Feng Jinyuan's words ruined Jin Zhen's short life. When they saw Jin Zhen being taken away by the secret guards who suddenly appeared, even the sisters An and Cheng felt a chill all over their bodies. The man she married had never had any feelings for him. Women were just tools chosen for his momentary pleasure, or partners who could actually help him. How could they be considered husband and wife? Once she was no longer useful, once she brought losses or threats to the Feng Mansion, she would be abandoned at any time and anywhere.
Feng Yuheng returned to the county lady's mansion, and the servants took Zirui back to sleep, but Xiangrong followed her all the time, trembling with fear, always feeling uneasy.
Feng Yuheng had no choice but to take the girl back to her room. After washing up, she said to her, "Come squeeze in with me. You can't close your eyes for much longer. You will have to get up and prepare for court soon."
When talking about going to court, Xiao Xiangrong almost went crazy and asked her with a sad face: "Second sister, can I not go? I just want to report the news. I don't think this is a big contribution. The emperor doesn't need to reward me."
Feng Yuheng climbed onto the bed without paying attention to himself, and then patted the bedside to signal Xiangrong to come up as well. Then he said, "Everyone hopes to be rewarded by the emperor. Why do you want to step back when you have made contributions?"
Xiangrong grabbed the corner of the quilt and hugged it tightly, begging bitterly: "Anyway, I just don't dare to go, second sister, or I won't go. Can you help me to plead for me? Please."
She rolled her eyes in anger, "The emperor asked Zhang Yuan to come and deliver the decree in person. Do you think you can refuse to go on this matter? Hey! Where is the fierceness you had when you bullied Xuan Laosi to embroider for you in the Prince Yu's Mansion? Why are you like a little white rabbit as soon as you get home?" Feng Yuheng always remembered the scene she saw in the Prince Yu's Mansion. It was so funny to think of Xuan Tianyi holding the needle and looking sleepy, scared and collapsed.
Xiang Rong was helpless. She said, "You all didn't come back, and it's still so chaotic outside. The servants of Prince Yu's Mansion said that when the Ninth Prince left a message before leaving the mansion, he said that if I was bored, I would go and teach the Fourth Prince how to embroider. I thought it was an order, and that the Ninth Prince wanted to use this to check or find out something. Second sister, I gritted my teeth and did it! I was almost scared to death!"
Feng Yuheng held her forehead with her hand. She knew it was a misunderstanding. It turned out that this girl was completing a political task. Forget it. She waved her hand and persuaded Xiangrong, "It is impossible not to go to court. The only thing you can do now is to rest early, get enough energy, and be more careful when entering the palace." After thinking about it, she simply tempted her, "Seventh Brother must also go to court. You don't want to see him listless, right?"
Xiangrong's face turned red, and without saying a word, she went straight into the quilt.
Feng Yuheng laughed and finally let the girl lie down. At this time, Wang Chuan, who had returned from Feng Mansion, came into the room and whispered to her, "Master Feng has sentenced Jin Zhen to be buried with him."
Feng Yuheng didn't react much, but Xiangrong shuddered under the quilt, and his little head popped out again, with a bit of fear in his eyes.
Feng Yuheng motioned Wangchuan to go down, and then he also lay down, right next to Xiangrong, and suddenly asked in a low voice: "Do you think I am too cruel sometimes?"
Xiangrong didn't expect her second sister to suddenly ask such a question. She was startled at first, then shook her head seriously and said, "No. Aunt An once said that all the things that happened in the Feng family seemed to have happened one after another after the second sister returned home, but in fact, none of them were initiated by the second sister. Those people had the intention to harm others, but unfortunately they didn't have the ability to do so. In the end, their cleverness backfired. Whether they died or were injured, no one else could be blamed."
Feng Yuheng sighed softly. She knew that An was a reasonable person, so she was willing to get along with the mother and daughter. Even after Yao's death, she did not distance herself from them. Xiang Rong's words really touched her. If for no other reason, it was because there was still someone in this mansion who truly understood her.
"Go to sleep!" She turned around, her back to Xiangrong, "It's not that I'm cruel, it's just that some people want too much. But how much they want is none of my business, they shouldn't, they shouldn't plot against me. Xiangrong, remember, cowardice and timidity can bring you nothing, only strength and decisiveness are the foundation of your future life."
After saying this, Feng Yuheng fell into a light sleep, and Xiangrong also closed his eyes, but in his mind he repeated Feng Yuheng's last words countless times until he remembered them firmly.
The two of them didn't sleep for long. It seemed that the time had passed just from closing their eyes to opening them again.
She didn't care about being sleepy, the nervousness of going to court had already dispelled her sleepiness. She watched Feng Yuheng formally put on the county lady's palace dress, and then she realized that she didn't have the right clothes to wear to court. Going to court was a serious matter, she couldn't wear the dress she usually wore to banquets, right?
Just as she was feeling embarrassed, Feng Yuheng handed her a dress. It was a light orange long skirt that barely covered her ankles, but didn't fall to the ground. It was neat and not dragging. There was a waist belt of the same color in the middle. It was not fancy, not conspicuous, but low-key and noble. It was really beautiful.
Feng Yuheng told her: "It was originally made for me to wear. Qingyu had someone make it for me when I was still making steel in the camp. But I didn't expect that I grew so fast in the past six months, and it's a little short for me now. It's just right for you."
