Feng Ruoyan felt greatly relieved and rose from the ground with the help of a maid.
“Father, Mother…” Feng Ruoyan was rather filial and did not forget to plead for Madam Sun.
“Let her continue kneeling. No one is allowed to plead for her. I was truly blind when I let her into this household, only to bring about so much trouble.”
Feng Yuanping regretted it deeply. How could he have been so infatuated with Madam Sun as to insist on her entering the household, even to the point of breaking ties with Miao Qing.
“Master, I truly know my mistakes. Please, for Ruoyan’s sake, forgive me this once.”
“I never imagined you would have such audacity to even tamper with Miao Qing’s dowry.”
The Empress Dowager had already decreed that Miao Qing’s dowry be entirely entrusted to Feng Jin. Now that Madam Sun had meddled with it, the dowry was incomplete. How would he explain this to the Empress Dowager?
“Sister is the lawful wife and mistress of the household. Ruoyan is considered her child. As the mistress, she should also prepare a dowry for Ruoyan.”
“Nonsense! The situation is dire, and you’re still trying to deny it. Miao Qing’s dowry has always been stored in the treasury. You have managed all household affairs for these years. You are stealing from the treasury. If you do not replenish the dowry, you can explain it to the Empress Dowager yourself.”
Feng Yuanping’s eyes were filled with resolve. He would not jeopardize the entire Feng family for Madam Sun alone.
If the Empress Dowager were to indeed blame him for this matter, he would have no choice but to shift all the blame onto Madam Sun.
“Master, you are so heartless! I have served you for more than a decade, diligently managing household affairs and bearing children. Even if I have no merit, I have worked hard. You would abandon me for these matters, Master!”
Madam Sun began her usual act of tearful lamentation, recounting her grievances, still fantasizing that, as in the past, Feng Yuanping would soften his heart and let it slide as soon as she cried.
Alas, Madam Sun had still not fathomed Feng Yuanping’s true intentions.
In Feng Yuanping’s eyes, everything he did was for the revitalization of the Feng family.
Marrying He Miao Qing was to leverage the He family’s influence and climb his way up.
Madam Sun was merely a soft haven he found for himself, a way to prove that his achievements were not solely due to his wife’s family, and to soothe his pathetic self-esteem.
“Since things have come to this, you can figure out how to explain yourself to the Empress Dowager.”
With that, Feng Yuanping turned and left.
“Mother, what should we do…”
Feng Ruoyan had never seen her father so angry and asked her mother in fright.
Madam Sun was also extremely panicked, the situation having spiraled out of her control.
“For now, the priority is to preserve our current status and wealth, and then consider other matters.”
“No, Mother! You promised me before that you would keep that dowry for me. Now you won’t even give me a small portion. Do you really want me to marry without anything?”
Feng Ruoyan insisted, feeling that marrying without a dowry would be a complete disgrace.
Moreover, the Empress disliked her, and Miss Liu was to be the principal wife. As a secondary consort without any financial support, how could she survive in the Third Prince’s manor?
Seeing her daughter’s wilfulness, Madam Sun was furious and slapped her.
“Mother, you hit me? This is the first time you’ve ever hit me in my life!” Feng Ruoyan felt immensely wronged. She had been pampered and doted upon since childhood, and no one had ever spoken harshly to her. Now her mother had struck her.
“Ruoyan, our situation has changed drastically. Money and wealth are external possessions. The most important thing now is for you to successfully marry the Third Prince. The Third Prince has feelings for you. If you can capture the Third Prince’s heart, and he ascends the throne, do you think you wouldn’t become Empress?”
“But the Empress and Miss Liu are still above me. As long as the Empress is around, I will never be Empress.”
The Empress’s plan was for the Liu family to continue to hold power. Once she married, the Empress would surely suppress her.
Miss Liu also seemed like a difficult person to deal with. Without financial means to curry favor, wouldn’t she be ostracized by everyone?
“Everything takes time. As long as you have the Third Prince’s favor, coupled with the Feng family’s support, the position of Empress will eventually be yours. If the Empress Dowager blames us, and the Feng family is implicated, you won’t even have the position of secondary consort. Think carefully!”
Madam Sun delivered a powerful blow, causing Feng Ruoyan to panic immediately. She grabbed Madam Sun’s sleeve and pleaded, “Mother, you can’t abandon me! I only have you.”
Her father’s affection for her had waned, and her mother was the only one she could rely on.
Madam Sun sighed and helped Feng Ruoyan up. “You are good in everything, child, except that you are too concerned with gains and losses. Seeing everything as too important may not be a good thing, do you understand?”
“Daughter understands and will heed Mother’s teachings.”
“You are your father’s daughter, and his only hope. He has doted on you for so many years; he won’t stand by and watch you marry empty-handed. That would be a loss of his reputation, the reputation of the Feng family.”
Madam Sun had long understood Feng Yuanping’s character. He valued face more than anything. If she had not bribed people to spread rumors that Feng Yuanping’s current status was solely due to the He family, Feng Yuanping, eager to prove himself, would not have elevated her to the position of main wife.
“In a moment, bring a bowl of bird’s nest soup to your father. You know what to do.”
“Mother, daughter understands.”
Inside the Ling residence, after a group of people had finished their meal, a young servant entered to report.
“Young Madam, Prime Minister Feng and his wife have arrived.”
Feng Jin looked at Nanny Yun. “Nanny, please accompany me.”
Nanny Yun nodded slightly. “Young Madam, please.”
“Take Prime Minister Feng and Madam Sun to the main hall to wait.”
“Yes, Young Madam.”
When Feng Jin arrived, Feng Yuanping and Madam Sun were already seated in the hall.
Considering that Feng Yuanping was still her nominal father, Feng Jin said reluctantly, “Father has arrived.”
Feng Yuanping replied curtly.
“Feng Jin! How have you been these past two days? I…”
“Madam Sun, as a secondary wife, how can you address the legitimate daughter of the primary wife by name? Moreover, she has now been granted the title of Princess Jianning by His Majesty. Madam Sun, lacking any rank, should perform the kneeling and kowt ritual when meeting the Princess.”
“This… Nanny, ultimately I am an elder. It is also not in accordance with propriety.”
Nanny Yun’s expression tightened. “Propriety? What is propriety? Even the Empress Mother, when meeting the Empress in the palace, must first perform the kneeling and kowt ritual. You, however, were only elevated to the position of primary wife by a concubine. Your status is low; how can you be more noble than the Empress and the imperial concubines?”
“Princess Jianning is a second-rank princess personally enfeoffed by His Majesty. Madam Sun, do you dare to defy His Majesty’s decree!”
Nanny Yun truly lived up to her reputation as someone from the Empress Dowager’s side. She commanded respect without anger, exuding an invisible aura of pressure just by standing there.
“Madam Sun, kowtow to the Princess.”