Chapter 189: Hello Chang’an
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Chapter 189: The Deal
After much hesitation, Feng Min finally made up her mind.
Madam Jie noticed her change and dismissed the maidservants, leaving only her trusted servant, Qiao Momo, by her side.
Soon, the bamboo curtain fell from Qiao Momo's hand.
“What exactly did you do?” Madam Jie's face turned cold, “You accompanied the emperor to offer sacrifices and pray for blessings, but your real purpose was to meet that Young Master Ming... Tell me, did you do something shameful and ruin the Feng family's reputation?”
“No, granddaughter did not!” Feng Min immediately denied it.
“Then why did the wife of the Marquis Ying suddenly send you a letter, agreeing to let you be the side concubine of the Young Master?” Madam Jie sneered. “Could it be that you’ve won her favor, and she took a liking to you?”
Although Chang Shi had long ago hinted at an intention to arrange a marriage with her family, it was because of this that she had agreed to perform that play in the Dengtai Tower on the Dragon Boat Festival...
But the play had failed terribly. Her reputation plummeted, and she went from a first-rank to a county princess!
She paid such a high price, yet when she later tried to probe Chang Shi about the marriage, the latter played dumb and even subtly mocked her for not knowing her place and harboring delusions.
She naturally couldn’t accept this, but Chang Shi was the wife of the Ming family, and no matter how angry she was, she could only swallow her pride for the time being.
However, through this, she had seen through Chang Shi’s true nature.
Therefore, Madam Jie was certain that something must have happened for Chang Shi to make such a concession... Even if it was just a side concubine position, the fact that Chang Shi brought it up showed it was unusual.
Madam Jie waited for her granddaughter’s answer.
Although no one else was in the room, Feng Min still instinctively glanced around, nervous and uneasy.
Madam Jie raised her brow, “Speak!”
“It’s because...” Feng Min tightened her sleeves, her voice low and trembling. “It’s because Young Master Ming killed someone!”
Madam Jie’s face changed, “Killed someone?”
“Yes...” For the first time in days, Feng Min spoke about the incident, her face paling quickly. “It was on the back mountain of Dayun Temple... He personally killed Seventh Miss Changsun.”
Qiao Momo, standing by the bamboo curtain, was also shocked.
It turned out that the person who killed Seventh Miss Changsun was none other than the Ming family’s Young Master!
Madam Jie lowered her voice, “Then why did the Ministry of Justice interrogate the Chang family’s young master as the murderer?”
“It was done by the wife of the Marquis Ying!” Feng Min replied. “She secretly handled it and framed the Chang family’s young master…”
Afterward, Chang Shi even sent someone to "remind" her not to talk carelessly, teaching her how to behave to avoid suspicion in public.
She followed the advice, but now the other side only wanted to dismiss her with a side concubine position!
“Since that’s the case, how did you know the details of this matter?” Madam Jie asked.
Feng Min moved her lips but couldn’t speak for a moment.
Madam Jie’s face darkened, “You were there, weren’t you? Or did you take action yourself?!”
“No... I didn’t!” Feng Min quickly shook her head. “I didn’t touch Seventh Miss Changsun... I... I just stopped her maidservant!”
Madam Jie looked at her, “Stopped? How did you stop her?”
Seventh Miss Changsun case had caused quite a stir. She had heard that the bodies of Changsun Xuan and her maid were found together!
“I used a stone...” Feng Min’s face changed, her voice lowering even further. “I threw a stone at her...”
“You fool!” Madam Jie was enraged. “What you did is no different from conspiring with the Ming family’s Young Master to kill Seventh Miss Changsun!”
She was from the Changsun family!
“I was forced!” Feng Min, not knowing whether she was afraid or remorseful, reddened her eyes.
At that time, Ming Jin ruthlessly strangled Seventh Miss Changsun, acting like a madman. He was saying something like “not respecting the wine,” “what’s the matter with the Changsun family,” and “even if you beg me now, it’s useless”...
Changsun Xuan’s maidservant tried to shout for help, but she was in disarray, her clothes askew, looking pitiful. If anyone saw, her reputation would be ruined!
Not only that, but Ming Jin also harshly urged her to stop the maidservant. She dared not disobey!
At that moment, she was terrified and panicked, her mind in a mess. She didn’t even know how she picked up the stone or how she hit the maidservant on the back of the head...
Feng Min didn’t want to recall the terrifying scenes that haunted her dreams. She covered her face in pain and fear, shaking her head and crying.
“I didn’t want to kill anyone…”
“But I really had no choice!”
She was also a victim!
It was Young Master Ming who tried to force her, and it was her cry for help that brought Seventh Miss Changsun...
She wasn’t the one who decided who should die!
