The Old Mrs. Feng’s words gave Feng Wan imnse courage. In just a few days, she had lost weight, her complexion wan and drawn. Feng Shu, Fengyu, and Feng Ling all felt an indistinct discomfort in their hearts.
Sisters of one family, sharing honor and disgrace together.
The Feng Family endured this tornt. Rumors in the capital began to grow, but the Feng sisters remained secluded, not stepping out of their doors. It wasn’t until the end of the Lunar New Year when Emperor Jianming issued a benevolent decree, conferring the title of Prince Duan upon the Second Prince and Prince Kang upon the Third Prince.
The Feng Family also received a marriage decree from the palace: Feng Wan, dignified and virtuous, was bestowed as the legitimate wife of Prince Duan.
Old Mrs. Feng wore her official court attire, a phoenix coronet on her head, leading Feng Changlin, Lady Feng, and several granddaughters to kneel and accept the decree. When they heard Feng Wan would beco Prince Duan’s primary wife, despite the many storms and trials she’d endured in her lifeti, the old lady was montarily stunned. Feng Changlin and Lady Feng had only one thought in their hearts.
How could this be possible!
Feng Wan was equally dumbstruck, not daring to raise her head. She felt the weight of the imperial favor press against her young and tender neck, nearly suffocating her. Fengyu slightly furrowed her brows, finding it odd, but at the sa ti, she felt that this matter had at least reached its conclusion—better than she had imagined.
The eunuch delivering the decree smiled as he congratulated the Feng Family, his words smooth and flattering. "Just look at how happy Old Mrs. Feng and Vice Minister Feng are—they’ve forgotten to accept the decree."
Reminded by his words, the old lady, together with Feng Changlin, kowtowed to thank the emperor for his grace.
The eunuch was shrewd and spoke many auspicious phrases. Lady Feng, barely able to contain her elation, nearly waved her arms and legs in glee. Overco with excitent, she thickened the red envelope that had been prepared for the eunuch. The eunuch then delivered a verbal ssage from Princess Consort De, instructing Lady Feng to bring Miss Feng Wan to the palace in two days’ ti. Lady Feng responded repeatedly with reverence, carefully seeing the eunuch out.
"Mother..." Feng Changlin couldn’t conceal his excitent. This was the first imperial marriage decree for the Feng Family and the first prince’s primary wife it had produced. The days of oppression for the Feng Family were over. With one stroke, they had risen to beco relatives of the imperial family. Such joyous news was like a gift from the heavens.
Feng Ling was all smiles. "Eldest Sister, you’re going to be a princess."
Better than Second Sister’s match, higher in both standing and rank. Feng Ling had long harbored resentnt—why should her own sister always be overshadowed by Feng Shu? It had also been a long-term concern for Lady Feng. Now, their fortunes had reversed, and her delight and pride couldn’t be concealed. They had thought Feng Shu’s marriage was the most illustrious, but who would have guessed their own sister would achieve the greatest glory?
Yet Feng Wan showed no trace of joy; her expression was dazed.
While Old Mrs. Feng felt happiness, she also harbored worries. Leading her family to the ancestral hall, she instructed that the imperial marriage decree be enshrined there for generations to co, as it was the Feng Family’s greatest honor.
"Wanwan, light incense for the ancestors," said the old lady.
Feng Wan knelt properly, lit the incense, and placed the marriage decree before the ancestral tablets. Lady Feng knelt and kowtowed several tis to the ancestors.
Old Mrs. Feng gazed at Mr. Feng’s spirit tablet, praying silently that his spirit in heaven would protect their granddaughters, ensuring their safety and prosperity. Such overwhelming fortune had unexpectedly co their way—if it was true blessing, great; if calamity, inescapable. The outco was settled; they could only leave it to fate.
Lady Feng, unable to hold back her tears, clutched Feng Wan’s hand and said, "Wanwan, your hardships have finally borne their fruit. When the great master interpreted your destiny, he said your future held imnse fortune and honor. Mother always knew your marital fate would be smooth and auspicious."
Feng Wan stared silently at the imperial decree enshrined in the ancestral hall, murmuring to herself, "Is this truly joyful?"
Feng Shu softly said, "Eldest Sister, the palace granting this marriage settles everything—it’s a mont of great joy. Look forward now; let the past be the past."
Feng Wan gave Feng Shu a complicated look. She and Feng Shu had been compared for eighteen years. The two were born re months apart and had grown up together. Both were pampered legitimate daughters of the Feng Family, excelling in every refinent—music, chess, calligraphy, poetry, wine, flowers, tea. In appearance and deanor, she had never lost to Feng Shu. But because Feng Shu was betrothed to Xie Zhang, whenever people ntioned the Feng Family’s daughters, they spoke of Feng Shu.
