Reborn as the Regent's Beloved

An elderly woman wearing a purple embroidered floral jacket walked by, supported by her nanny. Behind her were two men with distinguished bearing.

One of them appeared to be about sixteen or seventeen years old, holding a folding fan, with a somewhat cynical and smiling demeanor. The other was in his early twenties, dressed in black, with an imposing presence; he was none other than Feng Xingye, who had recently parted ways with Xiao Fengyi.

Upon seeing this, everyone immediately made way and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness Prince Zhao, Your Highness the Eighth Prince, and the Dowager Empress."

"What's going on? Why is it so lively?"

The Eighth Prince, Feng Mingyu, made almost no attempt to hide his desire to watch the show, his eyes darting around Xiao Fengyi. "Oh, Miss Xiao, you're usually so arrogant, why are you tied up today?"

Xiao Fengyi was both excited and angry. This Feng Mingyu was still so foul-mouthed!

In her past life, she and Feng Mingyu never got along. After she fell in love with Feng Mingjing, they had a huge fight. The next news she heard about Feng Mingyu was his death.

Madam Chen asked somewhat sullenly, "Grandma, how are you feeling?"

She dared to bully Xiao Fengyi in front of Madam Shen, but she wouldn't dare to be so arrogant in front of the Old Madam.

The old matriarch lived through three reigns, and even the emperor showed her some respect.

Liu slowly walked to the table and sat down, saying with a forced smile, "The house is in a mess, and I can't do it if I'm not feeling well."

“Mother…” Shen was at a loss.

"Shut up!" Liu said coldly. She had never liked Shen, her stepdaughter-in-law, and her actions today only made her look down on her more.

In a large family, everyone prospers or suffers together. Xiao Fengyi is her own niece, yet she wants to hand her over to an outsider.

If she hadn't arrived in time, wouldn't the Xiao family's reputation have been trampled on by the Chen family?

"Could someone please explain to this old woman what happened today that made it so lively?"

Some busybodies recounted the story vividly.

After hearing this, Madam Liu said "Oh," and then added, "So, the heir of the Chen family got drunk and ran into the backyard of my Xiao family?"

Madam Chen grew anxious, "Old Madam, what do you mean by this?"

Liu ignored her and looked at Xiao Fengyi, "Fengyi, come here and tell your grandmother what happened."

Xiao Fengyi approached and bowed, "Grandmother, I accidentally soiled my clothes at the banquet, so I went back to the courtyard to change and rest. My hairpin may have slipped off on the way, which caused this misunderstanding."

"So, you're saying that Prince Chen's injury has nothing to do with you?"

"Yes, my granddaughter was unaware of this."

"She's lying!" Madam Chen exclaimed angrily. "She must have done it to my son's eyes!"

"Madam Chen, what evidence do you have to support your claim?"

"This hairpin is irrefutable proof!"

The old lady chuckled, ignoring Madam Chen, and turned to Chen Mu, who was groaning in pain, "Young Master Chen, did you see clearly who injured your eyes, and why they injured you?"

Chen Mu avoided the old lady's gaze. He was drunk at the time and only remembered that she was an extremely beautiful woman. He couldn't remember her specific appearance at all.

"It was...it was Xiao Fengyi who hurt me!"

"Is that so? Then tell me, Prince Chen, what kind of clothes was Fengyi wearing at the time, and how did you give her the opportunity to stab your eyes!"

Chen Mu stammered for a long time, unable to speak.

The old matriarch gave a cold laugh, "Speechless now, huh? Fine, let's put aside whether my granddaughter Fengyi hurt you or not, let's talk about why you appeared in the Xiao family's backyard!"

"My Xiao family is a family that knows proper etiquette. Female guests and male guests are never mixed up. Young Master Chen, what exactly is your intention in sneaking into the inner quarters of my Xiao family!"

In the blink of an eye, the people who came to demand an explanation have changed.

Madam Chen knew that if things continued, Chen Mu would probably be accused of having ulterior motives, so she could only force a smile and say, "Grandma, it's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. Mu'er was drunk and took the wrong turn."

"What about Prince Chen's injury?"

Madam Chen gritted her teeth, "It must be Miss Xiao's hairpin that was taken by the thief and injured Mu'er. It has nothing to do with Miss Xiao."

"Since Madam Chen has said it's a misunderstanding, Madam Shen, why don't you have someone untie Fengyi's ropes right now!"

Shen nodded.

Xiao Fengyi rubbed her slightly sore wrists and bowed to the old lady, saying, "Thank you, Grandmother, for clearing my name."

With this incident, the selection of a wife for Xiao Ye must be temporarily put on hold.

The farce ended just like that.

After seeing everyone off, the old matriarch looked at the three of them with a somber expression and said with disappointment, "All of you, kneel down!"

Xiao Fengyi, Madam Shen, and Xiao Qingyin all knelt down.

The old lady was furious. "If it weren't for His Highness Prince Zhao's sudden decision to visit this old woman today, who knows what trouble would have ensued!"

"Your Highness Prince Zhao?" Xiao Qingyin exclaimed in surprise, her eyes flashing.

Xiao Fengyi was slightly taken aback. It was actually Prince Zhao?

"Stop with your underhanded schemes!"

The old lady was shrewd and experienced; she could easily see through Xiao Qingyin's thoughts.

The old matriarch's eyes were sharp. "Shen, I know you dislike Fengyi, but she is, after all, your sister's biological daughter and the eldest daughter of the Xiao family! Not everyone has the right to embarrass her, especially you!"

Having her deepest thoughts easily read, Madam Shen instinctively wanted to retort, "Mother, I do not dislike Fengyi."

"You don't need to explain to me. Go to the ancestral hall and explain to the ancestors of the Xiao family!"

"And you two sisters, both of you, think carefully in the ancestral hall about the principle that we share both glory and loss!"

The three of them were forced to kneel in the ancestral hall as punishment.

Xiao Fengyi was not surprised by this result at all. In her previous life, the old matriarch had always had the same attitude; she never favored anyone.

Having been the matriarch for many years, Madam Shen felt utterly humiliated to be forced to kneel in the ancestral hall. Her dislike for Xiao Fengyi grew even stronger. "Is this your purpose? Xiao Fengyi, you have disappointed me greatly!"

After saying that, she got up first and went to the ancestral hall, with Xiao Qingyin following closely behind.

"Mother……"

Xiao Fengyi stared at their retreating figures with a sense of loss, and let out a bitter laugh. She didn't understand what she had done wrong to make her mother dislike her so much.

Late at night, at the Xiao Family Ancestral Hall.

With a rustling sound, as if a gust of wind had passed by, Xiao Fengyi spotted a blue falcon flying by. Its sharp eyes were fixed on her, and it released a roll of paper from its claws before flying away like lightning.

Shen was startled. "What was that sound?"

Xiao Fengyi quickly picked up the note and hid it in her sleeve. "Perhaps it's just the wind."

Shen muttered a few words nervously. Xiao Fengyi was too far away to hear them clearly, but she saw Xiao Qingyin's face turn ugly for a moment.

She didn't look at the two of them again, and quietly took out a note that read, "Come to Prince Zhao's residence immediately!" It was also stamped with Prince Zhao's seal.

This isn't Ninth Prince's handwriting. Has something happened to him?

Xiao Fengyi was stunned. Without thinking too much, she took advantage of Shen Shi and Xiao Qingyin's inattention, got up and slipped away. She didn't care anymore and went to Prince Zhao's mansion to check.