Madam Jie: “You still dare to cry? Do you know what a disaster this will bring to the Feng family for conspiring to kill Seventh Miss Changsun?!”
“Grandmother, don’t worry...” Feng Min’s crying paused, and she lifted her face. “The Marquis Ying’s family will handle everything! No one will suspect Young Master Ming or me!”
She spoke with determination, clutching Madam Jie’s sleeve. “The mistake has already been made, and it’s no use blaming me anymore... No matter what, as long as I can marry into the Ming family as the Young Master’s wife, it will be a good thing for our Feng family and for you, Grandmother, won’t it?”
Crying wouldn’t help, so she had decided to tell her grandmother everything to get her help in figuring out how to become the rightful wife of the Marquis Ying’s son!
She had already sacrificed so much and paid such a price, there were no other choices left... She had to make it as the Young Master’s wife!
Looking into her granddaughter’s eyes, full of blind obsession, Madam Jie’s face darkened, and she remained silent for a moment.
After a while, Madam Jie slowly walked over to the couch and sat down.
Feng Min followed closely, kneeling in front of her grandmother and tightly clutching her sleeve.
Her grandmother was someone who had seen many storms, and marrying into the Ming family would benefit her as well, so she must be willing to help her figure something out.
Madam Jie sat there for a long time before finally speaking.
“Don’t think about the position of the primary wife.”
Feng Min looked at her in disbelief. “Grandmother…”
Madam Jie: “Do you know why the wife of the Marquis Ying is willing to make you a side concubine now?”
“Granddaughter knows...” Feng Min said, “It’s because the case of Seventh Miss Changsun is still unresolved, and it’s a critical moment. She’s afraid I’ll say something I shouldn’t…”
She had taken advantage of this point to pressure Ming Jin into writing her a letter.
“You also know it’s a critical moment.” Madam Jie continued, “Right now, the Feng family and the Ming family are not of equal rank. In the past, this might have been a good match... But at such a crucial moment, if the Ming family suddenly makes you the primary wife, it would be too obvious and attract suspicion from others. Have you considered that?”
Feng Min froze upon hearing this.
She hadn’t thought about that at all...
"So, no matter how you threaten, the Ming family will not and cannot let you become the legitimate wife at this point," said Madam Jie.
Feng Min hesitated. "Then... what if we wait? Wait for the case to be settled, wait for the situation to calm down?"
Madam Jie sneered. "By the time the case is settled, do you think the Ming family will care about you anymore?"
"What about your granddaughter?" Feng Min said in a fluster, unwilling to accept it. "Does that mean your granddaughter can only be a concubine?"
"Before the Ming heir marries his legitimate wife, though you are a concubine, you are no different from the legitimate wife," Madam Jie’s voice revealed no emotion. "Moreover, you hold his secrets. As long as you use them wisely, keep a good balance, and later give him a son or a daughter to rely on, your life will not be too bad."
Qiao Momo, standing by the bamboo curtain, froze at these words and subconsciously looked at Madam Jie. Was the County Princess implying...?
Feng Min’s resolve wavered.
"But the choice is still yours," Madam Jie said coldly. "You’ve caused this mess, and as your grandmother, there’s not much I can do to help."
Feng Min no longer hesitated after hearing this. "Then... if I must be a concubine, I’ll agree to it!"
Madam Jie looked at her for a moment before speaking. "If that’s the case, tomorrow I’ll personally meet the wife of the Marquis Ying. Though you’re to be a concubine, you must let her know that the daughters of the Feng family are not ones to be bullied by the Ming family at will."
"But if you do that, won’t she know that your granddaughter told you the truth?" Feng Min asked, uneasy. "I promised not to reveal it..."
Madam Jie laughed coldly. "Of course she must know!"
"If only you know this secret, when you marry into the Ming family, with Chang Shi’s methods, she’ll have no hesitation in silencing you!"
"Let her know that I hold this secret as well. That way, it will protect your life!"
Feng Min felt a cold sweat on her back.
Right!
She almost forgot this point...
If she were the only one who knew, the other side would have no hesitation in silencing her!
No wonder Chang Shi had repeatedly warned her not to speak of it...
Feng Min, now fully aware, shivered with dread.
She was still too young, and when this incident suddenly occurred, she had been too panicked to think clearly.
"Thank goodness my grandmother is here to think this through for me..." Feng Min felt an immense relief that she had confided in her grandmother. "From now on, your granddaughter will follow your arrangements!"
Madam Jie gave a slight nod and spoke seriously. "To avoid complications, do not mention this to anyone else."
Feng Min obediently nodded. "Don’t worry, Grandmother."
Satisfied with the promise, Madam Jie unusually reached out to gently pat her granddaughter's hand.
