Feng Jinyao glanced at her, knowing what she was thinking, and asked calmly while reading.
"Do you think I was a bit too harsh today?"
"Miss, your servant dares not. It's just that, as the old saying goes, it's easier to meet the King of Hell than a petty official. Miss Wen's reputation in the Eastern Capital is quite renowned. Why must you fall out with her?"
Feng Jinyao remained silent, but the anger in her heart could not dissipate.
Every time she thought of her family's tragic deaths, her hatred grew by a few more points.
The notions of repaying resentment with virtue and forgiving others were all nonsense to her!
"If someone offends me, I will offend them back" was the principle she lived by after her rebirth. Whether she was considered ungenerous or vengeful, some grudges could only be appeased with blood.
Putting down the book in her hand, she let Yun Xu, who was kneeling below, bring her a cup of hot tea.
"The Feng family, in the eyes of outsiders, is so glorious, much like this Jingming tea in this celadon cup, admired by the world. But the tea leaves within have endured countless trials. Now, they are washed by a pot of boiling water, becoming a delicacy on the tongues of others. If they could speak, would they be willing to suffer such torment? In my opinion, the Feng family is like this Jingming tea. If we do not prepare in advance, one day the boiling water will come for us."
Yun Xu's heart jolted upon hearing this. She had always thought the Feng family was stable, never imagining that a storm might be brewing outside.
"Today, Miss Wen, on the surface, came to deliver jade. In reality, she intended to drag me down with her. This jade pendant is not an important item in itself, but if it were sent by her hand, it would become difficult to explain. The Wen family has a legitimate son, Miss Wen's own brother. If they were to turn around and claim this jade was a token of affection between me and one of them, how much could I argue then?"
Yun Xu looked at Feng Jinyao with a face full of horror. The Wen family would devise such a malicious scheme!
Yet, Feng Jinyao appeared remarkably calm, as if she were speaking of someone else.
She possessed an aura of maturity and composure, showing no trace of impatience despite being raised in an environment of luxury.
Like the wind on a mountain, the moon in a clear sky, she was both mysterious and elusive.
"Miss..." Yun Xu's voice was tinged with tears.
Feng Jinyao knew that this girl had the softest heart, and she had suffered much because of it in her previous life.
In the end, she was harmed by the Wen family and still spoke for them. Since she had chosen the path of repaying blood with blood, it was destined to be arduous.
If those around her remained indecisive, kind, and timid, her path would likely be even more difficult.
Therefore, today she used the incident of Wen Yuwei being humiliated as a stark warning to her.
She could not keep the kind-hearted around her. If they were determined to follow her, they would need to harden their hearts.
"Yesterday, I had a very, very long dream. In the dream, my family members were killed one by one, and in the end, even I became a pawn in someone else's game, meeting a terrible end. I do not wish to experience that heart-wrenching pain again. Therefore, any person or thing that could potentially threaten my Feng family must be eliminated. Do you understand?"
Feng Jinyao spoke each word not loudly, but they fell upon Yun Xu's mind like an engraving tool. She was not foolish and naturally understood her mistress's intentions, but...
"The past Feng Jinyao only knew how to lie in the lap of luxury within the Feng family, being the admired young lady of the world. The current Feng Jinyao only wishes to protect her family's peace for a lifetime, even if her reputation suffers or her methods become ruthless, she will not hesitate."
In that instant, Yun Xu felt her resolve. The young lady was still the same, but her disposition had completely changed. She did not know if this change was for better or worse, but she understood that her mistress could never go back to how she was before.
A moment later, Yun Xu's eyes were clear.
As she looked up at Feng Jinyao, there was a hint of facing death with no regrets.
"Miss, your servant has been serving you since I was bought into the manor at the age of five. Throughout these years, you have never once hit or scolded me. Not only that, but you have also taught me to read and write. You are my mistress, and more importantly, my benefactor. Today, I swear here that if I ever betray you in the future, may I be struck by lightning and reborn as a pig or a dog in my next life!"
Her words were earnest and convincing, earning admiration for her loyalty!
"Miss, please rest assured. After today, Yun Xu is no longer the Yun Xu of the past. Since Miss intends to be the guardian of the Feng family, then Yun Xu will accompany you to the death, shielding you from wind and rain."
Feng Jinyao smiled with relief. It was her fortune to have such a loyal servant accompanying her on this journey.
Outside the Eastern Capital, the pink and white city walls stood tall, reaching into the clouds.
The moat was over ten zhang wide, with willow trees planted on both sides. Unfortunately, with the end of the year approaching, the willows had no green branches, instead displaying a sense of desolation.
At this moment, there were few pedestrians on the official road, only a convoy of carriages making their way towards the capital, dusty from their journey.
The carriage compartment was not large, nor was it adorned with gold and jade. It appeared to be an ordinary carriage, except for a lantern hanging on it with the character "Bai" written on it.
Inside sat the Bai Sanlang family, who had come to attend the birthday celebration.
The group entered the city from the south gate. The leader of the guards, upon seeing his pass, beamed with joy and bowed obsequiously. After receiving a heavy pouch of gold, he even skipped the inspection and let them pass immediately.
Madam Shen sat exceptionally upright, her head held high. In her opinion, although her status was not comparable to the powerful noble families, she was still superior to the common folk on the road.
Naturally, she had to maintain her posture to show her status as Madam Bai Shen.
Her daughter, Bai Sihan, who was traveling with them, no longer felt cold, and the fatigue of the journey vanished.
Her heart and eyes were filled with curiosity about the Eastern Capital. Just as she was about to lift the curtain a little further, she heard the hearty laughter of several young men and the sound of galloping horses from across the river.
"Feng'er, you brat, relying on your swift steed, you've snatched all our prey. Aren't you going to treat us to a feast at Changchun Tower?"
"Su Cheng, if your skills are inferior, go back and practice your archery more, lest you shame your father, General Su. Be careful he doesn't hang you from the beam and whip you!"
"Feng Jinlin! You dog-mouthed scoundrel! If I don't beat you black and blue after I catch you, then my surname isn't Su!"
"Hahahaha, then catch up to me first, little brother!"
A group of seven or eight people, all mounted on fine steeds, galloped past on the carriage road on the opposite bank.
Bai Sihan did not get a clear look at their faces, but the dark-robed figure in the lead was the most dazzling.
"They can gallop on the street in the capital?"
"They are using the carriage road. If there is no imperial decree to seal the street, they are allowed to gallop." Madam Shen explained patiently. Bai Sihan beside her looked as if she had learned something new.