Your Sis Is Just a Local Despot
Bai Fu Rong told Feng Yu Heng that she wanted to return to the Bai manor. After all, that was her home. Now that she had completely recovered, she could not continue to cause trouble in the imperial daughter’s manor.
This was within Feng Yu Heng’s expectations, and she did not move to stop her. First, Fu Rong returning home was a very normal matter. Second, she was also preparing to leave the capital for Ji An County, and she had no time to concern herself with this side. She just said to Bai Fu Rong: “You can go home. Have Craftsman Bai also leave the palace! The investigation in the palace has continued until this point, and nothing has been found. You two have not lived together for a long time and should think about enjoying some happiness with family.”
The matter was settled in this manner, and Wang Chuan personally sent Bai Fu Rong back to the Bai manor that evening. As for Craftsman Bai, he received the news and left the imperial palace the next day. The father and daughter pair were able to celebrate a happy new year.
Feng Yu Heng had been thinking of going to the Wen Xuan Palace with Zi Rui on the third day of the new year. In any case, they needed to go and pay Lord and Princess Wen Xuan a new year’s greeting. The gifts had also been prepared, but she changed her mind when the gifts were being loaded into the carriage. She had the driver remove all of the gifts. She would not be going.
Wang Chuan and Huang Quan were puzzled, asking her: “Young miss, what is it?” Even Zi Rui curiously furrowed his brow.
Feng Yu Heng wrapped her arm around Zi Rui’s shoulder and helplessly said: “We’re not going. Since the days of the late emperor, Lord Wen Xuan has not paid much attention to the matters of the court to avoid danger. Now, he is even more distant from those affairs. Now that I have caused such a stir with the officials of the eighth prince’s faction, it would be best to avoid causing trouble for the lord and the princess.” While speaking, she apologetically patted Zi Rui’s shoulder and continued: “Zi Rui, look, these sorts of problems will arise in the capital. Elder sister must constantly be overly-cautious when just taking you out. This is also quite lacking in righteousness. But there’s nothing that can be done about it. We aren’t afraid; however, we can’t cause trouble for the people that treat us well. What do you say?”
Zi Rui nodded, “I understand what elder sister is saying. During that day’s banquet, Zi Rui was also present and saw everything clearly. But Zi Rui is too small, and my words carry no weight. In that sort of situation, there was nothing that I could do to speak up for elder sister for fear of causing people to say that elder sister did not do a good job of educating Zi Rui.”
Feng Yu Heng laughed and sighed that such a small child already understood so much. When the children of other families matured early, they would feel happy; however, she felt a bit saddened. To her, Zi Rui was still an elementary-school-aged child. He should be in the years where he would be the most lively and playful. When he had time, he should have gone out to play more with other children and look at the snowy mountains in winter, the green grass of spring and the beautiful sun during summer. However, nothing could be done about the situation and position. Even if this child could be sent to Xiao Zhou to study, there was no other choice.
She asked Zi Rui: “Do you blame your elder sister?”
Zi Rui was puzzled, “Why would I blame elder sister? Elder sister is so great. Zi Rui loves elder sister so much. How could I possibly blame you?”
Feng Yu Heng brought him into her room, and the two were seated. Drinking the tea brought in by the servants, she finally continued: “We’re currently still in the middle of celebrating the new year. Normally speaking, I should be bringing you to walk around to visit the other families. We should also be going next door to spend time with grandfather. But look, the days are continuing to pass, and it’s all been compressed into these few days. It always feels as though there’s not enough time to get things done. In just the blink of an eye, it’s the third day of the new year; however, we have not gone anywhere.”
Hearing her words, Zi Rui smiled. While smiling, he said to her: “Going out to pay new year’s visits to get rewards is something that young children do. Zi Rui is not a young child. After another three years, I will be participating in the county-level examinations! Zi Rui knows that everything elder sister does has a reason, but there is one thing that I don’t understand. Why does elder sister say that everything has been compressed into these few days? Is elder sister rushed for time?”
Feng Yu Heng knew that she could not hide it from this child, and she did not want to hide it from this child. Sooner or later, he would need to know, thus she told him: “Because elder sister must leave the capital after a while, I will be going to live in that land that has been conferred to me. I will be leaving before the 15th of the first month. When that time comes, Zi Rui will be living with grandfather. How does that sound?”
“Elder sister will be leaving?” He had just said that he was not a young child, but when he heard that Feng Yu Heng would not be staying at home until the 15th, the little one could not sit still. He suddenly stood up and said with a bit of anger: “Why must you leave? Zi Rui heard that the conferred land is a barren land. It has not been developed, and it doesn’t even have anything resembling a proper courtyard built. Why would elder sister bother going through that suffering? Could it be that you were forced by those old geezers during the banquet? But they just said that elder sister can’t enter the imperial palace. They didn’t say that elder sister can’t stay in the capital!”
Feng Yu Heng repeatedly comforted him: “No, it’s not as you think. Elder sister going to the conferred land is not to avoid trouble. Instead, that land belongs to us. It can’t just be left there unused. It needs to be put to use. Also, that place is not a barren land as you have said. Have you forgotten that elder sister has a jade mine? It just so happens that the jade mine is located near the conferred land. It’s been operating for such a long time, yet elder sister has not gone yet. Say, shouldn’t I go and take a look?”
“But there’s no need to be in such a rush.” Zi Rui frowned and still felt that something was a bit off, “You say that you’re going to take a look, but why does Zi Rui feel as though elder sister intends to live there for a long period of time?”
