Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play

Chapter 741 - 721 Unrequited Love

Under Fengyu and Mrs. Fang’s management, the banquet for the ladies proceeded smoothly. News from the previous court had also arrived—the Beiman King was conferred the title of Prince Jingbei, and Dugu Jing was conferred the title of Duke Wu’an. Several princes were given the title of Marquis with honorary positions. Xie Xun wanted to appoint practical positions for Prince Jingbei as well, but it had to wait until they adapted to life in the Capital City, with a period of observation to ensure everything went well. Subsequent discussions respecting their preferences would determine the jobs. Prince Jingbei had always been intelligent and restrained. Now that they had surrendered, the new emperor—different from the former Yuwen Jing—would not create trouble for them as long as they behaved and sincerely submitted. Xie Xun was not a bloodthirsty ruler; he had a magnanimous heart. For the peace of both peoples, he was even able to laugh off generations of enmity between the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion and the Beiman Royal Family. Everything he did was aimed at maintaining peace between the two groups, expanding Beining’s territory, and exploiting resources from the former Beiman land.

For the sake of Beiman’s millions of citizens, Prince Jingbei tolerated staying in the Capital City. Even if Xie Xun planned to confine him, he had no complaints. He never expected Xie Xun would extend respect and practical appointments to him, exceeding his initial expectations by far.

Once the news from the previous court arrived, Fengyu immediately informed the princesses, and the ladies at the banquet also eagerly congratulated the newly appointed Princess Consort Jingbei. However, the placement of the Lan Family was not mentioned. This matter would be categorized as family affairs, with no need for resolution in court. Later, whatever decision Xie Jue and the Lan Family reached through discussion would be independent of governmental matters.

The ladies took a break mid-banquet, as the evening feast had yet to begin. Fengyu had earlier instructed people to clean the palace halls, letting the travel-worn Beiman women freshen up and rest. The clan ladies and young maidens either went to rest or strolled in the garden to appreciate the flowers. Fengyu also took respite in her palace, delegating tasks to Mrs. Fang and the Rituals Bureau.

Fang Lingjun accompanied her back to the palace, but her mood was visibly gloomy the entire way. Fengyu sensed something was amiss—Fang Lingjun’s gaze toward Lan Ningzhen was filled with hostility, impossible for Fengyu to ignore.

She recalled her time in Ningzhou Military Camp when her soul inhabited Xie Xun. Back then, while recovering from injuries, she found the camp stiflingly dull, so she’d often rest by Shaling River, basking in the sun. It was during one such midday nap among the river weeds that she was accidentally awakened by noise: Xie Jue and Fang Chuning were fishing by the riverbank. Xie Jue, at that time, treated Fengyu as family and frequently sent items to the West State. If Yuwen Jing hadn’t abducted her, Xie Jue had originally planned to send gifts to the West State. He’d collected Beiman gemstones and red riding attire in Qianling Town as presents.

However, Fengyu’s abduction interrupted the plan; the gifts hadn’t been dispatched when Fang Chuning accidentally stumbled upon the gemstones and riding attire. She remarked with a laugh, "This riding attire looks identical to what I wore in Fox City."

Xie Jue chuckled and said, "The headpiece is also custom-made to match what you wore back then. You look beautiful in women’s attire."

Because Xie Jue found it appealing, and Fengyu had always loved luxurious fabrics and jewelry, he had ordered several customized sets to send as gifts. Fang Chuning teased with a smile, "Do you think Lan Ningzhen looks beautiful?"

Detecting the jealousy in Fang Chuning’s tone, Xie Jue lightly asked, "Are you not Lan Ningzhen?"

Shocked, Fengyu—still lying among the river weeds—was too stunned to move. Her soul was inhabiting Xie Xun at the time; to maintain her disguise, she pretended to be dead instead of throwing a tantrum as Xie Xun would. Thankfully, they spoke no more and left the riverbank to attend to military matters, without delving into the Fox City incident.

Fengyu noted every word down in her memory.

