"What?" The matriarch, Feng Jin Yuan, and the Shen Clan all exclaimed in unison. Even An shi, who had never meddled, was stunned.
Feng Yu Heng blinked. What the hell was Prince Yu?
An shi looked at Feng Yu Heng's puzzled expression and quietly said to her: "Two years ago, when the Ninth Prince went to war, the Emperor personally conferred him the title of Great General Zhenyuan and also conferred him the title of Prince Yu."
She did not deliberately lower her voice, so these words were heard by the Shen Clan. They bitterly replied: "So what if it's hereditary. Now that he no longer has an heir, who can he find to replace him."
An shi frowned. She had no intention of speaking with the Shen Clan, so she did not speak.
Feng Yu Heng, however, understood. So Prince Yu was that person! Turning around, she cutely smiled at the Shen Clan: "Is mother fighting for justice for Mr. Heng? Mr. Heng thanks mother for your concern. "
The Shen Clan rolled their eyes and wanted to say, "Don't think too highly of yourself," but they were stopped by Feng Chen Yu.
"Grandmother, father, mother, we should quickly go to the front yard to take a look!" Chen Yu's words reminded everyone, thus the room of orioles and swallows rushed to the front yard.
On the way, Feng Yu Heng pulled An shi and quietly asked: "What is the Ninth Prince's full name?"
An shi thought a little, "It seems to be Xuan Tianming."
"Xuan Tianming." She remembered this name, "It sounds pretty good."
When everyone arrived at the front yard, housekeeper He Zhong was bowing and talking to an old woman.
The old woman was wearing a brown imperial dress. She was tall and had an extraordinary temperament. Just by standing there, she was not someone a housekeeper of the Feng manor could keep up with.
Seeing He Zhong speak one sentence after another with a smile on his face, the old woman continued to look straight ahead. Her chin was slightly raised, but she did not pay attention to him.
The Feng family's matriarch and Feng Jin Yuan saw this. How could they not know this old woman's identity. The Ninth Prince, Xuan Tianming, only had one Mama Zhou by his side. She was a First Rank Honorary Madam personally conferred by the Emperor.
Madam Zhou had not married for half of her life. Not only did she take care of the Ninth Prince, but she had also accompanied Consort Yun since she was a child. When the Ninth Prince was two years old, Consort Yun's bedroom was on fire. She risked her life to rescue the Ninth Prince, who was still asleep, and preserved the royal bloodline.
Regardless of how the Ninth Prince was doing now, this Lady Zhou was someone that the Emperor valued greatly. Every time there was an important palace banquet, she would be invited to attend.
Now that Lady Zhou had come in person and said that she was here to give the betrothal gifts, everyone couldn't help but look at Feng Yu Heng a few more times. They began to ponder in their hearts.
Feng Jin Yuan took a couple steps forward and arrived before Lady Zhou. He cupped his hands and saluted: "I did not know that madam would personally come to the manor. I have failed to welcome you. I hope madam will not blame me."
The Feng family's matriarch also came forward with the support of everyone. She wanted to salute, but her waist was truly disappointing. She bowed for a long time but was unable to bow. For a while, it was extremely awkward.
Lady Zhou was accustomed to all sorts of situations. Naturally, she would not argue with an old woman who appeared to have a weak waist. She only faintly said: "Elder madam's body is not well. There is no need to be overly courteous."
The matriarch did not need to be overly courteous, but the others could not avoid being courteous.
Behind them, the Shen Clan led the women to kneel. Feng Yu Heng also followed suit and saluted, but they did not hear the sound of someone rising for a long time.
The matriarch paid attention to Lady Zhou's actions. She saw her look around the group of people kneeling as though she was looking for someone. Finally, her gaze stopped at a small and weak person.
After a while, the people kneeling finally heard a voice say: "You may rise. There is no need to be overly courteous." However, before they could rise, a pair of hands reached out and helped them up.
"This must be the Feng family's second young miss, the one engaged to his Highness Prince Yu, the Feng family's daughter to the first wife, right?" Lady Zhou put away her dignified expression and put on a kind one.
Feng Yu Heng raised her head and came face to face with a face full of kindness.
But the words "Feng family's daughter to the first wife …"
"Madam has misunderstood." Feng Jin Yuan continued, "This is indeed this Feng's second daughter, but she is not the daughter to the first wife."
The Shen Clan also joined in, "That's right. Our Feng manor's daughter to the first wife is Chen Yu." While saying this, they pushed Chen Yu forward, "Chen Yu, quickly greet Lady Zhou."
Feng Chen Yu displayed her Bodhisattva face and saluted: "Chen Yu greets Lady Zhou."
Lady Zhou did not even look at the people speaking. Her gaze only stopped on Feng Yu Heng's face, but she still replied: "This old one only remembers that the second young miss engaged to the Ninth Prince was the Feng family's daughter to the first wife."
Feng Jin Yuan was very embarrassed, "Madam may not know, but there have been some changes in the Feng manor many years ago. Presently, Heng Zheng is no longer the daughter to the first wife."
Once he said this, Feng Chen Yu immediately added: "Although she is not the daughter to the first wife in name, second sister still handles everything in the manor according to the rules of the daughter to the first wife. She is not sloppy in the slightest."
Hearing her say this, Feng Jin Yuan also reacted. In the current situation, if Ming Wang manor insisted that the Feng manor's daughter to the first wife was the one engaged, then he would be forced to marry Feng Chen Yu off. Although the Ninth Prince's body was ruined, he still had power. The Emperor's favor also did not seem to have decreased. Although he was the country's prime minister, his foundation was still shallow. Moreover, no matter how deep his foundation was, he had no way of contending against a prince!
