One sentence completely ruined her future prospects.
Compared to being beaten, a concubine who had lost favor had no place to stand in the inner courtyard.
Linlang, full of sorrow, wanted to say more, but was coldly stopped by Feng Jinxu.
"Say one more word, and you can go to the estate yourself."
Covering her mouth, tears dripped down. This time, she had reaped what she had sown.
When the outcome of the punishment reached Madam Feng's ears, she felt even more admiration for her daughter-in-law.
As the matriarch, using both grace and authority was the most basic principle. One could not be overly harsh on servants to the point of breeding resentment, nor could one indulge them to be audacious and act recklessly.
However, when facing a favored concubine and a young son, the best approach was to let the head of the household handle the punishment themselves. Otherwise, being unable to be too lenient or too severe would tie one's hands.
Madam Wen was indeed formidable!
"Why didn't I notice her capabilities before?"
She spoke to Mama Bai. Now that only the two of them were in the room, and Mama Bai's confidantes were guarding outside, they spoke with fewer reservations.
"The eldest madam was often ill before, so Madam saw her less and understood her less."
Madam Feng nodded, this made sense.
"It seems A'yao was right, her methods are not inferior to mine back then."
Although Madam Feng did not have the trouble of favored concubines, managing a large family inevitably brought many complications.
For some reason, she always felt that Madam Wen's sudden change was related to her daughter, and also to Yun He. The current closeness with her aunt was much stronger than before, which also eased the relationship between Xu'er and Madam Wen.
Perhaps, it was her doing.
"Mama Bai, do you feel that A'yao is different from before?"
It wasn't clear where the difference lay, but she just felt that the person was completely different. Mama Bai, while smoothing the lambskin blanket for her, said with relief.
"She is different. Look at how concerned the young lady is about the household now. You used to ask her to manage the household, but she refused several times. I think the third young lady is also of marriageable age. Madam should prepare early and find a suitable family for the young lady."
Mama Bai reminded her.
Yes, her daughter who used to nestle in her arms and cry for candy was now of marriageable age. Madam Feng felt both sentimental and happy.
After chatting with Mama Bai for a while, Madam Feng felt sleepy again.
As dusk fell, the liveliness of the Feng family returned to peace once more.
Early on the third morning, the entrance of the Duke of Wei's mansion became bustling.
Many vendors who wanted to join the excitement and earn some hard-earned money had woken up early to set up their stalls nearby.
Unexpectedly, before their stalls could be set up, they saw soldiers from Ying Tian Prefecture driving them away.
They were all fierce-looking, and the weapons in their hands glinted with a cold light.
"Hurry up, hurry up. There's a distinguished guest today. You street vendors are like dogs, always sniffing around where people go."
The words were not polite at all. Many commoners dared not speak out in anger and had to leave dejectedly.
"A while ago, the old madam of the Bai family had her birthday. Not only did they let us set up stalls in front of their house, but they also sent us money for fruit. I didn't expect the Duke of Wei to be so cruel. Bah, he's definitely not a good official!"
One hot-tempered person whispered to his wife privately, scaring the woman pale. She quickly went up to cover her husband's mouth.
"Are you trying to die, speaking like that? Hurry up, let's go. We'll find another place. If we offend the distinguished guests, let alone setting up stalls, I'm afraid our lives might be in danger."
Saying that, she pulled her husband and hurried away.
Soon, the entrance of the Duke of Wei's mansion became quiet. Soldiers were stationed every three steps at the entrance, cordoning off the entire street.
A young soldier, new to the job, asked the leader with a puzzled look, "Brother, which distinguished guest is coming today? Why would the Prefect send so many brothers to guard here?"
"You're really slow-witted. It must be someone from the palace! The Duke of Wei's daughter is the most favored imperial concubine in the court. Can the people coming and going be ordinary people? Keep your eyes sharp, it's not bad to be diligent, but absolutely don't offend them."
"Yes, yes. Thank you for the reminder, brother."
The young soldier nodded vigorously, thinking to himself, indeed, this is the Eastern Capital, where the imperial family and powerful officials gather. Everywhere you go, there are important figures you can't afford to offend.
"Later, go get a couple of jars of good wine for us brothers. It's so cold, a drink when we change shifts will warm us up. Oh, and get a couple of ducks from the Shen family. Last time, you wolves ate them all before I could even savor the taste! This time, I'm going to eat my fill first."
Saying that, he took out some broken silver from his bag and handed it to the young soldier, who happily stuffed the money into his pocket.
Feng Jin'yao left precisely on time. This time, besides Yun Xu and Xiu Qiu, she also brought La Mei.
She had just been promoted from a second-class maid, was competent, and steady.
The carriage traveled north, and in about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they reached Qing'an Street, where the Duke of Wei's mansion was located.
The Duke of Wei's mansion, with its imperial plaque now shining golden, had all three of its vermilion gates wide open. Even before entering the mansion, one could see its grandeur.
The Prime Minister's mansion was only two streets away from the Duke of Wei's mansion, so the Bai sisters, Bai Siruo and Bai Sihan, left later but arrived before Feng Jin'yao.
When Feng Jin'yao alighted from the carriage, Bai Siruo and Bai Sihan were already standing at the entrance, about to go in.
"Cousin."
Bai Siruo turned around and saw Feng Jin'yao walking towards her, wearing a large white rabbit fur cloak.
Her hair was adorned with a jade hairpin, her face was delicate and beautiful, and though her bearing was naturally elegant, she appeared somewhat simple and casual.
Looking at Bai Siruo, she was also dressed simply.
A sky-blue jacket and skirt, paired with pearl earrings and a pearl-adorned hairpin. She wasn't as expensively dressed as she usually was in the Prime Minister's mansion, but rather appeared more delicate and well-behaved.
They exchanged glances and saw each other's "effort." The two couldn't help but smile at each other.
Bai Sihan, standing beside them, frowned. When she first saw Bai Siruo, she found it strange that she was dressed so casually for a banquet. She thought perhaps she was unwilling to go and deliberately dressed this way.
Unexpectedly, Feng Jin'yao was also dressed similarly. Bai Sihan was puzzled, wondering if the two of them had deliberately dressed so plainly.
Why?
"Cousin Feng is here. Why are you dressed so simply today? Could it be that you have a special affection for Sister Wei, and thus intend to slight the Wei family?"
Even at the entrance of the mansion, she was trying to sow discord. She was truly Madam Shen's daughter.
The whole family was wicked-hearted, wishing to climb up on the bones of others.
Feng Jin'yao heard her words and was not angry. She smiled and said, "Cousin, you think too much. I usually don't like to dress up, and I'm not as naturally beautiful as you are, so I won't show off. On the other hand, your attire is indeed quite refined. From afar, I thought you were an immortal descending to earth."