Chapter 7: The Disabled Young Lady (Part Seven)

Chapter 7: The Disabled Young Lady (VII)

Su Kui was so startled by the pig-like shouting that cold sweat broke out on her forehead. She hadn’t really intended to jump, after all. But since Nurse Gu was cooperating so well, not taking advantage of it would have been foolish. Feeling a brief pang of guilt for deceiving an elderly woman, Su Kui struggled even harder. “Nurse Gu, please don’t call him ‘brother.’ Just let me die!”

Feng Zheng initially wanted to ignore her, assuming Feng Yanran was merely putting on another act as usual. But the more he disregarded it, the more chaotic things became behind him. Frowning elegantly, he strode back, suppressing his anger as he effortlessly lifted Su Kui off the ground. “Enough! Don’t you think you’ve embarrassed yourself enough?”

Su Kui, feeling furious but defiant, stubbornly retorted, “Let me go! What I want to do is none of your business. Don’t you hate me? Then why did you come back?”

Feng Zheng laughed, the sound clear and bright. “I don’t care. No one’s stopping you today. I’ll be right here watching you jump!”

Nurse Gu was alarmed and quickly intervened, “Young master, please don’t provoke the miss anymore. She’s suffering inside, you know.”

This was undeniably true. Feng Yanran had been born with weak legs, unable to walk properly. Though she bore the title of the legitimate daughter, she had no mother’s protection, faced her father’s disdain, and while the servants treated her respectfully on the surface, behind her back they might have been weaving all sorts of schemes against her. Thus, Feng Yanran’s rude and unruly behavior was merely a desperate bid for attention from her father and brothers, a mask for her deep-seated insecurity and unease.

Hearing this, Su Kui’s expression changed. Her delicate, rosy face flushed bright red, and her clear, bright cat-like eyes darted furtively toward Feng Zheng. When he continued to ignore her, she felt so wronged that tears welled up.

Mortified and ashamed, she wished she could plunge headfirst into the lotus pond and never face the chaotic world again.

Just as she lowered her head, suddenly her body felt light, and she found herself resting against a wide, clean chest.

A dry hand gently stroked her hair, and a soft sigh sounded near her temple. “Ah, I don’t know what mischief you’re up to this time. Stop with those crocodile tears!”

Then Feng Zheng flicked his sleeve. “Let’s go back.”

—

Since that day when Feng Zheng escorted Su Kui back to her room and, after she clung to him asking him to coax her to sleep, something between the siblings changed.

At first, Feng Zheng was still wary of Su Kui causing trouble and refused to acknowledge her. Even when she sought him out, she was turned away without a word.

It improved only slightly after a while, but not by much. She was allowed inside the room instead of being kept outside, and Feng Zheng would push her away just far enough so she wouldn’t disturb him, then simply ignore her.

But to Su Kui, this was a significant step forward.

From glaring at Feng Yanran as if she were invisible to gradually entering the inner room, Su Kui had taken one month and three days.

Altogether, Su Kui had been in the Yuan Dynasty for exactly three months.

And—

The story was about to truly begin.

—

In the seventh year of the Yuan Dynasty, August, the first imperial selection of palace maids was held since Emperor Yuangyang’s ascension.

From high-ranking officials to commoners, all eligible young women were required to participate. After initial rounds of selection through counties, prefectures, and provinces, only those who passed the final review were considered rare beauties of the world.

Of course, there were exceptions to the rules.

For instance, Feng Yanran, Feng Qingqing, and Feng Ruoyu—the three sisters.

Their father was the Grand Tutor of the current reign. To consolidate his power, the emperor had to bring a few daughters of powerful ministers into the harem to secure their loyalty.

Su Kui knew the plot well: today marked the tragic beginning of Feng Yanran’s life and also the start of her own destiny’s transformation.

Facing the dazzling sunlight on the horizon, Su Kui’s cat-like eyes narrowed to slits.

Meanwhile, in a distant study, someone flipping through memorials suddenly felt a chill run down their spine, as if being watched for a long time.

In the next chapter, you will meet the person you’ve been waiting for! *swipes paw*

(End of chapter)