In this back-аnd-fоrth ехсhange, somе оf the boldеr individuals begаn tо sреаk uр, essentiаlly saying that the Xuаn Qing Рrincе was nаrrоw-mindеd, still hаrboring rеsеntmеnt еvеn aftеr the consоrt's dеath, whilе the Seventh Рrince wаs extrеmеlу filiаl, willing tо tаkе the blamе fоr his mothеr, уеt the Хuan Qing Рrinсe remаinеd relеntless and unforgiving.
Fu Yunхi simply stoоd quiеtlу in plаce, motiоnlеss, thе cоrnеr оf his snоw-whitе rоbe liftеd bу a brеezе passing thrоugh the hаll. Аftеr a lоng whilе, hе slоwly spokе: "Sharing others' urgencу and feeling оthers' pаin?"
His silеnсe hаd been one thing, but once he spoke, everyone immediately fell quiet. Fu Yunxi turned to Zhuangshan, who was clinging tightly to Wei Rufeng, and suddenly curled the corner of his lips.
Zhuangshan was taken aback, instinctively sensing a chill, her body stiffening. Fu Yunxi's expression was cold and stern, yet the smile at the corner of his mouth was playful and cruel. He said, "Losing one's mother at a young age is not something only the Seventh Prince has experienced." Seeing Zhuangshan shrink back slightly, he added, "Has the side consort forgotten? This prince's consort also lost her mother a year ago." He looked at Zhuangshan: "Why is it that the side consort does not share her urgency or feel her pain?"
His tone was as calm as water, yet each word carried a bone-chilling coldness, like the icy springs of a winter mountain, quietly spreading a layer of frost in people's hearts.
Under his questioning, Zhuangshan actually began to stammer: "H-how could I not? Fourth Sister and I are as close as siblings..."
"Side Consort who shares others' urgency, if this prince recalls correctly, Madam Zhou entered the Zhuang residence just one year after Madam Wang passed away." Fu Yunxi was determined not to give her a chance to turn the tables: "Side Consort who feels others' pain, not long ago, on the eve of Wei Shizi preparing to propose to the Fourth Miss of the Zhuang family, you became intimate with the shizi." He glanced at Wei Rufeng: "As a result, the Fourth Miss refused to lower herself to become a concubine and made that solemn vow."
The situation instantly reversed.
The affair between Zhuangshan and Wei Rufeng had been witnessed by many that day, and later, through deliberate spreading, it had become almost common knowledge in the capital. Now that it was brought up, combined with Madam Zhou entering the residence just one year after Madam Wang's death, it carried an ambiguous implication. In wealthy households with many children, the struggle between legitimate and illegitimate offspring never ceases. But to steal the legitimate daughter's marriage prospect and then force her to become a concubine—that was truly excessive. No wonder the Fourth Miss of the Zhuang family made such a solemn vow. At this moment, the way everyone looked at Zhuangshan, and even Wei Rufeng, became somewhat strange.
Wei Rufeng was an extremely face-conscious person. Seeing Fu Yunxi openly expose his affairs without any attempt to conceal them, yet having no way to refute them, he felt nothing but intense anger. Then, he saw Fu Yunxi tap lightly and smile faintly at him: "Thanks to the shizi, this prince was able to marry a consort like Yan'er."
He spoke with extreme affection, but to Wei Rufeng, it sounded like pure provocation, fueling his rage. Yet, Fu Yunxi turned to the Seventh Prince and Madam Chen, who were embracing each other in sorrow, and said, "When a beast wags its tail, this prince cannot stop it. Similarly, if the Seventh Prince wishes to confess guilt, this prince cannot prevent him." He stood with his hands behind his back: "As for whether Consort Chen was truly guilty, the Seventh Prince might as well ask why His Majesty is absent today."
His Majesty's absence—Consort Chen was the most favored consort in the six palaces during her lifetime, yet after her death, the Emperor did not even come to see her. It seemed that the earlier claims of the Xuan Qing Prince framing Consort Chen were baseless. Otherwise, why would the Emperor not attend?In a place unseen by the crowd, the Seventh Prince clenched his hand into a fist at his side, still weeping mournfully, yet a trace of malice flickered in his eyes.
