Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play

Chapter 755 - 734 Palace Concubine

Xie Xun learned about this matter two hours later. Fengyu only sent the Imperial Physician to examine Lin Yunong and did not bestow anything to console her. Neither did the Commandery Princesses receive any consolation or punishment. If this incident hadn’t involved two families, it would have merely been a dispute among noblewomen.

When children fight, it’s naturally the parents who address it. Fengyu had no intention of acting as such a parent. She was already at the archery field when this group began fighting in her presence, so there was no hope of her intervening.

As expected, once Xie Xun learned of the incident and obtained the list of those involved in the brawl today, he immediately ordered reprimands. The Forbidden Army went door to door announcing an imperial decree: this group had dared to defy royal authority and disrespect the Empress. As a penalty, they were forbidden from participating in the imperial examinations—both literary and martial—for three years, and barred from holding posts in the court. At the same time, citing their lack of discipline, they were sentenced to labor. This order detonated a figurative bomb among the noble clans.

In Changshou Palace, however, things were harmonious and cheerful. Xie Xun was in an excellent mood, embracing Fengyu and kissing her several times. They shared an intuitive understanding—he had long despised the noble clans, and this farce served as a perfect excuse to sever the futures of many noble youths. It also forced the noble clans to recognize who truly ruled the realm now. To show disrespect toward Fengyu was nothing short of courting death. Xie Xun’s decree harshly reprimanded even the Lin Family, completely ignoring Lin Yunong fainting out of anger at the archery field.

Lin Helin never expected Lin Yunong to cause a disturbance at the archery field, especially in front of Fengyu. Although the decree was aimed at the second branch of the Lin Family, the Lin Family operated under the principle of shared glory and shared disgrace. When Second Mrs. Lin sought Lin Helin to stand up for her, he deliberately avoided the matter, leaving only one dismissive instruction: Lin Yunong was to remain confined at home for the time being and refrain from causing more trouble.

Xie Xun did not show undue favor to the recently surrendered Beiman Royal Family. Although he granted them titles and considered assigning them official duties, it was merely a balancing tactic. Because Xie Xun was already planning to reclaim Jiangnan, it was critical that the newly submissive Beiman did not stir up trouble at this time. By outwardly expressing sufficient respect, stability could be maintained among the Beiman Royal Family, while the borders could remain calm and the newly integrated Beiman populace controlled, preventing uprisings. Chaos among the royal family in the capital would undoubtedly lead to unrest at the borders.

Thus, Xie Xun meticulously maintained appearances. Not only did he bestow Princess status upon Mingzhu, but he also proposed official duties for Prince Jingbei. Furthermore, Dugu Jing frequently entered the palace to accompany Xie Xun. Many bureaucrats, unaware of the delicate intricacies involved, accused Xie Xun privately of betraying his heritage, of forgetting that generations of the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion had perished at the hands of the Beiman. Now, Xie Xun was providing such preferential treatment to Beiman, forgetting this blood feud.

However, once they had committed to facilitating Beiman’s surrender, bygone enmities had to be put aside to achieve lasting peace between the two nations. Xie Xun knew the opportunity was invaluable. Regardless of his personal feelings, he ensured everything on the surface was perfectly executed.

The court officials only dared criticize Xie Xun behind his back, not confront him directly. At home, however, this generation of overindulged youth frequently overheard their elders rebel against the decrees, amplifying their resentment. With the Imperial College and the academies intertwined, conflicts inevitably arose. Lin Helin knew his second uncle’s temper was explosive; even at home, his uncle often grumbled that Xie Xun had betrayed the Xie family’s vendetta and formed an alliance with the Beiman Royal Family.

Lin Yunong had evidently absorbed these grievances and internalized them, though Lin Helin had never expected her to incite such a major scandal. Xie Xun’s impartiality was unwavering—reprimands reached the Lin Family just as harshly, and no house escaped scathing censure.

The following morning, nobleparents brought their children to kneel outside the Imperial Study, pleading for clemency from Xie Xun.

The ladyfolk brought their daughters to seek an audience with Fengyu, begging for leniency. Their daughters had been publicly chastised, and such disgrace would severely impact their future prospects for marriage.

Lin Yunong, despite her vehement objections, was brought to the palace to see Fengyu by Second Mrs. Lin.

Fengyu feigned illness and refused to see them.

The noblewomen were crestfallen; they couldn’t barge in—it wasn’t an option when the Empress claimed illness. Fengyu’s deliberate obstruction left them helpless. Lin Yunong, her fingernails digging into her palms, gazed at the crimson walls and verdant tiles of the deep palace, her eyes filled with anguish. In past years, when Lin Yushu was Empress, Lin Yunong had practically been half a mistress of the palace. She had traversed this path many times, familiar with every corner. Now it felt unbearably long and distant.

