The ripples of uneven resource allocation had subsided.
Although Feng Guangyao offered a perfunctory excuse of "not noticing" to smooth things over and redistributed monthly stipends and resources, the lingering dissatisfaction among the clan members could not be entirely quelled.
After all, the disparity in resources between Feng Tongtong and the other juniors had been plainly visible.
This led to the juniors who were once friendly with Feng Tongtong in the Feng manor no longer being as warm towards her.
There was a definite awkwardness in their hearts.
Even Feng Guangyao, as the current head of the family, saw his reputation slightly tarnished.
It was only after this incident that the juniors who had previously rejected Feng Ninghe began to view her with a slightly more favorable eye.
At the very least, no one raised any objections regarding her managing the family's treasury.
Three days later.
As dawn broke, a considerable number of Feng family members had gathered at the entrance of the Zhenguo Duke's manor.
The elders and juniors of the Feng family had all arrived.
The fact that Feng Ninghe was not dead and had even become a disciple of Immortal Xu was already widely known.
However, the crowd was more curious about Immortal Xu.
Even when greeting others, these individuals made a beeline for Immortal Xu, ignoring Feng Ninghe.
This scene brought a measure of relief to Feng Tongtong, who had been feeling dejected for days.
By the time the Feng family arrived at Tianxue Mountain, a large crowd had already gathered, forming a dense mass.
The four great families of the Li Kingdom were the Ning, Jiang, Bai, and Feng families.
Since the deaths of Feng Lie and Feng Linyuan, father and son, the Zhenguo Duke's manor had significantly weakened. Currently, the Ning family led the four great families.
For this Tianxue Mountain secret realm, the royal family was led by the First Prince.
At this moment, the patriarchs of the major families were gathered around the First Prince, seemingly discussing the opening of the secret realm.
Upon their arrival, the sharp-eyed Feng Tongtong immediately spotted Baili Ye, who was at the center of attention.
Behind Baili Ye followed a troop of elite soldiers. These soldiers were clad in armor, wielding long spears, and all their equipment were spiritual artifacts.
This elite force was cultivated and maintained by him using spirit stones, with every soldier possessing a cultivation level above Foundation Establishment.
While Baili Ye's cultivation talent was not poor, it was not so outstanding as to qualify him for entry into the Jinling Sect.
In recent years, he had sought to strengthen his influence through other means.
Apart from the Crown Prince, who had left the Li Kingdom and entered the Immortal Sect years ago, the First Prince was now the most distinguished among the princes. The noble families were eager to foster a closer relationship with him.
This sight brought a smile to Feng Tongtong's meticulously made-up face, her expression filled with pride.
This was her fiancé.
Once they were married, she would become an imperial consort, and in the future, countless people would fawn over her and bow down to her.
"First Prince."
Feng Tongtong walked towards Baili Ye with a sweet, delicate voice.
Her luxurious robes accentuated her slender waist, and her waist-length hair flowed gracefully with the wind. She had always been known for her charming beauty.
As the Feng family was the last to arrive, they inevitably drew the attention of the already present crowd.
In previous years, Feng Tongtong was the most prominent among the Feng family's younger generation.
Besides her status as the First Prince's fiancée, her appearance was also considered quite outstanding among the juniors of the four great families.
However, today, everyone's gaze involuntarily fell upon a woman trailing behind Feng Tongtong.
It was Feng Ninghe.
Baili Ye's reaction was the most obvious.
As if he hadn't heard Feng Tongtong's voice, his gaze passed over her and landed directly on Feng Ninghe.
The sunlight shone brightly on the woman's face. Beneath her willow-leaf eyebrows, her bright peach-blossom eyes were clear and pure. A hint of cold aloofness in her eyes added to her beauty. Her small, upturned nose served as the finishing touch to her face.
Feng Tongtong happened to be standing directly in front of her.
With the two of them positioned one behind the other, Feng Ninghe appeared like the bright moon in the sky, while Feng Tongtong was merely a star adorning its edge.
Feng Ninghe's reappearance after several years also sparked discussions among the juniors of other families.
"This eldest daughter of the Zhenguo Duke's manor is quite beautiful. I think she's even prettier than Feng Qingcheng, who entered the Immortal Sect."
The speaker was Jiang Manman, the most outstanding junior of the Jiang family.
After speaking, she deliberately glanced at Ning Ting beside her.
Ning Ting's exquisitely featured face had bright, spirited eyes. His loose black robe made him look valiant and heroic.
His gaze held a hint of brilliance, and his voice was slightly deep, "It's a pity. Despite such an outstanding background and circumstances, she's still a cripple who cannot cultivate."
His tone was filled with lament and regret.
The eldest daughter of the Zhenguo Duke's manor possessed exceptional beauty, had an outstanding father and brother, and now, backed by Immortal Xu, had become his disciple.
Despite all this, her cultivation had made no progress, and it seemed she would never be cured in this lifetime.
It was a waste of her beautiful appearance and formidable background.
This was the sentiment of everyone present.
The Lingjing Continent was, after all, a world that valued individual strength.
Meanwhile, Baili Ye was momentarily lost in thought and subconsciously took a step forward.
Unaware that Feng Ninghe was following behind her, Feng Tongtong mistakenly believed that everyone's gaze was directed towards her, drawn by her presence.
A more arrogant expression involuntarily appeared on her face, her eyes betraying her hidden pride.
Seeing Baili Ye approaching her, she displayed a smile she believed to be flawless. Holding the hem of her luxurious skirt, she quickly rushed towards Baili Ye.
However, Baili Ye walked directly past her, towards the person behind her, completely ignoring her...
Feng Tongtong froze, suddenly stopping in her tracks.
The smile on her face appeared somewhat ridiculous.
The other juniors from different families, witnessing this scene, couldn't help but cover their mouths and chuckle.
Hearing the hushed laughter of others, Feng Tongtong's face flushed. She turned her beautiful eyes to look behind her.
Then, she saw Baili Ye walk directly up to Feng Ninghe and praise her sincerely, "Ninghe, you look truly beautiful today."
Feng Ninghe stood still, her posture relaxed.
But upon hearing Baili Ye's words, she couldn't help but frown, her eyes showing a hint of displeasure.
Her aversion to Baili Ye was no less than Feng Tongtong's, and she couldn't even be bothered to feign politeness with him.
"I'm beautiful, what does that have to do with you, First Prince?"
Feng Ninghe's lips curved slightly, her tone laced with undisguised sarcasm.
Yet, even so, Baili Ye was not angered. Instead, he felt that she had become even more spirited than five years ago.
His heart felt as if it were being tickled by a feather, an itch he couldn't scratch.
It was a pity, no matter how beautiful, she was destined for Mo Zisang.
Baili Ye felt a pang of regret in his heart.
Xiao Zhao, perched on Feng Ninghe's shoulder, let out a snicker at him, revealing its two small fangs. Its demeanor was full of disdain.
At this moment, Feng Tongtong had already walked up and affectionately linked her arm around Baili Ye's from behind, as if asserting her claim in front of everyone. "Elder Sister, how can you be rude to the First Prince?"
Feng Ninghe lazily raised her eyelids and looked at Feng Tongtong.
Then, a smile spread across her lips, and she uttered four words: "None of your business."