Chapter 171 The Unfathomable Feng Yuerou
"Why are you looking at me like that, Mother?" Feng Yuerou smiled sweetly at Min Qiaoshi, without the slightest bit of guilt.
"I'm curious, why are you deliberately trying to get close to me?" Min Qiao asked bluntly. "I don't think you're trying to please me or get close to me simply because you like or respect me."
Feng Yuerou remained composed and asked with a smile, "Why does Mother think it's impossible?"
Madam Min smiled. "Min Hui hates me. The An'nan Marquis's mansion is connected to the Lu family, and he sees me as a thorn in his side. And you, Min Hui's wife, the favored eldest daughter of the An'nan Marquis's mansion, do you think I would believe that you approached me without any ulterior motives?"
Feng Yuerou shrugged. "If I said I just wanted to find someone to rely on, would Mother believe me?"
“Rely on?” Madam Min Qiao was taken aback.
Feng Yuerou nodded, her smile gradually fading. "Min Hui is unreliable, and the Marquis of Annan's mansion is unreliable too!"
Madam Min frowned slightly, and then heard Feng Yuerou say softly, "I can remember things from when I was very young."
“My older siblings, whether legitimate or illegitimate, were all pawns in my parents’ hands.”
"The sisters must be skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, needlework, and be virtuous, gentle, and well-mannered. If they say the wrong thing or take the wrong step, they will be beaten and punished."
"They were raised to be the most docile and obedient ladies of high society. Then their parents married them off to other men for social alliances."
“Even if the other party is an old man old enough to be their grandfather, they dare not utter a single complaint.”
"The same goes for my older brothers. They had to study, learn how to interact with others, and follow proper etiquette. Whoever our father told them to associate with, they had to associate with."
Even if you get slapped in public, you still have to shamelessly go up and befriend them.
"Otherwise, the father's family discipline would make their lives even worse than death."
"I, I saw with my own eyes my third brother being hung in the study by my father and whipped!"
"I also witnessed my second brother having his arm broken by my father..."
As Feng Yuerou spoke, her whole body trembled slightly, revealing the fear hidden in her subconscious.
Min Qiao listened quietly to Feng Yuerou's story, but her eyes remained fixed on Feng Yuerou's face.
She could tell that Feng Yuerou was telling the truth.
But that's strange.
If the Annan couple could be so strict with their children, why was Feng Yuerou, who acted outrageously and had a bad reputation, able to live well and even win the favor of the Annan couple?
Min Qiao asked the question that had been on her mind.
Feng Yuerou was momentarily panicked, but she quickly succumbed to fear again and shook her head. "I don't know."
"Perhaps it's because I'm the youngest child, or perhaps it's because my older brothers and sisters are all 'well-behaved' children, and I'm the only one who's different, so I'm the only one who can win their favor?"
Feng Yuerou guessed so.
Madam Min Qiao did not miss Feng Yuerou's momentary panic, and knew that she must be hiding something, but she did not expose her, and even nodded in agreement: "Perhaps."
"So, all those things you've done since you were a child were actually done on purpose?"
Feng Yuerou smiled bitterly, "From birth, I have been treated very differently from my older brothers and sisters."
"They need to get up early every day to study and do homework. I only need to play happily without any worries."
"So, they are jealous of me, hate me, and target me."
"My half-sister pushed me into the water, my legitimate sister had her maid poison the face cream she applied, and my own brother even used his status as a concubine to lure my personal maid into a dangerous situation..."
Min Qiao looked at Feng Yuerou in astonishment, "So, all those things were actually done to you by your older siblings? Just because your parents favored you?"
"Hmm," Feng Yuerou replied in a heavy tone.
"So, your bad reputation was deliberately spread by your older siblings to target you?"
Feng Yuerou shook her head: "No. I spread those rumors myself."
Min Qiao was taken aback.
Feng Yuerou smiled bitterly and said, "My bad reputation will affect my marriage prospects, which will reduce the jealousy of my brothers. It will also prevent my parents from using me as a pawn to arrange marriages at will."
It sounds reasonable, but it's actually full of flaws.
Madam Min smiled and didn't delve into the matter. Instead, she changed the subject, saying, "After all this talk, you still haven't explained why you deliberately approached me. At least, I haven't found a reason for you to do so."
