“I see.”
No wonder the Chu family didn’t know that her biological parents had such an impressive background.
“But now An’an’s parents and family are gone. If she leaves the manor, she’ll have nowhere to go. Let her continue to stay here—consider her an extra daughter. What do you think, Wangge?”
At this point, Ling Cang and Feng Zhuyue were still seeking Feng Wangge’s opinion.
Ling An’an, however, was filled with humiliation. Now even her fate of staying or leaving had to be decided with Feng Wangge’s input—why should that be?
“I’ll follow Father and Mother’s wishes.”
Feng Wangge was quite open-minded about it. After all, they had raised the girl for so many years, and there was still affection there. She understood.
“Once your brothers return to Jingcheng, we will hold a banquet for you and announce to everyone that you’ve come home. I will also petition His Majesty to grant you a title. You are my daughter—whatever is rightfully yours, your father and I will give you the best.”
As the daughter of the Chang Gongzhu and the Shezhengwang, she should at least hold the rank of Junzhu.
“Oh, right. Your mother has arranged attendants for you—all carefully selected by me. They will surely take good care of you.”
Feng Zhuyue waved her hand, and four young women of eighteen or nineteen stepped forward. They had proper features and composed expressions, unfazed by favor or disgrace, and curtsied to Feng Wangge.
“No need. Father, Mother, I don’t need attendants.”
Feng Wangge didn’t like strangers getting too close.
“Sister, with your noble status, if you have no one attending you, wouldn’t that make others look down on our Shezhengwangfu? Word will spread, and people will say we don’t know proper decorum.”
Ling An’an finally found a chance to assert her presence, speaking to Feng Wangge with a light smile. Feng Wangge frowned—would this woman ever stop?
“Who would dare say my daughter lacks decorum? Wangge, don’t restrain yourself. Do whatever makes you happy. You have your father and mother behind you. If anyone dares to bully you, we’ll deal with them.”
Ling Cang and Feng Zhuyue waved their hands dismissively. The daughter they had finally found after so long would be doted on in every way possible. Rules and propriety—what did those matter?
Ling An’an fell silent, her heart aching even more. Why was it that now that Feng Wangge had returned, her parents didn’t care about her at all anymore?
Could blood ties really outweigh more than a decade of affection?
“Father, Mother, why don’t I find two people myself to stay close by my side?”
As she said this, two faces surfaced in Feng Wangge’s mind.
They should have arrived in Jingcheng by now.
“Alright, we’ll listen to you. But the people must be trustworthy. Chunhui, Xiazhi, Qiuyue, and Dongling will work outside, so your courtyard won’t be short-handed.”
Feng Wangge nodded. After lunch, Ling Cang and Feng Zhuyue told her to rest well in her room.
Everything was so natural and attentive. Feng Wangge felt grateful to have such biological parents.
Meanwhile, Ling An’an returned to her own courtyard in a daze.
“Junzhu, why do you look unhappy? Didn’t the Wangye and Chang Gongzhu say you’re still the young lady of the manor? They’ll love you just as they always have.”
Ling An’an’s maidservant Ye’er asked in confusion.
“Silly girl, the Junzhu has just gone through such a great upheaval, and you’re asking such things? Go stand aside. Junzhu, you must not sink into despair right now, or you’ll end up with nothing.”
Another maidservant, Liu’er, who looked sharper, spoke with her eyes darting about.
“But what am I supposed to do now? Father and Mother’s hearts are entirely set on that wretched girl.”
Ling An’an was furious. She had been her parents’ only daughter, living a life that even princesses would envy. Why did Feng Wangge have to appear out of nowhere, and why were her parents so good to her?
“Junzhu, think about it. The Wangye and Chang Gongzhu have already said they’ll petition for a title for her. What will happen to your Junzhu title then? And don’t forget—you still have a marriage contract with His Highness the Crown Prince. This was an engagement set by the late emperor. Everyone used to think you were the certain Taizifei, the future Empress. But now? Have you considered whether things might change?”
Liu’er spoke with a serious tone. Ling An’an’s face immediately turned pale upon hearing this.
No. She was the future Taizifei, the biological daughter of the Shezhengwang and Chang Gongzhu. All women envied her and curried favor with her because of this.
If she lost all of that, she couldn’t bear to imagine what her future would be.
“Everyone knows I’m betrothed to His Highness the Crown Prince. My manners, upbringing, and skills in qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting have all been praised by everyone. That Feng Wangge knows nothing. Father and Mother wouldn’t let her marry the Crown Prince—they’re the ones who care most about the bigger picture.”
If someone who understood neither etiquette nor the arts were to become Taizifei, wouldn’t that be a laughingstock?
“Eldest Young Lady, the Chang Gongzhu requests your presence. They have something they wish to discuss with you.”
Just then, someone announced from outside.
Ling An’an found it strange—why would her mother summon her so late in the evening? Yet she failed to notice that where everyone had once addressed her as Junzhu, they now called her “First Young Miss.”
“An’an, when Wangge was here just now, there were some things your mother didn’t make clear. But I need to tell you now, so that you won’t resent me in the future.”
Feng Zhuyue pulled Ling An’an to sit beside her, her eyes still full of affection.
“Mother, what could you possibly have to say that you can’t say to your own daughter?”
Ling An’an leaned affectionately against Feng Zhuyue’s shoulder, speaking in a coquettish tone.
Seeing Ling An’an like this, Feng Zhuyue smiled and ruffled her hair.
“You silly girl, always so clingy.” Her words were as intimate as ever, and Ling An’an relaxed—it seemed she was still the most beloved daughter of her parents.
Then Feng Zhuyue’s gaze turned serious, and she gently brushed a strand of hair from Ling An’an’s face.
“You are your father’s and my daughter, and we will love you just as before. But your title of Junzhu and your engagement to the Crown Prince must both be given to Wangge. His Majesty already knows of Wangge’s return, so this matter must be made clear, or it would be a crime of deceiving the emperor.”
Ling An’an’s eyes flew wide open, her face filled with disbelief. Her eyes reddened instantly, and tears fell in large drops.
“But rest assured, even without the marriage to the Crown Prince, your father and I will find you a husband of excellent status, character, and virtue, so that the rest of your life will be happy and worry-free.”
With the prestige of the Shezhengwang and the Chang Gongzhu behind her, as long as they still acknowledged Ling An’an as their daughter, no one would dare treat her poorly.
But Ling An’an was both heartbroken and furious. Sure enough, now that they had found their biological daughter, they had forgotten her.
“But Mother, I truly love Brother Crown Prince. And the Empress and the Crown Prince have both set their hearts on me. If we suddenly change the arrangement now, I’m afraid the Empress and the Crown Prince won’t agree.”
Ling An’an asked with a mix of caution and stubbornness. The Emperor, the Empress, and the Crown Prince all thought so highly of her—surely they wouldn’t agree.
Hearing this, Feng Zhuyue felt a headache coming on. She naturally knew how much Ling An’an adored the Crown Prince. If this had been before, it would have been a cause for celebration. But now, things were different.
In the eyes of the imperial family, a biological daughter and an adopted daughter were entirely different concepts. The bloodline of the imperial house could not tolerate any confusion.
“I will discuss this with the Emperor, the Empress, and the Crown Prince.”
Feng Zhuyue was troubled, but she knew that no matter what happened, she would never let Feng Wangge suffer any injustice.
Meanwhile, as they talked, Feng Wangge had quietly changed into a set of lightweight clothes, soundlessly vaulted over the wall, and left the Shezhengwangfu. Winding through the streets, she arrived at an exquisitely built pavilion.
There, someone had long been waiting for her with eager anticipation.