Chapter 363 Anhe Palace and Consort Xian’s Past
They did not go to Cining Palace in the end. The three pairs of newlyweds had only just left Qianqing palace when the Empress Dowager’s servants came to tell them that the Empress Dowager was ill. She had fallen asleep after taking medicine and told them to visit when they are free. That meant that she was not in the mood to receive them. The Empress Dowager’s status was still higher than theirs, as such, everyone just said something to show their concern.
Then, the three pairs of newlyweds left!
Feng Yuxuan wanted to take Ling Fengyan to see Consort Su. Feng Yulei and You Yue’e returned to King Yan’s Manor. Feng Yuran brought Mo Xuetong to a palace that had not been lived in for a long while!
Anhe Palace.
It was silent in the great all. Consort Xian had long passed away. However, while it was quiet in the great hall, it was not in ruins. It was obvious that someone had been keeping it clean and even the incense in the incense pot was kept burning, releasing wafts of fragrance. The faint floral scent was very comforting.
Feng Yuran dragged Mo Xuetong to kneel on the carpet in front of the couch. His long lashes lowered to hide the pain that flickered in his eyes. He held Mo Xuetong’s hand for a long while without speaking.
Even though he was smiling, his smile had a hint of sadness in it.
He thought of how he had lost his mother at a young age and was almost killed by others. Then, he had no choice but to leave and go to other places.
Mo Xuetong’s heart hurt for him. She held his hand and comforted him softly, “If Mother knows that you are still healthy and alive, she would definitely be very happy.”
“So what, she cannot see anything now.” Feng Yuran said lightly. He pulled Mo Xuetong up and made her sit on a chair by the side.
“How can she not see? Mother is watching you in the sky and she can see that you are happy.” Mo Xuetong did not let go and pulled him into a chair beside hers. In the palace, children who lost the protection of their mother would find it extremely difficult to survive. One would know just by looking at the many princes born in the palace and at how many who survived to adulthood.
The Empress protected the Third Prince while Consort Su protected the First Prince. He was the only one without a mother and had almost died. She thought of what Mo Ye said. He had worked hard on his martial arts. She felt pity for him. She reached out and hugged Feng Yuran’s waist. She leaned her head over and said, “We have to be happy in the future so that Mother will be happy when she sees us in the sky.”
Feng Yuran reached out to hug Mo Xuetong and smelt the faint fragrance of incense on her. He exhaled and felt for the first time that coming to this place did not make him sad. His heart, which had been heavy, suddenly felt lighter. He kissed her hair gently, the kiss filled with tenderness and love.
He suddenly had the urge to share some of the things he had never told anyone.
“Mother was not favored in her family. She was just an adoptee and was not really a First Miss. She did not have a good time there. The family was also normal and if Father had not had a chance encounter with her, she would still be an unfavored adopted child.” Feng Yuran recalled lightly.
So she was adopted. But even so, Feng Yuran should not hate his maternal family that much. Even biological daughters might not be close to their families, much less adopted daughters. She did not believe that Feng Yuran would destroy his mother’s family just because of such an insignificant matter. Furthermore, there was still Emperor Zongwen. The Emperor had not stopped him, which meant that there was another reason why Feng Yuran’s mother’s family was destroyed.
But what was the reason?
Mo Xuetong did not want to be bothered with a family like that. However, she did not want Feng Yuran to suffer a blow. In her past life, if Feng Yuran had not suffered a blow, why would he go to the Southern Barbarian Lands? There must be a reason that Mo Xuetong was unaware of. However, she did not want to peel open his wounds. She asked him cautiously, “Did Mother not keep in contact with the family and never returned?”
Mo Xuetong believed that the matter did not end there. If everything was fine after she left, then that family would not contact Feng Yuran after that. However, a family who was not wealthy had an adopted daughter who became a doted consort of the Emperor. Even people who were not vaguely related to her would try to butter up to Feng Yuran’s mother. Furthermore, they were her adoptive parents.
If the family had any backbone, they would not have ill-treated an adoptive daughter!
“The He family said that they adopted Mother because they thought that she was pitiful. They did not treat her well after they adopted her and ordered her around like a maid. The young masters and misses in the manor bullied her. If Mother was not beautiful, she would have died. After she entered the palace, the He family brought the entire family here to be acknowledged as family. Father did not make things difficult for them on Mother’s account. He picked a few suitable men and gave them official positions. Even though they were not high-ranked, it was an honor the He family never had.”
Feng Yuran seemed to be talking about someone else. His expression was distant. However, his eyes were deep and dark. He ran his thumb gently over her hair as he continued speaking coldly.
“Did something happen after that?” Mo Xuetong asked softly. It was not that she was insistent about finding out things. She just wanted to find clues about what was wrong with the He family. Even if the He family was in the wrong, Feng Yuran should not have to bear the sins of killing the entire family. That hurt was enough for Feng Yuran to want to abandon the world and journey to the Southern Barbarian Lands!
“The He family behaved arrogantly using Mother’s name. Mother could not watch on any longer and pleaded with Father to take away their positions. Then, they were sent to a county in Jiangnan where they were originally from.”
