Lady Hou is reborn and, by pampering her illegitimate son, reclaims her life of wealth and privilege

He turned to his trusted eunuch, Ying Shuo, and instructed him, "I've heard that Wei Fenghui's top scholar banquet is in a few days. You will deliver a generous gift to him on my behalf."

Ying Shuo replied softly, "As you command."

Suddenly, Consort Xi interjected, "Your Majesty, I also have a request."

Emperor Erkang looked up and asked, "What is it?"

Consort Xi rose, knelt respectfully and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I have been on good terms with the Lady of the Marquis of Jiaxing for many years and wish to attend Wei Fenghui's banquet for the top scholar in the imperial examination. At the same time, I have not been back to my hometown for many years and would like to take this opportunity to go home and visit her."

Emperor Erkang nodded slightly and said, "Alright, I grant you permission to return home for three days. During this time, you may attend Wei Fenghui's banquet for the top scholar in my place and present my generous gifts together with Eunuch Ying."

Ying Shuo and Consort Xi knelt down together and replied in unison, "As you command."

As night deepened, the palace was quiet, with only the twinkling palace lanterns illuminating the peaceful and tranquil scene.

He turned to his trusted eunuch, Ying Shuo, and instructed him, "I've heard that Wei Fenghui's top scholar banquet is in a few days. You will deliver a generous gift to him on my behalf."

Ying Shuo replied softly, "As you command."

Suddenly, Consort Xi interjected, "Your Majesty, I also have a request."

Emperor Erkang looked up and asked, "What is it?"

Consort Xi rose, knelt respectfully and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I have been on good terms with the Lady of the Marquis of Jiaxing for many years and wish to attend Wei Fenghui's banquet for the top scholar in the imperial examination. At the same time, I have not been back to my hometown for many years and would like to take this opportunity to go home and visit her."

How can we investigate? This matter has been buried for twenty years; only you and I know the truth. You did it yourself. If neither of us spoke up, who else would have revealed this hidden secret?

Liang Zhendong paused briefly, then continued, "Once the Seventh Prince ascends the throne, my Liang family will be among the meritorious officials, and at the very least, we will be honored with the title of Duke, enjoying great prestige for a time."

His eyes flickered as he continued, “As for you, since you have no children yet, you can petition His Majesty after the Seventh Prince returns to the palace to include him in your household. Once the Seventh Prince ascends the throne, you will be promoted to the most honored woman in the land, becoming the mother of the nation and enjoying the status of an Empress Dowager. At that time, my Liang family will be able to truly stand tall and awe the world.”

Consort Xi looked at her brother, who was in a state of frenzy, and gently shook her head. "Regardless of whether I can raise the Seventh Prince, Consort Chao and the Duke of Huguo's mansion are not ordinary people. Your overconfidence and blind optimism are often prone to unforeseen changes. Don't forget, far away in Sichuan, there is a King of Shu lurking."

Liang Zhendong gradually calmed down. "We must establish a good relationship with the Jiaxing Marquis's Mansion. Now that the Seventh Prince is residing there, you must arrange a marriage with him on this trip. In addition, since Wei Fengyun has regained his senses, we should betroth Ziyan to him. In this way, my Liang family and the Jiaxing Marquis's Mansion will become even closer relatives through marriage."

Consort Xi gripped the armrests of the chair tightly, her voice trembling slightly, "You actually want me to use my daughter's lifelong happiness to win over the Jiaxing Marquis's mansion."

Liang Zhendong sneered dismissively, “The use of women is nothing more than this. Only in this way can Ziyan’s greatest value be brought into play, so that my Liang family and the Marquis of Jiaxing can form a marriage alliance. Also, we need to select a few eligible girls from the family and let them get close to the Seventh Prince as soon as possible. We must make plans early so that we can gain the upper hand.”

