Chapter 5: 005 Group Fight

"My sister is truly clever. Find that Phoenix Pendant for me and hand it over to the Chief Steward of the Prince Qing's Mansion," the Second Madam praised the Fifth Concubine before issuing orders to the servants in the courtyard.

In an instant, the servants who had received the order swarmed into the room, beginning to ransack the place in search of the Phoenix Pendant. Rather than a search for an object, it was more like an exercise of authority under the guise of the Second Madam's power. In the blink of an eye, the tidy room was turned into a chaotic mess; clothes, shoes, and socks were scattered everywhere on the bed and the floor.

"What are you doing?" Feng Qingzhuang let out a sharp cry. Her eyes, which had been staring fixedly at the broken jade, snapped back to reality upon hearing the words "Prince Qing's Mansion." Looking up to see the disarray in the room, she saw that the servants were still rummaging through chests and cabinets, giving off the distinct impression of a house being raided during a Cultural Revolution.

However, the servants were searching with great fervor; how could they be willing to listen to a Second Young Lady who possessed neither status nor power?

"Stop!" When Feng Qingzhuang saw one of the Second Madam's personal nannies pick up a jade bracelet left to her by her mother from the dressing table—clearly intending to take advantage of the chaos to slip it into her own pocket—she found strength from an unknown source and rushed forward. That Nanny Lin was instantly knocked into the corner of a table, blood gushing from her forehead, and the jade bracelet in her hand fell to the ground with a "crack," splitting into four pieces.

"Sister, it seems that slut is not afraid of you. She even dared to collide with your subordinate in front of everyone, damaging your prestige. If you do not punish her today, Sister, how will you establish your authority?" Beside them, the Third Concubine, eager for chaos, spoke in a light, airy tone, adding fuel to the fire.

"Mother, that bitch Feng Qingzhuang must be doing this intentionally to make you look bad!" Behind them, the Third Young Lady—Ruan Suyun's daughter, Feng Simei—cast a malicious glance at Feng Qingzhuang and chimed in to instigate.

"Sister is right. That slut has grown a lot of nerve, daring to collide with my people. She truly deserves punishment. Beat her, beat her severely! Let that bitch remember that the Prime Minister's Mansion is run by me now, not by her dead mother," a flash of ruthlessness crossed the Second Madam's eyes as she issued the cold command.

In this lifetime, what she hated most was having her prestige dragged through the mud.

As soon as the words fell, the servants, having received their orders, did not stop to consider Feng Qingzhuang's status as a legitimate daughter. They swarmed her directly, punching and kicking her in a group assault. Feng Qingzhuang was kicked to the ground, and ruthless blows continued to fall upon her body, yet none of it hurt as much as her broken heart.

"Don't hit Miss!" Cui'er cried and pleaded. Her thin, frail body was just about to rush forward to take the blows for Feng Qingzhuang when the Second Madam gave a command. Instantly, two servants grabbed Cui'er by either side, leaving her to watch helplessly as her tears flowed like a string of broken pearls.

"Miss, Miss..."

The fickle sky began to drizzle once more, weeping for the pitiful soul in this room.

Feng Qingzhuang lay on the ground, her lifeless eyes devoid of focus, as if she were a wisp of ethereal mist passing through the crowd, watching the torrential rain. The withered parasol tree leaves in the courtyard fell along with the rain, much like her fading life. A trace of a relieved smile curled at the corner of Feng Qingzhuang's mouth before her vision went black, and she sank into darkness.

As Feng Qingzhuang lost consciousness, the servants of the Prime Minister's Mansion also ceased their movements. After finding the Phoenix Pendant, they retreated from the Parasol Courtyard like a receding tide, following behind the Second Madam.

Amidst the wind and rain, the Parasol Courtyard fell into a deathly silence...