FID – Chapter 584

Chapter 584: This Is the Consequence

The four ladies expressed their gratitude, to which Feng Qingbai responded with a simple nod.

The reason he mentioned them was not only because they had indeed represented their families in assisting Fu Yuzheng significantly, but also because they had helped persuade other small and mid-level gentry to contribute to the fundraising efforts. As a result, they were able to gather a large number of supplies for distribution across the disaster-stricken areas under Yunzhou’s jurisdiction.

Moreover, it was also out of consideration for Liu Yusheng.

He could tell that before he arrived, his little lady had been happily chatting with the four of them.

Ding Wenxuan and the others were intelligent women. Instead of associating with the crowd outside, they had come to meet Shengsheng and had conducted themselves with proper decorum.

A commendation like this was well deserved.

Ding Wenxuan and the others did not stay for long. After Feng Qingbai returned, they chatted for a little while longer before excusing themselves.

Once they were gone, Liu Yusheng turned around, only to be immediately pulled into a firm embrace.

“Your Highness, what are you planning to do to a humble commoner like me in broad daylight?” Liu Yusheng teasingly tugged at his collar, her tone coy and playful.

Feng Qingbai raised an eyebrow—she wanted to play?

He would play along.

“I have safeguarded your personal property. Shouldn’t there be a reward?”

“What personal property?”

“Me.”

“Pfft!”

The man hoisted the young girl over his shoulder and strode toward the room.

“Anyone or anything that covets what belongs to you—I will personally eliminate. Likewise, you must pay compensation.”

Liu Yusheng couldn’t stop laughing, lying on his shoulder. “Weren’t you just talking about a reward? How did it suddenly turn into compensation?”

“Rewards and compensation can be given at the same time.”

“…” Fine, whatever you say. You win!

Seeing how he had remained firm and unwavering in the face of temptation, Liu Yusheng decided he deserved a reward.

Yes, he should be rewarded!

She felt incredibly satisfied just watching the scene unfold earlier.

“Alright, you’ll be rewarded! Keep up the good work!”

“I’ll only get even more handsome!”

In a nearby guest room, someone who had just woken up overheard this conversation and couldn’t help but twitch at the corners of their mouth.

“Xiao Jinzi, you were right. Feng Qingbai is utterly shameless.”

“Huh?” Qian Wanjin looked confused as he heard the woman suddenly say this.

Seeing the blank look on his handsome face, the woman, now well-rested, suddenly felt an itch in her heart. She pinned him down. “We stopped halfway earlier because we were too exhausted. Now, let’s start over properly!”

Qian Wanjin’s eyes lit up. Without hesitation, he flipped them over and kissed her.

He had been sitting around waiting all this time! Finally!

Meanwhile, Ding Wenxuan and the others, who had left the guest courtyard, were engaged in a different conversation.

“I didn’t expect the King of Nanling to be so handsome. In private, he doesn’t seem as cold and distant as the rumors say. No wonder Kang Ziyu was jealous and tried everything to sabotage Miss Liu and His Highness!” Gu Yiling’s voice still carried excitement. 

A King! Someone her father couldn’t even get a chance to meet, yet she had not only seen him but even spoken with him!

“Sister Ding, why didn’t we stay a little longer? It’s such a rare opportunity to meet His Highness. If we had chatted more, maybe he would have an even better impression of our four families!”

“You need to be a bit more observant. Didn’t you notice that after just a short while, His Highness was already losing interest? His attention was entirely on Miss Liu. If we had stayed any longer and continued to intrude, it would have been incredibly inappropriate,” Ding Wenjun chided.

Zhao Xueyun also chuckled. “If you want to know whether His Highness is approachable, just look at how he treated Kang Ziyu. Her father was standing right there—did he show even the slightest mercy? The only reason he was a little more polite to us was out of respect for Miss Liu.”

“A man like the King of Nanling, who can dominate the imperial court single-handedly, is far beyond what ordinary people can comprehend. Fortunately, when we went to visit Miss Liu, we had no ill intentions. Otherwise, do you think His Highness would have been so pleasant? Unless someone is just as shrewd as he is and can truly deceive him, any hidden motives will be laid bare before him. Kang Ziyu is the best example of that,” Guo Luhe added.

