Chapter 35: Mother.

Though the second floor of LingFeng Pavilion isn’t very high up, being thrown off the floor would most certainly cause one to be crippled for life.

Both Yan Rong and Yan Fei had crossed over the line this time, as Yan Jing was usually one who would offer a fast and clean death to his enemies, but this time, he would rather keep her alive but in a state of torture.

To make her wish for the death that will never come.

Upon hearing his words, Yan Rong slammed his palm against the table in front of him, causing the teacups to fall from it and crashed loudly onto the ground, “Yan Jing! That’s entirely the same as killing Fei Er!” He cried out in anger.

“I see, in that case… Men, bring me the white cloth, ah, forget it, bring me the poisonous wine instead.” Yan Jing said casually, without even blinking an eye.

“You!” Yan Rong’s entire face was red with rage, but there was nothing he could say but watch in anger as the servants dragged his screaming and weeping daughter away towards the LingFeng Pavilion. She had lost a leg from the punishment, but she was still alive, as expected.

Yan Fei was eventually exiled from HuaiYin Hou, but no one knew where she was sent to.

Yan Luan heard about the news on the next morning, but she hadn’t took it to heart. House Chu had plans to marry Princess Hanna, hence they would most certainly not take in the crippled Yan Fei, who was but a mistress to Chu Meng. Hence, she was probably sent to one of their father’s personal villa.

Princess YongKang returned in the afternoon and immediately summoned Yan Luan to her quarters, letting her go after inspecting her thoroughly for any missed injuries.

“What your elder brother had done was appropriate, how can we take that bitch’s life so easily,” She bristled in rage before turning towards Zhao Yu, “Find out where she was sent to!” She said blandly, the chill in her eyes obvious while she patted her daughter’s hands in comfort.

“Mother, you don’t have to…” Yan Luan started, but was quickly interrupted by Princess YongKang.

“Ah Luan, it’s alright. Though mother had spent years raising you into such a kind and softhearted person, you need to know that mercy does not work on everyone, especially people who wanted to hurt you.”

Princess YongKang had met countless people in her lifetime and had seen the ugliest side of men. She had never been a merciful and softhearted person, which could be seen clearly from the way she had handled Bian Shi all those years ago. Yan Jing’s method of solving this issue was correct, as she had personally taught him the methods of survival in such a political and dangerous era.

But she had never thought to teach these cruel ways of survival to her only daughter, she was willing to pamper and keep her heart pure, forever untainted by the ugliness of humanity.

“That girl from House Chu had always been on bad terms with you, she’s extremely ambitious too. It seems that we need to let her know that even if she managed to marry to someone of high authority, a crow will never become a phoenix.”

Yan Luan pursed her lips at her mother’s scorn and sneering words, it was obvious that she wasn’t referring only to Chu YunShang, but also the Queen Dowager Chu, who had managed to transform into a ‘phoenix’.

“My Ah Luan will be an adult in two years, mother will surely pick the most outstanding man in the entire world to be your consort. Even though Ah Jun is a fine man, but his body is too weak. He’s not suitable.”

Ah Jun? Yan Luan blinked in confusion before recalling that it Emperor QiLing, whose name was Yuan Jun, though perhaps her mother was the only person in the entire world to call him by a nickname…

But still, her body stiffened up immediately upon hearing her mother’s words about marriage, instinctively avoiding her mother’s eyes in the fear of accidentally revealing the shame and guilt within her heart.

She could not imagine how her mother would even react if she knew that her daughter had shared a bed with both of her sons…

“Mother, I’m not interested in cousin at all!” She exclaimed, she will not marry the emperor, because in the history that she knew, he had been killed by Yan Jing due to their engagement, so if she were to severe the engagement now, would it change the history?

“Ah Luan, why are your hands suddenly so chilly?” She asked worriedly as she felt her daughter’s hands turn cold by the seconds, “In fact, Ah Jun is already eighteen this year, and Chu Shi had not stopped mentioning to me that the imperial queen’s position should not be left empty for too long as it will hinder his work for the dynasty… But little did she know that my baby girl isn’t the least interested in being the queen that they wanted so badly.”

For the past two years, though House Chu had seemed to be prospering, but that had not been the actual case at all due to the fact that the court had not been too favorable towards the Queen Dowager, furthermore, House Chu had no backings other than herself, which was why House Chu had been declining through the years.

Meanwhile, HuaiYun Hou had been prospering well throughout the years, but Princess YongKang had decided to hide her strengths and go against Chu MiaoZi politically, but in truth, she was not the least interested in the imperial queen’s position.

“Mother, I would’ve hated a life in the palace too, please never mention the engagement with cousin again,” Yan Luan answered quickly, hoping that her mother would give her a clear answer on this issue.

Princess YongKang nodded her head softly, “Though, is it due to the young lady from House Jiang? I would never had known about her thoughts if it wasn’t for the letter from Lady Chu, for I had almost considered agreeing to Chu Shi’s words.”

Jiang FuYuan? It seems that House Jiang intended for her to entire the palace as queen.

“It’s not because of her, mother,” Yan Luan confirmed softly, not wanting her mother to misunderstand. She knew that though Princess YongKang looked down on the position of the queen, it was a different matter knowing that another woman intended to compete against her own daughter. Yan Luan did not want her mother to misunderstand.

“Do not be so flustered,” Princess YongKang grinned happily at her adorable panicked explanations, “Since the young lady from House Jiang likes Ah Jun, we’ll make her the new queen then, furthermore, she’s a close friend to you, so she would end up being one of your strengths.”

It was at this moment that Yan Luan smiled as she let out a deep breath of relief, the awful engagement had finally been called off!

Yan Dao, who had been lazing on the seat outside his mother’s pavilion, stood up and made his way towards her the moment he saw his sister.

“Quickly, let me see, are you injured anywhere?” He said in a worried tone as he stuffed the bouquet of peonies into her hands before checking her thoroughly, but he kept a check on himself as there were other servants nearby.

“Ah, I’m totally fine, release me quickly.” She answered softly as she pushed him away, not wanting the servants to notice anything abnormality before glancing down at the bouquet in her hands, “These are mother’s favorite flowers, and you had the nerves to pick them! Why aren’t you escaping?”

Noble ladies loved using fresh flowers to hold up their hair, and as the head of the group of noble ladies, the flowers raised by Princess YongKang were all of rare breeds, and she would not allow anyone to touch her garden.

The rare hint of worry on his face subsided the moment he confirmed that Yan Luan was fine, his face quickly turning back into his usual cold expression, “It’s but a bouquet of flowers, while Ah Luan seemed to have grown even more prettier recently…”

He was someone who would shower the woman he loved with gifts, and he did. Like the box of jewelries from before, and this bouquet of flowers now, he would give her anything that matches her beauty.

Unable to control it any longer, he reached out his hand, intending to stroke her cheeks, only for her to turn her head to the side, avoiding him touch entirely before staring at him in rage.

She hated her current situation, unable to escape or refuse their approach, while always being careful and cautious about her surroundings.

Incest was a huge crime, that was entirely sufficient to ruin the lives of them all, including their entire family.

But it seems that both of her brothers did not care much for it, they would go against morality, if only to keep her within their grasps selfishly……