Thwack!
Thwack!
With a series of slaps, Madam Zhang's cheeks rapidly swelled and reddened. Her vision suddenly darkened, and her body went limp as she collapsed, unconscious.
"Quick! Someone carry Madam back to her room to rest and apply medicine to her face!"
Feng Guangyao urgently called for servants.
The servants did not dare to delay and immediately carried Madam Zhang away.
News of Feng Guangyao's "righteous act of eliminating family traitors" in the main hall quickly spread throughout the Zhenguo Duke's mansion. The servants fanned the flames, spreading the word from ten to a hundred, and then to a thousand...
After Madam Zhang was removed, Feng Guangyao's sharp, dark, and shadowed eyes met Feng Ninghe's. "Are you satisfied now?"
Feng Ninghe did not answer the question but stated her second demand: "I want the key to the Zhenguo Duke's mansion's treasury."
The treasury of the Zhenguo Duke's mansion also encompassed the entire financial resources of the Feng family.
Once the key was handed over, she would have free access to the treasury and could take whatever she desired.
"Absolutely not!"
The Second Elder was the first to voice his objection.
"The treasury holds all the financial resources of our entire Feng clan. How can we easily hand over the treasury key to a mere young girl like you?"
"Indeed, the treasury key cannot be handed over. Only the Patriarch is qualified to possess it."
This time, everyone was furious and unanimously rejected her demand, deeming Feng Ninghe's request exorbitant.
This outcome was within Feng Ninghe's expectations.
She smiled dismissively and casually said, "Healing the Great Elder's hidden ailment requires a large quantity of elixirs. I can ask Immortal Xu to refine them, which requires a substantial amount of wealth. I am penniless and cannot afford the spiritual materials."
Feng Guangyao refused without hesitation. "If you need medicinal ingredients, the Feng family will do its best to provide them. It's fine if we don't give you the key."
Once the treasury key was given to her, it would be difficult to retrieve.
The Zhenguo Duke's mansion had been under Feng Guangyao's control for many years, yet at this moment, he felt a sense of crisis.
The Great Elder also spoke at this moment. "If you need medicinal ingredients, just ask, and they will be delivered to you from the mansion immediately."
Feng Ninghe's expression did not change much. She smiled lightly and asked, "If medicinal ingredients are needed urgently during elixir refinement, reporting through layers of bureaucracy is too time-consuming. If the refinement is delayed and the herbs are ruined, leading to a failed elixir, who will bear the responsibility?"
Elixir refinement failures were common occurrences.
Once a failure occurred, the herbs were wasted, and the loss was not insignificant.
At this moment, even the Great Elder fell silent.
Just as Feng Guangyao was contemplating how to respond, Feng Ninghe continued, "I not only want the treasury key, but I also want absolute control over the treasury. The entire Zhenguo Duke's mansion was built by my father's hard work. If I take back what originally belonged to me, to put it bluntly, I don't need your permission."
At this point, Feng Ninghe's smile vanished, and she exuded a daunting aura that caused people to inwardly tremble.
Feng Guangyao looked at the elders. "Esteemed Elders, the treasury key concerns the entire resources of the Feng family and is a vital location for us. If this key is lost, stolen, or snatched by someone, it would be a great disaster for everyone in our Feng family. This matter requires careful consideration."
He was indirectly implying that Feng Ninghe was not qualified to control the treasury key.
Even if the estate was built by the Zhenguo Duke, so what?
Feng Ninghe was merely a cultivation prodigy. How could she possibly have the ability to control the treasury key?
Feng Ninghe let out a cold laugh. "The Great Elder should indeed consider carefully. For years, the hidden ailment has prevented you from cultivating. If not for the continuous use of potent elixirs, your cultivation would likely regress."
The Great Elder pondered for a long time. After weighing the pros and cons, he finally chose to agree. "Feng Guangyao, give her the treasury key."
Feng Guangyao became anxious. "Only the Patriarch has ever been qualified to possess it. How can it be handed over to a junior for her to control?"
Feng Ninghe retorted, "Oh? Then perhaps Uncle should hand over the position of Patriarch right now."
Feng Guangyao was rendered speechless.
The Great Elder finally said, "Our Feng family is gradually declining. We were once at the forefront of the major families, but now we are falling behind. Our Feng family must obtain the Blazing Spirit Lotus!"
Feng Guangyao gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.
If he insisted on refusing, the elders who had supported him to become Patriarch before could just as easily depose him now.
He could only endure this temporary setback and produce the key.
"Feng Ninghe, you had better keep the key safe."
Feng Guangyao spoke, taking out a small, silver key that looked quite exquisite.
Feng Ninghe's smile instantly bloomed. She took the key and said charmingly, "Thank you, Uncle. It is indeed Uncle who prioritizes the greater good."
This compliment was laced with a hidden sting.
Feng Guangyao's heart felt as though it were bleeding.
Fortunately, he had also made a copy of the key. However, handing over the treasury was equivalent to ceding a portion of the Feng family's real power.
It seemed he would have to be careful and find a way to retrieve the key!
Seeing Feng Ninghe's apparent satisfaction, the Great Elder inquired, "Tell us, what is your third condition?"
She had gotten her revenge, and the key had been handed over. It was not unreasonable for Feng Ninghe to propose a third condition.
Feng Ninghe grinned. "My final condition is the return of my mother's dowry. My mother had a considerable dowry when she married. Now, based on the list of gifts, return them to me item by item."
It was not unreasonable for her to reclaim her mother's possessions.
The dowry of the Zhenguo Duchess had been kept by Madam Zhang under the guise of "reasonable and proper" reasons.
This request was not excessive.
The Great Elder nodded and waved to Feng Guangyao. "Hurry and prepare it."
Feng Guangyao was so enraged he nearly jumped. He suppressed his anger with great effort and left without looking back.
He feared that one more glance at Feng Ninghe would cause him to fly into a rage and grab her to teach her a severe lesson.
Feng Ninghe looked at the Great Elder with satisfaction. "After I retrieve my mother's dowry, I will give you a set of cultivation techniques. With these techniques, combined with elixirs, your hidden ailment will eventually be cured."
Mention of his hidden ailment being curable instantly energized the Great Elder.
After all, it was Feng Guangyao who had suffered a great loss today, not the Great Elder.
Leaving the main hall, Feng Ninghe returned to Shiyuan.
Watching her departing figure, the Second Elder sighed with emotion. "I never expected the personality of Feng Lie's daughter to change so drastically."
"She has a bit of her father's demeanor," the Great Elder also exhaled heavily.
"Hmph, such an overbearing personality will only lead her to suffer. It is only because she is within the Feng family and carries the Feng family's blood that we elders do not hold it against her. If she were to act so presumptuously outside the Feng mansion, she wouldn't even know how she died," the Third Elder snorted.
The Fourth Elder stroked his beard and said, "But aren't you curious how Immortal Xu would take her as a disciple? Even to become an alchemist, spiritual energy is required."
The Third Elder replied, "I suspect it is Immortal Xu guiding this girl from behind the scenes that gives her the confidence to negotiate with us."