Female Supremacy and Rise to Power: Lin Shu's Imperial Examination Adventures

Chapter 110 The Deer Cry Banquet Turmoil (Ji Heng)

"Does the Prince of Dingbei intend to plead for him?" Feng Han raised an eyebrow. If Ling Huanan were to plead for him, then he certainly couldn't refuse.

Ling Wanzhen also thought that the other party was going to plead for her, and a glimmer of hope rose in her heart. With a hopeful look on her face, she raised her head and softly called out, "Mother!"

Ling Huanan frowned upon hearing this, glancing coldly at the spineless Ling Wanzhen. Apart from a slight resemblance in appearance to himself, she was almost identical to Feng Rui.

“You have ruined someone’s reputation and must take responsibility. You will be brought to the manor on a chosen day.” Ling Huanan frowned, pointing at the handsome young servant who was still holding the clothes, and said in a deep voice.

"Mother...?" Upon hearing this, Ling Wanzhen looked up abruptly, her face filled with astonishment and disbelief.

Feng Han, with a smile in her eyes, immediately said to Ling Wanzhen:

"Since the Prince of Dingbei has said so, I will make an exception and bestow this servant upon you in marriage. Since you were able to have an affair with him in public, you must like him very much. I cannot treat him unfairly, so I hereby bestow upon him the title of 'Primary Husband'."

Upon hearing this, Ling Wanzhen's body went limp. His Majesty clearly wanted to cut off her escape route. As a noble lady with a good reputation in the capital, her husband should at least be from a prestigious family, not just a servant.

"Your subject...accepts the decree." Ling Wanzhen knew that the Emperor's will was hard to disobey, so she could only grit her teeth and agree. However, she was thinking to herself that it was not surprising that she, Ling Wanzhen, would "die" as a legitimate husband.

Unexpectedly, Feng Han seemed to read her mind. After a moment of contemplation, he spoke meaningfully to the imperial physician beside him:

"Imperial Physician Wu, you will accompany Miss Ling to the Prince of Dingbei's residence later to treat her. While you're at it, also examine her husband. I certainly don't want the person I've betrothed to to be short-lived..."

"Your humble servant obeys the decree." Physician Wu, carrying his medicine chest, bowed and then turned to Ling Wanzhen on the ground, saying, "Miss Ling, please come to the Prince's residence so that this old minister can also treat you."

After Ling Wanzhen left with a look of utter despair, the Imperial Aunt found a phoenix chair from somewhere, and Feng Han spread out his robes and sat down on it.

Then, with a murderous look on his face, he glared at the woman who had just stepped forward to identify the Seventh Prince: "As for you! You slandered the prince, a crime deserving death! Guards, drag her away and sentence her to hanging!"

"Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty..." The woman tried to pull at Feng Han's skirt, but was kicked away by Feng Han's aunt.

The woman was kicked to the ground, and seeing the guards about to grab her, she quickly turned to the direction of the First and Third Princesses and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Help me, big..."

"Shut up! You slandered my brother and almost fooled me as well. This is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of your family. Now that the Empress is merciful, she is only punishing you. Are you still not satisfied?"

Before she could finish speaking, the eldest princess interrupted her sharply, emphasizing the words "extermination of nine generations of relatives".

Upon hearing this, the woman slumped over. She understood that the eldest princess was using her family to threaten her, and that she had been tricked and was now suffering the consequences. She ceased resisting and allowed the guards to drag her away.

With the matter settled, Feng Han's aunt dismissed everyone, and the banquet was to begin in 15 minutes.

After everyone had left, only Feng Han and the three princesses remained in the room.

Seeing the Empress rubbing her temples and looking unwell, the eldest princess, Feng Xin, stepped forward with her usual playful smile and said:

"That person was wicked and almost ruined Seventh Brother's reputation, but fortunately Mother Empress saw through it all..."

"Sycophant." Feng Qing said softly, her face showing disgust.

