"Sister... you're being stubborn. Yunli is just a child of four or five, how could he possibly escape the Feng family to see you? But if we succeed, he will naturally understand that only his birth mother and I, his uncle, truly care for him. Then you will be the undisputed matriarch of the main household. Wouldn't it be easy to deal with those who harmed you then?"
His words were full of flaws, but Concubine Linlang, her mind clouded, couldn't discern right from wrong.
So she nodded and said to her elder brother, "Whatever you want me to do, just say it, brother!"
The hope in her eyes made her elder brother, Mr. Luo, feel as if he had found leverage.
"Excellent. You've been in the Feng family for many years, so draw me a rough map of the estate. Also, list the people you think can be bribed. Flies don't bite smooth eggs; I refuse to believe we can't break through the Feng family's iron walls!
Due to the investigation into the mole, the Feng family had replaced several batches of household staff. Those hired from outside only handled sweeping and general chores.
They couldn't touch or understand anything inside the house.
So, perhaps by starting with her, we could find some hidden clues.
The person behind Mr. Luo was extremely powerful and well-connected, yet they had repeatedly hit a wall with matters concerning the Feng family. This was why they thought of using Concubine Linlang.
After success, they could also promise her what they had before.
But if they failed, they wouldn't be traced back to them. It would merely be the Feng family's abandoned concubine bribing servants to kill the entire main household.
After Mr. Luo obtained the rough map of the Feng family estate and the list of potential bribes, he left in a hurry.
Concubine Linlang was left alone in the prison, beginning to indulge in fantasies and dreams.
Feng Jinxu, don't blame me for disregarding our marital bond. If you want me dead, let's see who dies first.
It would be best if this great fire burned the main household to ashes!
Aren't you affectionate with Madam Wen?
Then go to the underworld together with your children and be a ghostly couple.
A sinister smile then gradually bloomed on her face, soon filling the entire prison cell.
At this moment, the Feng family had no idea that Concubine Linlang, whom they had long forgotten, was secretly plotting to burn them to death and reclaim her power.
To make the coming-of-age ceremony grand, they had purchased more honest and diligent maids and servants from familiar matchmakers to serve in the manor.
In Yanlexuan, next to the main residence, laughter filled the air.
With only four or five days left until Feng Jinyao's coming-of-age ceremony, Feng Yunhe, having received leave from his tutor, rushed back to congratulate his aunt.
He also wanted to see his maternal grandmother and his uncle and aunt.
He hadn't seen his mother's side of the family since his birth.
So when Madam Wen saw Feng Yunhe, she was overcome with joy and tears. Meng Jie'er and Hui Ge'er, standing beside her, also had red eyes.
After all, they were family, bound by blood, and naturally, they had much to say about their longing for each other.
"Good child, your grandmother is late. You've grown so tall and are already studying. I hear your studies are going very well. You truly bring honor to your mother."
For Madam Wen, Feng Yunhe's capabilities were her daughter Madam Wen's leverage in the Feng family.
The more outstanding he was, the more stable Madam Wen's position in the Feng family would be.
Therefore, she doted on him exceptionally.
Meng Jie'er chimed in from the side.
"Mother, you truly are biased when it comes to your grandson. Ever since Yunhe entered the room, you haven't even prepared a cup of hot tea for us."
She pouted as she spoke, feigning anger.
Feng Yunhe, usually composed with everyone except his second uncle and younger brother at home, found this aunt particularly amusing.
"You're shameless, arguing with your own nephew. If Yunhe is here in the future, don't even think about hot tea; I won't let you in, lest you disturb us."
She said this while teasing her, and Meng Jie'er, being straightforward, quickly went to Madam Wen's side and said ingratiatingly.
"Hehe, Mother, don't be stingy. You're delighted to see your grandson, and as his aunt, I'm naturally delighted to see my nephew. It's just that Yunhe here looks exactly like your son-in-law, his appearance and disposition are ten parts alike. I feel a bit guilty looking at him."
Feng Yunhe smiled faintly. He found his aunt's words quite interesting.
"I haven't done anything wrong, yet I don't know why I feel scared whenever I see my brother-in-law. Perhaps it's because he's interrogated so many criminals in the Dali Temple that he looks intimidating?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? Your brother-in-law is very accomplished now and is favored by His Majesty. Don't say such things here; be careful not to cause trouble for him and your sister."
Walls have ears. This was a sentiment she had developed over many years as a daughter-in-law of the Wen family.
Even if they were just chatting at home, the worst thing was for the speaker to be careless and the listener to take it to heart, then exaggerate and spread it. That would be disastrous, so it was best to be cautious.
Meng Jie'er stuck out her tongue, feeling that after coming to Dongdu City, her mother had become much more serious than when she was in Shuzhou, being exceptionally careful in everything.
However, Madam Wen, after experiencing recent events, also agreed with her mother's approach.
Especially now, when the Feng family was in a period of prosperity and excitement, it might not be a good thing if they attracted the attention of malicious people.
So she patted Meng Jie'er's shoulder, "Listen to Mother; she's right."
Madam Wen spread out the interesting items she had brought before Feng Yunhe, looking at him affectionately and saying.
"Yunhe, take a look. What do you like?"
This array of novelties surprised Feng Yunhe. He hadn't seen these things even in Dongdu City.
Especially a set of intricate mechanical toys, like the wooden ox and flowing horse, that could move without external force. It truly broadened Feng Yunhe's horizons.
"My tutor was right; reading ten thousand books is as good as traveling ten thousand miles. Now, with my grandmother, Yunhe knows to interact more with new things to broaden his knowledge."
He could see so many implications in such a small toy, which made Madam Wen and everyone else chuckle.
This child truly inherited his father's disposition, always maintaining an attitude of never tiring of learning.
"Grand Madam, Madam asked me to bring some food. She said it's freshly made milk cakes, and they taste very good."
The speaker was a capable maid serving Madam Feng, chosen by Mama Bai herself. She was now responsible for all the pastries in the main house, and they tasted excellent.
"Thank you for your concern, Mother-in-law," Madam Wen replied with a smile.
Madam Wen was also very pleased. "Why are you being so polite, relative? We'll be visiting later anyway, so it's the same to use her courtyard. Thank you, young lady, for making this trip."