Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 50 Siblings

Chapter 50: Chapter 50 Siblings

Fengyu rarely looked bewildered, "Bad sleeping posture?"

"Talking in your sleep, yelling to fight and kill, then screaming—so noisy." Fang Lingjun pulled up her sleeping robe, revealing a patch of bruises on her calf. "You kicked me, it hurt a lot."

Fengyu froze for a moment, then muttered, "What did I say while dreaming?"

"You’re always rambling nonsense. Why bother remembering?!" Fang Lingjun pointed at the bruise on her calf, accusingly, "You don’t care about me at all."

Fengyu snapped back and fetched a bottle of medicinal wine from an inner cabinet to apply for her. Fang Lingjun burst into laughter, "I’m teasing you. A little bruise is nothing. When I was practicing horseback riding, I almost broke my leg."

"Ayu, why do you hug a round bolster when sleeping?" Fang Lingjun had wanted to ask this for a while.

Hugging the bolster, Fengyu’s brows curved into a smile. "If I don’t hold onto something, I can’t sleep soundly."

"No wonder when your bolster fell off last night, you hugged me instead—you almost strangled me to death." Fang Lingjun rubbed her neck. "What will you do after you get married? Won’t your husband resent you?"

Fengyu, "..."

Marshal Fang and his wife were lenient in disciplining Fang Lingjun. Being from a military general’s family, she grew up playing in the barracks with her brothers. Bold, cheerful, and uninhibited, she didn’t shy away from discussing marriage. Fengyu, intending to steer the conversation away, asked Fang Lingjun, "Do you have a match yet? Who does Mrs. Fang want to arrange for you?"

"The Empress summoned my mother into the palace for a chat and mentioned my marriage. She hopes I can marry the Third Prince." Fang Lingjun sat up, leaning over the edge of the bed, gossiping with Fengyu. "I heard he hasn’t taken a wife yet and already has two concubines. I don’t want to fight for favor with them if I marry him. His temper is so fiery. Recently, he clashed with Xie Xun in the Imperial Garden—it almost ended in a fight. He may have courage, but he lacks wit. I don’t like him at all, nor do I care to become a Princess Consort. My mother didn’t give an outright refusal, only said she’d wait until my father returned to discuss it."

Fengyu thought back to her carefree years in Ningzhou—how the Third Prince once brawled over buying her candied hawthorn, a reckless and combative streak evident even in childhood.

"The Empress wants the Fang family’s external support."

"I understand. Grandmother talked to me about it. If not for my young age, I would’ve been pushed forward to become the Crown Princess Consort when the Crown Prince married." Fang Lingjun pursed her lips. "They don’t like me; they only crave my father’s military power. My mother says with my disposition, if I marry into the royal family, I’d either live in despondent misery or stir up calamity. She doesn’t wish for me to marry into the imperial clan."

"Junjun, as long as Ningzhou wins the battle, no one will have control over your marriage." Fengyu smoothed her hair tenderly. "Don’t worry. Marquis Zhenbei will surely return victorious, and no one will force you to marry into the Yuwen family."

"If only I were a man," Fang Lingjun gripping Fengyu’s hands, began caressing them fondly. "Then I could marry Ayu, spend Ayu’s money, and live my life as a useless husband pampered by his wife forever."

"When you get married, I’ll gift you a bride’s procession spanning ten miles of red bridal attire," Fengyu blinked playfully. "Even if you don’t marry me, I’ll make sure you can spend my money."

"Ayu is willing to spend money on me—she must love me the most." Fang Lingjun said with a mischievous grin. "Whoever Ayu spends the most money on is who she loves the most."

Fengyu, "..."

While the Feng Mansion remained peaceful and harmonious, Minister Lin’s Mansion was clouded with gloom. Mrs. Lin had visited the Feng Mansion three times but was denied entry each time. The Minister of Justice made multiple visits to request custody, but Minister Lin thwarted him. Resolving this matter satisfactorily still required the Feng Mansion’s forgiveness. Having been refused at the Feng Mansion, Mrs. Lin had turned to the Duchess of Marquis An Yuan, who was closer to Feng Mansion.

