Chapter 195

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Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

The Marquis of Lu entered the palace that very day for an audience, laid out everything, and requested the removal of Feng Xu's position as heir apparent.

From last night's Great Sacrifice to this moment, too many shocking pieces of news had entered the palace; the Emperor originally had no energy to personally inquire into a minister's family disputes, but the Marquis of Lu and the suffering Feng family young ladies were the true Tianji Star's closest kin, so this family matter was not merely a family matter.

When the Marquis of Lu returned from the palace, the imperial edict had already been issued: Feng Xu, for plotting to seize the family estate and title and harming his closest kin, was utterly devoid of conscience, vile and venomous; now with irrefutable evidence, his heir apparent position was stripped, and he was handed over to the Jingzhao Magistrate for severe trial and punishment according to law.

On the road where the Jingzhao Magistrate's officers came to seize him, the sky was already nearing dark, while in the Feng family's front hall, a chaotic uproar of weeping was underway.

The uninvolved servants still dared not believe the ever-kind heir apparent actually hid such a ferocious face; Madam Qiao and her children were even more thunderstruck, as if this storm of flashing lightning and crashing thunder, this torrential downpour, had been poured entirely upon them, leaving them adrift in boundless waters, bewildered with no way out, only weeping again and again, pleading again and again.

Feng Xian's face was full of panic and urgency: "Grandmother, Grandfather... there must be a misunderstanding in this; how could Father do such a thing!"

"Yes, there must be a misunderstanding..." Madam Qiao knelt limp in the hall, her expression shifting unpredictably, one moment saying there was a misunderstanding, the next helplessly pleading: "... or perhaps someone instigated it, he was momentarily bewitched; now that Aunt has returned safely, just punish him, beat him, even break one of his legs, why drag it to the yamen... kin killing kin, wouldn't that make the Feng family a laughingstock?"

"What nonsense are you saying, Mother!" Seeing the two elders above remain silent, Feng An, who had been silent in shock, finally spoke; he flung his robe and knelt, tears in his eyes yet a solemn bearing: "Father committed such a great evil, he ought to bear the evil fruit; this is only right and proper..."

He looked upward, tears falling: "All mistakes, ten thousand mistakes, are Father's fault; your nephew apologizes to Aunt on Father's behalf! Only wishing that after this matter concludes, Aunt's hatred may ease a little, Aunt's heart may find a little peace!"

Having spoken, he knelt in shame and reproach, performing the posture of atoning for his father.

He had always been fair and objective; at this moment he did not plead for his father either; the Marquis of Lu gave an "Mm," and sighed: "An'er has always been the most sensible; the mistake is already cast, this matter should be concluded cleanly; I have already sent word to the clan, and in a few days you will be sent back to Lujiang Commandery."

The weeping in the hall stopped in an instant; almost everyone looked at the speaking elder — return to the hometown in Lujiang Commandery? This was to expel them?!

"I have already severed the adoptive father-son relationship with Feng Xu; he has returned to his birth line, and rightly everything must return to its proper place." The Marquis of Lu looked at the crowd: "The clan has land and residences to settle you; your current possessions may all be taken; pack up early then."

"Husband... the children are innocent!" Madam Qiao's voice nearly trembled: "Even if Aunt bears a grudge, she shouldn't vent her anger on these children! They know nothing at all, why must they follow along and be punished!"

The Marquis of Lu raised his brows: "Precisely because I know you are innocent, I specially pleaded before His Majesty, so that Feng Xu's error would not implicate wife and children — apart from the crime of harming kin, he also stands suspected of knowing the child in Xian Tai Palace was a fake yet concealing it; once verified, that is the great crime of deceiving the sovereign."

Madam Qiao's face instantly turned earthen; frightened speechless; Feng Yi, Feng Xian and the others also dared not breathe.

"The circumstances of this matter are special, and because Zhu'er has just recognized the true Tianji, and the Tianji's prayer for rain achieved great merit, I had this room to plead and negotiate before His Majesty; protecting you from being dragged in is already the maximum shelter the Marquis of Lu's mansion can provide."

The Marquis of Lu's voice held no displaced anger, only the resolve of things having come to this: "Sending you back to Lujiang Commandery is determined by clan law and genealogy rules."

