Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The voices continued to fill the air…
Feng Qingcheng looked at the hall filled with people who were looking at her like there was something wrong with her. The disdain and contempt in their eyes as they spoke awful things about her made her really not want to stay there any longer. She wanted just to leave. She would rather return to the rundown but quiet little courtyard and be cut off from the rest of the world…
Feng Qingling felt that the level of the uproar was sufficient, so she came out to speak again. “Everyone, please don’t say such things about Qingling; she’s already very pitiful. Even though she has many grievances against us, we’re one family after all, so we wouldn’t be upset with her over that. Yesterday, I specifically went to look for her to seek her understanding and to tell her not just to shut herself in and refuse to see anybody else and that I hoped she would come to my coming of age ceremony. I really didn’t expect her to come today, and I’m so happy and content right now!” Feng Qingling turned to smile at Feng Qingcheng.
This sort of smile looked exceedingly sarcastic to Feng Qingcheng. She was already breaking down from the way everyone around her was mocking her, and she couldn’t take it anymore. She immediately blurted out, “I’m not your cousin! I don’t have an older cousin like you! You’re lying! Also, when you came to look for me yesterday, it was nothing like what you said!” Then Feng Qingcheng pulled her arm out from Feng Qingling’s grasp.
But to her surprise, Feng Qingling went along with that movement and lost her balance. She seemed to stagger back by a few steps but was caught by Dongfang Xinyan just before she fell.
Feng Qingling’s eyes were filled with tears as she looked at Feng Qingcheng, and she looked so devastated. “Qingcheng, how could you say that about me? I’m so sad… If you are unhappy with me, you can just tell me directly. If it’s about Brother Prince, I can apologize to you.”
Dongfang Xinyan’s face was furious as she helped Feng Qingling stand. She shouted loudly at Feng Qingcheng, “Who do you think you are?! Qingling was so nice and kind to you, but you’ve broken her heart! You’re just a good-for-nothing who’s tired of living!”
Everyone else looked at Feng Qingcheng with disdain in their eyes as they continued to say nasty things and hurl curses at her.
Feng Qingcheng tried to explain herself since everyone was putting the blame on her, saying, “It’s not like that! That’s not what happened! I…” But before she could finish her sentence, a voice cut her off.
“Feng Qingcheng! I didn’t expect you to be such a person! It looks like you’ve been putting up an excellent act, and even I was fooled by it!” This voice was filled with great fury and utter disgust.
Everyone in the hall saw that the crown prince, Dongfang Moqi, had arrived, so they all quickly bowed to greet him. “Your Highness.”
“Dispense with the formalities.” The crown prince looked at everyone in the hall.
When he saw how Feng Qingling’s eyes were filled with tears and that she seemed so upset, he felt a tug in his heart. He coldly looked at Feng Qingcheng in front of him. “Feng Qingcheng! You are really getting bolder and bolder! Why aren’t you bowing to greet me when you see me?”
Feng Qingcheng was very sad inside, but she tried her best not to show it. She forced herself to smile as she looked at Dongfang Moqi. “Brother Prince, it’s been a long time since we met. You’ve said before that I don’t have to bow formally when I see you.”
Dongfang Moqi looked at the small and frail girl before him and saw how she spoke very calmly, and for some reason, he felt that she didn’t seem the same as before. He was actually stunned for a few moments.
Of course, Feng Qingling had noticed all of this as she watched on from the side. She gently spoke up, “Qingcheng, His Highness forgot for that moment, don’t hold it against him. After all, His Highness has to attend to many things every day. Your Highness, today is my coming of age ceremony, so I hope you won’t hold it against my cousin either.”
After hearing these words, everybody immediately felt that the Eldest Young Mistress of the Feng family was simply too kindhearted!
Feng Qiming, his wife, and Feng Qingyan had come in with the crown prince and started chiming in as well. In the eyes of others, this family looked very magnanimous and compassionate, so they won the praises of everyone present. On the contrary, Feng Qingcheng was seen as a selfish, barbaric, and rebellious girl who didn’t know how to behave herself in public.
After hearing these words, Dongfang Moqi looked even more disdainfully at Feng Qingcheng. “Since it’s Ling’er’s coming of age ceremony, I won’t hold it against you. I don’t want to spoil the mood.”
