Qi Yuan felt that such words shouldn’t come from a woman’s mouth.
What did it mean to be “squeezed into the inner courtyard”?
As if this world had given women any real alternative paths.
Even in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, when women became embroiderers, the imperial censors submitted formal complaints. Ever since the establishment of the Southern Textile Bureau, many small workshops had sprung up, and women had started working as weavers or embroiderers. As a result, men complained that their wives no longer managed the household, which affected farming.
Ordinary women were trapped in ordinary inner courtyards.
Noblewomen were trapped in slightly bigger cages.
The only difference was the size of the cage. The laughable part was—Feng Caiwei herself had chosen this very path.
Qi Yuan had already found her answer to her earlier question.
Feng Caiwei did indeed have real skills—this was undeniable.
But in the end, she’d made a name for herself solely for the sake of marrying Xiao Yunting—or rather, the Imperial Grandson Consort-to-be.
In her past life, Qi Yuan had never blamed Feng Caiwei for what happened.
She always believed that the one who made a promise and failed to keep it was the one truly responsible.
But now, looking at Feng Caiwei, she had to admit sincerely—she didn’t like her.
So she looked at Feng Caiwei for a moment, then lowered her eyes: “Miss Feng, let me offer you a piece of advice. Walk your own path. Don’t treat me as an obstacle, and don’t concern yourself with what road I take.”
Feng Caiwei took a deep breath. “I only meant to advise Miss Qi: don’t try to take what doesn’t belong to you. That’s all I have to say.”
With that, she stood up and left. Her maid had been waiting outside in the corridor and quickly came to meet her when she stepped out.
Feng Caiwei descended the steps quickly, then paused again to look back at the small pavilion before finally leaving without stopping again.
Not long after, Old Madam Qi sent someone to call Qi Yuan over.
Qi Yuan had planned to take Shen Jialang and Qi Yunzhi over as well, so she brought them along.
Old Madam Qi asked directly: “She insisted on seeing you. What did she say?”
“Nothing much. She just warned me—roundaboutly—not to try to take what doesn’t belong to me.” Qi Yuan curled her lips slightly. “Looks like Miss Feng may not be so friendly from now on.”
The only reason Feng Caiwei hadn’t targeted her before was because she didn’t see her as a threat.
But after today, she probably wouldn’t think that anymore.
Old Madam Qi almost burst out laughing.
Still dreaming, isn’t she, that Feng Caiwei?
She’s not even the Imperial Grandson Consort yet, and already she’s acting like Xiao Yunting belongs to her?
And now she dares to warn Qi Yuan?
Does she even know how to spell the word death?
Old Madam Qi didn’t take Feng Caiwei seriously at all. Trying to stir trouble?
All the better. She snuck a glance at Qi Yuan.
She kind of hoped Feng Caiwei would be dumb enough to provoke Qi Yuan.
She really couldn’t stand this girl, full of schemes and arrogance, who even came to their home to show off.
—
Meanwhile, Feng Caiwei didn’t have time to worry about what Old Madam Qi thought.
When Feng Jun saw how lost and distracted she looked after leaving the Qi household, he immediately became alarmed. “What happened, Caiwei? Did they bully you?”
Feng Caiwei slowly came back to herself and shook her head, taking a deep breath: “Let’s go home.”
In the Feng family, no one loved Feng Caiwei less than dearly. Feng Jun, her biological brother, valued her more than anything. Seeing her like this, he became certain that she’d been wronged at the Qi household.
But since she insisted on going home, he could only do as she asked.
Once they arrived home, Feng Caiwei went straight to see Madam Feng. “Grandmother, I want to enter the palace!”
The Feng family had just returned to the capital. Emperor Yongchang, on account of Empress Feng, had been generous with the family. The old Duke Feng, who once overshadowed even the emperor, had long since passed away, so the emperor bore them no resentment.
Madam Feng only needed to send a request card to gain an audience with the Empress.
So when she heard Feng Caiwei’s request, she was a little surprised. “Didn’t you say before that you didn’t want to be seen constantly entering the palace, in case it made His Highness overthink things?”
Feng Caiwei looked a little pale. Before, she’d said that because she believed that once she’d made a name for herself and stood high enough, Xiao Yunting would notice her on his own.
But now… she no longer felt so sure.
It wasn’t the incident at the birthday banquet that had crushed her. That had been nothing, really.
It was the emotional impact that unsettled her.
She held Madam Feng’s hand and said nothing.
But Madam Feng understood her. She comforted her while sending someone to deliver the request to the palace.
That afternoon, a summons arrived. They were allowed to enter the palace to visit Empress Feng.
The Empress was happy to see Feng Caiwei: “Caiwei, you’ve come? Come take a look at this new piece I’ve written.”
Feng Caiwei pressed her lips together and confessed honestly: “Your Majesty, I caused trouble.”
The Empress raised her brows, a bit surprised. “What happened?”
Feng Caiwei softly explained what had happened at the birthday banquet—Duchess Cheng’s sudden illness, and how Qi Yuan had stepped in to help.
The Empress was surprised, but after a pause, her tone grew calm: “It’s not like you did it on purpose. Experience comes from stumbles. This isn’t a big deal.”
Feng Caiwei shook her head: “No. I’m not worried about my reputation or that others might laugh at me. Mistakes happen—it’s nothing shameful. What I’m worried about… is that I may have offended His Highness.”
“Yunting?” The Empress frowned. “What does this have to do with him?”
Feng Caiwei spoke so quietly it was barely audible: “I heard Miss Qi and His Highness have always been on good terms. I’m afraid I’ve offended her.”
Feng Caiwei would never stoop to snitching if she didn’t genuinely feel cornered.
She just felt like this whole situation was starting to slip beyond her control.
The Empress raised an eyebrow and looked at her for a moment. “You offended Miss Qi—what does that have to do with Yunting? If you have something to say, say it. I’m not so old and senile yet.”
Feng Caiwei bit her lip: “Your Majesty… I don’t have much to say. I can just tell that His Highness treats Miss Qi differently—with a kind of attentiveness that’s not ordinary. That’s why I’m scared.”
Her voice trembled. “Your Majesty, since I was a child, my father told me I must study hard so that I could support His Highness in the future. I’ve always done that. But now… it seems like His Highness doesn’t need me.”
The Empress thought of the time Xiao Yunting had said he already had someone in his heart.
Could it be that the girl he meant was this Miss Qi?
She put down her brush. “Dry your tears. Women of the Feng family aren’t the type to cry at the drop of a hat. If we were soft, you wouldn’t even be standing in this palace today.”
Feng Caiwei quickly dabbed at the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief.
Only then did the Empress speak in a low voice: “So what if he likes Miss Qi? Even ordinary men still dream of having three wives and four concubines. You think he’ll only ever like one person his whole life?”
She rubbed her temples. “But you, Caiwei—you’ve surprised me. I truly thought you were more composed than this.”
