Chapter 447: Chapter 431: Resentful Partners
When Fang Chuning saw Ruyi’s face clearly, it felt as if the cold winds of West State had swept into his chest, stabbing painfully at his heart. The blizzard of icy winds engulfed the entire sky, freezing his boiling blood. For a brief moment, Fang Chuning only felt a deafening buzz in his ears, like the clash of blades ringing near, robbing him of the ability to hear any sound of the world.
"Papa..." Ruyi seemed scared upon seeing a stranger, stumbling as he ran to Xie Jue’s side. Xie Jue crouched halfway down and gently patted Ruyi’s head, his expression soft and tender, "What is it?"
Papa...
The innocent child, the familiar features—Fang Chuning suddenly remembered Ting Feng’s appearance as a youngster.
If Ruyi grew three or four years older, he would be the spitting image of the child Ting Feng Fang Chuning remembered.
Too alike!
When Ruyi was a hundred days old, Jiaozhou held a celebratory banquet. However, that feast wasn’t truly for Ruyi’s hundred days; Xie Jue had moved it forward by over twenty days. At the time, Ruyi was only about two months old. News of the banquet quickly spread everywhere, and everyone knew Xie Jue had not yet married but already had a son. Naturally, Fang Chuning had heard the rumors too.
He hadn’t taken it seriously, thinking Xie Jue had simply adopted an orphan or was sheltering the child of a deceased Ningzhou Iron Cavalry soldier. Based on the timing of the hundred-day banquet, if the child were Ting Feng’s, that would have been during the peace negotiations with Beiman. At that time, Ting Feng had been drafting new policies and dealing tirelessly with Beiman, spending nearly every waking moment with Fang Chuning. How could he possibly have had a son?
Thus, Fang Chuning had never thought much of Ruyi being Xie Jue’s son.
Until he saw Ruyi’s face.
That face was unmistakably his biological son’s face.
Fang Chuning laughed bitterly, "Ting Feng, he’s really your son?"
"Yes!"
Fang Chuning turned and walked away, leaving only a trail of shallow footprints in the snow.
Xie Jue stood quietly amid the wind and snow, watching Fang Chuning’s back until his figure disappeared at the end of the winding corridor. He was wearing an unusually white robe that day, blending almost entirely into the snow-covered surroundings.
After the stranger left, Ruyi resumed playing with his snowman.
In the front hall, Xie Xun knew Fang Chuning had gone to speak to Xie Jue. His mood was deeply unsettled, wishing to eavesdrop on their conversation to discern what they were discussing. But he also felt it was his Second Brother’s private matter and he should not pry. What if he overheard something he’d rather not know? Wouldn’t that only torment himself? As he hesitated, he suddenly glimpsed Fang Chuning walking out of the Moon Gate toward the estate entrance, his expression dark and stormy.
Xie Xun cheerfully greeted him, "Brother Fang, where are you headed?"
Fang Chuning paused briefly, turning back to glance at Xie Xun’s glowing face. He replied indifferently, "Going to meet Han Ziqi."
"Three times I asked my brother; he won’t meet you?"
Fang Chuning remained silent and simply turned around. Xie Xun raised his voice playfully, "Don’t forget to come back for dinner!"
Nuanyang, "..."
In Fengyu Courtyard, Fengyu and Fang Lingjun always seemed to have endless things to discuss. The two of them curled by the warm windowside sleep platform, confiding in each other about their lives. Though Fang Lingjun had not mentioned her thwarted betrothal to Fang Chuning, she had poured her anguish out to Fengyu.
The Commandery Princess was perpetually preoccupied with Fang Chuning’s and Fang Lingjun’s marriage considerations. Fang Chuning was stationed in the military, beyond her reach, and moreover carried the notorious reputation of being cursed to harm his spouses—something others naturally hesitated over. Yet, with Marshal Fang and the Commandery Princess’s standing and influence, they could still negotiate satisfactory matches. However, Fang Chuning rejected them all. Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager had long intended to manipulate the Fang siblings’ marriages, aiming to marry off Fang Lingjun into her maternal family.
The Commandery Princess refused this notion and instead selected a candidate from the direct lineage of the prestigious Li Family—a fourth son named Li Si, similar in age to Fang Lingjun. He was respectable both in literary studies and martial arts, having passed the imperial exams with the rank of juren, thereby possessing merit. Additionally, Marshal Fang’s younger sister was the matriarch of the Li Family’s second branch, forming an advantageous kinship connection.
After the engagement, the pair interacted frequently, and they appeared to get along quite harmoniously. Yet, no one had anticipated that Li Si held feelings for Zhou Xuejia, with whom he maintained a secret relationship, treating her as a covert mistress in the Capital City. The two had even produced a son and a daughter.
