Empress Dowager Su exclaimed with delight, "Ying'er? You've come!"
Feng Ying, dressed in simple palace attire with an elegant demeanor, curtsied gracefully. "Your servant Feng Ying greets the Empress Dowager!"
"Rise quickly, child. Why stand on ceremony with me?" Empress Dowager Su gestured, and a matron immediately stepped forward to guide Feng Ying to sit beside her.
Holding Feng Ying's hand, the Empress Dowager said warmly, "Ying'er, don’t forget—before you left the capital, I already spoke with His Majesty about granting you the title of Huaguang County Princess. It was only because you disliked empty honors that it was delayed. Once His Majesty finishes his pressing matters, the decree will be issued, and you shall be Huaguang County Princess. There’s no need for such formalities!"
"Thank you for your grace, Empress Dowager," Feng Ying replied softly. "Earlier, I heard Your Majesty was furious. Was it because of the Chu family’s daughter?"
"Hmph! Indeed, not a single one of those Chus is any good, especially that Chu Changle!" A shadow flickered in the Empress Dowager’s eyes. "I thought arranging for her younger sister to marry Prince Qin as a concubine would teach them a lesson, but before she even entered the household, she dared to slight me..."
Noticing Feng Ying’s calm expression, the Empress Dowager quickly added, "Ying'er, don’t misunderstand. Prince Qin has only ever had you in his heart. This matter with the second Chu girl was a scheme, but his devotion remains unwavering. He has remained chaste all these years for you. You mustn’t doubt him."
Feng Ying lowered her head. "This servant wouldn’t dare."
Empress Dowager Su nodded approvingly. "You’ve always been sensible. Both I and Jin'er wish for you to be Prince Qin’s principal consort. I had planned to use the Qujiang Banquet to discipline that second Chu girl, but alas..."
Before she could finish, Feng Ying interjected, "If I may be so bold, I would like to meet this second Chu girl privately. Would that be permissible?"
"You wish to see her?" The Empress Dowager frowned. "Very well, if you insist. But don’t let her gain any advantage, understand?"
"Understood."
The next day, at the Duke of Chu's Mansion.
Chu Ruoyin was surprised to learn that Feng Ying would visit at noon to inquire after her health. She hastily ordered the kitchen to prepare lunch.
But from mid-morning until well past noon, there was no sign of Feng Ying.
Just as Chu Ruoyin assumed she wouldn’t come, Feng Ying arrived at last.
"Second Miss Chu."
Feng Ying removed her veil, revealing a face of breathtaking beauty.
Chu Ruoyin froze.
Both women wore identical pale green robes, their hair adorned with the same simple wooden hairpins. Even their refined and understated aura was uncannily similar.
So… they truly did resemble each other.
As Chu Ruoyin studied Feng Ying, Feng Ying did the same.
After a moment, a faint smile touched Feng Ying’s lips. "No wonder His Highness favors you, Second Miss Chu. The resemblance is striking."
Those last four words pierced Chu Ruoyin’s heart like needles.
Her face paled instantly. "If Miss Feng came here to say such things, then please leave."
Feng Ying raised an eyebrow. "Are you angered? But it’s the truth. As long as I exist, his eyes will never truly be on you. Are you content to live as my substitute for the rest of your life?"
Crash!
A teacup was swept off the table. Chu Ruoyin’s lips trembled as she clenched them, her entire body shaking. "Miss Feng, if you came to inquire after my health, you are welcome. But if you came to humiliate me, then leave at once!"
Feng Ying remained seated, lifting the now-cold tea to her lips. "Second Miss Chu, there’s no need for such agitation. I came today to propose a deal."
"A deal?"
"Indeed. I’ll be frank—though Prince Qin and I grew up together, my heart belongs to another. I’m willing to step aside and let you have him."
Chu Ruoyin was stunned.
For a long moment, she stood there, disbelief written across her face. "You… you don’t love Prince Qin?"
Feng Ying nodded.
"But… if that’s the case, why didn’t you make it clear to him? Why let him wait for you all these years?" Chu Ruoyin’s eyes widened. This wasn’t just a year or two—it was six whole years!
