Chapter 635: Chapter 635
Fengyu was worried that Marshal Fang would give Xie Xun a hard time. Now that the realm was just beginning to stabilize, she hoped for everything to proceed smoothly. Her birthday was also approaching, and she didn’t want any unexpected disturbances; she only wished to quietly pass her eighteenth birthday. It felt like a threshold, and she couldn’t shake the unease in her heart surrounding it.
After a long talk with Xiaoqi, she personally escorted him back to the Fang Family. The two of them sat inside the carriage, which moved very slowly. Qiuxiang, Chunlu, Zhang Da, and the others were walking alongside the carriage, ensuring they wouldn’t disturb them.
Fengyu asked Xiaoqi about his plans for the future. Xiaoqi pursed his lips, his face clouded with gloom. Fengyu’s heart ached profoundly for him. Now, Xiaoqi barely had any blood relatives left in the world—other than Mrs. Fang. Although there were other royal relatives with shared bloodlines, they were no longer close. If Xiaoqi’s identity were to be exposed, it would set off a storm. He was the rightful heir of the Yuwen Family, holding the true Jade Seal in his possession. If Marshal Fang wanted to restore the Yuwen Family, with Xiaoqi and the Jade Seal at the forefront, countless loyalists would rally behind him, and the orthodox forces of the entire realm would rise to action.
Fengyu’s inquiry into Xiaoqi’s plans was not motivated by any ambition for the Jade Seal. Come what may—be it a military advance or politically turbulent waters—if Xiaoqi wished to claim the throne, he certainly had his reasons. Even though her allegiance stood firmly with Xie Xun, she wouldn’t go out of her way to urge Xiaoqi to relinquish his claim to the throne. She simply wanted to understand what direction he planned to take going forward.
Looking into Fengyu’s worried eyes, Xiaoqi felt a deep bitterness in his heart. He strongly desired to ask a question: If he were to genuinely vie against Xie Xun, who would his sister support? Yet as the thought crossed his mind, he dismissed it—what an insult to himself it would be. He had never been the most important person in his sister’s heart. If they had grown up together without separation, perhaps there could have been a glimmer of hope. But as things stood now, Xie Xun was unquestionably the one closest to his sister’s heart.
No matter how much his sister cared for him, it was a bond of sibling affection—one that paled beside the depth of the years of shared trials and tribulations she had with Xie Xun.
"After leaving West State, my brother sent me to my uncle’s military camp. My brother and uncle didn’t want me to end up wandering without a home, and my aunt didn’t want me to continue leaving the Capital City. So, I should be taking on a new name soon, entering the Fang Family’s genealogy, and being recognized as my aunt’s son. Publicly, it will be declared that I’m my uncle’s son born in Jiangnan and now registered under my aunt’s name."
In the future, he would bear the Fang surname and be completely severed from the Yuwen Family.
Fengyu was quite surprised; she hadn’t expected Marshal Fang to arrange things this way. That night after dinner, she had discussed with Xie Xun and Xie Jue about what might happen if Marshal Fang brought Xiaoqi back to the Capital City and decided to support Xiaoqi for the throne. With Xiaoqi’s legitimate claim and possession of the Jade Seal, the old ministers in court would surely back him. It would lead to another round of bloodshed and chaos. They had braced themselves for the worst possible scenario, yet they hadn’t anticipated that Xiaoqi would choose to abandon the Yuwen Family and enter the Fang Family’s genealogy.
"Xiaoqi, are you willing to do this?" Fengyu asked softly. Xiaoqi’s heart carried hatred and resentment, which was why he had wandered aimlessly for over ten years. Latest content publıshed on NoveI~Fire.net
Xiaoqi lowered his brows slightly, his hands resting on his knees and gently clenched. Fengyu couldn’t see his expression, but she could feel his heavy mood.
"Nobody would willingly give up their family name, but..." Xiaoqi raised his gaze to Fengyu, his eyes slightly reddened. "I know the Yuwen Family has already declined; its imperial aura has dwindled to mere ashes. If my identity is exposed, it would bring nothing but disaster to the common people. The current emperor holds military authority and financial power. The younger officials in the court all support him, and the new policies have already reached Jiangnan. Although they’ve caused disruptions, the people are jubilant and happy—overjoyed even. Along the way, we’ve seen the new scenery brought forth by these changes. No one in the Yuwen Family, no matter who ascends the throne, could ever achieve such prosperity. I don’t want my existence to plunge Beining into turmoil once more. Besides... I was too young when I left the palace. There’s so much I don’t remember—I can’t recall my father’s face, nor can I conjure my mother’s smiling expression. I’ve wandered for so long that I feel no attachment or affection for the Yuwen Family. This surname... it’s unnecessary to me. It’s more of a burden than an honor."
If he were an ordinary young man, unburdened by the Yuwen Family’s legacy, perhaps he wouldn’t have endured so much hardship or carried such sorrowful reluctance.
Fengyu exhaled a sigh of relief, saying, "If you’re willing, then I’ll support you. Being Marshal Fang’s son isn’t such a bad thing. In the future, you’ll have a brother, a sister, and even parents. I’m sure Mrs. Fang will be very fond of you."
"Mmm, my aunt treats me as if I were her own. Although my uncle is strict, he’s never neglected me. Being their son isn’t that bad, anyway... Other than my aunt, the Yuwen Family has no remaining close blood relatives for me." Xiaoqi smiled as he spoke, though there was bitterness in that smile. He was slowly accepting the reality—even if he had once been born of imperial bloodline, he was now just an ordinary commoner.
He was of the Yuwen Family’s direct lineage but could still be the adopted son of a high-ranking military officer. He would no longer have to wander. The current Empress was his sister; his future of wealth and stability was already within sight. He would never go hungry or suffer destitution. Compared to those still imprisoned in Qiushan from the Yuwen Family, he was already content.
Fengyu chuckled softly, asking, "Have you decided on a name?"
Xiaoqi nodded. "Fang Chunan, and I’ll keep Xiaoqi as my courtesy name."
"Fang Chunan... It’s not bad." The Fang Family’s generation used the character "Chun" this time. This marked Xiaoqi’s complete severance from the Yuwen Family. Xiaoqi spoke sorrowfully, "It’s just that my aunt will surely be ridiculed."
Feeling irritated, Xiaoqi replied harshly, "When my aunt married my uncle, she endured endless gossip. Everyone waited to watch her make a fool of herself. Even though my brother achieved greatness on his own and rose to become a commanding general, people still mocked her for forcing her marriage. My uncle rarely returned to the Capital City, further fueling rumors about their marital discord. Now my uncle is bringing back a child of this age. I can only imagine how people will ridicule her again."
For a moment, Fengyu hadn’t considered Mrs. Fang’s predicament. She had never paid much attention to the gossip circulating in the Capital City. Most of what she knew were bits of hearsay from Fang Lingjun, and this sort of matter was something Fang Lingjun wouldn’t share with her. Mrs. Fang’s high status ensured that no one dared openly spread rumors about her, but behind her back, she had likely endured endless ridicule.
Fengyu had never heard of this before. Thinking back over the years, it made sense—Mrs. Fang had surely suffered greatly as the sole representative of her family standing in the Capital City. It was no wonder Xiaoqi still harbored bitter feelings toward Marshal Fang regarding this.
"Matters of the elders are not things for us juniors to intervene in. After all, they are husband and wife. Xiaoqi, you’ve found a place to belong; that makes me happy for you." Fengyu smiled lightly as she spoke, "In the future, if you want or need anything, just tell me. Whatever it is, I’ll bring it to you."