Chunlu was also injured. Several maids accompanied her back to Meiyuan first, while Qiuxiang followed Fengyu to find Lady Feng. Just as they entered the second gate, a maid from Fengyu Courtyard hurried over, her expression somewhat grave. "Miss, Village Chief Wang from Yiling Village came today. The lady flew into quite a rage and has already sent someone to Meiyuan to summon you."
"Understood."
When Fengyu arrived at Lady Feng's courtyard, Feng Ling was in the yard playing pitch-pot with the maids. Upon seeing Fengyu, her tone turned snide, "Third sister is here; I hear you caused quite a commotion at Yiling Village."
"Fourth sister's outfit is quite beautiful; it must be the new design from Ruyi Manor, isn't it?" Fengyu folded her hands in front of her, her smile brimming with warmth.
Feng Ling was dressed in a lake-blue, pink rose-patterned short jacket paired with a white skirt, which was studded with pearls that shimmered softly, making her appear as dazzling as snow and unparalleled in beauty. Pleased with herself, Feng Ling spun in a circle, the hem of her skirt fanning out, faintly revealing pink roses hidden within the folds—a design clever and exquisite. "This skirt from Ruyi Manor is one of a kind; I spent 50 taels to snatch it up. Isn't it stunning?"
Fengyu's smile bloomed like a flower. Picking up a wooden arrow, she gave it a light flick, sending it straight into the pot. "Beautiful."
She ascended the steps. At the door, Nanny Li lifted the curtain and announced, "Third Miss is here." Fengyu entered the inner chamber where Lady Feng was teaching Feng Wan how to manage household affairs. At the sight of Fengyu, Lady Feng's expression grew displeased. Fengyu greeted them politely, "Good day, Aunt. Good day, Elder Sister."
Feng Wan said, "Mother, while you discuss matters with Third Sister, I'll go ahead and leave."
"Stay where you are and listen in."
Feng Wan glanced at Fengyu, picked up a handkerchief, and quietly continued embroidering.
Lady Feng, holding a cup of tea, wetted her throat. "Third girl, I've heard about the incident at Yiling Village. It's true that the tenants deceived and withheld lease payments, which was wrong. However, now that you've uncovered the problem, why didn't you inform the elders of our family to handle it? Instead, you caused a public commotion all by yourself. The tenants at Yiling Village became dissatisfied and revolted, even alarming the County Magistrate. If something untoward had happened, how would I explain myself to your parents?"
"The Yiling Village matter has already been resolved: the tenants are willing to compensate for the unpaid rents, and everyone's satisfied. Aunt, why are you angry?" Fengyu seemed to suddenly recall, "Oh, is it because Village Chief Wang is your distant relative? And my confrontation with him embarrassed you?"
Lady Feng's expression turned exceedingly unpleasant as she slammed her teacup down heavily. "Village Chief Wang is indeed my distant relative. Years ago, your mother appointed him to manage Yiling Village because he was capable. For over a decade since we were demoted and exiled from the Capital City, he has managed the tenants well. Spring planting and autumn harvests were never neglected, and rents were paid faithfully each year. Yiling Village has flourished under his stewardship. Even if he weren't a distant relative of mine, I'd still speak up for him. He may not have great achievements but certainly deserves recognition for his effort. By making such a fuss, aren't you afraid people will accuse you of being ungrateful?"
Nanny Li brought in tea, which Qiuxiang accepted and placed by Fengyu's side. Fengyu gazed at the tea, the fine fragrance of premium Longjing tea wafting up. She smiled and said, "I'm not afraid."
"You are truly obstinate! Think of your reputation in the Capital City—ignorant, vulgar, and uncultured. After being rejected in marriage, you've even been branded with the scandalous label of being infatuated with men outside your league, shamelessly so. Now you've stirred trouble again with the Yiling Village incident. Do you really want to add another charge of behaving like a merchant girl to your name? Why make life harder for yourself for the sake of a few thousand taels of silver, ruining harmony and tarnishing your reputation?" Lady Feng lamented bitterly.
Fengyu's face instantly hardened. The insult "merchant girl" had once made Su Yuejiao unable to lift her head among the social circles of noblewomen in the Capital City.
