Feng Yun curled her lips, looking back at him with a half-smile.
"Why not go back and ask Qi Jun this question? He might know better than I do."
Feng Jingtengās lips moved slightly.
After a moment of hesitation, he said, "This time I came to Huaxi also at Qi Junās behest."
Feng Yun said nothing, watching him, waiting for what followed.
Feng Jingteng sighed, "Since your uncleās incident, the Feng Family has little influence in the Imperial Court and itās been difficult to gain the Emperorās favor. Ayun, you are the only hope for the Feng Family."
Feng Yun raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"
Seeing her indifferent expression, Feng Jingteng sighed deeply and continued, "The Emperor treats you differently. Only for you will he open special favors. To put it bluntly, the position of the queen in the Qi Palace has been vacant for many years, clearly reserved for you..."
Feng Yunās lips curled slightly, "Did Xiao San send you to say these bitter words?"
Feng Jingtengās brow furrowed slightly. He looked around to see the servants were far away and there were only two uncomprehending children beside him. He immediately leaned down, moved closer, and said to Feng Yun,
"The Emperor still has an unwavering affection for you. Upon hearing that you gave birth to a child, he specifically summoned me, deeply lamenting the wasted time and opportunities between you two. In the end, he even prepared generous gifts and asked me to bring them over to see you... Do you know how long itās been since I last had an audience with the Emperor before this incident? Only you can touch the Emperorās heart."
Feng Yun only smiled silently, her eyes cold as she gazed at him.
Waiting for him to state his purpose.
Feng Jingteng observed her.
Seeing her expression calm and with a slight smile on her lips, his demeanor relaxed a bit.
He waved his hand, signaling Feng Liang and Feng Zhen to leave.
The two children looked at Feng Yun.
Feng Zhen bowed, while Feng Liang turned away expressionlessly.
Feng Jingteng watched them leave the room before lowering his gaze mysteriously and said, "Shiāer Niang, youāre the only one who can revive the Feng Family now..."
He paused for a moment, his voice lowering further, "In my view, the Emperor is ambitious, not a mere ordinary man. Someday, he will fulfill his aspirations and sweep across the land... Shiāer Niang, as long as you are willing to follow the Emperorās desires... why worry about the Feng Family not prospering or flourishing? Shiāer Niang, lend a hand and save the Feng Family, so we can glorify our name together, shall we?"
These words sounded very familiar.
Though a bit late, they finally came.
Feng Yun didnāt know why they thought that a bit of affection from girlhood could endure such long years and storms, believing she would still be devoted to Xiao Cheng after all these years?
Feng Jingtengās thinking was truly foolish.
Xiao Cheng used a borrowed knife to get rid of Feng Jingyao. Isnāt it because he couldnāt tolerate a flourishing Feng Family gaining prominence in the court of Qi Country?
What makes him think Xiao Cheng can tolerate him?
Simply because heās more foolish?
Feng Yun laughed mockingly, "If I were you, I would honestly guard the ancestral wealth and live well, at least without worrying about food and clothing. How many people in this world work hard all their lives but canāt achieve the life that Minister Feng has now? Stop being so ambitious and unrealistic. Youāre not that kind of person; you canāt manipulate power, nor are you Xiao Chengās opponent. For the sake of your young children and the Feng lineage, keep a low profile from now on..."
Feng Jingteng raised his eyes, gazing steadily at the familiar young face before him, with eyebrows and corners of her eyes full of mockery and schadenfreude, and suddenly felt a bit dazed.
Young Shiāer Niang wasnāt like this.
She loved her father dearly.
When studying at home and being praised by a tutor, she would excitedly run to the study to find him, explaining every word with a little face full of longing.
She loved her father, needed him...
At that time, whenever he showed a smile of praise, the child would be as happy as a bird, jumping and chirping around her...
"Why would it become like this?"
Feng Jingteng muttered, "Shiāer Niang, when did you change?"
The day Andu City fell.
A voice inside him said so.
That day, Shiāer Niang took twenty Mei Ji out of the city to surrender to the Northern Yong Army and said many heartless words to him.
But he never took them seriously before...
The ruler is the ruler, the father is the father, and the son is the son.
Moreover, she was a daughter?
Is there a daughter in the world who hates her father?
Feng Family never had such an unfilial daughter.
"Hmph! After hearing so many lies, when you hear the truth, it sounds harsh, right?" Feng Yun glanced at him and smiled faintly, "Minister Feng, take care of yourself."
Feng Jingteng didnāt know that what he considered unfilial was one of the few kindnesses Feng Yun had left for him, her biological father.
With the current abilities of the Feng Family members, thereās no hope for them to rise again in Xiao Chengās era.
Not acting causes no harm. If unwilling to yield and still wanting to do something, what awaits them is an abyss of endless suffering.
Feng Jingteng said, "Both my daughters married emperors... yet both were rightful wives but never had the chance at the queenās position. What karma have I suffered..."
Feng Yun laughed gently.
"If you canāt let it go, then go back and ask Xiao Cheng to establish an empress. See if that gets you closer to death?"
Feng Jingtengās face changed, "Shiāer Niang, do you really hate your father this much? When Andu City fell back then... Yes, Father was heartless, but never intended to harm your life. Father knew well that with my daughterās beauty, she could always find a way out..."
"Shut up." Feng Yun sneered, "Iām still in postpartum recovery and donāt want to be angered. Donāt you know what kind of person you are? Why did my mother die back then? Before she died, didnāt Feng Jingyao have a word with you? Did you ever fight for her and the family, even a single warning: danger, escape quickly?"
Feng Jingtengās expression changed slightly.
"You... you know?"
"Yes, I know. I know everything, Feng Jingyao told me himself." Feng Yun turned her face away, not wishing to see him even for a moment, "You were heartless to my mother, and the same to me. A father who only thinks of himself, how can he talk about the grace of raising a child to his daughter?"
"Shiāer Niang, Father has his difficulties. If not for your motherās stubbornness to save Xie Xian, it wouldnāt have come to this?" His eyes turned red, teeth gritted, "Ultimately, itās because she had him in her heart, never forgetting him a day after marrying me..."
"Leave." Feng Yun lay on the bed, gazing at the ceiling, "Before I change my mind, while thereās still some grace of raising left, leave as quickly as you can. I fear if youāre too slow, youāll follow in Feng Jingyaoās footsteps."
Though she spoke softly without strength, Feng Jingteng felt a chill down his spine.
He looked at the woman before him, and amidst his daze, he seemed to find a sort of majestic aura of dragons and tigers on her face that inspired fear.
"Shiāer Niang, take care."
Feng Jingteng held one hand on each of the two children, and this time he walked away faster than ever before.
At the moment he crossed the threshold, Feng Yunās voice came from behind.
"From now on, donāt come again. I no longer recognize you as my father, nor should you imagine extracting any benefit from me."
Feng Jingtengās spine stiffened for a moment; he turned to look at her.
Tears filled his face.
Showing utmost aging, helplessness, pity.
Feng Yun closed her eyes.