"It was about a month ago. I went to my mother's room to see my second brother, and as I passed his courtyard, I saw a wet nurse sneak into his room, carrying an inconspicuous box. I worried she had ulterior motives, so I hid under the corridor and watched. I saw her hide the box in a secret compartment under my second brother's bed, and then she left quietly." Feng Jin Yao's suspicions began to stir upon hearing this.
Yun Li was only four years old and could barely recognize a few characters. How could he possibly have the foresight to arrange such a matter? It was indeed likely that Concubine Lin Lang was involved.
"And then, did you see what was inside the box?"
Feng Yun He nodded, his expression growing more serious.
"It was several IOUs and land deeds. I looked closely at the writing, and if I'm not mistaken, it was likely Concubine Lin Lang lending usurious loans. The borrower couldn't repay, so they mortgaged the land deeds to her."
This statement surprised even Feng Jin Yao. While it was true that large households sometimes lent out idle money at interest, the Feng family disdained such practices. Perhaps it was due to her mother's capable management, but the Feng family never lacked money and had no need for such means.
But when did Concubine Lin Lang start this? How could she have kept it a secret for so long?
"How did you know it was Concubine Lin Lang?"
"The signatures and seals used different names, but I recognized the handwriting as Concubine Lin Lang's. She once pretended to send my mother a copy of the Heart Sutra she had transcribed, and I saw it then."
Using a pseudonym to lend money at usurious rates, Lin Lang was truly audacious. Did she think someone would take the fall for her if something went wrong?
"Why didn't you tell your sister-in-law about this?"
If Wen Shi had known about this earlier, she wouldn't have kept it a secret. The only possibility was that Yun He hadn't told her.
Feng Yun He fell silent, lowering his head in thought.
A month ago, many things hadn't happened yet. Although he knew about this, he wasn't sure if it could be used to bring down Lin Lang.
If he couldn't understand his father's intentions, these land deeds and IOUs would be of little use even if they were found.
Unfortunately, he couldn't explain this to Feng Jin Yao. The problems within the main branch of the family hadn't arisen overnight. He also didn't want others to know that he, the legitimate eldest son of the main branch, was so wary of a concubine, which would embarrass Wen Shi. Feng Jin Yao, being extremely perceptive, understood his thoughts even without him speaking.
With a sigh, she couldn't help but stroke Feng Yun He's hair. "Yun He, your aunt once told you that a straight form doesn't seek a straight shadow, but rather the shadow is straight. Now, your aunt will tell you another saying: 'When one is content, the heart is always at ease; when one desires nothing, their character is naturally noble.'"
Her words were not explicit, but Feng Yun He understood. A moment later, he lowered his head with a blush, admitting his mistake.
"Aunt, I'm sorry. I deliberately wanted to use this to bring down Lin Lang, so I weighed the pros and cons, looking for the opportune moment for a decisive blow. But I forgot that if outsiders exposed this matter, the Feng family would bear the risk. I was selfish."
Hearing his sincere words, Feng Jin Yao finally felt at ease.
For a precocious child, if they went astray and focused their minds on these intricate matters of the inner chambers, it would be of no benefit to their future.
"It's good that you understand. Always remember, you are the future head of the Feng family, and everything must be considered from the broader perspective."
Feng Yun He nodded resolutely. If he were given another chance, he would never have delayed this matter until now due to his own resentment.
The aunt and nephew were about to report the matter after the courtyard was reopened, but they didn't expect Feng Jin Xu to have already investigated it thoroughly.
He held the box, opened it, and looked at the land deeds and IOUs inside without showing any anger.
Kneeling below was the same wet nurse who had previously visited Concubine Lin Lang. She now looked anxious, fearing that her misdeeds would be discovered, leaving her no chance to survive.
"Besides these, is there anything else?"
"No, this old servant only handled these. Please spare my life, my lord!"
The wet nurse cried and wailed, pushing all the blame onto Lin Lang. After all, she was a discarded concubine, and her lord would likely not investigate further.
To her surprise, Feng Jin Xu slowly spoke, devoid of any emotion. With each word he uttered, her heart grew colder.
"On June 19th last year, your grandson was drinking at Yi Hong Lou and accidentally let slip that he had been handling these matters for Lin Lang for three years. This means that after Young Master Yun Li was born, she began lending money at usurious rates, using the name of the Hua family. She was quite adept at finding a backer, thinking that by using her second aunt's family name, she would have a reason to escape if investigated." The wet nurse's face turned pale with fear. She had completely forgotten that her lord had served in the Dali Temple for a long time and could easily uncover the entire story.
"Last year, your precious grandson killed someone in a brawl. It was Lin Lang who used her connections to find someone to take the blame, allowing him to escape. He is now hiding at her family home, disguised as a member of the Luo family. This is also why she held your guilt over you, threatening you to place some personal belongings of the infected person in Yun He's courtyard, causing him to fall ill unintentionally, correct?"
Light words flowed from Feng Jin Xu's mouth, calm and without any visible change in his expression. However, the more this was the case, the more terrified those around him became.
It was like the calm before a storm, an unsettling fear that crept in without a sound.
"My lord..."
The wet nurse was now sweating profusely. She no longer had the thought of begging for mercy, only wishing to protect her family.
"It is also my fault that I mistreated the Grand Madam and Yun He in the past, leading you people to believe that the main wife's legitimate son could be bullied at will. This emboldened Lin Lang to such an extent that she even wanted to kill Yun He. At this point, I will say no more. If you still wish for your family to be safe and sound, leave a confession and end it yourself."
He placed the IOUs, land deeds, and property deeds back into the box. Fu Yi, who had been silent beside him, stepped forward and took the box.
Seeing this, the wet nurse lost all hope of survival.
About fifteen minutes after Feng Jin Xu left, someone from the back courtyard reported that the wet nurse had died by striking a pillar.
Fu Yi snorted coldly. She had died cleanly.
If this matter hadn't involved Concubine Lin Lang, who was Young Master Yun Li's birth mother, and if it hadn't potentially affected the young master's future, they would have been bound and sent to Ying Tian Prefecture long ago. There would have been no need for a confession.
"Find her grandson and thoroughly investigate the matter of him killing someone that year, then hand it over to Ying Tian Prefecture."
"Yes!"
Feng Jin Xu had promised not to harm her family, but that only applied to innocent family members. The grandson's actions were so heinous; if he weren't punished by law, how could justice be served!