"It's good that you've taken it to heart. The mother and daughter have a low status in the Ling family and are not valued. When Second Master Ling was in charge of the family, he often withheld their food, clothing, and monthly allowances. The mother and daughter were often unable to get enough to eat or wear. As her elder brother, you should indeed protect her."
Ling Mo Han had been completely unaware of the matters Feng Jin spoke of. The Ling family, outwardly glorious and harmonious, hid such depravity beneath the surface.
"Are you sure these things are true..." Ling Mo Han still found it hard to believe. Could the Ling family really not afford to feed a mother and daughter?
If news of mistreating concubines and illegitimate daughters spread, the Ling family's reputation would truly be beyond redemption.
"Do you think I'm lying to you? The clothes Ling Yan was wearing earlier were already ill-fitting, and the cuffs were frayed. It was clear she had worn them for a long time..."
Feng Jin truly suspected that Ling Mo Han's eyes were genuinely blind, unable to see such obvious things.
Ling Mo Han fell silent. Even though he wasn't very close to Ling Wan, she was still his sister.
To have suffered such humiliation under his nose without his knowledge would surely invite ridicule and mockery if it got out.
"Second Uncle has gone too far!" Ling Mo Han's face darkened, and he slammed his fist on the table.
While his second uncle's abilities were limited, he had never expected him to stoop to such a base act.
Feng Jin sighed softly. The inner chambers were always rife with intrigue and conflict. Ling Wan and her daughter had endured years of silent suffering, all for the sake of a stable life.
"When Second Master Ling managed the household, the maids and servants under Fu Shang benefited greatly from him. Ling Yan disliked Ling Wan, so the maids and servants, in order to please those in the second branch, would deliberately bully them. What we know now is merely the tip of the iceberg of their suffering."
As a seasoned enthusiast of palace intrigue and harem dramas, Feng Jin understood the intricate complexities involved.
Once fallen from power, even a tiger would be bullied by dogs – such were the common dramas of the inner chambers.
It was understandable that Ling Mo Han, a man whose ambitions lay in the imperial court, would not understand these matters. However, now that he knew, it was time for a profound lesson.
"This vial was sent by Ling Wan at the behest of Concubine Bai. The Nine Revolutions Heart Protection Pill. Such a precious medicine must have been something Concubine Bai treasured for a long time."
"The Nine Revolutions Heart Protection Pill was given by my mother to Concubine Bai. When Ling Wan was just born, she was frail. It was only with this Nine Revolutions Heart Protection Pill that her heart pulse was protected and her life saved."
Feng Jin listened intently. She truly didn't know about this past. She only knew that Concubine Bai had been the personal maid of the former main wife, who had taken a liking to her, thus allowing her the good fortune to become a concubine.
It seemed that the former wife must have had some affection for Concubine Bai to have allowed such a precious Nine Revolutions Heart Protection Pill to be given to Ling Wan.
"Concubine Bai was Mother's dowry maid. Mother was always kind to others, treating Concubine Bai as if she were her own sister."
Ling Mo Han spoke in a low voice, recounting past events. His mother had passed away many years ago. This Nine Revolutions Heart Protection Pill had been in Concubine Bai's possession for over a decade, its medicinal efficacy long gone. Yet, the vial itself was perfectly preserved. The blue patterns on the vial had faded due to constant wiping over the years.
This showed Concubine Bai's respect for the late wife, treating even a medicine vial with such care.
"Take a box of bird's nest from the storeroom and go see Concubine Bai," Ling Mo Han said in a low voice.
"I understand. I'll go get it now." Feng Jin acknowledged, rose, and went to the storeroom to fetch the bird's nest. Together, they went to Concubine Bai's room.
...
"Why is today's meal so poor? These vegetables have no oil or moisture. Are they just stir-fried in plain water?"
Ling Wan poked at the clear boiled vegetables in her bowl, her expression grim, her tone unusually forceful.
"Second Miss, the kitchen's vegetables are all like this. Even what is sent to the Old Master is the same. Second Miss, if you don't like it, you're welcome to cook it yourself. There's no need to make things difficult for the servants."
The old woman who replied was righteous, appearing as if she were the mistress.
"Old Madam Wang, you are too presumptuous. Is it you who rules the Ling family?"
"Second Miss, your words sting. Please don't flatter me. I am just a servant. I have served the Ling family wholeheartedly for half my life, but I cannot bear such a charge. Second Miss should still speak with caution."
Old Madam Wang had been in the Ling family for half a century, always aligned with the second branch. When Second Master Ling managed the household, he had embezzled and taken bribes extensively, and bullying Ling Wan and her mother was a common occurrence.
"I didn't realize, Old Madam Wang, that you carry yourself with such airs. To put on a show in front of your master, have you borrowed the authority of the second branch?"
Feng Jin had just reached the courtyard entrance when she heard Old Madam Wang's incessant chatter, even dragging Second Master Ling into it. What an arrogance, making it seem as if she were the mistress.
When Old Madam Wang recognized who had arrived, her heart suddenly pounded: "Young General, Young Madam, this old servant deserves death. I misspoke..."
"Misspoke..." Ling Mo Han said with a darkened face. "This is not a slip of the tongue; it is filled with resentment. Concubine Bai and Second Miss are masters, and you are merely a lowly servant. Yet you dare to invoke Second Uncle's name and act tyrannically in the manor. You old hag are truly deserving of death!"
"Young General, I just misspoke. I never had such intentions. Young General, spare my life!" Old Madam Wang panicked instantly and hurriedly knelt on the ground, begging for mercy.
"Someone like you, who bullies the weak and fears the strong, is even more detestable and deserves to be taught a good lesson."
Feng Jin angrily shouted: "Lu Shi, take this Old Madam Wang out and have her beaten twenty boards. Demote her to the village estate and let all the maids and servants in the manor watch. This is the consequence of bullying the masters. Let it serve as a warning."
"Yes, Young Madam." Lu Shi responded, and two guards dragged Old Madam Wang out.
"Young General, Young Madam, this was originally a small matter. It's all because of Ling Wan's meddling. Please don't let this cause trouble for you."
Concubine Bai's personality was soft and weak. When such an incident occurred in her room, she couldn't help but feel timid. Moreover, Old Madam Wang belonged to the second branch, and Second Master Ling was still resentful about losing his authority in managing the household. It was better not to provoke the second branch.
"When a servant bullies a master, if such a wicked slave is not dealt with, the Ling family will truly fall into chaos." If she and Ling Mo Han hadn't witnessed it firsthand today, they wouldn't have known how arrogant and overbearing Old Madam Wang was in private.
Such a wicked slave, if not dealt with promptly, should she be kept to celebrate the New Year and festivals?
"Do not worry, Madam Bai. I gave the order to punish Old Madam Wang. If anyone from the second branch comes to cause trouble, inform me and Feng Jin directly."
"Young Master... You... What did you call me?"