Bai Zheng had already given him a way out once—thirty thousand taels in private—but he refused. Later, Lord Feng Linyuan offered a hundred thousand; he still would not relent. Now the matter had dragged to this point: the Prime Minister’s household was being pressed to hand over a mermaid pearl, and Chu Feng’s life itself hung by a thread.
How was this supposed to end?
The thought made every muscle in Chu Feng’s face twitch. Hatred coiled so tightly in his features that, had there not been so many people present, one would have believed he would leap forward and tear Bai Zheng’s mouth apart.
Feng Jingye rose abruptly. “Chu Feng, you have acted wantonly and spoken recklessly. Do you know your crime?” He said it coldly—and then he shot Chu Feng a look.
The shock hit Chu Feng like ice. Someone at Jingye’s signal dashed forward and flung a basin of water; it soaked through his clothes and chilled him to the bone. For a moment he forgot to breathe. Only after a beat did he snap back and force his fury into the shape of contrition.
“Your servant Chu Feng admits his guilt.”
“Even if you love Miss Bai deeply, that is no excuse to throw your weight about and ruin your family’s honor,” Feng Jingye said, staring at him. His tone turned darker. “No matter how strong a feeling, it mustn’t cost you your reason.”
Chu Feng registered the rebuke and, switching instantly into a grief-stricken posture, turned to Bai Zheng. “It’s my fault. Zheng’er, it’s all my fault. I didn’t know how to cherish you. When we were betrothed I didn’t feel it, but after the engagement was broken I realized I couldn’t bear life without you—I acted in a moment of madness, wronged you and my father’s teachings, betrayed the affection you once showed me… Will you forgive me?”
At that moment, the Prime Minister interjected in a tone of entreaty. “Miss Bai, for the sake of Feng’er’s devotion to you, please show mercy.”
Bai Zheng watched the synchronized pleading of the three men and smothered the disgust rising inside her. She inclined her head. “As long as Mr. Chu stops attempting to kill me and ceases assaulting my household’s attendants, I will not press the matter further.”
The Prime Minister’s smile froze and his face darkened. Bai Zheng, however, continued as if she had not seen it. Her voice was steady and formal.
“Although there was an engagement between us, that was in the past. Since it was dissolved, we are strangers again and have nothing more to do with each other. A grown man has duties to his life and future; do not forever linger on childish attachments. I hope, Mr. Chu, you can free yourself of these old bonds. From this day forth, let us part ways and find our own happiness.”
Chu Feng opened his mouth, then closed it—words piled up and choked him. He thought of the girl who had once trailed after him with snacks and handkerchiefs, who had watched him with stars in her eyes and shyly called him “Brother Chu Feng.” He remembered the day he had driven her out of the banquet with cruel words; the moment she walked away alone she returned a different person. The realization that he had been the one to drive away the girl who loved him—sudden, bitter—rose in his throat and coiled there. At last, it dwindled into a single, hollow syllable. “Very well.”
The Prime Minister heaved a silent sigh of relief and turned to Qin Mu. “Lord Qin, since Miss Bai will not pursue the charge against my son, shall we consider the matter closed?”
Qin Mu nodded repeatedly. “As the Prime Minister says—if the injured party withdraws the complaint, naturally—”
Feng Linyuan, who had been smiling placidly, smiled a little more brightly and looked at Bai Zheng with a gentle warmth. “In the end, it’s only a mermaid pearl. Zheng’er has suffered; as her fiancé I ought to see justice done. But since she is magnanimous, I shall take her lead—those century-old lingzhi and a thousand-year ginseng and mountain snow-lotus can be forgiven. Return me the mermaid pearl and everything will be wiped clean.”
“You—” The Prime Minister’s face went deathly pale. “Miss Bai has already said she won’t press further. Why does Lord Dingyuan insist on holding to this?”
Feng Linyuan’s smile sharpened, then curved again. “Prime Minister, do you have the memory of a goldfish? Just a moment ago you were sweet-talked into saying you would reimburse whatever medicine I gave Miss Bai—now you turn your back? I called the Chu house a noble clan only moments ago—does a noble house act like this?”
The Prime Minister’s anger flared crimson. He jabbed an accusing finger at Feng Linyuan but could not find a retort that stuck. The mermaid pearl was worth at least a hundred thousand taels—a sum that felt like a piece of his own flesh being cut away.
Feng Linhuai, sensing the scene stiffening, stepped up and patted Feng Jingye on the shoulder. “Jingye, try to persuade your grandfather,” he murmured. “Given your father’s temper, if this isn’t smoothed over, he might lay the blame at your feet.”
Hearing that, a coldness slid into Feng Jingye’s expression. He glanced at Feng Jingxuan—who had watched the scene with a bored smile—and then at Bai Zheng, who had her eyes lowered. For a long moment he was silent.
“Think carefully. Don’t lose more than you gain,” Feng Linhuai said, then moved away.
Silence hung heavy in the room. Then Feng Jingye smiled—the tension in his brow eased, a soft warmth lifting the corner of his mouth. “What must be compensated will be compensated.” He made the decision clear. He looked at the Prime Minister and spoke each word deliberately.
“The Prime Minister is right. The Chu household will return the mermaid pearl in full.”
The Prime Minister’s face drained of color; he stared, incredulous. Feng Jingye’s gaze was cool and final. After a long, reluctant pause, the Prime Minister bowed his head. “As Your Highness commands. Rest assured, the Chu family will make the payment.”
“Good.” Feng Linyuan replied lightly.
Feng Linhuai laughed and, nodding toward the trembling Chu Feng, teased, “Lord Chu should go change into dry clothes—poor lad must be freezing.” With that he jostled the others and, together with Feng Jingye, quickly shepherded Chu Feng out.
The spectacle that had stirred Yongding through the morning was at an end. The crowd, satisfied, began to disperse.
Bai Zheng thanked Qin Mu and turned, only to see Feng Linyuan chatting amiably with Feng Jingxuan and Feng Linhuai. Her brow pinched. Was he made of iron, she thought, to switch so quickly?
Irritated, she bent to whisper a few words to Bai Yinan, who cast her a worried look before leaving. Bai Zheng then stepped forward and inclined her head to the three men. “Thank you for your help today, Your Highness, Your Grace.”
Feng Linhuai laughed out loud and looked at her. “You brat—how could you forget the one you ought to thank most?”