But Chen Yu absolutely could not marry a cripple.
Thinking of this, Feng Jin Yuan quickly added: "Chen Yu is extremely correct. A-Heng … madam also knows about the matters of the Yao family, so … do not make things difficult for Jin Yuan." He referred to himself by his name, which could be considered a way to get closer to lady Zhou.
Lady Zhou did not pay attention to the father and daughter who had spoken up to explain. She only held Feng Yu Heng's hand and asked her: "Is what your father and elder sister said true?"
Feng Yu Heng's gaze never left Lady Zhou's eyes. Secretly, she used her energy to investigate and found that the other side was sincere.
She felt moved and replied: "Being a concubine of the first wife is nothing more than an empty title. Over the years in the mountains, Heng Zheng has already become indifferent to these things." These words made it clear that she had not lived in the Feng manor for the past few years.
Lady Zhou naturally knew about this matter long ago. Also, it was clear that she disliked the Feng family's actions of favoring the concubine and neglecting the wife. She rolled her eyes at Feng Jin Yuan then looked at the matriarch and the Shen Clan. She then shook her head and turned to comfort Feng Yu Heng: "You're twelve this year, right? Endure for another three years. "
Feng Yu Heng could not hold back and laughed, "Madam is exaggerating."
Shen Clan's faces immediately fell, but they did not dare act out. Holding it in was truly uncomfortable.
Feng Jin Yuan's expression was not much better. He wanted to speak a few times, but he had to give up due to Lady Zhou's status.
Lady Zhou also had no intention of continuing to argue with the Feng family over this matter. After all, she had come to the Feng manor today to take care of business.
She gently patted the back of Feng Yu Heng's hand and kindly said to her: "Child, wait for granny to take care of business first. Then we can properly talk." Only then did she let go of Feng Yu Heng's hand and turn to look at Feng Jin Yuan: "Lord Feng, the marriage between Prince Yu and the Feng family's second young miss was decided upon at a young age. At that time, it had already been decided upon. Today, this old one was entrusted by his Highness Prince Yu to bring the betrothal gifts."
As Lady Zhou spoke, she received the list from a maidservant and personally handed it to Feng Jin Yuan, "Lord Feng, please take a look. See if this is in line with the rules of my Dashun court's betrothal gifts."
Feng Jin Yuan respectfully received it and opened it for a careful look. The Shen Clan also leaned forward. Even the matriarch could not hold back her curiosity and also leaned forward.
But the three only looked for a while before their faces sank.
What sort of gift was this? A gift from the dignified Ninth Prince and his Highness Prince Yu?
Feng Chen Yu saw that the three's expressions were off and quietly took a couple steps forward. Glancing over, she saw that it said — —
Three thousand taels of silver as thanks for the Feng family's grace in raising her.
One dan of betrothal cakes, eight types of seafood, two pairs of male and female chickens, five jin of pork, two carps, four jars of aged wine, four pieces of peking fruit, two cans of tea, twelve jin of dried rice and three jin of sugar.
Finally, there was a pair of gold bracelets.
This sort of gift caused even Feng Chen Yu to be dazed. The group looked at each other, not knowing how to respond.
Lady Zhou glanced at them, the corners of her lips curling up without leaving a trace. She then asked: "What is it, does Lord Feng have any objections?"
Feng Jin Yuan braced himself and asked: "May I ask madam, is this a gift from his Highness Prince Yu?"
Lady Zhou nodded, "That is correct. Is Lord Feng not satisfied? "
Feng Jin Yuan felt that if he did not say anything, then it would no longer be a matter of Feng Yu Heng's face. Instead, it would be a matter of the entire Feng family's face. Thus he continued: "I fear that this gift is indeed inappropriate, right?"
Lady Zhou smiled and asked: "Does it violate the marriage rules of my Dashun court?"
Feng Jin Yuan shook his head, "Naturally, it does not. It's just that if it were a commoner, then it would be fine. But for a noble's family … I fear that it really is inappropriate, right?"
Lady Zhou smiled once more, "It's good that Lord Feng knows that this is the rule for commoners. His Majesty said that although the princes have noble statuses, they are still citizens of Dashun. There is no difference between them and commoners. "
With just a few words, she brought up the emperor of Dashun. What else could Feng Jin Yuan say? He could only hand the gift to the housekeeper and receive it. Facing Lady Zhou, he saluted: "Since that's the case, this Feng will accept this gift."
Seeing Feng Jin Yuan accept the betrothal gifts, Lady Zhou nodded, "Lord Feng is truly righteous. It's no loss that you are the prime minister of the Dashun court." After saying this, she clapped her hands, and people immediately began to carry the gifts into the manor.
Worst of all, it was just moving the things in, but there was also a eunuch from the Imperial Palace standing at the entrance and reciting the gift. With each recitation, Feng Jin Yuan had the urge to have his mouth ripped open, but he truly did not dare. Things like eunuchs could be punished or beaten by the masters of the palace, but the people outside of the palace definitely did not have the right to touch them.
Speaking of the betrothal gifts, not to mention everyone in the Feng manor collapsing, even Feng Yu Heng's eyelids twitched. She began to wonder if her earlier investigation of Lady Zhou had been a mistake.
As for the stiff-backed Feng matriarch, her originally warm attitude towards Feng Yu Heng immediately fell to the freezing point.
The others in the Feng manor were not too far off. When they saw Lady Zhou personally come to propose marriage on behalf of the Imperial Palace, they all believed that the Imperial Palace Yu placed great importance on this marriage. They feared that with this relationship, the Feng manor would not dare treat Yao shi and her children lightly.
But now, it was completely different!
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