As Emperor Chunde harbored murderous intentions, the young woman calmly continued: “But later the Grand Prince said he thought I resembled his mother, and that’s how we gradually became acquainted…”
Emperor Chunde halted his steps, the killing intent in his eyes undiminished, yet he couldn’t help but laugh. Was this some popular joke from Jiangsu and Zhejiang?
He looked the innocent young woman up and down as she sat at the stone table with her face propped up in her hands: “How do you resemble his mother?”
Ye Zhanxue was a renowned, talented woman of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, accomplished in both literary and martial arts, with unparalleled grace!
How dare a mere salt merchant’s daughter compare herself to such a woman?
Xiaoying stretched lazily, speaking with great ease: “I was quite annoyed when I heard it, too. When did I raise such a fine son? But the Grand Prince said that when I helped him investigate cases, I was decisive in my actions. My loyal and brave personality reminded him of his mother. He said he would never find anyone like me in this lifetime. He became infatuated with me and pursued me relentlessly. Sir, have you met the Grand Prince’s mother? Do we look alike?”
Nonsense—it was certainly more believable to resemble Ye Zhanxue than Feng Qiyuan.
Her rambling wasn’t meant to convince Emperor Chunde, but rather to buy time for reinforcements to arrive. Feng Yuan had said he would enter the palace shortly after her.
Where was he now?
Emperor Chunde let out a few dry laughs. If one were to force a comparison, the way the young woman had kicked those men earlier did show some spirited valor.
Could it be that because both women were trained in martial arts, Feng Yuan had developed this misconception?
If Feng Yuan truly believed this woman resembled his mother, her inexplicable death in the palace would likely touch his reverse scale, and the father-son relationship that had only recently improved would become strained again.
However, such concerns were worthless compared to the face of the imperial family.
If he hadn’t seen this woman, it might have been fine, but having seen her, he absolutely couldn’t allow Feng Yuan to marry a woman who looked identical to his fourth son!
Just as he raised his hand to summon the guards, a bull-like shout suddenly came from nearby.
“Lady Xiaoying! You’re hard to find!” The Third Prince came running, panting heavily. When he saw Xiaoying in the distant pavilion, his bull-like eyes brightened, and he ran over with heavy footsteps.
After entering the pavilion, he caught a glimpse of Emperor Chunde partially hidden behind a pillar.
“Fa…Father, you’re here too…” The Third Prince became flustered.
He had come here after encountering Consort Yi.
However, Consort Yi had only subtly indicated that Xiaoying was in this area of the Imperial Garden, without mentioning that His Majesty was also present!
The single-minded Third Prince naturally didn’t realize that Consort Yi, fearing Xiaoying might be troubled by His Majesty, had deliberately used him to disrupt the situation.
Emperor Chunde was surprised to see his third son on such familiar terms with this woman and asked with a dark face: “Why all this hustle and shouting?”
The Third Prince smiled awkwardly.
Emperor Chunde knew that his third son had returned to the capital with his eldest son, so he was likely familiar with this woman. He asked: “Why didn’t you tell me before that she looks so much like your fourth brother?”
The Third Prince was stunned by the question, finding his father’s inquiry absurd.
This Xiaoying was someone who could remain calm when surrounded at the post station, ready to draw her blade and kill without hesitation! His weak fourth brother couldn’t match even a tenth of Lady Xiaoying’s capability, even if he ate ten pounds of leopard’s gall for courage!
So he answered directly: “How does Lady Xiaoying resemble the Crown Prince? If the Crown Prince had even half of Lady Xiaoying’s capability, you wouldn’t need to dispose of him…”
Seeing that the Third Prince was about to blurt out inappropriate remarks about the heir apparent, Xiaoying quickly interrupted: “Ah, so you are His Majesty. This commoner pays respects to Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!”
Emperor Chunde, aware that his identity had been revealed, ignored the kneeling young woman and continued questioning his third son: “I asked you a question, answer me!”
Emperor Chunde was truly becoming angry. They looked so much alike, yet the Third Prince had never mentioned it.
Could it be that this third son had also developed inappropriate ambitions, planning to exploit his elder brother’s moral failings?
The Third Prince didn’t possess the twisted thinking that Emperor Chunde imagined. Under pressure from His Majesty, he forgot to adjust his belt and spoke bluntly: “She’s the person who killed the Wei Kingdom expert Sui Yin in one move. How could such a valiant and decisive woman resemble the Crown Prince?”
At these words, Emperor Chunde widened his eyes in surprise, looking Yan Xiaoying up and down again.
She… was the female expert who had killed Sui Yin?
By now, it was too late for the Third Prince to tighten his belt; he could only cover his mouth helplessly, looking regretfully toward Yan Xiaoying.
