Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 138 Sisters

Chapter 138: Chapter 138 Sisters

The matriarch reprimanded, "Ling’er, what nonsense are you up to? Third Sister is injured, yet you’re trying to take her wheelchair. Apologize to your Third Sister right now."

"I want the wheelchair, but I didn’t take it." Feng Ling protested tearfully, "Third Sister, you’re too much."

Feng Ling stomped her foot and ran off crying. The matriarch said, "Yu’er, don’t be angry. I’ll properly discipline her later."

Feng Shu said with a smile, "Among the fruits and vegetables sent by the Land Office, there are two baskets of winter dates. I remember Ling’er likes them the most, so I asked for an extra five pounds. I’ll send them to her later to try. If she enjoys them, she can let me know, and I’ll send someone to Yiling Village to gather another basket."

"Alright, Shu’er, you’ve been thoughtful. You must be tired from your journey; go rest soon."

Feng Shu pushed Fengyu to pay respects to the matriarch. The matriarch had already heard about their return and Fengyu’s injury, and rushed out to find them. She caught sight of Feng Shu pushing Fengyu as soon as she arrived at the Moon Gate.

"Grandmother..."

The matriarch’s eyes reddened with pain upon seeing Fengyu sitting in the wheelchair. "How did you get hurt like this? What did the doctor say? How long will it take to heal? Will walking be affected in the future?"

Fengyu held her grandmother’s hand lovingly. "Grandmother, it’s nothing serious. It doesn’t even hurt anymore."

The matriarch didn’t believe her and turned to Feng Shu. Feng Shu smiled softly and said, "Doctor Zhou said the bone injury isn’t severe. It will heal in a month, but she needs to rest and avoid exertion for now."

Both sisters feared worrying the matriarch, so they didn’t disclose the internal injuries, merely framing it as a minor bone ailment requiring rest. After asking detailed questions, the matriarch finally felt reassured.

The sisters stayed in the matriarch’s courtyard for dinner. The matriarch instructed the small kitchen to prepare Fengyu’s favorite dishes and made bird’s nest soup. Though Fengyu remained somewhat lethargic, she rested in the Winter Warmth Pavilion while Feng Shu chatted with the matriarch. Despite lounging lazily, Fengyu’s ears stayed attentive.

Feng Wan’s impending marriage to Prince Duan was arranged hastily, leaving little time for preparation. Princess Consort De had sent a nursing nun from the palace to instruct Feng Wan on etiquette. Feng Ling secretly went to see her, and found the instructor deliberately making things difficult for Feng Wan. Although Feng Wan flawlessly adhered to all ceremonial rules, she was still punished, including being struck on the palm.

Yesterday, Feng Wan was even forced to kneel for an hour, leaving her knees bruised. The matriarch witnessed this and felt deeply distressed.

Fengyu thought to herself, unless Eldest Sister and Prince Duan could foster some feelings for each other—even if not utterly harmonious, at least mutually respectful—Eldest Sister’s days were destined to be miserable. Fengyu pitied Feng Wan but felt utterly powerless. Prince Duan wasn’t someone like Jiang Yang who could be easily held accountable if Eldest Sister were wronged.

Feng Shu merely comforted the matriarch without elaborating. After all, decisions set in stone were difficult to change. This marriage was a mismatch, dragging Eldest Sister into an inescapable dilemma, guaranteeing some degree of oppression.

After helping Fengyu back to Plum Garden and waiting for her to take her medicine and fall asleep, Feng Shu brought Dongxue and Xia Zhu to Feng Wan’s courtyard. Feng Wan’s maid was applying medicinal liquor to her bruised knees, and upon noticing Feng Shu’s arrival, swiftly put the medicine away. As Feng Shu entered, she caught the faint scent of the liquor but refrained from commenting. She had brought Feng Wan a batch of snow satin.

The material was exceptional, from Jiangnan Silk Shop—the fabric coveted by noble girls in the capital for its softness, perfect for tailoring spring garments. Feng Wan accepted it with poise.

