The Censor was displeased and furious: “What? Is the Prime Minister’s Mansion so impoverished? The legitimate daughter of such a prestigious mansion actually lives in a leaky house!”
Second Concubine now understood—this little wretch had come prepared to humiliate the Prime Minister’s Mansion.
Upon hearing the news of Feng Qianqian’s return, Feng Xue’er was skeptical and came to the mansion’s entrance to see for herself.
Second Concubine immediately explained: “Qianqian, it’s all my fault. I was preoccupied with other matters and overlooked this. I’ll arrange another courtyard for you right away. Someone, escort the Eldest Miss to Hexiang Courtyard.”
“No, I disagree!”
A sharp voice rang out, and everyone turned to look into the courtyard.
Feng Qianqian looked at Feng Xue’er, a slight smirk curling at the corner of her lips.
Feng Xue’er approached Feng Qianqian and raised her hand to strike her.
Feng Qianqian grabbed her hand and delivered several sharp slaps—”Slap! Slap! Slap!”—before forcefully kicking her. Feng Xue’er was immediately knocked to the ground.
“Feng Xue’er, since ancient times, there has been a distinction between superior and inferior. It seems you were born but not taught! A mere concubine-born daughter dares to strike the legitimate eldest sister? Have I given you too much face?”
“Slap! Slap!” Two more blows landed.
If not for the presence of the two officials, Feng Qianqian would have whipped her until even her own mother wouldn’t recognize her.
One of the ladies began to criticize: “Isn’t this Feng Xue’er, the so-called top talented lady of the capital? To me, she looks like a shrew—daring to strike the legitimate daughter. The Eldest Miss didn’t hit her enough.”
Second Concubine’s anger surged as she ordered: “Quickly take Second Miss away.”
Meixiang hurriedly pulled Feng Xue’er aside.
Feng Qianqian’s voice was cold and fierce: “Second Concubine, all these years, I have never received my monthly allowance. I survived only because my Wet Nurse sold her embroidery. She passed away two years ago. Can you give me my monthly allowance now?”
The Censor roared: “What? You actually withheld the legitimate daughter’s monthly allowance? How dare a concubine defy the natural order! I never imagined Consort Shu’s sister could be so intolerant of a legitimate daughter. Tomorrow, I will also submit a memorial against the Prime Minister for favoring a concubine who abuses the daughter of his deceased wife.”
Second Concubine smiled on her lips, but her eyes gleamed with malice: “Eldest Miss, your monthly allowance was always distributed on time. It must have been withheld by some blind old servant. Rest assured, I will investigate thoroughly and ensure justice is served.”
One of Second Concubine’s close friends could no longer bear it: “I no longer wish to visit this corrupt Prime Minister’s Mansion. Let’s go.”
At her command, the two ladies beside her also left the mansion, their eyes filled with disdain.
Censor Lord Xiao said to Feng Qianqian: “Young Girl, I am a censorial official. Take this jade pendant. If anyone in the Prime Minister’s Mansion bullies you again in the future, bring this pendant directly to my residence and seek me out. Although I cannot intervene in the affairs of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, the Emperor is a wise ruler—he can. If a Prime Minister of the nation cannot even manage his own household, favoring a concubine who abuses the daughter of his deceased wife, how can he govern the country?”
Feng Qianqian felt inwardly triumphant. She accepted the pendant and curtsied: “Thank you, my lord!”
The two officials did not enter the mansion and instead walked away.
Seeing that most of the guests had dispersed, Second Concubine glared fiercely at Feng Qianqian, leaned close to her ear, and threatened venomously: “You little wretch, just you wait.”
Feng Qianqian cried out again: “Second Concubine, you called me a little wretch and told me to wait. Are you planning to kill me?”
Some guests who had not yet gone far immediately turned back.
Second Concubine changed her expression again: “Eldest Miss, you must have misheard. How would I dare?”
Early in the morning, Fourth Concubine had watched quite a show. She followed behind Feng Qianqian and also headed toward Hexiang Courtyard.
Feng Chenyu held Feng Qianqian’s hand, calling her “big sister” over and over.
Second Concubine shot Fourth Concubine a glance: “Lady Xu, does Feng Qianqian’s return have something to do with you!”
Fourth Concubine looked at her disdainfully: “Second Concubine, don’t pin this on me. How the Eldest Miss died, you and I both know perfectly well.
Now she has the Censor-in-chief and Minister Zhou backing her. If Second Concubine cares about the Prime Minister, you’d better put away those dirty tricks.
Otherwise, if this is brought before the Emperor and the Prime Minister is reprimanded, he won’t let you off either.”
Second Concubine understood this well, inwardly cursing angrily: Who knows what kind of dog’s luck this little wretch has stumbled upon, with two high officials speaking up for her.
But there’s plenty of time ahead. Under my watch, I doubt you can stir up any major trouble.
Second Concubine went to the front hall.
Prime Minister Feng was drinking tea in the flower hall. When Second Concubine entered, her voice was gentle: “Prime Minister, the Eldest Miss has returned.”
Prime Minister Feng’s expression turned stern: “She’s not dead?”
“She must have been rescued. Otherwise, how could she survive falling off a cliff?”
“That makes sense. It would have been better if she had died. A good-for-nothing, only bringing shame to the Prime Minister’s Mansion.”
A faint, almost imperceptible smile curled at the corner of Second Concubine’s lips, vanishing in an instant.
Tears began to roll down her cheeks one by one, as if she had suffered endless grievances: “Prime Minister, it’s all my fault for not educating the Eldest Miss properly.
In front of Lord Zhou, she spoke nonsense, tarnishing the reputation of the Prime Minister’s Mansion. I advised her to stop, but she wouldn’t listen.
She even complained about being given a poor courtyard to live in. Although Tingyu Pavilion is somewhat inferior, she chose it herself.”
Prime Minister Feng cared most about face. Immediately, anger surged within him, veins bulging on his forehead, his face turning ashen.
He flew into a rage: “That wretched creature! I must teach this insolent thing a proper lesson.”
Second Concubine felt pleased inwardly: “Prime Minister, perhaps you shouldn’t go. Otherwise, the Eldest Miss will just say I spoke ill of her behind her back again.”
Prime Minister Feng stood up, flicking his sleeve. “Let’s go. I’m going to teach that motherless, ill-bred wretch a lesson.”
Second Concubine was delighted in her heart but said with her mouth: “Prime Minister, the Eldest Miss is still young. Don’t take it to heart.”
“Young? She’s seventeen! What ‘young’? You had already given birth to Xue’er by the time you were seventeen.”
Prime Minister Feng stormed off toward Hexiang Courtyard…
Feng Chenyu held Feng Qianqian’s hand as they walked forward, looking rather gleeful.
“Big sister, something happened at the Prime Minister’s Mansion. Last night, the treasury was robbed and set on fire. From now on, the mansion won’t have peaceful days.
I still have some new clothes. I’ll send them to you later.
I have fifty taels in silver notes. After I exchange them for silver, we’ll split it half and half.”
Regarding this half-sister, Feng Qianqian thought she was quite decent, different from Feng Xue’er and the others.