Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 153 Triumph

Chapter 153: Chapter 153 Triumph

Feng Shu’s eyes carried a faint smile as well. "In youth, one leads a carefree life under the protection of parents. But after the coming-of-age ceremony, independence means carving out your own path. As a humble daughter of the court, I simply wish to move forward step by step and live well in the present."

Implicitly, she never looks back or indulges in the past, lest she loses sight of the beauty of the present moment.

"Your Highness, as one who stands below only one and above the masses, with unparalleled talent and vision, even if you are temporarily constrained by the aristocratic families, one day you will certainly realize grand ambitions." Feng Shu gracefully and candidly offered him her blessings. "That day, you will become a wise ruler praised by all."

"Oh? Is that so?" The Crown Prince’s lips curved into a gentle smile, and the look in his eyes grew increasingly tender as he gazed at her.

"It is!"

The Crown Prince and Princess Huazhen left first; by the time the banquet dispersed, it was already past the middle of the Hai Hour. As the guests at Wangjiang Restaurant mostly departed, several individuals descended the stairs and encountered Xie Xun, Lin Xiao, and Zhang Boxin, among others. Zhang Boxin and Lin Xiao were both drunk, staggering and swaying, while Xie Xun and Zhou Liyu, with their stronger tolerance for alcohol, remained relatively sober.

Prince Duan and Feng Wan walked at the forefront. Feng Wan, having also drunk, was escorted by the gentlemanly Prince Duan. The engagement of the unmarried couple was less than two months away, and naturally, their gestures leaned toward intimacy.

Zhou Liyu felt his scalp tingle. When he and Zhang Boxin had stepped outside to sober up during the banquet, they had stumbled upon Prince Duan and Feng Wan moon-gazing at the viewing platform. Upon returning, Zhang Boxin had drowned his frustrations in drink and fell into a sullen spree. Lin Xiao, loyal to a fault, drank alongside him until he also became thoroughly drunk.

Unexpectedly, they encountered them again as the banquet ended.

When Zhang Boxin ran into Feng Wan and Prince Duan moon-gazing, Feng Wan and Prince Duan had, of course, also noticed him. This reunion only magnified the awkwardness. Zhang Boxin leaned drunkenly against Lin Xiao’s shoulder. His foggy gaze landed on Feng Wan, and he managed a smile at her. Feng Wan lowered her head as Zhang Boxin attempted to say something, but Zhou Liyu silenced him with a firm hand over his mouth, dragging him away and stuffing him into a carriage.

Xie Xun’s eyes turned cold as his gaze fell upon Fengyu. Fengyu, feeling guilty yet annoyed, shot him a glare that seemed to say, "I have people backing me, so I’m not afraid of you." The expression nearly made Xie Xun laugh in anger.

The group, faces betraying an array of emotions, exchanged brief greetings before parting ways.

On the return route, Fengyu sat wearily within the carriage. "Sister, what did the Crown Prince want from you?"

"He wants the Capital City Token."

Fengyu was instantly indignant, her spirit revived. "Delusional! He dares to try and rob us again!"

Feng Shu narrowed her eyes, her tone edged with tension. "Has he approached you about this?"

Fengyu hesitated, her slip of the tongue making it impossible to conceal the truth. Unhappy, she confessed, "He caught wind of the Capital City Token being in my possession and sent someone to communicate his intent. I refused."

All three tokens were in Feng Shu’s possession. What Feng Shu had handed to Fengyu were Feng Family assets and some Su Family properties—not the Su Family token itself. Though intertwined in various ways, the two families’ assets were separate.

The Crown Prince had once mistakenly thought Feng Shu had given Fengyu the Capital City Token.

Fengyu remarked, "Sister, under no circumstances should you agree to his demands. Doing so would make enemies of us unnecessarily. The imperial treasury has been empty for years—it’s clearly an attempt by the aristocratic families to tighten their control over the royal family. If we hand over the token, we’ll only dirty ourselves with trouble."

"I understand." Feng Shu furrowed her brows deeply. She hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to be so forthright. Xie Zhang had once commented that if Yanyang and Beiman ceased their conflict, land reform would be inevitable. The late emperor had been burned alive in the deep palace precisely because land reform undermined the foundations of the aristocratic families. If the Marquis Mansion supported the emperor’s reform efforts, would there be risks?

The Crown Prince’s blatant ambition kindled her concerns. Yet the Marquis Mansion was bolstered by the Northern Iron Cavalry stationed at the border, unwaveringly loyal. Feng Shu’s heart slowly settled.