"Zhou Xuejia... her name sounds familiar."
"She’s the girl who was secretly swapped in Duke An Yuan’s Mansion," Fang Lingjun scoffed. "You weren’t back in the Capital then. The Marquis and Marchioness of An Yuan doted on her excessively, treating her like a jewel. The Heir of Marquis An Yuan doted on her even more, treating her like a treasure. When the truth of the malicious child-switching came to light, the An Yuan family initially planned for Xue Lan to be titled Commandery Princess while Zhou Xuejia stayed as the Second Miss of their household. Later, some other matters arose, and Zhou Xuejia was sent away. But who knew she hadn’t left the Capital—she was secretly kept by the heir, and later developed an illicit relationship with Li Si."
"Did you tell the Commandery Princess about this? How did she approve the engagement afterward?"
Fang Lingjun dropped her gaze anxiously, clutching at her handkerchief. "I wanted to refuse the marriage, but before I could inform Mother, the Empress Dowager summoned me to the palace. If I didn’t marry, she threatened to impose an imperial match for my brother. That was when I learned Li Family’s eldest daughter had gained the Empress Dowager’s favor upon entering the palace, and the Li lineage had pledged allegiance to the Imperial Family. If I declined the match, the Empress Dowager would assign the second daughter of the Li Family to my brother instead. I couldn’t bear to see my brother caught in the intrigue, so I agreed to the marriage. Li Family, fearing prolonged deliberation, moved up the wedding preparations. Originally, they assured me Zhou Xuejia and her two children had been sent away. But to my shock—Aunt secretly informed me that Zhou Xuejia and her children had been brought to the Li household, just waiting for me to come in so they could offer me tea as mistress of the household. I couldn’t endure it anymore—so I fled."
"Outrageous!" Fengyu gritted her teeth. "Such disgusting scandals in these grand households. Junjun, now that you’ve run away, no one knows your whereabouts. Just stay here in West State—I’ll protect you."
Fang Lingjun laughed through her tears. "Alright, if my brother permits, I’ll stay."
"I haven’t interacted much with the Li Family, but for them to act so shamelessly... secrets like this can’t stay hidden forever. Aren’t they afraid the Commandery Princess will take action?"
"Ayu, noble sons in clans like these—they always have women serving them before marriage. It’s just that everyone is concerned about appearances, so they try not to let things escalate before the wife officially enters the household. But if they do have children, they’ll acknowledge them. If the matriarch can’t accept this arrangement, others will simply deem her petty and intolerant, rather than blaming the man for his pre-marriage indulgences." Fang Lingjun spoke detachedly. "For my brother’s sake, I initially planned to endure it. As long as they sent Zhou Xuejia and her children away, I could tolerate it. But who could have anticipated they’d humiliate me so thoroughly?"
"Even if you considered enduring for your brother, why would the Li Family... If this matter were exposed, neither the Commandery Princess nor Marshal Fang would tolerate it." Fengyu was puzzled. How could they turn a blind eye?
Fang Lingjun’s eyes suddenly welled up, tears pouring down uncontrollably. Fengyu’s heart wrenched with pain and surprise as she quickly embraced her. "Junjun, what’s happened? Don’t cry. Did Li Si hurt you? If he did, I’ll kill him—even if he’s in the Capital City, I’ll make him pay!"
"No!"
Fang Lingjun had spent over a year bottling up her frustrations, her heart strained to the breaking point. She only wanted to cry and unveil her sorrows to someone she trusted.
"I was born into the Imperial Family, cherished and spoiled without reservation. Father and Mother were endlessly doting, granting me anything I wanted. I often heard others speak of their undying love—how Father was loyal to her alone despite his status and power. But when I grew older, something always seemed odd. Why did Father remain stationed in Jiangnan for years, seldom returning to the Capital? They said Marquis Zhenbei was too meritorious and needed to stay in Ningzhou, while the Marchioness stayed in the Capital as something of a hostage to ensure loyalty. But Mother held ties to the royal bloodline. If Father couldn’t return home, why wouldn’t Mother visit Jiangnan? Only during the Jiangnan plague did I learn the truth: Father had loved another woman deeply—a Miss Li—during his youth. After Father and Mother were schemed against during palace intrigues and forced to marry, they conceived my brother. On the day of their wedding, Miss Li hanged herself at home... Aunt married into the Li Family only to alleviate guilt over this tragedy. That’s why Father constantly torments my brother—because he wasn’t conceived out of love or choice. Why... why must it be this way? Ayu, my brother doesn’t know any of this yet. I can’t bring myself to tell him."