Shortly after Fourth Concubine and Feng Chenyu left, Chancellor Feng stormed into Hexiang Courtyard in a rage.
Mingyue had simply packed a few pieces of clothing and arrived in the courtyard carrying a bundle.
A smile blossomed on Mingyue’s face. “Miss, this place is so beautiful—far better than our old courtyard, I can’t even compare.”
The courtyard was surrounded by a low wall built from delicate blue-gray bricks, covered with lush green vines and blooming wildflowers, adding a touch of vitality and rustic charm to this small haven.
Stepping into the courtyard, one could see carefully trimmed emerald bamboo, tall and elegant, its shadows swaying gently. When the breeze passed through, the greenery rustled softly.
Beside the pavilion, a clear green pond shimmered with ripples, where a few water lilies bloomed quietly, emitting a faint, refreshing fragrance.
Fish in the pond swam joyfully through the water, occasionally leaping out and splashing circles of ripples across the surface…
“Miss, let’s go inside and take a look.” With that, she took Feng Qianqian’s hand and started toward the house.
Just then, a loud voice rang out. “You disgraceful girl! How dare you come back? Why didn’t you just die out there?”
Feng Qianqian turned toward the courtyard gate and saw a middle-aged man striding in angrily, with Second Concubine following behind.
Feng Qianqian guessed that this must be the scumbag father of the original host.
“Prime Minister, please slow down. Anger harms the body,” Second Concubine advised.
Chancellor Feng scrutinized the person before him. Her face was dirty, but where sweat had trickled through, fair skin was visible.
Her large, autumn-water-like eyes blinked incessantly, carrying an air of elegance and liveliness.
She wore an old dress that had been washed until it faded, slightly too short, exposing her wrists.
Seeing her, Chancellor Feng felt nothing but disgust.
Mingyue curtsied in greeting. “Greetings, Prime Minister!”
Out of courtesy, Feng Qianqian also curtsied. “Qianqian pays her respects to Father!”
Chancellor Feng glared, panting heavily. “How dare you say that? I have no daughter like you.
You have such nerve, picking and choosing in front of everyone, saying the courtyard was no good, and even spreading lies to ruin the reputation of the Prime Minister’s Mansion.”
“I only said the house leaked. That’s an undeniable fact—I was just telling the truth.”
“You still shouldn’t have said it!”
Feng Qianqian’s eyes held killing intent. “Feng Zhennan, you are unworthy of being a nation’s Prime Minister, allowing concubines to abuse the daughter of your deceased wife. My mother was wrong to place her trust in you.
Feng Xue’er forced poison down my throat. Fortunately, I was saved by a master and escaped death.”
Chancellor Feng stepped forward and slapped Feng Qianqian. “Nonsense!”
Feng Qianqian dodged and, taking advantage of his unpreparedness, kicked him while simultaneously driving a poisoned Plum Blossom Needle straight into Chancellor Feng’s body.
Feng Qianqian seethed inwardly: If you insist on seeking death, then go die!
Second Concubine helped Feng Xiang up.
Chancellor Feng was furious. “Don’t you dare slander Xue’er. She is so gentle—how could she poison you?”
Feng Qianqian’s eyes seemed poisoned, her entire body radiating killing intent. Her voice was fierce and threatening. “Whether it was her or not no longer matters. Everyone who has bullied me will pay the price!”
Second Concubine grew anxious. “Eldest Miss, you must not slander your sister like this.
Xue’er can’t even bear to step on an ant—how could she send someone to poison you?”
Hearing these words, Chancellor Feng’s eyes grew even more profound.
He pondered: Xue’er must marry the Third Prince and become his Side Consort. I absolutely cannot let this disgraceful girl tarnish her reputation.
Perhaps she was thinking of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, wanting to remove this stain.
Chancellor Feng’s eyes flashed with malice: “Xue’er has always been kind-hearted; she would never do such a thing. If you dare spout nonsense again, I’ll break your legs directly.”
Feng Qianqian’s eyes revealed a mocking expression: “I never thought you, Chancellor Feng, would speak against your conscience without fear of being struck by lightning someday!”
“Wretched girl!” Feng Xiang’s face flushed red with anger.
He raised his hand to strike Feng Qianqian again.
Feng Qianqian grabbed his arm and flung it aside forcefully, causing Chancellor Feng to stumble and fall to the ground.
She then slapped Second Concubine hard across the face.