Military power was the Mansion’s greatest pillar of support.

"What’s going on with you tonight? Why have you been avoiding me?" Feng Shu raised an eyebrow, sensing that her younger sister was acting strangely and unable to pinpoint the cause.

Feeling guilty and unable to explain, Fengyu could only feign ignorance. "I was in a bad mood."

"Who irked you?"

"Little Marquis!" Fengyu decisively responded. Their paths had crossed in a mutual grudge, and lately, she ensured her outings aligned with auspicious days to avoid running into him. Tonight’s success in eluding Princess Huazhen felt like a small victory. With Marquis Zhenbei Mansion having clinched a military triumph and soon returning to court, perhaps Princess Huazhen wouldn’t persist with the marriage proposal?

Huffing with displeasure, Fengyu thought further: The Princess pushing for the marriage is a hassle for Xie Xun—why should I fret over it!

The two sisters returned to Plum Garden. Chen Lin arrived clutching a letter, chuckling lightly. "Miss, a letter from the Eldest Young Master."

Feng Shu was delighted. The thick letter detailed everything Xie Zhang had encountered since Feng Shu’s departure from Ningzhou. Each stroke varied between neat and rushed, clearly written intermittently amidst his busy schedule. The letter bore traces of longing, even enclosing a yellow Qiangwei flower from Ningzhou. Though dried after the ten-day journey, it remained fragrant. Feng Shu gazed upon the petals, her eyes brimming with happiness.

Counting the days, the army was expected to arrive in the Capital City the day after tomorrow. Though the men had yet to return, the letter arrived first.

Fengyu sprawled on the bedside, inspecting her sister’s joyous expression. While sharing in her happiness, she couldn’t help but feel envious. Feng Shu said, "Father and Mother will reach the Capital a few days later than the army."

"Why?"

"Father has been tasked with suppressing bandits, so he’ll be delayed." Feng Shu briefly furrowed her brows, disappointed by the sudden assignment. She had expected her parents to return with the army. Why had her father been sent to deal with bandits so abruptly?

Xie Zhang’s letter noted that suppressing the bandits posed little danger, which reassured Feng Shu.

Two days later, Marquis Zhenbei’s thirty-thousand-strong army returned to court. Emperor Jianming, accompanied by the Crown Prince, Prince Duan, Prince Kang, and the assembly of ministers, personally greeted them at the city gates. Feng Shu and Fengyu watched from the city wall, spotting the Northern Iron Cavalry’s battle flag fluttering in the wind. Bearing the fierce tiger emblem, the sight was awe-inspiring. Marquis Zhenbei donned black armor and led the charge, followed by thirty-thousand cavalry who advanced like a rolling tide, kicking up a storm of dust.

Feng Shu’s gaze immediately locked onto Xie Zhang behind Marquis Zhenbei. Clad in silver armor astride a black horse, his posture stood tall like a pine tree. As if knowing Feng Shu would await him atop the city wall, Xie Zhang looked up, his handsome yet distant face softening into the warmth of a melted winter snow.

Feng Shu waved her Qiangwei flower fervently. The gesture seemed symbolic—a silent agreement between them. He fought valiantly on the battlefield, securing a triumphant return, while his beloved awaited him with flowers in hand.

He was the undefeated general and her yearned-for husband.

"Brother..." Feng Shu called out to him. Xie Zhang, discerning her words by her lip movements, smiled even brighter. Fengyu, lazily leaning against the wall, rubbed her ears and muttered coolly, "Sister, your brother is serving in Liling as an official now."

Feng Shu, brimming with excitement, ignored her younger sister’s jealousy.

Below the city wall, Emperor Jianming stood with the Crown Prince and the assembly of ministers to welcome Marquis Zhenbei and his army. Xie Xun was among the ranks of officials. At the city gates, Marquis Zhenbei reined in his horse. Black clouds loomed over the city, the glinting armor catching the sunlight. The Northern Iron Cavalry stood firm at the gates, their imposing presence unyielding.

Marquis Zhenbei, Xie Yuan, dismounted swiftly. Fengyu observed the legendary war hero, clad in armor, towering and robust. His thick eyebrows and bold features matched the tales of a general who commanded fear and respect across the lands. His sharp silhouette hinted at his youthful aura. It was said that the Marchioness had fallen for his looks at first sight, and thus they were blessed with a union rooted in love.

Still scanning for Xie Zhang, Fengyu rubbed her eyes, puzzled. "How come I don’t see the Second Young Master or Brother Chu Ning?"