Consort Xi gazed at her meticulous elder brother. If her brother hadn't given her advance notice to poison Wei Fengyun back then, Marquis Jiaxing, Wei Dinglian, would not have given up the idea of ​​taking Wei Fengyun to the northern frontier. In that case, military power would not have fallen into her brother's hands, and she would not have been promoted to the rank of consort.

The Liang family grew stronger under the leadership of his elder brother. No matter how despicable his methods were, he was always an excellent head of the family.

…………

Over the next few days, Wei Fengyun took leave to recuperate at home. Princess Feixue, under her master's orders, took meticulous care of Wei Fengyun to ensure his speedy recovery.

Behind the scenes, Wei Fengyun's experience of being poisoned and escaping danger did not become widely known. Every time Madam Jiang Huaiyu witnessed Feixue's expression after taking Wei Fengyun's pulse, she understood the underlying meaning. She secretly pondered that if Wei Fengyun married Feixue, his treatment would be much easier should his old illness relapse.

However, Madam Jiang Huaiyu harbored a slight curiosity about Feixue's background. In her mind, Wei Fengyun's principal wife should come from a prestigious family, but a commoner's daughter seemed somewhat lacking as the principal wife of the heir of a marquis's mansion.

However, if Wei Fengyun insists on his opinion, the lady is willing to grant their love. After all, the Jiaxing Marquis's Mansion is already very prestigious, and no other family background can compare with it. Therefore, Feixue's background is not a major consideration for Jiang Huaiyu.

As honored guests, Feixue and Mengqin were specially accommodated in the most comfortable guest room in the mansion by Jiang Huaiyu, who also assigned several attentive maids and servants to take good care of them.

Every day, Feixue would enter Wei Fengyun's room to take his pulse and carefully examine the wounds he had sustained at the rocky slope. Under Feixue's meticulous care, Wei Fengyun's recovery was progressing very well.

Besides treating patients, the two would also stroll hand in hand around the mansion, and their feelings for each other were quietly growing stronger.

However, Liu Su, Wei Fengyun's personal maid, felt a sudden unease. She had once regarded Wei Fengyun as her own possession; he was gentle, handsome, and strong. But now her place had been taken by this unexpected woman.

Liu Su's heart was filled with jealousy and anger. She snorted coldly and thought to herself, "She's just a female doctor. How can she compare to the years of affection between me and the prince in just a few days? I must find a way to make the prince fall back into my arms."

Recalling what happened when she bathed Wei Fengyun last time, a sly smile flickered across Liu Su's lips.

As night fell, Wei Fengyun and Feixue returned from the market. The gatekeeper, seeing them, immediately informed Madam Jiang Huaiyu. Madam Jiang adopted a hands-off approach to their relationship, allowing them to develop freely. If they were truly destined for each other and genuinely in love, she would let them be together.

Feixue held a delicate hairpin tightly in her hand, gazing at Wei Fengyun with joy in her eyes, and said softly, "Brother Fengyun, thank you for giving me this hairpin today. Feixue loves it very much."

Wei Fengyun scratched his head shyly and replied, "I'm glad you like it. I appreciate your careful treatment these past few days."

Feixue felt a pang of disappointment upon hearing this. "Are you only treating me this way because you're grateful that I cured your illness?"

Wei Fengyun nodded, unaware of Feixue's thoughts. "That's right. You should rest early; I still need to go to Moyou Hall to visit my mother."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wei Fengyun turned and headed towards Moyou Hall, leaving Feixue standing there, lost in thought.

"Miss." In the quiet afternoon, Mengqin walked over quietly.

As Feixue and Wei Fengyun left side by side, Feixue specifically told Mengqin not to accompany them. Mengqin was initially uneasy, worried about her mistress's safety, but then she remembered that the Marquis's heir's martial arts were no less than her own, so she felt relieved and stayed at the Marquis's residence.

"Why do you look so worried, young lady? Did Wei Fengyun treat you rudely?" Mengqin asked with concern, her tone tinged with anger.