The Imperial City had a new master who had already forgotten the remnants of the past.

Her aspirations had also crumbled.

Fengyu declined to meet with the ladies and their daughters but did receive the Marquis Jingbei Mansion’s two Commandery Princesses. When the two returned to their manor, they had been reprimanded by both the Prince and Princess, who instructed them to strive for better relations with the noblewomen in the future. The two Commandery Princesses brought a chest full of jewels to offer Fengyu as an apology. Fengyu accepted not because she coveted the jewels, but because she genuinely liked the lively and clever Beiman Commandery Princesses.

Fengyu was not known for her amicability; to this day, her only trusted friends were Fang Lingjun and Princess Xue Lan. Noblewomen from clan families looked down on Fengyu’s humble origins—she had been a girl from the lowest aristocratic tier studying at the Imperial College before rising to become Empress. For many women, this stark contrast in status remained unbearable, and genuine camaraderie was hard to come by. Now that Fengyu was Empress, her dignity had deepened further, making communication even more challenging. The two Beiman Commandery Princesses hadn’t heard of Fengyu’s history; they simply found her congenial and delightful. Before Prince Jingbei’s arrival in the capital, they frequently visited the palace to play with Fengyu. Fengyu, protective by nature, naturally favored them.

The Fourth Commandery Princess whispered to Fengyu, "Do you know why Miss Lin and I bear a grudge against each other?"

"Why?" Fengyu asked inquisitively. Lin Yunong’s arrogance rarely permitted her to interact much with others.

The Fourth Commandery Princess leaned closer and said in hushed tones, "Once, we were out playing and happened to encounter Miss Lin and her companions. Someone by her side remarked that, if not for Your Majesty being domineering and jealous, Miss Lin would have been made Imperial Concubine instead. It just so happened that my sister and I overheard them and laughed at their absurd fantasy. Since my third sister and I had once been proposed for marriage to the Emperor but were rejected, they seized upon this to mock us. To retaliate, my third sister declared that, for the sake of harmony between the two families, the Emperor would bring us into the palace as concubines in the coming years. That made Miss Lin lose her temper, and things escalated unhappily from there. She’s harboring feelings for the Emperor."

Fengyu raised her brows slightly. She had always known about Lin Yunong’s affection for Xie Xun—the way Lin Yunong looked at him during palace banquets said it all. While it made her somewhat jealous, she never dwelled on it.

Xie Xun respected Lin Yushu, but his familial bond with Lin Yunong was far shallower. He treated their relationship as one between ordinary cousins and never showed her more than average consideration. Xie Xun never paid heed to others’ affections, nor did he understand a woman’s heart. Fengyu saw no reason to enlighten him—it wasn’t worth the trouble. Still, why hadn’t the Lin Family dissuaded Lin Yunong from keeping her hopes up?

No wonder her family hadn’t arranged a marriage for her yet. Lin Yunong was only half a year younger than Fang Lingjun, whose marriage discussions had been interrupted by unforeseen events. Lin Yunong, however, had never entered marriage negotiations. Marriage arrangements within the Lin Family were generally delayed; Lin Helin’s own marriage was only recently finalized, so others hadn’t paid much attention.

It appeared she was still dreaming of entering the palace as a concubine. Given her cousinly ties to Xie Xun, becoming Imperial Concubine wasn’t entirely unrealistic!

"I am aware," Fengyu replied.

"Your Majesty is aware?" The Third Commandery Princess blurted out, "Doesn’t Beining care very much about things like this? I heard you’re jealous and don’t allow any women into the palace." The reputation for jealousy was unkind to an Empress; Fengyu, however, was unfazed.

Fengyu chuckled wryly. "It’s not about what she wants—it’s never up to her. Was this why she ostracized and bullied you two later on while at the Imperial College?"

"I wouldn’t say ostracized. We also couldn’t be bothered with those overly pretentious noblewomen—we don’t get along. It’s they who insist on provoking us from time to time, and grudges multiplied," said the Fourth Commandery Princess irritably. "Your Majesty, we’ve all mocked her, saying she’ll definitely never enter the palace. She really won’t, right? If she does, it’ll be humiliating for us!"

Fengyu couldn’t help but laugh. "If Lin Yunong enters the palace, it wouldn’t just embarrass you—it’d disgrace me as well. What does it have to do with you lot?"

"If we sisters aren’t allowed into the palace, the Emperor must treat everyone equally—otherwise, it’s humiliating for us too," the Third Commandery Princess added, unable to conceal her contempt for Lin Yunong. "In short, anyone is fine—but not her!"

"As long as I live, no woman will enter the palace," Fengyu said, raising her brows—a powerful statement radiating dominance. "That’s final!"