Upon hearing that Zhang Yuan had come, the members of the Feng family felt their heads swell, especially Feng Yu Heng. Every time that Zhang Yuan came, it was never a good thing. To Feng Yu Heng, however, it was always a pleasant surprise. Now that it was the middle of the night, and the Feng family was conducting a funeral, who knew what Zhang Yuan had specially come for.
No matter what was said, Zhang Yuan was someone favored by Emperor Tianwu. Since he had come, Feng Jin Yuan had to bring the members of the Feng family to welcome him. Moreover, he had thought of a very important matter, thus he urgently asked He Zhong: "Did Zhang Yuan say why he came to our manor? Did he come to announce an imperial decree? "
He was deathly afraid that Zhang Yuan would announce an imperial decree. Fortunately, He Zhong shook his head: "I did not hear anything about an imperial decree, nor did I see Eunuch Yuan bring an imperial decree." Feng Jin Yuan let out a sigh of relief. It was good that it was not an imperial decree. Who knew that He Zhong would immediately follow up with: "It could also be an oral decree, right?"
Feng Jin Yuan trembled once more and wanted to curse out loud. What was the difference between an oral decree and an imperial decree?
Finally, he brought his children to the front yard and saw Zhang Yuan standing in the yard with a few eunuchs. Upon seeing Feng Jin Yuan arrive, he did not move. He only slightly bowed and said: "This servant greets Official Feng."
Feng Jin Yuan's heart was filled with resentment. In truth, he looked down on eunuchs from the bottom of his heart. He felt that eunuchs were very disgusting. They were neither male nor female and could not even be considered human. But it was because eunuchs worked for a powerful family that as long as they received the favor of those in power, they would be able to ascend to the heavens. For example, Zhang Yuan was the most typical example.
In the past, when Feng Jin Yuan was the prime minister, Zhang Yuan could still give him a bit of face. Now that he had been demoted to a fifth rank official, he did not even salute when he saw him. He just had a condescending attitude. It was as though he, a damn eunuch, was a superior existence.
Feng Jin Yuan was angry, thus his attitude was not very good. Coldly snorting, he asked: "I wonder what matter eunuch Zhang has come so late at night?"
As he spoke, he was trying to adjust his state of mind. Otherwise, if this Zhang Yuan opened his mouth and said, "Pass on His Majesty's verbal order," what would he do? Also, Fen Dai had just been engaged to the fifth prince. He could not cause trouble for the family by offending Zhang Yuan.
Thinking like this, Feng Jin Yuan's earlier feelings of depression caused by Zhang Yuan's poor attitude were somewhat adjusted, thus he wanted to say something to alleviate the awkward atmosphere, but before he could speak, he saw Zhang Yuan suddenly take a step forward. Following this, he lifted his robe and knelt down.
Feng Jin Yuan was given a fright and thought to himself, what is it? Has this Zhang Yuan found his conscience and knows to salute him? As a result, he heard Zhang Yuan say: "This servant greets county princess." Only then did he realize that he was kneeling to Feng Yu Heng. Angrily flicking his sleeve, he retreated half a step.
Feng Yu Heng stepped forward and helped Zhang Yuan up, saying: "Eunuch Zhang, please rise. You have performed a great service by taking care of father Emperor. In the future, you absolutely must not salute me like this."
Zhang Yuan continued: "What sort of thing is county princess saying. A servant kneeling to their master is perfectly justified." He then raised his head and said to Feng Yu Heng: "The medicine that county princess sent, his Majesty has been eating very well. He has been saying the entire time that county princess knows how to think about him."
Feng Yu Heng said: "They're all supplements. Father Emperor should take them on a regular basis. Over time, his body will naturally recover. Eunuch Zhang, help me keep an eye on them. When they are almost finished, I will send some more over. "Seeing Zhang Yuan repeatedly nod, she continued:" I wonder what eunuch Zhang has come to the manor today for? "
Feng Jin Yuan had also asked this question, but Zhang Yuan had ignored him. Now that Feng Yu Heng asked again, Zhang Yuan immediately said: "It was his Majesty that sent this servant over to tell county princess and third young miss that county princess will bring third young miss into the palace for an audience with his Majesty tomorrow morning."
