Chapter 602: Chapter 602

Qiushan has always been a place of confinement. Its terrain is elevated, with palaces built upon steep cliffs. The area is desolate, damp, and cold. The palaces are narrow, and apart from the square patch of sky visible above, there is hardly any scenery to be seen. Only one mountain path leads out, guarded by the Forbidden Army. Anyone who enters Qiushan will find it difficult to leave without an imperial decree.

At the foot of the mountain, the sunlight is scorching, but upon reaching the summit, the atmosphere turns gloomy. Even when the sun shines brightly, the biting dampness permeates the bones. Several palaces on Qiushan house members of the Yuwen Clan. The already narrow spaces feel even more congested. Inside the innermost chambers reside Yuwen Jing’s princesses and princes; Feng Wan and Yuwen Yu have been accommodated in the western wing of the eastern palace. A family of four occupies the main hall, while Yuwen Yu’s concubine and several children are crowded into another room.

Yuwen Yu has one secondary wife and two concubines. Apart from the son and daughter Feng Wan bore him, the secondary wife and concubines have together given birth to two sons and one daughter. Unfortunately, the eldest son and youngest daughter passed away prematurely, leaving only one surviving son. This son, younger than Feng Wan’s son by over a month, suffers greatly due to the bitter cold of Qiushan. Adults aren’t the only ones tortured by the harsh conditions—children suffer too. Recently, several children have fallen ill with colds.

Fengyu, upon arriving at Qiushan, could feel the severity of the environment herself.

Feng Wan had not expected Fengyu to come to Qiushan. Here, they were isolated from the outside world, unaware that Xie Xun was leading a campaign himself. As it was mid-autumn, Feng Wan thought perhaps Fengyu, remembering sisterly bonds, had come to visit her out of care.

Feng Wan changed into her finest attire, carefully re-styled her hair, and adorned herself with a jade hairpin, striving to appear less haggard.

She led Fengyu to the backyard, where a row of maple trees stood. During winter, the scenery would be beautiful, but in the autumn, there was nothing special about it. Still, with the noisy palace staff, this was the only place that offered a semblance of tranquility.

Feng Wan poured tea for her. Fengyu looked at her elder sister’s slightly calloused hands and tired face, feeling a pang of unwilling pity in her heart.

The last time the Yuwen Clan had been confined, Fengyu had harbored deep resentment toward all members of the Yuwen Family. When she advised Feng Wan back then, her words lacked genuine consideration—her attitude was dismissive, as if saying, "If you insist on staying with the people of the Yuwen family, go ahead. I’m done caring." When Yuwen Jing pressured Feng Shu to the point of death, Fengyu had vented her anger on all members of the Yuwen family, including Yuwen Yu.

Now, seeing Feng Wan again, after a mere two months apart, she had aged so noticeably. Fengyu felt a profound sorrow in her heart.

"Elder Sister, tomorrow is Mid-Autumn Festival. Grandmother wishes to host a family banquet and hopes you can bring the children back for a reunion," Fengyu said bluntly. She could already hear the cries of children from the front courtyard. Her elder sister, once pampered and respected as a princess after marrying Yuwen Yu, now lived a life far removed from comfort. She had to cook, wash clothes, attend to her husband, and care for her children—all tasks she completed single-handedly.

Feng Wan remained silent for some time. With her hands on her knees, rubbing them together, she could feel the thin calluses on her palms and fingertips. "Ayu, could you plead for mercy from His Majesty? Let me stay here in Qiushan, but allow my children to return to the Feng Mansion. Yuan Ge has a frail constitution; after a bout of cold, even the wind would probably do him harm. My daughter, though typically healthy, has been sickly recently, and it pains me greatly. It’s not a big deal if we adults suffer, but I can’t bear to see the children tormented. Ayu, I’m begging you as your elder sister. Please."

This matter wasn’t difficult to resolve—as long as Feng Wan divorced Yuwen Yu, the children could change their surname to Feng and be recognized as members of the Feng Family. They would be entered into the Feng family genealogical records, and arrangements could be made.

