Feng Jin looked down at the group, her voice light, yet carrying the weight of ten thousand jin that settled in everyone's hearts.
Ling Yan instantly panicked, "Anyone who dares to spread rumors, I'll cut out your tongue!"
"You imbecile, do you have the right to interrupt when I'm speaking? Disrespecting the family head! Guards, restrain her and slap her ten times!"
As Feng Jin’s words fell, a maid stepped forward and restrained Ling Yan.
"Who dares? My father won't let you go!"
"Hit her! I'll take responsibility for whatever happens," Feng Jin declared, showing a fearless demeanor.
*Slap… slap… slap…*
Each slap was delivered with full force. Ling Yan’s already unsightly face swelled to the size of a pig’s head.
Feng Jin couldn't bear to look any longer.
Although Ling Yan was dissatisfied, upon witnessing Feng Jin’s prowess, she dared not speak another word.
"You were the one who hit the second miss just now. Putting aside other reasons, beating a master to death for bullying is not excessive. Guards, drag her out and give her ten caning strokes, then find a slave dealer to sell her off."
"Young Madam, spare me! Young Madam, I won't dare again, Young Madam…"
Screams echoed ceaselessly, and everyone’s hearts became flustered. Some with guilty consciences knelt on the ground, trembling.
"There were also two people who restrained the second miss. Who were they?"
"Young Madam, spare us! We were only following the young miss’s orders when we disrespected the second miss."
"Young Madam, spare us! Young Madam."
Feng Jin’s cold eyes fixed on the two kneeling figures, "Tell the truth, and I'll spare you."
"It was… it was the young miss who fancied the second miss’s embroidery and demanded it forcefully. When the second miss refused, she had us hold her down and slap her. Concubine Bai stepped forward to intervene, but she was also slapped by the young miss."
"You ungrateful wretches!" Ling Yan said furiously.
"You two servants bullied your master. Considering you didn't commit a grave error and have repented, you will be punished by forfeiting three months' salary and serve in the outer courtyard. Ling Yan, for trying to snatch embroidery and instigating servants to commit violence without remorse, you will be punished with ten strokes of the discipline ruler and kneel in the ancestral hall for three days."
"You dare to punish me? Feng Jin, my father will not let you go!"
Feng Jin’s head throbbed from her incessant noise, "What are you all standing there for? Drag them away."
"Yes, Young Madam."
After everyone dispersed, Feng Jin stepped forward and helped up the mother and daughter kneeling on the ground, "Concubine, younger sister has been wronged."
"Young Madam is too kind. You have stood up for us this time, but Second Master Ling will not let this go," Concubine Bai said with some worry. Second Master Ling had managed the Ling family for many years, and Ling Yan had always been arrogant and overbearing. After suffering this grievance, there would undoubtedly be endless trouble in the future.
"If I feared them, I wouldn't need to be in charge of the Ling family. I will send a doctor to treat the injuries on you and younger sister. It won't be long before Old Master Ling summons you. You just need to speak the truth, and I will plan for you."
"I understand, sister-in-law," Ling Wan said quickly.
"Wan’er, don't be rude. You must call her Young Madam." Concubine Bai pulled Ling Wan, saying with a slight reprimand.
"It’s alright, Concubine. Wan'er should indeed call me sister-in-law. Concubine, Wan’er, please rest first. I have some matters to attend to, so I will take my leave."
After Feng Jin returned to her room, she had barely been seated for half an hour before someone from the Old Master summoned her.
When Feng Jin arrived, Old Master Ling was seated in the main seat in the hall. To his right sat Ling Mo Han, Ling Wan, and Concubine Bai in succession. To his left were Second Master Ling and his wife, along with Ling Yan. Further back stood a dignified and elegant lady, with a graceful young man beside her. This was likely the lady of the third branch.
As Feng Jin stepped into the hall, Madam Zhao, the wife of the second branch, cursed, "You little slut, you harmed my son, and now you want to harm my daughter!"
"Second Aunt, mind your words!" Ling Mo Han's slightly angry voice rang out. He stepped in front of Feng Jin, shielding her.
"Everyone, be silent!" Old Master Ling said sternly, "Look at the injuries on all your faces. Feng Jin, tell me exactly what happened."
He was already in his sixties, yet he still had to worry about these juniors.
Feng Jin recounted the entire sequence of events. With the testimony of Concubine Bai and her daughter, Ling Yan's guilt was confirmed.
"Ling Yan, what your sister-in-law said is all true!" Old Master Ling said with disappointment, his words full of regret. Ling Yan was becoming more and more excessive, harming someone in public over a minor matter. Ling Wan, though a concubine’s daughter, was still his granddaughter, and he had always treated them equally.
"Father, they were merely a squabble between daughters, but Feng Jin slapped Yan'er over such a small matter and even gave her ten strokes of the ruler. Look at how she has injured Yan'er." Madam Zhao wailed, recounting her supposed grievances.
"Second Aunt, your ability to twist things is quite remarkable. According to you, the injuries on Ling Wan were just playful, and Ling Yan just happened to fall accidentally." Feng Jin said with disdain. They truly lived up to being a family; baseness and shamelessness were in their nature.
"How dare you talk back to your elders? Ling Wan is merely a concubine’s daughter, while Yan’er is the legitimate daughter. There is a difference in status. If Yan’er fancies something of hers, it is her good fortune." Madam Zhao displayed a perfect image of a rogue shrew, showing not a hint of the demeanor of an official's wife.
Second Master Ling's expression suddenly changed, and he slapped Madam Zhao across the face.
"My lord…" Madam Zhao was stunned.
"What difference is there between legitimate and concubine-born? The children in this household are all the same, all blood of the Ling family." Old Master Ling himself was born to a concubine, had suffered much from the mistreatment of the main wife, and his career had been repeatedly thwarted due to his status as a concubine-born. His current achievements were all hard-won on the battlefield, exchanging his life for them. Because he had deeply suffered from the persecution of legitimate wives, after marrying, Old Master Ling never took a concubine. He only had four sons and one daughter born to his first wife, the Old Madam. Madam Zhao’s words distinguishing between legitimate and concubine-born had undoubtedly touched upon Old Master Ling’s deepest sensitivities.
"The children in this household are all the blood of the Ling family and should be treated equally. Ling Yan, you snatched Ling Wan's embroidery and assaulted your sister first, and then refused to obey orders and acted presumptuously. You will go to the ancestral hall and kneel for three days as Feng Jin suggested."
"Grandfather…"
"Say one more word, and you’ll kneel for another day."
Ling Yan was so frightened that she dared not speak further and stood aside sheepishly.
"Second son, you have failed to discipline your wife and daughter. Ling Wan is so injured, and you are also accountable. You will compensate them with two hundred taels of silver. Do you have any objections?"
"Father’s judgment is just. Your son has no complaints." Second Master Ling, having suffered a loss, could only swallow his pride and endure.
"That's enough. I am also tired. You all can resolve the remaining matters yourselves. Not a single one of you is worry-free," Old Master Ling said discontentedly, and then he left in a huff.
He had intended to use this incident to suppress Feng Jin and preferably regain the authority of managing the household. In the end, he had attempted to steal a chicken but ended up losing the rice.