Two old women entered the room and glared at the figures on the bed.
Third Prince Nangong Chen and Feng Xue’er were in the throes of passion, having completely lost their senses.
No matter how hard the two women tried to pull them apart, the pair remained entangled.
Granny Liu glanced at the teapot and poured its entire contents directly onto their faces.
Nangong Chen and Feng Xue’er instantly sobered up. Seeing themselves completely naked with the two old women staring at them, they flew into a rage: “You dogs! Get out at once!”
The women dared not speak, thinking to themselves: Who would want to come in and see such a disgraceful sight?
Granny Liu spoke up: “Second Miss, if you don’t leave now, the fire will reach Xuemei Courtyard.”
“What? There’s a fire!”
Feng Xue’er’s body was covered in marks from their intimacy.
She put on her dress. “Third Cousin, Xue’er will help you get dressed.”
Once dressed, the two walked out.
The fire was finally brought under control, and Xuemei Courtyard remained unharmed.
The servants chattered among themselves. “Why hasn’t the Prime Minister come yet?”
“I heard he’s currently performing the rites of Zhou with Second Concubine. He’s quite vigorous—even such a big commotion couldn’t draw him away.”
Fourth Concubine hurriedly bowed in greeting: “Greetings, Third Prince!”
This remark, unfortunately, caused an uproar among the crowd: “So it’s the Third Prince!”
One person whispered: “Why not just marry her openly? What’s the point of sneaking around?”
Another chimed in: “A wife is not as good as a concubine, a concubine is not as good as a stolen affair, and a stolen affair is not as good than one that remains unconsummated.”
Nangong Chen had never been so humiliated, especially in front of so many servants. His face turned ashen as he strode out without a word.
Fourth Concubine looked at Feng Xue’er. Chenyu still had to marry in the future; this matter must not spread.
It was hardly a glorious affair either. She ordered, “There’s nothing more to see here. Everyone, return to your duties. What happened today must not be mentioned to outsiders. You all know the Prime Minister’s methods.”
“Yes!” The crowd dispersed.
Third Concubine had also arrived at Xuemei Courtyard at some point, her face full of disdain.
“I thought the daughter raised by Second Concubine would be more virtuous, but it seems not. She hasn’t even left the boudoir and is already seducing men. What if he doesn’t marry her? How will she ever marry after this? She’s brought shame upon the Prime Minister’s Mansion.”
Third Concubine had come from a brothel, selling her talents but not her body. She was once noticed by Chancellor Feng and taken as a concubine. Usually subjected to ridicule, today she had finally caught them in a compromising situation and wouldn’t miss this opportunity.
Feng Xue’er glared at her. “At least I’m better than you. When I marry into Chenwang Residence, I’ll at least be a Side Consort. Unlike some people—a brothel prostitute, ridden by thousands and trampled by tens of thousands, her body as filthy as a latrine. I don’t know what Father was thinking, taking in someone from a brothel. It’s a disgrace to the Prime Minister’s Mansion.”
Third Concubine flared up: “In the brothel, we sold our talents, not our bodies. We earned our keep with skill. That’s still better than you engaging in illicit relations within your own chambers. It’s utterly indecent. If the Emperor learns of this, I doubt you’ll even qualify as a Side Consort—such impropriety!”
“You… you!” Feng Xue’er was too furious to speak.
Fourth Concubine hurriedly mediated: “We’re all family. Both of you, say no more. Let’s return as well.”
With that, she walked out.
Feng Xue’er returned to her room in a rage, smashing all the teacups on the table to the ground.
“How could this happen? How could the storeroom catch fire for no reason!”
Meixiang dared not say much, only asking quietly: “Second Miss, shall I have them prepare water for your bath?”
Feng Xue’er looked at the tea leaves on her clothes, her face filled with anger: “Hurry up and go, do you even need to ask!”
Meixiang was Feng Xue’er’s personal maid. As if granted a pardon, she quickly slipped away.
Feng Xue’er touched her abdomen and murmured to herself: “I hope I conceive this time.
