Year 24 of Tian Wu’s rule, the ninth prince, Xuan Tian Ming, married Imperial Daughter Ji An, Feng Yu Heng, on the 18th of the fourth month.

  The wedding sedan was carried out of Sha Ping City and headed in the direction of Jue Ping City. The procession following it formed a long line, and those forming the line were not of common backgrounds. Xuan Tian Ming was at the front, riding atop a tall, white camel. The bright-red wedding suit was very eye-catching in the bright sunlight. The ninth prince, who always had a sly expression on his face, had a delightful smile on his face, for the first time in recorded history. The corners of his lips never drooped the entire time.

  The bride inside the wedding sedan was also feeling very joyous. No matter what, she could not keep herself from smiling. From time to time, she would tremble a bit, like a child that had successfully gotten away with sneaking some candy.

  In the southern desert, the festivities shook the skies. Everyone knew that the god of war would be marrying the Bodhisattva of medicine. Inside Lan Zhou City, the citizens began to set off firecrackers in the streets near their homes, and there were even more people that had been treated at Hundred Herb Hall that gathered around Hundred Herb Hall to present a number of gifts. Hundred Herb Hall simply set up a few tables outside to celebrate for their boss. They also gave out a number of celebratory cakes and candies, which attracted even more people to this side. It was very lively.

  The South was very lively, and the capital was even more lively.

  Feng Yu Heng was set to get married on the day that she became of age. This was news that Xuan Tian Ming had spread ahead of time. At the time that people were sent to pick up Xuan Tian Hua, Xuan Tian Ge and the others, they had also gone to visit the Yao family. For this, the Yao family was very active, not hiding this matter in the slightest. Not only did they spread the information early on, but they also put on a grand spectacle. On the day that Feng Yu Heng got married in the South, the Yao manor also opened its doors to hold a banquet. From the front yard to the backyard, there were a total of 88 tables placed.

  This banquet was personally organized by Yao Xian. Ignoring how this old man usually stayed hidden, did not have any proper ranking, and looked like an idle person, in truth, roughly 80 percent of the people in the capital had received some sort of grace from him. The Yao family was a prominent family in medicine. Having been established in the capital for many generations, they were a prosperous family that had been famous for over a century. Even when Feng Jin Yuan had married Yao shi, that was because the Yao family’s position was able to provide assistance to the Feng family. It was a prominent family in medicine! The number of people that they had saved would not be few. There were people that had been saved from nearly every family. Although the Yao family had been through that difficult time, they had now returned to the capital. With the Emperor’s attitude there for all to see, who would dare to belittle the Yao manor?

  With just a few words from Yao Xian, nearly everyone in the capital was moved, squeezing into the Yao manor. Those people that had received the Yao family’s grace and did not know how to express their thanks had finally found their opportunity. Crate after crate of wedding gifts were carried into the Yao manor! There were also those that wished to curry favor with the Yao family. They also came with bundles of banknotes in their hands, trying to worm their way into the manor for fear that they could not get in if they were a step late. There were also the people that had been treated by Feng Yu Heng. There were some poor and some wealthy, and they all came to visit. The wealthy ones came with wedding gifts, while the poor people were more pragmatic, as some simply came with baskets of eggs.

  The female members of the Yao family had gone to the South, thus this side was left to Yao Jing Jun to receive the guests. The other sons and grandsons of the Yao family remained in the yard to take care of the guests. Yao Jing Jun treated all that came to celebrate similarly, providing nobody with any special treatment. Regardless of whether you were a first or second rank official or if you were a prince, there was no difference in treatment from those that came with eggs. Anyone that came in was a guest. Nobody ought to put on any airs.

  Of course, the eighth prince would not come. As for the remaining princes, the eldest and second prince got along reasonably well with Feng Yu Heng. The fifth prince was not the type to look for trouble; moreover, he had always been afraid of Xuan Tian Ming and Feng Yu Heng. He would rather take the initiative to celebrate, thus he also came with good intentions and a smile.

