Divine Doctor Mommy Is A True Big Shot-Chapter 100 - 102 Making a Deal with the Emperor

Feng Bailing’s hand under her sleeve tightened.

That old cur, Feng Zhanlian, must have regretted his actions by now. He was a claw of Emperor Yongye, and came to present his case as a villain seeking first to lodge a complaint.

“Thank you, Mr. Li,” said Feng Bailing. “Here’s a hair cream I’ve recently made. It darkens and nourishes hair. Take this to try first, and if it’s good, feel free to ask for more.”

Feng Bailing handed a small bottle of hair cream to Li Qing.

A smile played at Li Qing’s eyes. Nearing his fifties, his hair had begun to show threads of white. In his high position, he had seen all sorts of gold, silver, and jewels, but Feng Bailing’s gifts were always just right.

“I shall take my leave first, both of you be careful; lately, the Beiqi region has been restless.”

Li Qing could say no more than that.

Beiqi was a militaristic nation with a brusque culture, known as the state on horseback. In previous years, it was only through Prince Wu’s iron-fisted suppression that tranquility was maintained at the frontier.

Ever since Prince Wu injured his leg, although the news was tightly contained, neighboring dynasties had already caught wind, with Beiqi making the biggest commotion. They had repeatedly attacked several frontier fortresses.

The generals at the borders suffered one defeat after another, with heavy losses, and Emperor Yongye had thundered his rage in the morning court.

Dongfang Lianhua’s breath caught, and she sighed.

She carried the blood of Beiqi, an unalterable fact that the Emperor, her brother, worried about these many years.

The mother and daughter stepped aside, and Feng Bailing asked again.

“Mother, I’ll ask you one more time. That secret edict left by the late Emperor, do you really not have it?”

“What secret edict? I truly have never seen it.”

Dongfang Lianhua shook her head.

This was not the first time Feng Bailing had asked.

“To part ways with divorce, if there is a secret edict, I’m 80% sure this can be realized. But if there’s no edict, I fear the Emperor might not agree. Reflect on this — what did the late Emperor say to you, especially before passing away?”

Feng Bailing was soon to wed out, and Emperor Yongye who always distrusted Dongfang Lianhua, wouldn’t abandon the pawn Feng Zhanlian.

Unless there was a profit to be made.

The only thing from the Princess’ Mansion that could persuade Emperor Yongye was the secret edict.

Dongfang Lianhua creased her brow, recalling intensely.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up.

“I remember now. The last time I saw Father Emperor, there was a small box beside his pillow.”

At that time, Dongfang Lianhua had just married Feng Zhanlian not long before, and after her Queen Mother passed away, the late Emperor’s health worsened day by day. On his deathbed, he summoned Dongfang Lianhua into the palace.

“Where is that box?”

“After I left, my third brother, Prince Shun, came. He was the last person to see Father Emperor. Father Emperor favored him to succeed the throne, and he passed on after bestowing it.”

Speaking of the late Emperor, Dongfang Lianhua let out a light sigh.

By the time she entered the palace again, the box by the bedside had vanished.

“That must have contained the secret edict; it seems, then, that the edict is in the hands of Prince Shun.”

Feng Bailing understood immediately.

“It’s almost certain. But how did the rumor start that the edict was with me?”

Dongfang Lianhua said in confusion.

Feng Bailing was deep in thought when she suddenly heard an argument coming from the Imperial Study.

“Your Majesty, please think thrice. The commoners have suffered heavy taxes in recent years, and natural disasters like floods and droughts keep occurring. It is inadvisable to increase the taxes further, otherwise the people will have no means to live.”

An elderly yet authoritative voice came through.

“The military provisions and pay are insufficient. If we do not increase the taxes, how are we to fight the border conflicts?”

That cold male voice belonged to Dugu Wu.

Feng Bailing pricked up her ears.

“Old Grand Preceptor, Prince Wu, both of you stop arguing. The Ministry of Revenue’s accounts have not yet been settled. One of you bids to waive the taxes, the other to increase them. I will hand over the Ministry of Revenue’s ledgers to both of you – whoever can clarify them first will be the one I listen to.”

It wasn’t long before the door to the Imperial Study opened, and Dugu Wu, along with an elderly man, walked out.

Waiting in front of Feng Bailing and her daughter, Feng Zhanlian nodded and bowed before entering the Imperial Study.

The old man was none other than Grandmaster Nalan, one of the Three Dukes, and Nalan Yan’er’s grandfather.

His face showed discontent, and he directly ignored Feng Bailing and her daughter, addressing Dugu Wu sharply.

“Prince Wu, let’s see who can clarify the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue first.”

With that, he left with a flick of his sleeve.

Dugu Wu, too, was frowning. He seemed to notice Feng Bailing and her daughter and proceeded to walk towards the Ministry of Revenue outside the Imperial Palace.

After a moment, Feng Zhanlian emerged from the Imperial Study.

Seeing Feng Bailing and her daughter, he scoffed.

“Dream on if you want a divorce.”

Feng Zhanlian had been impulsive the night before, but after reflecting on it and with Lady Nan Feng’s pillow talk, he realized that a divorce would be a mistake.

Without the divorce, the Princess’ Mansion would remain his.

Years of effort, all to seize the wealth of the Princess’ Mansion, and she just decides to kick him out?

He had sacrificed his prospects and wronged Aunt Xue and her three children for so many years. With Zhao’an about to return, he needed the connection with the Princess’ Mansion to climb higher.

The Princess’ Mansion, he wanted!

Power and influence, he wanted too!

After pondering all night, Feng Zhanlian conceived a cunning plan.

Early in the morning, he went to the Emperor before the mother and daughter could, reporting to Emperor Yongye that Feng Luochen was reckless in gambling, incurring huge debts and even committing murder.

Claiming the moral high ground, he sought to sever father-son ties with Feng Luochen, while Dongfang Lianhua used a divorce as a threat.

He also hinted to Emperor Yongye that since Feng Luochen had been taught literature from childhood and had never learned martial arts, if he could kill a man, he must have been secretly taught martial skills.

The Beiqi people value martial prowess, and Feng Luochen carried a quarter of Beiqi blood in him.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongye indeed looked displeased.

Feng Zhanlian knew his plot had succeeded and, with a triumphant expression on his face, Dongfang Lianhua no longer paid him any attention and entered the Imperial Study.

“Ridiculous! Lianhua, discussing something like divorce, is it for you to mention? Your marriage with Feng Zhanlian was a blessed union bestowed by the late Emperor, one that you had requested at the beginning. Now you seek a divorce, does the Royal Family have no shame left?”

Emperor Yongye was furiously angry, scolding Dongfang Lianhua and her daughter as soon as he saw them.

Dongfang Lianhua raised her eyes to meet Emperor Yongye’s raging gaze.

“Brother, the Royal Family lost its dignity long ago. Tell me, which Prince Consort is allowed to take concubines? One is not enough, but two?”

Emperor Yongye’s eyes darkened, unexpectedly challenged by Dongfang Lianhua’s rebuttal.

“Aunt Xue was with your consent. If you dislike Lady Nan Feng, you can keep her away. Feng Zhanlian has realized his mistake, so as for the divorce, I do not allow it. Don’t bring it up again in the future.”

“Brother, he has never truly cared for me in his heart. He never considered Ah Ling and Luochen as his own children. If you do not permit it today, I shall kneel here and not rise.”

Dongfang Lianhua knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing heavily before Emperor Yongye, her forehead striking the hard, cold floor tiles.

“Your Majesty, I know the whereabouts of the secret edict. I am willing to trade the secret edict for my mother’s freedom.”

Feng Bailing’s words were astonishing.