Mingyue knelt on the ground, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, tears welling in her eyes.
At this moment, she actually wished her master were dead, so she wouldn’t have to suffer like this anymore.
Otherwise, with her father indifferent and her grandmother uncaring, having no one to rely on, life would be worse than death.
Just then, Meixiang felt someone tugging at her hair, and her entire body was dragged along uncontrollably.
“Who is it? Who’s pulling my hair? Let go, let go now!”
Mingyue was utterly confused: No one was pulling Meixiang’s hair, so what was happening to her?
Meixiang was dragged out of Tingyu Pavilion by her hair. Feng Qianqian grabbed her hair and flung her into the air.
With a thud, Meixiang fell from the air and crashed to the ground.
“Ah!”
A large patch of Meixiang’s scalp had been torn off, and her mouth was filled with blood.
“Who did this? Who did it? Show yourself!”
Her front teeth were gone, making her speech slurred, and the bones in her arms seemed to be broken as well.
Slowly climbing to her feet, she looked around but saw no one in sight.
Meixiang turned deathly pale with fear and screamed, “A ghost!”
She limped away quickly toward Xuemei Courtyard.
A wicked smile curled at the corner of Feng Qianqian’s lips as she emerged from her dimensional space and returned to the room.
Mingyue wiped her tears with one hand while sobbing, “Miss, even though you’re dead, I still wish you were alive.
For the past year, I’ve endured their torment, hoping only to wait for your return so I could continue serving you.
This was also my mother’s dying wish, but a year has passed, and there hasn’t been a single trace of you.
I don’t want to wait any longer. Wait for me in the underworld.”
With that, she rushed toward a pillar.
Feng Qianqian never expected Mingyue would sacrifice herself for her master.
In a flash, she dashed over and stood directly in front of the pillar.
“Ouch, Mingyue, you nearly knocked me to death!”
Mingyue realized she had crashed into someone’s arms. Looking up, she saw it was Feng Qianqian.
Overwhelmed with joy, she immediately hugged Feng Qianqian and burst into tears.
“Miss, I’ve finally seen you again. We’ll never be apart, even in the underworld.”
Tears streamed down her face as she poured out all the grievances she had suffered over the past year.
Feng Qianqian gently patted Mingyue’s head. “Mingyue, I’m not dead. I’ve returned.”
Mingyue wiped her tears and looked up at Feng Qianqian. “Miss, are you really not dead?”
Feng Qianqian nodded.
Mingyue pinched Feng Qianqian’s arm. “You have flesh and blood. You’re alive! That’s wonderful!”
A smile spread across her face.
“Miss, let’s leave the Prime Minister’s Mansion.
This place is full of vicious wolves who devour people. In the future, I can sell some embroidery, and we won’t starve.”
She walked to an inconspicuous cabinet, opened a bundle wrapped layer upon layer, and took out three taels of silver.
“Miss, this is the money I earned from selling embroidery. Please take it.
Let’s leave now. My cousin’s family lives in Youzhou City. We can go to them.”
Perhaps due to the original owner’s memories or the body’s instinctive reaction, tears welled up in Feng Qianqian’s eyes.
Her voice choked with emotion, she said, “Mingyue, we will live a good life from now on.
Keep this silver for yourself. Your young lady is blessed and fortunate, saved by a great master.
We don’t need to leave. I will make those who bullied us pay the price.”
Mingyue continued, “Miss, at the palace banquet a few days ago, the Emperor suddenly asked about the Prime Minister’s legitimate eldest daughter for some reason. Perhaps he intends to arrange a marriage.”
Second Concubine falsely claimed that you had accidentally fallen off a cliff while secretly gathering herbs and had already perished, with your body being transported back to the capital.
At the time, all the ministers and their families attending the palace banquet heard it.
To keep up appearances, the Chancellor has no choice but to hold a funeral for you tomorrow.
Miss, after you disappeared, only Fourth Concubine sent people to look for you, but they couldn’t find you.
The Chancellor and the old madam didn’t even bother to ask about you.
Feng Qianqian curled her lips into a smile: “It seems there will be quite a show tomorrow. They want to earn a good reputation, but I’ll make sure they’re infamous instead.
Mingyue, don’t tell anyone you’ve seen me. I’m leaving now.
Tomorrow, I’ll return to the mansion openly, and from then on, no one will dare bully us again.
Once I’ve taken my revenge, we’ll leave the Prime Minister’s Mansion.”