A prince of his stature, refusing to take a principal consort, refusing concubines, not even keeping a single maidservant…
Such devotion, and yet Feng Ying dismissed it so callously?
"His feelings for me are his own affair. Why should I explain myself?" Feng Ying said coolly. "Besides, if I cannot marry the one I love, becoming Prince Qin’s principal consort isn’t a bad alternative."
She was keeping him as a backup!
Fury flared in Chu Ruoyin’s chest, but then a thought struck her. "So, when you say you’ll step aside, does that mean you’ll marry the one you love? What does that have to do with me? What deal are you proposing?"
A glint of approval flashed in Feng Ying’s eyes.
Good. She wasn’t entirely dull.
"This man is closely connected to you, Second Miss Chu. He is your elder sister’s husband—the Grand Secretary, Yan Zheng."
"What?!" Chu Ruoyin clapped a hand over her mouth. But Feng Ying’s expression remained composed. "If you help me succeed, I will no longer stand between you and Prince Qin. I’ll even make it clear to him myself. What do you say?"
Chu Ruoyin nearly laughed. "You want me to break up my sister and her husband?"
"Not break them apart—share him," Feng Ying corrected. "Grand Secretary Yan and your sister are deeply devoted. They cannot be separated, nor do I wish to be the villain. I only seek a place by his side, even if just as a concubine."
A cold light flickered in her eyes.
Once inside the Yan household, with her skills, she had countless ways to eliminate Chu Ruoyan.
Chu Ruoyin stood silent for a long moment before forcing a bitter smile.
What kind of farce was this?
She had no desire to be a concubine, yet an imperial decree forced her into it.
Prince Qin longed to marry Feng Ying, yet Feng Ying would rather become a concubine to her sister’s husband than be his principal consort.
"Second Miss Chu, think carefully. The Yan family has few descendants. Even without me, there will be others—Zhang Ying, Li Ying… The Grand Secretary won’t remain devoted to your sister forever." Feng Ying’s voice was honeyed, laced with persuasion. "If you help me, I’ll help you. Prince Qin’s preferences, his dislikes… no one knows him better than I do. If you agree, I’ll ensure you win his heart."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Finally, Chu Ruoyin shook her head. "I cannot betray my sister like this… Even if my brother-in-law takes concubines in the future, that’s a matter for then. But if I agree today, I’d be failing my sister and dishonoring the Chu name."
Feng Ying’s expression darkened. "You’ve made your choice? You’d sacrifice your own future for a half-sister?"
"No matter how great the stakes, I won’t harm others." Chu Ruoyin took a deep breath. "Miss Feng, please leave. I’ll pretend I never heard this conversation."
Feng Ying nodded slowly. "Fine… fine…"
She picked up her veil and stood—then suddenly let out a sharp cry, doubling over as she clutched her stomach.
Before Chu Ruoyin could react, the door burst open with a bang.
Murong Jin rushed in, sweeping Feng Ying into his arms. "Ying'er! Ying'er, what’s wrong?"
Feng Ying’s face was deathly pale, sweat beading on her brow. With difficulty, she glanced at the table. "It’s… it’s nothing…"
Murong Jin’s expression darkened as he gripped the teacup. "Outrageous! Feng Ying is here as our guest, and you serve her cold tea? Don’t you know the years she spent in the northern borders left her with a chill in her bones? She can’t tolerate anything cold!"
Chu Ruoyin hurriedly protested, "No... that’s not—"
"Not what? And look at this table—nothing but raw seafood and chilled dishes! Feng Ying is so frail—how could she possibly eat such things? Chu Ruoyin, whatever happened between you and me is my fault, but Feng Ying has done nothing wrong. When she heard you were ill, she came personally to see you. And this is how you treat her?"
"Mm... Please, stop. This has nothing to do with Second Miss Chu..." Feng Ying interrupted, her face etched with pain.
Murong Jin’s heart ached even more. Clutching her hand, he turned and spat out a cold warning, "Chu Ruoyin, if anything happens to Feng Ying, I swear I won’t let you off so easily!"
