"The Feng Family is bullying us, trying to drive us out of our homes. We'll fight her to the death!"
"Fight to the death!"
No one knew who yelled it first, but the villagers were consumed by fury. Wielding sickles, they charged at Fengyu. Zhang Da kicked one of them aside and stomped heavily, holding him down. Two elderly men cried out for their sons and lunged forward. Zhang Da loosened his grip.
Fengyu clutched her hand warmer and watched the shouting villagers with a faint smile. Zhang Da felt a chill run through his heart; he knew Fengyu all too well. She was resolute and thrived in confrontation. The more resistance the villagers showed, hoping to intimidate her, the less likely she was to change her mind. Whatever she set out to accomplish, she never left undone.
"If we're all going to die anyway, let's kill you first—no one gets out alive."
Seeing the situation veering out of control, Village Chief Wang hurriedly stepped in to mediate. "Third Miss, don't press too hard. Let's take a step back each; the villagers have their own hardships too."
Fengyu looked at him quietly, her gaze colder than autumn winds.
"So what if I were to die? You would still be cast out of your homes. My father has another daughter besides me, and with this feeble body, I may not live much longer. But as for you, you'd lose everything and be left wandering homeless. Doesn't sound like a very good deal, does it?"
The villagers glanced at one another, their spirits shaken. Several women knelt down in a hurry. "Miss, we beg you to show mercy and spare us."
Fengyu covered her mouth and coughed a few times. Chunlu opened a jade bottle, pouring out two pills for her. After Fengyu swallowed them, her pale complexion gradually grew rosier.
"Ten years ago, you fled here from the Southern regions, starving and destitute, your families shattered. I imagine you don't wish to relive those days. The grain must be paid, and the land rent supplemented," Fengyu said calmly, "Life must go on. Yiling Village is affluent. Pay the rent, harvest well next year, and you can continue living in peace. If Chief Wang can't do the job, then we'll replace him. It's not such a big deal; there's no need for all this fighting. Fellow villagers, isn't that reasonable?"
The noisy crowd quieted for a moment. The Feng Family truly was a generous landlord. Owning such a large manor like Yiling Village, they hadn't dispatched people to supervise nor enslaved anyone. A single acre of rice paddies was enough to support an entire household, with additional industries on top. Why ruin their relationship with the Feng Family over land rent? Life still had to move forward.
Many villagers' eyes reddened as they recalled their days of fleeing. Those were nightmare-like times. Nowadays, most of them lived peacefully; their children attended school securely, year after year, with a surplus of grain. Who wanted to return to those days of suffering?
"Ha! You little wench, so this is your game. Do you think you can remove me as Village Chief on a whim?" Village Chief Wang spread his arms, his voice thundering with zeal. "These ten years, Yiling Village prospered under my leadership and became renowned for its wealth. Now you want to cut me off when the well's dry? Dream on! The villagers won't agree!"
Some villagers chimed in in support. Fengyu responded with a faint smile, "Yiling Village is not your property. The land improvement in Yiling Village? My grandfather explicitly hired specialists from the Southern regions and spent two years transforming it. After you received the land, it was my mother who sent people to teach you planting, maintenance, and harvesting. And what contributions did you make?"
The weather was frigid, and Fengyu had no desire to bicker further with them. "From now on, Yiling Village falls under my management—one means one, two means two. There won't be any bargaining. If you agree, the matter is settled. If not, then we'll destroy one another completely. Let's see if you have the courage to oppose me."
Fengyu left them no third option. Yiling Village would learn to familiarize itself with its new master; she wasn't one for negotiation.
A woman asked nervously, "Miss, will you truly let bygones be bygones?"
"Naturally!" Fengyu smiled gently, her expression soft. "I'm very reasonable."
The crowd went, "..."
Lin Xiao arrived with his men, charging quickly to Yiling Village. He was deeply distressed along the way. The path into the village was unobstructed, but the villagers remained gathered together, chaotic and noisy. Someone even shouted, "Don't kill him!" Lin Xiao's eyes flared in anger as he spurred his horse into the crowd. A scion of the capital, notorious for galloping through streets without care, Lin Xiao intimidated those nearby; they screamed and fled.
"Stop! Don't fight anymore!" Lin Xiao shouted, spotting Fengyu lounging lazily as soon as he finished. Wrapped in her cloak, she resembled a porcelain doll, staring in some surprise at him. On a stone slab beside her was a pile of account books, while two young maidens in narrow-sleeved jackets and long skirts sorted through them.
The one being beaten was none other than Village Chief Wang. Fengyu had effortlessly resolved Yiling Village's rebellion.
Lin Xiao dismounted. Though young, his stature was tall and commanding, his features sharp and strikingly handsome, with the arrogance of youth etched on his brow. Village Chief Wang, already beaten black and blue, clung to Lin Xiao's leg when he saw him arrive. "Sir, sir, I beg you, I wish to lodge a complaint against Fengyu! I must sue her!"
"Take it to the court; I'm not the County Magistrate." Lin Xiao impatiently kicked him aside and strode toward Fengyu, asking curtly, "What are you doing here?"
Zhang Da stepped forward, shielding her. "Sir, please halt."
"Move!" Lin Xiao's eyes turned cold, his temper fiery.
Fengyu waved a hand, and Zhang Da retreated half a step. "I'm auditing accounts. There was a small misunderstanding, but it's mostly cleared up now."
"Did they hit you?" Lin Xiao frowned, displeasure flickering in his gaze.
Fengyu blinked with surprise. His tone struck her as odd, as though he'd rush to her defense if she were harmed. Yet Lin Xiao had often spoken to her with cutting words, no less venomous than anyone else's.
"Why are you here?"
"Auditing accounts with such few people and sparking a rebellion in Yiling Village—it's quite impressive. I came to check if you've been beaten to death."
"Sorry to disappoint you," Fengyu replied with a grin. Now this was the Lin Xiao she knew. "I'm perfectly fine."
With officials from the county arriving, Yiling Village's matter became even more manageable. A new Village Chief had been selected, and Fengyu intended to dispatch personnel for oversight. The account books were nearly sorted. Zhang Da ordered them loaded onto a cart. When the Gaoping County officials realized the 'rebellion' was a false alarm, they couldn't help but admire Fengyu's skills. Managing Yiling Village was no small feat. Village Chief Wang had been arrogant and domineering, even the County Magistrate paid him deference. But Third Miss Feng effortlessly ousted him, securing unanimous votes from the villagers—a truly remarkable feat.
Night had fallen, and the city gates were shut. Fengyu led her group to a nearby manor. The Feng Family also owned a retreat in Yiling Village, nestled in a mountain near the stables, frequently visited for vacations.
Lin Xiao urged his horse to follow her carriage. Fengyu lifted the curtain. "Why are you trailing me?"
"You stirred up trouble in Yiling Village. The County Magistrate sent me to assist. Now delayed and unable to return to the city, you owe me a night's lodging," Lin Xiao replied, lounging nonchalantly on horseback.
The youth donned a plain robe beneath a black cloak adorned with silver patterns. Born into an illustrious family, he carried his pride like a shield, exuding arrogance even when seeking favors.
Fengyu let the curtain fall without responding. Lin Xiao did not seem to mind, the darkness veiling the trace of a smile.
Fengyu had met Lin Xiao at the Imperial College. Her first visit there had been for an art assessment—specifically tasked with portraying figures. She and Lin Xiao had been paired together. Lin Xiao's painting of her captured beauty and dynamism, while hers depicted him as unsightly. Thus, their grudge took root. This enmity extended not only to him but also to his younger sister.