Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play-Chapter 31 Marriage Matters

Nuanyang loves sweets and beamed with joy, "I love desserts, thank you, Miss."

A group of people set off for Yiling Village, leaving Fengyu to wait at home for news. Just as Fengyu returned to Plum Garden, Ginkgo came rushing in, "Miss, Miss Fang has arrived."

Fengyu was overjoyed and was about to go out to greet her when she heard Fang Lingjun's maid Qiangwei calling out, urging her mistress to slow down.

"Ayu, I came to see you!"

Before her figure appeared, her voice rang out first as Fang Lingjun stormed in, "That bastard Jiang Yang dared to bully you. Next time I see him, I'll beat him until he looks like a pig's head."

Fengyu smiled softly as she watched Fang Lingjun run toward her. Fang Lingjun, the legitimate daughter of Marshal Fang, had become Fengyu's close friend since she arrived in the Capital City. Despite their vastly different personalities, they shared a surprising connection. She was dressed in a pale blue jacket and skirt, kept her attire simple, and bore a dignified yet heroic appearance. Her riding and archery skills were unmatched in the Imperial College's women's academy.

With a tender expression, Fang Lingjun held Fengyu's face in her hands. "My dear Ayu, you've gotten so thin."

Fengyu looked at her warmly with a gentle smile and pulled her inside to sit. Ginkgo welcomed Qiangwei for tea, while Qiuxiang hurriedly brought out Fang Lingjun's favorite tea snacks. Fengyu asked, "When did you return from Jiangnan?"

"I just arrived last night. As soon as I heard about you, I came first thing this morning. Jiang Yang's a fool. He'll live to regret it someday. He even has the nerve to say you're infatuated with him and won't leave him alone. How shameless!" Fang Lingjun said angrily, her cheeks puffing with rage. "I've already had Chen Mang stationed on his way home from work to give him a proper beating."

"He's an imperial official; don't go stirring up trouble. Did you plan everything carefully?"

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"You can count on me!" Fang Lingjun thumped her chest confidently. The two often worked together to teach those troublesome noble ladies a lesson. They had a silent camaraderie. "Qiangwei, fetch the gift box."

Qiangwei, sipping her tea, immediately understood her cue. She retrieved the gift box and handed it to Fang Lingjun, who opened it to reveal a dazzling sight. Inside was a complete set of gold and jade adornments—hairpins, headpieces, earrings, and more—all embedded with Fengyu's favorite gemstones. Each stone gleamed brilliantly, surpassing anything Fengyu had seen in craftsmanship.

"It's so beautiful!" Fengyu exclaimed, her gaze fixed, entranced.

Seeing how much Fengyu liked it, Fang Lingjun felt pleased. While she didn't care much for jewelry or elaborate clothing, Fengyu was completely different—she adored gold and silver treasures. "This is a new design from the Jiangnan Ruyi Workshop. As soon as I saw it, I knew you'd love it. Consider it a gift for your coming-of-age ceremony. If it weren't for my grandmother's birthday celebration, I would've attended your ceremony myself. What a pity."

"This is far too valuable," Fengyu recognized the set's worth.

"It costs nothing. I don't care for these trinkets, so all the money I save goes toward buying things for you." Fang Lingjun said cheerfully, "I also brought you more than a dozen rolls of snow satin. I couldn't carry them all today, so I'll have someone deliver them tomorrow."

"Then I'll gladly accept," Fengyu didn't decline, graciously taking the gift. Qiuxiang stored the jewelry away in the treasury.

Fang Lingjun, feeling thirsty from talking, took a bowl of milk that Qiuxiang handed her, poured it into her tea, stirred, and finished it in one gulp. "Now that you're of age, are you still planning to attend Imperial College?"

"Jiang Yang is at the Imperial College. If I run into him, there will be gossip. I plan to stop attending after the winter term ends." Fengyu mimicked her style of drinking tea. The milk tea, richer in flavor than plain tea, delighted her.

"Perfect! Then we can keep studying together until next spring."

