Feng Xing: Chapter 91
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Translation: marchmallow
It was Prince Wei who spoke.
He was donned in an informal robe with his left hand clasped behind his back and his eyes dour, seeming as though he had been standing there for a while.
Feng Sheng sighed in her heart and said, “It’s nothing. The two girls were just joking around. Alright, you all withdraw.”
Zhi Qiu shot her a troubled glance and tagged after Zhi Chun outside.
Prince Wei strode to the seat opposite Feng Sheng and settled down. Dong Mei brought tea inside the room. Between them settled an eerie silence. Prince Wei skimmed the tea foam with the teacup’s lid, while Feng Sheng raised her tea for a sip. She usually drank a sweeter variety of tea, but today, the brew was slightly bitter.
“Is there nothing you want to tell me?” That wasn’t actually what Prince Wei wanted to say, but the tone of his words changed.
“There is.” She lowered her head and simpered. She was scarcely quick to switch her plans. She had squandered the past few days ruminating, but now, she no longer needed to dwell on it.
“Let’s sign a separation agreement.”
A deathly stillness befell the room.
“Fang Feng Sheng, do you know what you’re saying?”
Feng Sheng refused to look at him and instead fixed her eyes straight ahead. “I know. I’m serious.”
With a brittle sound, tea splashed all over the floor.
Prince Wei sneered, but the sneer didn’t succeed and midway transformed into a wry chuckle.
“I’m giving you another chance. Say it once more.”
Feng Sheng stared down at the palm of her hand, then raised her head again. “Let’s sign a separation agreement.”
Prince Wei overturned the small kang table with a loud bang, and it rolled twice before it came to a halt. The crystal bead curtain rustled, and the man’s figure vanished from her line of sight. Feng Sheng never looked at him from beginning to end.
“Princess Consort.” Someone outside the door softly called out.
“All withdraw. Leave me in peace.”
Feng Sheng rose to her feet, plodded to the inner room, shut the door, and flumped down on the edge of the bed.
……
Outside the door, Zhi Qiu leered at Zhi Chun with a snarl. “Are you satisfied? Satisfied?!”
Zhi Chun’s face was ridden with tears, but she stubbornly explained with her head half-hung, “I was also just thinking for the Princess Consort’s sake.”
Zhi Qiu’s face contorted. Dong Mei, who stood across them, attempted to mediate between the two but wasn’t cognizant of what had actually transpired. Zhi Qiu yanked Zhi Chun’s hand and dragged her to their room.
“What are you doing?! You’re hurting me!”
Regardless of Zhi Qiu’s small stature, her strength wasn’t meager. She relentlessly jerked Zhi Chun into their shared room, banged the door close, and fiercely shook off the other’s hand.
“Miss is already unhappy, and you want to add insult to injury. What do you want? Tell me, what are you planning?”
“What can I be planning? Aren’t you aware of my intentions? I just can’t bear seeing Miss unhappy. Don’t you know how Madam used to live? Madam and Miss lived such difficult lives. You shouldn’t forget that Miss is a princess consort, a daughter-in-law of the imperial family. How can an imperial daughter-in-law not bear a child? When the moment comes, even if the Prince protects her, will the Prince be able to do so for the rest of their lives? If the one above rewards a concubine below, our Miss will have to endure watching others bear the Prince’s children. For how long do you think our Miss can rely on the Prince if he’s had children with others?”
……
With Fang Feng Sheng’s pride and conviction, when that time comes, after a while, she would certainly be unable to stand just sitting idly by and watching from the side.
Hence, she chose to sign a separation agreement.
Light still infiltrated the space. Feng Sheng got up and lowered the outer layer of the bed-curtain on the babu bed, and her narrow world eventually dimmed.
*
Prince Wei had not set foot in the main courtyard for several days.
What exactly he was doing, no one knew. Feng Sheng didn’t ask, nor did she let anyone else pry.
She was still living her life as before. Nothing seemed to have changed, but someone in the manor surreptitiously disseminated that the Princess Consort had fallen out of favor.
