"Remember this, Prime Minister," Granny Yun replied indifferently.
Feng Yuanping exchanged pleasantries for a moment before leaving with the disheveled Madam Sun.
"Thank you, Granny, for your help this time," Feng Jin said humbly. Without Granny Yun's presence, she would have had a much harder time dealing with the two of them.
"You are too kind, Young Madam. The Empress Dowager had anticipated that these two, having controlled the late Madam's dowry for years, would not willingly relinquish it. That is why she dispatched me. What she did not expect was that they would even resort to forging documents."
Granny Yun was also impressed by the couple. Truly birds of a feather, capable of any despicable act.
What they had done in the past was truly disgraceful.
Feng Jin let out a cold snort, in perfect agreement. "Colluding like snakes and rats in a den, they would never hand it over easily."
Madam Sun even intended to seize the betrothal gifts from the Ling family and use them as Feng Ruoyan's dowry.
Anyone would covet Madam He's dowry of a million taels. Madam Sun must have set her sights on the dowry the moment she stepped into the Feng family.
They certainly hadn't expected the Empress Dowager to bring up the past, forcing them to return the dowry.
The ruby coronet was crudely made, likely rushed by Madam Sun. Given Madam Sun's nature, she would never have made such a mistake.
"What they did to Madam He back then is even more appalling. But heaven's net is vast, and though its mesh is coarse, it misses nothing. These two will surely face retribution sooner or later."
As Granny Yun spoke, a deep hint of resentment flashed in her eyes.
Hearing this, Feng Jin's eyes narrowed as she looked at Granny Yun.
"I was young then, and I vaguely recall my mother weeping day after day, sighing endlessly. Even my younger brother died along with my mother. Granny, can you tell me what exactly happened back then?"
Feng Jin only had fragmented memories from the original owner. Before the original owner's consciousness faded, she had specifically instructed Feng Jin to avenge her. But she needed to know the truth of what had happened.
Granny Yun sighed softly, and distant memories surged to the forefront.
"I watched Miaoqing grow up. She was the only legitimate daughter of the He family, doted on and cherished. Before her coming-of-age ceremony, princes and nobles seeking her hand were a constant stream at the He family's doorstep. But Miaoqing looked down on them, calling them arrogant and relying solely on their ancestors' legacy."
"Who could have imagined that this girl would fall in love at first sight with Feng Yuanping, the third-place scholar at the time? They met in secret. But paper cannot forever contain fire. Their affair was discovered by Old Master He, who forbade their contact and confined Miaoqing to the manor. Unexpectedly, Feng Yuanping sent people to spread rumors about Miaoqing and him. Miaoqing's reputation was ruined, and to protect her name, Old Master He had no choice but to agree to the marriage."
"At the wedding, she bestowed a dowry of a million taels. After the marriage, Feng Yuanping showered Miaoqing with affection and treated Old Master He with great respect, thus leveraging the He family's influence to rise through the ranks. After Old Master He's death, the He family's fortunes plummeted, and He Hong was sent away."
"Feng Yuanping's hypocrisy was exposed. He had been in league with Madam Sun even before the marriage, and they even had a daughter. After the He family lost their power, he brought Madam Sun into the household, showering her with favor. Miaoqing, with her simple heart, was imprisoned by Feng Yuanping under Madam Sun's schemes, falling into despair and eventually losing both mother and child in a tragic loss of two lives."
A wave of sorrow washed over Feng Jin, and a tear fell from the corner of her eye, an echo of the original owner's emotions.
"After my mother passed away, did no one from the He family intervene? I was sent to the countryside. Why did no one ever search for me?"
She couldn't help but ask this question, which was the original owner's most profound yearning. Having endured humiliation alone in the countryside, why had her maternal family offered no help?
"When your maternal uncle learned of your mother's death, he rode back to the capital overnight. By then, your mother's body had already been hastily buried by the Feng family, and your whereabouts were unknown. They merely announced that you had fallen seriously ill and were sent to a rural estate to recuperate. Despite several inquiries, there was no news of you. The Empress Dowager even dispatched secret guards to search for you, but for over a decade, there was no trace."
"It wasn't until the Ling family sought a daughter from the Feng family to marry the young general as a good omen that it was discovered you had married into the Feng family."
Feng Jin lowered her gaze. "I was raised by peasant families in the mountains. I tried to escape, but even the paths out were guarded. Each attempt to leave resulted in a beating. One attempt, one beating..."
The original owner's painful memories all surged forth. Feng Jin felt them as if they were her own, recounting the events little by little.
"Feng Yuanping is truly detestable, hiding you in the mountains while claiming you were at the estate. No wonder the search parties had no news of you."
It was no wonder they had never found her. Feng Yuanping had employed a diversionary tactic, spreading only false information.
"Granny, upon your return to the palace, please convey my gratitude to the Empress Dowager on behalf of Feng Jin. She worried about me for many years and meticulously planned for my sake. Her great kindness, I will forever remember. Regarding the Second Prince, Feng Jin will spare no effort."
"This old servant has noted it down. Young Madam, this token is from the Empress Dowager for you. With this token, you may freely enter and exit the imperial palace. Visit the Empress Dowager when you have time; she is quite lonely."
In the past, the Empress Dowager had been decisive in order to protect the Emperor's throne, even banishing members of her own family to distant lands. In her twilight years, only the Emperor visited her regularly to pay his respects.
Previously, the Second Prince had kept her company, but after his incident, she confined herself to her residence day after day, making the Empress Dowager even more isolated.
"Feng Jin understands."
"Everything has been handled, and it is getting late. This old servant must return to attend to the Empress Dowager."
"Granny, I shall escort you."
As Feng Jin stood up, Granny Yun gently pressed her back down. "You are now the Princess of Jia Ning, personally conferred by His Majesty. You are the master, and I am the servant. The difference is as vast as heaven and earth. If outsiders see you escorting me out, would it not be a laughingstock? Have your maids escort me."
"Cai Qing, please escort Granny."
"Yes, Young Madam. Granny, please."
After Granny Yun departed, Feng Jin ordered the servants to sort the dowry items one by one and place them all in the storerooms of the East Courtyard.
"Young Madam, we can't fit anymore. All six storerooms are full."
"They're already full, and there's still more than half of the dowry with nowhere to go," Feng Jin complained. "These storerooms are too small. We need to clear out two more rooms."
"Yes, Young Madam."
Ling Mohan returned from the training grounds and heard the sounds of crashing and banging. As he stepped into the East Courtyard, his eyes fell upon the mess scattered everywhere.
The contents of the study had been moved out and were haphazardly strewn about.
"What are you doing?"
A man's deep, slightly angry voice rang out.
The servants, holding their items, simultaneously put them down and stood awkwardly to the side.
"Who told you to stop? What are you looking at him for? Don't forget who pays your monthly wages. Today, anyone who slacks off will have their wages halved."