The noble families of the Yanyang Dynasty placed immense importance on educating their children. Sons were expected to master the six arts and excel in both literature and martial skills, while daughters were trained in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, etiquette, and mathematics without exception. The Capital boasted abundant academies; any prestigious family with connections would send their children to Imperial College. Imperial College had opened a women's academy, enabling sons to study before entering officialdom and daughters before marriage.

After coming of age, most Yanyang women stayed home to learn household management, preparing for marriage at eighteen. Fengyu, having little inclination for academics, had studied at private schools while in Ningzhou and Liling. Her grandmother, pitying her frail health, didn't force her, though her elder sister Feng Shu had been stricter. Even at academies, Fengyu often slept through her teachers' lectures. When punished, her delicate condition worsened, leading to abandoned discipline.

Feng Shu and Feng Wan, having moved to the capital themselves, studied at Imperial College for two years to socialize with young noblewomen and to learn Capital etiquette.

Imperial College divided its sessions into winter and summer. Winter term began in November and ended in March of the following year.

"Classes don't start for half a month. The Prince Qi Manor is hosting a riding and archery banquet in a few days. I'll take you there," Fang Lingjun said. "If you don't show up, those gossipy people will claim you're drowning in tears. We need to make a stunning appearance, proving to everyone that our Ayu is the most beautiful lady in the world, worthy of marrying the finest gentleman."

Prince Qi, a nobleman and Prince Xian, was Emperor Jianming's cousin. He was only ten when Emperor Jianming ascended the throne. Now, at twenty, he was in his prime—a highly eligible match desired by many young ladies of the Capital. Fond of polo, archery, flower banquets, and grand social gatherings, he hosted frequent parties.

"I don't have much of a connection with Prince Qi Manor. They likely won't extend an invitation to me."

"Leave it to me."

Prince Qi's mother and Fang Lingjun's mother were cousins, sharing a deep bond.

"Alright!" Fengyu readily agreed. She didn't love socializing, but with what had happened involving Jiang Yang, remaining isolated would only invite further rumors—and embellishment of hearsay could be as sharp as a killing blade.

"Then it's settled!" Fang Lingjun hesitated briefly before lowering her voice, "I'll tell you something in secret, but don't share it with anyone."

"What is it?"

Fang Lingjun leaned closer and whispered into Fengyu's ear, "My grandmother plans to visit your grandmother soon. Your eldest sister wants to marry my eldest brother, but my grandmother rejected the proposal."

Fengyu froze momentarily, a chill overtaking her expression.

In Feng Wan's courtyard.

Feng Wan was embroidering a handkerchief when Feng Ling burst in, flustered, "Elder sister, Fang Lingjun's here again. Every time she comes, she clings to third sister and acts as if no one else exists. Today, she even brought a gigantic wooden box, claiming it's an entire set of headpieces from Jiangnan as a coming-of-age gift for third sister. You're supposed to be her future sister-in-law. Instead of showing respect to you, she's always hovering around third sister. Such poor manners!"

Feng Wan paused her embroidery, slightly annoyed, "The marriage isn't settled yet. If you keep calling me her sister-in-law prematurely, what will people say when they hear it?"

Feng Ling, chastised, muttered dejectedly, "I wasn't speaking outside, anyway. Besides, mother has already discussed matters with Mrs. Fang."

Lady Feng, over the past two years, had frequented social circles among the capital's noblewomen, hoping to secure a good match for Feng Wan. Once a high-born lady herself, her close friends included the Marchioness, Countess, and even the Commandery Princess. For Feng Wan's sake, she endured the indignity of currying favor with her former companions, yet still hadn't found an ideal match. Several Marquis Mansions had declined Lady Feng's overtures. Feng Changlin was a Third-Rank official, and even promotion to Minister of the Ministry of Personnel was the best-case scenario. While the Feng Family held assets, it was not prominent in the Capital. Still, Feng Wan, as the legitimate eldest daughter—graceful and talented—should have little difficulty marrying as the primary wife into a Marquis or Earl's household.