Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 63: Scent of Affection

Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Scent of Affection

The Marquis Mansion’s second refusal of marriage was rare. The first refusal had caused countless deaths in Ningzhou, rivers of blood flowing. And this time? What heavy price would be paid?

Yet if they didn’t refuse the marriage—if the Marquis Mansion took a step back, the imperial power would take a step forward—backing them all to the cliff’s edge, where the entire Marquis Mansion would face eternal doom, crushed to pieces.

"Xie Xun, you..." The Empress could not tolerate it any longer. The Marquis Mansion had repeatedly defied imperial power, and she had endured it. But now, publicly humiliating Princess Huazhen—she felt her dignity as the mother of the nation burn with shame. "The young Marquis is a heroic youth, adept in both literature and martial arts. The person he admires must surely be unmatched in beauty and talent. Whose family’s daughter is so fortunate to earn the young Marquis’s favor? Your Majesty, why not grant him a marriage and complete the match?"

Xie Xun’s expression turned slightly cold, and he was about to respond when the Crown Princess Consort, Lin Yushu, suddenly cried out in pain, interrupting his words. The Crown Prince quickly asked, "What’s wrong?"

"My stomach hurts a bit," Lin Yushu frowned tightly.

The Empress didn’t have time to remain angry; she hurriedly ordered someone to escort the Crown Princess Consort back to the Eastern Palace to rest. Madam Lin was restless and wanted to follow them to the Eastern Palace, but it was ultimately inconvenient, so she could only watch as Lin Yushu was escorted away. Unable to contain her worry, she murmured, "It’s freezing cold, and she’s about to give birth soon; why did she come to the banquet?"

The Crown Prince, as the heir apparent, could not leave the banquet and had to stay to accompany the officials in revelry. Thus, the matter concerning Xie Xun and Princess Huazhen was brushed aside casually, and the banquet returned to its lively ambiance.

Fang Lingjun approached Fengyu, patting her chest and saying, "I was so scared! I thought something major would happen at today’s imperial banquet."

"What happened?" Feng Ling also asked curiously.

A few young ladies gathered together to chat. Fang Lingjun lowered her voice and recounted the earlier events, causing Feng Ling to gasp in fright, her face turning pale. Feng Wan noticed her fear and embraced her to comfort her.

"Princess Huazhen is the most favored princess. The palace forbids raising tigers, but because the Princess is fond of them, His Majesty made an exception and allowed her to keep a small white tiger. She wishes to choose a husband, and all the brilliant young men across the realm are hers to select from. Who dare defy the imperial decree, except for the young Marquis?" Fang Lingjun’s admiration for Xie Xun reached its peak. "The young Marquis claims he wants to marry his beloved. I wonder who it is—who could catch his eye?"

Fengyu silently guessed to herself. The young Marquis’s mind was occupied only with the war strategies in Jiangnan and Ningzhou; romance had never factored into his life plans. That talk of a beloved was merely an excuse to deflect the Princess.

"The young Marquis is exceptionally talented and extraordinary. His chosen person must be the best woman in the realm," Feng Ling, like a young girl idolizing the hero in a storybook, spoke with awe.

"Will His Majesty involve the Marquis Mansion after Princess Huazhen’s humiliation?" Feng Wan asked worriedly.

Feng Changlin had overheard their gossiping long ago and, though curious himself, had refrained from interrupting. Now, hearing Feng Wan’s concern, he turned back and said, "Girls should not discuss matters of court politics."

"Yes, Wanwan was out of line."

Fang Lingjun stopped discussing the serious matters as well. The group turned to whispering about lighter topics—such as whose daughter looked the most beautiful today, which families were in discord, and whatever fresh gossip there was.

Fengyu had no interest in gossip and felt drowsy from listening. She only wished the banquet would end sooner. Glancing toward the royal seats, she saw the Third Prince stagger as he left. The Emperor and Empress, along with Consort Xie, had already stepped away for a mid-banquet rest. Their absence relaxed the atmosphere considerably. After three rounds of drinks, some scholars were already drunk and composing poetry in jest.

The Crown Princess Consort’s maid arrived at the Lin Family table, whispering a message to Madam Lin. Madam Lin then called upon Marchioness Zhenbei, and the two followed the palace maid out of the banquet.

Lin Cheng picked up his wine cup and went over to sit by Xie Xun, teasing, "Do you truly have someone in your heart?"

