Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play-Chapter 34 Eastern Palace

Old Madam said, "You envy Shu'er for securing a good marriage. Have you thought about it? The Su Family has only one daughter, and the sisters Shu'er and Yu'er bear the burden of their own brilliance. Have you considered the dangers they have faced? In these years, how many times have you seen Shu'er at home? She is always out and about—do you know what she's busy with? Have you ever thought about whether she has been plotted against or even hunted? You only see the glamor of the Marquis Mansion but fail to see the bloody struggles behind it. Are you willing to let Wanwan and Ling'er live such lives of fear and unease?"

Lady Feng seemed to wake from a dream, bewildered and uncertain. Instinctively, she shook her head. The Old Madam knew she'd listened, nodded, and beckoned for Feng Wan to come closer. "Wan'er, everyone has their destiny in marriage. Trust that your grandmother won't wish you harm."

Feng Wan's eyes were red. "I understand, grandmother."

"Today, this is a closed-door family discussion. Not a single word of it can leak out, lest it brings trouble—that's clear to everyone, isn't it?"

The three sisters stood up and bowed. "Yes!"

After her burst of anger, the Old Madam felt exhausted. Feng Changlin led the dazed Lady Feng away, leaving only the three sisters behind. The Old Madam conversed with them for a quarter-hour before they departed Songhe Garden.

Feng Ling glared at Feng Yu fiercely and spoke with venom. "Grandmother had already told you about this matter long ago, so you knew everything but chose not to tell me or elder sister."

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"Fourth Sister, things that one wishes to understand are easily comprehended. And those one refuses to grasp will remain elusive no matter how much is taught." Feng Yu replied calmly, "We've been living in the Capital for three years now. Even if we've had little experience with society, some things should have become apparent. Elder Sister, the wind is chilly and cold tonight. You should rest early. I will take my leave."

Feng Yu walked toward Plum Garden with Qiuxiang, her maid. Behind her, Feng Ling stomped her foot in frustration. "She's doing it on purpose! Fang Lingjun must have spoken to her about this earlier, but she chose not to tell us, causing Grandmother to reprimand Mother and implicating Elder Sister."

"Ling'er, why do you always blame Yu'er?" Feng Wan, although saddened, responded with resignation. "You should remember Grandmother's words at all times."

She walked away softly, but Feng Ling caught up with her, pleading coquettishly for forgiveness. Two maids holding lanterns led the way up ahead, yet Feng Wan seemed utterly uninterested in responding.

Qiuxiang and the maids serving Feng Wan and Feng Ling were sent away by Mrs. Rong, standing far enough that they couldn't overhear the discussions. They could faintly hear the Old Madam reprimanding someone, but Qiuxiang was never curious about matters she should avoid. She simply focused on escorting Feng Yu back to Plum Garden.

Feng Yu suddenly asked, "Qiuxiang, among a brood born of the same nest, some birds soar and become phoenixes, while others fall into darkness and become crows. Do you suppose this breeds resentment?"

"Miss, what are you saying? I don't quite understand," replied Qiuxiang.

Feng Yu chuckled lightly. "It's just a passing sentiment."

The matters raised earlier by the Old Madam had already been discussed repeatedly with Feng Shu while she was young. Around that time, Feng Shu had intentionally or unintentionally spoken to her about court politics, the connections of the Marquis Mansion, the Su Family, and the Feng Family. Regardless of others' opinions or the extent to which Feng Changlin may try to uphold his honesty, in everyone's eyes, the Feng Family was inextricably tied to the ship of the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion.

Moreover, the Feng Family, with its wealth that could rival nations, had produced a dignified first wife for the marquis from the Jiangnan Su Family—a feat deemed unimaginable. The remaining sisters were destined for lower matches or idle lives of luxury with those holding no real power.

Feng Yu had heard these truths from Feng Shu when she was still young—and after her soul intertwined with Xie Xun's, she understood the Marquis Mansion's crisis more clearly. A danger to the Marquis Mansion was equally a danger to the Feng Family.

Feng Changlin, immersed within these circumstances, understood this well. Neither he nor the Old Madam wished Lady Feng to scramble for connections, fearing that it would invite trouble. Yet, sacrificing Wan'er and Ling'er for the sake of her elder sister's marriage—they knew that her ambitious first aunt would never relent.

