Xiaoman led Huanhuan and Peipei into the house when Feng Yun’s expression was very calm. Sitting in front of the dressing mirror, her back toward them, she said:

"Fetch my court attire, style a ’huan ji’ hairstyle, add a step-shake hairpin, and ear pendants."

Huanhuan and Peipei exchanged glances, then looked at Xiaoman.

All three were quite astonished.

Feng Yun’s attire at the villa was always extremely simple; she usually left home wearing nothing more than a hairpin for jewelry, and she didn’t stand out even when walking in the village.

Her ambition was lofty, and her interests were never in those boudoir trinkets; the servants had grown accustomed to this aspect of her.

This sudden request for grandiose dressing made them feel uneasy.

Huanhuan’s and Peipei’s hands trembled as they dressed her.

Feng Yun sat up straight and turned her head to glance at them:

"What are you shaking for?"

Huanhuan lowered her face, "The, the maid is not shaking..."

Peipei spoke softly, "Madam is so serious, the maid is scared."

Feng Yun hummed calmly and reached out to touch the moon amulet hanging around her neck, "Scared of what? When we arrive at Taiping Garden, remember to hold your chests high."

In Dajin, there were regulations for women’s clothing; ladies of rank above two-thousand stone would wear silk clothes. Feng Yun had never worn her court attire, but its embroidery and craftsmanship were incredibly detailed, featuring a wide robe and a cinched waist that outlined her soft figure, picturesque like a poem.

She was a stunningly beautiful woman, and in such attire, she looked even more delicate and charming. With her hair styled and coiffed high, she drew gasps of astonishment as soon as she stepped out the door.

All eyes fell upon Feng Yun.

Outside the villa, even villagers working in the fields climbed atop the ridges to have a look.

"The Village Chief’s wife is so beautiful that even immortals pale in comparison."

"I have never seen an immortal, only the Village Chief’s wife..."

"Are these clothes made of silk? They look so soft and light, I wonder what they feel like..." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Tsk, with your dirty hands from digging in the fields, wouldn’t you ruin the clothes if you touched them? A beauty like the Village Chief’s wife is the only one fit to wear such attire."

Feng Yun did not speak; amidst the hushed voices of the crowd, she boarded the carriage and pulled the curtains shut, hiding her face behind them.

Normally, when she saw villagers, she would smile and exchange a few words, but today, her solemn face seemed to foreshadow an impending mountain storm with a tense atmosphere.

The villagers moved to the sides, feeling nervous and uneasy.

Upon arriving at Taiping Garden and being led into the flower hall by attendants, she did not see the Princess at first, but gradually, some royal relatives and ladies of aristocratic families came over to examine her.

They looked at her as if she were an exhibit, extremely curious about the Princess of Yonghuai.

Pei Jue’s act of defiantly marrying a woman from the Feng Family in front of assembled troops at Central Capital was known to everyone, and so was the incident of a Marquis of Xuanping’s son being killed by a lynx raised by Feng Yun.

Yet, few had actually seen Feng Yun in person.

However, as curious as they were, and whatever they thought, in front of Feng Yun, they did not dare to act too boldly...

It wasn’t until the Princess arrived with Puyang Yi that Feng Yun, smiling slightly, silently accepted the scrutiny of the other ladies.

Only when the Princess took her seat did the atmosphere begin to relax.

"Let’s serve the dishes, and we can talk while we eat."

The Princess had great influence.

Everyone promptly stood up, paid respects, and smiled in reply.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

In her previous life, Feng Yun had hardly interacted with the Princess and had never seen her up close, so this face was still very unfamiliar to her...

But the Princess’s reputation for keeping favored entertainers was well-known; it would be difficult not to know of it.

She seemed younger than Feng Yun had imagined. Sitting beside Puyang Yi, she looked almost like sisters, and her voice was actually softer and more gentle than Puyang Yi’s, clear and lovely, not at all forthright and outspoken like her...

When the dishes were served, the ladies lightheartedly discarded any pretense of formality.

It was obvious they were on good terms with the Princess.

They meshed well, discussing trivial family matters that Feng Yun had never heard of.

Sitting apart like this made her feel somewhat out of place.

Puyang Yi cast a glance at the Princess and seeing her unmoved, smiled gently, "Mother, how can you neglect such an honored guest? The Princess of Yonghuai is the most distinguished person at our table. May I toast her on your behalf with a cup of water wine?"

Feng Yun slightly raised her head, "The County Lord is too polite. In the presence of the Princess, how dare I claim to be distinguished?"

Her simple response, without a trace of a smile, was calm and composed. Although she verbally expressed modesty saying "how dare I," her posture and demeanor conveyed that she was indeed the most distinguished person present.

Only then did the Princess’s gaze fall upon Feng Yun, admiring her.

"They say the Prince of Yonghuai married a heavenly fairy, and seeing you today, the reputation is well-deserved. Look at this delicate skin and tender flesh. The Feng Family of Xuzhou produces beauties indeed. The younger sister marries into the Qi family, the elder sister marries a great prince, each one more accomplished than the last."

Some chuckled softly across the hall.

The discord between the Feng sisters, fighting over Xiao Lang, was publicly known to everyone.

The Princess mentioned it casually, hitting right on Feng Yun’s sore spot.

Feng Yun’s face showed no change of expression, "I’m grateful to Mr. Pei for not minding, otherwise I wouldn’t know where I’d be suffering now."

The Princess gently played with her tea cup and said, "The Prince and Princess of Yonghuai are so harmonious and affectionate, truly enviable for all of us. It’s a pity that my daughter, just like her mother, is an unfortunate soul, a widow for many years without a desirable husband..."

