Feng Jingtengâs mind reverberated with a pounding noise.
A battle between the feelings of man and heaven.
In his life, he had seen countless beauties, yet he still couldnât help but be captivated by the pear-blossoms-in-the-rain demeanor of the twin sisters, causing his heartstrings to play a dissonant melody.
"This... this..."
He was somewhat at a loss.
He knew it was inappropriate, yet he had no strength to object.
Feng Yun went with the flow, "Letâs settle it like this then, to prevent any longer complications. As the daughter, I will take charge and arrange a joint wedding banquet for father and both his concubines."
This âlonger complicationsâ was obviously referring to the Chen Family.
Jin Shuang and Pin Shuang were greatly shaken to their core, their facial expressions changing.
Feng Jingteng managed an awkward smile, his cheeks faintly heating up.
-
In the courtyard, Jiu You stood with his back towards the direction of the flower hall, his eyes red as a rabbitâs.
Zuo Zhong silently approached him, "You saw everything. Do you feel... itâs a pity? Do you want the Princess to bestow her to you?"
Jiu You shook his head, "I only hate myself... for being blind."
He did not turn back to look at Zuo Zhong and fled in a panic.
Zuo Zhong sighed.
-
Organizing a wedding feast for her father, indeed was an absurd matter, but Feng Yun handled it very formally, having Wen Hui prepare several banquet tables at Yutangchun and having Ying Rong prepare a festive outfit for Feng Jingteng and both Jin Shuang and Pin Shuang. After everything was arranged, she then sent someone to invite Wen Xingsu and Puyang Yi, along with the entire Feng Family to attend the banquet.
Lady Chen found it odd when she received the news.
What kind of wedding feast would Feng Yun invite her to?
"I wonât go." She pondered for a moment and firmly refused.
"Unless Shiâer Niang herself comes before me to kneel and knock her head in apology, I will not show her a good face in this lifetime. She carries the reputation of being an unfilial daughter."
The person who came to relay the message was Ge Guang.
Upon hearing this, his cheek muscles twitched.
"Our Princess said, others may not attend, but Lady must go."
Lady Chen glared at him sidelong.
"What, if I donât go they wonât hold the event, is that it?"
Ge Guang said: "If Lady does not go, you wonât be able to partake in the âmother teaâ."
Mother tea?
Lady Chen mused for a moment, still somewhat confused.
"You servant, what nonsense are you speaking?"
Ge Guang decided to clarify a bit more.
"The lord has found a good match in Andu, and has decided, having developed deep feelings with two beautiful ladies, to bring them back to the house as concubines to serve Lady..."
"What?!" Lady Chen gasped for air.
On the carriage to Andu, Lady Chen had a good cry in front of Feng Ying, lamenting over trusting the untrustworthy, crying over Feng Jingtengâs worthlessness, weeping over Feng Yunâs excessive bullying.
"I will not let them succeed. Not unless I die!"
Lady Chenâs potential commotion at Yutangchun was anticipated by Feng Yun.
At the entrance of Yutangchun, Meilingâs strongly-built troops, as many as twenty or thirty, lined up in a row. Upon seeing Lady Chen and Feng Ying approaching, they shouted in unison.
"Please come inside, Lady!"
Lady Chenâs body shivered.
This is hospitality? Itâs clearly intimidation.
But sheâs staking everything, risking her life to make sure Feng Yun doesnât triumph...
"I, the Chen Family, have never been humiliated like this."
Her teeth clenched in anger, while Feng Jingteng was treated like a distinguished guest in Yutangchun, surrounded by beauties, and had long since lost his initial reservations...
Lady Chen burst into tears the moment she entered the room, and after crying she started pulling him to leave.
"Come back with me and I will act as if nothing happened. Otherwise, our marriage is essentially over."
Initially, Feng Jingteng was somewhat guilty, weakly trying to reassure her.
"Itâs just two concubines, not worth your anger. You are the mistress, you should be more tolerant. Look around, which noble family in Tai City does not have concubines?"
"No!" Lady Chen gritted her teeth, "Others are others, you are you!"
Feng Jingteng looked at her unreasonable behavior and his face darkened, "Chen Family, why are you being so irrational? This is Ayun showing filial piety to her father. If I reject her, can we still fulfill our family duties?"
"Well, Feng Jingteng, such shameless words, I canât believe they came from you. A daughter offering concubines to her father, it really is an absurdity unheard of... You might bear this disgrace, but I cannot. Letâs go, you are coming back with me!"
As she said this, she began to make a scene, trying to drag Feng Jingteng away.
In the tussle, Feng Jingtengâs patience was exhausted, and with a fierce sweep of his sleeve, he pushed her away.
"Have you forgotten the two concubines you sent to my elder brother? A sister-in-law sending women to her brother-in-law isnât disgraceful, but a daughter showing filial piety to her father is?"
Lady Chen was stunned.
She looked at Feng Jingtengâs cold face, shock rendering her speechless for a long while.
Feng Jingteng had changed.
With a daughter like Feng Yun supporting him, and a son-in-law like Pei Jue, did he feel his spine stiffening? To say such things to her.
"Wow..." Lady Chenâs face turned ashen, "So, you still hold a grudge about that. When I sent those women to your elder brother, for whom did I do that, if not for you? To help him favor you more, you weakling!"
The word âweaklingâ shredded what was left of Feng Jingtengâs ego.
What he hated most was others calling him a weakling, saying he only achieved a low-ranking official position by hiding under his elder brotherâs shadow...
"Chen Family, thatâs my own elder brother. We share the same mother; with or without you, he would support me. Instead, itâs you, a sister-in-law who runs to my elder brotherâs house. Those who know think youâre trying to preserve harmony between the two branches, those who donât might think you go there to seduce..."
"You!" Lady Chenâs eyes widened, unable to believe what she heard, "Have you gone mad? Feng Jingteng, have you lost your mind?"
In his life, Feng Jingteng has been thwarted and belittled within the Feng Family. Now pushed to his limits in this exchange, his eyes were cold as he glared at Lady Chen.
"Today, if you agree to humble yourself and sip the mistressâs tea, we can still be a loving couple. If not, if you shame me and my daughter, I might... divorce you!"
Lady Chen stepped back, her face deathly pale.
Feng Ying hurriedly stepped forward to support her, only to see her motherâs tears falling like rain.
"Father..." Feng Ying, having watched all this, finally spoke up, "As your daughter, I shouldnât interfere in my parentsâ affairs, but Father... this is really embarrassing. If His Majesty asks, what should I tell him?"
Feng Jingteng saw her, and his anger didnât subside.
"His Majesty most likely doesnât care about a ministerâs household affairs. Donât use His Majesty to scare me. Hurry up and help your mother wipe her face and tidy up her clothes."
With that, he turned and left.
Jin Shuang was standing by the door.
Sent by Feng Yun, she was holding refreshments in her hands.
Seeing her, Feng Jingteng smiled, "Why are you here?"
Jin Shuang lowered her head.
She knew Feng Yun was sitting behind the screen, watching her.
"My lord..." Jin Shuang lowered her gaze, weakly said: "I heard the noise and wanted to apologize to the lady..."
"Do not fear. It is not related to you."
Jin Shuangâs eyes were slightly closed, "I am grateful for the lordâs favor."
Watching the two of them leave side by side, Lady Chen felt a surge of anger and gripped Feng Yingâs hand, her vision darkening as she slowly collapsed.