SBCEJM -Chapter 91 Chu Tiankuo Grows Suspicious! Is Her Disguise About to Be Exposed?

When Feng Zexuan heard Chu Tiankuo’s question, her heart skipped a beat.

【Why is this guy suddenly asking that? Don’t tell me he suspects something?】

【Host, don’t panic. He’s probably just asking casually.】

Keeping her expression calm, she replied lightly, “Besides me, there’s also a younger sister in my family.”

Chu Tiankuo’s heart skipped a beat too.

No way… no way… what exactly am I supposed to be suspecting?

A younger sister?

But just now, didn’t the inner voice clearly say “older brother”?

And it even mentioned “curing elder brother.” What in the world was going on?

Could Marshal Feng be lying? But why would she lie?

“Do… do you have an older brother?” Chu Tiankuo pressed further.

“No. It’s just me and my younger sister. Why is General Chu suddenly asking this?”

Feng Zexuan put on a puzzled expression, though inwardly she was panicking badly.

【It’s over, it’s over. Chu Tiankuo definitely knows something!】

【I need to get out of here fast!】

“It’s nothing, just asking casually.” Chu Tiankuo waved his hand. “Please continue with your work, Marshal. I’ll go arrange the troops.”

Marshal Feng clearly didn’t want to say more. Forget it. Better not stir up extra trouble.

Half a month later, at the Ten-Mile Pavilion outside the capital.

“Look! The army’s back!”

“It’s Marshal Feng! It really is Marshal Feng!”

“I heard the Xiongnu were defeated! They even became our vassal state!”

The common people had started waiting before dawn. Both sides of the official road were packed solid with people.

Old men held their grandchildren, aunties stood on tiptoe, and even the usually busy innkeepers had shut their shops just to come watch the excitement.

Dust billowed in the distance as battle banners fluttered proudly.

“Marshal Feng! Marshal Feng!”

“Great Xia is mighty!”

“We won! We really won!”

The crowd completely erupted.

Feng Zexuan rode at the front on horseback, followed by the mighty army of three hundred thousand troops.

Every soldier stood tall. Though travel-worn and dusty, their spirits were high.

【System, this welcome is way too grand! Good thing I’m not socially anxious.】

The system replied: 【Host, you’re now the great hero of Great Xia! Of course the entire capital came out to welcome you!】

【Hehe, naturally! This Marshal has rendered great service to the nation!】

Feng Zexuan raised her chin proudly.

Some children by the roadside threw flower petals toward her, and she even waved back deliberately, causing the crowd to grow even more frenzied.

【This feels amazing!】

【Warm reminder, Host: once you’re back, you’ll have to attend court again.】

【System, you really know how to ruin the mood!】

At the city gates, Xiao Juechen stood there long before their arrival, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe and wearing his imperial crown, surrounded by civil and military officials.

“Your Majesty!”

The moment Feng Zexuan saw him from afar, she quickly dismounted and strode forward.

“Beloved Minister Feng!”

Xiao Juechen’s face glowed with delight as he personally stepped forward to help her up.

“This campaign was an extraordinary success! I am deeply gratified!”

“I dare not claim the credit. This was all thanks to Your Majesty’s wise leadership and the soldiers’ hard work.”

【Standard official nonsense. I’ve practically memorized these lines by now.】

【Still, the emperor looks like he’s in a really good mood today!】

Hearing her inner thoughts, Xiao Juechen’s lips curved slightly upward.

Finally, I can hear this brat’s commentary again!

Without her inner voice for two months, court had been unbearably dull. Facing those old-fashioned officials every day was practically suffocating.

“Marshal Feng!”

“Marshal, you are mighty!”

“Long live Great Xia!”

The officials all stepped forward to congratulate her, and Feng Zexuan returned every greeting politely.

Minister of Revenue Chu Heng was so emotional his eyes nearly filled with tears, while the Chancellor kept nodding repeatedly, muttering, “Good, good indeed.”

“Kai’er!”

A familiar voice sounded.

Feng Zexuan turned and saw Feng Huai’an and Li Yunluo walking toward her.

