"The Marquis of Dingyuan is blessed with boundless good fortune and will surely recover completely," Princess Yunxi suddenly interjected.
Feng Linche seemed not to hear, and Feng Linyuan continued to smile as before. Both of them tacitly ignored Princess Yunxi's words.
Princess Yunxi's face stiffened. Then she heard Feng Linche continue, "By the way, I haven't seen your young wife, the well - known Third Miss Bai, with my own eyes. Today is the betrothal of Second Miss Bai. The Third Miss should be here too, right?"
Hearing the words "young wife", a look of resentment welled up on Princess Yunxi's face.
Feng Linyuan nodded slightly and cast a gentle look in Bai Zheng's direction.
Called by name, Bai Zheng stood up promptly. With her head down and in a respectful posture, she walked to the center, knelt on the ground and said, "Your subject Bai Zheng pays respects to Your Majesty."
Feng Linche's eyes fell on her. Smiling, he said, "Lift your head and let me take a look."
Bai Zheng lifted her head as told. Her eyes were slightly lowered, showing a respectful look, looking cautious and deferential.
Feng Linche looked at her face. Although she was a pretty girl, compared with her two elder sisters, Bai Zheng was not so outstanding.
The only thing that caught his attention was her eyes.
Her eyes were clear, without a trace of impurity. Her pupils were as black as glowing lacquer, making her look pure.
He remembered the sensational lawsuit in Yongding a few days ago. He heard that Chu Feng was still confined in the Prime Minister's Mansion and hadn't come out yet. Even the Prime Minister Chu hadn't been to court for more than a dozen days.
Although according to the description of Qin Mu, the magistrate of Jingzhao Prefecture, this young girl in front of him seemed scared and flustered that day.
The heavy blow to the Prime Minister's Mansion had a great deal to do with the helper Feng Linyuan had invited.
But Feng Linche still faintly felt that this young girl who had just come of age was far from being as useless as Qin Mu had described.
He even began to wonder if it was a wise decision to tie such a woman to Feng Linyuan.
Although at this moment, when facing him, Bai Zheng was respectful, gentle and extremely cautious. Her body was trembling slightly, but she tried her best to restrain it. If one didn't look carefully, they wouldn't even notice.
She was just like an ordinary young girl having an audience with the emperor for the first time.
Feng Linche suppressed his doubts and just nodded with a smile and said, "Sure enough, she is very pretty. Reward her."
"Reward her—" The eunuch's long - drawn - out voice rang out immediately.
Immediately afterwards, a young eunuch carried a brocade box and walked up. He opened the lid and presented it in front of Bai Zheng.
Bai Zheng took a closer look. Inside were some gold, silver, jewels and ornaments. Her eyes immediately lit up, and an uncontrollable smile appeared on her face. She said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Seeing this, Concubine Zhao, who was sitting beside Feng Linche, quickly took out a white jade hairpin from her hair. The hairpin was shiny, transparent, round and delicate. It was really beautiful.
"Marquis of Dingyuan, your young wife is really likable in my eyes. Since she is the cousin of Sheng'er and Di'er, I must give her a meeting gift. I'll give you this jade hairpin," Concubine Zhao said.
Feng Linyuan smiled and said, "Zheng'er doesn't have any great skills. She just knows how to be likable."
Bai Zheng bit her lips and gave Feng Linyuan an angry look, which immediately made Feng Linche and Concubine Zhao burst into laughter.
Bai Zheng blushed from being laughed at. Just as she was about to reach out to take the jade hairpin, a clear and sarcastic voice suddenly came out.
"That's right. Third Miss Bai is good at being likable. I don't know how many young masters' souls she has taken away in Yongding. Marquis of Dingyuan, you'd better keep a close eye on her. It's not a good thing if there are too many love rivals," the voice said.
Immediately afterwards, Princess Pingyang scolded in a low voice, "Yan'er, don't be so presumptuous!"
The hall suddenly fell silent.
It seemed that Feng Jingyang's efforts were not in vain after all. After enduring for so long, Zheng Yan finally couldn't hold back and attacked Bai Zheng.
Bai Zheng couldn't help sneering in her heart. On the surface, she showed a look of panic in a timely manner, perfectly presenting the reaction a timid young lady should have when facing doubts.
Feng Linyuan's eyes were cold. Looking at Zheng Yan with a half - smile, he said, "Zheng'er is likable and popular. It shows that this marquis has good taste.
This marquis can stand out among so many love rivals, which means this marquis also has something special.
As for the souls of those young masters, Miss Zheng, as long as you can hold your own, why are you afraid of someone taking them away?"
Feng Linche watched this scene calmly without saying a word. It was impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry from his face.
"You!" Zheng Yan was so choked that her face turned red. "I didn't expect the marquis to be so happy to see his wife attracting others everywhere!"
"Yan'er," Concubine Zhao's beautiful eyes immediately fell on Zheng Yan. She still had a smile on her face, but there was infinite coldness in that smile. "The banquet has just started. Why have you drunk so much? You're talking nonsense."
Concubine Zhao's words were like a basin of cold water pouring over Zheng Yan's head.
Who was Concubine Zhao? She was Feng Jingyang's biological mother and Zheng Yan's future mother - in - law.
She was really carried away by the anger she had accumulated before and had offended Concubine Zhao.
Zheng Yan was so scared that she trembled all over.
Princess Pingyang beside her quickly blamed her and said, "Yes, I clearly told you to drink less just now."
Zheng Yan lowered her head and stopped talking.
Only then did Bai Zheng take the jade hairpin and said in a low voice, "Thank you, Concubine Zhao, for your kindness."
Seeing that the atmosphere in the hall had become a bit cold because of Zheng Yan, Concubine Yi beside them quickly took off a jade pendant hanging on her body. Smiling, she said, "Your Majesty and elder sister have both given gifts. Naturally, I can't lag behind.
This pair of jade pendants is my favorite. Since Miss Bai is so lovely, I'll give one of them to you as a meeting gift."
Bai Zheng looked at the half - moon - shaped jade pendant in Concubine Yi's hand. The jade pendant was tied with a red string, and there was a dark red agate tassel hanging below it, looking very delicate.
And there was another jade pendant just like the one in her hand hanging on Concubine Yi's waist.
Bai Zheng took the jade pendant and bowed again to thank her. "Thank you, Concubine Yi, for your kindness."
After receiving the gifts, Bai Zheng returned to her seat.
Seeing that Bai Zheng had received a bunch of rewards just because of her status as the future wife of the Marquis of Dingyuan and was also doted on by Feng Linyuan, all the young ladies from the noble families present were wide - eyed, envious and jealous.
Princess Yunxi clenched her fists so tightly that her fingernails dug deep into her flesh. A look of cruelty flashed in her eyes.
"We've delayed for so long. I'm afraid Second Miss Bai has been waiting for a long time," Feng Linche glanced at the Third Prince Feng Jingxuan and said with a smile. "Look, our third son can hardly wait to see his future princess consort."
Concubine Zhao covered her mouth and laughed, responding, "Yes. If we keep giving gifts like this, I'm afraid the Third Prince will not be able to sit still."
Hearing this, Feng Jingxuan laughed loudly and said, "Father, Concubine Zhao, please don't tease your son anymore."
"Alright, alright," Feng Linche raised his eyebrows. "Quickly invite Second Miss Bai in."
As Feng Linche's voice faded, the large door that had been closed since the start of the banquet creaked open.
Bai Di, dressed in gorgeous clothes, slowly walked in accompanied by many beautiful palace maids.