She didn't lie. This skirt was indeed made by Qingyu for her. Not only this one, but there were several more. She had thought to give it to Feng Yuheng to change into when summer came. Who knew that when her master came out of the camp, she had grown half a head taller than a few months ago. Qingyu was speechless at the time and could only silently put all these clothes under the box. Unexpectedly, they would come in handy today.
Xiangrong quickly washed and changed her clothes. When she was leaving the house, Wangchuan was already waiting outside in the palace carriage.
Ever since Feng Jinyuan was demoted and no longer had to attend court, the Feng family had never gone out at this time. It was still dark outside and the streets were silent. Only occasionally could one see the vehicles of officials going to court passing by, which gave the streets a bit of life.
Xiangrong was still nervous, her two little fists were tightly clenched, her nails were almost digging into her flesh. Feng Yuheng did not persuade her any more, as it was unprecedented for a woman to attend court, and if Xiangrong was not nervous at all like her, then that would be what she should be worried about.
Finally, the imperial carriage stopped in front of the Duanmen Gate. The two got off the carriage, and Feng Yuheng looked up and couldn't help but secretly praise them.
That's why they say it's easier to get things done if you have money and power. In just one day and one night, the Duanmen Gate in front of them that was smashed beyond recognition by Xuan Tianye had been repaired and restored to its former grandeur. However, the new paint still had a strong smell, reminding people of the crisis that night.
Now they were going from Duanmen to Qiankun Hall to attend court, and servants were not allowed to be brought along, so Feng Yuheng only took Xiangrong and the other two to the palace gate. When they met officials who were coming to attend court together, they nodded to each other, and those who liked to talk would take the initiative to greet her.
Although she was a woman, no official dared to criticize Feng Yuheng, let alone attending court. Even if Feng Yuheng said one day that she wanted to be the emperor, these people would not object. After all, she was both a steelmaker and a disaster relief worker, and her personal image had reached a peak in the entire Dashun area. No one would think that there was anything wrong with Feng Yuheng attending court. Even if they did not know in advance that the emperor had specially summoned her, they would not say a word.
This trust in Feng Yuheng also brought Xiangrong along with it. When a minister who didn't know Xiangrong asked a question, someone immediately told him, "That's the sister of Ji'an County Lord." Then the person asking the question shut up. It was normal for Ji'an County Lord to bring a sister to court, as she was so powerful.
Xiang Rong's nervousness gradually increased from the moment she entered the palace. When Feng Yuheng brought her to the entrance of Qiankun Palace, she could hardly move her legs. She grabbed Feng Yuheng's sleeve with one hand and kept saying, "I don't want to go in! I don't want to go in!"
Feng Yuheng thought that she couldn't let him down at this critical moment! So she looked around quickly, hoping to see Xuan Tianhua, so that he could persuade Xiangrong and Xiangrong would feel at ease. But Xuan Tianhua and Xuan Tianming came late today, and she looked for a long time but didn't see anyone. However, several soldiers were escorting the fourth prince Xuan Tianyi towards the main hall.
Today, Xuan Tianyi took off his brocade robe and jade crown, wearing plain clothes and cloth shoes, with his hair loose and handcuffs and shackles on. He didn't have any injuries on his body, but he was being escorted by soldiers and had lost his former demeanor as a prince, looking very embarrassed.
He walked to the front of the hall and glanced at Feng Yuheng and Xiangrong standing at the door. He was not surprised at all. He just looked at Feng Yuheng and said, "It's a pity that my sister-in-law is a woman with such ability."
Feng Yuheng smiled, "Fourth brother, you are too kind. Fortunately, I am a girl. If I were a boy by accident and happened to be a brother to Fourth brother, then Fourth brother might not have suffered such a fate today."
She greeted people with a smile, but her words could make people angry. Xuan Tianyi tried hard to adjust his mentality, and then decided not to talk to Feng Yuheng again. He turned his head and saw Xiangrong, whose face was full of nervousness and ready to be stage fright at any time. He said disdainfully: "When you were waving the embroidery needle in the Prince Yu's Mansion, you were pretending. Now, a small Qiankun Palace has stopped you. It's ridiculous." After saying that, he raised his leg and stepped over the high threshold and walked in calmly.
Xiangrong was angry now. She had beaten this person to beg for mercy more than once that day, so why was he turning the tables today? She glared at Xuan Tianyi angrily and shouted, "You are ridiculous! I don't know who has such a hard time learning embroidery, and who can fall asleep in the middle of a night. You still want to make trouble? You overestimate yourself!" She was so focused on arguing with Xuan Tianyi that she forgot that she was standing in front of the Qiankun Hall and didn't dare to go in. Seeing Xuan Tianyi walking forward without looking back, Xiangrong became even angrier and followed him in with her skirt lifted.
Feng Yuheng was delighted now, and hurriedly followed behind, and heard someone whispering beside him - "As expected, a tiger father will have a dog son, the children of the Feng family are all extraordinary!"
Someone immediately retorted: "Don't say that. Prime Minister Feng doesn't have the good temperament of his two daughters, and their abilities are not even one in ten thousand of those of Princess Ji'an."
As soon as these words came out, the man who had spoken earlier immediately reminded him, "Shut up! Where did the Phoenix Prime Minister come from? He is only a fifth-rank university scholar now, and he can't even attend the morning court!"
The person who said the wrong thing quickly shut up, and everyone stood in their respective positions. Feng Yuheng pulled Xiangrong to stand behind the ministers, and then saw Xuan Tianming and Xuan Tianhua also walked up to the hall. Before she could greet the two, she heard Zhang Yuan singing loudly from the hall - "The Emperor has arrived!"
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