Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 152: Coercion

Chapter 152: Chapter 152: Coercion

Fengyu clutched her chest, her brows furrowed tightly. "My chest feels uncomfortable."

Feng Ling ladled a bowl of hot soup for her. Princess Huazhen presumed Fengyu had been hurt by Xie Xun, and her suspicions about Fengyu trying to seduce Xie Xun were completely dispelled.

Fengyu pondered secretly, what was the Crown Prince discussing with Sister alone at the observation deck?

On the observation deck, the crescent moon hung like a hook, and the coolness seeped like water.

The Crown Prince stared at the kneeling maiden before him. All was silent; palace lanterns swayed gently. He looked down at her from above, his gaze landing only on the rose carved into the bead hairpin atop her head. His fingers moved slightly, restrained yet harboring a faint anger.

Feng Shu prostrated herself on the ground. "Your Highness, your request—this humble subject’s daughter cannot possibly agree. Please retract your command."

"Shu’er, rise. The ground is cold." He stooped down and helped Feng Shu up with one hand, his voice gentle.

After Feng Shu stood up, she stepped back a pace. The Crown Prince stood amidst the halo of the palace light, his expression unreadable. Slowly withdrawing his hand, Feng Shu said, "The Su Family’s Trading House joined forces with Jiangnan’s wealthy merchants to provide provisions and military supplies for the imperial army as per the agreement between the Marquis and the Emperor of that time. For years, we have acted under imperial decree, diligently securing the rear lines of the army. Should we relinquish the token, it would trigger far-reaching consequences, disrupting the framework of trading houses nationwide. This humble subject’s daughter must respectfully decline."

The Crown Prince sought the Kyoto token in Feng Shu’s possession. The Su Family’s Trading House possessed three tokens, representing Kyoto, Jiangnan, and Twelve Provinces, each governing the respective region’s trading houses.

To see the token was akin to seeing the Family Head. With possession of all three tokens came authority over all trading houses, commanding them as tools at one’s disposal.

Now, all three tokens were with Feng Shu. She was the rightful Family Head of the Su Family’s Trading House, and the Crown Prince wanted the one belonging to Kyoto.

"The victory in Ningzhou, the peace talks with Beiman, and Marquis Zhenbei returning to court will lead to the relinquishment of military power—soldiers will remove their armor and return to civilian life to heal and recover. The army no longer requires the unified support of trading houses for provisions and military supplies. The treasury is empty this year; the Ministry of Revenue could barely scrape together funds for spring farming. The floods in Jiangnan, the resettlement of displaced people, and the rebuilding in the north all demand silver coins. I only want the Kyoto token to seek financial support from the Su Family’s Trading House, as a loan that I promise to repay in the future," the Crown Prince said warmly. "I hope that the people can live peacefully, yet now the Seven Great Families of Yanyang monopolize land, resources, and wealth, leaving me encumbered at every step. Shu’er, please help me."

The Seven Great Families of Yanyang, sprawling in influence, maintained complex ties of marriage among aristocrats and dominated most resources of Yanyang while controlling its economic lifeline. The Su Family’s Trading House, a unique entity, originated in Jiangnan, gradually building its commercial empire over decades with the assistance of the Old Marquis Zhenbei, connecting Yanyang and Sannan markets.

The Su Family’s businesses spread across Yanyang, with their core operations in Jiangnan. Over the years, under the deterrence of two generations of Marquis Zhenbei, they countered the nobility’s oppression. The major trading houses of Jiangnan, recognizing the aristocrats’ ambition to monopolize all resources, united as one. Merchants, despite their lowly social status, received protection from the Marquis Zhenbei. With this safeguard, they were spared from aristocratic harassment, leading Jiangnan’s merchants, big and small alike, to bond together and stand united.

Due to years of war, the aristocrats’ arrogance, and various other reasons, Yanyang’s economic lifeline split into two factions—cooperation and competition persisted for years.

Jiangnan’s merchants benefited from the years of protection by the Marquis Zhenbei’s Mansion. In Emperor Jianming’s eyes, as well as those of the aristocrats and the Crown Prince, all of Jiangnan’s merchants were regarded as the Marquis Zhenbei’s property.

