If Feng Tongtong had proof, even with Immortal Xu protecting her, Feng Ninghe would have to provide an explanation.
But now, without evidence, this accusation could not be pinned on Feng Ninghe.
The other two elders also nodded in agreement at this moment.
Feng Tongtong's face turned ashen with anger, a breath stuck in her chest. Her gaze was like venom, filled with fierce intent: "Yesterday, I saw Feng Ninghe sneak into the treasury. I don't know what she did. The treasury is crucial to the entire Feng family, and it cannot be taken lightly. Feng Ninghe has ordinary qualifications; with the treasury key, who knows if her hands are clean!"
The implication was that Feng Ninghe might have stolen resources from the treasury.
Although the treasury key was in her possession, it did not mean everyone was at ease handing over the treasury to her.
Feng Guangyao's eyes lit up instantly: "If that's the case, why don't we go and check the treasury?"
If, as Feng Tongtong claimed, Feng Ninghe was using her authority to take treasury items for herself, perhaps he could seize control of the treasury.
The issue of uneven resource allocation had long been circulating within the Feng family.
But after all, he had been the patriarch for so many years, managing the Feng family in an orderly fashion. Even without merit, he had at least put in the effort.
Madam Zhang did not forget to add fuel to the fire: "Ninghe is ultimately a junior; entrusting the treasury to her is hard to feel at ease about."
"If she were upright, why the need to be so secretive? If we go to the treasury, everything will be clear."
With that, Feng Tongtong boldly led the way.
Before long, everyone arrived at the treasury in a grand procession.
Feng Ninghe cooperatively opened the treasury with her key.
The crowd followed her into the treasury.
"Look, why is it empty in here?"
Feng Tongtong exclaimed as if she had discovered something, quickly opening a chest: "If I remember correctly, these two chests were filled with spirit stones, at least tens of thousands of them."
For the Feng family, tens of thousands of spirit stones could be exchanged for considerable resources.
"Is there any record of the use of the spirit stones in these two chests?"
The Second Elder turned to the young servant who was usually responsible for guarding the treasury.
The servant glanced at the chests, pulled out a ledger, and after checking, shook his head: "There is no record of the use of these spirit stones. Strange, where did these two chests of spirit stones go?"
Feng Tongtong concealed the joy that flashed in her eyes. Her gaze fell into the chest, and she cried out in surprise: "Look quickly! What is this?"
She pulled out a jade hairpin from the chest.
The jade hairpin was crystal clear, its jade color subtly revealing a hint of milky white.
At the sight of the jade hairpin, Feng Ninghe's pupils involuntarily contracted. She recognized this hairpin.
This hairpin was left by the original owner's mother and had always been with the original owner. It had been lost five years ago, and now it appeared here...
"What's wrong with this hairpin?"
The Second Elder, not understanding the significance, stared at the hairpin for a long time without seeing anything unusual.
Madam Zhang's eyes brightened slightly. She abruptly turned her gaze to Feng Ninghe and said with a hint of excitement: "Feng Ninghe, isn't this jade hairpin yours?"
With one sentence, the conversation shifted to Feng Ninghe.
Feng Guangyao seized the opportunity and said with righteous indignation: "Ninghe, the treasury key is in your hands. You just need to register to take spirit stones. Sneaking away with two chests of spirit stones is too much."
Madam Zhang chimed in repeatedly: "Two chests of spirit stones are not an amount the Feng family cannot afford, but at least we need to know their purpose."
The two of them, in perfect coordination, intended to pin the crime of stealing spirit stones on Feng Ninghe.
Several elders exchanged glances, their gazes shifting between Feng Ninghe and Feng Guangyao, as if contemplating who would be more suitable to manage the treasury key.
"It's true that this hairpin is mine, but it was lost five years ago."
Feng Ninghe spoke, her clear female voice breaking the oppressive atmosphere.
Her admission gave Feng Tongtong an opportunity to speak: "Who knows if the hairpin was lost five years ago? Perhaps you're just trying to escape blame."
Feng Ninghe's gaze swept past Feng Tongtong and then turned to the servant: "What is the exact amount of spirit stones in these two chests?"
The servant replied without hesitation: "Four thousand per chest, so eighty thousand spirit stones in total."
Feng Ninghe seemed to recall something, her red lips curving with amusement. She met Feng Tongtong's gaze: "I heard you spent eighty thousand spirit stones on hair growth serum a couple of days ago?"
The simple words caused Feng Tongtong's expression to change immediately, and a fierce fire burned within her chest.
She couldn't help but curse inwardly.
How could this slut know she had spent eighty thousand spirit stones on hair growth serum?
Feng Tongtong maintained a poker face and looked at her, her voice tinged with a hint of panic: "Feng Ninghe, don't talk nonsense."
Feng Ninghe shrugged, her demeanor as calm as ever: "Many people witnessed the third young lady of the Feng family buying hair growth serum on the street. Her hair did grow out at the time, but it all fell out later. A little inquiry would reveal if this is true."
In the end, she had to thank Feng Tongtong for her ostentatious behavior.
After her hair grew out, she couldn't wait for the whole world to know, deliberately showing it off on the street.
Who would have thought that her hair would fall out repeatedly, making Feng Ninghe a laughingstock?
Feng Tongtong grew anxious and hurriedly tried to distance herself: "Don't try to change the subject. Your hairpin was found in the chest, and only you have the treasury key. If it wasn't you stealing from the treasury, then who was it?"
Feng Ninghe smiled unhurriedly, her eyes as calm as still water, exceptionally clear, with a hint of cold aloofness at the corners.
"I only recently took charge of the treasury and haven't had time to change the key. It's not necessarily only I who can enter the treasury. Third young lady has reminded me; it's time to change the treasury key.
The treasury lost eighty thousand spirit stones, and you coincidentally spent eighty thousand spirit stones on hair growth serum. Isn't that too much of a coincidence? Even your father might not be able to easily produce eighty thousand spirit stones, let alone you."
Her clear voice slowly uttered these words, causing Feng Tongtong's face to turn even paler.
Old Man Xu scoffed, crossing his arms and casually saying: "A mere eighty thousand spirit stones. Our Medicine Valley is not short of such spirit stones. If Ninghe needs spirit stones, she can just ask me. Why would she steal from the treasury?"
Old Man Xu's words also earned a nod of approval from the Second Elder: "Ninghe really has no reason to steal from the treasury. Medicine Valley is not short of spirit stones."
"Third young lady, you spent eighty thousand spirit stones on hair growth serum. Where did these spirit stones come from?" the Third Elder asked with some confusion.
Feng Tongtong froze on the spot, clutching her sleeves, a fine layer of sweat already forming on her forehead.
She only received a few hundred spirit stones each month. Even if she sold her jewelry, she couldn't come up with eighty thousand spirit stones.
Madam Zhang quickly interjected: "Tongtong took a lot of spirit stones from me. Perhaps this child managed to scrape them together."
"Since Auntie says so, Third young lady, why don't you tell us how you scraped them together?"
Feng Ninghe raised her delicate eyebrows, her pupils sharp.
Perhaps her gaze was too piercing, as Feng Tongtong involuntarily shivered.
The Second Elder looked at the third young lady, his eyes filled with intense inquiry: "Third young lady, what is the truth of the matter?"