Chapter 333 A Pair of Second Consorts Enters King Yan’s Manor
When talking about the drama of marriage, King Yan Feng Yulei’s marriage was by far the most dramatic one of them all.
First, the Empress ordered him to marry Mingguo Manor’s first miss You Yue’e, which was a perfect marriage. Mingguo Manor’s status was also suitable for that of the imperial family, and the Empress was so satisfied that she kept nodding. She particularly adored the gentleness of the lady, even though that could just be a facade. The truth was that she came from a prestigious family and could help Feng Yulei greatly.
However, no one expected the situation to turn near the marriage date. Unexpectedly, Emperor Zongwen ordered to send Grand Secretariat Wang’s daughter and Mo Manor’s unpopular daughter into King Yan’s manor, making them his second consorts. When the order was passed down to him, King Yan was discussing strategies with You Yuecheng in Mingguo Manor.
Hearing that the Emperor sent a message to his manor, he rushed back to acknowledge it. When he heard the order, he kneeled on the ground, pale and stiff, unable to utter a single word.
“Your Highness, please rise to receive the order.” Seeing the stunned Feng Yulei, Liu Xi stepped forward quietly, as if he wanted to pull Feng Yulei up.
Feng Yulei reacted and grabbed Liu Xi’s hand, standing up but not releasing his hand. His face turned black as he urged, “Eunuch Liu, what does Father mean? I have not been married yet and naturally could not have second consorts. Did Father forget that I can’t take second consorts before having a main consort?”
His strong support now was from You Yuecheng and he required more support from Mingguo Manor in the future. He could not offend Mingguo Manor now. Furthermore, it would be important for Feng Yulei to find out if this was the intention of the Emperor or others. If someone purposefully spoke badly of him in front of the Emperor, he still had hope of turning the table.
If not, the Emperor meant what he said and that possibility made Feng Yulei’s body turn cold from the chill running up his body.
Behind Liu Xi, two small sedans were placed there. The several servants carrying the sedan seats were all kneeling at the side. The curtains were placed down, with only shoes with embroidered patterns seen from outside.
There was never a precedent for someone from the imperial family to marry concubines before wives. Throughout history, it was acknowledged that families were the foundations of countries and that a prince would be incapable of settling national affairs if he couldn’t handle his family.
This was not merely humiliating him, but rather chiding him. That made Feng Yulei scared, angry, indignant, and panic.
Moreover, he did not know what Mingguo Manor would react if he accepted these concubines. Mingguo Manor would probably be upset and angry at his act of marrying concubines before his proper wife, and might not really put in the effort to help him in his battle for the throne. Thinking about that made Feng Yulei extremely uncomfortable and his usual calmness dissipated.
He disregarded his prestigious status as he was eager to find out what happened.
“Don’t worry, Your Highness. The Emperor said that since you were interested in these two ladies, even gifting your handkerchiefs to them secretly, akin to soliciting marriage. Even though the Emperor did not know if you have maintained your decency, but it would be unwise if a long time has passed and our imperial descendants were lost outside. Thus, he decided to order you to marry them.” Liu Xi seemed to be smiling and have a benevolent demeanor. However, he had a slight tinge of disdain hidden in his eyes.
In the past, he recognized that King Yan was someone extremely decent, and did not expect him to be doing such things privately. If not for the fact that King Xuan was crying in the imperial study with his injured body, he would not have expected such malice from King Yan. To harm his brother, he would even be willing to hurt his future sister-in-law.
After the matter was exposed, he wanted to remove the two women as well. If not for the fact that King Xuan acted fast, the two women would have been dead. The Emperor merely conducted some investigation before the whole matter came clear. How could he not be angry when King Yan decided to wave the fly off the tiger’s head?
Liu Xi, who was always by Emperor Zongwen’s side, was a true confidant of him.
The Emperor valued King Xuan much more than he valued the other sons.
How could he be left unpunished if he touched the Emperor’s favorite child? This was just punishment from the Emperor.