"What did you say?" Feng Jin Yuan suddenly shouted, his voice filled with disbelief. It had to be said that the Emperor wanted to see Feng Yu Heng. This was not strange. Even if he wanted Feng Yu Heng to attend morning court, he would find it strange and refuse to see her. But what did it have to do with Xiang Rong? What sort of joke was this?
It was not just Feng Jin Yuan that was puzzled. Everyone else was also puzzled, especially Fen Dai. She suddenly had a feeling that she had been born at the wrong time. With great difficulty, Feng Chen Yu had died. With great difficulty, Feng Yu Heng and Feng Jin Yuan had completely fallen out. With great difficulty, her father had finally acknowledged her position. Who knew that Xiang Rong would suddenly appear out of nowhere. What if Xiang Rong received some sort of grace in court the next day? Would she still want to live?
The entire family stared wide-eyed at Zhang Yuan. Zhang Yuan gently coughed. First, he nodded to Feng Yu Heng then looked around. In the end, his gaze stopped at Xiang Rong. Only then did he say: "His Majesty said that if it were not for third young miss being the first to notice the unrest in the capital and reporting it, perhaps last night's matter would have become a disaster. Third young miss has done a favor for the capital."
Only then did Xiang Rong understand why she had been summoned to court, but she could not help but feel uneasy. Although she had entered the palace, she had only gone to the banquet hall or the inner palace. Attending court had always been done by men. Women would never even think about it. But the Emperor had allowed her to attend court with her second sister. She began to feel uncontrollably nervous and did not know what she should say.
Fortunately, Feng Yu Heng spoke up in a timely manner to help her get out of this predicament, but she said: "Would eunuch please report to father Emperor. Heng Rong will definitely bring third sister into the palace tomorrow."
Zhang Yuan said: "That's good. Then this servant will not remain any longer and will return to report. " After saying this, he finally remembered Feng Jin Yuan and bowed to him, "Official Feng, sorry for the disturbance." He then turned around and left the Feng manor with a group of palace servants.
Feng Jin Yuan was still immersed in the thought of "third young miss' grace to the capital" and was unable to extricate himself. It was only now that he found out that the previous night's chaos had been quietly quelled because his third daughter, who had always been timid and did not like to speak, had participated. Furthermore, she had played an extremely important role.
Feng Jin Yuan immediately became angry and suddenly thought of something. If Xiang Rong had not gone to report, would the one currently sitting in Heavenly Hall have been the third prince, Xuan Tian Ye? And based on the friendship that he had built with Xuan Tian Ye over the years, he, Feng Jin Yuan, definitely would not have fallen to such a state.
Upon thinking of this, the anger in Feng Jin Yuan's heart began to burn once more. Looking at Xiang Rong, his gaze was filled with the desire to murder. Xiang Rong frowned and retreated a couple steps. A layer of cold sweat had appeared on her back.
Feng Yu Heng, however, spoke up at this time, saying: "Father really must properly thank third sister. If it was not for her timely discovery and stopping this rebellion, once the third prince or the fourth prince succeeded in seizing the throne, perhaps the first to be eliminated would have been the Feng family. Father is currently nothing more than a fifth rank official, and the family no longer has the daughter that was prophesied to have the aspect of the phoenix. They also no longer have the wealthy Chen family. To the third prince, you are already a discarded child. Yet you know so many of his secrets. Think about it carefully. When he takes the throne, who is the one that he wants to eliminate the most? "
Feng Jin Yuan was given a start, and the reason that he had lost was recovered. Following this, he felt a lingering fear.
Feng Yu Heng was correct. Once the third prince ascended the throne, the first to be eliminated was the Feng family. As for the fourth prince, he was already at odds with the Feng family. Him and the third prince working together was nothing more than a scheme. In the end, regardless of who schemed against who, the Feng family would not have a good ending.
