บท 34: Scheming in the Shadows
The Feng villa was in a state of turmoil, the air thick with tension and resentment. In the study, Zhang Lihua and Feng Guiri were locked in a heated argument, their voices rising with each passing moment.
"How could you let this happen, Feng Guiri?" Zhang Lihua spat, her eyes ablaze with fury. "Our daughters were supposed to marry Jiang Yukang, not that upstart Feng Ruoxi!"
Feng Guiri paced the room, his expression twisted with anger. "Do you think I'm not furious about this? I had everything planned out perfectly, and that girl had to go and ruin it all!"
Zhang Lihua's hands clenched into fists, her knuckles turning white. "This is unacceptable! Meiling and Xiuying deserve to be the ones marrying into the Jiang family, not that scheming little brat."
Feng Guiri paused, his brow furrowing in thought. "Perhaps there's a way we can still salvage this. We can't let Feng Ruoxi become the Jiang's daughter-in-law. Our family's standing is at stake."
Zhang Lihua's eyes narrowed, a calculating gleam entering her gaze. "What do you have in mind, dear husband?"
Feng Guiri's lips curled into a sinister smile. "We'll have to find a way to separate Jiang Yukang and Feng Ruoxi. If we can manage that, then one of our daughters will have another chance at becoming the Jiang's daughter-in-law."
Zhang Lihua nodded, her own expression mirroring her husband's. "Yes, yes, that's perfect. Meiling and Xiuying will be devastated, but they'll understand that it's for the greater good of our family."
Feng Guiri placed a hand on his wife's shoulder, his gaze intense. "We can't let Feng Ruoxi win, Lihua. She's already caused enough trouble for this family. It's time we put her in her place."
Zhang Lihua's lips curved into a cruel smile. "Don't worry, dear. We'll make sure that girl knows her place. And when all is said and done, one of our daughters will be the one to become the next Madam Jiang."
The two of them fell silent, their minds already whirring with plots and schemes to tear Jiang Yukang and Feng Ruoxi apart. The sound of the door opening drew their attention, and they turned to see Feng Meiling and Feng Xiuying standing in the doorway, their expressions a mix of anger and confusion.
"Mother, Father, what's going on?" Feng Meiling asked, her voice laced with resentment. "Why did Feng Ruoxi get to marry Jiang Yukang? It should have been one of us!"
Feng Xiuying nodded, her eyes narrowed in a glare. "Yes, we've been waiting for this opportunity for years. How could you let her take it away from us?"
Feng Guiri raised a hand, silencing his daughters. "Calm down, both of you. We're not going to let Feng Ruoxi get away with this. We have a plan to ensure that one of you becomes the Jiang family's daughter-in-law."
The twins' eyes widened, their expressions shifting to one of hope and eagerness. "Really, Father? What is it? Tell us, please!"
Zhang Lihua stepped forward, a cold smile on her lips. "We're going to find a way to separate Jiang Yukang and Feng Ruoxi. That way, one of you will have another chance to win Jiang Yukang's heart."
Feng Meiling and Feng Xiuying exchanged a look, their excitement palpable. "Oh, Mother, Father, you're the best! We'll do whatever it takes to make sure Feng Ruoxi doesn't steal our chance!"
Feng Guiri nodded, his expression grim. "Good. We'll need to work quickly and quietly. Jiang Yukang and Feng Ruoxi's betrothal is still new, so we have a window of opportunity to exploit."
The four of them huddled closer, their voices lowered to barely above a whisper as they began to map out their plan. The air in the study was charged with a sense of determination and a ruthless ambition, as the Feng family prepared to wage war against the newfound alliance between the Fengs and the Jiangs.
As the night wore on, Zhang Lihua and Feng Guiri retired to their bedroom, their minds still abuzz with the events of the day. Zhang Lihua let out a weary sigh as she slipped under the covers, her gaze fixed on her husband's pensive expression.
"Guiri, do you really think we can pull this off?" she asked, a hint of uncertainty creeping into her voice. "What if Jiang Yukang and Feng Ruoxi are truly in love?"
Feng Guiri's jaw tightened, his brow furrowing in a frown. "Love? Don't be ridiculous, Lihua. This is a matter of power and influence, not some fairy tale romance."
Zhang Lihua's eyes narrowed, a trace of concern flickering in their depths. "But what if Feng Zhaoxuan sees this as an opportunity to gain more favor with Feng Zhengzhi? You know how much he's been vying for the old man's approval."
Feng Guiri's expression darkened, a muscle twitching in his jaw. "That's exactly why we can't let Feng Ruoxi become the Jiang's daughter-in-law. If Zhaoxuan manages to use this to his advantage, it could tip the balance of power within the Feng family."
Zhang Lihua nodded, a troubled look on her face. "I'm worried, Guiri. If Zhaoxuan gains Zhengzhi's favor, it could jeopardize our own position. We need to make sure that you're the one who's in the old man's good graces, not Zhaoxuan."
Feng Guiri reached out, grasping his wife's hand. "We'll make sure that doesn't happen, Lihua. I'll make sure Zhengzhi sees that I'm the one who's truly deserving of his trust and approval."
Zhang Lihua squeezed her husband's hand, a hint of unease still lingering in her expression. "I hope you're right, Guiri. The Feng family's future is at stake, and we can't afford any missteps."
The couple fell silent, the weight of their scheming pressing heavily upon them. In the stillness of the night, the shadows seemed to whisper of the struggles to come, a looming reminder that the battle for power within the Feng household was far from over.
As the hours ticked by, the Fengs' resolve only hardened. They were determined to reclaim what they believed was rightfully theirs, even if it meant resorting to underhanded tactics. The stakes were high, and failure was simply not an option.
In the end, the Feng villa remained cloaked in silence, save for the occasional creak of the old wooden beams and the soft rustling of the curtains. But beneath the surface, a storm was brewing, one that would test the very foundations of the Feng family's power and influence.
Feng Guiri reached out, grasping his wife's hand in a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry, my dear. We'll make sure that Zhaoxuan doesn't get the upper hand. Once we've separated Jiang Yukang and Feng Ruoxi, we'll work on securing our own standing within the family."
Zhang Lihua's expression softened, and she leaned in to press a gentle kiss to her husband's cheek. "I trust you, Guiri. We'll do whatever it takes to protect our family's legacy."
The couple fell silent, the weight of their plans settling heavily upon them. In the darkness of the bedroom, the shadows seemed to whisper of the intricate web of power struggles that was unfolding within the Feng household.
But as the night wore on, the Fengs' scheme began to take shape, a silent and deadly plan that would test the strength of the Jiang-Feng alliance. The battle lines had been drawn, and the stakes were higher than ever before.
In the end, the question remained: who would emerge victorious in this game of power and ambition?
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