It is good that you care. The mother and daughter have a low status in the Ling family and are not valued. When Second Master Ling was in charge of the Ling family, it was common for him to withhold their food and monthly allowances. The mother and daughter often went hungry and were poorly clothed. No matter what, you are their biological elder brother and should protect her.
Feng Jin's words were completely unknown to Ling Mo Han. The Ling family, outwardly glorious and harmonious, hid such filth behind it.
Are you sure these things are true... Ling Mo Han still found it hard to believe. Did the Ling family not even have the money to support a mother and daughter?
If such mistreatment of concubines and庶女 were to spread, the Ling family's reputation would truly be tarnished beyond repair.
"Do you think I'm lying to you? The clothes Ling Yan was wearing just now were already ill-fitting, and the cuffs were a bit frayed, showing they had been worn for a long time..."
Feng Jin really suspected that Ling Mo Han's eyes were truly blind, unable to see such obvious things.
Ling Mo Han fell silent. Even though he was not very close to Ling Wan, she was still his sister.
To be humiliated under his nose while he remained ignorant would inevitably lead to mockery and ridicule.
"Second Uncle has gone too far!" Ling Mo Han's face darkened as he slammed his palm on the table.
Although his second uncle's abilities were limited, he had never expected him to stoop to such卑劣 deeds.
Feng Jin sighed lightly. The affairs of the inner chambers were always filled with secret struggles. Ling Wan and her daughter had endured silently for years, only wanting to live in peace.
"When Second Master Ling managed the household before, the maids and servants of Fushang received many benefits from him. Ling Yan disliked Ling Wan, so the maids and servants, to please those from the second branch, would intentionally bully them. What we know now is merely the tip of the iceberg of what they endured."
As a seasoned enthusiast of palace and household intrigue dramas, Feng Jin understood the twists and turns involved.
Once fallen from power, a tiger on the plains is bullied by dogs – these are common scenes in the inner chambers.
It was understandable that Ling Mo Han, a man whose ambition lay in the imperial court, would not understand these matters. However, now that he knew, he had to give him a serious lesson.
"This bottle was sent by Concubine Bai through Ling Wan. It's the Nine Revolutions Heart Protection Pill. Such a valuable medicine must have been a treasured possession of Concubine Bai for a long time."
"The Nine Revolutions Heart Protection Pill was given by my mother to Concubine Bai. When Ling Wan was just born, she was frail, and it was only thanks to this Nine Revolutions Heart Protection Pill that her heart脉 was protected and her life was saved."
Feng Jin listened attentively. She had not known of this past event. She only knew that Concubine Bai had originally been the personal maid of the former primary wife. She had been favored by the former wife, which was how she had the good fortune to be made a concubine.
It seemed that the former wife must have had some affection for Concubine Bai to allow her to give such a valuable Nine Revolutions Heart Protection Pill to Ling Wan.
"Concubine Bai was my mother's dowry maid. My mother was always kind to others, and she treated Concubine Bai like a sister."
Ling Mo Han spoke in a low voice, recounting past events. His mother had passed away many years ago. This Nine Revolutions Heart Protection Pill had been in Concubine Bai's possession for over a decade, and its medicinal efficacy had long since expired. However, the bottle itself was perfectly preserved, and the blue patterns on the bottle had faded slightly from constant wiping over time.
This showed Concubine Bai's respect for the former wife, treating even a medicine bottle with such care.
"Go and get a box of bird's nest from the storeroom and go see Concubine Bai," Ling Mo Han said in a low voice.
"I understand. I'll go get it now." Feng Jin agreed and got up to fetch the bird's nest from the storeroom. They then went to Concubine Bai's room together.
...
"Why is today's meal so poor? These vegetables have no oil or moisture. Are they stir-fried in plain water?"
Ling Wan poked at the plain boiled vegetables in her bowl, her face gloomy and her tone unusually strong.
"Second Miss, the vegetables from the kitchen are all like this. Even what is sent to Old Master is the same. Second Miss, if you don't like it, you are welcome to cook it yourself. There is no need to make things difficult for the servants."
The old woman who replied spoke righteously, her demeanor as if she were the mistress.
"Granny Wang, you are too presumptuous. Is it you who is in charge of the Ling family?"
"Second Miss, you speak as if you know everything. Please do not flatter me. I am just a servant who has served the Ling family diligently for half my life. I cannot bear such a charge. Second Miss should speak with caution."
Granny Wang had been in the Ling family for half her life, always aligning herself with the second branch. When Second Master Ling managed the household affairs, he had embezzled and accepted bribes, and mistreating Ling Wan and her mother was commonplace.
"I didn't realize, Granny Wang, that you have quite the airs. Flaunting yourself before the master, are you borrowing the prestige of the second branch?"
Feng Jin had just arrived at the courtyard entrance when she heard Granny Wang chattering incessantly, even bringing up Second Master Ling. What great airs she had, acting as if she were the mistress.
Upon seeing who had arrived, Granny Wang's heart suddenly skipped a beat. "Young General, Young Madam, this old servant deserves death for a slip of the tongue..."
"A slip of the tongue..." Ling Mo Han said with a dark expression, "This is not a slip of the tongue, but rather a heart full of resentment. Concubine Bai and Second Miss are the masters, and you are merely a lowly servant. You dare to act under Second Uncle's name and run rampant in the mansion. You old woman truly deserve to die!"
"Young General, I merely misspoke and had no such intention. Please spare me, Young General!" Granny Wang panicked instantly and hurriedly knelt on the ground begging for mercy.
"Someone like you, who bullies the weak and fears the strong, is even more detestable and deserves a good lesson."
Feng Jin exclaimed angrily, "Lu Shi, drag this Granny Wang out and give her twenty lashes. Demote her to the village estate, and let all the maids and servants in the mansion watch. This is the consequence of bullying the master. Let it serve as a warning to all."
"Yes, Young Madam." Lu Shi replied, and two guards dragged Granny Wang out.
"Young General, Young Madam, this was originally a small matter. It's all because Ling Wan, this girl, is meddling. Please don't let this matter cause you trouble."
Concubine Bai had a weak disposition. Having such an incident occur in her room, she couldn't help but feel timid. Moreover, this Granny Wang was from the second branch, and Second Master Ling was still resentful about losing his authority over the household. It was better not to provoke the second branch.
"If such a wicked servant who bullies the master is not dealt with, the Ling family will truly fall into chaos." If she and Ling Mo Han had not witnessed it personally today, they would not have known how arrogant and overbearing Granny Wang was in private.
Such a wicked servant, if not dealt with promptly, should she be kept in the household for the New Year?
"Concubine Bai, do not worry. I ordered the punishment of Granny Wang. If anyone from the second branch comes to cause trouble, simply inform me and Feng Jin."
"Young Master... you... what did you call me?"