After returning, Qiao Momo couldn’t help but ask softly, "...Does the County Princess really intend for the young lady to marry into the Ming family?"
The young lady was still so young and thought too simply. Would the wife of the Marquis Ying really treat her kindly just because a few more people knew the truth?
The young lady held not only the Ming heir’s secrets but had also killed someone herself!
Even though the Ming family would not take her life, there were many ways to torment someone in the household, and countless cruel methods to silence them...
The County Princess couldn’t have overlooked these facts.
Madam Jie had indeed thought of them.
"She’s caused such a disaster, and one day, the Changsun family will likely learn the truth... my Feng family simply cannot keep her," Madam Jie said. "Sending her to the Ming family early is the best course of action."
Qiao Momo hesitated. "But..."
Madam Jie replied, "This is the path she’s chosen herself, no one else is to blame. As for what happens in the future, it depends on her fate."
Qiao Momo fell silent, only sighing inwardly.
Fate... What kind of fate could there be for a sheep walking into the tiger’s den?
Early the next morning, just after dawn, Madam Jie arrived at the Marquis Ying’s residence.
Upon meeting Chang Shi, Madam Jie said, "Such an important matter as arranging a marriage cannot be discussed directly with the younger generation. This letter should have been delivered to me by a messenger from the Marquis."
She placed the crumpled letter on the nearby tea table.
Chang Shi’s eyes flickered, and she smiled coldly, her smile not reaching her eyes. "It seems your granddaughter really is a well-behaved child, wanting to discuss everything with the County Princess."
"Of course, such a major matter must be discussed," Madam Jie replied with a faint smile. "She was frightened when she returned from Dayun Temple, and in her panic, she could only discuss it with me, her grandmother."
Chang Shi smiled as well and picked up her tea cup. "Since County Princess already knows, then you must also be aware that your daughter is now involved in a homicide case. If I hadn't helped cover things up, your Feng family might not be so calm right now."
Madam Jie replied, "That’s true, but even if you help her cover this up, how does that compare to the life of the Ming heir? His life is far more valuable."
"That’s true," Chang Shi said with a smile, "My son is named Ming, the nephew of the emperor, so naturally, his life is more precious." She then asked, "So, marrying him to your daughter as a concubine, that should be acceptable, correct?"
Madam Jie, unlike that naive girl, wasn’t easily fooled. Whether this marriage would happen or not was still uncertain.
Madam Jie remained noncommittal, "My family has only this one daughter, whom I’ve personally raised. She has been taught the ways of the household and management. If she were to become a concubine, even though your family is the Ming family, it would still be somewhat of a humiliation. She received a letter from the Marquise yesterday and cried over it."
Chang Shi’s smile faded.
So, she still fantasized about being the legitimate wife?
Putting aside other concerns, just the issue of the legitimate wife passing away and a second marriage—it was very difficult for noble families to accept their daughters becoming the second wife. That alone would complicate things.
In her opinion, Madam Jie was being foolish. Whether it was the legitimate wife or the concubine, the outcome would likely be the same. Why was she so fixated on the title? Was it really that important?
As Chang Shi sighed, Madam Jie spoke again. "I’ve already advised Min’er. The current situation is different. One must understand when to advance and when to retreat."
Chang Shi raised an eyebrow. "So, you’ve agreed then?"
Madam Jie replied, "Whether I agree or not depends on the sincerity of the Marquise."
Chang Shi gave a half-smile. "I wonder what you mean by sincerity?"
"The position of the Minister of Agriculture is vacant, and my son has worked in the Ministry of Works for many years, always diligent. He only needs an opportunity."
Chang Shi laughed coldly to herself.
Outwardly, she showed only a hint of difficulty, saying, "The position of Minister of Agriculture is a fifth-rank official. If I’m not mistaken, your Feng family’s head is a ninth-rank official... This promotion is rather irregular, don’t you think?"
"If everything were according to regulation, how could we talk about sincerity?" Madam Jie replied softly. "As you just mentioned, your son, the Ming heir, is of noble birth. A mere fifth-rank official should not pose a problem for your family."
With that, she stood up from her chair. "I will await your response in peace, Madam."
Chang Shi smiled faintly and signaled to a maid to see her off.
After Madam Jie left, Chang Shi sneered, "I was mistaken. Her granddaughter is foolish, but she is not."
What the legitimate wife or concubine was—whether the granddaughter lived or died—was all clear to her. She knew very well that these things were secondary.
"To even use her own granddaughter as a pawn for bargaining..." Chang Shi sneered. "No wonder Madam Jie was the first to advocate for the emperor's deposition back in the day."
Chang Shi slammed her tea cup down.
The maidservant dared not speak.
After a moment, Chang Shi composed herself and then asked, "Has the trial at the Ministry of Justice begun?"
(End of chapter)
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