CHAPTER 678: CHAPTER 658: AVOIDING SUSPICION

"A decade or so ago, the noble clans were truly audacious, even daring to slap a princess in the face. If anyone dared to lay a finger on Ruyi, I’d exile their entire clan three thousand miles away!" Fengyu had this sort of temperament—family was untouchable. If she became the Empress, who would dare strike her children? Was that not courting death?

"Indeed, they were arrogant. The Li Family was at the height of their power, controlling the crucial lifeline of grain transportation. At the time, neither the Grand General nor the Marquis Mansion’s influence was as formidable as it would later become. That particular incident prompted closer cooperation between the Grand General and Marquis Zhenbei—north and south united as one. Together, they seized half of the transportation routes controlled by the Li Family. The lifeline of military supplies was interrupted over a mere quarrel, something neither the Marquis nor the Grand General could tolerate."

"So, after the Li Family realized they had lost control of half their transportation routes, their relationship with the Grand General gradually grew distant," Xie Xun said. "It all stemmed from a minor incident, and no one foresaw that it would lead to so much trouble."

"The Grand General, really... The Li Family girl wasn’t killed by Mrs. Fang, so why take it out on her? And then to compensate the Li Family? If he wants to compensate the Li Family, let him do it himself. Why drag the Princess and Junjun into it?" Fengyu’s indignation and frustration were evident.

Xie Xun remained silent for a moment before clicking his tongue. "I’ve realized... you seem to know more than I do."

Fengyu, "..."

Xie Xun couldn’t help but laugh at Fengyu’s expression. Discussing their elders’ past grievances behind their backs was undoubtedly inappropriate, but since the topic had been broached, Xie Xun continued, "The repercussions of that incident were significant. Even years later, there were lingering aftershocks. My mother and Mrs. Fang were close friends, practically bosom companions since childhood. What happened to Mrs. Fang weighed heavily on her heart, so she would often discuss it with my aunts at home. Although the issue with the Li Family girl wasn’t directly attributable to Mrs. Fang, still... how should I put it? At the time, the Grand General was young and impulsive, while Mrs. Fang had a fiery and stubborn temper—it was inevitable that they clashed in numerous ways."

"Yes, she’s pitiable. The Grand General abandoned her and married Mrs. Fang. But let’s not forget, she was the eldest daughter of a noble clan, raised from childhood as a future matriarch. At the time, there was only a verbal engagement, no formal betrothal. The marriage didn’t happen, but as the noble clan’s eldest daughter, she was of high status and hardly lacked suitors. Yet, she chose to hang herself on the Grand General’s wedding day. Firstly, she didn’t cherish her own life; her death hurt her parents and siblings the most. Secondly, wasn’t this an intentional affront to Mrs. Fang? Committing suicide on someone else’s wedding night ensured an eternal thorn between the Grand General and his wife. Wasn’t her goal to turn them into a resentful couple?"

Fengyu had a nature that sided with those she cared about rather than being fair. Since she liked Fang Lingjun, she naturally wouldn’t consider things from the Li Family’s perspective. But events from over twenty years ago were hard to judge clearly. In the end, it was a tragedy involving a few individuals, and its consequences lingered to this day. The death of the Li Family girl marked the beginning of animosity between the Li Family and Mrs. Fang.

The two families could never form alliances or marriage ties. Even at banquets in the capital, if Mrs. Fang was present, First Mrs. Li would not be.

"This matter can’t be entirely blamed on the Grand General either," Xie Xun couldn’t help but defend him. "The Grand General had originally planned to marry the Li Family girl. If not for unforeseen changes, he wouldn’t have wed Mrs. Fang instead. The Li Family girl was deeply devoted and unable to let go, leading her to take her own life—an outcome no one anticipated. If you and I were deeply in love, and Princess Huazhen tried to force me into marriage, and you ended your life on my wedding night, could I have forgiven Princess Huazhen?"

