You Have All Gone Insane
Zi Rui was pulled sideways by Yao shi. He managed to regain his balance and avoid falling. Upon looking up, he saw a trace of a ferocious look on Yao shi’s face that gave him a fright.
He subconsciously took a couple steps back then looked at Feng Yu Heng before resolutely telling Yao shi: “Elder sister is elder sister.”
Yao shi stubbornly shook her head: “She’s not!”
“Enough!” Feng Yu Heng could not bear to continue listening and suddenly slapped the stone table before standing up. She had used a little too much force and ended up cracking the stone stable.
Yao shi looked at the crack and said to Zi Rui: “Look at the martial arts that she knows, how could your elder sister know this?”
Zi Rui began to argue with Yao shi, and the two went back and forth: “What of martial arts? Martial arts are learned. I can now pick up a sword and fight a few rounds with others. Does mother also feel that Zi Rui is not your son? Elder sister had a fortunate encounter in the Northwest, and this is a truth that even the Emperor acknowledges. Why do you not believe it? Moreover, is it not good that she learned martial arts? Without her skills, how could she had protected us? How could we have ended up living in an imperial daughter’s manor? Mother, why do you not think about how the current elder sister is better than before?”
The mother and children argued causing the servants to not dare make a sound. They all hid far away, not wanting to hear nor see it. Even Wang Chuan and Huang Quan hid in Feng Yu Heng’s courtyard. The gatekeeper closed the manor’s gates and told the imperial guards outside that the imperial daughter’s manor would not be receiving any guests.
Yao shi could not accept that her son and daughter were both falling out with her. Sitting paralyzed on the stone chair, she stared blankly, as she desperately tried to stop tears from spilling out. She also wanted to live happily with her children, but the change in her daughter was too sudden and had already become a thorn in her heart, and this thorn had pierced quite deep. There was no way of pulling it out. She also knew that Zi Rui was right. The current A-Heng was better than the previous, but the previous… the previous was more intimate. She was much closer to her heart.
She did not know what exactly happened. It was clear that Feng Yu Heng’s appearance had not changed, but as a mother, she had given birth to her. There was not a single person that was more sensitive to the slight changes. She was certain that they were two different people. This thought continued to progress until it was deeply rooted.
But could her original daughter come back?
Looking at Feng Yu Heng in despair, Yao shi took a deep breath and did her best to slightly adjust her mindset to a state where she could manage to accept it. When she spoke up once more, however, she said: “Since you are my daughter, then uh, if someone can be spared, spare them. So many people in the Feng family have died. It’s enough. He is your father. If you kill him, you will… you will be punished by the heavens.”
Feng Yu Heng did not know where Yao shi had found this sort of logic, and she was even more uncertain as to why she was so certain that she wanted to kill Feng Jin Yuan. She had just sent that person into prison. It was just the usual government prison. How could that even remotely be related to the word “death?”
She looked again at Yao shi and saw a bit of determination in this mother’s eyes for the first time. Or perhaps it was not the first time. Back when Yao shi had held the imperial decree from the palace and demanded a divorce from Feng Jin Yuan, she had also revealed this determined look. Unfortunately, how long had it been, yet the determined look would appear once more to beg for Feng Jin Yuan’s forgiveness.
Feng Yu Heng did not want to explain too much about whether or not Feng Jin Yuan would die. She just asked Yao shi: “Then if it was your daughter that died? Sent to the Northwest by that so-called father and starved to death, killed or fallen to death. Or perhaps I would have been killed by the assassins sent by father on our way back to the capital. Mother, if this was the case, would you stand before Feng Jin Yuan and ask him for justice?”
Yao shi did not know how to respond. Staring blankly for a long time, she ended up saying: “Aren’t you living just fine?”
Feng Yu Heng laughed, “Earlier, who was it that said that I am not her daughter? Since I am not, think about where your real daughter has gone.” After saying this, she stood up with an exhausted expression. This exhaustion was from the heart. It was even more profound that fighting with multiple enemies.
Zi Rui went forward and supported her. Feng Yu Heng patted Zi Rui’s head and smiled bitterly. Grabbing Zi Rui’s small hand, she began to walk toward her own courtyard. Seeing that she was about to leave, she also became anxious and stood up to shout: “Just forgive the Feng family! A-Heng would not be so vicious. Just treat it as doing it for her.”
Feng Yu Heng stopped in her tracks, and she began to feel choked up. Ever since she arrived in this world, she had done her best to protect this mother and younger brother. She had done her best to allow them to live a better life; however, in the end, she was still unable to get close to this mother’s heart. To say that she was not depressed would be a lie. To say that she did not feel wronged would be even more impossible.
She waved behind her and helplessly said: “Fine, I promise you.”
Yao shi, however, said: “Zi Rui will live with me in the future!”
Feng Yu Heng was startled, and the hand that held Zi Rui’s trembled. This mother was not even willing to leave her younger brother with her?
Zi Rui could feel the change in Feng Yu Heng’s emotions and had also clearly heard what Yao shi had said. He raised his other hand and gently patted the back of Feng Yu Heng’s hand to comfort her. He then partially turned around and said to Yao shi: “Zi Rui has his own courtyard and will not live with anyone. Mother, do not ever say anything that will cause elder sister to feel hurt. No matter if she is my elder sister or not, I will acknowledge her. Zi Rui only acknowledges people who are good to me.” After saying this, he pulled Feng Yu Heng to quickly head toward the inner courtyards. Finally returning to Feng Yu Heng’s small courtyard, the two let out a sigh.