Feng Shu and Feng Wan had always maintained good relations. Feng Wan was gentle, while Feng Shu was magnanimous; neither was the type to overthink or fuss over trivialities. Both were well-mannered. They had studied together, played together, and while their hobbies differed, each had their own strengths. Before coming of age, their bond was close. After Feng Shu came of age, frequent travels away from home led to a slight distance between them—largely because Feng Shu’s focus moved away from the inner court and the capital. Her responsibilities toward Ningzhou’s military supplies left her exhausted, and aside from worrying about Fengyu, she had little capacity to worry about anything else.

She hadn’t expected so much to happen during her months away from the capital. Both Fengyu and Feng Wan’s lives had undergone dramatic shifts.

"Life was better back in Ningzhou, carefree and untroubled," Feng Wan remarked wistfully. Her years in Ningzhou were the happiest of her life. Though the front lines were rife with conflict, the townsfolk within the city lived peacefully.

The people of Ningzhou were hardy, its women spirited and decisive, unbound by the constraints of cloistered living. Many female generals in Ningzhou led troops into battle, showing that women were no less capable than men. Before Emperor Jianming’s ascension, Feng Wan, Feng Shu, Huazhen, and several princes often played atop the city walls. The Crown Prince even discovered a tunnel leading outside the city that only children could squeeze through.

They would sneak through the riverside passage to play outside the city. That year, fields of endless grasslands surrounded Ningzhou, with shoals of fish in its rivers and sand dates sweet beyond compare.

At nightfall, they would stealthily crawl back through the passage to continue their games.

Childhood innocence—those joyful days never returned. After leaving Ningzhou, they were confined at home to learn instruments, chess, calligraphy, painting, virtues, decorum, and practical skills. Their memories of Ningzhou felt like distant dreams.

Speaking of Ningzhou, even Feng Shu’s lips curled into a faint smile.

Feng Wan said, "To be honest, I envied you back then."

"Why?" Feng Shu asked in confusion.

"Everyone liked you more than me." Feng Wan admitted with slight embarrassment. Though years had passed, she had gradually come to terms with it. "After Mother’s family fell into decline, her spirits grew gloomier. She often reminisced about her family’s past glory, which weighed heavily on her. Seeing us play so well with the Crown Prince and the others, she encouraged me to curry favor with them, hoping to win their esteem. She wished for a match between the Prince Manor and our family, seeing it as a chance to rise again. At the time, Mother believed our exile to Ningzhou meant there was no turning back, which made her desperate to cling to power. I was young and impressionable, and often obeyed her unspoken wishes. Yet the Crown Prince always gravitated toward you, Prince Duan liked spending time with you, even little Prince Kang only called you ’Sister,’ and Princess Huazhen treated you as her closest friend. I felt miserable and couldn’t understand why. Second Sister’s fiery temper even led her to fight with them, yet they liked you all the same. Thinking about you possibly marrying into the Prince Manor made me lose sleep, weighed down by jealousy I couldn’t shake. Though I was the elder sister and you weren’t yet engaged to the Eldest Young Master, I constantly felt overshadowed and deeply unhappy."

Feng Shu didn’t know how to respond for a moment. Whether to deny or comfort Feng Wan, she thought carefully before softly saying, "Perhaps it’s because my young nature resembled a boy’s, making them feel more at ease around me."

Feng Wan chuckled lightly, "I always thought you’d marry the Crown Prince."

Back then, the Crown Prince had treated Feng Shu exceedingly well, though his kindness was discreet. That year, Feng Shu had just started learning archery. The Feng Family had four daughters, and the Crown Prince, aiming to gift Feng Shu a bow, prepared bows for each of them. Despite Fengyu’s frail condition and inability to draw a bow, she too received a gift. The Crown Prince had secretly taken them through the riverside tunnel in order to play outside the city, all because Feng Shu liked the unique pinecones found outside town.

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