Mingyue pressed her lips into a thin line and nodded repeatedly: “I believe you, Miss.”
After speaking, Feng Qianqian quietly slipped out of the courtyard.
She entered her dimensional space and made her way toward Chancellor Feng’s courtyard.
Two figures were in the study—the original owner’s biological father, Feng Zhennan, and Second Concubine Liu Ruyin.
Second Concubine’s voice was gentle: “Chancellor, why did the Emperor suddenly mention the eldest miss, forcing us to hold a funeral for her?”
“How would I know!”
Liu Ruyin massaged Chancellor Feng’s shoulders and tentatively asked: “Chancellor, now that the eldest miss is dead, what should we do with her mother’s dowry?
Should it be left for the two young masters, or…”
The Chancellor put down the scroll in his hand. The mention of Jiang Yao’s two sons made him frown and filled him with anger. He asked, “How is Yunlang?
I’ve been so preoccupied with court affairs, helping the Emperor with his worries, that I haven’t seen him in two years.”
Second Concubine sighed, her face clouded with worry: “He was fine before, but I don’t know what evil spirit possessed him. He’s been getting worse day by day, even speaking nonsense.
He no longer recognizes anyone and bites anyone he sees. Several doctors have been called to examine him, but they all say he’s already gone mad and there’s no hope of recovery.
I refused to give up and even sought out a Taoist priest from Wuliang Mountain, but he also said Yunlang’s life is nearing its end and he won’t last more than a few days.
Who would have thought that such a clever child would end up like this? My heart aches for him!”
After speaking, as if overwhelmed with grief, she took out a handkerchief and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Chancellor Feng patted her hand: “Ruyin, you’ve done more than enough for him. Even his birth mother couldn’t have done more. There’s no need to feel guilty.”
Liu Ruyin continued: “A few days ago, the second young master went to Jiangnan with friends. Who knows when he’ll return? He was never interested in his studies, and though he went out to pursue knowledge, he achieved nothing. Instead, he picked up some unsavory habits.
He spends all his time lingering among flowers, indulging in drinking, gambling, and visiting brothels.
Last month, the managers from Yihong Court and the gambling den came with IOUs demanding repayment.
I’ve scolded him a few times, but since I’m not his birth mother, I worry that if I say too much, he won’t be able to accept it.
I’m truly afraid that if the dowry falls into his hands, it’ll be squandered in just a few days.”
Chancellor Feng’s face turned livid with rage, and he slammed his fist on the table. “What sin have I, Feng Zhennan, committed to have such a worthless son?
This family must never be handed over to him. How is Mingxuan doing?”
Second Concubine’s tone softened considerably: “Mingxuan has been a concubine-born son since childhood and knows that only through hard work can he earn merit.
His two tutors have taught him everything they know and even said it would be a shame if such a genius couldn’t become a companion to the imperial princes.”
“Ruyin, you truly know how to raise children well.”
Xue’er has truly captured the heart of the Third Prince. Although the position of principal consort is already decided, she is more than qualified to become a side consort.”
He pondered for a moment. “Let all of Lady Jiang’s dowry be given to Xue’er. If her dowry is too meager when she marries into the Chenwang Residence, she might be looked down upon by the other women.”
“Your words are most wise, Chancellor. On behalf of Xue’er, I thank you. Chancellor, I have a presumptuous request.”
“Speak freely!”
“There is a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children. After all, Xue’er is born of a concubine, and Mingxuan also bears the stigma of being an illegitimate son, unable to hold his head high.
Now, the legitimate sons in the Prime Minister’s Mansion are not up to par. Could they be adopted under Lady Jiang’s name to become legitimate heirs?”
Chancellor Feng’s eyes grew deep and dark. After careful consideration, he finally spoke. “That won’t be necessary. Lady Jiang has been gone for over a decade.
You have always managed the Prime Minister’s Mansion diligently and conscientiously, and I have seen it all.
One month from now is your birthday. I will elevate you to the status of a principal wife, and your children will become legitimate heirs.”
Liu Ruyin’s eyes curved into a smile as she bowed gracefully. “Thank you, Chancellor!”
These were words she had longed to hear for over a decade, and now her wish was finally coming true.
Madam Liu asked further, “Chancellor, where will the eldest young lady’s coffin be buried?”
The anger that had just subsided in Chancellor Feng’s eyes was replaced by a flash of killing intent. “Bury it anywhere, it doesn’t matter.”
“I understand.”