Since Wen Gaozhe had promised to marry Feng Zixuan by the end of the year, Madame Zou began preparing the betrothal gifts for the Feng family.

Even though the Yongxin Marquis household had squandered a significant portion of its wealth due to the marquis’ indulgent lifestyle, Madame Zou was skilled at accumulating wealth. She was known for being stingy, always bringing in money without spending much. Over the years, she had accumulated a vast private fortune, and the betrothal gifts for her grandson had been prepared long ago. Since the future bride was a daughter of the Feng family, the gifts needed to be even more lavish.

The preparations for the betrothal were a grand affair, impossible to keep hidden from Kuai Ninghua, not that Madame Zou intended to.

In her eyes, Kuai Ninghua, as the daughter of a traitor and a woman who had compromised herself with her grandson before marriage, could never be granted the status of a proper wife. At best, she could be a concubine.

Once Feng Zixuan entered the household as the legitimate wife, with an esteemed and rightful status, Kuai Ninghua would need to learn how to be submissive and humble in front of her.

This was Madame Zou’s plan, though she didn’t dare to say it outright.

After all, Kuai Ninghua had developed the proud and regal temperament of a princess during her time at Prince Qin’s household, and she had a fiery temper. If pushed too far, she might act recklessly and bring their issues to Emperor Zhangwu’s attention, which could cause trouble for the Yongxin Marquis household as well.

Thus, the information Kuai Ninghua received was that Wen Gaozhe was preparing to marry, and naturally, she assumed the bride was herself.

Overcome with joy, Kuai Ninghua still retained a shred of reason. Before the marriage was finalized, Feng Zixuan remained a threat, and she knew she had to find a way to eliminate that threat.

With the substantial amount of silver she had brought from Prince Qin’s household, Kuai Ninghua bribed a servant from the outer courtyard of the Yongxin Marquis household to keep an eye on Feng Zixuan’s every move.

One day, the servant brought her good news: Feng Zixuan was engaged to the eldest legitimate son of the Minister of Rites, and the wedding was to be held at the end of the year, arranged hastily.

Apparently, it was Feng Zixuan’s grandmother, the elderly matriarch of the Feng family, who had insisted on the match. The old woman, worried for her delicate granddaughter, had recently fallen ill. Anxious to secure a proper husband for her beloved grandchild, she pressured Grand Tutor Feng to gather portraits of all the reputable young men in the capital. After careful selection, they chose a husband known for his high moral standards and proper conduct.

Upon hearing this news, Kuai Ninghua was overjoyed, as if she had just tasted the sweetest honey.

She thought to herself that Feng Zixuan had finally come to her senses. Otherwise, if Feng had continued entangling herself with Wen Gaozhe, Kuai Ninghua would have been forced to take steps to eliminate the threat herself.

Feeling that her biggest obstacle had been removed, Kuai Ninghua couldn’t resist flaunting her triumph. She deliberately went to Madame Zou and casually dropped the news.

“Aunt, Hua’er used to be quite close with Miss Feng when she was younger. Do you think it would be appropriate for Hua’er to send a small gift for her wedding?” Kuai Ninghua rested her chin on her hand, feigning innocence as she looked at Madame Zou.

Madame Zou could never have imagined that this Miss Feng would be the same future granddaughter-in-law with whom she had a notorious conflict in a previous life—conflicts so severe that they were well-known throughout the court and the capital.

Even Kuai Ninghua, far away in Yin City, had heard of it.

What Kuai Ninghua didn’t expect was that Madame Zou’s usually calm and dignified face suddenly twisted into a grim expression. The crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes, sharp like thorns, pierced into Kuai Ninghua’s vision.

“What did you say? Miss Feng is engaged to the son of the Minister of Rites?”

Madame Zou’s voice trembled with shock. The betrothal list in her hand crumpled into a ball as she shot up from her chair, demanding, “Where did you hear such news?”

Startled by Madame Zou’s reaction, Kuai Ninghua belatedly realized that she might have made a foolish mistake. Yet, in her confusion, she instinctively followed Madame Zou’s lead.

“It was… a servant from the household who mentioned it. I overheard by chance. Aunt, please don’t upset yourself over the careless words of servants. We can deal with them later.”

Madame Zou, who had managed the Yongxin Marquis household for decades, had weathered countless storms. Kuai Ninghua’s shallow schemes were as transparent as a sheet of paper to her.

After her initial shock, Madame Zou quickly regained her composure and came to an absurd conclusion.

Kuai Ninghua must have somehow learned that Wen Gaozhe intended to marry Feng Zixuan, so she had secretly sent someone to the Feng household to gather information. In doing so, she had stumbled upon news of Feng Zixuan’s engagement to the Minister of Rites’ son. Envious and delighted, she had brought this information to gloat.

Madame Zou found this explanation perfectly reasonable.

But she had clearly overestimated Kuai Ninghua’s intelligence.

