Chapter 26: Chapter 26 The Young Boy Protects His Mother Chapter 26: Chapter 26 The Young Boy Protects His Mother Inside the horse carriage, it was warm and cozy. Dugu Wu leaned against the soft couch, pondering over Lu Yin’s words.
Lu Yin said that unless his leg was amputated, there would be no cure.
“A year to heal your leg? Ten years wouldn’t be enough. Who could you possibly want to marry? You chose Feng Bailing. I know you can’t forget that person, but you shouldn’t be driven by sheer desperation. Feng Bailing is the daughter of Feng Zhanlian, a man who lives off his wife and loves to attach himself to the powerful, an utter vile character. Princess Yong’an doesn’t hold real power, and once Feng Xiangxue truly marries into the family, Princess Consort Shun, with her status-seeking eyes, will be the first to make a move against her!”
Yet he, Dugu Wu, chose to believe in Feng Bailing.
Dugu Xiaojin leaned into Feng Bailing’s arms, perhaps exhausted, her eyelids drooping, her little head pecking like a chick dozing off from time to time.
In his arms, he also held a dirty wolf cub, saying it was found and insisting on bringing it back no matter what.
“My father, Prince Shun, passed away thirteen years ago. He was Emperor Yongye’s third brother, and I am the illegitimate son he raised outside. At ten, I was brought back to the Prince Mansion. Apart from me, there was also a Princess Consort in the Prince Mansion, and including the Princely Heir, there were four other brothers and sisters. I was away all year round and had not yet established a household, so the affairs of Prince Mansion were all managed by the Princess Consort.”
Dugu Wu spoke in a tone as steady as the carriage rumbling beneath him.
His fingers resting on his knee were a bit stiff. He wasn’t good with dealing with women, especially in such cramped conditions.
But the woman before him would become his wife before long.
Feng Bailing differed greatly from the wife he had imagined. His ideal wife was supposed to be intelligent and gentle, but Feng Bailing—well, she was the polar opposite.
It took Feng Bailing a while to come back to her senses. Dugu Wu was talking to her about his family matters. Surprisingly, the man did seem to show some sincerity.
He did not mention his mother at all.
The origins of Dugu Wu were a bit mysterious.
He was born with heterochromia, and before he was brought back to the Prince Mansion, his background was a mystery.
His father, Prince Shun, was the late Emperor’s third son and the Empress Dowager’s child. Just like Dugu Wu, Prince Shun was also a valiant warrior in his youth, with illustrious military achievements, but he had no desire for titles. The late Emperor once intended to pass the throne to him, but he yielded it to Emperor Yongye instead.
Rumors had always circulated in the streets that Prince Shun’s untimely death was related to Emperor Yongye, and it wasn’t until Dugu Wu rose in prominence and was conferred the title of Prince that these rumors began to fade away.
On this journey, Feng Bailing and Dugu Wu talked back and forth; Feng Bailing got a general understanding of the affairs of Prince Shun’s Mansion.
In the midst of their conversation, the carriage arrived outside Feng Mansion.
“The marriage will be arranged by the Princess Consort.”
Although he had married three Princess Consorts, Dugu Wu was away all year round, and on two occasions he was not even in Chu City for the wedding ceremonies; everything was handled solely by the Princess Consort Shun.
Outside the carriage, they heard the sound of approaching hooves.
Feng Bailing lifted the carriage curtain, preparing to disembark, just as the Feng Mansion’s carriage happened to stop outside the mansion’s gates.
Feng Xiangxue had left for the Imperial Palace earlier than Feng Bailing, but their carriages were different, and the sisters of the Feng Family arrived at Feng Mansion simultaneously.
Today at the Imperial Palace, Feng Xiangxue endured much humiliation.
The man she fancied, Dongfang Li, was beaten for no reason, and when she wished to visit him, she was scolded viciously by Noble Princess Consort Xiao.
All because of Feng Bailing.
Sitting in the carriage on her way back, Feng Xiangxue knew that Feng Bailing was weak after childbirth and if she caught a cold, she would definitely fall seriously ill. With a bit of tampering in her medicines, it would not be long before Feng Bailing met her demise.
“Miss, there’s a carriage blocking the mansion’s gate.”
Agitated, Feng Xiangxue pushed aside the curtain and saw Feng Bailing, then noticed the carriage in front of her was far more luxurious than the Feng Mansion’s carriage.
“Isn’t that Sister Ling? I waited for you at the palace gate for a long time and didn’t see you come out. It seems you’ve casually hopped into someone else’s carriage,” accused Feng Xiangxue.
She had not yet had the chance to see the crest on that luxurious carriage.
Just as Dugu Xiaojin was about to lean out to bid farewell to Feng Bailing, he overheard the remark, and a flicker of disgust passed through the little one’s deep, piercing eyes.
Stealthily, little Xiaojin’s hand reached towards the horse’s back. The horse was behaving, but with a gentle stroke from him, it suddenly let out a long sigh.
The horse that Dugu Wu drove loved military horses; fast and unruly, just like his own temperament.
The horse’s hooves kicked high, striking the Feng Mansion’s horse.
The Feng Mansion’s carriage was no match for the warhorse’s ramming, and as the coachman tumbled with the vehicle, Feng Xiangxue, who was leaning out to speak, was crushed underneath the overturned carriage.
“It’s terrible! The second miss has been crushed under the carriage!”
Inside Feng Mansion, chaos ensued. By the time Feng Zhanlian rushed out upon hearing the commotion, the carriage had already been moved.
Feng Xiangxue’s leg was broken, and she wailed in pain, while the unfortunate coachman was trampled to death by the horse’s hooves.
“Who dares be so bold to let horses run wild outside the Princess’ Mansion? Do you know who is in that carriage? That is Princess Shengping, newly titled by the Emperor.”
Feng Zhanlian was shaking his whiskers with anger.
Although he did not enter the palace, he had already received the news. He heard that the Princess’ Mansion celebrated a great joy, that his daughter stole the show at the Spring Banquet and saved Empress Dowager, earning herself the title of Commandery Princess.
In Feng Zhanlian’s mind, it was naturally Feng Xiangxue who stood out.
As for Feng Bailing, it was lucky enough that she didn’t embarrass herself.
“This one is the real Princess Shengping.”
A young voice with a touch of coolness interrupted Feng Zhanlian’s words.
astonished, Feng Zhanlian saw a little boy standing there.
Feng Bailing had just stepped out of the carriage.
“Where did this child come from, spouting nonsense?” said Feng Zhanlian, obviously in disbelief, glaring at Feng Bailing.
“Feng Bailing, as the elder sister, you failed to look after your younger sister. Do you realize your mistake?”
Feng Zhanlian saw Feng Bailing unharmed, then looked at his second daughter, who had broken her leg and passed out, feeling both pained and angry.
“Does the Prince Consort have any grievances against my son?”
A cold sneer sounded.
As soon as Dugu Wu appeared with that face colder than thousand-year-old ice, Feng Zhanlian’s knees trembled uncontrollably, and he knelt down without hesitation.