“Secretly sending handkerchiefs?” Feng Yulei’s heart sank as his fingers trembled, unable to speak. He looked at the two sedans in front of him with horror. He knew nothing about Wang Xiuxiu but he did know about Mo Xueqiong. How could the two secret guards of You Yuecheng not succeed? Could the two women be still alive?
No, no. You Yuecheng’s two subordinates were all extremely capable people, and could definitely handle two weak women.
“Your Highness, the two women resided inside all came from proper families, and were fit for your status. His Majesty said that there was no need for ceremonies since they were just second consorts, to prevent putting too much pressure on your future proper wife. Hence, we just sent them in like that. You can consummate the marriages tonight. His Majesty also said that since Your Highness had been busy with your marriage today, there was no need to care about court affairs and Your Highness should just rest.” Liu Xi smiled as if he had not seen the horror residing deep within Feng Yulei’s eyes. He slightly lifted the imperial order and placed it in Feng Yulei’s hand before retreating.
Father actually found out! Father actually found out!
Holding the imperial order, Feng Yulei was trembling and was about to drop it and fall when the eunuch next to him reacted fast and supported his hand. He was so weak that he could not stand. Father implied that he needed not to go to court anymore, making him even more fearful and horrified.
Could his diligence over the years be ruined by these two bitches?
“Come, send the pair of second consorts to their houses.” He ground his teeth and reminded himself to be composed. He must be calm so that others could not see his panic and fear.
“Which two houses?” The little eunuch asked timidly.
“Any two, just make them far away from me.” Feng Yulei ordered fiercely.
He knew about Wang Xiuxiu’s affairs. Empress Dowager thought that she was secretive, but many were aware of it. How could Feng Yulei, who always considered himself decent, be able to endure it when an unethical and promiscuous woman who had an affair with Feng Yuzhen became his second consort!
There was also that pig-like stupid woman from Mo Manor who longed to be his second consort. She was just a materialistic bitch in his eyes and he believed that she also had an unknown affair with Sima Lingyun.
“Your Highness!” A purposefully gentle voice rang from the sedan behind. Mo Xueqiong came rushing out happily, with a veil covering her face. She rushed towards Feng Yulei, excited.
She thought she would be dead and did not expect herself to become the second consort of King Yan. Mo Xueqiong’s heart was swaying on heaven as she couldn’t believe this to be real. At this time, she heard the eunuch outside reading the orders and could not suppress the excitement in her heart. She pulled the curtains aside and was delighted to see that handsome face.
She could not care about etiquette, rushing over to seek comfort.
Since the things that had happened today were too horrifying, she had been in a state of panic as if she had lost her soul.
After pushing Mo Xuetong down the carriage, the carriage collapsed and her head hit the carriage walls heavily. The window fell on her face, creating a few scars there before she fainted. After she woke up, she was harshly interrogated by someone unknown. She dared not hide anything and explained everything she knew accurately.
Afterward, she was sent on a sedan towards King Yan’s manor.
She thought she must be dreaming to be married to the young and handsome King Yan as a second consort. She believed that she would be rich and famous in the future, enjoying all the resources out there. When Feng Yulei became the emperor in the future, she would be a doted concubine, or even the empress, enjoying a position second only to the emperor himself. Thinking about that made Mo Xueqiong not afraid anymore, as a surge of passion rushed through her veins.
If she had known that killing Mo Xuetong was so beneficial, she would have struck earlier!
She had always been unsatisfied and envious at that bitch for her position as a princess and for her future marriage to a king, especially when she believed that she was not inferior to Mo Xuetong at all. She believed that she could achieve the same feat. See, as long as that bitch died, she was now becoming the concubine of a king, enjoying numerous riches.
She became prouder as she pondered on the possibilities. Shen then faked her affection and called out again, “Your Highness!”, completely ignoring the black face of Feng Yulei, who was about to explode in anger.
“Screw off!” Looking at this pretentious woman, Feng Yulei’s veins emerged from his face out of anger. Only this woman was possible of revealing to the Emperor the fact that he gifted her a piece of handkerchief. He stretched out his leg and kicked at the running Mo Xueqiong with great force. He was immensely angry and was nothing like his usual composed self.
