When Feng Jin Yuan returned to the manor, he saw Jin Zhen standing at the entrance from far away, repeatedly looking in his direction. For a while, he felt a little emotional. He had had so many wives and concubines. Just counting the Feng family's head wives, there were four. Now, he even had a secondary wife. But at this sort of time, the one that could stand at the entrance to welcome him was Jin Zhen, who had been promoted to the position of concubine by a servant.
Feng Jin Yuan got out of the carriage, and Jin Zhen immediately went over to welcome him. He grabbed Jin Zhen's shoulder and gently patted her a couple times, saying in a deep voice: "Let's talk inside." Lowering his hand, he tightly held Jin Zhen's small hand and pulled her into the manor.
Jin Zhen was a little worried and wanted to ask a few questions; however, she felt that Feng Jin Yuan's complexion was truly too poor. She was so scared that she did not dare ask. But she still could not help but remind him: "Elder madam lost her temper because of eldest young miss. When this concubine came out, she was still crying. I do not know how she is now."
Feng Jin Yuan held her hand even tighter, as sweat appeared on his brow.
Before the two could reach the entrance, they heard the matriarch loudly shout: "Burn all of her things! Don't leave a single thing. It's disgusting to look at! "
Feng Jin Yuan paused for a moment then quickly walked in. Just as he stepped over the threshold, a scepter flew over. Immediately following this, the matriarch angrily cursed: "You still have the face to come back! If it were not for you indulging that girl time and time again, could she have caused such a mess for the Feng family? Could she have harmed her younger sister time and time again? The one that the Feng family needs to rely on is Heng Zheng, not Feng Chen Yu. Do you understand or not? "
Once these words were said, nobody expected that Xiang Rong, who had never liked speaking, would suddenly let out a sneer then say: "Grandmother's thoughts change really quickly. If it was like this from the beginning, how great would that be. Second sister would not have to live such a difficult life."
An shi, who had always been cautious, did not stop her this time. She expressed her support for her daughter without saying anything.
Feng Jin Yuan, however, became angry, "What difficult life is there for her?" When he said this, he gritted his teeth. Everyone could see that this father hated his second daughter to the extreme.
If this was in the past, Feng Jin Yuan's attitude would have received many people's approval. At the very least, Fen Dai and Han shi would definitely be on his side. But this time, it was different. Not only did Fen Dai not agree with him, she quietly said: "Third sister is correct."
"What did you say?" Feng Jin Yuan practically thought that he had misheard.
But very quickly, Han shi, An shi, the Cheng shi sisters, and even Jin Zhen began to criticize Feng Jin Yuan. Especially Han shi, as she held her stomach and said: "It's fine if eldest young miss is unrestrained, but she must be sent to the Xiang Palace to lose face. It's fine if she dies alone, but she must not implicate others!"
Feng Jin Yuan's face turned green with anger. He pointed at the room full of people and asked: "It's true that something happened, but Chen Yu was sentenced to be cut in half at the waist. Why do you not feel any pity? She's your family! "
His words did not receive any response. Although the matriarch had stopped crying, she did not have a good expression. The shock that Feng Yu Heng had given her had nowhere to vent, so she could only throw it all at Chen Yu.
After a long time, so long that Feng Jin Yuan thought that nobody would speak; however, it was at this time that he suddenly heard Xiang Rong coldly say: "Serves her right!"
The words "serves her right" were spoken in everyone's hearts. But Xiang Rong and An shi were feeling indignant for Feng Yu Heng; however, the others were calculating their own gains and losses. They could watch Feng Chen Yu court death, but if it concerned their own life and death, they would definitely serve her right even if she died.