“It won’t necessarily be a long period of time, but the things that need to be built over there will have to be built.” She told Zi Rui: “You might not understand the concept of conferred lands, but it means that the land completely belongs to us. There’s no need to pay tax revenue to the court. Also, the shops that are opened there will need to pay taxes to us. Unlike the governors of prefectures and provinces that are seen as parental officials, we would be like…” She lowered her voice: “We would be like local despots. Think about it! In the capital, there are limits on everything; however, over there, you can act freely. What is there to be unhappy about? Elder sister will not be staying out there the entire time. I will just be going over to take a look. When things are set in motion, elder sister will come back.”
Hearing Feng Yu Heng say this, Zi Rui let out a sigh of relief. He then began to think internally and said: “Elder sister’s words are reasonable. That sort of place does indeed need to be put to use. It definitely cannot be left to waste. Unfortunately, Zi Rui must return to Xiao Zhou after the first month to study. Seventh brother said that studying and practicing martial arts are most important. I must not neglect important matters because of other things. Otherwise, even when I grow up, I will not be able to help elder sister. Elder sister can go over there in peace. Once elder sister leaves the capital, Zi Rui will live with grandfather’s family. There’s no need to worry about me.”
Finally managing to convince the child, Feng Yu Heng also let out a sigh of relief. After thinking a bit, she simply chased Zi Rui to the Yao manor to play. There were many cousins over there, and they could accompany him. Zi Rui was very happy with this arrangement, telling her wholeheartedly: “Then I will eat dinner with grandfather’s family. Elder sister, there’s no need to worry about me.”
Feng Yu Heng smiled while watching the child run off. She really was not worried. It had to be said that in the capital, there were three places that she was absolutely confident in. They were the Yao manor, the Yu Palace and the Chun Palace. It was just that thinking about going to the conferred land, it was not as relaxed as she had made it sound. Nor were her reasons as simple as she had said.
If she was only building up the conferred land for her personal wealth, Feng Yu Heng would happily go and take care of this matter; however, there was a bit of anger towards the officials belonging to the eighth prince’s faction. But she understood that even if she was angry, going to the conferred land was the best choice because the conferred land that belonged to her was in the Southwest and within the Yun Province’s borders. It was a prefecture and was the size of two counties. It was not quite the size of a province. As for her jade mine, it was also nearby. If the eighth prince had done something to the military supplies and food, she would need to find a way to secretly provide supplies. After all, the one setting foot on the battlefield was Xuan Tian Ming. This sort of thing could not be delayed. She had to ensure that the logistics were able to keep up. Traveling from the fief to the South would be much closer than traveling from the capital. It also would not attract as much attention as leaving from the capital, nor would so many people keep an eye on her. She could do anything that she wanted. It would be far more free than in the capital.
Feng Yu Heng had made up her mind long ago. These days, she had been making preparations to head toward the fief. From the first day of the new year to the fifth, Hundred Herb Hall was closed for a break. She was preparing to call Wang Lin and Qing Yu over to make some arrangements to close Hundred Herb Hall. It had to be closed. After the people of the capital had enjoyed the benefits of Hundred Herb Hall for two years, she really wanted to see what sort of scene would arise once it suddenly disappeared.
During the evening of the third, she had been planning to go and eat dinner in the Yao manor. It was the new year, yet she had not paid her relatives a new year’s visit. Speaking of, this was a breach of etiquette. Fortunately, the Yao family was clear on what had happened during the banquet, thus they knew that she would be very busy during these days. They would not blame her. Instead, it was Xu shi that sent a number of things to her for fear of her manor not preparing enough, which would cause her to not eat enough.
Unfortunately, just as she lifted her foot, and before she could even leave her courtyard, she looked up and found a maidservant leading Xuan Tian Ming over toward her. The two bumped into each other.
“Where are you going?” Xuan Tian Ming grabbed her arm and began to drag her back, “I came to look for you with a matter. No matter where you were going, delay it for now.”
Feng Yu Heng was helpless, “I was just going to the neighboring Yao manor to eat dinner. What is your urgent matter?”
Xuan Tian Ming did not say anything; however, he dragged her into the medicine storage room of the courtyard. The people in the imperial daughter’s manor all knew that if their young miss entered the medicine storage room, it would be a matter of great secrecy, and nobody was permitted to enter. No matter how urgent the matter, even if the sky was falling down, they had to wait outside. Of course, there were two exceptions. One was the ninth prince, and the other was divine doctor Yao.
The two entered the medicine storage room, and Wang Chuan quickly closed the door from the outside. She then stood guard with Huang Quan. Inside, Xuan Tian Ming did not waste a single word and directly said: “The Sheng Palace’s treasures have all been stolen. It was you that did it, right!”
Feng Yu Heng rolled her eyes, “Why did you directly come to me? And you’re saying it with such certainty!”
Xuan Tian Ming rolled his eyes back at her, saying: “Nonsense, I heard that the entire storage of treasures had mysteriously vanished in a single night. Also, not a single person in the Sheng Palace remembered the treasures being transported out. With so many things, even if they were transported, it would take half a night, right? Moreover, they disappeared without any trace. Aside from you, who would dare do this sort of thing?”
Alright! She facepalmed, “If you could think of this, it must be that my grandfather could also think of it. I was thinking of giving you a pleasant surprise; however, you found out about it yourself. It really is boring.” As she spoke, she grabbed Xuan Tian Ming’s hand and moved her right hand to her left wrist. The two immediately entered the pharmacy space…