The maid complied, walking out blankly with the kitchen cleaver in hand, heading toward Madam Hua’s room.
As it was already late and the surroundings were dark, although some servants spotted her, they paid her no mind. From a distance, they could not see the wound on her forehead.
Because Lin Shuzheng had been nagged by Madam Hua for arranging Feng Shuying to live next door to Lin Wanting, he was not in Madam Hua’s room tonight, but had gone to a concubine’s quarters instead.
At this moment, Lin Wanting was in Madam Hua’s room, where mother and daughter were discussing how to kill Feng Shuying.
Lin Wanting had suffered a great loss at Feng Shuying’s hands today, and she simply could not swallow this grievance. Furthermore, when she heard that Feng Shuying was staying right next door to her, it became even more unbearable.
What kind of creature was Feng Shuying? What right did she have to live in such a nice house, and right next to her at that?
With reddened eyes, she said to Madam Hua, "Mother, find an excuse to make Feng Shuying move further away. She’s going to die soon anyway; having her live next door to me is just too disgusting."
Her neck was still wrapped in gauze, stained with spots of blood—injuries carved by Feng Shuying. She had planned today’s events for a long time, originally thinking she could solve the Feng Shuying problem once and for all. She hadn't expected things to fail, leaving her injured instead.
Madam Hua said in a heavy voice, "That wretch has been acting strange since her return. Her marriage to Chu Wang has been finalized, so she can die now."
She had never been able to tolerate Feng Shuying. Today, not only had she been humiliated by the girl, but she had also been slapped by Lin Shuzheng. She was nearly dying of rage.
Lin Wanting asked her, "Mother, how are we going to kill her?"
A venomous glint flickered in Madam Hua’s eyes as she said deeply, "She is now Chu Wang’s fiancée, so we cannot kill her directly. Even if she dies, she must die outside. In a couple of days, I will take her to offer incense, and I’ll arrange for someone to rape and then kill her!"
Over the years, she had always treated Feng Shuying poorly and had long wanted to get rid of her. However, Lin Shuzheng had told her that since Feng Shuying was already in her teens, they could marry her off one last time to secure a substantial dowry. It was only because of this that Madam Hua, despite her mistreatment, had not driven Feng Shuying to a dead end.
In her view, all of Feng Shuying's paternal relatives were dead, and on her mother's side, there was only one uncle, Lin Shuzheng. She was a genuine orphan. They could deal with such an orphan girl however they pleased; even if she died, no one would stand up for her.
Lin Wanting reminded Madam Hua, "Mother, this time the plan must be foolproof. Chen Wang said that as long as I handle this matter well, he will immediately request a decree for our marriage and make me his primary consort."
Madam Hua said with a beaming smile, "When I do things, you can rest assured!"
There was a sudden movement at the door. She turned her head and saw Feng Shuying’s maid walking in, her face covered in blood.
Madam Hua said with some displeasure, "What happened to you? What are you doing here so late?"
The maid said somewhat woodenly, "You bully an orphan girl; you are utterly heartless. In the name of the moon, I shall eliminate you!"
Having said that, she raised the kitchen cleaver in her hand and hacked toward Madam Hua.
This action was completely beyond Madam Hua’s expectations. Unprepared, she was struck in the shoulder by the cleaver.
With a scream like a slaughtered pig, the sound echoed through the skies of the entire Lin Fu.
Hearing this sound, Feng Shuying gave a light smile and arched an eyebrow.
Most of the suffering the original owner had endured over the years originated from Madam Hua. After she transmigrated here, Madam Hua had immediately tried to kill her, so she naturally had to give the woman a taste of her own medicine.
The technique she used on the maid today was a type of Shufa from the Daomen. it could confuse a person's mind for a short time, making them act according to her instructions. This kind of Shufa was somewhat sinister, and Feng Shuying rarely used it. However, since the maid was wicked at heart, she felt no psychological burden using it.
She let out a yawn, leaned back in her chair with her legs crossed, and waited for the subsequent commotion.
About half an hour later, the mama serving Madam Hua came to knock on Feng Shuying’s door, saying that Madam Hua requested her presence. Because Feng Shuying had brandished a knife earlier that day, the mama who came to fetch her was visibly more polite than usual.
Feng Shuying gave a response, opened the door, and followed the mama to Madam Hua’s room.
As soon as she entered, she saw a room in total disarray, splattered with blood.
Madam Hua and Lin Wanting sat in chairs with their hair and jewelry in a mess. Both were injured; although their wounds had been bandaged, blood was still seeping through. At this moment, the two of them looked rather like plucked chickens, stripped of their usual glamour.
The maid had already been tied up and forced to kneel on the ground. At this point, the effects of the Shufa had not fully worn off, and she sat there looking somewhat dazed.
Lin Shuzheng sat there with a dark expression. When Madam Hua was injured by the maid earlier, he had been right at the critical moment of his amorous play with his concubine. Madam Hua’s howl had caused him to go limp instantly. Anyone would be furious encountering such a thing, and he was no exception. It was just that the matter was too private to speak aloud.
Seeing this scene, Feng Shuying found it hilarious, yet she put on a face of deep concern. "Aunt, Cousin, what happened? What’s wrong with you both?"
Madam Hua’s temper flared the moment she saw Feng Shuying. She roared, "Feng Shuying, did you instigate your maid to come and kill me?"
Feng Shuying glanced at the maid and said, "Aunt, where is this coming from? Although this maid is mine in name, I don’t even see her twice a month. Not to mention, half a year ago, you transferred her to the embroidery room; she hasn't been serving in my quarters. However, she did mention to me before that she was indeed dissatisfied with you, saying you promised her silver last time but didn't give it to her. Perhaps it was because of that matter that she developed murderous intent toward you."
Madam Hua raged, "She is your maid! Now that something like this has happened, you're just going to wash your hands of it entirely?"
Feng Shuying said with an innocent look, "Aunt is the one who pays her monthly wages. If she still counts as my maid despite that, then so be it. This maid doesn't listen to me anyway. Since she has committed such a rebellious and unfilial act, why don't you just beat her to death, Aunt?"
Madam Hua: "…"
She had originally wanted to use this incident as a pretext to make things difficult for Feng Shuying. After all, when she had previously ordered this maid to intentionally make mistakes, Feng Shuying, out of sentimentality, had often pleaded for the girl. Madam Hua had manipulated Feng Shuying through this and gained many benefits.
But now, Feng Shuying was telling her to just beat the maid to death?
This was completely outside her expectations. She had prepared a bellyful of words, but not a single one could be used.
She pointed at Feng Shuying and said, "She is a maid you brought from the Feng household! How can you be so cold-blooded and heartless?"
Feng Shuying replied, "Did you not repeatedly teach me, Aunt, that one must act with justice and not let personal feelings override the greater good? Now I am following your teachings by sacrificing kin for the sake of justice. How has that turned into being cold-blooded and heartless?"