourself up." Xiong Jingfei dropped the smile behind her veil. 

"Miss, I..."

"No need to say anything else." Xiong Jingfei cut off Xu Song before an apology was made. She is well aware of why Xu Song refused to be on friendly terms with her. 

Everyone's eyes were on Xiong Jingfei the moment she left her tent. Whether she likes it or not, they were watching her every movement. There was nothing she could do to stop it. Surprisingly, the Yin's disciples were doing an outstanding job by not watching her. They were actually avoiding her to be correct. 

Xiong Jingfei sighed inwardly. It wasn't Xu Song's fault for acting indifferent to her. She was actually protecting her from unnecessary gossip. By being too familiar with her servants and forgetting that she is the master. She is no longer free to say and do what she likes anymore.

Seeing as Xu Song wasn't leaving, Xiong Jingfei commanded, "Go, I will follow you shortly." 

When Xu Song reluctantly walked away, so did Xiong Jingfei but in the opposite direction. 

There was a spot she discovered not too long ago. A place not too close or far from the campsite. It was a place where there were no watchful eyes, and she could be herself for a few moments. She didn't have to worry about not playing the part of the Eldest Miss. 

The ripple of water flowing and scraping against the rocks. That is when Xiong Jingfei knew she was getting closer. The area seems to have been abandoned with no signs of other human beings around. Probably because none of them dare to venture a little outside the camp area. 

While walking to this secret place of hers, she felt like someone was secretly following her. At first, she thought it was Xu Song who disobeyed her. She turned around and yelled, "Xu Song, come out!"

It was quiet. Only the sound of the forest swayed around her. So she walked on a little more and heard it again following her. She swung around this time quickly to catch that person. There was nothing still! Not a shadow, sound, or hint that someone was following her.

Xiong Jingfei wasn't going to keep walking to her secret place when she felt that something was off! She slowly walked back down the same pathway she came from. Listening to any sound that was out of place. 

There was the wind slapping against the leaves. Making each one of them danced on their way down. Then her heart, almost bursting against her chest. Just as she thought of that, something popped up right in front of her. 

She took a huge gasp following with a huge sigh, "Oh, it's just you!"

A tiny white rabbit with chubby cheeks blocked her pathway back. It stared up at her with curiosity. 

"Scaring myself over a rabbit." 

She scolded herself for being overly paranoid. To be honest, Xiong Jingfei was startled that the rabbit wasn't scared of her! Shouldn't it be frightened of her? Most normal rabbits would have run away already...

It didn't move when she took another step closer to it. Bending down, she reached out to give it a light pat. She smiled when it didn't run away but sat still to be patted, "How cute!"

Quietly and steadily, a dark silhouette was approaching Xiong Jingfei from behind. She didn't appear to have noticed it. Her attention was on the cute white rabbit. As it slowly approached her and its hands out near the back of her neck. 

Xiong Jingfei whirled around and grabbed that person's wrist. Twisting that person's arm, she used the strength she had to push him against the tree. Well, at least now she knows Feng Huan's training was useful. Just because they haven't been training together. It doesn't mean she stopped because she has been doing it secretly on her own time. 

"Who are you?" Xiong Jingfei snarled, taking out a small knife hidden in her sleeves. Pointing it at the back of that person's neck, "Why are you following me?"