"But Mrs. Fang wasn’t the one exerting pressure here. Ultimately, it was the Grand General’s youthful arrogance that led him to misunderstand the political intricacies. Being close to the imperial family, he should have questioned whether he truly had the autonomy to choose a bride. If he didn’t, then he shouldn’t have entangled the Li Family girl. Was she so stunning or clever that the Grand General was blinded in his youth? For such a marriage to fall through, and for her to hang herself on his wedding day—firstly, it shows her fragile and extreme nature, and secondly, her petty and vengeful heart. Such conduct was unbecoming of a matriarch. The Fang clan was in decline, and the Grand General needed a wife both capable and resourceful to maintain stability in the capital while he was stationed in Jiangnan. Even though I never met the Li Family girl, judging by her actions, she was unfit to be the spouse of a military marquis. So, ultimately, it was all the Grand General’s fault," Fengyu concluded decisively.

"But when someone is young and naïve, emotions can be uncontrollable. If love were always rational, there wouldn’t be tales of star-crossed lovers," Xie Xun remarked.

"For someone from a military marquis or noble family, how could personal feelings take precedence in marriage alliances? Especially when the political landscape in the capital was so tense and required careful balancing," Fengyu retorted, unable to understand his reasoning.

Xie Xun replied, "By that logic, then my parents’ marriage would’ve been equally irrational."

"That’s different. When Father-in-law proposed, your father and brothers were still alive, and the Marquis Mansion was thriving," Fengyu said bluntly. "He could afford to indulge himself."

Just as Xie Xun had been able to propose to her back then, with his father and brothers able to shoulder the consequences. No one could have foreseen the bloodshed that would follow.

"If we had a son, or if Ruyi were crowned Crown Prince and raised as the heir apparent, I would make sure to explain the pros and cons to him if he fell in love with someone prone to melancholy and sentimentality," Fengyu said.

Just the thought made her head ache. "Unless this Crown Princess Consort were as wealthy as me!"

Xie Xun, "..."

Poor Ruyi. It seemed his marriage would never be up to him.

But Fengyu did have a point. Noble clans choosing a matriarch required meticulous deliberation. It wasn’t just about matching family status; the bride needed to have a steady temperament and exemplary character. Marrying the wrong person could disrupt the upbringing of future generations or lead to discord within the family, with catastrophic consequences. Therefore, noblewomen were exceedingly cautious when selecting brides for their eldest sons.

Just like how Lin Yu Yan, despite her high status and beauty, became a pariah among the noble matrons after falling victim to a scheme of Fengyu’s during an archery banquet. Even women from lesser families wouldn’t accept her as a daughter-in-law.

"Ayu, Ayu..."

While Fengyu and Xie Xun were deep in conversation, they failed to notice how close their boat had drifted to the Fang Family’s flower boat. Xie Xun and Fengyu had secretly snuck out of the palace, and their boat was relatively small. Fang Lingjun, bored and leaning against a window to admire the boats and lanterns, suddenly spotted Fengyu and Xie Xun. She eagerly waved at them.

Ruyi also noticed and called out excitedly, "Uncle! Aunt!"

Their voices overlapped, making it impossible for the men chatting on the deck to ignore. The Grand General and the others immediately stood to pay their respects.

Xie Xun raised an eyebrow and asked, "Would you like to go aboard and visit?"

Fengyu, having not seen Fang Lingjun in ages, naturally agreed. The two were invited onto the flower boat. As the Grand General and others prepared to bow, Xie Xun raised a hand to stop them. "The Emperor and Empress are traveling in disguise and wish to keep a low profile. Formalities are unnecessary."

The Grand General said, "Your Majesty, on New Year’s Eve, the crowds are dense and potential dangers abound. You should not have left the palace without authorization."

"What’s done is done. What, are you going to send me back now?" Xie Xun was entirely unconcerned about the potential dangers. After all, he had grown up outside the palace and maintained a carefree disposition. His gaze swept over his second brother and Fang Chuning.

These two, who were usually inseparably close, were now sitting on opposite ends, deliberately keeping their distance. Xie Xun couldn’t help but click his tongue in amusement at the sight.