Feng Shuying lifted her eyelids and looked at the luxuriously dressed woman sitting in the main seat, her gaze cold and deep.
This woman was her aunt, Madam Hua, one of the people who had bullied the original owner of this body so much she could no longer bear to live.
Seeing her standing still, Madam Hua signaled to the two old servant women standing below. They immediately rushed forward, intending to force Feng Shuying to her knees.
As they charged, Feng Shuying swiftly drew the knife she had bought and hacked directly at the hands reaching for her.
The blade was razor-sharp, severing one servant woman's hand instantly.
After cutting the first woman, Feng Shuying followed up with a backhanded stab into the other woman's shoulder.
In an instant, screams rang out through the room as blood splattered everywhere.
Madam Hua stood up in shock, raging, "Feng Shuying, what are you doing?"
Feng Shuying knew her current actions were a far cry from the original owner's personality; she needed to find a justification for her behavior.
Her hand gripping the knife trembled slightly, and a hint of madness flickered through the cowardice in her eyes. Her voice shook as she spoke, "Chu Wang told me that if I want to live, I have to be ruthless."
"If he sees me being bullied, he will kill me!"
Hearing this, Lin Wanting, who was sitting below Madam Hua, inexplicably recalled the scene from earlier today where Jing Moye had thrust a knife into Chen Yansheng’s mouth and stirred it around.
When Jing Moye left today, he had indeed whispered a few words into Feng Shuying’s ear. Words like that certainly sounded like something Jing Moye would say.
Madam Hua slammed her hand on the table and shouted, "Nonsense! How could Chu Wang say such a thing? You're clearly just refusing to be disciplined and making excuses for your violent behavior!"
Feng Shuying lowered her eyes slightly and said in a timid voice, "If Aunt doesn't believe me, you can go and ask Chu Wang yourself."
Madam Hua was speechless.
Everyone in the capital knew that Chu Wang suffered from a strange illness and had a perverse temperament, acting entirely on his whims; he was not someone to be trifled with. Madam Hua dared to scheme against Feng Shuying in a thousand ways, but she absolutely did not dare to go to Chu Wang for confirmation.
She said coldly, "This is sheer rebellion! A young lady eloping and engaging in illicit affairs with a man—as your elder, am I not allowed to discipline you? Look at yourself! You have nearly disgraced the entire Lin Fu! According to the rules of Lin Fu, the Jiafa must be carried out. Men, bring the Jiafa!"
The footmen at the door responded.
The Jiafa of Lin Fu was a long whip covered in barbs; a single lash could tear a person’s skin and flesh apart. Madam Hua hadn't specified how many lashes Feng Shuying was to receive, which meant she intended to have her beaten to death.
Feng Shuying said coldly, "Wait!"
The footmen looked at her, and she looked at Madam Hua. "Aunt, my surname is Feng, not Lin. I am not subject to the rules of Lin Fu."
Madam Hua was taken aback; she was so used to bullying Feng Shuying that she had forgotten this point.
Lin Wanting added from the side, "Although Cousin's surname is not Lin, she has lived in Lin Fu all these years, just like a young miss of the family. Since that is the case, the rules of Lin Fu naturally apply to you."
Her scheme today had failed, and she had been terrified by Jing Moye; she had been harboring a belly full of rage. Seeing Feng Shuying dare to resist now only made her more displeased.
If Feng Shuying didn't have a knife in her hand, she would have already stepped forward to strike her. Now, she just wanted a reason to act—to have Feng Shuying beaten to death.
Madam Hua echoed her daughter, "Ting'er is right. Even if your surname isn't Lin, living in Lin Fu makes you a daughter of the house, so you must abide by its rules! For what you have done today, you deserve punishment by Jiafa."
She glared at the footmen. "What are you still standing there for? Go and bring the Jiafa!"
The footmen responded.
Feng Shuying saw through them; this mother and daughter were bent on taking her life, and there was no reasoning with them.
With a quick movement, she flashed to Lin Wanting’s side and pressed the knife against her throat. "Since Cousin wants me dead so badly, why don't you die first!"
Her hand moved, slicing a line across Lin Wanting's neck.
It wasn't deep, but it broke the skin and exposed her throat; one harder stroke would have slit it open.
In Lin Wanting’s memory, Feng Shuying had always been cowardly. The boldest thing she had ever done was eloping with Chen Yansheng under Wanting's instigation.
So, even when Feng Shuying attacked the two servants just now, Lin Wanting was only surprised, not afraid. She had seen Feng Shuying’s hands trembling and felt she was merely putting on a brave front.
However, she truly hadn't expected Feng Shuying to dare hold a knife to her throat, especially while her hands were still shaking!
What Lin Wanting feared most now was precisely that trembling; every time Feng Shuying’s hand shook, another nick appeared on her neck. In just a short moment, there were already five or six small cuts!
These were minor injuries, but she was terrified that one wrong jerk would slit her throat.
She was scared out of her wits. "Cousin, let's talk this out!"
Madam Hua was also frantic. "Feng Shuying, put the knife down immediately!"
Feng Shuying sniffled and said, "I know that as soon as I put the knife down, you'll beat me to death with the Jiafa. Since I'm going to die anyway, I might as well take Cousin with me. At least I'll have company on the road to the Yellow Springs."
Madam Hua hurriedly said, "It’s not like that! I was just frustrated that you weren't meeting expectations. I was disciplining you as if you were my own daughter, not trying to kill you!"
Feng Shuying snatched the gold hairpins and ornaments from Lin Wanting's hair. "I can't believe those words, Aunt. Over the years, you've bought so much jewelry for Cousin, yet never a single piece for me. I even have to wear her hand-me-down clothes and work like a servant in this house. Is there anyone in this world who treats their own daughter like this?"
Madam Hua was at a loss for words.
Feng Shuying’s uncle, Lin Shuzheng, pulled back the curtain and stepped out, raising his hand to slap Madam Hua across the face.
He barked, "You venomous woman! How dare you mistreat Shuying behind my back? Have you no conscience?"
He then looked at Feng Shuying with a face full of guilt. "Shuying, it’s all your uncle's fault for not realizing your aunt was treating you this way. Rest assured, as long as I am here, no one in this Lin Fu will be allowed to harm you in the slightest."
When Feng Shuying saw Lin Shuzheng, a hint of mockery appeared in her eyes.
This bastard always played 'good cop' to Madam Hua's 'bad cop'—one bullying her while the other comforted her. They would strike her with a stick then offer a carrot, all to coax money and connections out of the original owner's hands.
She was certain that if she hadn't held the knife to Lin Wanting's throat, this coward would have stayed hidden in his room.
Her actions today, besides self-defense, were meant to force him out. Now that he had shown himself, she was going to make sure he paid a heavy price!