  As for the other people that arrived, with the princes making their attitudes known, what else could they say? In front of the Yao family, what would they dare say? Yao Xian was said to be a doctor, but his relationship with the Emperor was just short of the two becoming sworn brothers. Being able to open his doors to welcome them in was already quite bold. They should quickly put on a good showing and do their best to say some nice things in front of Yao Xian!

  After a while, the Yao manor’s entrance was nearly flattened. The people did their best to express their kind wishes in regards to the wedding between Imperial Daughter Ji An and the ninth prince. One after another, words of congratulations were said, and gifts were presented without any reservation. The empty space in the Yao manor had already been stuffed full, and there was almost no room left for people to walk around.

  But the crowd of people coming did not ease up. After Yao Jing Jun consulted with Yao Xian, Yao Xian simply ordered for the imperial daughter’s manor to be opened up, and the gifts would all be carried over to that side. The Yao family’s side would continue to be the location of the banquet. They still needed to eat and drink.

  Feng Zhao Lian had also come to the Yao manor with Wu Li Sheng. The members of the Yao family knew this person’s relationship with Feng Yu Heng, thus they did not treat him as an outsider, as he was led straight to the inner courtyards. Feng Yu Heng’s sixth cousin, Yao Xin, secretly said to Feng Zhao Lian: “Originally, you should have been left in the outer courtyard, but looking at your appearance and way of dressing, I worry that you might cause a stir if you stayed in the outer courtyards. Forget it, forget it, stay in the inner courtyard and sit with the women!”


  Feng Zhao Lian nodded with a smile, saying: “Good, good, either way, His Highness the seventh prince is not in the capital. Whether I sit in the front yard or backyard, it’s all the same.” After saying this, he reached out to pat Yao Xin’s head, “You’re also grown up. How can the Yao family keep its sons like this. It’s about time to find you guys some wives.”


  Yao Xin’s face turned red upon hearing this, as he turned and ran away. He no longer wanted to pay any attention to him. Feng Zhao Lian had a smile on his face, causing Wu Li Sheng to advise: “Husband, it would be best if you were not like this all the time. That would ensure that other people don’t misunderstand.” Misunderstand your sex.

  But Feng Zhao Lian was resolute in wanting to have people misunderstand. As he walked, he remembered to be even more conspicuous. From time to time, he would wink at some young men, and this was enough to take away their souls. There was nothing that Wu Li Sheng could do aside from quietly following behind him.

  The Yao family had prepared a banquet, and out of all the large families in the capital, aside from the eighth prince’s faction, everyone else was present. But there was still one other family that was a bit conflicted, and that was Lu Song’s family. Ever since Lu Song had heard about the matter of the wedding, he had been conflicted on the matter. He had been conflicted during court, and he was conflicted at home. He felt especially anxious during the previous day’s morning court session when the Emperor had been very emotional in bringing it up. Plainly speaking, Lu Song wanted to go. As a result of Lu Yan’s matter, he could no longer stand on the eighth prince’s side. He even felt a bit of hatred. He and his madam, Ge shi, wanted to get closer with Xuan Tian Ming and Feng Yu Heng, but the two were in the South. Even if he wanted to get close, he could not. Finally getting this sort of chance…… the banquet was to take place in the Yao manor. Back then, the Lu family and the Yao family had been related, but after that matter with Lu Yao, the Yao family had refused any interaction with the Lu family. How should Lu Song visit?

  He paced back and forth in his manor until Ge shi became dizzy, but there were no ideas that came to them. The Lu family had completely offended the Yao family. Of course, the Yao family had thoroughly beaten down the Lu family. Even to this point, their family’s finances had not recovered, and they could only survive on Lu Song’s salary. But to continue like this could not happen. Ge shi thought for a bit longer and finally came up with something: “How about…… having Ping’er go over there?”


  Lu Song stopped in his tracks, and his eyes also lit up! Right! He still had another daughter! Have Lu Ping go over to the Yao manor. No matter how the Yao family is, they would not trouble a young girl. As for Lu Ping’s hidden illness…… “Is there any of the special perfume left at home?”


