Chapter 607: Chapter 607

Zhou Xuejia also witnessed Feng Wan moving houses that day. As a prominent young lady of the Capital City in her time, Zhou Xuejia had extensive social connections. Although she was later despised for becoming Li Si’s mistress and severed many of her ties, some people were still willing to associate with her, making her well-informed. Despite not being close to Feng Wan, she knew who Feng Wan was.

The Feng Family’s daughters all rose in stature because of Fengyu, even Feng Wan, who separated from her husband. On the first day Feng Wan returned home with her child, she announced her separation from Yuwen Yu, established her own household, and changed the child’s family name to Feng. From that moment on, she severed ties with Yuwen Yu. Even Feng Wan, as the former Princess Duan, avoided being placed under house arrest at Qiushan despite Yuwen Yu’s imprisonment. This alone demonstrated Fengyu’s immense influence—Qiushan was guarded entirely by the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry, who answered solely to Xie Xun.

Within the Yuwen Family, the female members were mostly born into noble clans, especially in Yuwen Jing’s backyard. Back then, to balance court politics, he married nearly half the noble daughters from various clans—women who held relatively high status and positions within their clans. After Yuwen Jing’s downfall, the wives and elder women of those clans naturally sought Xie Xun, requesting entry to Qiushan to meet their daughters, only to be refused by Xie Xun.

This matter ought not to have been Xie Xun’s concern. If he had an Empress, or if there were an Empress Dowager in the palace, such issues should have been handled by the women’s quarters. However, Fengyu had yet to enter the palace, and Xie Xun, fiercely protective as ever, naturally shielded Fengyu from harassment.

Lately, many people had been inviting Su Yuejiao, attempting to curry favor with her due to her connection with Fengyu.

Now that Feng Wan was released, the noblewomen of the clans had begun to stir in thought. It turned out that Qiushan was not as impenetrable as it seemed. With Xie Xun leading the imperial campaign, the authority at Qiushan rested with Fengyu.

The iron-faced Ningzhou Iron Cavalry had granted no concessions to anyone. Even Grandmaster Zhang had been unable to enter Qiushan to see his granddaughter, yet Fengyu could walk freely there and even release Feng Wan back home.

With Fengyu absent, the civil and military officials discussed this matter extensively. While Xie Xun took a majority of the military generals away, the civil bureaucracy, although reorganized, still largely consisted of noble clan members.

Societal disputes often stem not from scarcity but from inequality. Since Feng Wan was able to return home post-divorce, why couldn’t their daughters who were also married off to unfavorable matches do the same? With Xie Xun away and no one from the Xie family’s extended clan present, the officials naturally couldn’t directly approach Fengyu, so they resorted to asking Lin Helin for intervention.

Lin Helin hadn’t anticipated Fengyu would bring Feng Wan and her children down from the mountain. Given the circumstances, families with daughters imprisoned at Qiushan naturally wanted their daughters back as well. However, this matter wasn’t Lin Helin’s responsibility. Annoyed by persistent pestering, he delegated it to Fengyu, suggesting the officials’ female relatives seek Fengyu’s assistance. Should Fengyu agree, the matter would be beyond Lin Helin’s concern; at any rate, he couldn’t set foot on Qiushan himself.

From this incident, the officials came to understand just how elevated a position the newly enthroned Empress held, cherished by the Emperor. Not only could she command the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry stationed at Qiushan, but also the palace Forbidden Army, Imperial Army, and Jinyi Guard—any position held by someone close to Xie Xun was subject to Fengyu’s orders. Before departing the Capital City, Xie Xun must have issued secret instructions.

The disposition of the Dowager, Queens, and concubines within the palace from the prior dynasty had been handled with exceptional leniency by Xie Xun. Those concubines who hadn’t borne children were almost all sent away from the palace.

Those left at Qiushan were mothers, secluded along with their children.

Li Family’s Noble Consort was among those confined.

She was Li Si’s elder sister and Elder Li’s most cherished granddaughter. Since Noble Consort Li and the Second Prince were imprisoned at Qiushan, Elder Li had repeatedly implored Xie Xun to release the consort back home. But unless Xie Xun lost his senses, there was no chance he would let the consort and Yuwen Jing’s progeny return home. Enraged, Elder Li accused Xie Xun of favoritism, claiming that even the Empress Lin Yushu and the Crown Prince had been freed, yet he refused to release the consort and Second Young Master.