“You killed Sui Yin?” Emperor Chunde still asked incredulously. She looked too much like Feng Qiyuan, and he found it difficult to connect this seemingly delicate appearance with extraordinary martial skills.
Xiaoying replied: “I dare not deceive Your Majesty. It wasn’t my skill, merely a small trick that lured Sui Yin into sending himself to his death.”
Emperor Chunde noticed that even after discovering his imperial identity, though this young woman bowed respectfully, her attitude remained neither servile nor arrogant, showing no sign of panic or fear.
That small frame seemed to contain a remarkable courage, a calm self-possession that Feng Qiyuan had never possessed…
How could a mere salt merchant’s daughter display such composure?
Emperor Chunde’s contempt diminished somewhat, and he asked about her teacher.
Xiaoying honestly explained that she had previously been self-taught but had recently learned many skills from Master Xiao.
Emperor Chunde’s eyes widened: “You’re saying Xiao Tianyang… accepted you as a disciple?”
Seeing Xiaoying shake her head, Emperor Chunde was relieved: That made sense. That old curmudgeon was extremely picky about disciples and had never taken a female disciple. Presumably, he had given her some martial instruction out of respect for Feng Yuan.
Just then, Xiaoying spoke up: “He wanted to take me as a disciple, but I declined. I’m lazy by nature and can’t endure the hardships of training. For martial arts, being adequate is enough for me.”
Hearing such presumptuous talk, Emperor Chunde laughed derisively: “Do you… know what you’re saying? Countless martial artists would break their heads trying to become Xiao Tianyang’s disciples but fail to enter his door, yet you speak so casually?”
Xiaoying also smiled: “Is that so? No wonder Master Xiao kept puffing his beard and glaring at me, saying I didn’t appreciate my good fortune!”
Just then, another shout came floating through the air: “Lady… Lady Xiaoying! You’ve been so hard to find!”
Emperor Chunde turned to look and saw his fourth son, who was supposedly too weak to be seen in public, had come out to face the wind.
Feng Qiyuan came running, panting just like the Third Prince, and only relaxed slightly upon seeing Yan Xiaoying.
He was still as before, reacting to his father like a mouse seeing a cat. But after paying respects to his father, he deliberately positioned himself in front of the young woman, summoning his courage and appearing quite protective.
Emperor Chunde narrowed his eyes as he looked at them, finding them increasingly similar: “Why aren’t you resting? What are you doing here?”
Feng Qiyuan gathered his courage and recited timidly as if from memory: “Lady Xiaoying and I are old acquaintances from Jiangsu and Zhejiang. When Wei people harmed me, she decisively came to my rescue—she is my life-saving benefactor. Just now I heard someone meant to harm her, so I came to accompany her, lest more ignorant people try to hurt her!”
Emperor Chunde felt as if he had been insulted and was about to rebuke him when Consort Yi approached, announcing that the birthday celebration was about to begin and respectfully inviting His Majesty and the princes to attend.
As Emperor Chunde nodded, Consort Yi seemingly affectionately took Yan Xiaoying’s hand, praising her fabric combinations and hairpins as unique while naturally leading her down from the pavilion.
With such diversions, Emperor Chunde suddenly realized that his plan to drown this woman in the palace lake like an insignificant dog would not work.
Though she appeared to be of humble origin, her connections were extensive. Even that simple-minded Third Prince, who didn’t get along well with the Crown Prince, seemed quite protective of this young woman.
Just then, a tall and handsome man approached.
When his gaze fell on the graceful figure beside Consort Yi, he visibly relaxed and his lips naturally curved into a gentle smile.
The Grand Prince was concerned about his fiancée’s first entry into the palace and had specially come to check on her.
Emperor Chunde narrowed his eyes, observing the exchange of glances between his eldest son and the young woman.
Everyone has been young once, and the tender meaning in those gazes couldn’t be faked.
Feng Yuan… truly cared deeply for this young woman!
“What’s this? You rushed into the palace because you were worried about your fiancée walking around here?” Emperor Chunde asked.
Feng Yuan bowed and replied: “Xiaoying comes from a common background, with a simple and honest nature. I feared she might not understand palace etiquette and might inadvertently offend Your Majesty. That’s why I came to accompany her.”
Thinking of how someone had just tried to lure this woman into an abandoned residence, Emperor Chunde said coolly, “Your lady has offended someone. If her nature were truly simple and honest, she might not have lasted until your arrival! Those who are truly naive wouldn’t have kicked people into the lake with such vigor—that hardly matches ‘simple and honest’!”