“If Chancellor Feng hits me, I’ll beat you!”
Slap, slap—two resounding blows landed.
Second Concubine covered her swollen, reddened face and sobbed, “Prime Minister, look at the Eldest Miss!”
“Madwoman, truly mad!” Chancellor Feng roared. Yet, there was nothing he could do about this daughter of his.
Second Concubine spoke again: “Prime Minister, there’s no need to be angry. The Eldest Miss is no longer young; she has already passed the age for marriage. After all, she is the Legitimate Daughter of the Prime Minister’s Mansion. No matter how ugly she is, she can still fetch some dowry.”
She patted Chancellor Feng’s chest, helping him calm down.
In a soft voice, she said, “Prime Minister, there’s a Liu Baiwan in the west of the city, immensely wealthy but unfortunately without a son. This has troubled him greatly. Some Daoist priest once divined for him, saying that to have a son in the Liu household, he must marry a noblewoman. Moreover, she must be the Legitimate Daughter of an official of the fifth rank or higher to break the curse. You wouldn’t believe it—they offer dowries based on the rank of the official. As the Prime Minister, the dowry for your daughter would be at least a hundred thousand taels of silver and over a dozen chests of jewels. Daughters grow up and must marry sooner or later; it doesn’t matter who they marry. What’s crucial is that we can exchange her for silver to resolve the crisis in the Prime Minister’s Mansion. This way, we won’t have to worry about the dowries for Xue’er and Yan’er either.”
“How old is this Liu Baiwan?”
“I heard he’s over sixty!”
“A bit old!” Feng Xiang remarked.
“Older men know how to cherish their wives. If we marry Qianqian off to a young man, would we get that much silver?”
“That’s true. I’ll consider this matter carefully before making a decision.”
“Prime Minister, let this humble wife help you back.”
Second Concubine supported the limping Chancellor Feng as they walked out…
Feng Qianqian’s voice was icy: “If you think you can marry me off, abandon that thought. Let’s see who ends up marrying!”
Mingyue was also furious: “Eldest Miss, let’s leave this place tonight. Their next step will be to exchange you for silver. If you’re married off to a wretched old man, it’ll be a disaster.”
“Don’t worry. As long as they dare to do it, they shouldn’t regret it later.”
Seeing the Eldest Miss’s confident demeanor, Mingyue felt reassured.
…
Once outside the courtyard, Second Concubine instructed: “Quickly, fetch a physician.”
Chancellor Feng was in so much pain that fine beads of sweat dotted his forehead. “How could this happen!”
The two went to the main courtyard and waited in the bedroom for the physician.
The Steward, having been summoned, hurried in. “Prime Minister, something terrible has happened. The treasury caught fire unexpectedly last night, and everything inside was burned to ashes.”
Chancellor Feng forced himself to stand despite the pain, unable to believe his ears. He questioned, “What did you say? Where was the fire?”
“It was the treasury. The adjacent courtyard was also affected. Last night, we sent someone to inform you, but you never came out. It was Fourth Concubine who ordered people to put out the fire.”
“Impossible! The treasury is guarded by four people, and there are patrols in the mansion. How could a fire break out?” Second Concubine found it hard to believe.
“Absolutely true, and the fire is about to reach Xuemei Courtyard. The Third Prince and the Second Young Lady were called out in disheveled clothing.”
Chancellor Feng glared at Second Concubine: “The fine daughter you raised has truly brought shame upon our household.”
At this moment, Second Concubine felt a pang of distress—the treasury contained the entire wealth of the Prime Minister’s Mansion.
Inside was also the dowry of that wretched Jiang Yao. How could it just burn away like this?
Chancellor Feng felt dizzy, his vision swimming, as if the world were spinning.
His heart felt as though pierced by ten thousand steel blades. Clutching his chest weakly, he murmured, “Steward, help me to the treasury.”
The Steward stepped forward, supporting Chancellor Feng as they made their way to the treasury.
Upon reaching the courtyard where the treasury stood, there was no treasury to be seen—only a pile of ruins remained.
The beams were charred black, still emitting faint wisps of smoke.
Chancellor Feng could hardly believe his eyes. He stammered incoherently, “How could this happen? How could this happen!
This will be the death of me! Send someone to investigate—who set this fire!”
Seemingly forgetting his pain, he remembered his small private vault. Like a drunken man stumbling in a run, he staggered toward the study…