“My parents are too materialistic, my siblings all hate me, and I dare not rely on anyone. Min Hui is not a good man to rely on either. Therefore, the only one I can rely on is the Xuanping Marquis’s Mansion, and in the entire Xuanping Marquis’s Mansion, only my mother is worthy of my reliance.”
Feng Yuerou smiled faintly, "That's my explanation."
"Mother, will you accept me?"
Madam Min Qiao gave Feng Yuerou a deep look.
She believed that Feng Yuerou's words were sincere. But it was also true that she was hiding something from her.
Min Qiaoshi did not answer directly, but simply smiled and raised her arm, gesturing to Feng Yuerou with her eyes.
Feng Yuerou was stunned for a moment before she realized what was happening and quickly stepped forward to help Min Qiaoshi up by the arm.
"I'm hungry. I think breakfast is already on the table. Let's go have breakfast."
"Okay." Feng Yuerou smiled and helped Min Qiaoshi walk towards the side hall.
The two sat at the dining table, eating breakfast in silence.
Just when Madam Min thought that her conversation with Feng Yuerou had been meaningless, she heard Feng Yuerou say seemingly casually, "Since Mother left the capital, Min Hui has distanced himself from the Wang family, but has become very close to my family."
Madam Min paused in her porridge-drinking motion. "Your family is his in-laws, so it's only natural that you're close to them, isn't it?"
Feng Yuerou shook her head. "Things aren't that simple. Min Hui seems to have asked my family to help find someone very important. I don't know exactly who it is."
Min Qiao was taken aback. Who could Min Hui turn to?
His mother is dead, his biological father and adoptive father are both dead, the Wang family? The Min family? They can't use the connections of the Marquis of An'nan's family!
Unable to come up with an answer immediately, Madam Min Qiao did not dwell on it any further.
Feng Yuerou smiled and said, "Mother, don't worry, I will keep an eye on Min Hui. If he does anything wrong, I will tell you."
Madam Min smiled but did not refuse. "Let's eat, it'll get cold soon."
Although she didn't figure out Feng Yuerou's real reason for approaching her, she at least learned some inside information about the An'nan Marquis's mansion. She also gained insight into Feng Yuerou's eyes, which were fixed on Min Hui. Hmm, not bad.
***
Within three days, news of the massacre of loyal servants by the Marquis of Xuanping and the murder of an elder by the Minister of Works spread throughout the capital.
Memorials from the Marquis of Xuanping's residence and the Ministry of Works' residence also flew onto Emperor Xiaozhao's desk like snowflakes.
Despite her frail health, Madam Zheng made daily trips to the palace. She didn't complain, simply saying she was unlucky and had suffered an undeserved calamity.
On the first day, he spoke to the Empress Dowager; on the second day, he spoke to the Empress; and on the third day, he went directly to Emperor Xiaozhao.
In any case, the Duke of Jin's mansion had no power or influence, and relied entirely on the Empress Dowager and her sisterly affection to maintain its dignity.
She disregarded all pride and tearfully recounted her ordeal after being poisoned to Emperor Xiaozhao.
Then he thanked the Empress Dowager, Princess Jiaoyang, and Lady Minqiao... Of course, he also had to flatter Emperor Xiaozhao, praising him for his wisdom, martial prowess, keen insight, and for never letting evildoers go unpunished.
Day four.
Just as Madam Min Qiao packed her belongings and left the city to recuperate at her estate, Emperor Xiaozhao issued an imperial edict ordering the entire Sun family to return home to observe mourning for Madam Sun.
Yes, the Minister of Works is Madam Sun's own son, so he must observe three years of mourning. His grandchildren must observe one year of mourning.
The position of Minister of Works was taken over by the Vice Minister of Works. Marquis Xuanping, Min Rong, was transferred from the Court of Judicial Review to the Ministry of Works to temporarily assume the position of Vice Minister of Works. Although it was said to be temporary, when he would be officially appointed was entirely up to Emperor Xiaozhao.
The Sun family returned home to observe mourning. Marquis Xuanping, however, was promoted from a fourth-rank official to a third-rank official.
Emperor Xiaozhao's attitude toward the two families was quite obvious.
For a time, the Marquis of Xuanping's mansion became even more prominent.
...
P.S.: Guess what Feng Yuerou is really up to!
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