Chapter 139: Attempting to Dictate Her Life, Feng Su Appears at the Banquet

"I look forward to it."

Li Jiuwei wore a beaming smile, while the warmth in Feng Huang’s eyes turned instantly cold. The two were locked in a silent, cutthroat battle.

Feng Huang strode past Li Jiuwei toward the crowd. Today, she resembled a phoenix spreading its wings—beautiful, triumphant, and fiercely ambitious. Many prominent families had aligned themselves with her, most notably the Li, Ye, Wei, and Liu clans, among others. Some of these families had once been loyal followers of Feng Su.

"My condolences, Ms. Li," a man said, approaching her.

Li Jiuwei turned and surveyed him. "And who are you?"

The man appeared stunned that she didn't recognize him, a slight he took as a personal insult. *High and mighty, is she? What is there to be proud of?* he thought. *She’s nothing more than a widow. Once Feng Huang takes the reins, Li Jiuwei will be swept out the door.*

The man spat out harsh words, showing her no respect, and those nearby began to whisper. Some looked at her with blatant contempt.

"Li Jiuwei, with Feng Su gone, how can you have the heart to attend a banquet? Are you just waiting for him to be officially declared dead so you can carve up his assets?" Feng’s mother glared at her, her voice low and venomous.

"Mrs. Feng, look at the situation clearly. I don’t want to make things ugly for you right now."

"Are you threatening me?"

"That depends on how you interpret it."

"Stay right there! My son is still missing, and yet you’ve already got other men by your side. You truly are a shameless woman." Feng’s mother had been watching Zhuo Wang the entire time.

"Madam, watch your tongue. I am the bodyguard in charge of my boss's safety. Please do not insult her," Zhuo Wang said, his gaze sharp with murderous intent.

"Who knows what kind of relationship you two—" Feng’s mother faltered, unable to meet his gaze. This man was clearly no ordinary person.

Seeing this, Li Jiuwei’s lips curled into a faint smile. Hiring Zhuo Wang had certainly been a wise decision.

Just then, Li Jiuwei received a phone call. She looked at Feng Huang with profound, dark eyes. "Understood."

After hanging up, she retreated to the edge of the crowd. On stage, Feng Huang looked confident and smug. Li’s mother moved to Li Jiuwei’s side and whispered, "The future of the Feng family belongs to Feng Huang. From now on, you would do well to keep your head down and behave."

"In a year’s time, the Li family will propose that the Feng family allow you and Feng Su to divorce. I will arrange a match for you to marry out of the capital. Do not come back. Li Jiuwei, this is the last thing I will do for you as your mother."

"Do you live by the sea? Because you’re really overstepping your boundaries," Li Jiuwei retorted.

"Li Jiuwei, must you be so ungrateful?"

Zhuo Wang stepped forward and pushed Li’s mother aside. "If you don't want to die, keep your mouth shut," he said coldly.

"You... you..." Li’s mother pointed at him in shock, then turned to look at the nonchalant Li Jiuwei, her internal rage mounting. Fearful of Zhuo Wang’s physical prowess, she chose to hold her tongue for the moment.

Then, the voice of the Elder Master Feng rang out. "Today, I announce that the Feng Group will officially be handed over to Feng—"

"Grandfather, I haven't arrived yet, and you're already making announcements?"

Feng Su’s lazy, drawling voice echoed through the hall. Everyone turned in unison. A stir rippled through the crowd when they saw Feng Su standing there, completely unharmed.

Feng Su wasn't dead. He had returned.

On the face of his rival, Feng Huang, a dark storm gathered. Her assistant glanced at her nervously, trembling. "Useless," she hissed under her breath. The assistant kept his head low, not daring to look up.

Li Jiuwei and Feng Su exchanged a glance. Zhou Hui, who had arrived with Feng Su, immediately ordered someone to be dragged forward.

"Elder Master, this is the man who tampered with Brother Su’s car. Perhaps we should take this opportunity to find out who sent him."

His words were loaded with implication. A flicker of panic crossed Feng Huang’s face, though it vanished as quickly as it appeared. Elder Master Feng pondered for a moment before saying, "We are in the middle of a banquet. We will deal with this matter privately."

"Very well, we defer to you, Elder Master. But may I ask, who is the successor you intended to announce?" Zhou Hui was being deliberately provocative. When everyone assumed Feng Huang was the choice, it was because they believed Feng Su was dead or missing. But now that he was back, what about the succession? Those who had sided with Feng Huang began to worry.

Feng Su walked with steady, measured steps up to the platform. He smiled deeply. "Grandfather, I’m back."

"It is good that you are back." The Elder Master stared at Feng Su, realizing almost immediately that this was a trap within a trap—a calculated move to deal a crushing blow to Feng Huang at the most critical moment.

Feng Su turned his gaze to Feng Huang. "Second Sister, long time no see."

"Long... long time no see. It is truly a joy that you could return alive." Feng Huang’s words were insincere, though her outward performance was flawless.

Most of those present were shrewd enough to realize that Feng Huang had been played by Feng Su. *As expected of the Crown Prince of the capital circle,* they thought. *The battle for the Feng family succession is going to be something to watch.*

"The successor chosen by the Elder Master is Feng Huang. Even if you have returned, the decision has been made," said a member of the Liu family. Having sided with Feng Huang, they could not sit idly by and watch her lose her position, as their own interests were deeply tied to hers.

Feng Su swept his gaze across the man, who shivered involuntarily. "That, I believe, is for Grandfather to decide," Feng Su said, his eyes bright with confidence. He knew that his mere presence here was enough to signal Feng Huang’s defeat. The internal strife of the Feng family was effectively coming to an end.

"Grandfather—has everything I have done for the Feng Group not been enough compared to Feng Su? And don't forget how my eldest brother was lost."

At the mention of Feng Li, a shadow of grief crossed the Elder Master’s face. Feng Li had once been his preferred heir. He was his eldest grandson, a child he had held the highest expectations for, only to have him go missing at the age of five. That tragedy was a wound that still festered, and mentioning it left the Elder Master unable to maintain his composure.

"Feng Su, even though you have returned, the successor has already been chosen."

"Is that so? Third Uncle, you didn't consult me before setting the heir. Isn't that a bit hasty?"

The crowd turned—it was the Grand Elder, the uncle of the Elder Master. He was the eldest living member of the entire Feng clan. Despite being ninety-eight years old, he remained remarkably robust. The descendants he had mentored had gone on to dominate the military, political, and business spheres. He rarely intervened in family matters, yet he had appeared today for Feng Su’s sake. Feng Huang felt a surge of jealousy; she had tried to visit him multiple times to secure his support, only to be met with cold indifference. Now, it was clear he had chosen Feng Su.

"Second Uncle, this is a matter I have already decided," the Elder Master said, frowning as he looked at Feng Su with clear displeasure. Bringing the Grand Elder into this was going too far.

"I am an elder of the Feng family! The Feng Group will not be yours to command alone! Since everyone is here today, I announce that the successor of the Feng Group shall be Feng Su."

Dressed in a traditional Tang suit, he struck his cane heavily against the floor.