Feng Jin Yuan felt his entire body become cold. In this large family, had their hearts finally begun to shift toward Feng Yu Heng? He was furious and pointed at Han shi, asking: "How many benefits did that girl promise you? Also, you. "He then looked at Fen Dai:" Do you understand exactly who is the head of the Feng family? "
Han shi was timid and did not dare speak. Fen Dai saw that her father had become angry and lowered her head in silence. At this time, Cheng Jun Man spoke up: "Husband, don't blame the woman and child. It's not that county princess promised any benefits. It's that eldest young miss promised too many benefits. At a time like this, shouldn't husband be thinking carefully about how the Feng family should avoid this crisis? Or perhaps you should be feeling ashamed and angry that the Feng family was able to raise that sort of daughter, but why are you wholeheartedly complaining about county princess? This matter is completely unrelated to county princess. "
The matriarch was also thinking this way. She asked Feng Jin Yuan: "What did the palace say about this matter?"
Only then did Feng Jin Yuan wake up. Only then did he realize that this was not the time to investigate who was responsible. What was important was the attitude of the palace, but … "I did not see his Majesty at all."
Cheng Jun Mei asked: "Was it husband that did not go, or was it the Emperor that did not see him?"
Feng Jin Yuan replied, "The Emperor did not see him."
The entire family fell silent once more. They were all guessing what sort of disaster this matter would bring to the Feng family.
Outside the hall, housekeeper He Zhong quickly ran in. His face was filled with panic, as he spoke with a trembling voice: "Elder madam, master, someone from the palace has come with an imperial decree."
Feng Jin Yuan felt a "boom" come from beside his ear. His body tilted, and he nearly fell. Jin Zhen supported him from the side. She also did not have much strength, as her hands trembled.
The matriarch was helped up from the ground by Cheng Jun Man. Everyone helped each other out of the front yard. Feng Jin Yuan took a look and found that it was Zhang Yuan who had personally come to deliver the imperial decree.
Although Zhang Yuan was a eunuch, he was the Emperor's personal eunuch. He was very favored, and he would not casually deliver imperial decrees. Although this was not the first time he had delivered an imperial decree to the Feng family, that time was to deliver the Hou Yi bow to Feng Yu Heng. What was it for this time?
Feng Jin Yuan took a few steps forward to receive him, "Eunuch Zhang, what sort of imperial decree would cause you to personally come?"
Zhang Yuan glanced at Feng Jin Yuan, and his expression was very bad. Looking further into the crowd, his expression became even worse.
"Why do I not see county princess?"
Feng Jin Yuan was startled then immediately said: "She might be in her own manor. Does eunuch need her to also come and receive the imperial decree?"
Zhang Yuan waved his hand, "There's no need for that. It's just that a new chef from the palace made roast duck. The skin is very fragrant and crispy. Before we left, his Majesty specifically ordered for county princess to have a taste. Since county princess is not in the Feng manor, have someone send it to the county princess' manor. " As he spoke, he waved his hand, and two eunuchs carrying food boxes immediately left the manor and went next door.
Feng Jin Yuan wanted to say, Zhang Yuan shouldn't have specially come to deliver a duck to Feng Yu Heng, right?
Very clearly, this thought was too perfect. Immediately following this, he saw Zhang Yuan shake the imperial decree in his hand, as he loudly said: "Feng Jin Yuan, receive the imperial decree."
The members of the Feng family all knelt on the ground, as the imperial decree was announced: "Left prime minister Feng Jin Yuan has not been strict with his daughter. He has abandoned the dignity of the imperial family and has damaged the reputation of the Dashun imperial family. But We have considered county princess Ji An's hard work for the country and could not bear to punish her family. Thus, the Feng family will be spared the death penalty. Feng Jin Yuan will be demoted to standard fifth rank, and he will no longer have the right to attend morning court. Thus is the imperial decree. "
Once this was said, the matriarch fell to the ground with a thump. Cheng Jun Man caught her and did not reveal too much surprise on her face. To Feng Jin Yuan, this sort of outcome was not too excessive.
Zhang Yuan saw that Feng Jin Yuan was still kneeling on the ground without any reaction, thus he closed the imperial decree in his hand and handed it forward: "Official Feng, receive the imperial decree!"