Feng Yuan had already heard from Consort Yi about how Xiaoying had been entrapped by palace maids, so he replied with an unchanging expression: “She suffers because of her connection to me…”
With one sentence, he cut to the heart of the matter, pointing out that anyone targeting her was aiming at him.
“…She says you think she resembles your mother. Is that true?”
Feng Yuan smiled slightly, guessing Xiaoying’s intention in saying this, and replied: “Initially, I thought so, but later I realized they aren’t very similar.”
Emperor Chunde raised an eyebrow, rarely engaging in such conversations with his son, yet intrigued: “Oh, how so?”
“She is a rare-spirited woman, skilled in martial arts and courageous, somewhat resembling my mother. But her temperament is more fiery than my mother’s. If I were to wrong her, she would leave without hesitation, without a trace of attachment.”
Emperor Chunde felt his son was indirectly criticizing him and frowned: “How can one who marries into the imperial family be so impulsive? Do you mean that in the future, you can’t have other consorts or concubines besides her?”
Feng Yuan remained composed: “I have already said, in this lifetime… I will marry no one but her! If in the future I were to marry another woman, it would only be because I had met with misfortune and was forced to do so. If at that time I cannot protect her and she has the wisdom to save herself and escape the quagmire, I would be at peace!”
“What nonsense are you talking about!” Emperor Chunde showed signs of anger.
But he knew he was in the wrong regarding his son. The various tribulations Ye Zhanxue had endured left him no ground for argument.
“If you marry this woman, you may ruin your prospects. Do you truly have no regrets?”
“If I can marry Xiaoying, I will have no regrets in this life! And I must thank Father for his benevolence, allowing me not to delay my marriage like Second Brother…”
Feng Yuan’s words were subtle, but father and son understood their meaning.
Although Lady Tang was not Feng Yuan’s birth mother, she was still the Empress. If Emperor Chunde had dealt with the Empress as he had with Consort Shang, then Feng Yuan would, like the Second Prince, who had lost his birth mother, need to observe mourning for three years, postponing his marriage.
By saying this, Feng Yuan was thanking his father for understanding the difficulty of his marriage and showing this small kindness.
Emperor Chunde hadn’t actually intended such thoughtfulness. He kept the mad Lady Tang simply because he didn’t want the Empress position to be vacant, which would cause the great families to compete fiercely for it.
Yet Feng Yuan had considered even this detail, showing how eager he was to marry this woman, not out of impulse.
As he spoke, Feng Yuan’s tone was steady, his attitude resolute, his gaze constantly falling on the graceful figure not far ahead.
Just then, the Third Prince turned and called to Feng Yuan: “Elder Brother, come quickly, I have something to tell you!”
After Feng Yuan bowed to Emperor Chunde and hurried a few steps toward his brothers, the Third Prince unusually affectionately put his arm around Feng Yuan’s shoulders and whispered something.
The Grand Prince seemed uncomfortable and tried to push the Third Prince away, but the young woman tilted her head and said something. Feng Yuan then stopped resisting, allowing his third brother to drape an arm over his shoulder as they walked forward together.
The young men and women chattered cheerfully, laughing and talking as they proceeded. They truly looked like a family!
Emperor Chunde couldn’t remember when his sons had last gotten along so harmoniously.
He had already drafted a decree to depose Crown Prince Feng Qiyuan.
But he had delayed announcing it, concerned that after deposing the Crown Prince, rumors would spread of discord among the imperial brothers and his unfairness to his legitimate son.
If the Grand Prince hated the Crown Prince to the extent of marrying a woman who resembled him to humiliate him, then Feng Qiyuan’s fate as a deposed Crown Prince would not be pleasant.
He wanted to leave a good name in history. If his sons fought amongst themselves, how could his reputation remain untarnished?
But now, looking at them, his sons’ relationships… seemed better than he had imagined. Why should he play the villain and disrupt their brotherly affection?
Thinking this, Emperor Chunde pointed ahead and asked Li Quan: “What do you think of the bride Feng Yuan has chosen for himself?”
Li Quan was an old fox who had served in the palace for many years, having followed His Majesty since the days of the heir apparent’s residence.
In those days, Lady Ye had treated him well, but alas, her beauty was matched by her brief life, leaving Li Quan privately grieving for a long time.
Now her only son had grown to manhood.
Li Quan felt sentimental and, noting His Majesty’s expression, tactfully offered an out: “Previously I heard that the future princess resembles the Crown Prince, but now with both standing before us, one can immediately distinguish the different features—they don’t look very similar. This young lady is quite likable, and it seems both the Third Prince and the Crown Prince are also fond of their future sister-in-law…”
These words finally relieved Emperor Chunde’s concerns.
