novelraw Chapter 737 - 717: Pressure
Chapter 737 - 717: Pressure
Because Xie Xun had only one consort in the harem, Fengyu’s palace duties were exceedingly simple. Thus, apart from being unable to freely venture beyond the Imperial City, her life as Empress saw little change. Most of the Su Family’s business matters had already been entrusted to a few highly trustworthy shopkeepers, with Chunlu overseeing the operations, making things exceptionally convenient. Reports that had to be reviewed every five days were now attended to once every ten days, or otherwise handled directly by Chunlu.
Xie Xun often discussed the placement of Beiman people with her, and Fengyu took the initiative to offer her help. She volunteered to supervise the teaching of Beiman women in learning the customs, culture, and etiquette of Beining. This task originally fell under the jurisdiction of the Imperial family’s women. Unfortunately, the Xie family had only Fengyu in this capacity. Xie Xun, worried she might overexert herself, was initially unwilling to burden her. However, seeing that Fengyu seemed genuinely interested, he ultimately conceded.
Fengyu lightly laughed and said, "Palace life is simple enough. As most of the Beiman royal women are here, it’s fitting for them to learn Beining language, customs, and etiquette from another woman. Since most of them are imperial concubines and princesses, a matriarch is required to set the tone. I’m idle in the palace anyway, and this fits well as my duty. You needn’t concern yourself over the matter any longer."
"But most of the women need to learn to speak the Beiman language, and you don’t know how to speak Beiman."
"The two Beiman princesses are lively and charming—they often visit the palace to play. I’ve picked up a little from them. They’ll be in Shangjing for some time yet, so I can continue learning from them."
Xie Xun pondered to himself—Ayu’s own studies were never thorough. She ranked last in the evaluations at the Imperial College; was she truly ready to lead others astray?
Be it teaching knowledge or etiquette, Ayu was far from what one might call a qualified teacher!
Yet Fengyu was enthusiastically committed, and Xie Xun did not have the heart to dampen her spirits. After agreeing, he sought ways to remedy the situation. He tasked Lin Xiao, Zhang Boxin, and others with investigating which women from the imperial clans might be well-versed in the Beiman language and highly educated.
To his surprise, there was indeed such a person—the wife of Marshal Fang.
Mrs. Fang was a former princess raised in the palace and possessed exceptional education. Fang Chuning had studied Beiman diligently, and Mrs. Fang, learning alongside him for a time, had grown quite proficient in the language. Among the noblewomen of Shangjing, she was arguably the most fluent speaker of Beiman. Her upbringing in the palace ensured impeccable etiquette and decorum. With her accompanying Fengyu, Xie Xun felt reassured.
Fengyu summoned Mrs. Fang to discuss the matter, and she happily agreed. However, it had been some time since she last spoke Beiman, and she admitted she was somewhat out of practice. Thus, each time she brought Fang Lingjun to the palace, they joined Fengyu in learning from the two Beiman princesses. Fengyu, as expected, had a particular disdain for academic study—she simply lacked interest. Yet when engrossed in subjects she liked, her focus sharpened and her progress accelerated. The lively and intelligent princesses hit it off well with her, and both Fengyu and Fang Lingjun advanced quickly in their learning.
The happiest of all was undoubtedly Fang Lingjun, who had a naturally vivacious disposition. Since Fengyu’s marriage, their meetings had become few and far between. Now reunited, able to see each other every day, they enjoyed themselves immensely. Bonding with the two Beiman princesses, Fang Lingjun indulged in their shared hobbies, such as horseback riding and archery. With such aligned interests, she became even more frequent in her palace visits—so much so that rumors began to circulate, speculating that the Fang Family intended to arrange Fang Lingjun’s marriage into the harem.
Xie Xun, keenly attuned to the currents of gossip in Shangjing, was highly sensitive to such whispers. Known for his strong sense of control, he had positioned the Forbidden Army and Jinyi Guard in nearly every corner of the city. He even had precise knowledge of minor affairs, such as which families’ men had taken new concubines. So when the rumors first surfaced, he promptly shared them with Fengyu, leaving her entirely stunned.
Xie Xun tactfully reminded Fengyu, "Fang Lingjun has yet to be formally courted. As the daughter of the Marshal, and given the close bond between you two, having her frequently visit the palace and even stay overnight is, ultimately, ill-advised."
Although both Fengyu and Fang Lingjun conducted themselves with dignity, upright and unyielding to baseless accusations, they could not prevent gossip from growing into ’truth.’ Fengyu worried the rumors could jeopardize Fang Lingjun’s chances for an advantageous match, yet before she could discuss matters with Fang Lingjun, Mrs. Fang had already ceased bringing her daughter into the palace. Fengyu understood the reasons behind this decision but did not question it further, harboring only a faint sense of loss.