The prime minister had been demoted to a scholar, and standard first rank had been demoted to standard fifth rank. Feng Jin Yuan's mind and heart were a mess, as he practically subconsciously reached out to receive the imperial decree.
Zhang Yuan added: "I still have not thanked you for the grace."
He bowed and kowtowed, saying: "Thank you, master, for the grace."
The matriarch's cries rang out once more. They went from weak to louder, and the crying caused Zhang Yuan to frown.
Feng Jin Yuan was already in a bad mood. With the matriarch crying like this, the crying caused him to feel even more distraught. He could not help but loudly shout: "Stop crying!"
He had never spoken to the matriarch like this before. Suddenly doing this, the matriarch was truly given a fright. Her cries were stuck in her throat, and she did not know whether to go up or down. Holding it in, she began to cough.
When she finally finished coughing, she heard Zhang Yuan say: "Elder madam, don't be in such a rush to cry. We still have something to remind Official Feng of." He coldly looked at Feng Jin Yuan then raised his head to look around the Feng manor. He then calmly said: "This residence was originally bestowed by his Majesty to the standard first rank left prime minister. Now that Lord Feng has been demoted to a fifth rank scholar, this place is naturally no longer something that you can live in. Of course, his Majesty still sympathizes with Lord Feng and specially ordered for a residence in the Southwest of the capital. The Feng family has been given five days to move out. "
"This …" Feng Jin Yuan was stunned, "Move out? This residence was originally bestowed by his Majesty! "
Zhang Yuan rolled his eyes, "Did Lord Feng not understand what I just said? This residence was indeed bestowed by his Majesty, but this residence was bestowed by his Majesty to the current prime minister. Now that you are no longer the prime minister, it naturally needs to be taken back. But the Feng family does not need to move out. His Majesty said that if the Feng family wants to continue living here, they need to pay eight thousand taels each month to the governor. It can be considered rent. For the first half of a year, it will be enough for Lord Feng to pay forty-eight thousand taels to the government office. "
Feng Jin Yuan wiped away some sweat. Eight thousand taels a month was not a small amount. Even when the Feng family was at its peak, if they did not have the Chen family's support, taking out such a large amount of money would be quite difficult. Now, there was no more money in the government's accounts. Where would they go to take out forty-eight thousand taels?
The matriarch had been helped up by Cheng Jun Man. Upon hearing such a large amount, she nearly fainted. She discussed it with Zhang Yuan: "Can it not be a bit less?"
Zhang Yuan said to the matriarch: "If you want to bargain, you can't talk to me. Please go into the palace and talk to his Majesty. But … "He paused for a moment then continued:" His Majesty has another verbal decree for elder madam. Elder madam's body is weak, so there is no need for you to kneel here and there. I will just say it like this. You can just stand there and listen. Thinking of elder madam being the mother of the prime minister, his Majesty conferred the title of first rank noble lady. Now, your son is just a fifth rank official. He does not even have the right to attend court. That's why your title of noble lady will also be taken back. "
The matriarch was completely numb. One blow after another caused her mind to become muddled. She did not have time to give thanks for the grace. She just continued to ask Feng Jin Yuan: "Are we going to move out or not?"
Feng Jin Yuan was still thinking about something and was in no mood to speak with her. Cheng Jun Man faintly sighed and said: "We definitely need to move out. Right now, there is no money in the accounts. Even if we sell off the family's assets, how long can we last? Sooner or later, we will not be able to keep this residence. "
Zhang Yuan nodded, "Madam is correct." He then said to Feng Jin Yuan: "If Lord Feng does not have any objections, we will come to the manor on the fourth day. Oh, it will be the day after the manor's eldest young miss' execution. At that time, I would like to ask Lord Feng to hand over the deed to this residence to allow us to report back to his Majesty."
Feng Jin Yuan trembled. Deed?
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