“Up until now, whether in the martial world or the imperial court, no one has ever heard of a place called Snow’s End Manor,” Wang Ci said coldly. “So even if you want to look for it—where exactly would you search?”
That man’s earlier remark about welcoming them as guests at Snow’s End Manor had clearly just been polite talk.
While Xia Chao stood there at a loss for words, Wang Ci suddenly walked over to Leng Qingjue. Without any warning, she raised her hand and slapped her hard across the face.
The fox in Leng Qingjue’s arms jumped down in fright. Leng Qingjue herself froze for a moment, stunned by the blow, before lifting her head to glare at Wang Ci.
“What are you doing!?” she snapped.
“That’s what you owe Fengguang,” Wang Ci sneered. “Xia Wuyuan, I owe nothing to you or your mother, and Fengguang owes you nothing either. From the moment your mother willingly entered the prince’s estate as a concubine, your status was already decided. Remember this well— a concubine is a concubine. There is a clear distinction between legitimate and illegitimate. Fengguang is a princess and the eldest legitimate daughter of this household. She is your superior!”
At that, anger flared in Leng Qingjue’s chest.
“So what if you’re the legal wife? And so what if Xia Fengguang is the legitimate daughter?” she shot back. “In the end, her status comes from nothing more than being born lucky. It’s not something she earned. What do you have to be proud of?”
“Even if Fengguang was simply born into it, your status is still beneath hers,” Wang Ci replied with a mocking smile. “If you think her position is unearned and you resent it, then by all means—kill yourself and try being reborn. See if you can end up as a legitimate daughter next time. If you can’t, then stop complaining here like the world owes you and your mother something. I, Wang Ci—daughter of the Duke of Dingguo—do not need to stoop so low as to bully a concubine and her child.”
Even if Xia Chao spent all his time doting on Huang Ying, she would never resort to petty tricks behind the scenes. Her pride as a noblewoman would never allow her to degrade herself over a man.
Leng Qingjue’s face flushed red, then pale. For a long time, she couldn’t say a single word.
“Well, well, isn’t this Prince Jing and his consort? What brings you here?” Xuanyuan Fei appeared, fanning himself as if by coincidence.
Wang Ci let out a mocking laugh. She glanced at Leng Qingjue, then at Xuanyuan Fei, and said coldly, “Birds of a feather.”
Before Xuanyuan Fei could respond, she had already turned and walked out.
“Hey… Prince Jing, what’s going on with the princess?” Xuanyuan Fei asked.
Xia Chao smiled meaningfully. “Fourth Prince, I’ll leave the concubine-born daughter of my household in your care.”
Xuanyuan Fei’s expression stiffened slightly.
Xia Chao then followed Wang Ci and left as well.
Meanwhile, at Snow’s End Manor—where willow trees grew everywhere—there were only two servants, an elderly couple who had lived there for fifty years. Yet this was the first time they had ever seen their master bring back a woman… or rather, a young girl.
Carrying Fengguang in his arms, Liu Nianfeng said to them, “Someone will be delivering the Longevity Willow shortly. Take good care of things.”
“Yes, young master,” the old man replied with a bow, watching as Liu Nianfeng carried the girl into his room.
Their master… surely he didn’t have some strange proclivities, did he?
In a certain sense, he really did.
After placing Fengguang on the bed, Liu Nianfeng checked her pulse. Thinking of her condition, his first instinct was to loosen her clothing at the chest. He gently lifted a corner of her undergarment—and as expected, he saw a scar on her pale skin.
Fengguang, slowly regaining consciousness, felt a chill across her chest. Confused, she opened her eyes—only to see a man with his hand on her chest.
She jolted upright instantly and, without thinking, slapped him across the face.
“You bastard! What are you trying to do to me!?”
Lucien On ABRWF Chapter 43.2