Everyone present heard these words. Feng Xin clenched her fists tightly in her sleeves, a hint of ferocity flashing across her face, which she quickly concealed. She looked up with a wronged expression, only to see Feng Han staring at her with a complicated look on her face.

Although she didn't understand what was going on, it didn't stop her from deliberately showing off the scratches on her face, and said in a nonchalant tone, "What is Mother looking at? Is there something on my face...?"

Suddenly, as if remembering something, she hurriedly covered her face in alarm: "Oh! This...this injury...Third Princess is young and doesn't know her own strength; it probably wasn't intentional..."

After saying that, he secretly glanced at Feng Qing provocatively from an angle that only Feng Qing could see. In the past, whenever he did this, Feng Qing would be enraged and then punished by the Empress!

"Hypocritical, despicable person..."

Sure enough, Feng Qing felt annoyed when she saw the other party's appearance. The soft flesh on her chest and buttocks was still aching, and the places where she was hit were all private parts, which was really hard to talk about.

A triumphant smile flashed in Feng Xin's eyes.

However, today, Feng Han did not reprimand or punish Feng Qing by confining her to her room as usual. Instead, she gave Feng Qing a warning look, telling her to watch her words.

"Mother Empress?" Feng Xin asked, looking puzzled.

Feng Han did not give her a kind look this time, but only said something vague and ambiguous: "Regardless of who was involved in today's matter, if there is a next time, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Today's events have implicated even the servants in the Empress's palace. She doesn't believe there was no involvement from within the palace.

After saying this, he turned and left, with Feng Zhao following closely behind.

Only the Third Princess Feng Qing and the First Princess Feng Xin, who were left standing there with blank expressions, and gloomy faces, remained.

Seeing that everyone had left, Feng Qing felt bored. After making a few provocative remarks to Feng Xin, she turned and left.

The eldest princess stood there for a long time with a sullen face, secretly regretting that her actions today must have been too obvious and aroused the suspicion of her mother. She must be more careful in the future.

It seems it's time to use that piece!

……

Lin Shu, who was leaving with the others, encountered the man in blue who had helped her earlier by chance near a peony garden halfway through her journey.

Since the other person had helped her, she should express her gratitude. Lin Shu stepped forward, stopped a meter away from the other person, and said softly, "Thank you for helping me out earlier!"

Not far ahead, Ling Huanan, his face gloomy, said: ...Why don't you thank me?

“Miss Lin, you flatter me! I know that even if I hadn’t spoken, you could have handled it properly; it would have just taken a little more effort.”

Ji Heng smiled faintly and shook his head. The blue hairband swayed with it. The hairband, made of some unknown material, shimmered faintly in the moonlight, making him look even more like the moon radiating its gentle glow.

Lin Shu was still thinking about the material of the hairband when she heard the other person's gentle voice again:

"If Miss Lin feels bad about it, then consider it as making friends with Heng! If Heng needs anything in the future, please don't hesitate to help him!"

Lin Shu lowered her head and pondered, seemingly thinking carefully. After a while, she said seriously and calmly, "Okay! If there is a need in the future, and if Lin Shu can do it, she will definitely not refuse."

After saying this, Lin Shu saw that there were more people around and was afraid of ruining people's reputations, so she took her leave and went to the other side.

Ji Heng stared at Lin Shu's retreating figure, finding her long deliberation amusing. If it were any other noblewoman, she would probably have agreed without hesitation, and certainly wouldn't have avoided him like this...

After a moment of contemplation, he turned around and gently picked a unique 'Blue Sky Crane' peony from the peony bush (Blue Sky Crane is also known as 'Shu Peony' due to its rarity).

With her fair, jade-like index finger, she gently traced the blue petals and the pure white heart of the flower, and her lips parted slightly:

"Shu! She truly deserves this title!"

However, it is impossible to know whether it is referring to the flower or a person.

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