Chapter 383 Why should I borrow your name as my legal mother?
Grand Tutor Yan's words truly left Yan Fengxi with no face whatsoever, shocking everyone in the room. Madam Yan covered her mouth with her handkerchief, tears streaming down her face. Grand Tutor Yan's words were directed at Yan Fengxi, but weren't they also a slap in her face?
"Is this how grandfather views his granddaughter?" Yan Fengxi's face flushed with shame and indignation. She suddenly raised her head, tears mixed with resentment streaming down her face. "Did you raise me like that willingly? Weren't you just thinking that you could use me to climb the social ladder and benefit from your granddaughter in the future?"
Now that Yan Fengju is doing better than me, you feel I don't meet your expectations, so you're belittling me to nothing, eager to get rid of me. In your eyes, am I your granddaughter, or just a bargaining chip?
"You...you..." Grand Tutor Yan never expected that his carefully nurtured granddaughter would say such a thing to him, which made his heart ache with anger.
Just then, Yan Fengxi turned to look at Yan Fengju, her eyes bloodshot with anger and jealousy, staring at her intently as if poisoned:
"Yan Fengju, don't be so smug! Do you think that just because they're praising you now, you can stay glamorous forever? Just wait and see! Once they've squeezed every last drop of value out of you, once you're no longer of any use to them, they'll discard you like trash, just like they discarded me! You and I are no different at all!"
"Smack!"
Yan Shuyang rushed over and slapped Yan Fengxi hard across the face, saying, "I think you've gone mad."
Yan Shuyang's hand was still frozen in mid-air, his knuckles white from the force, as he glared at his daughter who was stunned by the beating: "When has the family ever used you? From childhood to adulthood, we have provided you with fine clothes and food, taught you by famous teachers, and cherished you like a precious gem. Tell me, what benefits have we gotten from you?"
All I did was advise you against marrying into Prince Rui's household, and you dare to talk back to your grandfather like this, uttering such rebellious words! You are utterly unfilial!
Yan Fengxi covered her stinging cheek, realizing she had acted too impulsively and blurted out everything on her mind. She didn't know how to make amends and could only lower her head and sob.
Madam Yan was also taken aback by Yan Fengxi's remarks and didn't know what to do. Yan Shuyang's slap woke both Yan Fengxi and her up.
"Husband, Father, it's all my fault!" Madam Yan knelt on the ground with a thud, tears streaming down her face like broken beads. She choked out:
"It's because I've spoiled her and failed to teach her manners properly that she blurted out such outrageous things in a moment of desperation. Please forgive her this time, Father and Husband!"
She crawled a few steps on her knees and kowtowed repeatedly to Grand Tutor Yan: "Fengxi is young and has been spoiled by us. She lost her temper today because she was stubborn. If Father is willing to give her another chance, I am willing to immediately register Fengju under my name and let her marry into the Duke of Wei's mansion in a grand manner as the legitimate daughter."
I only beg Father to consider this matter and reconsider Fengxi's marriage—if she can marry into Prince Rui's household, I will keep a close eye on her every day, teaching her manners and cultivating her character, ensuring she never misbehaves again, and never letting her bring any trouble to the family!
In other words, she was offering to register Yan Fengju under her name as a bargaining chip in order to get Grand Tutor Yan to work hard so that Yan Fengxi could marry Prince Rui. Everyone present was intelligent; who didn't understand her meaning?
"You...you've gone mad too." Yan Shuyang pointed at Madam Yan and said through gritted teeth, while Grand Tutor Yan remained silent with a sullen face.
“Fengju, I know you are a reasonable person,” Madam Yan said, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief, her earnest tone masking an unmistakable calculation.
"Now that you are going to marry into the Duke of Wei's family, this is a great benefit and a respectable honor bestowed upon you by your family. But you must also remember that this honor is not given for nothing. Your family has raised you for so long, so you should share the burden for your family."
She looked at Yan Fengju, her tone becoming even gentler, "It's common knowledge that you and Duke Chu are on good terms. The existence of the Heavenly Crafts Bureau in the Great Qian Dynasty owes a great deal to Duke Chu. Prince Rui is the head of the Heavenly Crafts Bureau, and Duke Chu has influence with him. How could you not know about this relationship?"
Regarding Fengxi's matter, if you were willing to ask the Duke of Chu to put in a good word for you, and considering that you often see Prince Rui at the Imperial Workshop, you could casually mention Fengxi's good qualities—she's lively and has a pleasing appearance; she might very well catch Prince Rui's eye.
"If you're willing to get this done," Madam Yan stared into her eyes, finally revealing her true intentions, "I'll arrange for you to be registered under my name as my legitimate daughter immediately, without the slightest hesitation. This will not only help Fengxi, but also pave the way for your own future. With sisters working together, you'll have a better foothold in the capital, won't you?"
Every word she spoke was dripping with honeyed calculation, yet she phrased it as if it were an immense act of kindness. Yan Fengju sneered inwardly, but showed no sign of it on her face. Naturally, she didn't reply, but instead turned her gaze to Grand Tutor Yan. She wanted to see what Grand Tutor Yan would say.
Grand Tutor Yan met her gaze, his brows furrowing slightly. He was displeased by her distrust, but he said aloud, "Don't bring up Fengju's marriage. If you don't agree to Fengju being registered under your name..."
"Father, your daughter-in-law didn't say she disagreed." Madam Yan, fearing Grand Tutor Yan might say something that would make her uncomfortable, quickly added, "Fengju has received benefits; she should do something for the family, otherwise..."
"I don't want to."
Yan Fengju's calm voice rang out abruptly, interrupting Madam Yan and drawing everyone's attention. Amidst the puzzled and angry gazes of the group, Yan Fengju stood up and said:
“I do not wish to be registered under my mother’s name, and I do not think the Duke of Wei’s mansion will reject this marriage just because I am an illegitimate daughter. If they really do so, then it is not a good match, and it is better to cancel this marriage.”
She bowed to Grand Tutor Yan and said, "There should be nothing more for me here. I will take my leave."
As she was about to leave, Madam Yan grabbed her sleeve. Yan Fengju turned around and saw Madam Yan's complicated expression. She opened her mouth and said, "You really don't want to be registered under my name and become a legitimate daughter instead of a concubine's daughter?"
"Unwilling?" Yan Fengju said decisively.
"Why?" Madam Yan asked in confusion.
Which concubine's daughter doesn't want to become a legitimate daughter?
“Mother should ask herself that question,” Yan Fengju said with a mocking look in her eyes. “Mother, have you forgotten that I was almost poisoned to death a while ago? But I remember it very clearly.”
One sentence made Madam Yan's gaze dart away, and her body involuntarily shrink back.
At this moment, Yan Fengju said again, "I was able to enter the Heavenly Crafts Bureau as a concubine's daughter and earn a place among those blueprints and machines. In the future, I can naturally live a glamorous and respectable life on my own. Why do I need to borrow your name as my legal mother?"
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