"Third Miss, you've grown increasingly insolent these days, not even showing respect to your elders," Lady Feng said coldly. She had defended her during the hairpin ceremony simply because they were family. If Fengyu's reputation was ruined, Feng Wan and Feng Ling would struggle to secure good marriages. However, behind closed doors, familial bonds were subject to hierarchy.
Feng Shu and Feng Wan were of the same age, both turning eighteen this year. Once Marquis Zhenbei's troops return victorious to the capital, Feng Shu would be prepared for marriage. However, Feng Wan's match was still unresolved. Most women in Yanyang marry after eighteen, and Feng Wan, as the elder sister, would be a laughingstock if her younger sister wed before her and she remained unbetrothed.
When she married Feng Changlin, Old Master of Feng Family held a prestigious Second Rank office, and their household was bustling with visitors. Yet Feng Changqing married a merchant's daughter, causing widespread ridicule. Lady Feng was mocked in elite social circles, with noblewomen refusing to associate with Su Yuejiao, the merchant's daughter, whom Lady Feng herself disdained.
However, when the Old Master was demoted to Ningzhou, the Feng Family fell from grace and relied solely on Su Yuejiao's dowry for survival. Su Yuejiao became the benefactor of the Feng Family, leaving Lady Feng unable to assert any authority over her. Worse still, her eldest daughter secured an engagement with Xie Zhang, a match that was supposed to belong to Feng Wan instead. This turn of events left Lady Feng filled with both regret and resentment. And now, owing to Fengyu, her daughters were unable to secure alliances of any standing—how could she not feel bitter?
"Enough! What are you all shouting about? Yu'er has already endured so much suffering and feels humiliated; she only spoke out in frustration. What's the point of making a scene at home?" The Old Madam's favoritism was glaringly evident. "You show absolutely none of the affection and kindness an elder should have."
In her youth, Old Madam Feng was praised throughout the capital as the quintessential matriarch. The Old Master of Feng Family had been unruly and inept in both scholarly and martial pursuits during his early years, but after marrying her, he was inspired to improve under her supervision and support. He went on to excel in the imperial examinations, becoming the top scorer. Despite his rise to prominence, he remained loyal to her. Accompanying him in the capital for his administrative appointments, Old Madam Feng then stood by him through eight years of provincial postings before returning to the capital due to his outstanding governance, eventually ascending to Second Rank. She too earned the honorific title befitting her status. Intelligent, charming, and capable, she raised one scholarly and one martial son both to prominence. Their eldest grandson, Feng Wenrong, also passed the examinations and was posted outside the capital for an official role. Her granddaughter, Feng Shu, was engaged to be married to Marquis Zhenbei's eldest heir.
Even Feng Changlin and Lady Feng dared not speak against Old Madam Feng. Qiuxiang poured a cup of tea and gently reminded, "Miss, have some tea."
Xie Xun sat down with an icy expression, and Qiuxiang presented the tea to him. As her gaze lingered on his reddened palms, she thought silently to herself: Young Marquis Xie truly had a high pain tolerance. Her own young mistress cried over a simple prick to her finger while sewing. Yet, despite Xie Xun's swollen palms, he maintained an utterly composed demeanor.
The Old Madam said, "Feng Shu has secured a prestigious marriage that all of the capital envies. With such an alliance, the future matches of our family's children won't be lacking either. Now that things have come to this, Jiangyang must not remain in the capital—he's one who stirs trouble. Eldest, find a way to have him reassigned out of the capital."
Feng Changlin's face filled with reluctance. "Mother, he's the Emperor's personally selected top scorer—the options for him are either serving before the Emperor himself or being assigned to the Hanlin Academy. How could I intervene? With Fengyu's recent scandal causing such uproar, I would only appear more suspect if I interfered now—what would others think of me?"
Xie Xun finished his tea casually, his earlier anger dissipating as he observed the chaos surrounding Fengyu. The more her plight worsened, the more satisfaction he derived—why lose his temper for it?
"You're the Assistant Minister of Ministry of Personnel, yet you claim organizing a mere administrative posting for a top scorer is impossible? He's no aristocrat from an established lineage; his foundations are shallow—who can challenge you?"
"The Emperor has already praised him as a brilliant young talent at court, and he's made an impression before his Majesty. Truly, I dare not arbitrarily tamper with his assignment."
