A Great Dish to Accompany Wine
Below the window, Zhang Yuan cried and asked Feng Yu Heng: “Imperial daughter, is this servant really that weird?”
Feng Yu Heng consoled him: “Father Emperor liking it is what’s important. If you were too normal, you would be too similar to the other eunuchs, and you would not be able to receive father Emperor’s favor.”
Zhang Yuan liked hearing this and immediately became happy. Feng Yu Heng then leaned against the wall once more to listen for a little while longer, saying: “They were still fighting just earlier. Now, it seems that the atmosphere is quite harmonious!”
Zhang Yuan nodded, “But of course, if this continues, they will become sworn brothers.”
Just as he said this, the Emperor suddenly shouted from inside- “Zhang Yuan!”
“Ah!” Zhang Yuan loudly replied, quickly running in. Not long later, he ran out once more and winked at Feng Yu Heng a few times, saying: “His Majesty told this servant to get more dishes.”
Feng Yu Heng frowned. He wants more dishes? How long did he plan on drinking for? The sky was already dark. Could it be that he was planning to stay here? She thought that if the Emperor did not leave, she would need to go to the Chun Palace to request help. She could not allow the Emperor to stay out overnight away from the imperial palace, right? If something were to happen, even if she died ten thousand times, she would not be able to bear that responsibility!
Feng Yu Heng paced around outside a bit, causing Wang Chuan and Huang Quan to also become nervous. Wang Chuan even sent someone to prepare the carriage in preparation to leave at any time for the Chun Palace to find Xuan Tian Hua. But, very quickly, Huang Quan and Wang Chuan pointed at the gate and said: “The dish, the dish had arrived!”
Everyone turned to look and saw Zhang Yuan leading a pig that walked upright over. From time to time, he would urge: “Walk faster.”
Feng Yu Heng rubbed her eyes, “Even pigs can understand human speech in this day and age?”
Wang Chuan nodded, “And they can walk on two legs.”
Huang Quan began to laugh without carrying for appearances. She even reached out her hand and said: “Lord Feng slapped himself until he looked like a pig. Not to mention it, it’s actually a little cute.”
This laughter caused Feng Jin Yuan to feel extremely shameful. He really wanted to glare fiercely at Huang Quan, but his eyes were swollen. Just looking sideways a little caused him some pain. He could only accept his fate and followed Zhang Yuan into the room.
The group then leaned back against the wall to listen and very quickly heard a “smack smack” sound from someone being slapped.
When Zhang Yuan exited, he told Feng Yu Heng: “His Majesty said that Official Feng goes quite well with wine.”
The Emperor and Yao Xian continued with this meal until nearly midnight. By the end, it was Xuan Tian Hua that had personally come to carry the Emperor off of the table. On the other end, Feng Yu Heng and Ban Zou carried Yao Xian.
Following this, she smiled bitterly at Xuan Tian Hua. There was nothing that he could do about his own old man.
Feng Jin Yuan was still slapping himself, and he had already fallen into a daze. His face was so swollen that his facial features could not even be seen, and he was nearly unable to continue raising his arms. The force behind each slap decreased, and the rate also slowed. He used his remaining consciousness to wait for the Emperor’s final judgment.
However, the Emperor was completely drunk. He lay on Xuan Tian Hua’s back, and the words he said were completely incoherent. At first, it was about Yao Xian going back to the palace to continue drinking with him. After that, it was talking to Zhang Yuan about going to sing in front of Winter Moon Palace at night. He then told Feng Yu Heng to call Xuan Tian Ming back because he missed this son. When he finally saw Feng Jin Yuan, he asked: “Ignorant fellow, what are you doing, kneeling there?”
Yao Xian rushed to say: “Wasn’t it you that told him to kneel? I’ll tell you, this bastard bullied my granddaughter. You should quickly say something!”
Upon hearing this, the Emperor erupted, “What?” He dares to bully A-Heng?” He then looked at Feng Yu Heng in disbelief: “Then why do you not whip him?”
Feng Yu Heng sniffled and said through gritted teeth: “Father Emperor, if you give the order, I will whip him right now.”
