Chapter Thirty-Seven
"Why?"
"It'll hurt."
"Then what should I do with this?"
"Keep it as a memento!"
In their hurry to return to the Prince's mansion, Feng Suige and Fu Yixiao strode swiftly through the streets of Su Sha, still bickering over the jade pendant.
Yixiao suddenly stopped, nearly causing Feng Suige to bump into her. He had just scowled when she raised a finger to her lips, signaling for silence.
Instinctively, Feng Suige pricked up his ears. A faint, intermittent melody drifted on the wind into the street—a sorrowful duet between a man and a woman, carrying a hint of flirtatious charm. As Yixiao listened, she softly hummed along, "All in this world bear the sorrows of time, not yours alone in despair. Love once lost, dreams now fade, lean on your hairpin, drunk under the moon—why not? Nights grow long, sleep eludes, but speak not of longing, for longing is but two words that break the heart..."
Feng Suige's expression darkened slightly. "That’s the Rouge District—likely courtesans rehearsing."
"Mmm," Yixiao murmured absently. "The lyrics might be from Brocade. I learned this song last year in Pingling, but the melody wasn’t as beautiful as this. What a shame Xueying isn’t here. If she heard it, she’d surely transcribe it all later..."
Before she could finish, Feng Suige tugged her forward roughly. "What’s so special about brothel tunes? The guests will arrive soon, and we still need to change."
"Guests?" Yixiao asked, puzzled. "I thought the banquet was only in the evening." Feng Suige pressed his lips together and said no more, his iron grip on her wrist pulling her through the crowd.
After escorting Yixiao to the inner quarters, Feng Suige smiled and reminded her, "The newly made Golden Feather Hundred Embroidery Dress should have been delivered. If you dislike overly ornate accessories, mix and match as you please—just don’t make it too plain. I’ll go change as well and come back for you shortly."
Yixiao nodded and took a few steps before suddenly turning back, holding up the pendant with a grin. "Thank you." Feng Suige returned an even deeper smile, watching as she skipped away lightly.
Only when she was out of sight did his smile fade. He had always known of her ambiguous relationship with Xia Jingshi, but why would she know such a song from the pleasure quarters?
From Brocade... Pingling?
Had he overlooked this place all along?
Outside the Prince's mansion, carriages and horses crowded the streets. Most of the attending ministers were accompanied by their wives, some even bringing their children. Everyone was dressed in lavish formal attire, many adorned with jeweled coronets and gold-threaded robes, flaunting their status with dazzling opulence. The air was thick with perfume and the rustle of silk, a glittering gathering of nobility.
As Feng Suige led Yixiao into the banquet hall under the herald’s announcement, the resplendent room was already packed. Laughter and conversation filled the air. At his entrance, the noblewomen and their daughters lit up with excitement, whispering and giggling among themselves, utterly ignoring the woman at his side.
As the regent Imperial Son, Feng Suige was naturally the target of flattery from every powerful figure present. Though most were sycophants, he handled each with grace, soon surrounded by a crowd. Yixiao, who disliked such occasions, stood quietly to the side, meeting the varied gazes cast her way with composure. After a sweeping glance, she smiled—utterly victorious.Amid the responses, a man in his fifties strode over with vigorous steps. He was of average height, slightly plump, with graying hair and beard. When he smiled, the muscles around his cheeks bulged—a typical merchant’s appearance.
“Old Qin happened to be away during the Imperial Son’s grand wedding and missed the festivities—what a pity! So, I absolutely had to attend this birthday banquet, hahaha!” the man laughed loudly. “And this must be the new Minor Imperial Concubine by the Imperial Son’s side?”
“Qin Lao, how have you been? It’s been a while indeed,” Feng Suige replied with a smile. Yixiao gave a slight bow. This man was likely Qin Yu, the magnate who dominated Vermilion Sand Country’s commerce. She had long heard of Qin Yu’s business acumen—his wealth had amassed at a young age, and he was the largest private contributor to the imperial military’s funds.