Madam Qiao's body trembled, she murmured: "But Yi'er and the others are just about to discuss marriage, An'er still holds a Langguan post in the palace... once we leave like this, what opportunities will there be in the future..."

As she spoke, she suddenly crawled on her knees to Feng Zhu, grabbed one of Feng Zhu's hands: "Aunt, Aunt... I know you have suffered too much injustice these years, but as a fellow mother, you should understand this heart of mine... if your hatred cannot dissipate, besides your brother's life, I will pay another life to you, would that not appease it? I will pay my life to you then!"

Madam Qiao spoke, then suddenly knocked her head, gritted her teeth and lunged at the table corner nearby.

The maids screamed, hurriedly pulled her back; though a step late, Madam Qiao ultimately didn't truly dare smash herself to death, only reddened her forehead, disheveled her hair bun, dizzy and blurred vision, holding her daughter, wailing aloud.

Knowing this knock of hers was surely because she understood the weight of life, Madam Shentu spoke at the right moment, sighing and calling her boudoir name: "Yun Jun, you are not ill-intentioned, you are one who understands priorities; listen to Aunt's word."

Madam Qiao stopped her weeping, a pair of tearful eyes looked at the old madam, choked: "Daughter-in-law is listening."

"You just said, as fellow mothers, we should empathize; then you should realize, if you stay, not to mention the impropriety of names and positions, you would have to see each other constantly, yet only add to heart-knots and estrangements." Madam Shentu said: "As for Yi'er and the others' marriages, now that Feng Xu's affair has happened, even if you remain in the capital, who would dare lightly consider marrying into such a family? Returning to that Lujiang far from the Son of Heaven's feet, Yi'er and the others lack neither talent, learning, insight, nor looks; on the contrary they can have a good settlement."

"As for An'er and Xian'er, these years they have studied under the best teachers; possessing true talent and learning, why worry about no future path?"

"The Lujiang Commandery old residence is forever the Feng family's root; this is not severing ties with you; as kin, future contact will still be inevitable; why make it so ugly now? Yun Jun, you say yes or no?"

Madam Qiao stared blankly for a long while, her heart gradually clearing: Yes, it was destined to amount to nothing; rather it would exhaust the last shred of affection...

Everything hereafter still depends on the capital's Marquis mansion; therefore she must follow Aunt's wishes, absolutely cannot press further, and must watch the children's future performance; thus she must strictly teach the children not to harbor mistaken resentment...

Madam Shentu spoke at the right moment: "Send for a physician to examine the injury; better not leave any hidden aftereffects."

Madam Qiao shed a line of tears, said "Many thanks, Aunt," and in a daze was supported out of the front hall.

Feng Yi's face was full of tears, following at her mother's side. The soulless Feng Mi no longer comforted her as usual.

Feng Xian had just married last year; at this moment he left the front hall, his wife flung off his hand and strode away quickly.

Feng Xian called her but she wouldn't stop; he guessed that once she let go, she would absolutely not return to Lujiang with him, but would go back to her natal home and seek a divorce; Feng Xian didn't necessarily love his wife deeply, but this humiliation made him resentful and collapse: "Originally everything was fine... how come the moment Aunt returns, even the sky changes!"

"Slap!" Madam Qiao turned back and slapped her always-doted-on son across the face, shrilly: "Your aunt was innocently harmed, wandered and suffered for years, shouldn't she return? Dare speak such unreasonable words again, you needn't return to Lujiang Commandery either, fend for yourself, just treat it as if I never had this monstrous spawn!"

Feng Xian was treated so severely by his mother for the first time, momentarily stunned; Feng Yi was also shocked, though still crying, her words unconsciously restrained considerably: "Don't know what ill luck we ran into, to stir up such a great affair..."

Yes, how did we suddenly run into such ill luck?

Madam Qiao subconsciously followed this thought, her aimless gaze looking ahead, and saw the Jingzhao Magistrate's officers escorting Feng Xu out.

In this instant, her mind boomed: It's not any ill luck, it has nothing to do with luck...

It's that damnable Feng Xu!

Madam Qiao recognized the enemy, boundless resentment now had a direction; she rushed over heedlessly, reached out and clawed Feng Xu's head and face raw, her fingernails scratching until they broke, cursing: "Won't live a perfectly good life... you greedy-heart rotten-lung thing! Deceiving-heaven swindling-earth jackal! Resentful-ghost reincarnated demon! Dying yourself isn't enough, you have to drag us down with you!"