If I become pregnant, I can rely on the child to elevate my status and enter the Chenwang Residence openly and honorably.
With my aunt, Consort Shu, backing me, no one in the rear courtyard would dare look down on me.”
…………
The steward looked at the warehouse, burned beyond recognition, with a helpless expression: [The guards of the courtyard are nowhere to be found. The Prime Minister will surely be furious tomorrow morning.
How should I explain this? What will be will be. If it’s a blessing, it’s not a disaster; if it’s a disaster, it can’t be avoided. Let nature take its course.]
Lady Xu returned to her courtyard, and Feng Chenyu followed her inside. “Fourth Concubine, the warehouse caught fire, and everything inside is gone. What should we do?”
Lady Xu said coldly, “What does the warehouse fire have to do with us!
The Second Concubine holds all the power. We only receive our monthly allowances, not a single tael more.
Although we have our own small kitchen, the silver we use comes entirely from the income of the shops in my dowry, with no connection to the Prime Minister’s Mansion.
The silver in the warehouse and Lady Jiang’s dowry were all prepared for Feng Xue’er and Feng Yan’er. You won’t get a single penny.
In my opinion, this fire was a good thing. Lady Liu won’t get those dowries either.”
Feng Chenyu seemed to understand and asked, “Concubine, who started it?”
The Fourth Concubine glanced at her: “The Prime Minister’s Mansion is like a big dye vat, filthy through and through.
There’s nothing we can do about it in the mansion.
Just focus on ourselves and stay away from those two sisters. Both of them have wicked hearts.”
“Concubine, tomorrow is the eldest sister’s funeral. Is she really dead?”
The Fourth Concubine sighed sadly: “She was also a pitiful soul.
She never even knew what her birth mother looked like. She was likely killed by the Second Concubine.”
“The eldest sister was so pitiful. Tomorrow, I’ll spread the news about Feng Xue’er and the Third Prince throughout the capital.”
The Fourth Concubine looked at her: “No, you must not act recklessly.
The Prime Minister’s Mansion is also your home. A tarnished reputation won’t do you any good. You still have to marry in the future.”
Feng Chenyu said with determination: “The future depends on fate. If someone truly likes me, they’ll marry me even if I’m not the Prime Minister’s daughter.
If they marry me just because I’m the Prime Minister’s daughter, such a marriage isn’t worth having. They wouldn’t treat me sincerely anyway.”
Hearing her words, the Fourth Concubine found some sense in them.
But she still reminded her: “This matter has nothing to do with us. Don’t get involved.”
“Don’t worry, Concubine. I won’t do anything.”
Lady Xu frowned deeply: “I’ve always told you to keep a low profile.
On the surface, we only rely on the income from two shops and a small monthly allowance to get by. The Second Concubine knows all this.
If the mansion runs out of silver, even food and drink will become a problem. Given the Second Concubine’s nature, she’ll try to take our silver.”
She looked up at the ceiling beams. “You know martial arts. Hide this small box up there.”
With that, she opened a wardrobe, took out a small box, and handed it to Feng Chenyu.
“This is the dowry I’ve prepared for you. Your father has never given me a single tael of silver privately.
Now that the Prime Minister’s Mansion is in trouble, we must protect ourselves. Keep a low profile from now on, and cut back on food and expenses.”
Fourth Concubine opened the chest, which contained quite a few silver notes. She took out three, handing one to Feng Chenyu: “Keep this one for yourself to spend.”
She then placed the other two in the wardrobe.
Feng Chenyu tucked away the silver note, glanced at the ceiling, and picked up the small chest. “Auntie, I’ll go hide this now.”
Fourth Concubine nodded.
Feng Chenyu lifted the chest, leaped up to the roof in one swift motion, hid the chest securely, and jumped back down.
“Tomorrow is your eldest sister’s funeral. Keep quiet and don’t speak up for her injustice. Your father and the others are still furious, looking for an outlet for their anger.”
“Yes, I understand, Mother.”
The mother and daughter chatted a while longer before Feng Chenyu took her leave.