Qin Yu looked Yixiao up and down before nodding approvingly. “A rare bone structure, with a hint of phoenix grace. In Old Qin’s eyes, even the position of Crown Princess would not be beyond you, Minor Imperial Concubine.” Ignoring the murmurs of surprise around him, he threw his head back and laughed heartily.
Though momentarily taken aback, Yixiao didn’t forget to exchange pleasantries. Whether his words were sincere or not, the fact that Qin Yu dared to speak so boldly in such a setting spoke volumes about his standing in Vermilion Sand’s court and society.
“Brother Feng!” A girl’s cheerful voice rang out from behind Qin Yu. Everyone turned in surprise to see a girl of about fifteen or sixteen dart into Feng Suige’s arms, clinging tightly to him. Tears brimmed in her youthful eyes. “It’s all Grandpa’s fault—he insisted on taking me on a trip! We rushed back as soon as we heard the news, but we still missed both weddings…”
Before Feng Suige could react, Yixiao’s fingers slipped from his grasp. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he could only chuckle softly. “Little Yi, you’ve grown taller again.”
Qin Yu scolded sternly, “Xiao Yi, where are your manners? You’re a grown lady now—you can’t cling to the Imperial Son like before. Pay your respects to the Minor Imperial Concubine first.”
“I’ve always hugged him like this—what’s the problem?” Qin Yi wrinkled her nose but obediently let go. She was about to kneel before Yixiao when the latter quickly pulled her up. Before either could speak, the herald’s voice boomed, “The Lord of the Nation arrives!”
The assembled officials immediately dropped to their knees, chanting in unison, “Long live Your Majesty! Long live! Long, long live…”
Feng Qishan arrived precisely on time, followed by two noblewomen dressed as Imperial Concubines. One wore three jade phoenix hairpins adorned with strings of pearls, while the other’s hair was pinned with golden flowers embedded with precious gems. Both were graceful in appearance, but their haughty expressions betrayed their arrogance.
As Feng Qishan’s entourage entered the hall, Yixiao’s upright stance stood out starkly among the sea of bowed backs. He paused, narrowing his eyes at Fu Yixiao.
The chief palace guard accompanying him bellowed, “How dare you! The Lord of the Nation has arrived—kneel at once!” Feng Suige turned in alarm, reaching out to pull her down, but Yixiao sidestepped his grasp and declared clearly, “He is not my lord—why should I kneel?”
The Imperial Concubine with the golden flowers smirked, her eyes glinting with malice. “We’ve long heard the Imperial Son married a Minor Imperial Concubine who knows no decorum. Today, we finally see it for ourselves.” Feng Qishan sneered. “This lord has seen it long before.”Feng Suige hissed in a mix of urgency and anger, "What are you doing?" Yixiao pretended not to hear and said, "If the Lord of Vermilion Sand Country visits, Yixiao will not kneel. But if it is my father-in-law who arrives, Yixiao will certainly receive him with due courtesy."
A flicker of surprise broke through Feng Qishan's icy expression, vanishing as quickly as it appeared. He said sternly, "The fact that you can stand here unharmed is already a great concession on my part. Do not push your luck."
Yixiao widened her eyes and feigned ignorance. "Forgive Yixiao’s dullness—was that the Lord of the Nation speaking just now, or my father-in-law?"
Feng Qishan regarded her coldly for a moment. "What if it were both?" She smiled slyly. "Even if it were both, Yixiao would only bow to her father-in-law, not the Lord of the Nation." With that, she pressed her hands together in front of her chest and gave a slight curtsy.
Feng Qishan snorted but could do nothing about it. Shifting his gaze away from her, he said in a low voice, "All ministers may rise and take your seats."
Immediately, the hall filled with the rustling of robes and hushed murmurs of conversation. Feng Suige felt slightly relieved, though his lingering anger remained. He stepped closer and whispered reproachfully, "What was that about? For your sake, I’ve already clashed with Father multiple times. A simple kneel—was it necessary to make such a show of defiance?"
Fu Yixiao replied calmly, "Yixiao believes she did nothing wrong. If someone respects me an inch, I’ll respect them a foot. That’s all there is to it."
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