Chapter 753 - 530: He Deserved a Beating

Chapter 753: Chapter 530: He Deserved a Beating

When Feng Yi returned for the evening meal, he brought Feng Ze with him. It wasn’t easy for the mother and son to see each other every day now that the boy’s schoolwork was piling up. Seeing that he was in good spirits, however, Yun Zhao didn’t ask much about it.

Feng Ze greeted his mother and then went to hug his younger brother. Feng Yun gave him a look of utter disdain, which made both Feng Yi and Yun Zhao laugh.

Feng Ze wouldn’t stand for it. ’This little brat dares to look down on me now!’

He ran around the room carrying his brother until Feng Yun started giggling. The two of them rolled around on the heated couch, and Feng Ze played with his little brother, taking toys apart and putting them back together.

The Inner Workshop had recently developed a new line of toys based on the drafts from Yun Zhao’s ’artistic’ sketches—all sorts of little wooden cars and houses that could be taken apart and reassembled.

Yun Zhao had only provided a few concepts, but the Inner Workshop was filled with talented people. They ended up sending over a massive chest full of toys. Feng Yun was now addicted to them, and the frequency with which he came looking for his mother had dropped dramatically.

Feng Ze was stunned. He looked at his mother with an accusatory expression. "Why didn’t I have these when I was little?"

Yun Zhao felt a pang of guilt, but she put on a confident front. "You were so mischievous when you were little," she said, perfectly self-assured. "I spent all day chasing you around. Where would I have found the energy to come up with these? Your brother is just too quiet, isn’t he? I wanted to give him something to do, and that’s where these came from."

Feng Ze was speechless.

’Something about that seemed wrong, but he couldn’t argue with it.’

Having successfully silenced her son, Song Yunzhao let out a small sigh of relief.

When she turned her head, she saw Feng Yi trying to hide a laugh. Annoyed, she gave his side a sharp pinch.

Feng Yi’s smile twisted in pain.

’In the entire world, she was surely the first person who dared to pinch the Emperor!’

’He was the one who’d spoiled her. She never held back.’

After the meal, Feng Ze put on the air of a proper big brother, carrying his little brother away and grabbing the chest of toys on his way out.

’He would play with his little brother all night long!’

With the two little troublemakers gone, Yun Zhao finally relaxed. She went to the inner chamber to wash up and change while Meng Jiuchang came to make his report. Feng Yi then headed to the study, carrying the memorials Meng Jiuchang had delivered.

’Being the Emperor isn’t easy.’

Having changed into a crabapple-red nightgown, Yun Zhao sat under the lamp, flipping through a storybook. After a few pages, her thoughts drifted to what He Lan Yun had told her earlier that day.

It had been a few years since the Changning Marquis had come to the Capital City with Princess Fuke, and in all that time, there had never been a whisper of him doing anything scandalous. This time, however, he had stumbled over a singer.

Yun Zhao could understand why Princess Fuke was furious.

Princess Fuke’s relationship with the Emperor was good, but if her children failed to make something of themselves, there was no telling how long that imperial favor would last. She would definitely push her son to be more ambitious.

As for the Changning Marquis, he wasn’t exactly mediocre, but merely conventional. He held his title but had taken on no other official duties, giving the impression that he was content to just drift along.

Her second son, Wei Sheng, who held no title, was said to be quite ambitious. During the Emperor’s last military campaign, the Princess had managed to get him a position to earn some merit. He had apparently performed competently, but with men like Ji Yunting and Song Buran leading the charge, he was easily overlooked.

However, you couldn’t say he was incompetent—only that the two men ahead of him shone far too brightly.

All in all, Princess Fuke seemed to have a plan for each of her children. It was best for her eldest son to simply hold his title, earning neither merit nor demerit. Her second son had some talent, but he didn’t need to be too outstanding—it was enough for him to put down roots in the Capital City.

Her daughter had married Song Buran and recently given birth to a son. The couple’s relationship was harmonious, and their future was bound to be a happy one.

And yet, it was at this very moment that the Changning Marquis had to cause such a scandal.

Song Yunzhao had a strong feeling this was no coincidence. But who would dare to stir up trouble for Princess Fuke, and what could they possibly gain from it?

Or had Princess Fuke done something? Had she threatened someone’s interests?

By the time Feng Yi finished his official business, bathed, and changed, it was late. When he entered the room, he saw Yun Zhao leaning against a soft pillow, storybook in hand, staring into space. He couldn’t tell what she was thinking, but her brow was tightly furrowed.

He walked over and sat down beside her. Before he could even speak, Yun Zhao—still lost in thought—leaned against him, probably having registered his familiar scent before his presence.

Feng Yi wrapped an arm around her. "What’s on your mind?"

Hearing Feng Yi’s voice, Song Yunzhao turned her head and found herself already nestled in his arms.

’Habit is a scary thing.’

’They had been together so long and were so familiar with each other. His arrival was like flipping a switch in her.’

Song Yunzhao didn’t feel the least bit embarrassed. She rested her head against Feng Yi’s chest and said, "I saw the Duchess of Qin today and learned something."

Feng Yi then recalled Yun Zhao mentioning that Lady Ding owed her a favor, and that it was time to call it in.

He figured that having the Duchess of Qin come to the palace was to relay a message to Lady Ding.

Yun Zhao never took a loss lying down; she always found a way to get even. He smiled. "What happened? Surely Lady Ding didn’t dare to disobey you?"

Yun Zhao was speechless.

She shot Feng Yi a look and said in an overly sweet voice, "It’s not like I’m an unreasonable person."

Feng Yi shuddered. "Just talk normally."

"How am I not talking normally?" Her voice grew even sweeter.

Feng Yi made a move as if to scoop her up, but Yun Zhao immediately sat bolt upright, putting on an expression that was the very picture of Liu Xia Hui’s virtue.

Feng Yi was speechless.

’You little rascal. You think I can’t handle you?’

Song Yunzhao surreptitiously rolled her eyes.

Feng Yi turned his head just in time to catch her.

Song Yunzhao felt that her luck had run out. She quickly smiled to break the awkward silence. "Have you heard about the Changning Marquis’s affair?"

"The Changning Marquis? What about him?"

"You don’t know?"

Feng Yi genuinely didn’t. "Go on."

Yun Zhao clicked her tongue. "And here I thought the Princess would have come to you to complain."

"He’s gotten into trouble?"

"It’s nothing major. He just got beaten by the Princess."

"What?" Feng Yi was startled. "When did this happen?"

"It was recent. Not long ago." Song Yunzhao repeated what He Lan Yun had told her. "I find the whole thing rather strange. The Changning Marquis wants to take a concubine. What kind of woman couldn’t he find? Why insist on a singer? And to act like he’s possessed in his desperation to get her into his manor—isn’t he just asking to become a laughingstock?"

Singers also had their own hierarchy. The ones with the best background were those raised in prominent households. The lowest in status were those who had fallen to working in the pleasure districts.

Those who were privately trained and sold for high prices to nobles were another category entirely.

The Changning Marquis’s case was exactly that.

Feng Yi didn’t think much of it. He smiled. "Perhaps that singer truly caught the Changning Marquis’s eye. It’s just one woman. If he brings her into his manor, then let him. The Princess is making a mountain out of a molehill. If anything, she’s the one damaging the Changning Marquis’s dignity."

The look in Song Yunzhao’s eyes changed when she heard this. She turned her head to stare at Feng Yi.

Feng Yi looked up and met her gaze. He had an immediate, gut-wrenching feeling that he had said the wrong thing and quickly changed his tune. "The Changning Marquis is being utterly ridiculous! The Princess did the right thing. He deserved it!"