In the past, faced with Madam Sun's pitiful weeping, Feng Yuanping would have softened and downplayed the matter.
But today, Feng Yuanping had made up his mind to deal with Madam Sun and had to uphold the Feng family's dignity.
"I have decided to demote you to a concubine, and your name has already been removed from the family genealogy."
Madam Sun was instantly struck as if by lightning. The hand gripping Feng Yuanping's robe slowly fell, and her entire body collapsed powerlessly onto the ground.
To be removed from the family genealogy meant she had been directly demoted to a lowly concubine. It seemed Feng Yuanping had truly made up his mind.
"I bore you children and managed the household, yet you are so heartless towards me!"
Feng Yuanping finally saw Madam Sun's shrewish nature clearly. He truly regretted his blindness back then, being bewitched by this woman and causing the entire Feng family to fall into such a state.
"Shut up. You taught her to be like this, bringing shame upon me. You are utterly unfit to be the matriarch of the Feng family. I am demoting you to a concubine and allowing you to remain in the Feng family; it is already utmost benevolence that I have not driven you out. From now on, take care of yourself!"
Feng Yuanping uttered his heartless words, ignored the crying mother and daughter, and turned to leave.
"Mother, Father truly doesn't want us anymore. What should we do? Mother, I don't want to go to Dali Temple. If I go, Feng Jin will not let me off. Mother, save me... save me."
Madam Sun took a deep breath. "Yan'er, listen to me. Your father can no longer be relied upon. The only ones we can rely on are ourselves. You go to Dali Temple first... the Third Prince will not abandon you..."
"Mother... I..." Feng Ruoyan's eyes were filled with despair. She never imagined she would end up in such a predicament.
All of this was thanks to Feng Jin. For this hatred and humiliation, she vowed to repay Feng Jin a thousandfold.
"Only by enduring this temporary humiliation can you have future prosperity. Do you understand?"
"Daughter understands."
"Let's go. I will personally escort you to Dali Temple. You are my daughter; no matter how fallen, you must walk forward with your head held high. You must never become a laughingstock for others."
"Yes!" Feng Ruoyan replied in a deep voice, wiping away the tears from her cheeks. She could only rely on herself now. She absolutely could not let those she had once stepped on see her as a joke.
...
"Young Madam, Dali Temple has issued its verdict."
Lu Shi rushed to report to Feng Jin as soon as he received the news.
"How is it?"
"The evidence was conclusive, and originally, Feng Ruoyan was sentenced to twenty heavy beatings and a year in prison. However, Madam Sun willingly donated her family's wealth, and with the Third Prince's support, the final judgment was only one month's imprisonment for Feng Ruoyan."
As he spoke, Lu Shi's emotions grew more intense. "When this sentence was announced, the common people observing were in an uproar. If not for the suppression by the Dali Temple guards, it would have erupted into chaos. Perhaps Minister Wang accepted some bribe..."
"She was even sentenced to only a month. It seems that even with the Third Prince's power used to threaten, he couldn't protect Feng Ruoyan intact."
This matter was different from previous ones. It had caused a great stir throughout the capital, and Emperor Xuanwen was truly angered, ordering Dali Temple to re-examine the case.
Despite the Third Prince's efforts, he could not get Feng Ruoyan out unscathed.
"Young Madam, what should we do next? Should we continue to publicize this matter?"
Feng Jin paused and said in a deep voice, "Since Dali Temple has reached a verdict, and His Majesty has no objections, it implies his tacit approval. If we continue to publicize this matter, it would be slapping Emperor Xuanwen in the face. If he becomes enraged and orders a thorough investigation, it will benefit neither of us."
"Also, you should place a few trustworthy informants to keep a close eye on Dali Temple. We must ensure Feng Ruoyan spends her full month inside."
"Yes, Young Madam."
After Lu Shi withdrew, Feng Jin played with a chess piece, deliberated, and then placed it on the board.
"I'm tired," Gu Beichen's complaining voice was heard. He took off his cap and tossed it onto the table, coincidentally scattering Feng Jin's chessboard.
Feng Jin's hand, holding the chess piece, froze in mid-air. Her eyes widened in shock. The chess game she had just set up was ruined.
Meanwhile, Gu Beichen, unaware of what he had done, picked up the teapot and took a long drink.
"I've finished everything. If there's nothing else, I'm leaving."
"Go and loosen the soil again!"
Feng Jin uttered these words through gritted teeth.
"I just finished loosening it, and you're asking me to do it again? Are you deliberately playing a trick on me? Do you really think I'm easy to bully!"
With a "bang!" Feng Jin slammed the ledger in front of Gu Beichen.
Gu Beichen, who had been acting so defiantly moments before, instantly deflated. He muttered, "Fine, I'll do it... Why are you getting angry for no reason!"
With that, he buried his head in his work, diligently carrying out the task.
Feng Jin shot Gu Beichen a cold glance and said exasperatedly, "Esteemed Son of Prince Gu, you promised earlier that if I invented gunpowder, you would become my disciple. How about we choose a time to hold the apprenticeship ceremony?"
"I..." Gu Beichen opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything. After a long pause, he finally spoke, "What I said then was..."
"What? The esteemed son of the King of Zhennan, is he also a man of his word? Is this the family tradition of the King of Zhennan?"
Gu Beichen was so furious he gritted his teeth. Impulsively, he retorted, "Fine, I'll become your disciple. I have always kept my word."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Gu Beichen regretted it, wishing he could slap himself twice. How could he have fallen for Feng Jin's provocation again? How many times had this happened, and he still hadn't learned?
"Good!" Feng Jin clapped her hands in delight. "Esteemed Son of Prince Gu is truly straightforward and keeps his promises. There's no better day than today; the apprenticeship ceremony will be held tonight."
"Cai Qing, go instruct the kitchen to prepare a feast. Go to Prince Jing's manor and invite Prince and Princess Jing to witness this; I, this young lady, am taking on a disciple today!"
Feng Jin's grand preparations had already begun, as she contemplated whether she should change into different clothes and re-style her hair.
Taking on a disciple was no small matter; she had to prepare well. As for the congratulatory gift, if it was too expensive, she would be reluctant to part with it; if it was too cheap, it would be a laughingstock.
Never mind... She would go to the storeroom to find something. With so many treasures, she was bound to find something suitable.
"I was just speaking casually... You... don't take it seriously!"
Feng Jin had already walked far away, leaving Gu Beichen to talk to the empty air.
It's over... It's really over this time... His reputation this life was utterly going to be ruined by Feng Jin.
If his father knew that he was going to become a disciple of Feng Jin.