After Yuwen Jing’s death, Lin Yushu and the Crown Prince were officially declared deceased. Therefore, Lin Yushu and the Crown Prince resided in isolation and occasionally visited Lin Yushu’s ancestral home to dwell.

Xie Xun trusted Lin Yushu and the Lin Family to properly raise Abao, but he did not extend that trust to the Li Family.

Thus, this matter remained unresolved. During the course of pushing forward new policies, Xie Xun showed some leniency by suggesting that if the Li Family cooperated with the Lin Family in implementing the reforms, he might reconsider the situation involving the consort and the Second Prince. However, negotiations clearly broke down between Xie Xun and the Li Family, leaving the matter at an impasse.

Zhou Xuejia attended the Marchioness’s birthday celebration primarily because of her family’s elder matron and senior lady. They hoped Zhou Xuejia could use her connection with the Marchioness to get closer to Fengyu and plead for the consort’s matter through Fengyu.

Thus, Zhou Xuejia arranged for someone to discreetly approach Fengyu, hoping to purchase her residence. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on novelꞁire.net

Fengyu was unaware of Zhou Xuejia’s underlying intentions, so she was quite surprised when she saw Zhou Xuejia in Feng Wan’s courtyard.

Zhou Xuejia also had a son and a daughter, similar in age to Feng Wan’s children. The two households, living nearby, had their children meet and bond while playing outside the compound gates. Feng Wan and Zhou Xuejia exchanged a few greetings.

Zhou Xuejia, ever enthusiastic, prepared gifts and food for Feng Wan’s household. Since the children got along well, Feng Wan found herself in a dilemma—she wasn’t inclined to associate with Zhou Xuejia, knowing the latter had become Li Si’s mistress. Feng Wan held low regard for women who debased themselves in such ways and typically avoided them. Zhou Xuejia, likely aware of her concerns, tearfully recounted her plight, describing how she had been forced out of the Marquis Mansion, left with nowhere to go, and driven to desperation, ultimately becoming Li Si’s mistress against her will. Her words painted a fragile and helpless image of herself.

Having since come to terms with her situation, Zhou Xuejia professed her intention to leave the Li Family and establish her own household, vowing to sever ties and never interact with them again. Feng Wan had no desire for a closer relationship with Zhou Xuejia but was unable to refuse her children’s pleas.

Over time, the two grew acquainted. After all, Zhou Xuejia, raised meticulously under the Marchioness, was versed in etiquette, traditions, and the arts such as music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She found common ground with Feng Wan, and their acquaintance evolved into familiarity. Additionally, Zhou Xuejia’s gentle and agreeable demeanor, coupled with her kind disposition, made it harder for Feng Wan to entirely exclude her during leisurely moments.

Both women had a son and a daughter, which provided even more shared topics of interest. Zhou Xuejia often prepared food for the children, ensuring to include extra portions for Feng Wan’s offspring as well. She gradually embodied the image of a tender and loving mother, prompting Feng Wan to loosen her initial reservations.

When Fengyu brought Ruyi to visit Chang Huan, Yuan Ge joined the children playing in the courtyard. With a maidservant’s help, Yuan Ge insisted on joining his siblings, making the atmosphere lively and bustling. Ruyi watched the scene enviously.

Chang Huan, still most fond of Ruyi, dashed forward upon seeing her. His cheeks flushed, he offered Fengyu his respectful salute before eagerly pulling Ruyi along to play. Ruyi, curious about meeting new friends, happily followed Chang Huan in excitement.

Fengyu’s gaze turned frosty upon seeing Zhou Xuejia but remained restrained. She held back from openly displaying her emotions, preferring not to dampen Ruyi’s spirits. Summer Zhu and Dongxue, tasked with attending to Ruyi, followed along.

Feng Wan rose to greet Fengyu. After exchanging courtesies, a touch of awkwardness lingered. While Fengyu hadn’t explicitly expressed disapproval of Zhou Xuejia, Feng Ling had complained about her, recounting the disputes involving Zhou Xuejia, Li Si, and Fang Lingjun. Feng Wan, shrewd and aware, could easily infer Fengyu’s dislike for Zhou Xuejia.

In a soft voice, Feng Wan said, "Ayu, don’t overthink. She has never mentioned anything regarding the Li Family to my elder sister."