One by one, the matters were spoken of by Feng Jinxu with extreme severity, leaving Linlang sitting on the ground, unsure how to respond.
"No, no, Master, I was afraid the physician would harm Yunli..."
"Harm him? I think you wanted to frame Yunhe with this matter. Using your own son to pave your future, Linlang, how have I never realized you were so heartless?"
His words were convincing, and his eyes held a newfound disgust and disappointment.
"I have already investigated the matter of Yunhe contracting smallpox and found that you were the one who acted behind the scenes. The servant who handled it has also confessed and committed suicide. Coupled with the fact that you have been privately lending money at usurious rates and harboring a murderer over the years, these three charges are enough to condemn you to death."
Fu Yi watched from the side, inwardly cheering. His sister's revenge was finally served!
"I do not wish to execute you by private means, as I deem you unworthy of soiling the Feng family's reputation. Nor do I wish Yunli to hear anything related to you. I have handed you over to the Ying Tian Prefecture; your life or death will be decided by the law."
Linlang never imagined that so many dark secrets would be exposed. She felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, utterly despairing.
By the time she reacted, Feng Jinxu had already turned to leave.
No!
How could she just go to prison like this?
How could she die so vaguely?
She still had so many years ahead of her, her son, her family, and her brother!
With this thought, her will to survive overshadowed everything else. She lunged forward like a madwoman, clinging to Feng Jinxu's leg, tears and snot streaming down her face.
"Master, Master, this concubine was wrong. This concubine was momentarily bewitched. No, it was the First Madam, the First Madam framed this concubine! This concubine did not do these things..."
Even now, refusing to repent and trying to frame others, Feng Jinxu was utterly disappointed in her. If he could, he truly wished he had never had any connection with her in his life.
Fu Yi, fearing that her cries might soften Feng Jinxu's heart, stepped forward and forcefully pulled her away. With a chop to the side of her neck, Linlang's eyes widened, and she then fell unconscious.
Casting one last look at Linlang, Feng Jinxu said with a cold face, "Send her away. Tell the Ying Tian Prefecture not to show any leniency."
"Yes."
Fu Yi's grudge against her was deep; he would not delay for a moment.
Dragging her, he threw her onto a horse as if she were a sack and galloped off towards the Ying Tian Prefecture.
When Linlang awoke, she was already in prison, awaiting interrogation.
She refused to believe it was true, even if she were beaten to death. She pounded frantically on the wooden prison door like a madwoman, shouting, "Let me out, let me out! I am innocent! The Feng family wants to use me as a scapegoat!"
After shouting for a long time, an impatient jailer approached. With a whip, he struck the place where her hands gripped the bars, hitting hard and accurately. Linlang cried out in pain, almost dying. She looked down to see a distinct whip mark on her slender, fair hand, swollen and unsightly.
"You... are you looking for death! Didn't you find out who I am!"
The jailer, accustomed to such defiant prisoners, sneered through the bars.
"I don't care what your status was before you came in. I'll tell you this: once you're in here, don't expect to get out. You'll either serve your sentence until the end or wait to be buried."
The coldness in his eyes left Linlang speechless. Knowing she was a tiger fallen to the plains, bullied by dogs, she had to soften her tone. Speaking softly and sweetly to the jailer, she said,
"Brother, could you do me a favor and help me find someone?"
Before she could finish, the jailer whipped her again and shouted, "Stop putting on a show! I've seen it all, no way!"
This was someone sent by the Feng family's Master's personal guard. Who knew if he held a deep grudge against the Feng family?
He wasn't foolish enough to offend the Feng family, and the Bai family, for her.
"Behave yourself, or I'll give you a taste of the whip!" He glared fiercely at Linlang before turning to leave.
Enraged, she bit her lip, her heart filled with immense hatred, wishing she could burn the entire Feng family to ashes to feel content!
"Feng Jinxu! Wen Shi! And everyone in the Feng family, just you wait! Even if I go to the underworld, I will come back to claim your lives!" Her voice was shrill and thin, like that of a hanged ghost, sending chills down one's spine.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Fu Yi, after arranging Linlang's affairs, returned to the manor to share the good news with his sister.
She had recovered quite a bit these days. The First Madam had promised to return her deed of servitude and grant her freedom once she was well. It was only delayed by her brother's illness; otherwise, she would already be in the new courtyard.
He walked quickly towards the room where she was, only to find Hehua tidying the bedding inside.
"Hehua."
"Brother Fu, you're here?" Hehua had been in the Feng family for a short time and interacted most with the Hehuan siblings, so she felt a closer bond with them.
"Mm, where's my sister? Why don't I see her lying down?"
"Sister Hehuan said she's much better. And I heard from Sister Yuegui, who came to visit, that the First Madam is pregnant, so she rushed off to congratulate her."
She was certainly eager, but this was good news. With the First Madam in good spirits, perhaps she would directly handle the deed of servitude matter, saving him further worry.
"So that's how it is. Then, when she returns, tell her to come find me at the outer courtyard's second gate. I have something to tell her."
"Don't worry, I'll be sure to pass on the message." Her smiling face showed no guile; she was a truly honest girl.
On the other side, Hehuan, who had come with Yuegui to pay respects to Wen Shi, had recovered greatly. She only occasionally had a headache, but it passed with a little rest.
Lifting the curtain and entering the room, Zhu Jin was the first to see her and said with a frown, "In this cold weather, why have you come?"
"I've been lying down for so long, my body feels weak. Sister Zhu Jin, I heard Sister Yuegui say the First Madam is pregnant again, so I came to congratulate her."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Jin, who had been about to scold her, suddenly smiled, her gloomy expression dissipating. "You, you're quite eager."
Saying this, she pointed towards the inner room and said in a low voice, "The Master is here. He's inside talking with the First Madam. You can have tea after they come out."
Hehuan nodded solemnly.
The Master and the First Madam were very much in love these days, staying by her side day and night. The courtyard was quiet, free from troublesome matters, which was perfect for Wen Shi to nurture her pregnancy.
Inside the inner room, Feng Jinxu did not hide anything from Wen Shi and recounted his dealings with Linlang one by one.
When he mentioned that Yunhe's smallpox was caused by Linlang's actions, the usually gentle Wen Shi couldn't help but get angry. "Yunhe suffered so much, and it was her! Master, she intended to kill Yunhe. If not for Doctor Zhang and Third Sister's help, perhaps now..."