The Slender Waist-Chapter 422 - 306 Ulterior Motives

Feng Jingteng returned, trembling with fear, and sat alone in the room for a long time, still unsure of how to break the news to the Chen Family when she returned.

The Chen Family led her son, Feng Liang, to the doorway, instructed the wet nurse and the maids, and strode in with sleeves flicked and hips twisted, her demeanor full of pride.

"What did His Majesty summon Alang for?"

Feng Jingteng dared not look at her face, picked up the tea cup, and glanced away.

"His Majesty asked me to take Daman to Xinzhou."

The air in the room tensed for a moment.

The Chen Family smiled delightedly and bent down to pour water for him.

"Isn’t that a stroke of great fortune? Ever since that damned girl arrived, Aying hasn’t smiled once... Hmph, with her fox-like ways, she thinks she can have her way for long, but after a few days, the Emperor will tire of her..."

As she spoke, she noticed Feng Jingteng’s increasingly odd expression and scrutinized him with raised eyebrows.

"What are you pulling that face for? People who don’t know any better might think you’re loath to send her back."

Feng Jingteng was so scrutinized by Lady Chen that his scalp went numb.

"His Majesty’s intention is for us to acknowledge Daman as..."

The Chen Family looked grimly at Feng Jingteng.

Feng Jingteng looked back at her.

Quiet.

The two of them locked eyes in silence for a long while until, with a clatter, the Chen Family’s knees went weak, and she abruptly collided with the low table, brushing her sleeve precisely across Feng Jingteng’s tea cup...

Tea spilled all over the floor.

Feng Jingteng quickly steadied her, "Madam?"

The Chen Family looked at him with a chill in her gaze.

"Do you know something?"

Feng Jingteng hesitated for a moment, his hand on her arm tensing slightly.

After a long while, he nodded wearily.

"Daman said that she is Aling’s daughter."

The Chen Family let out a quiet sneer, her eyes filled with venomous resentment as she looked at him.

"You still have that wretched wench on your mind, don’t you..."

Feng Jingteng forced a smile, his refined and handsome face crowded with awkwardness.

"Not at all. I have no feelings for Aling..."

"So the heartless and unrighteous Daman sprang from the crevices of the rocks, did she?"

Feng Jingteng remained silent, looking at Lady Chen and showing a hint of inescapable melancholy in his expression, as if thinking of something.

"At that time, Shi’er Niang was angry with me... I was young and full of vigor, unwilling to bow my head, and stayed in Tingxue Pavilion drinking to drunkenness... That was how this mistake happened. Afterwards, when mother found out, fearing it would ruin my reputation, she sent the woman away... Many years have passed, and I can’t even recall what she looked like..."

The Chen Family scoffed coldly.

"So, in any case, it’s everyone else’s fault. You drank and reveled, debauching the family’s entertainer, yet you’re the most innocent in all this?"

Feng Jingteng had no defense and kept begging for forgiveness.

The Chen Family was beyond irritated.

However, she didn’t only learn of this today but had already survived the most difficult moments.

After scolding, the problem still had to be resolved.

"So, this wretched Daman intends to rely on the Emperor’s favor to seek a future for herself, is that it?"

Feng Jingteng sighed.

The Chen Family asked, "Then what do you plan to do?"

Under the piercing gaze of the Chen Family, Feng Jingteng uncomfortably lowered his eyelids, cleared his throat, and finally said, "Madam, it’s not about what I should do now, but rather what can only be done; it’s beyond my control..."

"What does she want?" The Chen Family’s eyes were filled with vengeful bitterness, staring fiercely at him.

Feng Jingteng glanced at her and hesitated: 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"She’s saying that Aling is in Madam’s hands. She wants me to legitimize Aling and take her as a concubine..."

"What?" The Chen Family was incredulous, staring at him, "Taking a concubine at this time is a slap to my face, isn’t it? No way! Don’t even think about it."

"Madam, Madam, please, don’t get agitated." Feng Jingteng grabbed her arm, signaling her to sit down, "Daman said she only wants the status, her mother will not enter the Feng Residence."

The Chen Family glowered at him viciously, "What’s the difference?"

Feng Jingteng said, "Only you are the mistress in the residence, no one else. It’s just about giving her a status. Besides, it’s only the position of a concubine..."

The Chen Family looked at him, her voice cold as ice, "What if I refuse?"

Feng Jingteng sat there, silently regarding her for a moment, his expression solemn, his eyes emanating the chill of deep winter.

"Daman is currently favored by the Emperor. In my view, the Emperor intends to first give her the identity of a Feng Family daughter, then elevate her status..."

His eyes swept over the Chen Family, but he said no more.

However, could not the Chen Family read between the lines?

To deny the Emperor’s wishes was not just offending Daman but the Emperor himself.

"Madam..." Feng Jingteng squeezed her hand, "Calm down and consider granting the Emperor this favor. I have already informed my elder brother about this matter, and he also agrees."

"I understand perfectly." The Chen Family looked at him with a forced smile, "Turns out you and your brother have already discussed and settled this? Whether I agree or not, I have to agree, is that it?"

Feng Jingteng sighed, "Why bother with such calculations? These years... Daman hasn’t had it easy either."

From a certain perspective, Daman’s background was actually far cleaner than Feng Ying’s.

Her birth mother was an entertainer in the household; a child born to an entertainer and her male master, however undignified, wasn’t considered immoral, whereas Feng Ying was the result of Feng Jingteng’s illicit affair with the Chen Family, a scandalous liaison that disgraced public morals. Marrying his mistress after the fact only incited further disdain, it was truly shameful.

