Chapter 3: 003 The Letter of Annulment

The gentle voice instantly smoothed away Cui'er's nervous and fearful emotions. Nodding, and thinking that since the Young Miss would become the Princess of Qing in three days, those women likely wouldn't go too far, a steadied Cui'er took a step forward and shielded Feng Qingzhuang behind her.

Looking at Cui'er, who was clearly afraid yet still stood protectively in front of her, a warm current flowed through Feng Qingzhuang's heart.

In an instant, a group of fluttering ladies crossed the threshold and entered. The originally small room instantly became crowded, and the cool air became permeated with a thick scent of rouge and powder.

Leading the way was a woman around thirty years of age, still possessing charm and grace. She wore a deep purple embroidered long dress, and her dark eyes, adorned with pearls and gems, flickered with shrewdness. She swept a glance over Feng Qingzhuang, and an extreme sense of disdain and hatred surfaced in the depths of her eyes.

This woman was the Second Madam of the Prime Minister's Estate, Ruan Suyun. Ever since Feng Qingzhuang's mother passed away, all matters, large and small, in the Prime Minister's back courtyard had been managed by her.

Following behind her was a group of women, each heavily made up and dressed flamboyantly. They were the Third Concubine, Fourth Concubine, and Fifth Concubine of the Prime Minister's Estate; the Sixth Concubine was bedridden year-round. Behind them were several lovely and beautiful young women, as exquisite as flowers—the Third Miss, Fourth Miss, and Fifth Miss of the Prime Minister's Estate. The Eldest Miss of the estate had died young.

Following the ladies and misses were over a dozen personal maidservants and elderly nannies, each wearing expressions of disdain and contempt as they stood in the courtyard.

Standing beside the Second Madam was the Prime Minister's estate butler, Qin Zhong. He was a distant cousin of the Second Madam and naturally assisted Ruan Suyun in everything.

"Qingzhuang greets Second Mother and all the Concubines. I wonder what matter has occurred that requires the presence of Second Mother and all the Concubines here at the Wutong Courtyard?" As the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's Estate, Feng Qingzhuang did not lose her manners even when facing these women who could strike or scold her at will, asking softly.

"This servant greets all the Ladies and Misses," Cui'er said with a curtsy.

"Naturally, it is because of good news that we have graced the Wutong Courtyard with our presence," Ruan Suyun spoke sharply. Her gaze swept over Feng Qingzhuang's stunningly beautiful face, and a trace of hatred flashed through her shrewd eyes, vanishing in an instant.

"Butler, give it to her," the Second Madam turned to Butler Qin Zhong and spoke coldly.

"Yes," Qin Zhong stepped forward, pulled a letter from his bosom, and handed it in front of Feng Qingzhuang, a hint of a spectator's amusement in his eyes.

Feng Qingzhuang took the letter. The extraordinary, elegant, and graceful handwriting met her eyes; she knew it was written by him. But when the words 'Letter of Marriage Annulment' met her gaze, her beautiful face instantly turned pale and bloodless. Her body stumbled back a step, and she bit her whitening lips. With trembling hands, she tore open the letter. A phoenix jade pendant fell out from within the stationery. With a crisp "clack," the high-quality jade phoenix pendant hit the ground and shattered into pieces, much like Feng Qingzhuang's heart at this moment—desperate and broken!

Staring blankly at the shattered phoenix jade pendant with her head lowered, her mind went completely blank. This phoenix jade pendant was originally a pair. Years ago, when her mother and the Mother of the Prince of Qing had arranged this marriage, they had used this pair of phoenix jade pendants as the engagement tokens. One phoenix pendant was in Shangguan Xuanqing's hand, and the phoenix pendant was in Feng Qingzhuang's hand.