Xuan Tian Hua looked as though he was holding back a laugh, but when he looked at Feng Jin Yuan, it was a gloomy look.
“How about this!” The Emperor used the last of his consciousness to punish Feng Jin Yuan: “We are lacking someone to feed the horses. How about you do it. Starting tomorrow morning, you will leave move out of the Feng manor, and you will report to the stables in three days time! Oh right, since you are just a damn stablehand, you will have no rank nor title. We can no longer provide you with a residence. You should take care of finding a place for yourself. We will be returning to the palace.”
After saying this, he fell back against Xuan Tian Hua and fell asleep.
Zhang Yuan let out a long sigh of relief, “He finally fell asleep!” He then quickly took care of arranging for the stronger eunuchs that had also come to carry the Emperor back.
Feng Yu Heng also called for people to carry Yao Xian back to his courtyard to sleep. She then called for someone to toss Feng Jin Yuan back into the Feng manor.
Finally, she had been freed from the mess; however, she saw that Xuan Tian Hua was still standing in the courtyard without moving. He just continued to look at her. Wang Chuan and Huang Quan knew that the two definitely had something to talk about. They exchanged a glance then left the room, leaving it to them. With the room becoming empty, Feng Yu Heng felt a little uneasy. Awkwardly smiling at Xuan Tian Hua, she said: “Troubling seventh brother in the middle of the night. I’m truly apologetic.”
Xuan Tian Hua furrowed his brow, and a slight anger flashed through his eyes. He was puzzled and asked: “When did we become so unfamiliar that we must speak like this?”
Feng Yu Heng blinked and was a little curious as to why she had said such a thing, but this momentary pause made the atmosphere significantly less awkward. She smiled and waved her hand, saying: “Perhaps it’s because I have become muddled from dealing with father Emperor and grandfather causing trouble. There is no need for A-Heng to be modest with seventh brother.”
The sorrow in Xuan Tian Hua’s eyes did not recede, and an inaudible sigh escaped his lips. He then said: “If Feng Jin Yuan is truly bullying you, just do as father Emperor said. Just whip him!”
Feng Yu Heng immediately began laughing, “Seventh brother, why is it that you are speaking more and more like Xuan Tian Ming?” She leaned forward and waved her hand in front of Xuan Tian Hua’s face, “Everyone says that seventh brother is a deity, completely refined and elegant. But only I know that seventh brother is capable of saying such words and has emotions and desires.”
Xuan Tian Hua laughed, reaching out and catching the swaying hand. Helpless, he said: “In the past, I just thought that I did not want to care about anything, nor did I want to worry about anyone else. To me, all living things are nothing more than fluff. There is not too much substance; however, I am still a worldly person. I am like a deity, but I am not a true deity. That’s why, Heng Heng, look. I finally know how to get angry, but this… isn’t it not too good?”
Feng Yu Heng quickly shook her head, “No, no, this is very good.” She then stared at Xuan Tian Hua for a while and suddenly laughed. After laughing, she shook her head once more, this time saying: “It is indeed not good. The air of the earth is not suited to everyone. Seventh brother is still suited to heavenly air!” While saying this, she laughed and pushed Xuan Tian Hua out: “Father Emperor is still waiting for you to send him back. Don’t keep the old guy waiting.”
Xuan Tian Hua was helplessly pushed out of the manor’s gates. He wanted to ask if Feng Yu Heng had drank any wine. Why was it that he felt that this girl seemed a little sloppy?
Finally, the Emperor’s group mightily left. Feng Yu Heng stood at the entrance the entire time until the procession turned out of the alley. Only then did she return to the manor with Huang Quan.
She was not in a very good mood, and she continued to feel a little flustered. Reaching up to massage her chest, she did not seem to find the slightest relief.
Huang Quan was a little worried and asked her: “Young miss, are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere? How about I call a doctor to come and see you?”
Feng Yu Heng shook her head, “What doctor, I am a doctor.”
But Huang Quan had her own reasonings: “Medical practitioners cannot check themselves. Young miss, have you ever seen any doctors that treated themselves?”
