How About Passing the Position to Old Eighth Sooner?
“Forgiveness is not quite it. It would just be viewed as children messing around.” Indeed, Feng Fen Dai was truly too young in Feng Yu Heng’s eyes. Back then, she was just ten years of age, and she was now 13. Placed in the world that she was familiar with, she would have been nothing more than a fifth- or sixth-grade elementary student. In her previous life, she had lived to the age of 26, and she had added on the years from this life. To argue with a little child was a little too boorish. But she was not without worries, “I fear that young children mature too quickly. Living life her entire life with the same personality that she had at ten, it would not be me that has a life of grievances. It would be her.”
Feng Yu Heng squeezed Xiang Rong’s hand. Who knew where the emotions came from, as she recalled when she had returned from the Northwest to the capital. When she had just returned to the Feng manor, Xiang Rong and Fen Dai had gone to the tiny Liu courtyard. One had come to visit with good intentions, while the other had come to look for trouble with bad intentions. At that time, she really hated that child, Feng Fen Dai. She also really hated the Feng manor. In her heart, she carried her own annoyance and the hatred of the body’s original owner. Their treatment of people was also harsh. Thinking about it now, getting mad at a ten-year-old Fen Dai was the same as bullying a little child.
“You have all matured early.” She said to Xiang Rong, “In truth, as I see it, girls begin showing an interest in romance after turning 16, and they only begin considering marriage after turning 18, while giving birth in their early 20s. This is best.”
Xiang Rong did not really understand. Did her second sister not get engaged very early? Also, she and His Highness the ninth prince found each other congenial? Could it be… “Second sister, you wouldn’t be thinking of delaying for a few years before getting married to His Highness the ninth prince, right? Wasn’t it said that you would get married when you became of age?”
Feng Yu Heng smiled wryly, “What was said before was just what I was hoping for. In reality, who could do it? Even for me, I could not do it.” Forget it, she would not talk about such things with Xiang Rong. This child would not understand it. Feng Yu Heng let go of her hand, leaned against the soft cushion and closed her eyes to rest.
In truth, her original intention was not to see the Feng family fall to its current situation, and she had thought of having everyone get along. The father would be like a father, and the mother would be like a mother. Aside from Chen shi and Feng Chen Yu, she did not have any intention of hurrying to kill the remainder of the Feng family. It was just that things had ended up in this situation as things had progressed. Back when she had been transmigrated, it had been to get revenge for the body’s original owner. Even to this moment, she did not know, would the body’s original owner be happy or blame her for the current state of affairs? The revenge had been carried out and even saw Yao shi get involved. For this point, the original owner would not be happy, right? After all, she was clear in her heart about the feelings of love that she had felt for that mother. As for Yao shi, she had just loved her daughter too much, thus she was so sensitive to her actions. She had already told Xuan Tian Ming that there was no need to hold back when dealing with Yao shi. She just hoped that the original owner would not become resentful because of this. She had truly done all that she could.
The commoners were not the only ones reluctant to see Feng Yu Heng leave the capital. In truth, the Emperor had grieved this matter for quite a few days. Even Zhang Yuan trying all sorts of methods to try and make him happy had failed. His days were spent either in Zhao He Hall or Heavenly Hall. He never went anywhere else. Today, he finally wandered around the palace for a bit; however, as he walked, he ended up in front of Winter Moon Palace.
Zhang Yuan facepalmed. Was this coming out to drive away worries? Was this not coming out to feel even more frustrated?
But the Emperor did not come with the intention of having Imperial Concubine Yun meet him. Instead, he had Zhang Yuan find a stone stool and place it in front of Winter Moon Palace. He then sat on it and began to chat with the palace gate: “A-Heng has left. She said that she’s going to her fief. Right before leaving, she had Ming’er bring us quite a few supplements and medicines. There are also quite a few delicious things to eat. They’re all snacks. In the past, We have never had them before, and they’re very good.” The Emperor fiddled with his fingers and hung his head. He looked like a child that had done something wrong. “It was Us that did things wrong and did not protect her well enough. We know that you like that daughter-in-law, and We like her too, but there’s nothing that can be done. Who made our son a prince, and who made A-Heng engaged to the imperial family? With a foot into the imperial family, from that moment forward, she could no longer escape the worries. Although We have always trusted that she will eventually return, my heart still feels uncomfortable.”
The Emperor just continued to speak as if there was nobody there, and Zhang Yuan chased off the palace servants that had come along. He alone remained at his side and would occasionally wipe away a couple tears. He had heard that the citizens in the capital had gone to send off Feng Yu Heng when she had left the capital. The scene must have been very spectacular. It was just a pity that he could not go, and he did as the Emperor did and silently prayed for her to have a safe trip.
The Emperor’s voice came across once more, as he said: “Pian Pian, don’t get angry. In truth, Our heart does not just think about the country. The majority of it is filled with thoughts of you. There are times when We think that We may as well just hand the throne over to old eighth. Have him succeed the position sooner, and I don’t covet the position of retired emperor. We just want to bring you and our Ming’er and A-Heng to live freely outside of the palace. You like places with verdant hills and clear streams, so let’s just find a place like that. Set up a home and build our own house. If you like, we can slowly build that place up into a small residence. We will be the head of the residence, and you will be the head madam. How great is that?”
