Chapter 262: Reminder
For a moment, she couldn’t tell if what he said was true or false. The child had grown up, his wings had hardened, and she couldn’t fathom what he was thinking or doing.
Looking at his stern face, his whole body was icy cold, keeping people at a thousand miles away!
To tell the truth, she felt like there was a surge of killing intent emanating from him!
She knew he had brought her to live in the God of War’s Mansion to prevent the world from thinking he was ungrateful. No matter how she treated him, he had always grown up safely!
Gratitude for upbringing is greater than the heavens, but she herself could never muster kindness toward him in her heart, not like with Luoning, where there was nothing they couldn’t talk about, no distance, no estrangement!
At this moment, Consort Li was suddenly attracted by the scent of durian pastry.
“Eh, what is this food? Why does it smell like stinky fruit?”
“Reporting to Mother, this is durian pastry, this is durian pancake, these are all made from that stinky fruit!” Feng Qingcheng said with a straight face and tense expression.
Consort Li took a piece of durian pastry and ate it, her eyes lighting up. After finishing it, she couldn’t help but take another bite. After that, she even ate a durian pancake. Normally, even one bite of noodle-based food would be too much for her appetite!
It was mainly the flavor of this durian that captivated her. “Mother, this stinky fruit ice cream is even better. Give it a try! But it’s too cold, so Mother, just have one bite to taste the freshness. Next time you want some, have the maid fetch it from the ice storage!”
Feng Qingcheng was afraid the durian ice cream would melt and reminded her. His junior brother had instructed that it was even more delicious when eaten frozen!
“Good!”
Consort Li scooped it up with a small spoon and ate one bite after another, unable to stop. Finally, she relented only after Granny’s reminder!
She repeatedly instructed them with a thousand reminders and ten thousand exhortations to preserve the rest well in the ice storage, so she could send someone to fetch it whenever she wanted some.
Princess Luoning kept covering her nose, full of disgust! She shouted for Mother to eat it farther away!
“Did you specially have someone make this for me?”
“Mm.” Feng Qingcheng’s cheeks flushed awkwardly in a strange way.
Consort Li was satisfied with what Feng Qingcheng had done, even glancing somewhat disapprovingly at Princess Luoning. This girl always came with some trouble for her or crying about how bad the imperial son-in-law was!
She never thought that she herself, in old age, also needed her care!
But after all, he was flesh fallen from her own body, whom she had cherished for decades. Consort Li thought for a moment and then advised Feng Qingcheng, “However, to get back to the point, you suddenly started beating and killing people around your elder sister. They’ve been with her for many years after all. Don’t blame your elder sister for being angry. Won’t this make you lose face with such actions?”
“Moreover, you’ve already stained your hands with countless blood. If you keep harshly disciplining the servants like this, once word spreads of your reputation for bullying with power, being cruel and bloodthirsty by nature, how will you stand your ground?”
“Mother, Little Brother must have been bewitched by that herb-gathering woman, otherwise why would he be restless even during imperial court and rush back midway to back him up, even beating and killing my servants? The imperial son-in-law used to do the same before, and I knew it!”
She was quite clever too, shifting the blame onto Li Xi’er. She was still relying on Feng Qingcheng!
Besides, children competed for favor too. Though he was a foster son, deep down Princess Luoning felt uneasy. Her own behavior had made Mother lose face!
That look from Mother just now made her heart drum a bit. She knew Mother had hoped she was born male, but she was female and hadn’t brought any glory to Mother.
Consort Li’s expression indeed turned grim again. Feng Qingcheng always harbored a deep sense of hierarchy toward Consort Li, very severely so. She gave him a feeling of looking down from above from beginning to end, not the atmosphere of mother and son!
This was thanks to Consort Li’s education of him. He clearly remembered Grandma’s strict and ruthless upbringing of him in childhood!
How to respect and show filial piety to Mother, how to obey, taking Mother’s words as heaven, how to strive with all one’s might to give herself and Princess Luoning a strong backing.
Although he later fell for the crown prince’s instigation and went to Jue Lun Kingdom to practice martial arts, that was his only major act of defiance against her!
It made Consort Li harbor hatred for many years, unable to let go, until he became the God of War!
Therefore, he was always extremely deferential to Mother and never contradicted her to her face. This was ingrained in his bones and genes from childhood.
This also led to some behavior habits. Even now as the God of War of the nation, he was still the same!
But thinking of her junior brother’s encouraging gaze just now, her eyes warmed with determination. Being by her side always made her feel relaxed, and suddenly a surge of strength rose in her heart, giving her confidence!
“Mother, Your son has reasons for this matter.”
“Oh?”
“Firstly, as you know, Elder Sister’s mansion has a foul atmosphere. To be honest, these past few days when Your son attended imperial court, Censor Doctor Wang has repeatedly petitioned His Majesty, complaining that Elder Sister’s behavior is too indulgent and pollutes the social atmosphere. Fortunately, Your son acted cleanly and swiftly to silence the gossips ahead of time, and plus His Majesty gave face to Your son by only mentioning it privately!”
“At that time in imperial court, Your son could only explain that it was Censor Wang grasping at shadows. With no evidence, he couldn’t say much!”
“How did the matters of her Princess’s Mansion get out?”
“This…”
“Hmph! Her palace servants lack any rules and should have been disciplined long ago!”
Consort Li was astonished. She never expected this foster son to actually defend himself before her several times!
Today was truly unprecedented.
“Not only Elder Sister’s Princess’s Mansion, but my God of War’s Mansion is the same. I believe Mother knows about my punishment of the loose-tongued servants a few days ago. It’s just because they couldn’t recognize their own position. Perhaps a single negligence or word could drag us all down to hell!”
“The current Emperor is suspicious and fickle in temperament, and some ministers harbor wolfish ambition. Your son is in a highly dangerous position. We rise and fall together. I hope you can understand my actions!”
Consort Li and Princess Luoning were left speechless by his words. She never expected Princess Luoning to have been impeached!
No wonder he was so angry!
“Elder Sister, I formally remind you once more in front of Mother: please restrain yourself in the Princess’s Mansion. Little Brother can protect you for a moment but not forever. After all, no one can guess the Emperor’s thoughts. Moreover, you know about my illness!”
This meal was full of mixed flavors. Princess Luoning slunk back to her Princess’s Mansion in disgrace. With this reminder, she should have peace for a while!
Consort Li unprecedentedly did not stand unprincipled on Princess Luoning’s side.
