Chapter 609: Chapter 609

Fengyu could not empathize with Zhou Xuejia’s tragic fate. In her view, Zhou Xuejia’s life had already been quite good compared to the women of West State forced into banditry, whose circumstances were far more miserable and dire. When the Marchioness expelled Zhou Xuejia, she ensured she had enough silver coin and shops to live without worry for the rest of her life. After raising her for ten years, the Marchioness couldn’t bear to let her adopted daughter suffer a life of homelessness. Zhou Xuejia’s downfall was her own doing—no one else could be blamed.

Zhou Xuejia admitted her mistakes frankly and expressed a desire to turn over a new leaf, much to Fengyu’s surprise, as she had anticipated Zhou Xuejia would continually attempt to justify her actions.

Fengyu lost interest in conversing further with her and silently drank her tea. Zhou Xuejia, being adaptable in any circumstance, lavished Fengyu with compliments. However, Fengyu, far from being a sheltered eighteen-year-old girl, showed no reaction to these flatteries—this had already become a norm.

Feng Wan noticed the children had finished playing and issued a polite dismissal. Zhou Xuejia, perceptive as ever, affectionately took Feng Wan’s hand and said, "Sister, I’ll come find you again next time."

The children had been happily playing together and were reluctant to leave. Zhou Xuejia instructed her attendants to gather them and, coaxing gently, led them away cheerfully. Chang Huan particularly enjoyed playing with Ruyi and paid no mind to Zhou Xuejia’s children when Ruyi was present. Ruyi, lively, clever, and energetic, often came up with entertaining ideas; among children of his age, he was unquestionably a "little tyrant." Xia Zhu and Dongxue had to focus meticulously on watching over him; otherwise, he was bound to stir up trouble.

After Zhou Xuejia’s departure, Feng Wan said, "Ayu, I know you don’t like Zhou Xuejia. I haven’t had much of a bond with her either, but after establishing our own household, it’s necessary to maintain good relations with the neighbors to avoid unnecessary trouble. Our children, being of similar ages, have much to talk about, which is why she’s been visiting more frequently recently."

"It’s fine, Sister; I’m truly not upset. Whom you choose to associate with is your freedom," Fengyu said honestly. She was truly indifferent and could understand Feng Wan’s position. Having Ruyi herself, she often consulted Feng Wan about childcare concerns. Just two days earlier, she had gone out with Xue Lan and met Xue Lan’s cousin, who also had a four-year-old son. Fengyu enjoyed discussing child-rearing matters with her—what children should eat, how to keep them healthy, and so forth.

Feng Wan reassured her, saying, "In the future, I will interact with Zhou Xuejia less. Should she wish to send any messages, I will refuse. Don’t worry."

"Sister, the friends who come to your aid during moments of adversity are the ones worth keeping for a lifetime. Those who add to your triumphs in favorable times may still be worthwhile, but as for Zhou Xuejia, her character is lacking. I worry that prolonged association might damage your reputation. Birds of a feather flock together, and people are judged by their company. I recall when Junjun, Xue Lan, and I were in the capital earlier this year. In the eyes of others, we were seen as irredeemable and undesirably associated with, our reputations tarnished. Were it not for Xie Xun ascending the throne, the haughty noblewomen would not have begrudgingly lowered themselves to flatter me. That’s why I refuse to form friendships with them—I fulfill my responsibilities as Empress only to maintain balance among households. I’ve also heard rumors about Zhou Xuejia from various ladies. Social circles among the noblewomen of the capital follow unwritten rules, and these rules set extremely high bars. For the sake of Chang Huan and Yuan Ge’s reputations, it’s best to avoid association with Zhou Xuejia. A woman’s reputation can be destroyed in an instant, yet reclaiming it is never a quick or easy task."

"I understand. Ayu, rest assured, Sister has thought it through," Feng Wan replied. She had her own considerations and knew Zhou Xuejia likely had hidden motives. But as a traditional noblewoman, Feng Wan found it difficult to outright reject her. Moreover, Zhou Xuejia was impeccable in manner and speech, often striking a chord with Feng Wan. Both had recently left their homes with their children, which naturally fostered a slight sense of camaraderie.