The three older girls each made their point, leaving Gu Yiling in awe. “Good thing we listened to Sister Ding and didn’t mix with those noble girls. Look at Kang Ziyu—didn’t she end up just like Sister Ding warned? Completely ruined.”

She paused for a moment before sighing. “No wonder Miss Liu wasn’t worried at all—she didn’t even need to lift a finger! His Highness dealt with all the schemers himself!”

Look at what became of Kang Ziyu in the end.

She was humiliated repeatedly in front of all the noble daughters of the prestigious families. Her reputation had been completely trampled into the mud—there was no cleaning it up.

From now on, in the noblewomen’s circles of Xiangshan County and even the entire upper class of Yunzhou, Kang Ziyu would no longer exist.

This was her fate.

And things would only get worse for her in the future.

County Magistrate Kang had publicly declared that once she got married, she was never to return—essentially disowning her. 

Without her father’s status and support behind her, what was she? Would life in her husband’s household be easy for her?

She had a good hand but played it terribly. Truly, she had brought disaster upon herself.

“These things are for us to know, but we must not spread them outside. Those in power are unpredictable—friendly today, but one small mistake tomorrow could provoke their wrath. We must always tread carefully,” Ding Wenxuan warned the others.

The four of them were the only ones who left the county office with their heads held high.

Meanwhile, in the main courtyard of the inner residence, Kang Shiming and Mrs. Kang sat in the side hall, looking down at Kang Ziyu, who was sobbing quietly before them.

She no longer dared to act as she once had—no more arrogance, no more hysteria.

The atmosphere in the side hall was unbearably oppressive.

After a long silence, Kang Shiming let out a heavy sigh. “Speak with the Jiang family. Pick any date next month for the wedding. If the betrothal gifts and dowry can’t be properly prepared in time, then just make do. The sooner she’s sent off, the better.”

“Husband…”

“Father!”

“Don’t call me father! Did you ever consider me when you did something so foolish?” Kang Shiming slammed his hand on the table, his anger erupting. “His Highness made it clear that he rejects invitations from noble families and does not attend social gatherings! And what did you do? He refuses to socialize, yet you went and summoned them to our home to stir up trouble! What were you trying to show off? Who were you trying to impress? Right now, the entire region is suffering from disasters, and everyone is being extra cautious—but you? You hosted a grand gathering just to climb connections! Do you realize that in the end, the one who might lose his head over this is me?!”

Then he turned to Mrs. Kang. “And you! Don’t even think about pleading for her! You paraded a group of noblewomen around our residence, and you actually thought you could play matchmaker for His Highness? If you can’t bear to part with this daughter of yours, then go with her to the Jiang family! Kang Ziyu, remember this—once you step out of the county office gates, don’t ever call me your father again! Just the thought of it makes me ashamed!”

Mrs. Kang closed her eyes in resignation. Their last bit of support had now been completely ruined by this daughter of theirs.

If she had just kept her head down and married into the Jiang family quietly, with her father’s influence, the Jiangs wouldn’t have dared to mistreat the daughter of a county magistrate.

But now? With the mess she had caused, and with Ziyu’s temper, who in the Jiang family would tolerate her?

Forget it. She brought this upon herself. She would have to face the consequences.

If she never learned her lesson, she would never understand her true place in the world.

Kang Shiming and Mrs. Kang left the side hall one after another, unwilling to stay even a moment longer.

In the hall, only Kang Ziyu remained, sitting in a daze, her face filled with confusion and fear.

The sheer terror of losing everything finally gripped her heart, making her feel a deep and overwhelming fear.

But it was already too late.

Leaving the main courtyard, Kang Shiming put on his official robes and, together with Mrs. Kang, walked to the entrance of the guest courtyard. There, they knelt down.

As dinnertime arrived, the servants brought meal after meal into the guest courtyard. But even as night fell, no one inside called for them to rise.