Chapter 15: The Price

As she spoke, she was the first to walk out. Xin'er hurriedly picked up the Yaoqin and the jade flute, following closely behind her. In the courtyard, Second Madam, Feng Qingqing, and those servants were still lying scattered about; their acupoints had been released, but no one had the strength to move.

Even the noisy Feng Qingqing, though she intended to curse Feng Qingcheng, lacked the strength to do so now, only letting out incoherent whimpers. A burst of noisy commotion approached from a distance once again. Feng Qingcheng watched the entrance with cold eyes, then suddenly lay on the ground, weeping bitterly.

"Second Mother, it is one thing if you like those antiques—I would have given them all to you. Why did you have to snatch away my Yaoqin and jade flute? These are the only mementos my mother left me! Now that you've taken them, how can I face my deceased mother? How can I go on living? Do you truly intend to drive me to my death before you are satisfied?"

"You wench... you... you're slandering me!" Second Madam trembled with rage, speaking feebly. Although she had long coveted the items in Lanyue Pavilion and intended to drive Feng Qingcheng away so everything would belong to her, she was not foolish enough to show it so blatantly.

This lesson for Feng Qingcheng had been a mere pretext; her true goal was the priceless treasures of Lanyue Pavilion. Spending a hundred thousand taels of gold on medical treatment had caused her immense heartache! However, she truly hadn't expected that Feng Qingcheng could see through her intentions at a single glance.

"You wench, I... I'll kill you!" Feng Qingqing let out a furious roar. She coveted the Yaoqin and jade flute left by Feng Qingcheng's mother; they were rare treasures. It was said that the music played with these two instruments could cause butterflies to dance in the air. She had always wanted them, but Chancellor Feng had never allowed anyone to set foot here.

Furthermore, this place was rigged with mechanisms that made it difficult for outsiders to enter. She never expected that Chancellor Feng would actually let Feng Qingcheng live here, and even went so far as to disable all the mechanisms to prevent her from being harmed. How could she not be enraged? She had intended to drive Feng Qingcheng out this time to reap the benefits, but instead, she had ended up losing everything.

"What happened? How did it turn out like this?" The people rushing in were momentarily stunned by the scene. The courtyard was a river of blood, and everyone was covered in wounds, making it impossible to recognize their original appearances.

"Steward Qin... save... save me." Upon seeing the newcomers, Second Madam looked as if she had seen a savior, hurriedly calling out with every ounce of strength she possessed.

"Second Madam?" Steward Qin looked at the person calling him in disbelief. Her face was a bloody mess, she lay on the ground in tattered clothes; she was nothing like the beautiful and dignified matriarch of the household from usual days. He hurried forward to help her up, but was abruptly interrupted by a voice.

"Steward Qin, in this Prince's view, it would be best to ask clearly what happened before saving anyone. In any case, they won't die for a while," a gentle voice said. Feng Qingcheng watched the newcomer with cold eyes. His flowing, iridescent purple robes and the white jade ring on his hand, emitting a faint luster, signaled his extraordinary status.

Feng Qingcheng searched her mind for information regarding this person. Since transmigrating here, she had been collecting data on the important figures, so this person was not unfamiliar. Who else could wear a suit of purple so strikingly besides the cynical Sixth Prince, Xiao Ruohan?

"Very well, as Your Highness the Sixth Prince commands," Steward Qin said obsequiously, while respectfully bringing a chair for Xiao Ruohan to sit. Xiao Ruohan scanned the wretched crowd once more, his gaze finally landing on Feng Qingcheng, making no effort to hide the curiosity in his eyes.

If she didn't need him to help her smooth things over, Feng Qingcheng would likely have greeted him with her fists. Suppressing her inner irritation, Feng Qingcheng lowered her head and spoke in a soft, weak voice.

"Sixth Prince, Xin'er and I were merely sunbathing here when Second Mother and my sister arrived with a group of people. They claimed they were taking some antiques left to me by my mother. I thought that since Second Mother is my stepmother and also my mother, I should just let them have them. Who could have known they would also take the mementos my mother left me?"

"When I refused to allow it, they began to beat and kick me. When those servants saw the antiques, for some reason, they began to fight among themselves. The antiques may have been taken, but the Yaoqin and jade flute are the only things that connect me to my mother. I absolutely cannot allow my mother's mementos to be taken by others. I beg Sixth Prince to seek justice for me!"

As she spoke, Feng Qingcheng wept like a person made of tears. Hearing her words, Feng Qingqing opened her mouth but could say nothing; even if she wanted to refute her, she lacked the strength. Second Madam's lips only trembled with rage, unable to speak. The servants were even more intimidated by the aura Feng Qingcheng had displayed earlier, and not a single one dared to utter a word.

Xiao Ruohan nodded and said, "It seems the facts are indeed as you say. Miss Feng, keep the Yaoqin and jade flute your mother left you safe."

"Men, take all these servants away to await judgment. Bring Second Madam and the Second Young Lady back to their own quarters and keep them under strict supervision. Immediately send people to clean this place; not a single drop of blood must remain. Everything will be decided once Chancellor Feng returns. Miss Feng, are you satisfied with this arrangement?"

Feng Qingcheng nodded. How could she not be satisfied? This was clearly the best solution for now.