Though a brief interlude caused by Feng Yiyi didn't dampen Feng Yinwan's appetite, she popped the last piece of cod into her mouth and contentedly patted her belly.
"Yuping, are you full?"
"Full!"
Yuping's mouth was still stuffed with two glutinous rice balls, and she mumbled her reply.
Feng Yinwan nodded and was about to get up when the Old General Feng stopped her.
"Wan'er, are you done eating? Let Yuping fetch two sets of new bedding from the storeroom. Your father and Yuan'er have something to discuss with you."
Guessing that their young lady had finally returned home and that there were many things for father, daughter, and siblings to discuss, not to mention matters concerning the princely estate, Yuping nodded and promptly scurried away.
Madam Yu still wanted to stay and hear what they had to say, so she pretended not to hear and sat at the table, sipping her tea.
Feng Yinwan curved her lips. "It's already this late, shouldn't Madam Yu go back and check on your sister? I noticed she seemed quite resentful earlier. Who knows what trouble she might stir up again."
Unexpectedly, Feng Yinwan directly asked her to leave. Madam Yu felt a wave of discomfort and reluctantly stood up.
"Heh heh… I've already disciplined Yiyi. I believe she's realized her mistake. You're right, I'll go back and see her again."
After she spoke, she turned to leave. No one said a word to ask her to stay. Seeing her depart, Feng Yinwan's gaze deepened as she turned to the main topic.
To prevent her father from marching directly to Prince Mo's estate, Feng Yinwan had softened her account of events. However, even so, it angered Old General Feng immensely.
"What does the Empress's cousin's accident have to do with Wan'er! Prince Mo actually dumped the task of investigating this matter onto Wan'er. This is utterly preposterous!"
Feng Yinwan quickly interjected, "It's just helping, Father. Just helping!"
"Helping is not acceptable! You, a woman, are investigating the truth, and what is a prince for? What are the Ministry of Justice and the Grand Court of Revision for! Are they all useless fools?!"
Feng Yinwan was truly taken aback by the extent to which her original self's father doted on her. She felt a little embarrassed. After composing herself, she decided to use her ultimate move.
"Father, I took this matter upon myself. You know, daughter also used some underhanded means to marry into Prince Mo's estate…"
"Since you are married there, you naturally need to establish your authority in the estate. The Prince has always treated Qin Rulian as his own sister. Isn't this a perfect opportunity?"
At this point, she managed to squeeze out a tiny, almost invisible tear. "Can you bear to see your daughter ostracized in Prince Mo's estate?"
Of course, he couldn't bear it!
Old General Feng frowned again upon hearing this. Before he could speak, Feng Jingyuan chimed in.
"Father, Sister makes sense. Even with our General's Estate as our backing, the princely estate is still a princely estate, different from the outside. The most difficult to manage are people's hearts. Your son believes this matter is feasible."
With Feng Jingyuan's support, Old General Feng could only agree. "Father can lend you twenty guards, but you must not overexert yourself. Your safety must come first in all matters."
These earnest instructions were remarkably similar to those of her own parents.
A hint of warmth welled up in Feng Yinwan's eyes, and she smiled sweetly. "Don't worry."
She already had a rough plan in mind about having Granny Sun speak up. With the matter of borrowing manpower settled, Feng Yinwan felt considerably relieved. After bidding farewell to Old General Feng and Feng Jingyuan, she headed straight for her embroidered pavilion.
The embroidered pavilion was located towards the back of the General's Estate, near the back gate. It required passing through a grove of crabapple trees and a few winding paths from the dining hall.
The crabapple branches, as tall as a person, were lush and leafy, creating a dense, dappled shade that offered considerable concealment.
As the thought crossed her mind, a strong gust of wind whistled past her ears, and two figures darted out from in front and behind her.
Feng Yinwan's heart suddenly tightened.
No way? Dare to mess with her in the General's Estate?!
The two masked men made no sound and immediately tried to cover her with sacks. Feng Yinwan narrowed her beautiful eyes and flicked out two silver needles in quick succession.
"Ah!"
"Ah—"
Two screams followed. One was genuinely pained, the other a pretense born of fear.
The man in front clutched his thigh and tumbled into the bushes. The man behind clutched his wrist, took one look, his legs went weak, and he followed suit, falling in.
Feng Yinwan glanced at him and nudged his thigh with her foot.
"Hey."
The man feigned death, clutching his wrist motionlessly.
Feng Yinwan narrowed her eyes and deliberately lowered her voice, "If you keep pretending to be dead, I'll stab you to death!"
The man shivered, startled, and quickly scrambled out, kneeling on the ground.
"Young Lady, spare my life! Young Lady, spare my life!"
Feng Yinwan raised her eyebrows. "Speak, who are you people!"
"Reporting to Young Lady, we are guards from the back gate. This humble one's name is Zhao Wusan. The one whose leg you pricked is my elder brother, Zhao Wuyi…"
The man pulled down his mask, revealing his two protruding front teeth. Feng Yinwan's lips twitched, and she struggled to suppress a laugh.
"This Princess Consort asks you, who sent you here?"
Zhao Wusan paused upon hearing this. Seeing his hesitation, Feng Yinwan moved the silver needle a little closer to his eyes.
"Speak or not!"
"Speak, speak, speak! It… it was the Second Young Lady who had us do this."
Feng Yiyi?
Feng Yinwan raised her eyebrows. "What did she ask you to do?"
Zhao Wusan cautiously glanced at her and mumbled, "The Second Young Lady asked… asked us to knock you out and then throw you outside the back gate into the beggars'… beggars' den. She also said…"
Before he could finish, he felt Feng Yinwan's terrifying coldness emanate from her. He shivered and said in a small voice, "She also said she wanted you to know your place and recognize who the true Young Lady of the General's Estate is."
As soon as he finished speaking, the silver needle was suddenly pushed a little closer. Zhao Wusan's face turned pale with fright, and he slumped to the ground.
"Young Lady, spare my life! Everything I said is true. I wouldn't dare deceive you!"
Seeing his cowardly demeanor, he didn't seem the type to dare, so Feng Yinwan's beautiful eyes darkened. She tucked the silver needle back to her waist.
"Scram."
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Zhao Wusan acted as if he had received a great pardon. Just as he was about to stand, he paused and looked up at her, speaking cautiously.
"Um… Young Lady, can you remove this technique from my brother and me?"
Feng Yinwan frowned. "What technique?"
Zhao Wusan tentatively pointed to his wrist. "This, right here…"
Rumor had it throughout the estate that the scar on the Young Lady's face, which had been there for many years, had suddenly healed. It must be that she had learned some sorcery from somewhere.
Logically, such sorcery would require eating children to sustain itself. Originally, the two brothers didn't believe it, but after seeing just now…
Hmm! This sorcery was indeed powerful. The two of them, men though they were, were no match for the Young Lady!
Seeing him holding up his wrist and looking at her pleadingly, his smile more tearful than joyful, Feng Yinwan was rendered speechless.
Uh…
She had only poked their acupoints with silver needles. But seeing his awestruck expression, she thought it was rather good.
So, should she tell them or not?