Her curses didn't stop, spittle spraying; the maids barely managed to pull her away.

The wretched-looking Feng Xu looked at his children and concubine; none of them were not looking at him; the second son resentful beyond measure, the two daughters both fearful and hateful, the twin young sons looking at him like a monster.

His most beloved eldest son Feng An, word by word: "The ultimate shameless one; I only regard it as never having had a father like you."

Feng Xu's lips trembled slightly, as if falling into a boundless hollow abyss.

He had sired so many children, spread branches and leaves, wanting to grasp this Marquis mansion more firmly, wanting to deepen his own mark through this, and more to enjoy being the true head of household, surrounded and fawned upon, gaining the respect and status befitting a power distributor.

But now all of this was gone, like flesh and blood completely stripped away, leaving only a bloody skeleton; he was so cold his teeth chattered; he turned his head back, and saw Feng Zhu and the Marquis of Lu and his wife standing quietly at the hall entrance.

Like a ghost knocked into hell, wanting to drag the most hated person down with him, his face ferocious, voice venomous and loud: "It was Heaven's will that you fell into bandit hands; all that bullying and humiliation was what you deserved! I'm dying, but you don't think you'll find peace either! Zhu'er, you can never truly escape that filthy place; it will forever hide in your heart; all your life you'll never have a single night of peaceful sleep and good dreams!"

Words finished, he laughed loudly in vengeful satisfaction.

Feng Zhu's body trembled slightly.

Recalling all matters in Beimang Mountain, she had been anxious to return to the capital, had forced herself to hold on until now; her already weak body was at its limit; at this moment this venomous curse was like wind-evil taking advantage of a void to enter the body, borrowing the heavy oppressive night curtain, forcibly dragging her into those terrifying hateful memories.

A buzzing in her mind, fear attacking, but attacking alongside it was also a shadow.

That shadow arrived in great strides, like a swift tiger, without a word pouncing before Feng Xu, forcibly knocking him back and freeing him from the two officers' grasp, throwing him heavily to the ground, kneeling on his chest and abdomen, one fist smashing the laughter in his mouth, blood and broken teeth flying out.

Cries of alarm all around; the officers had no time for further reaction, hurriedly saluting toward Crown Prince Liu Cheng who had arrived following behind.

Feng Xu felt dizzy and his vision swam as he looked at the girl above him. Her hair bun swayed beside her ear, the loose hair that had originally been tied behind her back with a green ribbon now hung down beside her shoulder—a common style for girls in the world, yet her eyebrows and eyes were sharp like a fierce beast, nothing like a mortal person.

Before he could think further, another heavy punch landed, and under this absolute violence, a tremendous sense of oppression was born; in his confusion, he too became a beast, waiting for the other to be left with nothing but primal fear.

Trembling, the girl above him demanded in a cold voice: "Why aren't you laughing anymore? Is this bullying and humiliation I give you not amusing enough?"

Feng Xu merely trembled, splattered blood blurring his sight; he only wanted to escape the sharp claws and fangs of that fierce beast.

Seeing that he dared not speak, Shaowei stood up, let go of him and tossed him aside like a rag, then strode toward Mother, ignoring all gazes and gossip, speaking in a tone of guarantee: "Mother, he won't dare speak nonsense again!"

As she spoke, there was a hint of tension in Shaowei's eyes.

Feng Zhu's eyes twitched, and a clear tear fell.

Qingniang had been like a young tiger since childhood, daring to tear and bite anyone for her sake. Those hands were not large, yet like true tiger paws, clutching sharp unwillingness and indignation, always wanting to win back everything for her, blood and flesh included.

Now the young tiger had grown, becoming ever more awe-inspiring and resolute; with such a well-behaved fierce tiger standing guard henceforth, what demons and monsters would dare to run rampant in her dreams?

The terror had been scattered by those two tiger punches, crushed before it could grow; Feng Zhu suddenly found peace. At this moment, only the scenes of mother and daughter depending on each other in the past remained in her sea of heart; the held breath relaxed, and she collapsed into the servant woman's arms.

Shaowei did not know the specifics and stopped at once, tension spreading. She only suspected that her appearance, cooperating with Feng Xu's damned nonsense, had once again stirred Mother's heart demon; the certainty on the altar was merely protection in a moment of urgency, unable to become a norm, just as on Tianlang Mountain.