Thinking like this, the hatred that he felt for Xiang Rong gradually calmed down. Feng Jin Yuan sighed internally and did not speak; however, he heard Feng Yu Heng ask: "Raise the coffin the day after tomorrow …"
He immediately understood what she meant and quickly changed his words: "That is naturally something that the son of the first wife and daughter of the first wife should do." With these words, all of the promises that he had made to Fen Dai were nullified.
Feng Fen Dai felt so stifled that she wanted to die. If it was not for her maidservant Dong Ying constantly reminding her, she really would have rushed forward and scratched Xiang Rong's face. Everyone said that this girl looked more and more like Feng Yu Heng as she grew. As she saw it, not only did she look like her, even the way she bullied others was similar. With these two older sisters at home, would she be able to live a good life?
The resentment in Fen Dai's heart was written all over her face. Feng Jin Yuan saw this but did not say anything. He could understand Fen Dai's current feelings. Not to mention Fen Dai, even he felt irritated. Having one Feng Yu Heng was enough. If there was another Xiang Rong, he really did not know how long he could control this family. Or perhaps it could be said that the Feng family was no longer under his control a long time ago.
Feng Jin Yuan and Fen Dai looked at each other and understood what the other was thinking. As for Xiang Rong, she moved closer to Feng Yu Heng's side with a face full of worry. Feng Yu Heng patted the back of her hand and gave her a reassuring look. She then pulled Zirui and brought her brother and sister back to the mourning hall.
No matter what, the matriarch's coffin still needed to be kept watch, but since they needed to go to court early, Feng Jin Yuan ordered for the wives and concubines to come and take over at night.
During this half of the night, the people keeping watch all had their own thoughts. They were clearly family, but they did not say a single word to each other.
Only when the Cheng shi sisters and An shi and Jin Zhen arrived did Fen Dai not continue to stay. She quickly had her maidservants help her back to Yu Lan courtyard.
An shi had heard that Xiang Rong would be going to court and was very worried; however, because she had never entered the palace and did not understand the rules of the palace, she did not know what she should say. She could only tell her: "You must listen to your second sister. Put away your curiosity. You must not say too much, and you must not look too much. Do you understand?"
Xiang Rong nodded, "Concubine mother, don't worry. I will remember it all." She said this to have An shi feel at ease, but her own hands were ice-cold. A young miss from the boudoir would suddenly need to go to court. Xiang Rong's heart nearly leaped to her throat. She knew that if it was not for Feng Yu Heng accompanying her, she would not dare go to court even if she died.
When An shi arrived, the servant that had followed her was holding a large number of mourning clothes. Feng Yu Heng's gaze fell on the mourning clothes, and a bit of doubt gradually began to form in her mind.
An shi was preparing to tell Feng Yu Heng about taking care of Xiang Rong when going to court. Turning her head, she met Feng Yu Heng's inquisitive gaze. She could not help but ask: "Second young miss, is there something wrong?"
Feng Yu Heng pointed at the mourning clothes and asked: "Are they newly made?"
An shi nodded, "They are newly made. Because the matriarch passed away so suddenly, the manor did not make any preparations. Aside from the servants buying ready-made mourning clothes, the manor's young masters and young misses needed to have their clothes specially made. That's why it was delayed for a few days before it was rushed out." She said this while shaking her head, "Fortunately, the funeral was held in five days. If it was today, it would not have been in time."
Feng Yu Heng said: "The workmanship is quite good. The embroidery thread is also quite good."
Because the matriarch believed in Buddhism, there were white lotuses embroidered on the mourning clothes. Hearing Feng Yu Heng mention it, An shi quickly said: "The embroidery thread was taken from this concubine's embroidery shop a few days ago. At that time, it was still raining heavily. Perhaps it was because the matriarch was unable to leave the room and was extremely bored. She suddenly said that she wanted to embroider a Buddha image and insisted that this concubine go get the thread. There was nothing that this concubine could do and could only go to the shop in the rain. Oh right, younger sister Jin Zhen also went with this concubine. That day was really dangerous. On the way back, we collided with a girl's carriage. It was very dangerous. "
Feng Yu Heng squinted her eyes slightly and could already imagine the scene of the two carriages colliding. There was also the "girl" that An shi had mentioned. Her mind immediately thought of Yu Qian Yin's face …
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