Mo Xueqiong did not know that Feng Yulei would kick her and thus flew out without any defense. Her body knocked onto the white jade pillars behind, spitting blood upon impact with it. Her veil slipped off and a disfigured face was revealed. Two deep scars were across her face, dividing her nose and splitting her pretty face into two sinister halves.
“Your Highness, you…” She raised her head in disbelief. Looking at Feng Yulei, her eyes diverted away as she tried her best to utter words. However, her head just feebly fell down and then she fainted.
“Hurry and pull her down.” Feng Yulei looked at Mo Xueqiong in disgust and ordered harshly.
Seeing that their master’s attitude, the two eunuchs came and pulled Mo Xueqiong down like a dead dog, grabbing her two arms respectively. After they were gone, only two light trails of blood remained. Nobody cared about her life. Once inside this manor, she became an asset of the manor. Feng Yulei, as the lord of this manor, would naturally destroy the lives of the people who failed to satisfy his heart.
In the other sedan, Wang Xiuxiu was shivering uncontrollably. She did not expect King Yan with a good reputation to be so violent. Now, she dared not speak at all. The thought of her being kicked just now made her face turn snow-white as she touched her stomach subconsciously.
Her fingers were pulling on the curtain as she tried her best to not make a single sound.
“Bring her down too.” Feng Yulei’s cold voice came from outside.
“Yes.”
Someone answered and the sedan was lifted up and slowly away from Feng Yulei. Throughout the entire process, Wang Xiuxiu did not utter a single word.
In King Yan’s Manor, Feng Yulei became angry and anxious, pacing in the room uncontrollably. Another person was equally furious.
King Ning Feng Yuzhen was pacing in Cining Palace at the same time. Empress Dowager sat gloomily on her throne. There was only one candle lit in the hall and the hall was dim as if many demons were inside it.
“Grandma, what now?” “You asked me not to marry Wang Xiuxiu, what now?” Feng Yuzhen’s face was dreary as he complained anxiously to Empress Dowager.
In the past, the decision to not marry Wang Xiuxiu was because he was not afraid of her escaping his control since he had promised her of a prestigious position in the future. With Wang Xiuxiu unable to escape, Grand Secretariat Wang would naturally be at his side. As long as he lured Wang Xiuxiu on, Grand Secretariat Wang could only help himself. With Grand Secretariat Wang’s power in the court, his development would naturally be smoother.
However, with Wang Xiuxiu entering King Yan’s manor, everything came crashing down. Grand Secretariat Wang was now no longer his helper. If Grand Secretariat Wang betrayed him, it would be devastating since many of his secret intelligence came from Grand Secretariat Wang.
“Don’t worry. He dared not do so.” Empress Dowager answered coldly. Her wrinkled face under the candlelight made her seem as eerie as a ghost. “Don’t worry, Zhen’er. I have information that could be used against him.”
“Grandma, do we need to ask for marriage from General Manor now?” Feng Yuzhen heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing Empress Dowager’s words. He wiped the cold sweat off his head. They had decided for Empress Dowager to order marriage of General Manor but now did not seem to be the time since such an incident happened. Emperor Zongwen must be unhappy now, and if General Manor was unsatisfied with this marriage, the Emperor would naturally investigate further.
Fu General manor was not any ordinary aristocrat, for a quarter of Great Qin’s military was under their control. Feng Yuzhen dared not attempt this gamble However, he had left Yan Kingdom for a while already, and Emperor Zongwen must have sent people to investigate. If evidence was found proving that he was no longer in the Yan Kingdom, it would be an utter disaster for him!
That made more cold sweat emerge from Feng Yuzhen’s head.
“Zhen’er, don’t worry. I shall take care of this matter. I will ask the Emperor to send you back tomorrow.” Empress Dowager’s Buddhist beads seemed to be pulled on hard as the beads fell onto the ground, giving off a dull sound. In this mysterious hall, the sound made one inexplicably afraid.
It could not be later than tomorrow as the Yan Kingdom had sent the message that special messengers from the Qin Kingdom had entered their state, reaching the city tomorrow! It would be impossible for Empress of Yan Kingdom to conceal the information that Feng Yuzhen was not in the Yan Kingdom then!
