But a matter like this wasn’t something they could decide.
After all, the current situation with the Feng family… no one truly knew what was going on. Externally, Lai Chenglong only claimed that Madam Feng had been momentarily swayed and threatened by Xu Fengqiao, that she acted under duress. Apart from a few of Madam Feng’s personal servants, no other Feng family members had been implicated.
But the Feng family would surely be punished.
The only question was, how would Emperor Yongchang decide to punish them?
Because of this matter, Feng Yuzhang looked like he’d aged ten years overnight, kneeling in front of the Buddha every day in repentance.
All his past youthful pride and ambition had turned into nothing but pain, deep, endless pain and dread.
At that moment, Old Marquis Qi, Qi Zhen, and Old Madam Qi had finally made it to Feilai Peak.
They hadn’t expected that a simple matchmaking trip would lead to such a huge incident involving the children.
All three of them were deeply worried.
Qi Zhen was relatively composed, after all, it was his own son who had broken a leg, and he was getting used to it by now.
But Old Marquis Qi and Old Madam Qi were inconsolably distressed.
Old Marquis Qi, being a man, managed to hold himself together. After briefly checking in on Qi Changting, he went to have a long private talk with Qi Yuan.
But Old Madam Qi couldn’t hold back. She took Qi Changting’s hand and burst into tears.
She was convinced her grandson must be in unbearable pain, likely spiraling into despair and hopelessness.
But to her surprise, Qi Changting was full of spirit.
Not only was he not upset, he even comforted her by wiping her tears and calmly said: “Grandmother, don’t cry. I’m not sad. I haven’t lost interest in life at all. Big Sister told me: if a soldier is going to the battlefield, then even if his leg is broken, he fights on with his last breath!”
Just as he was speaking, his servant entered with a smile. “Third Young Master, Miss Feng has arrived.”
Miss Feng?
That Feng family, the one responsible for her grandson’s misery?! Old Madam Qi’s brows knitted instantly and she was about to erupt in anger, but Qi Changting quickly stopped her.
He looked at his grandmother with eyes shining brightly: “Grandmother, I… I really like Miss Feng. She’s not like her sister.”
Huh?
Everything since coming up the mountain had gone contrary to Old Madam Qi’s expectations. She’d thought Qi Changting would be suicidal, devastated to the point of collapse.
She thought he must hate the Feng family.
She thought he must regret this arranged meeting bitterly.
But now… what was going on?!
Just then, Feng Caiyin stepped into the room.
Today, she wore an outfit of warm orange, an ivory inner shirt with a standing collar, a pale cream pleated skirt, and a sheer orange gauze jacket over it. A flower in the same color adorned her hair. She looked clean, elegant, and quietly graceful.
The moment she entered, Qi Changting’s face lit up. He eagerly introduced her: “This is my grandmother.”
Feng Caiyin gave Old Madam Qi a proper and respectful bow.
Old Madam Qi observed her intently for a while, watching as she quietly walked over to the window to replace the flowers in the vase.
Autumn was approaching, and a few early chrysanthemums had already bloomed. Feng Caiyin arranged them neatly in the vase.
Then she turned and smiled at Qi Changting. “What book do you want to hear today? I brought Xu Ke’s travel notes, they’re very interesting. Want to listen?”
Qi Changting responded with genuine enthusiasm, “Yes, yes!”
The two of them, were actually like this…
Old Madam Qi stared at them in silence for a while, then quietly stepped out and found Second Madam Qi.
“Do you like this girl, Caiyin?”
Second Madam Qi grew visibly nervous. “Mother-in-law, she’s really different from Feng Caiwei. She was raised by the Feng family’s Third Madam and has always been gentle and sensible. I’ve already asked around…”
Ah. So she liked her.
Old Madam Qi now understood.
She smiled, gently patting Second Madam Qi’s hand. “I’m glad you could set aside prejudice and truly look at the girl. You’re right, she’s a very good child.”
Yes, the Feng family had produced some rats and roaches.
But in the end, they were still an aristocratic clan. And more importantly, the legitimate family of Empress Feng, maternal relatives of the Crown Prince.
If the Feng family could walk a straight path from here on, a marriage alliance would be a good thing.
At least, for Xiao Yunting, it would be.
Second Madam Qi breathed a sigh of relief. “Mother, actually it was Yuanyuan who convinced me. And Yuanyuan also said she’s going to Jiangxi, to capture Divine Physician Xue, the one by Qi Wang’s side, to heal Changting’s leg!”
Her eyes sparkled as she spoke.
Old Madam Qi broke into a smile. “Yuanyuan always finds a way. Alright, I’ll go inform your father-in-law. Don’t worry.”
Second Madam Qi quickly bowed in gratitude.
When Old Madam Qi reached Yuntai Pavilion, she saw Old Marquis Qi and Qi Zhen sitting to one side, while Qi Yuan sat opposite them.
Everyone’s expressions were heavy.
Old Marquis Qi’s worry was plain as day: “Yuanyuan, this is completely different from before. In the capital, he was like a tiger with its teeth pulled, there were limits to what he could do. But on his fief? He’s the only one in charge! Do you understand?!”
Qi Yuan had said before she wanted to kill Qi Wang.
Back then, both Old Marquis Qi and Qi Zhen had believed she could do it.
But now things were different.
Thousands of guards weren’t a joke.
No matter how capable Qi Yuan was, surely she couldn’t really assassinate someone while surrounded by thousands?
But Qi Yuan didn’t seem concerned at all.
She shook her head and looked at Old Marquis Qi. “No, I don’t plan to kill him head-on. I plan to let him capture me.”
…?
What?
Qi Zhen and Old Marquis Qi both wondered if they were hearing things.
Were they getting old? Why couldn’t they understand what Qi Yuan was saying anymore?
Let Qi Wang capture her?
Old Madam Qi walked over and sat beside her. “Yuanyuan, you must think carefully. Consider everything three times before acting.”
But truthfully, there wasn’t much they could do to help.
Qi Yuan nodded. “I’ve thought it through. Qi Wang sent Xu Fengqiao for one reason only, to capture me, to bring me to Jiangxi. Fine. I’ll grant his wish. Let him catch me.”
He wanted to see her?
Fine.
She’d let him see her.
But Old Marquis Qi couldn’t make sense of it.
He took a breath and stared at her. “You mean, you’ll pretend to be captured, then go to Jiangxi?”
That… that was walking into the lion’s den!
Qi Yuan nodded calmly.
Yes.
What was so strange about that?
This wasn’t her first time doing something like this.
It wasn’t even her first time going near Qi Wang.
She knew all his procedures, all his habits, no one knew Qi Wang better than she did.
Qi Wang was always obsessive about the things he couldn’t have.
And she just happened to be one of those things.
Qi Wang, even if it meant dying, would want to die with her.
But she had no intention of dying with him.
She was going there… to send him straight to h*ll.
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