Puyang Yi frowned, thinking about what Puyang Zong had done and recalling Wen Xingsu’s coldness towards her, suddenly feeling a bout of anger.

"Mother, why do you speak of such things? Don’t make it a joke for others. I’m a widow by choice, not that I don’t want to marry, but that I refuse to settle. There’s simply no man that meets my standards."

The Princess was not angered by her daughter’s disdain, she simply lifted her tea cup, took a delicate sip, then looked up at Feng Yun with a hint of a compassionate smile.

"I hope the Princess will forgive me, my daughter has always been spoiled, and I indulge her. She speaks out of turn and I fear she has caused you to laugh."

Feng Yun replied, "It’s alright. I’ve known the County Lord for a long time and I’m well aware of her."

The Princess sized her up, ensuring that Feng Yun’s "well aware of her" didn’t have any other implications, before she helplessly said, "It’s also to blame on that Li Zongxun, causing such an unsightly scandal, leading to unrest in our nation and decline in our household fortune, preventing us from living peacefully."

Then she smiled again, "The Prince of Yonghuai has been off to war against the Northern Rong for so long, the Princess must be worried sick, right?"

Feng Yun said, "With the nation at stake, how can I be preoccupied with personal affections?"

The Princess said, "Not having the master at home, a woman inevitably faces idle rumors..."

Her tone shifted as if inadvertently inquiring, "The Prince of Yonghuai left many soldiers in Xinzhou, do they still heed your call?"

Feng Yun smiled, "Military affairs are not the place for a woman of the household to interject."

The Princess let out a sigh, "That’s also true. But the Prince has really opened his heart to you, leaving all his possessions in your care, isn’t that because he fears you’d be bullied?"

Feng Yun’s heart stirred slightly, and with a faint smile, she said:

"The Princess is mistaken. My husband’s decisions of moving troops are strictly for the sake of the country, and not for me. Such jests should not be made, lest people with intentions misinterpret it and wrongly accuse the Prince..."

Only then did the Princess come to her senses as if awakening from a dream, "What you said is most correct, look at me talking without a filter. The Prince of Yonghuai has always been committed to the greater good. If only my disobedient son had a fraction of his sensibility, he wouldn’t have brought such disgrace upon our family and been dealt with by the Princess..."

Feng Yun gave a slight smile, saying nothing.

The Princess raised an eyebrow, and seeing Feng Yun’s composed demeanor, felt a heavier sense of unease.

The name of the Feng Family’s daughter was not new to her, but it was her first time meeting the person.

It was then she truly believed that this woman was not merely a beautiful airhead...

Her schemes were so deep that they concealed any trace of her having schemes at all.

Not overly arrogant, nor excessively humble, just the perfect stance for the wife of a powerful official.

In the past, the Princess would not have bothered with such a woman who had no relation to her, but now the circumstances pressed her...

With Pei Jue’s death, there began murmurs of ambition in the Central Capital.

Raised within the royal family, no one didn’t dream of becoming the one to control the nation’s power.

Having boarded this ship, there’s no room for her to back down.

If power were to slip through her fingers, her descendants for generations would have to live at the whims of others, or even perish silently in power struggles...

The Princess wanted to test the Feng siblings’ control over the Beiyong Army, to gauge Feng Yun’s capabilities, to see if she was merely a canary raised in Pei Jue’s residence or, as the rumors went, actually Pei Jue’s right hand who held great regard within the Beiyong Army, capable and respected enough to command the masses.

The Princess decided it was time to administer a stronger dose.

"There has been news about the Prince of Yonghuai that the Empress Dowager of Xijing had entrusted me with, fearing the news would sadden the Princess, but I feel that keeping it secret forever isn’t right..."

Feng Yun smiled, "Are you talking about the news of my husband’s misfortune in the Northern Rong?"

The room erupted into surprise.

Every lady present exchanged shocked looks.

Even Puyang Yi showed a look of astonishment on her face.

All but the Princess, who was taken aback for a moment, with more surprise at Feng Yun’s public admission than anything else.

This was highly confidential information, known only to a few within the court to prevent demoralizing the troops. She had not expected Feng Yun to be this well-informed...

She felt even less sure about this woman’s depth.

"The Prince of Yonghuai has dedicated his life to the country of Dajin; if he indeed lost his life at Cangyan Mountain, it would be a great loss, lamentable indeed. I’ve not been able to eat well or sleep, constantly worried these days. Yet the Princess is calm, not showing the slightest hint of sorrow?"

Feng Yun looked at her, "Separated by a thousand li, whether the news is true or false is still unknown, why grieve at this point? But let’s assume the worst, that the Prince does suffer some misfortune, then I would have even less time for grief. If it is indeed Li Zongxun who has harmed him, I will clear any obstacles and seek revenge for him, an eye for an eye..."

She paused, then gave a faint smile.

"The most useless thing in the world, is grief. Don’t you agree, Princess?"

When the Princess’s Prince Consort passed away, it was not even half a month before she had a new love.

While the Prince Consort was alive, their marriage was affectionate. When asked why the Princess wasn’t grieving, her response was that the most useless thing in the world, is grief. She said that the Prince Consort cared for her deeply, and wouldn’t want to see her upset; as long as she was happy, he would find solace even in the heavens.

This matter, most of the ladies present were aware of.

Feng Yun’s remark coming out of the blue, caused the Princess to lose color in her face.

Even Puyang Yi started to feel awkward.

This was Feng Yun’s tit-for-tat.

And so swift was its delivery.