In the elaborate fantasy that Madame Zou and Wen Gaozhe had woven, it wasn’t easy for Kuai Ninghua to discover that Wen Gaozhe’s true intention was to marry Feng Zixuan.

However, thanks to her advantage as someone who had lived through these events before, Kuai Ninghua had taken early precautions against a potential rival.

The scent of sandalwood lingered in the air, curling around Madame Zou’s nose. Even though it was a hot summer day, she felt a chill throughout her body.

She glanced at Kuai Ninghua, who still seemed lost in her delusions, and quietly instructed Nanny Song with a few words. Nanny Song nodded solemnly, composed herself, and left to carry out her orders.

“Go to the front courtyard and tell the servants that when the young master returns, he is to come see me immediately.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The quick-witted maid outside the door curtsied and ran off at once.

If Kuai Ninghua had managed to find out about Feng Zixuan’s engagement to the son of the Minister of Rites, there was no way Wen Gaozhe could have remained unaware.

In fact, he had learned the news even before Kuai Ninghua.

The news had struck Wen Gaozhe like a bolt of lightning. How could someone as meticulous and calculating as he, who had always had a plan for everything, accept that the woman he loved had suddenly become engaged to another man?

His instincts told him that there was more to the story.

He first tried to arrange a private meeting with Feng Zixuan, but to no avail. Frustrated, he sent a formal request to visit Grand Tutor Feng, claiming he wished to pay his respects.

But who was Grand Tutor Feng? The Feng family was known for its integrity, and Grand Tutor Feng was the backbone of the court’s upright civil officials. Even if Wen Gaozhe had held a higher office, it would have been impossible for him to gain the favor of a family with such strong moral principles. Grand Tutor Feng would never marry his daughter to a man like Wen Gaozhe, whose only status came from the emperor’s fleeting favor.

The response from Grand Tutor Feng was simple: he refused to see him.

The message from the Feng household to Wen Gaozhe was: “The master is ill and cannot receive guests.”

Wen Gaozhe’s face turned pale with rage.

The Feng family was pushing him too far.

But with his current status, there was no way he could challenge Grand Tutor Feng. Wen Gaozhe was nothing more than a sycophant, a mere lapdog of Emperor Zhangwu. He had no power beyond what the emperor allowed him, while Grand Tutor Feng was a pillar of the court.

Even bringing this matter before Emperor Zhangwu wouldn’t help him.

What proof did he have that he had promised to marry Grand Tutor Feng’s daughter?

Who had seen it?

Who could testify?

If he wasn’t careful, he might even find himself accused of trying to abduct a respectable woman. If Grand Tutor Feng decided to stake his reputation on the matter and make a public scene in court, both Wen Gaozhe and the Yongxin Marquis household would be ruined.

Ever since hearing that Wen Gaozhe had promised to marry Feng Zixuan by the end of the year, Madame Zou had begun preparing the betrothal gifts for the Feng family.

Although the Yongxin Marquisate had squandered much of its wealth due to the Marquis’ indulgent lifestyle, Madame Zou was exceptionally frugal and adept at accumulating wealth. Over the years, she had built up a considerable private fortune, and the betrothal gifts for her grandson were already prepared well in advance. Since the future granddaughter-in-law was a daughter of the Feng family, these gifts had to be even more lavish.

The preparations were grand in scale, and it was impossible to keep them hidden from Kuai Ninghua. Madame Zou didn’t intend to keep them secret, either.

In her view, Kuai Ninghua had already submitted herself to her grandson before marriage, and as the daughter of a rebel, there was no chance of her becoming the legitimate wife. At best, she could be passed off as a concubine.

Once Feng Zixuan entered the household as the rightful, noble wife, Kuai Ninghua would need to learn how to humble herself in front of the legitimate wife before the wedding even took place.

This was what Madame Zou thought, but she didn’t dare speak it aloud.

After all, Kuai Ninghua had been raised in the Qin Prince’s household, with all the grace and pride of a princess. She had a fiery temper, and if provoked, she might act rashly. If the matter reached the Emperor Zhangwu, the Yongxin Marquisate could suffer as a result.

Thus, the message Kuai Ninghua received was that Wen Gaozhe was preparing to marry, and naturally, she believed she was the bride.

While her head was filled with joy, Kuai Ninghua still retained a bit of rationality. Until the marriage was finalized, Feng Zixuan remained a threat, and she had to find a way to eliminate her.

With the vast wealth she had brought from the Qin Prince’s household, Kuai Ninghua bribed a servant in the outer courtyard of the Yongxin Marquisate to spy on Feng Zixuan’s every move.

One day, the servant brought good news: Feng Zixuan had been engaged to the eldest legitimate son of the Minister of Rites. The marriage had been arranged hastily, and the wedding was set to take place at the end of the year.

It was said that Feng Zixuan’s grandmother, the old matriarch of the Feng family, had been seriously ill recently. Worried about her cherished youngest granddaughter, she pressured the Feng family patriarch to gather portraits of all the noble sons in the capital, carefully selecting a virtuous and upright husband for her granddaughter.

