Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play

Fengyu needs to nurture her pregnancy, and Xie Xun is busy with numerous affairs, leaving no one to look after Ruyi and Mingzhu in the palace. The old lady suggested letting Ruyi and Mingzhu stay at the Feng Family residence. The old lady enjoys having children around her, and Mingzhu would find it convenient to travel from the Feng Family to the Imperial College. Lan Ningzhen seems intentionally distant from Mingzhu and rarely lets her return to the Lan Family. Mingzhu always follows Ruyi, either staying at the Prince Manor or in the palace, with upbringing entrusted to the Beining Royal Family. She is a rightful princess, and the Lan Family fears affecting her future, so they avoid interacting with her. Mingzhu, being a clever child, understands that her mother and grandfather are considering her best interests. Although she feels sad, she accepts this and occasionally secretly visits her mother and grandfather. Most of the time, she stays with Ruyi.

Fengyu also realizes that bedridden pregnancy care will indeed prevent her from attending to the children or spending time with them. After discussing with Ruyi and Mingzhu, she agrees to let them stay temporarily at the Feng Family residence.

Fengyu retains the two elders for a meal in the palace. The old lady, not feeling well, takes a rest after an hour, with Qiuxiang attending to her. Fengyu takes Su Yuejiao aside to discuss some matters. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"Mother, Ruyi returns home to be under your and grandmother’s care, which reassures me, but..." Fengyu sighs, the hall contains only mother and daughter, Fengyu specifically evades the grandmother for fear she’d be saddened by hearing, "The child of elder sister is about the same age as Ruyi, siblings growing up together as childhood friends is always a touching story..."

She hesitates, and Su Yuejiao is also puzzled. Fengyu says, "Mother, I’m speaking the truth. If Ruyi and Mingzhu stay at home, remind aunt gently that she should refrain from letting the children visit and play with Ruyi frequently."

"Why?" Su Yuejiao is even more confused; she quite likes Feng Wan’s two children.

"To avoid suspicion!" Fengyu says faintly, "Although elder sister’s children have entered the Feng Family genealogy and are considered our descendants, their biological father’s surname is Yuwen, an undeniable fact. Ruyi, being an emotional child, growing fond of whoever he plays well with, is protective of them. He has no formal blood relations with our family, being Second Brother’s child. You view him as a grandson, but outsiders aren’t aware; Aunt and elder sister aren’t aware. Ruyi shouldn’t interact excessively with elder sister’s children. As the children grow older, they reach an understanding age, though unrelated to romance, the childhood companionship becomes exceptionally close. If any affections develop later, it’s absolutely unacceptable. As for this child of mine, we still don’t know its gender, and Ruyi is being raised as a Crown Prince by Zhixu, thus shouldn’t associate excessively with the children of the Yuwen Family, not even as playmates."

While the children are still young, Fengyu isn’t keen on discussing such matters, but since Ruyi is about to begin enlightenment classes and is gradually growing aware, Fengyu is intentionally guiding him. Su Yuejiao’s heart skips a beat, "Why suddenly bring up this matter? Did... His Majesty say something?"

"Zhixu hasn’t said anything, but whenever Ruyi returns to stay briefly, aunt always lets them visit home during that time. Everyone knows Sima Zhao’s intentions. If Ruyi isn’t staying at home, why doesn’t aunt bring them back? The children are still young now; perhaps none of the adults have such thoughts, but think about it, if Ruyi were a young lad of fourteen or fifteen, would it be appropriate?" Fengyu speaks lightly, "The issue has a potential, nip it in the bud, lest aunt develops other plans which could affect the children’s upbringing negatively."

Fengyu harbors no ill intent towards Feng Wan’s children and doesn’t believe they’d intentionally seek closeness with Ruyi. At such a young age, they understand nothing, but adults do and might provoke them from behind the scenes. The children might also learn and emulate from sight and sound. She doesn’t want any unpleasant matters within the family, neither now nor in the future.

Ruyi’s playmates absolutely cannot be children of the Yuwen Family, and Ruyi’s future wife cannot be a child of the Yuwen Family!

"I understand, but you know your grandmother likes children. If this is mentioned, it might sadden her."

Fengyu knows the grandmother would worry, hence choosing to avoid her.

"What to do then? If they don’t stay at home, they can remain in the palace. It’s not too troublesome, and still the grandmother will yearn for Ruyi." Fengyu feels troubled, as Ruyi is at an active age, and bedridden care restricts accompanying them.

"Let me think about it; how about you talk to the Princess? Ruyi currently enjoys spending time with his elder sister, constantly calling ’elder sister’ here and ’elder sister’ there. Mingzhu is well-mannered and sensible; we can let her keep an eye on Ruyi."

"No, Mingzhu is still young; this is evidently..." Fengyu objects, "Why don’t you directly speak to aunt?"

"That might be disastrous; she’d certainly cause a scene in front of your grandmother, making things even worse. It might be hard for Ruyi to return home thereafter."

Even as the Empress, Fengyu finds handling family disputes extremely distressing; speaking bluntly risks damaging relations, leading people to think her mind is insidious, so how could she suspect young children of that? Yet silence might result in irremediable mistakes later.

"Ayu, you’re pregnant; don’t concern yourself with these matters. During this visit with Ruyi and Mingzhu, if aunt lets them return to stay again, your father will handle it with your uncle."

"Alright!"

Fengyu doesn’t want to think poorly of aunt either, but she’s spent more time with aunt than her mother, so she can gauge aunt’s intentions.

Feng Ling experienced a storm, finalized once but then canceled, now genuinely settled to be married next year, arranged with the second son of Duke An Yuan’s Mansion. This engagement is also guaranteed by Su Yuejiao, given the good relations between Marquis An Yuan and Su Yuejiao. Feng Ling will be treated well upon marriage. However, neither the eldest nor second son of Marquis An Yuan are promising, having offended many noble sons by supporting Zhou Xuejia, and less capable than the talented illegitimate son. Both legitimate sons of Marquis An Yuan’s Mansion lack proper duties, while the illegitimate son now occupies a position in the Ministry of Criminal Justice, with less status than his brothers yet possessing real authority. This is the most complicated matter for Duchess Marquis An Yuan, equal upbringing yet their own children aren’t as accomplished as the illegitimate ones.

During the marriage proposal discussions, Xie Xun suggested that if choosing Marquis An Yuan Mansion, since the second son won’t inherit the title, why not select the illegitimate son, who could forge his path. But the first lady disdains the illegitimate status, so the matter was shelved.

Fengyu’s words are taken to heart by Su Yuejiao. Fengyu is her prized jewel, currently pregnant, with her future uncertain. She doesn’t want Fengyu troubled by household matters and intends to resolve things appropriately so that no one bothers Fengyu.

"Ayu, if you safely give birth to a Prince..." Su Yuejiao hesitates slightly, "Will Ruyi still be raised as the Crown Prince?"

"I and Zhixu haven’t considered this yet; the child arriving unexpectedly requires many arrangements, and we haven’t discussed it thoroughly."

"Mother hopes you will safely deliver a boy, then everything will be aboveboard." Su Yuejiao leaves it at that, knowing the Crown Prince concerns national fundamentals, thus unwilling to speculate further.

"I understand."