Marquis Zhenbei had to maintain a firm grip on the Su Family’s Trading House; relying solely on the imperial court to supply provisions would have starved the border army long ago. The aristocrats pursued only personal interests, long neglecting the defenses of Ningzhou City, which had already been breached by the Beiman forces.

"Your Highness, do you know why the treasury is perpetually empty?" Feng Shu raised her head to look at him, her gaze clear and unyielding. "It is not due to war but because the aristocrats ensure the treasury remains empty. Only then can the royal family remain dependent on the aristocrats, allowing the aristocrats to prosper for centuries, generation after generation. Why did the former Emperor end up forced to abdicate? Because he promoted land reform, breaking the status quo of land annexation, increasing treasury revenue, and stabilizing the nation. This challenged the aristocrats’ interests, leading to his downfall. In the grand Kyoto, a fire raged for seven days and nights. The Son of Heaven, calling for aid in vain, was burned alive in the depths of the palace. Your Highness, what you should do is enforce the former Emperor’s legacy, break the status quo of land annexation, and free yourself from aristocratic control. The Su Family’s token is merely a thirst-quenching illusion—you will not achieve your desires."

"Is it that you are unwilling, or is the Marquis’s Mansion unwilling?" the Crown Prince asked blandly.

Feng Shu prepared to kneel again but was stopped by his single hand holding her firmly upright. "Before me, you need not kneel."

"Your Highness, the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion does not hold authority over the Su Family’s Trading House. The world has its rumors, but Your Highness must not believe them. For years, our Trading House willingly supported the army under the Marquis’s protection, all for the sake of the people. Even this year’s military provisions sent by the Ministry of Revenue to Ningzhou contained errors that led to the loss of soldiers. This humble subject’s daughter does not wish for such tragedy to repeat. Moreover, this matter is not something this humble subject’s daughter can decide alone." Feng Shu, though displeased, could only temper her response.

The Crown Prince actually desired the token in her possession.

"The Su Family’s Trading House has pledged allegiance to the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion. Now that peace is negotiated between the two nations, the wars have ended, yet you refuse to pledge allegiance to me?" Though the Crown Prince’s voice remained gentle, it now carried a faint pressure.

Such an accusation left Feng Shu with no room to argue.

"The Crown Princess Consort is from the Lin Family, which is as wealthy as a nation—why does Your Highness not request money from the Lin Family?" Feng Shu asked calmly. "Jiangnan’s merchants have emptied their family coffers for the Ningzhou army. Now, with the cessation of hostilities, we too need time to recover. The aristocrats remain unaffected, their granaries filled, and their wealth extravagantly abundant. Your Highness, why do you not demand money from the aristocrats but instead force this humble subject’s daughter? Is it because merchants are of lowly status and lack the means to resist?"

The Crown Prince’s pupils contracted, pain and sorrow flashing across his face. The evening wind stirred his robes, carrying with it a chill. Laughing lightly, the Crown Prince said, "I... it is my fault. If you are unwilling, then let it be."

Feng Shu knew clearly in her heart that this was not the end, only the beginning. Had he once pressured Ayu like this too?

"I am the Crown Prince, second only to the Emperor, revered above all. Yet do you know? Being Crown Prince is harder than being Emperor. Every day, I walk as if on thin ice." Looking up at the moon, his expression sorrowful, he sighed lightly, "Father is at his prime; besides me, there is the brilliant Prince Duan, and my doted-upon Fifth Brother—not to mention the sibling yet to be born. I must bear the weight from above while caring for the brothers below, leaving no room for error. To retreat from confrontation is weakness; to reveal ambition is to appear to usurp. Every day, I live in fear, unable to sleep. How I wish to return to Ningzhou ten years ago, when Shu’er and I were carefree, riding horses and practicing archery. Thinking back now, it feels like a distant dream."

Feng Shu watched him silently, recalling those days in Ningzhou herself, now only able to sigh faintly. The Crown Prince’s expression did not seem feigned—his position was, indeed, the most difficult in the world.

Do well, and one would hear praises; do poorly, and one could not escape criticism.

Anyone who heard his words could not help but feel a twinge of compassion.

The Crown Prince smiled and asked, "And you? Do you prefer the days of wandering far and wide through the night and stars, or the carefree times in Ningzhou?"