Feng Shu was poised in manner and open-hearted in temperant. Feng Wan had always lived in her shadow, wanting to prove herself but finding no way to do so. She had resigned herself to a bitter acceptance—falling one step behind ant continually falling behind. Yet who would have expected fate to now play such a joke? She had actually beco Princess Duan.
For more than a decade, she’d competed with Feng Shu in her heart. At last, she’d won.
She should have laughed up to the heavens with gleeful triumph, should have reveled in pride and abandon, should have felt fearless and unrestrained. Yet why was she so sorrowful, and why did the tears flow ceaselessly?
Old Mrs. Feng called Feng Changlin, Lady Feng, and Feng Wan to Songhe Garden for a private conversation, offering various words of advice. Feng Shu and Fengyu did not join them, instead heading back to the Plum Garden together.
Noticing Fengyu’s gloominess, Feng Shu softly asked, "Why are you unhappy?"
"I worry this marriage will affect you and Brother Xie Zhang," Fengyu replied. Her heart felt inexplicably hollow. "Once the Crown Prince Consort gives birth to her first son, both the Marquis Mansion and the Lin Family will align with the Crown Prince’s faction. Among the adult princes in the palace, only three remain—the Crown Prince and Prince Kang, who are full brothers, and Prince Duan. After the palace banquet, the situation for the throne grew even more distant for Prince Kang, leaving only Prince Duan as the potential rival to the Crown Prince. Though Prince Duan has been lackluster in recent years, with a weak maternal family, who knows what changes may co? He may not have genuinely wanted Eldest Sister as his primary wife. If his heart holds any opposition, life for Eldest Sister may not turn out well. He may also grow to resent the Marquis Mansion for ddling. The fight for power is unpredictable; I’m always afraid such things might implicate Eldest Sister."
"You’re so young—why trouble yourself with such thoughts?" Feng Shu chuckled, holding Fengyu’s hand. She herself remained calm, her voice steady and warm. "It may not have been the Marquis Mansion exerting pressure. The Crown Prince’s position is steady, and Prince Duan has neither an advantageous lineage nor reputation to compare to him. The Marchioness ntioned that during the palace banquet on New Year’s Eve, Princess Consort De had t Mrs. Fang, seemingly intending to propose a marriage between Fang Lingjun and Prince Duan. The Empress, however, would never sit idly by. As for how Eldest Sister ended up falling into the water, there’s no concrete evidence. The Empress and the Crown Prince’s faction seized the opportunity to sever the potential alliance between Prince Duan and Marshal Fang’s family—a move with no disadvantages at all. If my guess is correct, Prince Duan’s original intent was for Eldest Sister to be a secondary wife. Even if not Fang Lingjun, the Snow Orchid Princess could have sufficed. Now, he’s left empty-handed."
Prince Duan taking Feng Wan as his primary wife had no discernable benefit, a fact clear to anyone with eyes.
"If that’s the case, can Eldest Sister truly fare well?" Fengyu asked, projecting her own worries. "When a primary wife dies, a replacent can be taken. When the ti cos, they’ll simply say Eldest Sister was in poor health, her life like a snuffed-out orchid. And we’ll have no choice but to endure it."
"You..." Feng Shu halted mid-step, staring at Fengyu in astonishnt. After a mont of silence, she softly said, "Don’t think so ill of people."
Fengyu thought to herself, the workings of imperial minds were always worse.
"Ayu, rember, living carries more aning than dying," Feng Shu said gravely. "When you encounter a stone in your path, kicking it away may solve an imdiate problem. But think of it this way—in a storm, that stone might serve as the footing to save your life. Turning misfortune into opportunity—that’s the way of the wise."
To Prince Duan, Feng Wan wasn’t entirely a wasted piece. If Prince Duan were truly shrewd, he would treat Feng Wan well, waiting for the right mont. Otherwise, her death would only create more enemies for him.
Fengyu pursed her lips. "I don’t want to think the worst of people, but after ten years of Emperor Jianming’s reign, the imperial court and the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion are already locked in hostility. Being born a prince, he has no worries about titles or status so long as he avoids the succession struggle. If he truly intended to live as a wealthy idle prince, why would he consider a marriage alliance with the Fang Family? It’s a pity for Zhang Boxin and Eldest Sister—clearly in love and ant to be."
Feng Shu replied, "That is the nature of life. Until the coffin is closed, nothing is certain. A seemingly insignificant event could propel you to the clouds or send you plumting into hell."
True love and happy unions... Feng Shu’s heart montarily tensed. She could only pray for a great victory in Ningzhou and hope that Xie Zhang could return to the court soon, so their marriage might proceed smoothly and without incident.
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