"Take a guess!" Xie Xun responded, his smile carrying a hint of mischievousness. Lin Cheng joked, "Is it Liu Niang from Furong Inn or Miss Lan Hua from Mudan Building?"

Xie Xun clinked his cup against Lin Cheng’s and replied, "Those who are cherished remain in the heart, unspoken on the lips. Congratulations on your marriage, Prince Consort."

Lin Cheng laughed and drained his cup in one gulp, saying, "The same to you."

Fengyu was seated with Fang Lingjun, Feng Wan, and Feng Ling at the same table. The fruit wine was light, refreshing, and sweet, beloved by the young ladies. As palace maids noticed their wine jug running empty, one came over to refill their cups. A lady from Mrs. Fang’s side came to call Fang Lingjun away. Fang Lingjun whispered in Fengyu’s ear, "I’ll be back shortly."

As the palace maid poured wine for the Feng sisters, she accidentally knocked over Fengyu’s cup. The cup rolled into Fengyu’s lap, leaving a noticeable wet patch. The palace maid turned pale with fright upon witnessing this, her hands already frostbitten from the autumn chill. Feng Wan took a handkerchief and helped wipe Fengyu’s skirt. The pale red fruit wine stained the elegant dress conspicuously. In the presence of royalty, any hint of improper appearance was taboo. Fengyu noticed the palace maid trembling, her frost-bitten fingers almost purple. She reassured her softly, "Stand up. Don’t worry. I brought clean clothes; this is no problem."

"Thank you, Miss Xie!" The palace maid quickly rose, anxiously suggesting, "Allow me to guide you to change your clothes, Miss."

"Alright!"

Fengyu informed Feng Wan and Feng Ling before following the palace maid out of the banquet. Feeling suffocated by the gathering, she welcomed the chance to take a stroll. Lin Xiao watched her leave, his gaze lingering quietly before he took a few swigs of strong wine.

Unexpected events often unfolded during palace banquets, which was why the guests always brought spare clothes. Fengyu had heard from Madam Lin that there was a dedicated hall in the palace for the women to change clothes. The depths of the palace were shrouded in dim lamp glow, the garden silent except for the sound of falling leaves. As she followed the palace maid past Lotus Lake, she overheard the flirtatious voices of a man and a woman nearby. Fengyu raised an eyebrow; it seemed the audacity grew with the liquor.

The palace maid, carrying a lantern, remained quiet throughout, speaking only when necessary. The plum blossoms near the halls were on the cusp of blooming, their fragrance enchanting. Fengyu felt they had walked for quite some time, passing by six or seven palace halls.

"Sister, is the changing hall really this far away?"

The palace maid answered, "Miss, the banquet has many attendees tonight. Some officials dislike sharing halls with others; the Four Bureaus were cautious about conflicts, so they arranged the hall to be farther away."

Fengyu said, "My clean clothes are with my maidservants. Sister, why don’t you take me to find them first?"

The palace maid pointed to a hall ahead and said, "Miss, this is your changing and resting place. The maids are in the adjacent courtyard resting. Please wait a moment; I will bring them here for you. What is your maidservant’s name?"

"Autumn Fragrance, the maidservant of the Third Miss of the Feng Mansion."

"I’ve noted it. Miss, please rest for now." The palace maid led Fengyu into the side hall and said, "Miss, you’re delicate, and the night wind is harsh. Allow me to close the door for you."

"Much appreciated!"

The hall was infused with incense, its intensity enveloping the space—like the scent of Goose Pear Tent incense intermixed with something fiery and potent that she couldn’t quite discern. The fragrance made her face flush and her heart race. Deep within the palace, Fengyu remained vigilant. After closing the door, the palace maid left. Fengyu walked to the door, listening to the sound of her retreating footsteps. She opened the door slightly and saw through the narrow gap that the palace maid had indeed headed to the neighboring hall, which eased her mind.

The chilly autumn wind breezed through the door crack, so Fengyu shut it. She returned to the inner hall to wait, but the distinctive scent in the air remained pervasive. Fengyu realized her cheeks were red, her heartbeat erratic. Usually susceptible to the cold, she now felt inexplicably warm, her breath uneven. This fragrance stirred an unfamiliar and bewildering sensation within her. Having grown up cloistered and sheltered, with Chunlu and Zhang Da by her side since managing the capital’s trade, she had never encountered a situation like this before. Instinctively, Fengyu wanted to escape.