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This man is too decorated but if simplified, this is how I imagine Feng Yangzhi.

King Wan Li pointed to the chaise lounge. Feng Yanyan didn't need telling twice, he sat where he was just a while ago.

Her Highness wordlessly cleaned the splinters one hand at a time and put ointment on them. Then she tossed the hand away as though she was disgusted.

"Go." Wangye raised her head only to see him nodding gratefully at her.

He really wanted to leave but her Highness seemed to have changed her mind.

"Wait in the side room."

It might have been Feng Yanyan's imagination but there seemed to be something twinkling in wangye's eyes.

He went to the side room with dejection written all over his posture. He didn't want to stay near his fourth brother.

Meanwhile, Feng Yangzhi couldn't believe his eyes.

From seeing his cousin come out of Wan Li Wang's study to the remains of what he could only guess to be wangye's table to the King herself treating his fifth brother's wounds.

What in the world happened here? How could her Highness tolerate the Little Fifth?

He wanted to ask but didn't dare.

As soon as Feng Yanyan vanished from their sight, Feng Yangzhi knelt. "My liege, my name is Yangzhi, surnamed Feng. Fourth son of the current generation. This commoner is greeting your Highness on behalf of the Feng family."

From his actions came the deep respect he had of Wan Li Wang.

"Forgive this commoner for the sudden visit. One can only be so careful. The patriarch is unable to personally appear so this commoner is sent in his stead."

Long Xu Le's inky black eyes were incisive. The man's skin was golden from the hours of staying out in the sun. But his hair and eyes that were on the lighter brown side were similar to that weakling in the other room. Unlike Feng Yanyan though, this Feng Yangzhi oozed a manly aura.

His broad chest gave away his military background.

Her highness stilled. How come she could recall Feng Yanyan's features too clearly? But seeing that she had company, she decided to deal with this later.

King Wan Li could understand why this fourth young master Feng was sent instead of any other person. As she recalled the description by Feng Yanyan, the fourth young master was stationed at the northern Su prefecture. Him leaving his post to go to Suliang is the least obvious since the Empress' influence at the borders were lax.

But as for the reason, she had an idea what it was about. 

"The patriarch wishes for wangye to receive this." True enough, Feng Yangzhi respectfully handed a formal letter.

Long Xu Le received the paper and unbound it, not bothering to let the man stand up from his salute.

The letter was brief and concise without superfluous words.

My dear Xuxu,

Forgive the impertinence for sending this one's grandson to your place. This one is left with no choice given the circumstances.

The heavens think our family is your wound. There's no harm in letting them think so.

But that child... he grew up guileless and is painfully unaware. I am as sure as the sun rises in the east that he will stir trouble. I just hope this letter will make it in time.

Do not fret if he is mistreated once or twice. I will personally beat the shit out of him when he goes back here someday. But I only pray that you will take care of him.

Consider this as my last wish.

- Old Tiantian

Long Xu Le pinched her nose in frustration as she read this letter.

Xuxu was the code name the Feng patriarch used for her when Feng Ting was still alive. Old Tiantian was his alias. His full name was Feng Haotian.

Before, their communication would pass through a lot of channels to avoid tracing. Sending his fourth grandson as a messenger expressed Feng Yanyan's importance to him and the clan.

Every single one of the Feng family is crooked.

Still daring to call ben dian Xuxu...

But relying on the context of the letter, it seemed the news of Junzhu whipping Feng Yanyan already reached that old man's ears.

Even threatening her to consider this as his dying wish. What a good Feng jia!

Deep inside, Long Xu Le was relieved. She alienated herself from the Old Master Feng ever since Feng Ting's tragic death. Her Highness always felt that there was no reason to maintain contact.

The patriarch must have abhorred her too.

But through this letter, she could tell that Feng Yanyan was the most precious son of the Feng family. To grow up innocent in that kind of family was the level of a miracle. He was even more precious than Feng Ting.

Feng Ting never gave in depth details about his family members but he would sometimes tell her about his childhood. The hellish training imposed on him and his brothers didn't seem to fit Feng Yanyan. Hence, she had always doubted if the young man was really from that Feng family.

Wan Li Wang directly burned the letter after reading it. As she stared at the candle's flame, she spoke.

"Tell him ben dian agrees." for the sake of old friendships.

Feng Yangzhi bowed his upper body while still kneeling.

Long Xu Le winced inside. Maybe she agreed too hastily. "Get up."

But the man only bowed further. "Your highness, my little fifth brother is clumsy. Please forgive him for his foolishness."

From the corner of the King's eyes, she saw the ruined table.

