"Sister Tongtong, you're injured!"
Feng Xiaoru, a junior of the Feng family, quickly checked the wounds. She and Feng Tongtong had always been close.
Therefore, upon seeing Feng Tongtong injured, Feng Xiaoru was somewhat angry, "Isn't it too much to injure someone?"
"Yes, Madam Zhang has contributed a lot to the entire family. The medicinal materials she obtained were not rare treasures, just ordinary ones. What's wrong with giving her some? Why injure someone?"
Another junior chimed in.
Feng Ninghe sneered inwardly, contributed a lot?
Did she mean Madam Zhang using the achievements of Feng Lie and Feng Linyuan to accumulate resources for the Feng Manor, and then meticulously taking care of their food and clothing within the manor?
The First Elder was recuperating in his room and did not appear, but the other three elders were all present.
The Second Elder frowned and reprimanded, "Eldest Miss, even if you don't give the medicine, there's no need to injure someone."
The other elders nodded in agreement, all siding with Feng Tongtong.
Feng Ninghe's expression was playful, and she chuckled, "If Feng Tongtong only wanted the medicinal materials, it would be fine. I would have sent someone to fetch them. But she wanted to enter the treasury to get them herself. The treasury is a vital place, not just anyone can enter!"
Her words, with intentional sarcasm, further fueled Feng Tongtong's anger.
But with everyone present, it was not the time to act out.
Feng Tongtong suppressed her anger, bit her lip, and looked at the elders with a wronged expression, "I implore the elders to uphold justice for me. It's not the first time I've entered the treasury, and nothing has ever been lost. Moreover, I truly only wanted to get medicinal materials and would never touch anything I shouldn't."
Just as the elders were about to speak, Feng Ninghe spoke first, "Since everyone is here today, why don't I take this opportunity to inventory the treasury's resources in person?"
Feng Tongtong's heart skipped a beat.
A flicker of panic crossed her eyes.
For years, Feng Guangyao had held the key to the treasury, treating it as his family's private storehouse.
She couldn't even count how many times the treasury's resources had been privately used over the years.
Only when it was time for the year-end accounting would Madam Zhang find ways to falsify the accounts to cover up these misappropriated resources.
Normally, because Madam Zhang and Feng Tongtong were adept at handling people, if there were any surplus resources after allocation, they would be given to the clan members, ensuring good relationships within the manor.
Therefore, no one would normally question or suddenly demand an audit of the treasury's inventory.
However, this little vixen, Feng Ninghe, had barely returned and was already causing trouble one after another!
Feng Tongtong's thoughts were in disarray. Madam Zhang, who could make decisions, was seriously injured and bedridden, and Feng Guangyao had also gone out on urgent business.
Just as she was trying to find a way to stop it, Feng Ninghe had already opened the treasury door and walked in.
Although the crowd was somewhat puzzled, they didn't say much and followed her into the treasury.
Feng Ninghe quickly obtained the ledger and proceeded to inventory the resources and expenditures.
Feng Tongtong was completely panicked. She clenched her skirt tightly and followed them in.
Soon, Feng Ninghe discovered discrepancies between the inventory and the recorded income and expenses.
The inventory was noticeably short of the recorded incoming resources.
And tomorrow was precisely the day for the redistribution of resources.
The resources had already been packaged and labeled with each person's name.
Feng Ninghe moved to the packaging area and began to open the sealed boxes one by one.
Everyone looked at each other, unsure of Feng Ninghe's intentions.
After all the sealed boxes were opened, the crowd finally realized.
The box labeled 'Feng Tongtong' contained significantly more spirit stones and pills than those of other direct descendants.
The difference was visible to the naked eye.
At this moment, even Feng Xiaoru, who had spoken up for Feng Tongtong earlier, widened her eyes, her throat feeling as if something was stuck, making it difficult to speak.
"This..."
Feng Tongtong's face turned pale. She awkwardly tugged at her sleeve, her mind racing frantically to figure out what to say.
Another junior was Feng Tian, the only son of the Second Elder.
Feng Tian quickly pointed to the box labeled with his name, "My resources and Feng Xiaoru's are the same, both significantly less than Feng Tongtong's."
The elders were intelligent and immediately understood what had happened.
Feng Tongtong was Feng Guangyao's biological daughter. He was biased and distributed resources unevenly, giving more to his own daughter and less to other Feng family juniors.
For a long time, the resources had been concentrated on Feng Tongtong.
It was difficult for other juniors to surpass Feng Tongtong without the support of resources.
The Second Elder grunted, his eyes filled with impatience and indignation, "I never expected Feng Guangyao to do such a thing. Fortunately, the treasury key was given to Ninghe, otherwise, who knows how long this would have continued."
The Third Elder nodded in agreement, "Yes, we trusted Feng Guangyao so much."
The Fourth Elder was equally displeased, "With the unequal distribution of resources, it's no wonder Feng Tongtong's cultivation is higher than other juniors. He's hoarding all the good things for his own daughter."
Feng Tongtong was burning with anxiety as she listened to their words. She quickly interjected, "There must be some misunderstanding. I... I'll go back and ask!"
With such an incident, she no longer dared to pursue the matter of Feng Ninghe preventing her from entering the treasury. She found an excuse and quickly fled.
Feng Tongtong, filled with rage, went to Madam Zhang.
Upon learning the whole story, Madam Zhang's face was filled with shock, as if her tail had been stepped on, "What did you say? Feng Ninghe wouldn't let you into the treasury to get medicine, not only injured you but also inventoried the treasury resources that year?"
With the issue of unequal resource distribution exposed, it would be difficult to get the treasury key back.
Madam Zhang was still waiting to take the medicinal materials, but now that the treasury was managed by Feng Ninghe, it had become so difficult for her to get even a few medicinal materials.
Thinking of the Dowager Duchess's dowry, Madam Zhang's heart bled profusely, "The First Elder also ordered me to return the Dowager Duchess's dowry to Feng Ninghe within these few days. Someone even came to urge me today."
She had planned to embezzle the dowry.
When her two daughters got married, she would be able to use this substantial sum of money to prepare their dowries.
"Mother, Feng Ninghe is ruthless and shows no regard for past affections. We don't need to be merciful to her either! If she dies, we won't have to return the dowry!"
Feng Tongtong gritted her teeth, her eyes burning with intense anger.
Madam Zhang also harbored murderous intent, narrowing her eyes and grunting, "The secret realm is about to open, Tongtong. There are many demonic beasts in the secret realm. If she can die under the claws of a demonic beast, no one will suspect us."
Madam Zhang's words carried hidden meaning.
She was hinting to Feng Tongtong that if she could take action in the secret realm and end that vixen's life, everything would be over.
Feng Tongtong instantly understood her intention, her eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly, "Mother's plan is indeed thorough. She should have died five years ago. Living an extra five years is more than enough."
The secret realm was perilous, and juniors had died in it in previous years. Adding Feng Ninghe to the list wouldn't make much difference.
Only if she died would the secret of five years ago be buried...