Qiuxiang silently thought, It's over. The lady stepped on Miss's sore spot.
Feng Wan raised her head from her embroidery and said, "Third Sister, Mother is just concerned about your reputation. She fears the tenants will spread rumors, and if you're further labeled as a merchant girl, it will become even harder for you to find a match."
"A merchant girl…" Fengyu picked up the teacup, gently swirling the tea froth. "Aunt, if not for a merchant girl, when our entire family was demoted to Ningzhou, would you have had food and clothing? Would you have been able to establish connections in Ningzhou? Forget the distant reasons. Uncle's monthly salary is 80 taels of silver, and Fourth Sister can spend 50 taels on a skirt from Ruyi Manor without batting an eye. Where did that money even come from?"
Lady Feng's face turned shades of blue and red, humiliated and furious. "Fengyu, how dare you speak so insolently!"
Feng Ling, intending to intrude and hear how her mother reprimanded Fengyu, stopped dead at the door when she overheard Fengyu mention her skirt. Seething with anger and shame, she clutched the hem tightly.
Feng Wan hadn't expected Fengyu to be so confrontational and tried explaining, "Third Sister, the Feng Family has estates too. We don't rely solely on Father's salary; Mother also has dowries such as land holdings. Your words are unnecessarily hurtful."
"The Feng Family, being an austere scholarly clan, didn't have abundant property, even with Grandfather reaching the second rank in office. When we were demoted, the family's assets were nearly sold off, leaving little behind. Upon returning to the Capital City, Elder Sister used my mother's dowry to redeem the Feng Family's farmland and businesses, even transferring two profitable textile shops under Grandmother's name," Fengyu smiled warmly yet mercilessly. "As a child, I at least understood something simple: if you lift the bowl to eat the meat, don't set down the chopsticks while cursing the cook."
Lady Feng, so furious her chest ached, nearly fainted. Feng Wan, startled, hurried to soothe her. Feng Ling stormed in, screaming at Fengyu, "Fengyu, you're too arrogant! What gives you the right to insult us like this?"
Fengyu locked her gaze on Feng Ling's tearful, enraged eyes and chuckled lightly. "Fourth Sister, I'm addressing something you ought to understand but pretend not to. Two years ago, the Su Family sent quality leather and fabrics. You intercepted them, took all the good materials, and left only scraps for Elder Sister and me. Elder Sister didn't mind; she bought better ones for me instead. This year, when the Su Family sent more leather and ornaments, I ordered them sent directly to Meiyuan, not giving you a chance to choose. You threw tantrums for days, even made a scene in my room and bad-mouthed me publicly. You seem to have forgotten—those items were mine to begin with. If I wish to give them to you, I will. If I don't, you don't get to touch them."
Lady Feng angrily brushed off Feng Wan's attempts to comfort her and said bitterly, "You rely on the Su Family's wealth to show no respect for your elders, behaving recklessly without rules. You even dare defy your seniors. Are you implying that the entire Feng household depends on your mother's income for sustenance?"
"Isn't that the case?" Fengyu laughed softly, raising her teacup. "Even this Longjing tea was sent by the Su Family."
Reality struck Lady Feng like a harsh slap to the face, leaving her humiliated and teary-eyed. Sensing the time was ripe to end it, Fengyu rose calmly and said, "Aunt, to put it plainly, Yiling Village is my mother's dowry. How I choose to manage it is my prerogative and none of your concern. As for Village Chief Wang, after all these years, who knows how much he has pocketed? And as his distant cousin and the Feng Family's Lady, if I were an outsider, I'd wonder whether you had accepted bribes from him. You should avoid suspicions of impropriety, Aunt."
Lady Feng sat like a wooden figure, stunned. Fengyu, often frail and sequestered in Meiyuan, rarely ventured out and had occasionally been reckless, but had never spoken so brazenly to a senior—let alone accuse her of taking bribes. Lady Feng was about to defend herself, but Fengyu had already left with Qiuxiang. Seeing her mother's reddened eyes, Feng Ling angrily rushed outside in pursuit.