Fengyu’s words were like a wake-up call. Whether Zhou Xuejia’s claimed transformation was genuine or not did not concern Feng Wan. What mattered was avoiding any risk of tarnishing her reputation, or worse, harming the reputations of Chang Huan and Yuan Ge—an outcome Feng Wan would never accept.

After establishing her own household, Feng Wan understood the need to act more assertively in social matters. She couldn’t remain bound to the demeanor of an aristocratic lady. Unfortunately, situations similar to this would likely occur more frequently in the future. Many noblewomen and daughters, failing to gain an audience with Fengyu, would inevitably turn to Feng Wan, Feng Ling, and others for assistance.

Fengyu subtly implied to Feng Wan that there was no need for the Feng Family to fear anyone anymore. With Fengyu supporting them from the shadows, no one would dare challenge them.

Even Feng Ling’s marriage discussions had progressed more smoothly recently. The main topic of discussion was Ms. Cai’s family—the marriage proposed involved the direct second son of Ms. Cai’s lineage. Among that family’s three eldest sons, two were already betrothed, leaving only the second son unmarried. This second young master, though fond of arts and literature, showed no interest in pursuing official examinations.

The matriarch admired their family background but found the young man’s lax demeanor unappealing.

Another candidate was the Marquis An Yuan’s second son, infamous for his debauched lifestyle. However, since Su Yuejiao and the Duchess Marquis An Yuan shared a close friendship, the matriarch disfavored such a reckless character and was disinclined to have Feng Ling marry into the Marquis An Yuan Mansion. Comparatively, she leaned more towards Ms. Cai’s proposal.

Perfect matches in marriage were rare to come by. With Feng Ling showing no interest in anyone particular, she could only defer to the wishes of her parents. The matriarch, known for her lifelong pride and competitive spirit, aspired to arrange excellent marriages for her children.

When Feng Wan was married years ago, the matriarch was immensely proud. Now that it was Feng Ling’s turn, her lofty ambitions had not waned. She understood the importance of marriage arrangements and had even attempted to reconcile with Su Yuejiao after the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Adopting harmony within the household was key to advancing step by step, and as part of a family closely tied to the throne, everyone had to respect Fengyu.

The matriarch’s most inappropriate action recently occurred at the elderly lady’s chambers, where she asked about Ruyi’s birth mother. The matter had long been agreed upon by Xie Xun, Xie Jue, and Fengyu—the official narrative was that Ruyi’s mother had passed away, leaving Xie Jue’s quarters empty.

When the topic of Ruyi arose, the conversation inevitably turned to Second Young Master Xie, sparking the matriarch’s intrigue. She excitedly asked Fengyu, "Ayu, what do you think about pairing the Second Young Master with Aling?"

Fengyu’s mind instantly recalled the day at Shaling River when she witnessed Fang Chuning and Xie Jue together, their presence radiating an almost divine harmony. To be frank, if someone as brilliant and extraordinary as her second brother remained unmarried, Fengyu herself would feel inclined to inquire about a match should she have a daughter.

Who wouldn’t want such a son-in-law!!

Moreover, he was the only brother of the newly enthroned Emperor. Beyond his exceptional talents, appearance, and character, he was destined to become the sole prince of the new dynasty, holding a position of unrivaled eminence.

"It’s unsuitable," Fengyu replied. "Aunt, you’d best abandon this idea."

"Why?" The matriarch hadn’t noticed the subtle shift in Fengyu’s expression. "Aling has matured considerably over the years. Her skills in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and etiquette are outstanding. Though marrying the Second Young Master may be considered reaching above her station, this would be an excellent union that strengthens familial bonds."

Fengyu pressed her lips together, never expecting to one day be in the position to refuse a proposal on her second brother’s behalf. His relationship with Fang Chuning, though astonishing to the people of Beining, was something neither Fengyu nor Xie Xun intended to reveal.

"Second Brother prefers... heroic female generals," Fengyu replied calmly. "Someone like Aling—a refined, aristocratic lady—doesn’t captivate his interest. Each to their own liking, he seeks a partner who can stand by his side at the battlefield and ride through the sands of war." Newest update provıded by NoveI★Fire.net