He spoke his true feelings; however, Zhang Yuan was shocked from hearing this. His eyes did not rest, as they looked all around for fear that someone with their own motives had heard the Emperor’s words. Although this was the imperial palace, the walls had ears. Who knew which person was a spy planted by someone? If word of this was spread, would it not be the end?
Zhang Yuan was feeling panicked and wanting to advise the Emperor to stop talking or change the topic. What was he doing with constantly bringing up the struggle for the throne for? But the Emperor did not even give him a chance to speak, as he continued: “In truth, old ninth has already brought it up to Us before. He has absolutely no interest in the throne. It’s not just him. A-Heng also does not seem to like it much. Both of those two want to live freely. They’re both thinking of going out and traveling about after settling the world. Finding a place that they like to settle down, they will stay far away from the imperial capital. Look, aren’t those two children quite like you? But also, what’s so good about being the emperor? It looks as if you control the world, but the truth is that you can’t even make decisions for yourself. You’re not even better off than a commoner. Most importantly, they can make decisions for themselves.”
He went on and on, and it was really just him venting his own feelings. He did not have any hopes that there would be a response from inside; however, who knew that what had happened with the master inside. They must have been in a good mood and come out for a stroll. On this stroll, she heard the Emperor’s words and casually replied through the door: “Then quickly give up the throne. I have already gotten annoyed with this damn imperial palace long ago! But you also need to think a bit more about the wellbeing of this country. When choosing a successor, you need to pick someone reliable. Don’t put a tyrant on the throne. When that time comes, they’ll send someone out secretly to carry out assassinations. I won’t be able to feel at ease no matter where I go.”
The Emperor was immediately moved: “Pian Pian! Pian Pian, you’re there! Pian Pian, open up the gate and let Us in to speak with you for a while, alright?”
These pleas continued for another hour. Unfortunately, the person inside never replied back. Zhang Yuan saw the Emperor’s palm had become red from banging on the gate. He could only go forward and forcefully drag him away. He then had a hidden guard forcefully bring him back to Zhao He Hall. He then looked back toward Winter Moon Palace and thought that they really were destined lovers. In his mind, however, he was still thinking about what Imperial Concubine Yun had said. If the throne really was given to the eighth prince, perhaps their days would never be peaceful, right?
The Emperor had given the order to redo the examination questions, and it began with the biggest slap in the face at the lowest level. The officials of the eighth prince’s faction were told to retake the test. Once this decision was made, the left and right prime ministers began to work busily. The two that had not worked together much in the past now began to collaborate. After court was dismissed each day, they would meet and think about each test question. At the same time, they maintained the secrecy of their work to prevent anything from going wrong.
Out of fear of having loose lips with too many people and of spies being planted, the two decided to not accept any assistance. They would personally complete the task. The questions that the two came up with would be written on a piece of paper by Left Prime Minister Lu Song. After their meetings came to an end, the paper would be locked inside a small box and placed inside Gong Ti Pavilion, and nobody else was permitted to enter.
When their meeting on this day came to an end, it was already the evening. After Lu Song returned to his manor, he went and visited Lu Yan. At that time, Ge shi also happened to be present. The two dismissed the servants then personally took care of Lu Yan, who did not have much time left.
If this was the Lu Song of the past, he would not care too much about a daughter in the family. To him, daughters were existences that were to be used for the sake of the family. They would be married into families that could provide them with benefits. From there, they would do their best to bring in even more benefits to their maternal family.
But that was in the past. Previously, the Lu manor was flourishing. Although there was only one son, there were three daughters. There were even two daughters of the first wife, and there was Lu Ping. Although she was a daughter of a concubine, and she had a hidden illness, she had exceptional beauty, which gave him a great deal of confidence. But now, things were different. Lu Yao had died, Lu Cuo had died, Lu Yan’s life would not last much longer, and it seemed that the large family would only have Lu Ping remaining. How did the Lu family end up like this? Could it be that their family could not endure such the fortunes of his career and needed the lives of the family’s children to compensate?
Lu Song had plenty of worries. Thinking about researching the questions, he ended up thinking about how the Emperor’s attitude toward him had visibly improved since the day that he had spoken up for the ninth prince’s side. This was actually in line with the Lu family’s original intentions. He had married Lu Yao into the Yao family for when the Yao family began to prosper alongside the ninth prince. His Lu family would also be able to enjoy the peace. Later on, he turned toward the eighth prince; however, he did not get a single benefit. It even cost Lu Yan’s life. This truly could not be considered fate. It was a mistake in judgment, a mistake!
“Was husband successful in the writing of test questions today?” Ge shi fed Lu Yan the medicine that Feng Yu Heng had left behind. Lu Yan’s complexion looked to have improved by quite a bit, and she hoped that her daughter would get better and would not pass in the way that Feng Yu Heng had said after half a month.
Lu Song nodded, “It went well. Lord Right Prime Minister Fung and I were very thorough in our consideration of the questions. To this moment, there still has been no disagreement. As for Yan’er…” He looked at Lu Yan, “Her complexion today has improved quite a bit.”
Before Ge shi could speak, Lu Yan took the initiative to say without any strength: “It’s just on the surface. On the inside, the oil for the lamp has already run out!”