The Old Madam frowned, while Lady Feng laughed and said, "Mother, Feng Shu is engaged to Xie Zhang—our bond with the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion makes us relatives. Why not let them handle this? They'd surely be more effective than us meddling."
Xie Xun nearly let out a laugh. The Marquis Zhenbei Mansion, sitting at the peak of power and possessing control over military forces, was deeply feared by the royal family. Yet Lady Feng dared to suggest they would dip their hands into the bureaucratic affairs of civil officials—such audacity!
The Old Madam, seasoned by the political shifts across two reigns, saw right through it. "This is purely a Feng Family matter. What business does it have with the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion? Speak no more nonsense. Would you throw oil into a blazing fire needing no fuel?"
Lady Feng's face turned awkward, and she fell silent immediately.
Just then, Feng Changlin's steward rushed inside, flustered. "Master, Old Madam, Jiangyang was beaten in the streets by the young Marquis Xie!"
The room fell into absolute stillness.
Xie Xun smiled briefly, his fingers pressing down onto the rim of his teacup. The smile disappeared as quickly as it came. When he raised his eyes, they carried a lethal coldness. "You're saying... Jiangyang was beaten. By whom?"
"Xie Xun!" The steward stated firmly, "Word of it is all over the capital."
A layer of frost seemed to form over Xie Xun's entire being.
Even Qiuxiang dared not look into his face—the young mistress was truly too bold!
Feng Changlin stood stunned, unable to speak. Lady Feng, blinded by the brilliance of the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion, failed to grasp the hidden peril beneath their glittering surface. Feng Changlin, being more versed in bureaucracy, knew well that no matter how wild and disdainful Xie Xun was, breaching the conventions regarding civil official postings was a line he wouldn't cross.
Feng Ling gritted her teeth and asked indignantly, "Why would the young Marquis beat Jiangyang? Was he seeking justice for Third Sister?"
The steward hesitated and then said, "Not only did the young Marquis beat Jiangyang openly, but he also declared that he wishes to never see Jiangyang in the capital again—and suggested he be sent to serve as an insignificant ninth-rank official at the borderlands."
Xie Xun crushed the fine porcelain cup in his hand, shards scattering as his cold smile deepened. "Very well!"
"Fengyu, you have guts!"
Within Yangxin Palace, the Jinyi Guard Chen Mo was also reporting the news of Xie Xun's street brawl. It seemed the young Marquis Xie, since recovering from his injuries, had committed one outrageous deed after another in the capital. With his inability to return to the battlefield, he indulged in decadence, drowning himself in pleasure and indulgence.
Romantic entanglements and youthful extravagance—such was the reality of Xie Xun.
Careless of scandals circulating about him, he remained indifferent to the fading glory of his past as a heroic young general, as if determined to cast himself from the heavens into the mud. Yet among the many absurdities he'd indulged in, physical assault of a court official was unprecedented. The Marquis Zhenbei Mansion was already precariously positioned, too powerful and thus attracting imperial unease. Even Xie Xun, reckless as he was, had always adhered to unwritten limits.
"Jiangyang… the newly crowned top scorer? Assigned by the Cabinet to the Hanlin Academy, with his appointment just rubber-stamped by me. And now Xie Xun is causing trouble, not wanting him at Hanlin Academy?" Emperor Jianming massaged his tired wrists after a long day of reviewing petitions, his exhaustion evident.
With Mr. Xu absent from the hall, Chen Mo thoughtfully approached and began massaging the Emperor's shoulders to relieve tension.
"Young Marquis Xie, though youthful, demonstrated remarkable valor and strategy on the battlefield. In just three years, he won the loyalty of the Xie Family Army—he's certainly no reckless fool. For him to specifically target Jiangyang, there must be something unusual about Jiangyang."
After pondering for a moment, Chen Mo remarked, "Perhaps not."
"How so?" The Emperor grew curious, though he remained seated, enjoying the relaxation and keeping his eyes closed.
Chen Mo increased the pressure. "The young Marquis has had conflicts in court with the Third Prince recently. Though unresolved, it's left frustration simmering within him. Jiangyang was foolish to underestimate his influence and offended him. Further, two days ago at Third Miss Feng's hairpin ceremony, Jiangyang humiliated her by withdrawing from their betrothal. It's likely the young Marquis acted out of pent-up anger, simultaneously defending Third Miss Feng's honor."