Feng Yuran spoke calmly and lightly. Mo Xuetong’s heart hurt for him when she heard that. When would a consort say something like that? If her family had not behaved so badly, why would she raise such a request? One could see that Consort Xian truly had no choice. In a city filled with nobility, the He family wanted to take the top spot just by using the name of a consort. They had truly underestimated the other noble families.
If Consort Xian had not moved fast, the He family might not only implicate her, they might even bring death to the whole family. Consort Xian did not do anything wrong in her position. Even if she were their biological daughter, she would also make such a request. With Consort Xian in the palace, the He family would have been able to live wealthily if they did not make any serious mistakes. This would have repaid them for bringing her up.
“That’s the end of the He family?” If the He family was smart enough, they would not have done something like that. The capital was filled with nobility. The distant family of a consort who had become wealthy through her was not something great. While others might be aware of this, the He family might not necessarily be aware of that.
“How would they return just like that? They said that Mother was ungrateful and they cried and made a fuss. They asked Mother to beg Father to forgive them and not chase them away. Furthermore, they also spread the news about how unfilial Mother was. It caused a furor. I had only been just born then and Mother was afraid that I would be harmed. She took care of me and had no time to be bothered with them. After that, I heard that Father chased them away. Not long after that, Mother fell ill and passed away!” Feng Yuran did not sound angry. There was no anger in his voice and only a hint of coldness in it.
Mo Xuetong hugged his muscular waist tightly. She buried her head in his chest. Her heart truly hurt for him!
On the surface, Feng Yuran seemed arrogant and unrestrained. It seemed as if he did not care about anything. However, he was born in the royal family. How could he have survived without a facade?
There were so many princes who were born and they had all died, leaving only three behind. Some of them might have been born ill but it was impossible for so many male children to all have died without anyone being able to cure them. The palace had all sorts of precious medicine, yet not many male children survived. One could see how dangerous it was in the palace.
In her past life, she had also died of unnatural causes because of the struggles in the back courtyard. It was just a small back courtyard and that had happened. Then what about the palace? It was such a big place. There were so many women who would do anything for power and affection. A consort who did not have the support of her family and had given birth to a son would be placed in a perilous situation since she had to protect him.
“Then there was no contact with them after that?”
“The He family would come to the capital to express their goodwill from time to time ever since I returned to the capital and had my own manor. More than one person from the He family came to our wedding.” Feng Yuran laughed coldly. “They not only came, but they also brought two of my female cousins along. They must have come after they heard of my reputation.”
Mo Xuetong fell silent. What was Feng Yuran’s reputation like? He was licentious and unrestrained and would bring any woman he saw back to his manor. The He family had brought their daughters here because of that. They still could not forget the wealth and prosperity the royal family could bring them!
“Tong’er, we don’t have to care about them. I have arranged for them to stay outside. I will not accept them even if they come to the manor. They hope to strike it rich through me, but they are just dreaming.” Feng Yuran’s voice was dark and cold. He stood up, helped Mo Xuetong up and they left.
Mo Xuetong had a sudden thought. She tugged on Feng Yuran’s sleeve and asked, “Have they left?”
“Why would they leave before they achieve their goals? They even sent someone here with an invite this morning.” Feng Yuran blinked; his long lashes fluttered. His skin was a smooth as jade and he was handsome and charming. Yet, he seemed evil and cold.
Why would they leave before they manage to send their daughters to his manor? It was obvious that they wouldn’t give up before they attained their goals. That’s alright. He would watch on and see what kind of fuss they would make. He wanted to see if the person in Mingyue Palace would react…
“You don’t have to bother yourself with them. They will leave after some time.” Feng Yuran pinched Mo Xuetong’s hand and said somewhat apologetically when he realized that this might implicate Mo Xuetong. There were some things that he would naturally take care of. “The He family has nothing to do with you. So you don’t have to care about them.”
“That’s not too good. After all, they are your uncle’s family. Furthermore, they did not make much trouble. What would others say about you if you stop your family from entering the manor?” Mo Xuetong’s lips twitched upwards and she smiled beautifully.
“My reputation has never been good!” He said righteously.
“It’s different now. Didn’t Father tell you to enter politics!” Mo Xuetong gave him the side-eye and teased him. Earlier on, Emperor Zongwen seemed to be pressuring her and making her take care of Feng Yuran. She had to place her focus on Feng Yuran. However, Feng Yuran did not seem to agree.
Feng Yulei had been punished while Feng Yuxuan was promoted. However, Emperor Zongwen did not seem to be very satisfied. If not for what happened last night, would Feng Yuxuan have a part in it? If so, Emperor Zongwen definitely would not have been satisfied with him!
“You lass.” Feng Yuran did not agree nor disagree. He patted her head affectionately and brought her out with him.
This was not a good place to have a conversation.
The horse carriage was already waiting outside. Mo Xuetong got onto the horse carriage and a little eunuch helped Feng Yuran in.
They had only arrived at the manor when the gifts from the palace arrived. They were from Emperor Zongwen, the Empress, and the Empress Dowager. The eunuchs placed the gifts down politely and congratulated Feng Yuran. Mo Xuetong got Mo Yu to give them the red packets that they prepared. The little eunuchs turned to leave happily after they received the red packets.