"But we don't know who the spy is, so how can we get rid of them!"
Lin Yuwei sighed, her face full of helplessness. She wanted to unmask and eliminate the spy more than anyone, but she had no clue.
"This matter requires a long-term plan. Since the Empress can learn about your every move through him, it means this person is very cunning. If we were to easily discover their identity, the Empress wouldn't have gone to such lengths to place them in your household. To root out the spy, we need to strategize carefully."
Lin Yuwei's eyes darted around. She stepped forward and hugged Feng Jin's arm, her tone a little fawning. "Sister Feng Jin, since you say so, have you already thought of a plan? If you really have a way, please tell me quickly, I beg you..."
This matter of the spy had been troubling her for a long time. Now that Feng Jin had a way to solve it, she naturally had to cling to Feng Jin and ask for her advice.
"I haven't thought of anything yet. There are too many people here and eyes everywhere. Let's discuss it slowly after we return."
She wasn't an encyclopedia; even if she had an idea, it would take time. She couldn't possibly come up with something immediately.
Moreover, this was the Third Prince's manor. The Empress's informants were countless in this residence, so they had to be extremely careful with their words.
If their conversation fell into the Empress's ears, she would surely deduce the reason and come looking for trouble. The Empress was not someone to be trifled with. For now, it was best to observe more and speak less.
"Okay, I'll listen to you. We'll talk more slowly after we get back."
Lin Yuwei readily agreed. She was now entirely relying on Feng Jin to devise a plan, so she naturally had to follow Feng Jin's wishes in everything.
Just as the two of them sat down, someone with no discernment deliberately approached them.
"Greetings, Princess Jing. This must be the rumored Young Madam Ling. Indeed, seeing you in person is far better than hearing about you. Young Madam Ling, today I truly understand what it means to be extraordinary. No wonder even Young General Ling, who is so distant from women, would..."
Before the newcomer could finish, Feng Jin abruptly stood up and approached the woman step by step.
"You... What do you want to do? This is the Third Prince's manor, how dare you... how dare you act so recklessly!"
The young woman who had been provoking Feng Jin moments ago suddenly found herself unable to speak coherently. Her earlier arrogance had completely vanished.
"I'm telling you, my father is the Minister of Revenue. If you dare do anything to me, my father will absolutely not let you off!"
Feng Jin snorted. She had initially thought this woman was quite formidable, but it turned out she was just a paper tiger, only good at shouting loudly. When she couldn't win an argument, she'd only drag her family out to defend herself.
She really didn't know where this courage came from to dare provoke her in front of everyone. It had immediately dampened her interest, and she didn't want to argue with her any further.
"Scared already? If you don't have the guts, then don't come out here yelling. If you get bullied again, you'll just go home and cry. Besides, your father is merely a petty Minister of Revenue, and I truly don't think much of him."
Feng Jin played with her red-lacquered fingernails, her words laced with disdain.
"You actually dare to humiliate me like this, I absolutely... absolutely will not let you off."
After all, she was still an unmarried young lady. She only managed to shout a few threats and then fled in a hurry, escaping the scene.
Feng Jin rolled her eyes disdainfully. To raise a daughter this foolish, the Minister of Revenue must be an idiot. Knowing his daughter was silly yet insisting on letting her out to annoy others was simply excessive.
"Sister Feng Jin, what did you say to her to make her cry? Now she'll definitely go crying to her mother to complain. She'll probably come back with reinforcements soon."
"I didn't say anything much..."
Recalling her words from moments ago, she really hadn't said anything overly offensive. The main reason was that this girl's tolerance was too low.
She couldn't even handle a few sarcastic remarks, yet she dared to mimic others and come out to provoke, wasn't that clearly asking for trouble?
She could only play the good person and take the trouble to educate her properly in place of her parents, lest she continue to embarrass herself in public.
"What's wrong, is her mother very formidable?"
Feng Jin asked indifferently. No matter how formidable she was, could she be more formidable than the Empress Dowager? She had the Empress Dowager as her backing, so why should she fear anyone else?
"She is the daughter of Guo Tao, the Minister of Revenue. Her mother has quite an impressive background; she is the only daughter of the late Duke of Wen. The entire male lineage of the Duke of Wen's family died on the battlefield. The late Emperor, grateful for the功臣's (gōngchén - meritorious official) contributions, bestowed the Duke of Wen's only daughter the title of Princess Yongping and raised her in the palace. This Princess Yongping is not to be trifled with. If you've provoked her daughter now, it might be troublesome."
She had seen Princess Yongping once or twice at her grandmother's birthday banquet. Just looking at her from afar, she could tell she was not someone easy to deal with.
Furthermore, Princess Yongping doted on this daughter immensely. Now that Sister Feng Jin had bullied her daughter, it was unlikely she would let it go. She would probably come for them soon.
"What are you afraid of? She may be a Princess, but I am also a Princess personally enfeoffed by the Empress Dowager. Moreover, you are Princess Jing. In terms of status, we are not at a disadvantage. Just relax your heart."
Compared to Lin Yuwei's worries, Feng Jin remained completely unconcerned. If these matters were to come, she couldn't stop them anyway.
Just as Lin Yuwei was about to say something else, her attention was drawn by the sound of hurried footsteps.
The woman who had left crying after being reprimanded by Feng Jin moments ago was now returning in a huff, accompanied by an older woman.
"Mother, she deliberately humiliated me just now. Mother, you must stand up for me."
"Li'er, this is the Third Prince's manor. How can you make such a scene in public? What have I always taught you?"
Princess Yongping's voice was soft, but it exuded an invisible, powerful pressure, making one feel more oppressed than if she had been angry.
"Yes, Mother. Daughter knows her mistake." Guo Li lowered her head and responded after being admonished, not daring to say anything further. She obediently stood to the side.
"You are Young Madam Ling?"
Princess Yongping carefully scrutinized Feng Jin, then paused before asking.
"Indeed. Greetings, Princess."
Considering that Princess Yongping was older than her, Feng Jin patiently and gently replied.
Princess Yongping's gaze towards Feng Jin was full of coldness. "Ling Mo Han's taste is as poor as ever. After all that deliberation, he still married a woman like you."
She had previously intended to form a connection with the Ling family, and after much effort, she was still rejected outright.