Thinking about it then, Fang Chuning had made tremendous sacrifices—disguising herself as a man in Fox City for the sake of her Second Brother. Later, when Dugu Jing mentioned that Xie Jue had married and had a daughter in Beiman, with the wife’s name being Lan Ningzhen, Fengyu’s memory resurfaced. A bit of pondering connected the dots, and although she was unclear about the detailed circumstances, Fengyu was sure the story of Xie Jue’s marriage, Lan Ningzhen’s daughter, and Fang Chuning’s cross-dressing was intricately complex. Since her Second Brother was unwilling to speak, she naturally pretended to know nothing.

Fang Lingjun’s animosity toward Lan Ningzhen gave Fengyu further reason to speculate.

"Did Fang Chuning tell you something?" Fengyu drew Fang Lingjun into the inner hall area, dismissing everyone else before whispering softly. Fang Lingjun stared wide-eyed as her body tensed, "Ayu... Do you know something?"

"I know a thing or two." Fengyu lowered her voice, whispering, "Second Brother and your brother..."

"Wahhh!" Without warning, Fang Lingjun broke into uncontrollable sobs, throwing herself into Fengyu’s embrace and crying as though the skies had fallen. Her tears soaked Fengyu’s shoulder, leaving Fengyu flustered, hurriedly comforting her with soft reassurances. Fang Lingjun—with her burdens finally spilling out in front of someone she trusted—sobbed unreservedly. Fengyu had never seen Fang Lingjun cry so despairingly; not even the calamities encountered in the West State years ago evoked such devastation.

"Alright now, don’t cry... don’t cry..." Fengyu gently wiped her tears and tried to placate her, using all the tenderness and patience she could muster for fear Fang Lingjun might ruin her health from excessive grief.

Outside the hall, Qiuxiang overheard the commotion and felt puzzled, unable to fathom why Fang Lingjun was crying so intensely.

What could have troubled her here?

Who had upset her?

Fang Lingjun’s tears served as a catharsis, letting all her bottled-up pain and stress escape. Gradually, under Fengyu’s soothing words, her sobbing subsided. Fengyu instructed Qiuxiang to bring water and squeezed a cloth to wipe Fang Lingjun’s face, "You’ve cried yourself into quite a mess."

"Ayu, when did you find out?" Fang Lingjun asked between hiccupping sobs, then gasped in alarm, "You... You know... does His Majesty know too? He... He wouldn’t punish my brother, would he?"

Xie Xun had never liked his brother; in the West State, the two had fought nearly to the death. If he discovered his brother’s connection to the prince, wouldn’t he take the opportunity to deliberately make things difficult for him?

"No, he’s just a fool, don’t worry." Fengyu wasn’t fully sure of Xie Xun’s intentions, but lately, she had noticed his behavior leaned more toward observational amusement. She could tell that, though Xie Xun seemed repulsed and resistant, he could not control his Second Brother. If the Second Brother set his mind to something, Xie Xun would always yield without hesitation.

Perhaps it was just this bond between siblings; Xie Xun was willing to unconditionally follow Xie Jue to the ends of the earth.

"Really?" Seeing the certainty in Fengyu’s eyes, Fang Lingjun finally felt relief, reassured. "But if my father and mother find out, my brother won’t survive."

Her father would certainly kill her brother!

Her mother would surely be heartbroken.

"When did you come to know, did you stumble upon it?" Fengyu guessed that her Second Brother and Fang Chuning had been cold towards each other lately, exuding an atmosphere of mutual avoidance. According to Xie Xun, they didn’t even exchange glances in court, let alone speak. Could it be Fang Chuning had finally lost her patience and argued with the Second Brother, only for Junjun to overhear?

Fang Lingjun shook her head and confessed outright—Fang Chuning had told her. She hadn’t been prepared for such an astonishing revelation and now found every family dinner unbearable. Her mother’s kindly glances and father’s stern expressions made her feel tormented, unable to eat properly. Thinking of Xie Jue, who already had a wife and daughter, drove Fang Lingjun into deeper sorrow.

"I feel so sorry for my brother... It’s just unrequited love. His life is too pitiful."

Fengyu, "..."