Fang Lingjun, too, felt the sting of disappointment. She wasn’t afraid of rumors, but she disliked becoming the subject of controversy and attracting unwarranted trouble. Most grievously, she recognized that Ayu’s new status as Empress meant they could no longer interact like they did before Fengyu’s marriage.
Consequently, Fang Lingjun lost her appetite, grew melancholy, and withdrew into herself. Mrs. Fang, observing her daughter in this state, heartbroken, sought to comfort her. "The bonds of companionship in youth are often intense and all-encompassing, so much so that one wishes to never part ways and play together every day. I, too, had such ties in my youth. But as people grow older, they must face separation, forging lives that diverge in different directions. Someday, when you are married, you will have your husband and children, your own household to manage, and countless obligations to attend to. Playmates will be but fleeting thoughts. Yet such changes do not diminish the depth of feelings; they merely shift where significance resides. In time, you will adjust—it comes naturally."
"Mother, don’t worry about me—just give me a little time. I’ll be fine soon." Fang Lingjun replied with a soft smile. Ever resilient, she refused to dwell on what could not be changed. She knew her parents were already troubled by Fang Chuning’s reluctance to settle his marital affairs, and she resolved not to add to her mother’s burdens. Indeed, Mrs. Fang had been worn down both mentally and physically.
Both her son and daughter needed suitable matches, yet neither had found an ideal prospect thus far.
Fang Chuning, despite holding the unfortunate reputation of a "wife-killer," was undeniably a talented young man—a striking figure with substantial military accomplishments and the sole heir of Marshal Fang. His position naturally attracted interest from numerous noble clans hoping to align with him.
Yet Fang Chuning stubbornly refused to entertain any matches, offering no explanation for his resistance. Unable to ascertain the reasons behind his hesitation, the Marshal and Mrs. Fang could only suspect he harbored feelings for someone. Despite their attempts, they failed to extract more from him. This impasse worsened his already strained relationship with the Marshal, recently pushing their rapport to new lows.
Fang Lingjun’s marital prospects were similarly fraught with obstacles. Having broken off an engagement once already, Mrs. Fang felt the pool of promising candidates dwindle. Though there were some individuals of commendable character, Fang Lingjun found none to her liking. With both children’s marital affairs in disarray, Mrs. Fang could not conceal her disappointment.
"You and your brother have always been close since childhood. Help me uncover who he truly holds in his heart. As long as the match isn’t entirely outrageous, I’d be willing to accept it. Could you do this for me?" Mrs. Fang finally pleaded, running out of options.
Fang Chuning had always shown exceptional filial piety. Owing to tensions between the Marshal and Mrs. Fang, Fang Chuning often clashed with his father but dutifully obeyed his mother’s wishes, rarely contradicting her. Yet when it came to marriage, he remained adamant in defiance, a source of much frustration for Mrs. Fang. She suspected her son had indeed fallen for someone—perhaps someone of noble birth, or someone in a precarious social position—leaving him unwilling to confess.
She even entertained darker suspicions: might Fang Chuning have taken an interest in a courtesan from a brothel, a married woman, or someone whose character rendered her unfit to serve as an esteemed matron?
Love was an utterly irrational affair. When one fell for another, all logic seemed to collapse—whether or not the person possessed suitable qualities or could fulfill her duties as part of the clan. Mrs. Fang had witnessed such reckless passion before, and she despised its madness.
Under no circumstances would Mrs. Fang allow Fang Chuning to marry someone whose sole concerns were fleeting pleasures and idle beauty, someone who knew nothing of how to manage a household as a proper matriarch should. Thus, she could only conclude that Fang Chuning had lost his judgment, fixating on someone entirely unsuitable, and was too ashamed to reveal it.
Because of this, Mrs. Fang vented much of her frustration towards the Marshal, blaming him for "setting a bad example." The Marshal, unable to counter the accusations, redirected his efforts into interrogating Fang Chuning, creating a vicious cycle of resentment.
Fang Chuning, exasperated by the consistent pressure, found little reprieve. With the Beiman delegation’s imminent arrival in Shangjing, he dared not stir up further trouble. Moreover, with rumors about Xie Jue and Lan Ningzhen beginning to circulate, Fang Chuning realized that his own secret must not, under any circumstance, come to light. He could only drown his frustrations in alcohol, desperately hoping that the Beiman delegation’s arrival would hasten the Marshal’s deployment to the border, so he could finally breathe freely.