Chapter 292: Chapter 285: Farewell (Extra)
The clans sent over young maidens, all in their prime. The youngest was fifteen, having just reached womanhood, while the oldest was seventeen, blooming in beauty. All four were considered exceptional beauties of their respective clans, including both legitimate daughters and those born of concubines. This was the clans’ show of sincerity—they did not carelessly select women of unknown backgrounds to serve Xie Xun.
Xie Xun’s face was as placid as water. He had no intention of entertaining even the clan chiefs, let alone meeting their beauties. Fengyu’s offhand remark about his "boundless fortune in romance" only made him feel more like he was sitting on pins and needles.
"Let them in!"
"Send them away!"
Fengyu and Xie Xun spoke at the same time—one intended to meet them, while the other wished to dismiss them outright. Fengyu spoke with a half-smile, saying, "The Prince is a young hero, holding a high and powerful position. Naturally, the clans wish to cozy up to such a figure. Surely the state mansions across the land are no different. Prince, during your campaign against bandits, did you enjoy such blessings of beauty?"
"I am in mourning!" Three years without marriage, childbirth, or proximity to women.
"Then you must have!"
Xie Xun, "..."
Indeed, after suppressing bandits, each major state mansion would hold banquets in his honor. At these banquets, the company of women was practically inevitable. The state mansions sought to curry favor, and in the grand interplay of power and lust, women were always part of the equation. Some mansions sent women to serve him, while others had women bewitched by his physique and countenance, boldly proposing themselves as concubines. Thus, all along the campaign route, the allure of female seduction lay in wait.
"Truly, boundless fortune in romance," Fengyu remarked with a chilly laugh, then nonchalantly added, "Let them in."
Xie Xun stared blankly at the Third Miss’s slightly cold profile. He then swept his sleeves as he seated himself in the principal position, his gaze icy as it fell upon Nuanyang. The latter’s heart raced wildly, realizing his own foolishness. He could have either outright refused or informed Xie Xun when the Third Miss wasn’t present. Instead, he had stirred a wasp’s nest.
The four young maidens varied in figure and charm, each a reflection of their native land’s grace. Within the waters and soil of Jinzhou, the women were shapely and graceful, their skin slightly darker, and their features strikingly deep-set and coolly alluring.
Fengyu once accompanied Xie Xun to Furong Inn, appreciative of the beauties there yet harboring no distracting thoughts. But now, as she looked at the young women sent to Xie Xun, her heart turned sour. Their chests were fuller than hers, their legs longer, and their robust physiques appeared far superior for childbearing compared to her fragile and delicate frame.
The more she dwelled on it, the more she began to feel she was not the optimal choice for Xie Xun.
Back in the day, when Marquis Mansion had only Marquis Zhenbei as its sole male heir, did the Marchioness intend to bring in a concubine for the Marquis?
No!
She did not want to, but after the Imperial Physician diagnosed her inability to bear children, she painfully made that decision solely to continue the bloodline of Marquis Zhenbei.
The Iron Cavalry required an heir, and it had to be the Marquis’s direct descendant.
Now, the mansion was down to just Xie Xun and Xie Jue.
Xie Jue... Fengyu thought that with the Second Young Master’s disposition, it might be challenging for him to marry and have children. His unwavering nature would likely leave that duty to her and Xie Xun.
Master Miao Yun once told her she wouldn’t live past eighteen; though she seemed healthy now, what if the prophecy came true? Even if she did survive past eighteen, her frailty hardly seemed like the making of a good childbearing match.
Fengyu felt a bit disheartened. If she truly proved unfit for childbirth, would she follow the Marchioness’s path and arrange for Xie Xun to take a concubine?
Absolutely not!
With her possessive personality, she would never let go of what was hers—not even a morsel of food. How could she possibly share her husband? The more she thought about it, the more bitter she became, her mind troubled over matters that hadn’t even occurred.
A needless worry!
The sourness bubbled up from within her.
"We greet the Prince and Miss!" The four beauties, well-mannered and demure, bowed with hands delicately clasped before them, their eyes steady and unassuming.
"This Prince has yet to marry, nor does he intend to keep mistresses or concubines. Return to where you came from and tell your clan chiefs not to trouble themselves unnecessarily," Xie Xun declared coldly. No matter how beautiful the women, they held no appeal for him.
His Third Miss had an extremely possessive nature—headstrong and fiercely jealous. She wouldn’t share even the smallest portion of her husband, let alone something as significant as her lord.
Besides Fengyu, there were no other women he wished to be close to—he wouldn’t risk upsetting her.
"Prince, this humble woman is willing to remain in the mansion as a servant or maid. Please don’t expel us; show us mercy," one girl pleaded, her voice trembling. They had orders from their clans to find any way to remain in the mansion, to secure a place in the Prince’s household. The Prince, as a vigorous young man, was clearly at an age to indulge in romance. If any of them could bear a child, their clan’s position among the twelve states would be impregnable.
Using marital ties to consolidate family power was a technique employed often by the clans, and Fengyu was hardly surprised.
Xie Xun sneered. "This Prince sets out for Ningzhou tomorrow. Do you intend to follow me there?"
"... Yes!" The women kowtowed fervently, pleading, "We beg the Prince to grant us mercy."
"Outrageous!" Xie Xun, already agitated by his impending separation from Fengyu, erupted in fury. His brows knotted tightly as he bellowed, "If you wish to die, find a tree outside and hang yourselves. Don’t bring misfortune to this Prince!"
The hall fell utterly silent.
Beneath the oppressive presence of a battle-hardened general, the women shuddered, their delicate forms trembling as they dared not lift their heads, only continuing to bow. Fengyu, her voice gentle, intervened. "Prince, let me handle this matter."
