Chapter 7: Counterattack from Despair (1)

The servant didn't even dare to breathe, staring cautiously in the direction where Feng Qingcheng had disappeared. Everything that had just happened felt like a dream to him; only the injury on his face and the dagger embedded more than three inches into the pillar served as reminders of Feng Qingcheng’s skill and demeanor.

Arriving at the courtyard where the Second Madam resided, she neatly struck the sleep acupoints of the servants guarding the gate and dragged them aside. Slipping inside without a sound, she heard bursts of laughter from within, mixed with voices filled with extreme smugness.

"Mother, why not just beat this girl, Xin'er, to death and throw her back to her? I get angry just thinking about that slut. Not only did she steal my status as the legitimate daughter, but she also almost snatched the Third Prince away." It was Feng Qingqing’s voice.

"Qing'er, don't be impatient. Take it slow." It was the Second Madam’s low, chuckling voice. "Look, hasn't the Third Prince already broken off the engagement with her? Once your father’s anger subsides, I will persuade him to let you marry the Third Prince. Won't you have gotten exactly what you wanted then?"

"Mother is the best to me." As Feng Qingqing spoke, she pointed a finger at Xin'er and said to the group of nannies and maids waiting below, "Beat her hard for this young lady."

"Second Miss, it doesn't matter if you beat me. But treating the Young Miss this way will bring retribution upon you," Xin'er said, gasping for air. Feng Qingcheng pressed against the window to look inside. Xin'er was standing there, her face and body covered in bloody welts, and the corners of her mouth were swollen and red—evidently, she had been beaten. Yet, she still stood there stubbornly, unyielding.

"Nanny Su, beat her hard. Beat her until she is willing to kneel." Feng Qingqing barked coldly, the viciousness on her face making her originally beautiful features look incredibly hideous.

Feng Qingcheng flicked her finger, and a grain-sized object flew straight toward Feng Qingqing. With a *pop*, a red, swollen bump rose on her face. "Who? Who hit this young lady?" Feng Qingqing, stung by the pain, narrowed her eyes. She pointed her finger at one of the maids and said viciously, "Was it you?"

"Second Miss, have mercy. It wasn't this servant." The maid knelt down in a hurry. With another *pop*, a red bump rose on the other side of Feng Qingqing’s face. It wasn't just her; even the Second Madam’s face sprouted a red bump. "Rebellion! This is pure rebellion! You’ve all gone mad!" The Second Madam was furious, pointing at the nanny closest to her. "Nanny Su, you have some nerve! How dare you hit me?"

"Madam, have mercy. It wasn't this old servant." That Nanny Su also knelt down in a hurry.

Nanny Su knelt there trembling, feeling aggrieved herself. She didn't know when a large bump had appeared on her own face, and she had no idea who to settle this score with.

In an instant, the room descended into chaos, with everyone brawling. One claimed another had hit them, and that person blamed someone else. No one was left to bother beating Xin'er. Three women make a play, and there were far more than three women standing in this room.

Feng Qingcheng watched the show with cold eyes, not in a hurry to enter. She had weathered many great storms; as a recognized all-around genius in her organization, how could she fear these ancient people? She didn't mind sparring with them. She had never been soft-hearted toward those she loathed, and she would never let her own people be bullied in vain.

"Rebellion! It's all rebellion!" The Second Madam’s hair was a tangled mess from the scuffling, and her face was covered in black and blue bruises. She shouted angrily, but her voice sounded exceptionally powerless in the room that had already turned into a chaotic porridge.

The corners of Feng Qingcheng’s mouth curved upward. She pushed the door open. A scent of blood wafted from the room. Feng Qingcheng frowned, lifted her leg, and walked inside.

"Xin'er, are you alright?" Walking quickly to Xin'er’s side, Feng Qingcheng asked with concern.

"Young Miss, why are you here? Leave quickly, I'm fine!" Seeing Feng Qingcheng walk over, Xin'er was shocked and hurriedly signaled for her to leave. Feng Qingcheng shook her head. "Silly girl, don't you believe I can protect you?"

Xin'er felt a warmth in her heart, and the corners of her eyes grew moist. Before Xin'er could think too much, Feng Qingcheng had already smeared some blood she’d wiped off someone else onto her own clothes. In a moment, Feng Qingcheng was covered in bloodstains, and two red, swollen bumps had appeared on her face—though, of course, she had caused those herself.

She didn't want other people's blood on her face; how dirty! Feng Qingcheng had always been a germaphobe.

"Second Mother, you... you are so cruel. It’s one thing to bully me, but why must you bully Xin'er too?"

Feng Qingcheng caught a glimpse of someone walking toward them out of the corner of her eye. She immediately squeezed a few tears from her eyes and charged toward the Second Madam. As luck would have it, the Second Madam’s hand swung onto Feng Qingcheng’s face, and Feng Qingcheng used the force of that slap to fall backward.

"Young Miss, what's wrong? Don't scare Xin'er!" Xin'er hurriedly caught Feng Qingcheng’s falling body, crying.

"Rebellion! This is pure rebellion! Stop at once!" The person who walked in was none other than Feng Tiande, the Prime Minister. Looking at the people in the room tangled in a mess, he felt a splitting headache; it was his first time encountering such a chaotic situation.