“Thank you, Brother Prince!” Feng Qingcheng still replied to him in this manner.
After that, Feng Qiming invited the crown prince to sit down, and they started the coming of age ceremony. The entire ceremony went on as planned.
At the end of the ceremony, Feng Qiming made an announcement. “My daughter’s coming of age ceremony has ended, and I would like to thank everyone for coming. Next, I would like to make an announcement, and it’s about my daughter’s marriage. Your Highness, please.” After he finished saying these words, nobody noticed Feng Qiming glance meaningfully at Feng Qingcheng, who was standing nearby.
Dongfang Moqi slowly got up and nodded to the eunuch next to him. “Eunuch Liu, please read out the royal edict.”
An older man around sixty or so walked out with steady steps. He first looked at Feng Qingcheng, then took out a scroll and declared, “Feng Qingcheng shall receive the edict!”
Then he started reading loudly, “The emperor ordained by the heavens hereby declares that the Second Young Mistress of the Feng clan, Feng Qingcheng, is of a constitution that is unable to cultivate at all and it will be difficult for her to assist the crown prince. She has been disfigured, and it will also be difficult for her to become the prince’s wife. She will certainly be unable to eventually become the empress. Her engagement to the crown prince is hereby annulled. That is all!” The eunuch finished reading everything on the scroll.
Everyone immediately showed their support of this edict. After all, how could the genius crown prince of Weiyang Nation have a wife who was both a good-for-nothing and that possessed the face of a demon? This woman was even supposed to be the future empress.
Feng Qingcheng was kneeling on the floor, and her heart was in great pain. Even though she knew that the prince’s attitude towards her had already changed, their engagement was still valid. Deep in her heart, she still dreamt of marrying him after she came of age. But now he had a change of heart, and she had nothing left.
This royal edict had destroyed all her dreams, and she remained kneeling on the floor for a long time. Just as everyone thought she was going to refuse the edict, she slowly raised her arms to receive it.
Eunuch Liu was surprised by her response, but he didn’t say anything and took out another scroll. “Feng Qingling shall receive the edict!”
Then he started reading loudly, “The emperor ordained by the heavens hereby declares that the Eldest Young Mistress of the Feng clan, Feng Qingling, has proven to have a gifting above average and an elegant beauty, which makes her a good example of what a well brought up lady ought to be like. She and the crown prince are like a match made in heaven, so she will be married to the crown prince to become his wife. That is all!” He then passed the edict to Feng Qingling with a smile and said, “Congratulations, Eldest Young Mistress of the Feng clan!”
Dongfang Xinyan excitedly tugged at Feng Qingling’s hand. “Qingling, from now on, you’ll be officially known as the fiancée to the crown prince! I can call you my sister-in-law from now on! That’s wonderful!”
Feng Qingling was extremely excited inside, but she continued to put on the correct smile for the occasion. “I am grateful to the emperor for his kindness. Thank you, Eunuch Liu!”
Then, she turned to Dongfang Xinyan and shyly called out to her, saying, “Princess…” Everyone started laughing and proceeded to congratulate Feng Qiming and his wife.
Feng Qiming and Li Xuerou thanked everyone in return, and all the congratulatory words made the four of them beam from ear to ear. Feng Qingcheng was squashed into a corner, and the sparkle in her eyes began to dim…
She looked at how Dongfang Moqi was happily smiling and laughing with everyone else, then back at Feng Qingling. “So, they’ve planned this long ago… so I was the most stupid and foolish person all this while.” She was extremely dejected as she walked over to Dongfang Moqi.
When he spotted who had suddenly appeared and the face that he really couldn’t stand taking a second look at, his eyes were filled with disgust. “What is it?”
When they saw Feng Qingcheng take the initiative to walk over, Feng Qingling and Feng Qingyan exchanged glances.
Feng Qingcheng tried her best to keep a faint smile on and tried hard not to reveal her fragility. Her eyes looked gently at him as she said, “Brother Prince, this is the last time I will call you like this. In the future, I will definitely be sure to bow formally to greet you. Your Highness, or also… cousin-in-law, congratulations. I wish you and Qingling a blissful marriage. I… will take my leave first.” She tried to smile properly, but no matter how hard she tried to push her lips upwards, she… simply couldn’t do it.
She turned and left without turning back.