  Ge shi nodded, “There’s still a bit left. If husband has decided, I will go and fetch it immediately and apply it to Ping’er.”


  “Go quickly, go quickly, I will personally go and talk to Ping’er. She needs to make this trip today!” After Lu Song finished speaking, he quickly headed toward Lu Ping’s courtyard.

  Feng residence

  Feng Fen Dai sat in her small courtyard, as the spring flowers bloomed. The fragrance of spring flowers would occasionally drift over with the wind, filling her nostrils; however, she was not able to smell anything fragrant. She asked her maidservant Dong Ying: “What flower is this smell coming from? Why does it smell so bad?”


  Dong Ying said: “Responding to fourth young miss, it’s jasmine.” She sniffed the air and gave a fair assessment: “It smells quite fragrant!”


  Fen Dai shook her head: “It’s not fragrant at all. Have them all plucked out tomorrow and swap them for peonies.”


  “Peonies?” Dong Ying was caught off-guard, “Didn’t young miss say that peonies were too common and gaudy? There were some peonies in the yard, but they were all taken out because young miss did not like them.”


  “But now, I like them again.” Fen Dai was expressionless; however, her mind continued to churn. Scenes from back when the Feng manor had flourished flashed through her mind. Those things that had disappeared came back to life, one by one. Each scene replayed before her eyes. She saw the matriarch, Chen shi, Feng Chen Yu, Han shi, and Jin Zhen. There were so many people, so how was it that only she remained? Fen Dai was a bit flustered and finally recalled the earlier topic; however, she said to Dong Ying in a daze: “The previous Feng manor had a Peony courtyard that had been filled with peonies. Have someone replant them here tomorrow. Like that, I feel as though the Feng family is still around.”


  Dong Ying was a bit frightened, quickly advising her: “Young Miss, don’t think about the things from the past. The Feng family has disappeared. Weren’t we going to live our lives? Don’t think about those things!”


  Feng Fen Dai did not respond to her, only asking: “Where’s His Highness the fifth prince? Why has he still not come today?” Ever since Feng Jin Yuan had gone to the South, and Feng Xiang Rong and An shi had been taken away, the fifth prince would come over to accompany Fen Dai every day. Today, however, he had not come to visit.

  Dong Ying reminded her: “Apparently, His Highness the ninth prince is marrying the second young miss in the South today. The Yao manor has planned a banquet, and His Highness the fifth prince has gone to congratulate them.”


  “Congratulate?” Fen Dai was stunned then suddenly understood: “Oh, it’s their wedding. That should be congratulated, but why did His Highness the fifth prince not bring me along?” After saying this, she did not wait for Dong Ying to reply before continuing on her own: “This too, what would he bring me along for? That’s Feng Yu Heng’s maternal family, not mine. My mother was brought out of a brothel and did not have any family. I don’t even know who my family is. I have nobody to rely on and nobody to call family.”


  “Young Miss, don’t speak like this. You still have His Highness the fifth prince. His Highness the fifth prince treats you very earnestly.” Dong Ying did her best to console her, as she also felt unhappy for this young miss. It had to be said that the fifth prince’s feelings for Fen Dai would cause any girl to feel moved! Back then, it had just been the result of someone scheming that allowed her to take this path; however, who knew that the fifth prince would actually become interested. Not only did he dismiss all of the girls in his palace for her, but he also broke tradition as a prince by taking a daughter of a concubine as his official princess. With such a good person like this protecting her, what was the fourth young miss getting worked up for?

  But Feng Fen Dai was someone that liked getting worked up. Ever since she was young, there was some frustration that she could not vent. She wanted to be the Feng family’s daughter of the first wife. She wanted to trample on all of her other sisters, and this was a desire that still had not changed.

  Feng Yu Heng was getting married. Very good, that was her second sister. She should wish her well, right? But why was it that these words were on her lips, yet she just could not bring herself to say them……