In the capital of the Celestial Han Empire, the Feng family’s grand banquet stretched from morning to afternoon, with no end in sight.
This banquet was held to celebrate the acceptance of the younger generations of the Feng family into the Celestial Moon Dao Sect—which was currently the number one leading righteous sect in the Han Empire!
The family had been in decline for decades, with no noticeable young talent, but it seemed that they had struck gold, and two of the younger generations even had unique physiques.
After this revelation, the elders in the family decided to hold a large event and invited many important ministers and sect elders to further widen their connections.
Feng Xianyue and Old Madam Feng arrived in the capital since morning and headed straight to the Feng family’s household.
There, they were told to wait in the side hall for hours with no one attending to them.
The Feng family didn’t even have the courtesy to send tea and a few snacks to them.
That was how they waited.
Luckily for Feng Xianyue, spiritual qi could sustain her body for a while without eating, and she had her spiritual water and a few dried meats, which Old Madam Feng happily ate.
Nevertheless, Feng Xianyue still took this as a lesson and decided to stock her space with the necessary food resources whenever she got the chance.
In the evening, most of the guests left, but the rest that remained were led to the guest quarters where they would spend the night and rest.
It was then that Feng Xianyue and Old Madam Feng were called into the family hall, where all members of the Feng family—consisting of the first branch to the fourth branch—were seated.
The old master of the Feng family, Old Madam Feng’s husband, was in seclusion.
So the current master of the Feng family was Feng Ming, the first son of the late Mrs.
Feng.
Old Madam Feng, though a concubine, was still a mother figure to Feng Ming and his brothers, yet none of them stood up to pay respect to her.
Instead, Feng Ming sat arrogantly at the head table with his wife Su Yan, his children, and his second, third, and fourth brothers, all seated below, watching Feng Xianyue like a detestable alien.
“Concubine Li, what made you return without being summoned first?” Feng Ming asked Old Madam Feng, using her family name.
“Young Master, Xian’er has been sickly since birth, and without proper medication, her illness became worse.
Recently, the doctor diagnosed her to only have a few months left to live.” Old Madam Feng said, sniffing softly.
“We came back to get help from the family.
After all, Xian’er is still Feng Zhifeng’s daughter—a child of the Feng cl…”
CRASH!
A cup struck the floor with a sharp crack, cutting off Old Madam Feng before she could finish her words.
Feng Zhifeng stood up, pointing at Feng Xianyue enraged, and said, “What daughter of mine?
That jinx is no child of mine!”
Shen Ruolan flinched at her husband’s words, terrified for herself.
She had always been cautious and careful of making any mistakes since giving birth to Feng Xianyue.
Given her concubine status, she would have been banished alongside her jinx of a daughter if she didn’t already have a son.
She glared at her daughter hatefully, blaming her for losing favour with her husband.
“Fourth brother, calm down,” Feng Ming said.
“We still have guests.
What if someone hears and says we are bullying a sick child?” she continued in a soft voice.
Feng Zhifeng huffed and reluctantly sat down, but his annoyed gaze never left Feng Xianyue.
Feng Yue was his only daughter, and he would never acknowledge that jinx!
“Concubine Li, as you can see, Xianyue is not welcomed.
Even if she was, Father has to permit her return first.” Feng Ming began, looking helpless.
“You coming back like this puts us in a difficult position.
Father would not accept such disrespect.”
Old Madam Feng shivered, knowing her husband’s temper.
The man had disliked her ever since he found out she was barren.
At the beginning, when Old Master Feng showed interest in her, she wanted to refuse him, but she feared his reaction to her refusal and gave in.
She was favoured for a few years, but when he found out she was barren, she was hated instead.
Presently, though she was fearful, she believed the Old Master would grant her request.
After all, at one point in time, she was favoured by him, and she knew if she didn’t try, her Xian’er was just a sitting duck waiting for death.
“Young Master, please have mercy and let her stay.
Xian’er is a good child.
Even as a child, she has always been talented and intelligent.
I am sure she would not bring disgrace to the Feng family.”
“Humph!” Feng Lian, Old Master Feng’s daughter, snickered.
“Talented?
What could a village bumpkin know?
Did you learn to read from the chickens you fed, or did the pigs teach you?”
Invited to the boring family banquet Feng Lian didn’t expect to be met with such entertainment.
She no longer regretted coming.
Old Madam Feng glared at Feng Lian, offended in behalf of her granddaughter.
Feng Xianyue, seeing that no one was bothered about her opinion, spoke up.
She couldn’t let her grandmother take all the burden.
“First Uncle, I might be lacking in many ways, but there are some things I’m good at.
Though I’m still at Qi Condensation, with enough resources, I wouldn’t be a disgrace to the Feng family,” she said, bowing her head in respect to Feng Ming.
A loud laughter resounded in the entire hall. This story is hosted at g.com.
“Feng Xianyue, do you mean to say that you are talented when you are still at Qi Condensation?” Feng Lian mocked.
“Even your junior sister Feng Yue is already at the Foundation Establishment, and you have the mouth to talk?”
The rest in the hall all nodded their heads, looking down on Feng Xianyue.
What they didn’t know was that it only took Feng Xianyue ten days to reach her level with no resources, while the younger generations of the Feng family spent years cultivating with abundant resources.
“Fourth brother, if she wants to remain in the capital, she must be useful to the family.” Feng Lian began.
“It is not bad that the child only has mediocre talent.
After all, she is still a girl, so we can find a suitable man for her to marry, thereby benefitting the family.”
“Hmm, that might work, what about the Jiang family?” Feng Zhifeng said, a cold smile spreading across his face.
“The old man still has no heir.
I heard he is still trying but only ends up with girls.
Xianyue is still young and fertile.
Once she gets a child for the Jiang family, the status of the Feng family will rise again.”
Feng Xianyue’s heart stopped.
Marriage?
To the Jiang family?
She had read about that family in the original book…the head was a lecherous old man who had buried three wives already.
She would rather die.
Was this man really the original owner’s father?
“Zhifeng is right.
Xianyue is already of age, and it is time to find a husband for her.
That way, she could be of use to the Feng family,” Han Meiling said, smiling softly at her husband.
“Ruolan, send the matchmakers to the Jiang family tomorrow.
The engagement must be concluded soon.”
“Yes, Madam Feng,” Shen Ruolan nodded obediently, gritting her teeth.
Though she hated Feng Xianyue….hated the reminder of her own shame, her own weakness.
But this?
Marrying her daughter to an old man?
It was a disgrace she couldn’t stomach.
Han Meiling, that witch.
She says her daughter is of age—what about Feng Yue, who was the same age as Xianyue?
She really just wants to make things difficult for me and humiliate me, Shen Ruolan thought, clenching her fist to contain her rage.