With the eyes of all upon him, Xie Xun chose not to undermine Fengyu’s authority. Without further remark, he left to practice swordsmanship in the courtyard. Nuanyang followed closely behind, but as soon as Xie Xun unsheathed his longsword, its steel glinting coldly, he snapped, "Nuanyang, have I been too indulgent with you for you to act so far beyond your station?"
Nuanyang dropped to his knees immediately, not daring to talk back. "Master, your servant was wrong."
"If there’s a next time, you’ll return to Ningzhou, and I’ll summon Feiying!"
"Understood!" Cold sweat streamed down Nuanyang’s face.
"Go punish yourself." Xie Xun ordered.
Nuanyang regretted deeply, aware he had overstepped. He had hoped that, given the clans’ status in Jinzhou, his master might at least show some superficial respect. They hadn’t conquered all twelve states yet—they couldn’t afford to alienate the clans prematurely.
But he had crossed his master’s bottom line.
Nuanyang’s heart raced, reminding himself that his master was no longer as lenient as he had been months ago. From now on, he had to tread carefully and remain vigilant about not making further mistakes.
After practicing a set of sword techniques, Xie Xun felt much calmer. He found Fengyu waiting on the veranda, her gaze soft and filled with affection. She hadn’t truly been jealous—she had orchestrated the visit to intentionally annoy Xie Xun with the presence of those women. Whether from Jinzhou or other state mansions, given Xie Xun’s looks and status, there would always be an endless stream of women vying for his attention.
This issue had to be resolved!
For the past three years, Xie Xun had used his mourning period as an excuse to refuse marriage proposals and other advances. But what about after three years? Fengyu wanted to settle the matter once and for all and ensure the world understood why their Prince refrained from indulging in romantic pursuits.
Who could have predicted those young maidens would violate his deepest taboo?
It was Xie Xun’s nature never to yield under coercion. Defiant and proud, he had a heightened disdain for schemes and manipulation. This particular attempt to use weakness as leverage reminded him of the prolonged tug-of-war between the Yuwen Royal Family and Marquis Zhenbei Mansion. The Yuwens always presented themselves as meek while subtly applying pressure. Now, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry, how could he allow a handful of women to use their supposed frailty to strong-arm him into accepting them? To capitulate would make him a laughingstock!
"You didn’t accept them into the mansion to serve as maids, did you?" Xie Xun asked, raising a brow. After completing his sword practice, most of his anger had dissipated—he practiced precisely to avoid taking his temper out on Fengyu.
Fengyu took light steps toward him, pinching the edge of his sleeve with two fingers and giving a playful tug. "Your future wife hasn’t even graced your bed yet. Do you think I’d let others come in and steal your affections? Am I that foolish?"
Xie Xun couldn’t hold back a laugh. He pulled her into his embrace and gently kissed the tip of her nose. "So obedient."
"But I’m upset!" Fengyu tilted her head within his arms, her expression aggrieved. "When I wasn’t around or unaware, it turns out so many women have been coveting you, wanting you."
Xie Xun’s eyes shone with delight, his heart elated. "Are you jealous?"
"Yes!" The Third Miss, when trying to cheer someone up, could always succeed. "They’re healthier than me, have better figures, and are prettier. They seem far more suited to be with you."
"Nonsense. In all of Yanyang, it’s you and me—Fengyu and Xie Xun—that are the perfect match." Seeing her genuinely distressed, Xie Xun hurried to reassure her.
When Fengyu was jealous, it amused him.
If that jealousy ever made her truly sad, however, it’d be an entirely different concern.
"Really?"
"Of course!" Xie Xun gazed deeply at her. "You’re all I want."
"Then remember this—whether in Ningzhou or anywhere else—you may not be seduced by other women." Miss Feng San declared with commanding authority, staking her claim. "You belong to me."
Xie Xun’s handsome face curved into that teasing expression of his bygone flirtatious days. "I’m only susceptible to your charms."
Fengyu, "..."
With their separation looming, Fengyu couldn’t bear to sleep. She tugged Xie Xun atop the roof to gaze at the stars. Xie Xun, enchanted by her, asked with curiosity, "How exactly did you convince them to leave?"
"That’s a secret."
In truth, it wasn’t much of a secret at all. By the next morning, the news had spread across Jinzhou City. The story went that the Third Miss was fiercely jealous and forbade the Prince from being close to any women. To approach the Prince, one must first gain the favor of the Third Miss herself. The clans knew that the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry’s provisions were currently being supplied under Fengyu’s authority. The Prince’s lifeline was in her hands—even if he wanted to, he wouldn’t dare disobey.
Thus, the label of "jealous woman" was welded firmly onto Fengyu.
Xie Xun, "..."
When Fengyu escorted him out of the city, her hair was adorned with dazzling jewels—part of her deliberate showmanship as she accompanied Xie Xun in public. She wanted all of Jinzhou to see just how jealous the Third Miss could be.
Xie Xun felt both exasperated and amused. While this spectacle did alleviate some of his troubles, sparing him from dealing with unwanted attentions in the future, Fengyu’s reputation...
Fengyu didn’t care about her reputation—if jealousy could deter other women from coveting her future husband, then so be it.
She mused aloud, "Soon enough, my reputation will grow even worse."
Accompanying one another for thousands of miles, parting was inevitable. No matter how reluctant Xie Xun and Fengyu were in their hearts, the time for farewell arrived. Surrounded by tens of thousands of iron cavalry, Xie Xun made no effort to hide his care and possessiveness toward Fengyu. Holding her tightly, he finally uttered the words he had suppressed for more than ten days.
Xie Xun said, "Fengyu, I permit you to stay in Jinzhou. But if you dare to get hurt or place yourself in danger, I’ll drag you back to Ningzhou myself."
Fengyu, "..."