For a moment she dared not approach further; Shaowei stood anxiously, making her face appear calm enough, standing straight, her hands hanging straight at her sides.

"Good child, I originally thought to finish the matters at home before bringing you back." Lu Hou's stern face was now full of kindness: "Since you're back, I'll have someone tidy the courtyard for you right away, or would you like to live with your Mother?"

This child's two punches were like striking his heart; he truly found her more and more endearing the more he looked.

Lady Shentu also smiled and extended her hand: "Qingniang, come to Eldest Mother."

Shaowei, however, stepped back and said: "I still have very important matters to do; I'll come again another day!"

Saying this, she stepped back again: "I take my leave first."

She turned and left, leaving the identity token behind. Liu Cheng glanced at the people around and then said: "Lu Hou, Madam, I will first escort Tai Puzhe back."

Lu Hou first nodded, then wanted to call his granddaughter back, but Lady Shentu stopped him in a low voice: "No need to be too anxious; this child is somewhat uneasy... Although they recognized each other on the altar, they haven't spoken a word yet; this mother and daughter must have a heart-to-heart talk to untie their knots."

Feng Xu was dragged away, and Feng Zhu was also helped down by servants under the accompaniment of Lu Hou and his wife. Feng Yi muttered: "So that was the aunt born outside..."

She had meant to say those two words, but had to swallow them, only saying: "She really grew up in Bandit Mountain..."

As if only a wild beast, barging into their home without explanation, pouncing and biting people, then turning and leaving... What kind of person is this? Is this the heavenly secret?

And, was that Crown Prince Cheng just now? The lofty Crown Prince, following her so closely... just because she is the so-called heavenly secret?

Feng Yi could no longer think of more, nor bother to gossip further; no one even spoke to her. The road ahead had fallen a thousand zhang—where would she still care about others?

Shaowei strode out of Lu Hou Fu.

A civet cat pretends to be busy when at a loss, but Shaowei was not merely pretending; she truly had important matters at hand.

Shaowei woke in Lingxing Gong in the afternoon; Mother was not by her side. On the way back to the City, she inquired and learned of Feng Xu's evil deeds at Lu Hou Fu, so she went along the road to see Mother.

It turned out Mother's suffering was caused by this so-called uncle. Shaowei gritted her teeth all the way, only hating she could not return to her ignorant previous life to avenge this debt for Mother.

Fortunately, Mother had returned alive to the capital this time; now she personally crushed and settled all the conspiracies.

It was just unknown what kind of gaze she would use to look at her when Mother woke again.

Shaowei felt uneasy in her heart, mounted the carriage, saw the person lying inside, and for a moment set aside her emotions, hurriedly asking: "You're awake? How do you feel?"

Shaowei returned to the City, and Jiang Fu had been personally brought back with her. Jiang Fu's condition was not good; after treatment by doctors and shamans, his condition was temporarily stabilized, but he was extremely weak. This was because several vital acupoints on his body had been sealed with needles, so he could not move at all, his five senses were dim, and he spent most of his time in a coma.

The doctor from Lingxing Gong dared not act rashly. After Shaowei woke, she sent word back to the City, asking the Spider Woman, skilled in needles, to come examine him. By now the Spider Woman may have arrived at Jiang Zhai waiting.

Jiang Fu woke in a daze in the carriage at this moment, lying there, smiling faintly in the candlelight, like a nearly transparent white crane feather, as if it would drift away with the wind at any moment. Shaowei felt uneasy seeing this and wanted to use words to cover that feather: "Why won't you speak? I finally found you after so much trouble; you are not allowed to die recklessly."

Seeing her stern expression, Jiang Fu softly clicked his tongue: "Who begs someone not to die and acts so fierce and evil-spirited..."

"I'm not begging you, I'm ordering you." Shaowei furrowed her brow, speaking in a jumble: "This life of yours that you don't want was picked up by me. You don't know how long I searched to save you, how far I walked, how many places I crossed..."

"How could I not know?" Jiang Fu still smiled faintly, his gaze lowered, falling on Shaowei's bandaged palm. He said softly: "Look, your claws are all worn raw."

?? 4600 words, everyone good night, thank you for your monthly tickets.

? Next I'll probably write some long-overdue daily life.