Chapter 608 - 386: Only What You Hold Is Your Own

Chapter 608: Chapter 386: Only What You Hold Is Your Own

"The palace has its own rules," Song Yunzhao said. "An Xiaoyi has done nothing wrong, and she has the Empress Dowager protecting her. Am I supposed to just beat her up without reason?"

That really wouldn’t do.

Consort Shu sneered, "She’s getting off easy."

***

Feng Yunjin and Wang Zhaorong moved quickly. Soon, news spread from Baozhuang Building that they were no longer working with the Ling Family. After hearing the news, Ling Yunhe sealed the gates of the Ling estate and refused to come out. He showed no intention of running around to save his family, a posture that screamed of a guilty conscience.

Everyone knew the Ling Family must have done something to offend Ming Fei from the palace, which was why all their collaborations had been severed.

Many people began to inquire about the matter. Some even wanted to replace the Ling Family and take over their business with Baozhuang Building. Whether it was profitable was a secondary concern; the most important thing was to establish a connection with the palace. Besides, Baozhuang Building was genuinely profitable.

Many people tried to get information from Baozhuang Building, questioning everyone from the staff to the Shopkeeper. Some even sent word to the Feng family. The Wang Family had already fallen, and Mrs. Wang had gone south to live with her son, so getting a connection through Wang Zhaorong was not easy.

But there was still the Feng family. Mrs. Feng saw that the sums of money being offered were growing larger and larger. Frightened, she shut her doors, refused all visitors, and immediately sent a formal request for a meeting into the palace. It wasn’t easy to send letters into the palace these days; one had to go through the proper channels of requesting an audience.

After reporting to the three concubines, Feng Yunjin went to see her mother.

The moment Mrs. Feng saw her daughter, she asked anxiously, "Are you all right?"

Feng Yunjin shook her head. "What could happen to me? Mother, please sit down."

Mrs. Feng then explained the situation at home in detail. "The wives of those merchants have been coming with stacks of silver notes, asking for an audience. They all want me to put in a good word so they can connect with Baozhuang Building. How could I dare accept that silver? I sent them all away immediately. Now I’m not seeing anyone, for fear of causing you trouble."

"Do you have a list of their names, Mother?" Feng Yunjin asked.

"Yes, I’ve written them all down." Mrs. Feng had meticulously recorded every merchant who had come seeking an audience over the past few days. She handed the list to her daughter and asked, her face full of worry, "Is Baozhuang Building really all right?"

Feng Yunjin shook her head. "It’s nothing serious. You don’t need to worry."

’Nothing serious still means something is wrong.’

Mrs. Feng sighed softly. "Does this have something to do with Lady Ming?"

"Baozhuang Building doesn’t just belong to Lady Ming. Lady Shufei and Lady Wanfei also have a share. In fact, Han Jinyi and I get a cut of the profits as well."

Mrs. Feng was stunned.

"How did you get involved in something so major?" Mrs. Feng was growing frantic. "Our family doesn’t need your silver! How could you be so foolish?"

Feng Yunjin looked at her mother’s worried face and comforted her gently, "I have to find something to do in this deep palace. Besides, Lady Ming has always been fair in her dealings. You don’t need to worry."

Mrs. Feng knew her daughter had a mind of her own. She looked at her with a sorrowful expression. "If I had known it would be like this, I never would have let you enter the palace."

"If it wasn’t me, it would have been one of my other sisters. It makes no difference. At least I can hold my own in the palace. I can’t say the same for the others." Feng Yunjin used to wish she hadn’t entered the palace, ’but one has to learn to accept their fate.’

Mrs. Feng looked at her daughter and finally couldn’t resist asking in a low voice, "You’ve followed Ming Fei for so many years and done so much for her. Don’t you deserve for her to put in a good word for you with the Emperor?"

’Her daughter was still young and beautiful. In a few more years, she feared there would be no chance at all.’

"Mother." Feng Yunjin frowned. "How have you still not realized? Is it Lady Ming who’s stopping it? No. It’s clearly the Emperor who has no interest in us. Have you seen the new Beauties who entered the palace this year? Every one of them is as lovely as a flower, but the Emperor doesn’t give them a single glance. Mother, was Father like that when he took concubines?"

Mrs. Feng was speechless. ’Of course not. He slept with them the very night they were brought into the house.’

At that thought, Mrs. Feng’s expression soured.

Unwilling to see her mother grieve for her, Feng Yunjin said with a smile, "Look, my life is quite good right now, isn’t it? By following Lady Ming, I have some measure of power in this palace. No one dares to show me disrespect. Because I’m close to Lady Ming, others have to treat me with more respect as well. Mother, in this world, there are always gains and losses. If the Emperor had taken a fancy to me, I naturally would have fought for his favor. But he has no interest in me. If I were to still fight and claw for it, I would only make an enemy of Lady Ming, and that’s not what I want."

Hearing her daughter’s words only made Mrs. Feng’s heart ache even more.

"Think about it. If I were the one favored by the Emperor, would you be advising me to push him toward someone else?"

’Of course not.’

Mrs. Feng glanced at her daughter and stopped trying to persuade her. "Since you’ve made your decision, I won’t say any more. In the end, it’s your life to live. As long as you’re happy."

"I know you feel for me, but Mother, my life really isn’t bad right now. Even if I hadn’t entered the palace, would marrying someone else have been any better? Father treats you with great respect, but didn’t he still take several concubines? Most men in this world are the same. You don’t need to feel wronged on my behalf. I’m actually quite happy."

Mrs. Feng didn’t bring up the matter again. She understood what her daughter was getting at—her daughter was afraid she would resent Ming Fei. ’But how could I dare?’ she thought. ’I’m just envious that Ming Fei has better luck than my daughter.’

"Then what should I do about the situation at home?" Mrs. Feng asked, returning to business.

Feng Yunjin said, "Just put the word out that you have no say in Baozhuang Building’s affairs. Tell them not to come looking for you, because it’s useless."

Mrs. Feng nodded slightly. "All right, I’ll do as you say."

"If people still try to send messages to you through others, just say that the Ling Family has run into some trouble. If they can’t get past this hurdle, Baozhuang Building will likely stop working with them. As for who will be chosen next, that will be up to Lady Ming."

"Is it really all right to bring Lady Ming into it so directly?"

"Just listen to me."

"Okay, I’ll do just that."

After seeing her mother off, Feng Yunjin reflected on her reasoning. ’Why bring Lady Ming to the forefront? Baozhuang Building is Lady Ming’s brainchild. Consort Shu and Princess Consort Wan are simply riding on her coattails.’

’By the end of the year, Baozhuang Building will certainly be paying a hefty sum in taxes. When that time comes, I can’t let others steal Lady Ming’s thunder and take credit for her work.’

’Since I’ve boarded Ming Fei’s ship, I must consider her interests in everything. If Lady Ming prospers, and the Eldest Prince prospers, only then can my own future be better.’

’As for favor and affection—all that romantic nonsense—only what you can hold in your hand is truly yours.’

After leaving the palace, Mrs. Feng spread the word. Soon, rumors that the Ling Family had offended Ming Fei were everywhere.

When Ling Yunhe heard the news, he let out a deep sigh of relief. He had known it would come to this. It seemed his third uncle was not going to escape after all.

’Thankfully, he had made a clean break in time and secured another path for the Ling Family.’

’Since things had come to this, he had to fan the flames.’

’He knew what Ming Fei wanted. His only choice was to do everything in his power to atone for his family’s crimes and earn merit.’