Her catching wind of this rumor was purely accidental. Feng Sheng inadvertently heard it in the courtyard. Those gossiping were two crude young servant girls. Their tone of voice wasn’t quite like they were delighting in others’ misfortune, but rather somewhat concerned. As the two whispered words they had heard from outside, who would have thought Feng Sheng would hear them by chance?
In fact, Zhi Qiu and Dong Mei were both perfectly aware about this matter, but everyone kept it a secret and didn’t want Feng Sheng to know. In this case, even if both girls were punished for gossiping, in the end, she had already found out, so it would still be useless. Although Feng Sheng said nothing, she grew more and more ruminative.
Zhi Qiu was anxious, but there was nothing she could do about it. This was Zhi Chun’s fault. She didn’t even have the chance to share her distress with someone else.
A few days later, Prince Wei brought back a woman from outside, which further confirmed the rumor of Feng Sheng losing favor.
This time, Zhi Qiu tried to repeat her old tricks of suppressing hearsay, but she unfortunately didn’t succeed. With how keen a person Feng Sheng was, coupled with her downcast mood, the various abnormalities of the servant girls couldn’t be concealed from her eyes. After extracting a few words from them, she figured out the whole thing.
No one knew this woman’s given name and surname, but everyone addressed her as Miss Qing. She was arranged to live in Qixia Pavilion. It was said that Prince Wei very much doted on her, staying there every night for several days and rewarding her with plenty of things.
“Miss, don’t take it to heart. Perhaps there’s some sort of misunderstanding. How could the Prince……” Zhi Qiu was stumbling. She knew that her consolation was utterly powerless. What misunderstandings could there be? They simply misunderstood his passionate love. In this world, only a few men didn’t have three wives and four concubines, either because their family was too poor to afford to marry, or because of their own physical lapses. Even those small landlords were supporting at least two concubines at home, let alone a dignified Prince of the First Rank.
“Alright, I’m fine. Isn’t this a good outcome? I no longer have to worry about having children,” Feng Sheng consoled with a smile.
“But……”
“Right, when will Uncle Yu arrive?”
Zhi Qiu was befuddled. She had never told Miss about this, so how could she have known that Uncle Yu was coming? In an instant, she realized that it wasn’t surprising for Miss to have guessed Uncle Yu’s arrival. After all, it was no small matter.
“This servant doesn’t know. He also didn’t say. Perhaps they will arrive in a few days.”
Feng Sheng nodded and said nothing more.
*
Feng Sheng once again entered the palace to visit Imperial Noble Consort Li and the sixteenth prince.
The sixteenth prince’s growth was evident day after day. He was still very fair and had ample fat. She accompanied Imperial Noble Consort Li to chat for a while, and then took her leave.
After she left, Imperial Noble Consort Li’s expression was rather pensive. She asked Qian Ru, “Why do I feel that Princess Consort Wei seems to have something weighing on her mind? What has occurred at the Wei Prince Manor as of late?”
Qian Ru’s eyes flickered. “Your Ladyship mustn’t think too much. What can happen to the Wei Prince Manor? His Highness and the Princess Consort are perfectly fine.”
Imperial Noble Consort Li cast her a thoughtful look and replied, “Alright, if you have something to say, don’t hide it. You can’t hide it from me even if you want to.”
“It’s nothing, really. It’s just that His Highness brought back a woman to the prince manor, and it’s said that she’s been favored recently. Perhaps the Princess Consort is heavily upset because of this?”
“A woman?” Imperial Noble Consort Li was flabbergasted. She further inquired, “Where did the woman come from?”
“She seems to have been sent by the third gentleman of the Qiao family.”
“The Qiao family? Which Qiao family?” It quickly dawned on Imperial Noble Consort Li which Qiao family it was. Which Qiao family could it be? It was certainly that Qiao family from Prince Wei’s first marriage.
