Chapter 693: The Walls Have Ears
"Alright." Bai Hanyun obediently took the towel from Feng Xiyan’s hand, wet it, and washed her face.
While holding the basin for her, Feng Xiyan watched with interest as the towel and water seemed to move on their own.
When she finished, Feng Xiyan took the towel and walked to the round wooden table. Placing the basin down, he began to wash his face, neck, and arms.
Seeing that he didn’t change the water, Bai Hanyun fell silent.
"..." Can you change the water first? Don’t you find it dirty?
Although she thought this, Bai Hanyun didn’t say it out loud.
After Feng Xiyan finished washing his face, he left the room to pour out the dirty water. When he returned with the empty basin, he said, "Let’s go. We shouldn’t keep General Wu and the others waiting."
"Mhm." Getting out of bed, Bai Hanyun walked up to him, then held his hand. "Let’s go."
With that, the two of them walked to the front yard hand in hand.
By the time Bai Hanyun and Feng Xiyan arrived there, Wu Ruizhan, Madam Wu, and the generals were already waiting.
Seeing Feng Xiyan approaching while holding empty air, Madam Wu looked at her husband in confusion. "Husband... this..."
Wu Ruizhan leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "Madam, the one the Great General is holding hands with is his fiancée, Miss Bai."
Recalling what her husband had told her about the invisibility talisman after lunch, Madam Wu looked at Feng Xiyan’s hand again.
At first, she doubted that there was such a powerful talisman in this world. But now, after witnessing this, she couldn’t help but believe everything that her husband had told her.
Seeing his wife staring at Feng Xiyan’s hand, Wu Ruizhan smiled slightly.
Turning to Feng Xiyan, he clasped his fists and said, "Great General, the horse carriage has been waiting outside. We can depart at any time."
After glancing at the darkened sky, Feng Xiyan asked, "Has the preparation been completed?"
Wu Ruizhan nodded. "Reporting to the Great General, General Mu has already surrounded the imperial capital and is now waiting for our signal."
"Very well." Feng Xiyan looked at everyone present and added, "Tonight’s success depends on the element of surprise. Whether we leave this place alive or not will depend on whether Jin Yu survives."
Clasping their fists, Wu Ruizhan and the other generals responded in unison, "This subordinate understands."
"Good. Now, it’s time to attend this Hongmen Banquet." His eyes turned cold as he added, "Move out."
Following Feng Xiyan, the group left Wu Ruizhan’s residence. After Feng Xiyan, Madam Wu, and Bai Hanyun boarded their carriages, Wu Ruizhan and the others mounted their war horses.
As the moon slowly climbed into the night sky, the group made their way toward the imperial palace.
Forty minutes later, they arrived at the main entrance of the imperial palace.
The moment the ministers and generals saw Wu Ruizhan and his group, low murmurs spread through the crowd.
Ignoring them, Wu Ruizhan helped his wife down from the carriage, while Zhong Zi’an and the others stood guard around Feng Xiyan’s carriage.
"Look, isn’t that the famous War of God, Feng Xiyan?" a young general asked when he saw Feng Xiyan step down from the carriage prepared by the chief eunuch.
Standing beside him, a young master from a prominent noble family sneered. "What is the use of being famous? Didn’t he still end up as our war prisoner? Heh! What a bullshit War of God."
Turning to Wu Ruizhan, his eyes filled with admiration, he continued, "Instead of that war prisoner, this young master still thinks our Great General Wu is the best. Look at his strong build and aura. This young master bet that no one in the entire Central Continent can match him."
The moment his words fell, the young general noticed the unfriendly gazes of the old generals nearby. Cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead.
Ignoring everything else, the young general quickly covered his friend’s mouth and said through gritted teeth, "Are you courting death? Don’t you see those old generals’ eyes? If looks could kill, you’d have died a thousand times already!"
Reminded by him, the young master glanced around. When his eyes met those of the old generals, he nearly lost his soul.
He hurriedly lowered his head and pretended to be invisible.
Seeing this, one of the old generals snorted. "Hmph! Looks like Marquis An Le needs to teach his son how to behave in public."
Hearing this, Marquis An Le’s expression darkened.
Because Jin Yu valued military power more than political power, the generals finally could stand higher than the ministers. Knowing the current political situation was unfavorable for him, Marquis An Le suppressed his anger.
Although displeased, he still forced a smile and said, "General, you are right. This marquis will properly discipline that brat after returning home."
Hearing this, the old general snorted, then ignored him.
Such interactions were common at gatherings like this.
While the guests gossiped about Feng Xiyan and speculated about Wu Ruizhan’s standing in the new emperor’s eyes, Feng Xiyan and his group calmly walked toward the side gate.
Without the emperor’s permission, no one was allowed to ride in a carriage or on horseback inside, so everyone proceeded on foot to the imperial garden where the banquet would be held tonight.
After passing through the side gate, Wu Ruizhan whispered to his wife, "Madam, stay close to me."
Madam Wu tightened her grip on her fan and nodded. The walls had ears, so they said nothing more.
Before long, they saw the chief eunuch waiting at the second gate.
Clasping his hands, the chief eunuch bowed to Wu Ruizhan and Feng Xiyan. "Great General Wu, please come with this servant. His Majesty has prepared special seats for you and Great General Feng."
Wu Ruizhan returned the gesture. "Then I will trouble you to lead the way, Chief Eunuch."
"Great General Wu, you are too polite." The chief eunuch smiled and gestured ahead. "Everyone, please follow me."
Following him, the group took a shortcut to the imperial garden.