CHAPTER 557: CHAPTER 539: RUTHLESS HEART

The matriarch encountered a soft refusal but showed no anger. She had also pleaded with Feng Wan not to take the children to suffer at Qiushan, yet Feng Wan insisted on reuniting with Prince Duan’s family, and she couldn’t be stopped.

"After Prince Duan and Wanwan married, he treated her extremely well. They raised two children together and shared a deep bond. Now that Prince Duan has been placed in confinement, your elder sister cannot bear to abandon her husband and refuses to be seen as faithless. She insists on taking the children with her to accompany him at Qiushan. But the children are still young, and Qiushan is an unsuitable place for them. If they grow up there for a few years, they will inevitably develop illnesses. I feel heartbroken for this and could only ask for your help — could you... could you convince Xie Xun to agree to confining Prince Duan within the prince’s manor instead?" The matriarch thought this request trivial. After all, the Xie family already holds the empire, Fengyu will become the Empress one day, and Feng Wan is her own cousin. Surely, Xie Xun would yield due to Fengyu’s influence.

Indeed, Fengyu could persuade Xie Xun, and Xie Xun would certainly consent.

But what happens after Xie Xun agrees?

The royal family has countless members, their marital ties complex and intertwined; who among them doesn’t have a few relatives? Everyone would come forward seeking favors. What should Xie Xun do then? He is implementing new reforms while facing resistance from prominent clans. The dynasty is barely established, yet many officials of the previous regime have not pledged true loyalty. If he changes his decree on a whim for Fengyu and Feng Wan, freeing Prince Duan from Qiushan, how will the others view him as the new emperor?

The new emperor hasn’t ascended the throne yet, but his authority would already suffer. He would be labeled as a ruler who amends decrees for the sake of a woman — a fatal weakness for Xie Xun.

Xie Xun is willing to bear the slander and rumors for her.

She is unwilling!

Why should she!

"Elder Sister shares a deep bond with Prince Duan, taking her children to Qiushan to endure confinement with him. What does this have to do with Xie Xun?" Fengyu’s gaze grew sharp and cold, devoid of emotion. "If Xie Xun changes the terms of confinement, allowing Prince Duan to return to the prince’s manor, what precedent does it set? The Grand Princess and Princess Huaying share a close relationship. If Princess Huaying comes forward, pleading for leniency, saying she’s weak in constitution, her young child requires care, can she return to the princess mansion for confinement? Will Xie Xun agree or refuse? Among the countless elder royal uncles, many contributed greatly to the state — now weak and frail with age. If Grandmaster Zhang lobbies for clemency, what should Xie Xun do? If Xie Xun amends his policies again and again, how will he salvage his reputation? The matriarch only considers her daughter and grandson, but Xie Xun is also someone’s son and husband, worthy of love and concern too. This matter cannot be resolved."

The matriarch felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment, especially being boldly contradicted by a junior. Her indignation nearly became rage. "Prince Duan is practically your brother-in-law — can you really stand to see your elder sister suffer at Qiushan, or your nephew grow up in such a place?"

"Yes, I can," Fengyu said indifferently. "My elder sister was driven to her death by the Yuwen family, leaping from the city wall to her demise, her body shattered beyond recovery. Prince Duan has accomplished nothing, yet he contended with my fiancé for the throne in court. If Prince Duan had triumphed, Xie Xun would have been a prisoner. Would the matriarch have sought clemency for me and Xie Xun then? No...you wouldn’t. You’d think Xie Xun claimed what he didn’t deserve, he deserved death for his ambition. You’d relish being hailed as the future Empress’s mother. The joys and sorrows of my second household mean nothing to you. In the same vein, the joys and sorrows of Prince Duan are irrelevant to me. My elder sister chose to accompany him with the children to Qiushan—that is her decision. If you wish to use this to coerce me, you’ve made a grave miscalculation."

"Fengyu, don’t think that because you’re about to become Empress, you can defy your elders. The palace hasn’t officiated your title yet; here you are flaunting superiority. Truly cold and heartless, ignoring familial bonds," the matriarch retorted, furious and losing all composure. Feng Ling tried to restrain her from blurting out reckless words but failed—it was too late, and she could only watch anxiously.

Fengyu looked at the matriarch’s disarray, her eyes taunting, then said quietly, "The first and second branches split long ago. This isn’t defiance, is it? Instead of coming to beg me, why not appeal to Elder Sister? If she truly cares about her children, she should divorce and return home. It would benefit everyone. As for Prince Duan leaving Qiushan, forget it — it’s impossible."

Prince Duan contested Xie Xun for the throne within the Jinluan Palace. Had he succeeded, Xie Xun would have died, leaving her no choice but to avenge him.

The matriarch’s heart ached. In truth, when Feng Wan refused to divorce, she had proposed leaving her children with the Feng Mansion for the matriarch to raise while she joined Prince Duan at Qiushan. But the matriarch failed to convince Feng Wan, and so she took the children along, orchestrating this scheme to use familial ties to plea with Fengyu, hoping their family could return to the prince’s manor from Qiushan.

Unexpectedly, Fengyu remained steadfast, unwilling to intervene.

Feng Ling said, "Third Sister, Elder Sister has been in poor health ever since giving birth to Xiao Yu. Qiushan is damp and cold—living there long-term will surely worsen her condition. I beg you to see reason and help her, for the sake of sisterhood."

"I cannot help anyone."

"How can you remain so stubborn and heartless? That is your own sister—do you not care for her at all?" the matriarch snapped, gritting her teeth. "Fine, I’ll go plead with the old Madam to persuade you."

The matriarch stormed off, not even pausing for tea. Fengyu’s face darkened, her voice sharp and commanding. "Stop!!"

The matriarch felt triumphant, certain that invoking the old Madam had cornered Fengyu. "Grandmother suffered a heavy blow after Elder Sister’s passing, leaving her bedridden to this day. You’ve made no effort to attend to her, yet you dare disturb her rest? If you approach Songhe Garden even one step, I’ll order supplies to Qiushan to be cut off entirely. Feel free to test me!"

The matriarch looked stunned, unable to believe Fengyu could be so ruthless!

"You...truly have a heart of stone!"