Qian Ru remarked, “The woman’s background seems to be quite indecent. Your Ladyship, don’t take it to heart. She’s nothing but a plaything.”
“Yue’er wouldn’t accept a woman someone else had sent without rhyme or reason. Something must have happened in between.” Imperial Noble Consort Li mulled over it and suddenly sighed, “If that’s the case, one fears that something will beset them.”
Qian Ru stared at her with puzzlement and asked, “Your Ladyship, what do you mean?”
“Feng’er, that child, is different from ordinary women. She may be amiable and good-humored, but she is actually proud deep in her bones. She was raised as a boy. She isn’t like us who think that our husbands are more important than the heavens. How can she tolerate serving the same husband as others?”
Qian Ru genuinely found it difficult to comprehend. If she was such a woman, why had Her Ladyship acquiesced to His Highness’s union with her and even offered her assistance in the throes of it?
“At that time, I was only thinking how accustomed Yue’er was to being indifferent and aloof. Since he finally had someone he liked, this mother also couldn’t deter him. I had thought he could be wholeheartedly devoted, but I didn’t expect……”
“Didn’t expect what?” The Jianping Emperor sauntered in.
Imperial Noble Consort Li hurriedly rose. “Your Majesty, why didn’t the palace maids outside report?” she asked while doing a curtsy. As she bent her knees, the Jianping Emperor pulled her up and led her to the kang to take a seat. “I didn’t let them report. What were you talking about? While I was still outside, I heard you say something about a husband being more important than the heavens. What of wholehearted devotion?”
Now, Consort Li couldn’t conceal it even if she wanted to, so she told the truth and complained about what kind of woman the third gentleman of the Qiao family had sent Prince Wei.
“What’s so wrong about sending a woman? Zhen has always felt that Prince Wei has too few people around him, a dignified prince. It’s simply absurd! In the past, when zhen rewarded him with women, he always didn’t want them. Never would have expected him to be enlightened this time around.”
Consort Li glanced at the Jianping Emperor. There weren’t even a few men in the Zong family who were ugly. Their good looks were all first-class. Although the Jianping Emperor was older, he was still tall, upright and well-maintained. Except for some of the hair on his temples that had turned white after several years of ruling over the court and the government, his mien still manifested the vigor of a man in his early forties.
“This concubine is just afraid he’ll regret it later.” Consort Li was still smiling, but her smile was a lot more subdued.
“Regret what? Zhen also heard what you just said. She, Fang Feng Sheng, is not a princess.1 Why won’t she be able to bear serving the same husband as others? Are you saying that zhen’s son should spend his entire life with just her alone?”
“This concubine didn’t mean it that way.”
Perhaps her perfunctory response was too obvious, but the Jianping Emperor, who was seldom this serious, drew her over and probed, “What do you mean, then?”
“How can Your Majesty be curious about such things? This concubine was just carelessly talking drivel.”
“But zhen doesn’t think you’re simply talking drivel. You seem to have something heavy inside your heart,” the Jianping Emperor said as he cast her a profound look.
Consort Li could no longer maintain the smile on her face. With half-lowered eyelids, her expression, though somewhat dissociated, was as gentle as it was in the past. “Really, it’s nothing. This concubine just thinks that, since they’re mutually in love, isn’t it fine for them to have just each other? Why send some outsiders over to upset them? Women are different from men. We can share one husband, but in reality, is there anyone actually willing to share?”
Right this instant, the sixteenth prince began to cry. Consort Li stood up to attend to him, seizing it as an opportunity to set the matter aside. The Jianping Emperor gazed at her back with an introspective look on his face.
*
After alighting the carriage, Zhi Qiu bid people to prepare a soft sedan chair, but Feng Sheng refused to sit and instead insisted that she preferred walking a few steps as a way to improve her mood.
The pleasant season rendered a crisp autumn climate. The flowers, plants and trees in the garden were still so verdant and lush. Day after day and year after year, there were people tending to the garden, but only few people could enjoy the scenery.