This was something that Feng Yu Heng could not refute. A medical practitioner could not treat themselves, and she had never seen any doctors that would perform surgery on themselves. But it was not that serious for her. It was just that there were too many thoughts on her chest. They were all piled on top of each other, and she found it a little bit harder to breathe. That was all. She really wanted to go to sleep and not think about anything. She did not want to think about how Yao shi was becoming more distant and cold with each day, and she did not want to think about the complicated feelings exposed in Xuan Tian Hua’s eyes. Unfortunately, the days would not continue to be peaceful. She managed to return to her own courtyard and managed to get washed to lie down; however, Wang Chuan hastily entered and brought news that was very annoying: “Older madam Cheng sent someone to the manor. The servant from Qian Zhou has escaped.”
Feng Yu Heng immediately felt an urge to rush over to the Feng manor and have Feng Jin Yuan chopped up!
He truly would not allow anyone to feel at ease! Qian Zhou, why did it have to be Qian Zhou? If Feng Jin Yuan was just living with a young concubine outside of the manor, she could not even care about it. After all, the era was different. In this era, men had the right to three or four concubines. As long as you had money, as long as you could afford them, even if you had 100, nobody would care. But he had to choose someone from Qian Zhou, and she had escaped with her pregnant body.
Feng Yu Heng had a bad feeling and felt that if Xiao Jing could not be found, problems would definitely arise. She ordered Wang Chuan: “Quickly send people to search for her. Send hidden guards from the imperial daughter’s manor. Divide them into two groups, and search with that courtyard as the starting point. Send one group North and one group toward the capital.”
Huang Quan frowned: “Young miss suspects that she would return to the capital? Would that girl have that kind of courage?”
“Hmph.” Feng Yu Heng snorted coldly, “It’s not how much courage she has, it’s just to protect against the chance that she knows that it’s darkest under the lamp. The most dangerous place is also the safest place. We cannot be negligent. Go quickly!” She pushed Wang Chuan, “You must be sure to find her?”
Wang Chuan nodded, saying: “Older madam Cheng also arranged for people to search. With us also joining in, I trust that she will be found rather quickly.”
During that night’s sleep, Feng Yu Heng was practically partially awake, and she was unable to sleep calmly. Rolling back and forth, her mind was filled with all kinds of matters.
She suddenly missed Xuan Tian Ming. Although that guy would dive into her sheets whenever he had the chance, she had to admit that as long as she had Xuan Tian Ming at her side, she would be able to sleep peacefully. That sort of safe feeling could not be replaced by anyone.
Like this, she slept in a daze until the sun came up. Huang Quan took care of her when getting up and told her that Wang Chuan personally led a group to search for Xiao Jing. She then said: “Young miss, you should go and take a look at the Feng manor after breakfast! His Majesty ordered for them to move out today. We need to pick up the things that we have left in that manor.”
Upon thinking of this, Feng Yu Heng shook her head and said: “Just going to take a look will be fine, but there will be no need to move the things. Just send someone to make sure that the Feng family’s people are sent out.”
Today’s Feng manor was very chaotic. They had lived in this manor for the past 20 years. Even if they had prepared themselves mentally to move out, actually doing it was still messy.
When Feng Yu Heng arrived, she saw Feng Jin Yuan standing in the front yard with his pig’s face and directing the servants to move the boxes onto the carriages outside. Seeing her arrive, he wanted to scold her out of habit, but the pain in his face pulled his mind back. Feng Jin Yuan finally realized that this second daughter was someone that he truly could not offend.
The Feng family’s moving out lasted from dawn until after noon. When everyone finally gathered in front of the manor’s entrance, even Xiang Rong had come out to send An shi off to the new residence, Cheng Jun Man suddenly said: “I wonder who the next person to live in this manor will be.”
Feng Jin Yuan snorted coldly but did not speak. As he saw it, if it was not someone from the imperial family, it would be a member of the imperial court; however, it was at this time that they heard a laugh come from the entrance of the imperial daughter’s manor. Everyone looked over and saw Yao Xian leading a group of servants toward the Feng manor. While walking, he said: “Has the new banner been prepared? Quickly remove the words Feng manor. From this day forward, this will be my Yao family’s new residence!”