"But we don't know who the spy is, how can we eliminate them!"
Lin Yuwei sighed, a look of helplessness on her face. She wanted to find and get rid of the spy more than anyone, but she had no clue at all.
"This matter also requires long-term planning. Since the Empress can learn your every move through them, it indicates that this person is very capable. If we were to find out who it is easily, the Empress wouldn't have gone to such lengths to place someone in your manor. To expose the spy, we need to strategize carefully."
Lin Yuwei's eyes darted around. She stepped forward and hugged Feng Jin's arm, her voice slightly fawning, "Sister Feng Jin, since you say so, have you already thought of a plan? If you really have a way, please tell me quickly, I beg you..."
This spy matter had troubled her for a long time. Now that Feng Jin had a way to solve it, she naturally had to cling to Feng Jin's coattails and ask for her advice.
"I haven't thought of anything yet. There are many eyes and ears here. We'll discuss it slowly after we return."
She wasn't an encyclopedia. Even if she had to devise a plan, it would take time. She couldn't come up with it immediately.
Moreover, this was the Third Prince's manor. The Empress's informants were innumerable here, so they had to be extremely careful with their words. If their conversation fell into the Empress's ears, she would surely infer the reason and come looking for trouble. The Empress was not easy to deal with. For now, it was best to observe more and speak less.
"Alright, I'll listen to you. We'll talk slowly after we get back."
Lin Yuwei agreed readily. She was now relying entirely on Feng Jin to help her devise strategies, so she naturally had to follow Feng Jin's wishes in everything.
Just as the two of them sat down, an oblivious person deliberately approached them.
"Greetings, Princess Jing. This must be the rumored Young Madam Ling. Indeed, seeing is believing. Today, I finally understand what it means to be extraordinary. No wonder even Young General Ling, who is so distant from women, would..."
Before the newcomer could finish, Feng Jin suddenly stood up and approached the woman step by step.
"You... What do you want to do? This is the Third Prince's manor, how dare you... how dare you act recklessly!"
The young woman who had been provoking Feng Jin moments ago suddenly couldn't speak properly. Her earlier arrogance had completely vanished.
"Let me tell you, my father is the Minister of Revenue. If you dare to do anything to me, my father will absolutely not let you off!"
Feng Jin let out a cold snort. She had initially thought this was a formidable character, but she turned out to be as brittle as paper, only capable of shouting loudly and resorting to calling her family for help when she couldn't win an argument. She really didn't know where her courage came from to provoke her in front of everyone earlier, which instantly dampened her interest and made her unwilling to argue further.
"You're scared already? If you don't have the guts, don't come out here and bluster. If you get bullied again, you'll only go home and cry. Besides, your father is just a minor Minister of Revenue. I truly don't think much of him."
Feng Jin played with her red-lacquered fingernails, her words filled with disdain.
"You actually dare to insult me like this, I absolutely... absolutely will not let you off."
After all, she was an unmarried young lady. She could only shout a few words and make empty threats before hurriedly fleeing.
Feng Jin rolled her eyes disdainfully. To raise a daughter so foolish, the Minister of Revenue must be brainless. Knowing his daughter was foolish, he still insisted on letting her out to annoy others. That was truly excessive.
"Sister Feng Jin, what did you say to her to make her cry? Now she'll definitely go crying to her mother to complain. I'm afraid she'll be back with reinforcements soon."
"I didn't say anything..."
Recalling her words just now, she hadn't said anything excessive. The main reason was that this young lady had too low a tolerance. She couldn't even handle a few slightly sarcastic remarks and yet she dared to come out and provoke others. Wasn't that just asking for trouble? She could only do her part as a good person, working hard on her behalf as her parents would, to educate her so she wouldn't embarrass herself further outside.
"What happened? Is her mother very formidable?"
Feng Jin asked indifferently. No matter how formidable she was, could she be more formidable than the Empress Dowager? She had the Empress Dowager as her backer, so why should she fear anyone else?
"She is the daughter of Guo Tao, the Minister of Revenue. Her mother's background is indeed significant. She is the only daughter of the late Duke of Wen. All the male members of the Duke of Wen's family died on the battlefield back then. The late Emperor, remembering the meritorious deeds of his subject, conferred the Duke of Wen's sole daughter the title of Princess Yongping and raised her in the palace. This Princess Yongping is not to be trifled with. You have provoked her daughter now, I'm afraid you're in for trouble."
She had seen Princess Yongping once or twice at her grandmother's birthday banquet. Just looking at her from afar, she could tell she was not someone to be easily dealt with. Moreover, Princess Yongping doted on this daughter immensely. Now that Sister Feng Jin had bullied her daughter, she would likely not let it go and would probably come charging back soon.
"What are you afraid of? She may be a Princess, but I am also a Princess personally conferred by the Empress Dowager. And you are Princess Jing. In terms of presence, we are not at a disadvantage. Just put your mind at ease."
Compared to Lin Yuwei's worry, Feng Jin was completely unconcerned. If these matters were to arise, she wouldn't be able to stop them anyway.
Just as Lin Yuwei was about to say something else, her attention was drawn by the sound of hurried footsteps. The woman who had left crying after being reprimanded by Feng Jin had now returned in a huff, accompanied by an older woman.
"Mother, she deliberately insulted me just now. Mother, you must seek justice for your daughter."
"Li'er, this is the Third Prince's manor. How can you be so noisy in public? How have I taught you all these years?"
Princess Yongping's voice was calm, yet it exuded an invisible, powerful pressure, more imposing than if she had been angry.
"Yes, Mother, I know I was wrong." Guo Li was reprimanded and lowered her head, not daring to say anything else, standing obediently to the side.
"You are the Young Madam Ling?"
Princess Yongping scrutinized Feng Jin carefully, then after a pause, asked.
"Indeed. Greetings, Your Highness."
Considering Princess Yongping was older than her, Feng Jin patiently and gently replied.
Princess Yongping looked at Feng Jin with icy eyes: "Ling Mo Han's taste is as poor as ever. He was so picky, yet he ended up marrying a woman like you."
She had also intended to forge a marriage alliance with the Ling family before, and after much effort, she was rejected outright.