Upon hearing this, Kuai Ninghua felt as if a weight had been lifted from her heart, her mood as sweet as honey.

She thought to herself that Feng Zixuan had at least some sense. If she had gotten entangled with Wen Gaozhe, Kuai Ninghua would have had no choice but to go to great lengths to eliminate this potential threat.

Relieved to have removed the biggest obstacle in her heart, Kuai Ninghua couldn’t resist boasting. She deliberately went to Madame Zou to drop the news as casual gossip.

“Auntie, Hua’er and the young lady of the Feng family were once close friends in their youth. Do you think Hua’er should send her some wedding gifts when she gets married?” Kuai Ninghua propped her head on one hand, feigning innocence as she gazed at Madame Zou.

Madame Zou would never have imagined that the Feng family’s young lady was her future granddaughter-in-law in her previous life, and that the conflict between them had been so notorious that it became the talk of the court.

Even Kuai Ninghua, far away in Yincheng, had heard of it.

But what Kuai Ninghua didn’t expect was Madame Zou’s sudden change in expression. Her normally calm and dignified face twisted into something menacing, the crow’s feet around her eyes piercing Kuai Ninghua’s gaze like thorns.

“What did you say? The Feng family’s young lady is engaged to the Minister of Rites’ son?”

Madame Zou’s voice changed with shock, and the betrothal gift list she held crumpled in her hands as she abruptly stood from her chair, her voice sharp as she questioned Kuai Ninghua, “Who did you hear this from?”

Startled by her reaction, Kuai Ninghua slowly realized she might have made a foolish mistake, but in her confusion, she instinctively followed Madame Zou’s lead.

“It… it was a servant in the household who mentioned it. I overheard it in passing. Auntie, please don’t let these careless words of the servants upset you. We can punish them later if needed.”

Madame Zou, having managed the Yongxin Marquisate for decades, had weathered countless storms. Kuai Ninghua’s shallow thoughts were like an open book to her.

After the initial surprise, Madame Zou quickly composed herself and drew a ridiculous conclusion.

Kuai Ninghua had somehow learned of Wen Gaozhe’s plans to marry Feng Zixuan and had sent someone to investigate the Feng family, only to discover that Feng Zixuan was engaged to the son of the Minister of Rites. Out of jealousy and anger, she had come to provoke her.

Madame Zou found this explanation perfectly logical.

However, she greatly overestimated Kuai Ninghua’s intelligence.

In the carefully crafted illusion woven by her and Wen Gaozhe, Kuai Ninghua would not easily discover that Wen Gaozhe’s true intention was to marry Feng Zixuan.

It was only because of Kuai Ninghua’s advantage of being reborn that she was able to preemptively guard against this potential enemy.

The subtle fragrance of sandalwood lingered in the air. Though it was the height of summer, Madame Zou felt a chill run through her body.

She glanced at Kuai Ninghua, who was still lost in her delusions, and quietly gave instructions to Song Mama. Song Mama listened intently, her expression solemn, and then left with her orders.

“Go to the front yard and tell the servant to inform the young master that as soon as he returns, he is to come see me immediately.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The quick-witted maid outside curtsied and ran off without delay.

Kuai Ninghua had already uncovered the news of Feng Zixuan’s engagement to the son of the Minister of Rites, so there was no way Wen Gaozhe could be kept in the dark.

In fact, he had learned of it even earlier than she had.

This news struck him like a bolt from the blue. How could someone as meticulous as him, who had never lost a battle of wits, accept that the woman he loved had inexplicably been engaged to another man?

He instinctively felt there was more to this situation.

After several failed attempts to meet with Feng Zixuan in private, he sent a formal letter to the Feng family, requesting an audience with Feng Laotaifu.

But who was Feng Laotaifu? The Feng family was known for its upright and honorable reputation. Feng Laotaifu was the moral compass of the court’s Confucian officials. It didn’t matter that Wen Gaozhe held a minor official rank and had gained some status through imperial favor—Feng Laotaifu would never marry his daughter to someone who shamelessly curried favor with Emperor Zhangwu.

The response from the Feng family was clear: Feng Laotaifu was unwell and unable to receive visitors.

Wen Gaozhe’s face turned pale.

The Feng family was truly pushing him too far.

But given his current standing, he had no power to challenge Feng Laotaifu. He was nothing more than a sycophant, a mere tool of Emperor Zhangwu, and Feng Laotaifu was a pillar of the court.

Even if he took the matter to the emperor, Wen Gaozhe had no grounds.

A secret engagement with Feng Laotaifu’s daughter?

Who had witnessed it?

Who could testify?

If this escalated, he might end up being accused of abducting a respectable young lady. Feng Laotaifu, willing to risk his own reputation by causing a scene in the imperial court, would bring ruin to both Wen Gaozhe and the Yongxin Marquisate.

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