Fu Yunxi walked to the doorway and casually tossed out a remark: "Moreover, after the late emperor's passing, in this world, apart from His Majesty and my mother, I am worthy of receiving anyone's bow." With that, he flicked his sleeve and departed.
What an arrogant man!
Everyone watched that blade-like figure recede into the distance, each feeling a chill of fear. Mufeng, who had been hiding in the shadows observing everything, finally leaped out and made a gesture to Fu Yunxi: "Master, you handled that brilliantly!"
Such presence, tsk tsk, even His Majesty would be no different. And to think they dared bully the princess consort—the prince threatened their entire family in return.
Meanwhile, in a certain inn within the capital, a tall man sat in the central chair of a room: "Are you certain of what you saw?"
The beautiful young woman beside him nodded: "Brother, yes, it was definitely them."
The man, with a pair of emerald-green eyes, narrowed them tightly as if spotting prey: "Excellent, Irina. Keep a close watch on their every move. If there is any action, we can take our share."
The young woman nodded: "Understood, brother." On her honey-colored arm coiled three small green snakes, their heads raised and red tongues flickering.
Beneath the seemingly calm and prosperous surface of the capital, a storm was quietly brewing, foreboding turbulent times ahead.
The new year had just passed, and the Spring Sacrifice was fast approaching.
A few days earlier, Han Yan had returned to the Zhuang residence. It was unclear what Fu Yunxi had said to Zhuang Shiyang, but this time upon her return, neither Zhuang Shiyang nor Madam Zhou gave her any trouble. For a while, no one set foot in Han Yan's Clear Autumn Courtyard, and Zhuang Hanming did not visit either. Han Yan simply relaxed and rested in her courtyard for a few days. Shu Hong did not return with her—partly because the Zhuang residence was a complicated environment, which would not be conducive to Shu Hong's recovery, and partly because the physicians hired by the Xuan Qing Prince's Mansion were far superior to those of the Zhuang residence. If Shu Hong could take this opportunity to develop something with one of Fu Yunxi's hidden guards, that would be even better.
Han Yan paid a visit to Concubine Mei, whose life was not as comfortable as one might imagine. This was largely because Madam Da Zhou visited Madam Zhou every few days, and through their interactions, she had somehow bewitched Zhuang Shiyang, who remained reluctant to elevate Concubine Mei to the status of principal wife.
This was within Han Yan's expectations. Even without Madam Da Zhou's interference, Zhuang Shiyang would not easily promote Concubine Mei, as he was extremely concerned with appearances and would never allow a lowly foreign dancer to become his wife. Still, Han Yan felt suspicious—Madam Da Zhou's frequent visits to the Zhuang residence seemed to have a clear purpose.
On the morning of the Spring Sacrifice, Han Yan rose early. Ji Lan and Mama Chen were busy discussing what attire Han Yan should wear. Han Yan had never paid much attention to such matters, but Mama Chen disagreed: "Nowadays, everyone in the capital knows that the young lady is the apple of the prince's eye. If you don't dress properly, those noble ladies might gossip again."
Han Yan shivered at Mama Chen's phrase "the apple of the prince's eye," but she also knew that every time she appeared in public recently, she had to play her part to the fullest. With so many people eyeing her covetously, she wondered whether seeking refuge under the Xuan Qing Prince's Mansion would bring her shelter from the storm or mark the beginning of new troubles.Ji Lan tilted her head to look at her: "Miss, the Emperor will also be at the spring ceremony today. It would be better to dress more beautifully." After a pause, she added: "Don't let Second Miss outshine you."
Han Yan chuckled: "What's there to fear? I won't be standing with her anyway."
Indeed, for ceremonies like the spring ceremony, families stand together to observe. Zhuangshan has already married into Prince Wei's household and will be with Wei Rufeng. Although I am the Xuan Qing Prince Consort, I have yet to formally enter the household, so I can only stand with Zhuang Shiyang.
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