Wang Chuan and Huang Quan both went over. The two servants look for a while, and Huang Quan said: “Young miss’ complexion is very poor. Did madam say something very unkind?”
Feng Yu Heng did not reply; however, she unexpectedly ordered: “Send someone to see Xu Jing Yuan. Have him… let Feng Jin Yuan out.”
“What?” Huang Quan was shocked, “Young miss, have you gone insane?”
Wang Chuan was also unable to understand. Staring wide-eyed, she looked at Feng Yu Heng then asked: “Was it madam that said something to young miss?”
Feng Zi Rui seemed to be able to understand Feng Yu Heng’s mood and said: “Mother did indeed ask for forgiveness on father’s behalf.”
“Madam has also gone insane.” Huang Quan unwittingly blurted this out, “You’ve all gone insane! It would be best if that person was locked up in prison forever. Our days would be more peaceful. Young miss, do you believe that as long as Feng Jin Yuan is let out, not only will he not feel grateful, he would even repay good with evil. He will hate you.”
Feng Yu Heng smiled bitterly, “I know. Just let him hate me. Either way, he has never treated me well. Are you still scared that your young miss will be eaten by someone else?”
Huang Quan wanted to say a little more but was stopped by Wang Chuan. In the end, she was calmer and wiser than Huang Quan, thus she said: “Young miss is correct. Regardless of what lord Feng does, the one to eat a loss will be him. Do whatever is necessary. There is no need for us to be afraid.” She then said to Feng Yu Heng: “Young miss, don’t worry. This servant will personally go see the governor.”
Feng Yu Heng did not say anything further, as she pulled Zi Rui into her room. Zi Rui saw that his elder sister did not call for someone to send him back to his own courtyard, thus he knew that his elder sister had something to say to him, or she just hoped that someone would accompany her.
Feng Yu Heng was thinking of the latter. She just felt a little empty and hoped that someone could keep her company for a while. In truth, it would be best if Xuan Tian Ming or Yao Xian could come at this time. Unfortunately, Xuan Tian Ming had gone to the military camp, and Yao Xian was spending his days at Hundred Herb Hall and would very rarely at home during the day.
She pulled Zi Rui into her embrace for a while. After she let him go, she asked: “Zi Rui, do you feel that this treatment of father is going too far?”
Zi Rui immediately shook his head, “Although I am not in the capital, the people that elder sister sent to protect me told me about these things. Zi Rui does not believe that elder sister has done anything to father. Rather, I feel that father sought this out on his own. Each and every thing was something that he did to himself. If he has the ability to do it, he must prepare himself mentally to bear the burden. Zi Rui feels that elder sister should not listen to mother and let him out. If something wrong is done, there must be a punishment. He should remain in prison.”
Feng Yu Heng felt a little choked up. Fortunately, there was still such a good guy by her side. Fortunately, he was aligned with her.
Zi Rui kept Feng Yu Heng company that afternoon. Only after eating dinner did Yao Xian and Wang Chuan return together. Wang Chuan reported to Feng Yu Heng, saying: “Lord Feng has already returned to the manor. When this servant came back, I passed by Hundred Herb Hall and happened to see imperial physician Yao working, thus I also provided some help.”
Feng Yu Heng knew that Wang Chuan was telling Yao Xian about what had happened during the afternoon. Sure enough, when she looked at Yao Xian, she could see a trace of anger in his eyes.
She helplessly sighed and had Wang Chuan send Zi Rui back to his own courtyard. She also sent Huang Quan off until it was just her and Yao Xian in the room. Only then did she let go of her complaints. Leaning against Yao Xian, it was just like when she was young and hugged her grandfather’s arm. She silently told her grievances.
Yao Xian hated seeing his granddaughter like this the most. The anger in his heart burned brighter and brighter. Feng Yu Heng understood her grandfather’s temper, thus she comforted Yao Xian. But as she comforted him, her grief surged forth once more. It also came with a bit of worry. She asked Yao Xian: “Grandfather, are the two of us considered monsters? Although there is not much that can be seen from our bodies, the soul is different. Our minds are different too. Others might not know, but Yao shi was the person that gave birth to her. How could she not notice these differences?”
Yao Xian snorted coldly, saying: “What can she do even if she noticed the differences? Her daughter was not killed by you. This body was not one that you forcefully occupied. Rather, you gave this body a new hope, and you gave her a daughter that was not too different from before. If she truly desires to get revenge, have her go and find Feng Jin Yuan. What is she doing causing trouble for you?”
Yao Xian had truly been filled with anger. If Yao shi was a man, this old man with a temper similar to that of the Emperor would likely have slapped Yao shi to death. But Yao shi was a woman, and she was his daughter in this life while having the appearance of his daughter-in-law from his previous life. He wanted to do something to help his granddaughter, but he could not bring himself to do anything to her.
There was nothing that Yao Xian could do, discussing with Feng YU Heng: “How about we do it like this. Send her to Huang Zhou and have the uncles in the Yao family take care of her. You two will be separated, and she will not see you for many years. After a few years, perhaps it will be better than it is now.”
Feng Yu Heng did not have any clues on this matter. Having been annoyed by Yao shi over the course of the day, she did not refute Yao Xian’s suggestion. She just said: “Ask her about it later on. You should listen to her own opinions.”
Just as the two were speaking, they heard a flurry of footsteps outside. Not long later, the door was pushed open by Huang Quan, and Huang Quan said with a face filled with anger: “Young miss! Feng Jin Yuan, that shameless official has come to visit!”