Feng Huai’an wore his court robes, while Li Yunluo was dressed in elegant attire. Pride and worry were written all over their faces.

【Father! Mother!】

【Seeing them makes me want to cry. I really missed home these past two months!】

Feng Zexuan was overflowing with emotion, but she still maintained her dignified appearance on the surface.

“Father, Mother.”

She stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

Li Yunluo looked her daughter up and down, tears almost falling.

“You’ve gotten thinner… and darker too. You must have suffered quite a bit out there these past two months.”

“Mother, I’m fine. Please don’t worry.”

【Oh no, Mother’s gaze is way too loving. I’m about to break character.】

【If there weren’t so many people watching, I’d really want to hug her!】

Feng Huai’an patted his daughter’s shoulder, his voice slightly choked with emotion.

“Well done! Your father is proud of you! The entire Great Xia is proud of you!”

Seeing this warm scene, even Xiao Juechen felt deeply moved.

“Enough standing around. Return to the palace first! I shall hold a grand banquet to celebrate Beloved Minister Feng’s triumph!”

Imperial Palace, Golden Throne Hall.

As lanterns lit up the evening, the hall was decorated lavishly in celebration.

Red silk fluttered everywhere, golden dragons coiled around the pillars, and the entire palace gleamed magnificently.

Palace maids moved gracefully through the hall carrying fine wine and delicacies, while musicians played triumphant melodies with elegant strings and flutes.

Xiao Juechen sat high upon the dragon throne, beaming with delight.

The civil and military officials stood in rows on either side, while Feng Zexuan sat at the foremost seat.

【This treatment… wow. It’s even better than I imagined.】

“My beloved ministers!”

Xiao Juechen raised his wine cup.

“Today, Beloved Minister Feng returns victorious. Not only did he defeat the Xiongnu, he also subdued Tingxia Kingdom. Such achievements are rare even in all of history!”

“Your Majesty is wise!”

“Marshal Feng is mighty!”

The officials shouted in unison, their voices shaking the hall itself.

Setting down his cup, Xiao Juechen’s expression turned solemn.

“I have decided to confer upon Feng Zekai the title of King of the North! He shall receive a fief of thirty thousand households! A reward of ten thousand taels of gold, one hundred thousand taels of silver, and an additional princely estate!”

Boom!

The entire hall exploded in shock.

King of the North?

A king with a different surname?

This was the first non-imperial prince since the founding of the dynasty!

The officials exchanged looks—some excited, some envious, some jealous.

【Holy crap! System! My ears aren’t malfunctioning, right?! King of the North?! This title is insanely awesome!】

【A fief of thirty thousand households? How much income is that?! I feel like I can lie around for the rest of my life and still make money!】

【And I even get a princely estate! I’m officially a homeowner now! Mom never has to worry about me not being able to afford a house again!】

The system replied: 【Congratulations, Host! Long live the Host forever and ever!】

Feng Zexuan was ecstatic inside, but outwardly she still wore a humble, overwhelmed expression.

“I… I am unworthy of such honor.”

“You deserve it!”

Xiao Juechen waved grandly.

“I shall also bestow upon you a golden immunity token!”

【A golden immunity token? That’s basically a life-saving artifact! With this thing, what do I even have to fear anymore?!】

The system announced: 【Congratulations, Host! Reward for obtaining a royal title: five hundred thousand gossip points!】

【What? There’s even a reward?! Then doesn’t that mean I now have two and a half million gossip points?】

【Hahahaha! I finally believe that saying now—sometimes your fortunes really can change in a single instant!】

【Now I can truly retire!】

Suppressing the wild celebration in her heart, Feng Zexuan respectfully knelt to express her gratitude.

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s boundless grace!”

Xiao Juechen looked at Feng Zexuan with satisfaction.

This brat truly was a talent—with mysterious abilities too. Definitely worth reusing.

And listening to her inner thoughts was so entertaining. Court life would finally become interesting again.

However…

Suddenly thinking of something, Xiao Juechen changed the topic.

“By the way, the King of the North is no longer young. It’s time to consider matters of marriage.”