The Duchess already heard about the incident at the archery banquet from Princess Xue Lan but didn’t intervene. After returning to the capital, Lin Yu Yan had criticized Princess Xue Lan repeatedly at flower-viewing banquets, mocking her rustic background and lack of etiquette. Marquis An Yuan had long wanted to teach Lin Yu Yan a lesson but refrained, fearing others might accuse him of stooping too low to quarrel with a young lady. Now that Lin Yu Yan had fallen into trouble, Marquis An Yuan indulged in two extra bowls of rice during dinner, feeling utterly gratified, leaving no intention to help mediate.

The Feng family insisted Lin Yu Yan must be handed over to the Ministry of Justice for investigation and punishment as appropriate, requiring a price to be paid. Naturally, the Lin family resisted.

Minister Lin had repeatedly sent people to plead with Feng Changlin for an amicable resolution.

Feng Changlin, feeling deep anxiety and resentment, replied solemnly to Minister Lin. His brother fought for the country, and his daughter suffered harm—his inability to seek justice filled him with shame; offering forgiveness would leave him without honor to face his brother. Minister Lin knew Lin Yu Yan was in the wrong, spoke countless favorable words, but Feng Changlin was immovable. Minister Lin realized threatening Feng Changlin with familial connections wouldn’t work—Feng Changlin would just march to Jinluan Palace to file a direct appeal.

When Lin Xiao barged into Lin Yu Yan’s courtyard, he happened to hear her say, "That wretched girl has an infuriatingly hard life—this stab didn’t even kill her. She lucked out. Once this matter blows over, I’ll make sure she suffers even more."

"You’re outrageous!" Lin Xiao stormed in, immediately slapping Lin Yu Yan. Recovering from his injuries, news of Lin Xiao’s condition was kept tightly sealed by Mrs. Lin, and no one in the mansion dared utter gossip about Lin Yu Yan’s trouble. With his wounds almost healed, Lin Xiao intended to pass a message to Fengyu to invite her for another archery outing. His servant, unable to hide the truth any longer, reported the events of the archery banquet. Lin Xiao, his eyes red with fury, lashed out, "Lin Yu Yan, you wielded a knife to kill yet show no remorse. What did Fengyu do to deserve you plotting for her life?"

Since childhood, Lin Yu Yan had been spoiled and often trailed behind Lin Xiao, forging the deepest bond. Lin Xiao lavished her with blind affection, never laying a hand on her. Stunned by his strike, Lin Yu Yan stammered, "Second Brother, you hit me?"

"Why wouldn’t I hit you? You’ve caused such a calamity, yet you show not a shred of repentance. If Fengyu had died, what good would it have done you?" Lin Xiao, enraged, made a move to hit her again, but Lan Xin stepped forward to shield her mistress.

Lin Xiao didn’t want to make things difficult for the maid, so he stormed off in a fury. Lin Yu Yan, tears streaming down her face, transitioned into seething hatred and chased after him.

Mrs. Lin and Lin Cheng were in the middle of discussing how to appease the Feng family and quell the rumors when a servant reported that Lin Yu Yan and Lin Xiao were fighting. Rushing to intervene, Lin Cheng and Mrs. Lin arrived just as Lin Yu Yan tearfully accused him. Seeing the handprint on her cheek, Mrs. Lin’s heart filled with a mix of anger and distress. "Lin Xiao, how could you hit your sister?"

"She dared to attempt murder. Why shouldn’t I hit her?" Lin Xiao retorted. Lin Cheng grabbed his arm, "Watch your tone. Where do you think you’re going?"

"I’m going out for some air," Lin Xiao answered irritably. He longed to see Fengyu but knew she wouldn’t meet him. Now that their relationship had just begun to thaw, this incident ensured she’d resent him and his sister deeply. "Mother, Brother, stop indulging her already. Have you reflected on how many people she’s offended daily when you turn to plead with others?"

"Stop right there!" Lin Cheng ordered coldly. "No one is to leave the mansion for the time being. Haven’t the problems you’ve caused been messy enough?"

Lin Yu Yan glared at Lin Xiao with venomous hatred. "I see now—Fengyu, that seductive fox, has bewitched you. You can’t wait to rush to her. Weren’t you two unchaperoned at the manor? Playing hero rescuing the damsel in distress, now you’re hitting me over her—I’ve figured it out. You’re infatuated with Fengyu!"