Chapter 17: Scheme

“Miss, what do you think is inside? Why won't it open?” Xin'er asked curiously.

“Who knows? Xin'er, just put it away for now.”

Feng Qingcheng casually handed the box to Xin'er. She couldn't see through this Third Madam, nor did she want to. As long as she didn't target her, it didn't matter whether she understood her or not. Furthermore, she had even less desire to know the meaning behind this box her mother had left her; she already had enough on her plate and saw no need to trouble herself over a small box.

...

These three days were unexpectedly peaceful. No one came to disturb her at Lanyue Pavilion, and there was no news from the medical clinic. Feng Qingcheng spent three days being a contented rice worm, thinking of nothing and simply enjoying this tranquility. Meanwhile, outside the Feng Estate, the events at Lanyue Pavilion had already spread through every street and alley.

Everyone in the capital knew that the Second Madam and Second Miss of the Feng Estate had coveted the heirloom left by Feng Qingcheng's mother. They had led a group to snatch it, beating Feng Qingcheng until she was a bloody mess, while they and the servants engaged in mutual slaughter to fight over the treasure, leaving Lanyue Pavilion flowing with rivers of blood.

Fortunately, the Sixth Prince arrived in time to rescue the eldest Miss Feng and prevent a massacre. Not only that, but someone had leaked the news of how Feng Qingcheng had been bullied since childhood within the Feng Estate. Consequently, for a time, everyone sympathized with the eldest Miss Feng, a legitimate daughter who had been bullied by her concubine-born mother and sister since she was young.

Her reputation as a "straw bag" and her perceived ugliness seemed to have been cast aside by the people along with these rumors; everyone now knew the eldest Miss Feng as a weak woman who had suffered much bullying.

Three days later, Chancellor Feng finally returned. On his way back, he had also heard the rumors.

His expression was extremely grim. He had always believed in the gentle and virtuous Second Madam, always thinking she treated Feng Qingcheng as her own. But now, after the events of these past few days, he understood one thing: some things absolutely cannot be judged by appearances alone.

“Qingcheng, how are you? Where are you hurt? Let Father see.” Before even seeing Chancellor Feng, his urgent voice could be heard rushing into Lanyue Pavilion.

Feng Qingcheng curled her lip. Chancellor Feng had certainly arrived quickly. But this was for the best; it would allow him to see the Second Madam's true colors sooner, and let him see exactly what kind of "virtuous and kind" wife his esteemed self, Chancellor Feng, had married.

“Master, you are back?” Xin'er said respectfully as she met him at the door.

“Where is Qingcheng?” Without even looking at Xin'er, Chancellor Feng stepped directly through the doorway, intending to go inside. “Master, you cannot go in!” Xin'er hurriedly blocked him, saying urgently, “Miss is injured; she just took her medicine and fell asleep...”

“Then I must go in even more.” Chancellor Feng glared at Xin'er. Xin'er lowered her head and reluctantly stepped aside, but a smile bloomed at the corners of her mouth. Having followed the Miss for so long, she had also learned Feng Qingcheng's black-bellied ways. After the grand show three days ago, how could she not know the Miss's true intention?

“Xin'er, who is outside? *Cough, cough...*” Feng Qingcheng's weak, sickly voice rang out at the perfect moment. To Chancellor Feng's ears, it sounded like a knife. He rushed to Feng Qingcheng's bedside, and the sight of her on the bed gave him quite a shock.

Although he had heard the rumors outside, he still couldn't bring himself to believe that the Second Madam, whom he had trusted so deeply, would harbor such malicious intentions toward Feng Qingcheng. However, seeing Feng Qingcheng's state, he realized that reality was even more terrifying than the rumors.

On the bed, Feng Qingcheng's complexion was a sickly yellow tinged with pallor, and her cheeks were terribly swollen. Although a bright red palm print had faded somewhat, it was still faintly visible. It had been three days. To still see such a handprint after three days—what else could that say besides proving how vicious the Second Madam's strike had been?

“Qingcheng, you...” Chancellor Feng froze, momentarily at a loss for words.

“Father, you're back?” Seeing Chancellor Feng, Feng Qingcheng tried to sit up joyfully, but as she struggled to rise, she seemed to remember something. She hurriedly covered her face with her hands and sobbed softly, “Father, who told you to come in? Qingcheng doesn't want Father to see her like this.”

At that moment, the sleeve of her garment slipped down, revealing the various large and small scars on her arm. New wounds and old scars were intertwined; anyone seeing them would find them heart-wrenching.

“Someone, quickly, call a doctor!” Chancellor Feng's mouth trembled for a long time before he managed to roar out those words. His body was also shaking; he had never known that his daughter had been living in such misery all along.

“Father, I am fine. The doctor has already seen me, truly. Please do not make such a fuss,” Feng Qingcheng said urgently to Chancellor Feng. Tears welled in the corners of her eyes, making her appear even more fragile and helpless, a sight that tugged at the heartstrings.

“That's right, Master. Miss just took her medicine and was about to rest,” Xin'er chimed in. “The Second Madam was truly ruthless. If you wanted to rob something, you should have just robbed it, but she even wanted the Miss's life. Luckily the Miss is resilient, otherwise she would have been beaten to death by the Second Madam long ago.”