Did he think she was abusing that weakling? The King gritted her teeth. It was easy to misinterpret the situation. She didn't hurt him. What would that ancient Feng tree think if this news reached him?

Her relationship to the Old Master Feng was rocky enough.

"It's ben dian's fault. We had a little bit of entanglement." 

She paused. Why did that sound wrong?

Long Xu Le ignored this feeling and the odd expression Fourth Young Master Feng was making.

Xiao Hao who was watching from the side couldn't take it anymore so he assisted Feng Yangzhi to get up. This child, his master, was too awkward. 

"Fourth young master Feng can't stay for long but wangye will let you meet Master Feng." He said to ease the tension.

After thanking the King, the man was led to the side room where Feng Yanyan was.

Long Xu Le's face was still placid but there was a wicked gleam in her eyes. She understood from Feng Yanyan's expression that he didn't want to meet this cousin of his but she still allowed them to meet.

Her gaze went to the destroyed table and the light in her eyes dimmed.

"Have this replaced."

Xiao Hao hid his mirth at her Highness' pettiness.

---

"Little Fifth." | "I didn't do anything!"

The cousins said at the same time.

Feng Yanyan had been looking for a way to escape since earlier but there was Eunuch Cheng by the door.

Thanks to Pu Tao, he learned the names of the people closest to wangye yesterday. It turned out this old eunuch was her Highness' chief steward.

He was sure Eunuch Cheng would tattle if he left.

Sure enough, Feng Yangzhi entered the door after what seemed like an eternity.

They were closer in age so they saw each other more while growing up. But that didn't mean Feng Yanyan liked this cousin or anything.

"I haven't accused you of anything." Feng Yangzhi instinctively wanted to hit the back of his head. But the image of wangye treating his fifth brother's hand suddenly emerged in his mind.

His fist stopped. Her Highness, the King, might not like it if he hit the fifth brother like he did when they were young.

Feng Yanyan, who flinched and closed his eyes, didn't feel the expected pain.

He slowly fluttered his lids open only to see his fourth brother giving him a serious visage.

"I have to hurry back. Listen to si ge. You're a grown up. Don't do reckless things. The person..." Feng Yangzhi paused. He didn't know how to say this.

>Sì gē - 四哥 - fourth brother<

"There's no reason to get back at the person who hurt you."

Feng Yanyan blinked a few times. "What?"

His cousin waited for him to comprehend. 

"You mean..." His lychee eyes grew rounder. "Long Tang?"

What did his cousin mean? Feng Yanyan felt something sting his chest. 

"So the news of what happened to me reached Tanglin? Grandfather knew it? But you want me to sit quietly after what I suffered?"

His lips trembled. Yes, he couldn't stand a chance against a Junzhu but would it hurt his family if they just spoke words of comfort instead of telling him to endure his pain?

Beauty Feng heaved a laugh. But the Fourth Young Master felt it was more sorrowful than tears. Feng Yangzhi knew he phrased it wrong.

"Xiao Wu Di..." The older cousin clenched his fist. He didn't know how to explain without giving away the situation of their family. "You misunderstood. Si ge was trying to say-" 

>五 - wǔ - five, 小弟 - xiǎo dì - little brother<

"Enough, I get it. I'm just a shame for this family. Any wrong move I make here can cost all your lives. I took the biggest risk among a bunch of cowards..."

"Xiao Yanyan!" Those words were out of line. Feng Yangzhi couldn't help but reprimand. The young man didn't know anything about risks and courage.

Feng Yanyan also wanted to raise his tone but what came out was a hoarse voice. "You really travelled far just to tell me things I already know. Tell Grandfather his fifth grandson will not make any more troubles."

A tiny sob escaped his throat. Damn it. This was really embarrassing for him.

He didn't mean to cry like this. He just felt really hurt. The raw throbbing in his chest was the proof.

In this world, he went back to being a kid and had a chance to experience another childhood. He relished it even though he was still an illegitimate son, the difference was he felt love from his stepmother, the primary wife. But this love seemed to have limitations. This love couldn't be more than the family dictated. 

He knew he couldn't have more so he went to the Tanglin Great Palace at the age of 18 to live for himself. But he forgot that in this era, your body belonged to the family you were born in.

Family over self. 

But what could he do? The sound of his flesh being hit and the pain that followed were unforgettable. He just wanted... he just wanted...

Feng Yanyan didn't know what he wanted.

---

Thank you for the 1000 reads! Here's to thousands more~~ 

Weepy chapter first >.> FYY's relationship with his family is quite complicated.

Edited: Feb. 15, 2023