As she was squinting at a few distant osmanthus trees in full bloom, Feng Sheng took Zhi Qiu with her to check.
The fragrance of a slew of clusters and layers of pale yellow petals permeated the air. Feng Sheng snapped off a branch, hovered it by her nose, took a whiff, and instructed, “Have someone pick some later to make some sweet-scented osmanthus cakes with. The osmanthus nectar is good enough. It would be a waste if it withers.”
Shortly after, something seemed to have occurred to her. She said, “Never mind, no need. That time won’t come anymore.”
“Miss,” Zhi Qiu couldn’t help but say.
This very moment, two people emerged from the slope, and it appeared as though they were master and servant.
The first one was dressed as a Miss. She had the countenance of a flower and a face like the moon. Her slender build and gentle posture carried with her a certain charm unique to women from water-bound towns in Jiangnan. The other was a servant girl. Upon catching sight of Feng Sheng, she lowered her head and tugged at the Miss in front of her.
As Feng Sheng scrutinized her appearance, it was not difficult to guess the identity of the other party. She didn’t expect to stumble upon her so soon.
“This servant concubine greets Princess Consort.”
This self-address of ‘this servant concubine’ confounded Feng Sheng. Zhi Qiu naturally heard it and raised her eyebrows as she riled, “This servant concubine? Whose concubine are you? You haven’t even knelt down to offer tea to the Princess Consort. Who recognizes you as a concubine?”
“Even if you won’t recognize her, the Prince will, and that’s what matters.” The young servant girl muttered indignantly.
This person called Miss Qing hastily explained, “Princess Consort, please don’t blame her. This servant girl doesn’t understand the rules. What Miss said is correct. This servant concubine hasn’t offered tea to Princess Consort. His Highness also said that Princess Consort was frail and must not be disturbed. If Princess Consort is willing, this servant concubine will serve tea to Princess Consort tomorrow, hoping that Princess Consort will not, by all means, rebuke us.”
Zhi Qiu was infuriated and itched to spew something out, but Feng Sheng jerked her way.
“No need. Since His Highness said not to disturb, you’d better listen. Zhi Qiu, let’s go. I’m exhausted after spending too long outside.”
As she spoke, Feng Sheng led Zhi Qiu away with an air of indifference, not even sparing Miss Qing a glance. Naturally, she missed the other party’s ugly expression after her departure.
“What are you fighting those people for?”
“This servant was just too unbearably angry. You know what her words meant,” Zhi Qiu grumbled indignantly.
“Can’t you see you’ve been caught in someone else’s trap? She was waiting for you to say precisely that.”
In stark realization, Zhi Qiu exclaimed, “How can these people be so scheming!” After a pause, she noticed that Feng Sheng uttered no response and looked at her warily. “Miss, are you really going to leave? If the Prince finds out……”
“Winter in the capital is too cold. It’s best to comfortably pass the winter in a warm place. As for what happens in the future, we will discuss it later.”
The day after, Prince Wei left the Wei Prince Manor one moment, and Feng Sheng sped out the next.
She used the pretext of going to the Liang Prince Manor to visit Princess Consort Liang, but halfway through, the carriage knocked a person over. When the bodyguards settled the accident, Feng Sheng was no longer in the carriage, but she had left behind a letter.
As for when she left, no one knew.
Author’s Note:
I won’t bully the characters, ah. Really, I won’t. Don’t worry.
Translator’s Note:
I know what you guys are thinking. Might be a spoiler but not quite. (Click)
Uh, I did promise on Chapter 85 that Prince Wei will no longer be a jerk. Have faith in our currently uncharacteristic leads.
1 The emperor is talking about princess as in his daughters, since they’re from the imperial family and thus have more rights. Because of their background, their husbands will be reluctant, or perhaps even prohibited, to accept concubines, especially so if the princess is doted on by the emperor. Basically, what the emperor is saying is, “Feng Sheng isn’t even a royal. What gives her the right to disdain her husband, zhen’s son, a prince, for accepting concubines?”