Fengyu said, "Elder Sister, as long as you divorce Yuwen Yu, I’ll handle everything else."

"I..." Tears welled up in Feng Wan’s eyes. Suddenly, she knelt before Fengyu. "Ayu, I’m begging you, don’t force me. Let me and Yuwen Yu stay here. You take the children and leave, alright?"

"Elder Sister, Yuwen Yu is a direct descendant of the Yuwen Clan. Zhixu already showed great leniency by sparing this lineage. Look back at the history books—when has a new dynasty ever left a former royal family’s emperor alive? Especially given that Yuwen Yu contended with Zhixu for the throne, the fact he is still alive is purely because Zhixu values my feelings for you as his sister-in-law. If you don’t divorce him, the children won’t be members of the Feng Family, and this matter simply cannot be arranged. Unless, in another ten years, the new dynasty stabilizes and the Yuwen Clan poses no threat to Beining—when all those backing the Yuwen royal family have been fully subdued—only then might it be possible to take them away," Fengyu said, her words heavy with earnestness. She couldn’t afford to bring trouble to Xie Xun at this moment.

With Zhongzhou and General Gao’s army of over a hundred thousand soldiers rising under the banner of restoration, should the children be taken down the mountain and fall into the hands of certain schemers and be installed as monarchs in Zhongzhou, those soldiers would be justified in their rebellion. Xie Xun would suffer unrest in his own backyard.

Why did her elder sister refuse to divorce Yuwen Yu?

Was her love for Yuwen Yu so deep?

Fengyu thought of herself—if Xie Xun had lost his bid for the throne and been confined to Qiushan, would she willingly stay with him as a prisoner?

She would even take their children and live in Qiushan, sharing life and death together as a family. But would Xie Xun agree?

He absolutely wouldn’t!

He would immediately write a letter of divorce, even if she resented him, hated him. He would send her down the mountain—for her sake, and for the sake of their children’s safety and health. That’s undoubtedly what he would do.

Qiushan’s environment was far too cruel for children. They were already difficult to raise; only when they reached ten years of age could parents breathe a sigh of relief. Before turning ten, even something as minor as a cold could easily snatch a child’s life. Ordinary families were extraordinarily careful with their young children, let alone children born into nobility.

Therefore, Fengyu couldn’t understand.

Fengyu didn’t help Feng Wan up either, allowing her to remain kneeling. If this matter wasn’t clarified, and if she continued to be manipulated by familial affection, Fengyu herself would be placed in a difficult position.

"Elder Sister, do you have some unspeakable reasons?" Fengyu asked.

Feng Wan lowered her head and gently shook it.

"Then you’re resolute in your decision, aren’t you?" Fengyu said indifferently. "This is the last time I’ll come to Qiushan. You sending the children down is the only chance you’ll get. If you’re set on your decision, Ayu won’t say more. The cold of Qiushan is piercing; it’s a place for imprisonment, not enjoyment. If your two children don’t survive and die here, will you feel sorrow? Are you so adamant that you disregard their lives? I know Grandmother would be devastated. She’s already elderly and has few days left to bask in familial joy—Ayu truly hopes Elder Sister will give more consideration to our family."

Strangely enough, women of noble clans have always been educated to prioritize their family’s benefit. Be it Lin Yushu or Fang Lingjun, women from such households are nurtured with the values of placing familial welfare above all, even after marriage. This mindset is ingrained in them from childhood. The source of this content ɪs novel⚑fire.net

The Feng Family was no exception in raising its women this way. However, Fengyu, due to her frail health, was indulged by Grandmother. Perhaps it was because Grandmother thought she wouldn’t live past eighteen, and thus Fengyu never received such rigorous education. She only accompanied Feng Shu to school a few times and listened in on lessons about women’s virtues—roughly absorbing the essence.

Feng Wan, however, was entirely devoted to Yuwen Yu.

As long as they didn’t divorce, even if Xie Xun wanted to kill Yuwen Yu, he’d still have to consider the bond between herself and Feng Wan as sisters.