Li Quan made sense. Viewed separately, the two looked very similar, but standing together, given the differences between men and women, one could distinguish them.
The young woman was like a budding flower, at the most radiant time in a woman’s life. Her figure was shapely, her features developing, and with makeup applied, she didn’t look much like Feng Qiyuan anymore…
When the procession entered the hall, the assembled guests displayed various reactions.
The wife of Duke Jing was the most uncomfortable.
At Princess Anqing’s birthday celebration last time, she had been thoroughly humiliated by Yan Xiaoying and still harbored resentment.
She never expected that her granddaughter, Tang Mi, would enter the hall alongside that lowborn woman.
Moreover, she had heard that His Majesty, due to the Crown Prince situation, didn’t look favorably upon this woman, and her palace entry was at His Majesty’s instruction.
She had thought that upon seeing this woman’s appearance, His Majesty would immediately be so disgusted that he would offer her a cup of poisoned wine, preventing this troublemaker from stirring discord between brothers.
Unexpectedly, His Majesty entered the hall laughing and talking with the Crown Prince, the Grand Prince, the Third Prince, and this woman.
The Duchess of Jing was dumbfounded, unable to gauge His Majesty’s mood.
Like her, many others were waiting to see the young woman embarrassed. Seeing this situation, they exchanged bewildered glances, unsure what to make of it.
After His Majesty toasted Consort Yi and then departed, with everyone respectfully seeing him off, the banquet began in earnest.
By custom, the male guests should also have withdrawn.
But the Grand Prince showed no intention of leaving. The Crown Prince and Third Prince brazenly remained to sit at the same table with the Grand Prince and Xiaoying.
Some of the female guests, who had been instructed by their official husbands to approach and mockingly criticize the young woman, now hesitated, not daring to invite disfavor.
After all, the Grand Prince’s most recent killing exploit was slaying Wei Kingdom master Chen Xifan.
And that master had died with his belly slashed open and intestines spilling out—a terrifying death!
In such circumstances, to provoke his fiancée would truly be seeking death.
As for the gossip about the Grand Prince marrying this woman to humiliate the Crown Prince, there was little basis to continue.
Because the supposedly sickly Crown Prince was in fine spirits today, not only attending the banquet personally but also pouring wine for the young woman and the Grand Prince, wishing them a harmonious marriage and early birth of noble sons.
His delighted appearance and genial conversation hardly suggested someone who had been humiliated and driven to despair by the Grand Prince.
If the principal party wasn’t holding grudges and was exchanging toasts, why should these insignificant figures cause trouble?
Some curious guests nudged Yao Shu: “Didn’t you say the Crown Prince had a big row with His Majesty over this woman? How is it that not only are they not at odds, but they seem to be on excellent terms?”
Yao Shu had been in low spirits lately. Initially, her family wanted to break off the engagement with the Second Prince but faced opposition from her grandfather, who said that once engaged to a prince, subjects had no business proposing a withdrawal. In the end, the engagement remained intact.
Yet if they were to marry, Consort Shang had suddenly died, and the Second Prince needed to observe mourning for three years before marrying.
She wasn’t young, and after waiting three more years, even if the engagement were broken, it would be difficult to find another match. How could she be happy with her youth being wasted like this?
Slandering that young woman’s reputation gave her some comfort—at least she wasn’t the most unfortunate woman in the entire capital.
But unexpectedly, this woman’s first entry into the palace went so smoothly, with the Grand Prince and Crown Prince personally escorting and supporting her.
Thinking of this, Yao Shu replied with a fake smile: “I never said that. After all, in the entire capital, there are hardly any women willing to marry the Grand Prince. Perhaps the Crown Prince pities his elder brother’s difficulty in finding a wife and is helping to smooth things over?”
This comment provoked snickering among the surrounding young women. After all, it was well known among the ladies of the capital that the Grand Prince, being such a fearsome figure, couldn’t find a suitable bride.
But soon, they could hardly continue laughing.
Among the dishes at the imperial banquet was ginger-roasted crab, which, though delicious, required shell removal.
This dish was usually just for show at ladies’ banquets. Unless maids were peeling it, few people would touch it.
But that young woman seemed to have no inhibitions and appeared to enjoy it greatly. Without waiting for the crab-peeling maid to arrive, she eagerly started peeling it herself.
Then, the Grand Prince, who was usually cold-faced and unapproachable in public, silently took the fragrant crab from her hands and skillfully used crab hammers and picks to extract the meat. Soon, he had prepared a small dish full of rich roe and meat, which he quietly pushed in front of the young woman.
At that moment, the young women who had previously viewed Grand Prince Feng Yuan as venomous were secretly astonished. Who would have thought that this cold-faced gentleman was so attentive and considerate!