Yet social status dictates moral standards. Nobody mentioned Feng Ying’s origins; she comfortably secured her position as the legitimate daughter of the Feng Residence, respected by all, while Daman, served as a slave for over a decade.

Feng Jingteng wouldn’t say much, but his tone was tinged with dissatisfaction, as if to suggest she was ungrateful.

Lady Chen had been arrogant and tyrannical even in her paternal home—how could she tolerate this?

She immediately covered her face and went inside the room, weeping sorrowfully.

Feng Ying learned of this matter a little later, her face sullen as she came over, took Lady Chen’s hand, shed tears with her, and offered words of comfort.

Feng Jingteng was most heartbroken over this daughter of his.

Seeing his wife and daughter crying continuously, he could only sigh deeply.

"Mother, don’t be sad," Feng Ying said gently, stroking the sobbing Chen Family, "It’s just one more girl in the residence. With Aling giving father a son, rewarding her status will also make others praise Mother’s magnanimity..."

Lady Chen, listening to her daughter’s words, cried even harder.

"My child, you’re wounding my heart. Haven’t you realized? Why did Shi’er Niang send Daman to Bingzhou? Her intentions are impure; it’s clearly a calculated move to embarrass us..."

As she spoke, she glared fiercely at Feng Jingteng, teeth clenched in anger.

"If you want to give that wretched slave a status, you might as well divorce me first."

"My lady, why must you push me..."

Feng Jingteng closed his eyes, breathing out a deep sigh.

Just then, a cat’s meowing suddenly came from the courtyard.

Feng Ying turned her head and listened for a moment, then signaled Ning Xiu to see what was going on.

Ning Xiu obeyed and went out, returning quickly with a pale face.

"To report to my lady. It’s... It’s Eunuch Ban from Huaman Madam’s side who has come with others. He said Huaman Madam is very fond of the tortoiseshell cat in our courtyard. He wants to catch it and take it back for Huaman Madam to raise..."

Huaman Madam was the people in the palace’s name for Daman.

Originating from Xiao Cheng’s phrase, "a light rain passes through flowers at the ferry,"

and with Daman’s name containing the character "man," the title "Huaman" was bestowed upon her.

The tortoiseshell cat was a small one Feng Ying had picked up after her arrival in Bingzhou, with unique tricolor markings. Initially, Feng Ying had wanted to keep it in the palace, but later, Ping’an told her that the Emperor was fastidious about cleanliness, disliked cats shedding fur, and feared it might displease him, thus, reluctantly, she had the tortoiseshell delivered to Feng Jingteng’s residence.

Hearing that Daman had sent someone to catch her little cat and even take it back to the palace to raise, Feng Ying’s entire body tensed, her blood rushing to her head, her eyes red with anger.

"Did you tell him that the tortoiseshell isn’t a stray cat, that it’s mine, that I’m very fond of it too..."

Ning Xiu dared not look into her cold eyes and hung her head.

"I did say so. But Eunuch Ban wouldn’t listen, he said whatever Huaman Madam likes, even if it’s not a stray cat but a tiger, the Emperor would find a way to procure it..."

"Outrageous!" Lady Chen couldn’t listen any longer, and forgetting her tears, she got up wiping her eyes.

"This vile creature goes too far, coming to my home to catch a cat. I will go to the Emperor for justice right now..."

She was all bluster, rushing out like a dart.

Feng Ying was stunned, then quickly rushed up and embraced her, "Mother, you mustn’t!"

She knew of Lady Chen’s temper; if she went, she would surely say nothing good.

Xiao Cheng wasn’t someone who would take things lying down, and if provoked, who would end up suffering? Wouldn’t it be her?

"Mother, for your daughter’s sake, please bear with it... Just endure it for now, let’s plan this thoroughly..."

Teardrops fell down Lady Chen’s back, and Feng Jingteng also approached, bending over backward with his apologies and courtesies.

"My lady, please calm down. Today’s Emperor is not the Xiao San of yesterday. You must not be rash before him."

"It’s deliberate, she’s doing this on purpose."

Lady Chen’s whole body trembled, her voice filled with swelling rage.

"It must be Feng Yun, that little vixen, instigating her, or else with Daman’s pig-brain, how could she dare to commit such a bold act..."

She glanced at her daughter filled with sorrow, then at the helpless Feng Jingteng, her anger surging even more.

"Stop putting on a show here. Your daughter is favored by the Emperor, you must be satisfied in your heart, aren’t you?"

A pang struck Feng Jingteng’s heart, and he found himself speechless.

That Daman could gain such favor from Xiao Cheng was something neither he nor Feng Jingyao had anticipated.

But in one aspect, Lady Chen’s words were not without reason.

For the Feng Family, although they would prefer Feng Ying to receive Xiao Cheng’s favor, what if they had no choice?

It was far better for Xiao Cheng to dote on a girl from the Feng Family than on a girl from the Zhang or Xie families.

The Emperor, a man of deep schemes and intrigue, had allied with the Feng Family to usurp Xiao Jue’s throne. Now that he held the realm in his grasp, would he be willing to let the Feng Family constrain him any longer?

The world strives for advantage; the happiness of one daughter weighed too lightly.

"Alas!" Feng Jingteng had his fill of grumbling and curses, his patience at its end.

"There’s no need for my lady to be upset over this matter. My elder brother has said he would have my sister-in-law handle it; just pretend it never happened. You should rest now; tomorrow we’re off to Xinzhou."

Before his voice faded, he had already left with a sweep of his robes.

Lady Chen was stunned, watching Feng Jingteng’s retreating figure, then suddenly screamed and burst into tears, clutching Feng Ying.