Feng Yu returned to Plum Garden with Qiuxiang, where Zhang Da awaited her. As Qiuxiang hung up her cloak, Feng Yu drank the ginger tea Qiuxiang handed her before Zhang Da spoke. "Miss, the Land Officer's household has replenished 80 bushels of grain but failed to hand over this year's silver. I investigated his accounts—the money isn't deposited in any banks across the Capital City. It's unlikely to be stashed at home either. His household has three servants, but Nuanyang detained one of them for questioning. Based on their daily expenses, the Land Officer frequents brothels but has generally modest spending habits. Their clothing, food, and shelter align with an ordinarily prosperous household. By reasonable assumptions, the harvest from his land should cover expenses. The whereabouts of the rest of the silver remain a mystery. Since he pleaded desperately, it's likely his hands truly lack funds."

Feng Yu put down her teacup. "Where did the silver go? Over the years, the family should have accumulated considerable savings."

Due to geographic conditions, the manor in Yiling Village lacked much paddy field but had an extensive area of dry fields for crops like corn, wheat, sorghum, and cotton. Solely relying on its paddy fields might not guarantee the family's livelihood, but the plenitude of other grains allowed them to sell not only rice but also corn and sorghum at trade houses, indicating that food reserves were ample.

Zhang Da hesitated, so Feng Yu asked, "What's wrong?"

"The Land Officer claimed that Lady Feng demanded annual tribute from him. All extra silver was handed to her." Lowering his gaze, Zhang Da truthfully admitted these matters, fearing to hide anything from Feng Yu.

Feng Yu paused, startled. The Land Officer was only a distant cousin of Lady Feng, and the relationship between the two families wasn't close. His visits to the Feng Mansion were infrequent. Feng Yu recalled Wan'er's marriage and Lady Feng's lingering discontent. She sighed, "Never mind; forget it then. How much grain has been collected?"

"Around a thousand bushels."

"There's still surplus grain in the granary. When it reaches five thousand, notify Nuanyang, and deliver them to the Marquis Mansion whenever requested."

"Understood!"

Feng Yu smiled faintly and said, "You're injured; go to the storeroom and take thirty taels. Rest properly at home for the next few days and return in three."

"Thank you, Miss."

Marquis Zhenbei Mansion.

Once Nuanyang returned, she reported the circumstances at the manor to Xie Xun. Nuanyang said, "The Land Officer's family owns six acres of paddy fields and over ten acres of cotton and wheat. These years, their strategy of buying cheap and selling high brought them a thousand taels annually. On the surface, their family appears akin to a moderately wealthy household of about a hundred taels. However, the whereabouts of their silver remain puzzling. He claimed the silver went to Lady Feng, but I find it hard to believe. Lady Feng is renowned for her incorruptibility, and Mrs. Feng receiving some tribute is reasonable. But embezzling such large sums seems improbable. While investigating the Land Officer's family members, I unearthed complications tied to the Eastern Palace. Master, shall I continue?"

"Speak." Xie Xun had just finished practicing his swordsmanship and casually tossed his wrist guard aside, his gaze indifferent.

"The Land Officer's eldest son is an Eastern Palace Attendant, yet it's strange. The son had neither scholarly nor martial prowess growing up—a village bully who somehow transformed into an Eastern Palace Attendant. It's highly unusual," Nuanyang explained and then fell silent.

"The Eastern Palace..." Xie Xun turned to glance in its direction. From the Marquis Mansion, the view from the observatory revealed the towering grandeur of the palace. He hadn't expected this matter to intersect with the Eastern Palace.

The Eastern Palace's Crown Prince, Yuwen Jing, was universally hailed for his virtue—gentle, compassionate, and beloved by the people. Unlike the previous emperor, notorious for his tyranny and draconian governance that incited widespread dissent, the Marquis Zhenbei's rebellion earned him hero status among the people of Yanyang. Under Emperor Jianming's rule, supported by civilian and military officials, there were no glaring flaws. Meanwhile, the Crown Prince's sagacious reputation continued to bloom, winning over widespread favor. Yet amidst years of warfare in Ningzhou, from court to commoners, austerity reigned. Emperor Jianming led by example in reducing palace expenses, with the Eastern Palace following suit. However, as the Crown Prince began managing state affairs, forming alliances with ministers, and courting public support, silver remained indispensable—a resource notably scarce in the national treasury. If the Eastern Palace aimed to amass wealth, their options were severely restricted.

"Would you like me to investigate, Master?" Fly Shadow, lounging on the roof with his sword, wasn't fazed by the prospect of probing the Eastern Palace. He would even dare storm the Imperial Palace if ordered.

"Investigate!" Xie Xun said with a half-smile. "When someone owes us a debt, they must be given an answer."

"Understood!"