"Alas... alright, alright, alright... it's good that you could come. I originally thought you wouldn't," Feng Yuanping responded, his eyes glistening with tears. Regardless of whether Feng Jin's call of 'father' was genuine or not, he was overjoyed.
For over a decade, this was the first time his daughter had called him father. How could he not be happy, not be moved?
"You must be tired from the carriage ride. Quickly, sit down and rest. Have some tea to moisten your throat. If you're hungry, have some pastries to tide you over first... If they don't suit your taste, I'll have the kitchen prepare some dishes you like..."
Feng Yuanping hovered around Feng Jin, being excessively attentive and inquiring about every small detail, afraid of any oversight.
He treated her as if she were a treasure, afraid to drop her if he held her, afraid to melt her if he held her in his mouth.
"There's no need for all this. I am well. I have only come to offer incense to Aunt Sun."
Feng Jin felt utterly uncomfortable, especially with Feng Yuanping constantly fluttering around her, babbling incessantly. Her ears were growing calloused from his nagging.
"Good... I'll do as you say," Feng Yuanping acquiesced to Feng Jin's wishes, his demeanor utterly subservient.
Yet, the more he acted this way, the less pity Feng Jin felt. She only thought he was reaping what he had sown.
He didn't cherish her when she was alive. Now, he feigned regret and acted solicitous, but it was far too late for regrets. Who was he putting on this show for?
Feng Jin watched the actions of those around her, memorizing them without a single detail missed. She was about to imitate them, picking up a stick of incense, when Feng Ruoyan suddenly snatched it away and threw it to the ground.
"Leave. My mother doesn't want to see you. Get out... get out..."
Feng Ruoyan screamed hysterically and reached out to push Feng Jin, but Feng Yuanping, standing behind her, grabbed her wrist and flung her away with a sudden, forceful jerk.
Her already weak body could not withstand the full force of Feng Yuanping's throw. Feng Ruoyan lost her footing and fell directly to the ground.
"Father... you..."
Coming back to her senses, Feng Ruoyan looked at the tall man before her in disbelief. This was the first time her father had ever laid a hand on her since she could remember. Could it be that he already knew...
No... impossible...
Her mother had only told her about this. Her father absolutely could not know. Then why would her father defend Feng Jin? Didn't he loathe Feng Jin before and even severed their father-daughter relationship?
Everything that was so out of the ordinary this time made Feng Ruoyan's already worried heart even more panicked. She dared not imagine what would happen if her father knew she wasn't his biological daughter. Would he cast her out of the family and disown her?
But she still needed to rely on the identity of the Prime Minister's daughter to establish a firm footing in the Third Prince's mansion. This identity was the greatest asset for her to become Empress. She had to find a way to appease her father.
"Father, why did you push me for her? Father..."
'Slap!' A crisp sound of a slap echoed through the room.
Feng Ruoyan felt a burning pain on her right cheek. She hadn't even reacted before she looked at Feng Yuanping with dazed eyes. Her father had just hit her.
Having never suffered such humiliation, Feng Ruoyan felt a sting in her nose, her eyes filling with tears.
"Father, you actually hit me? You hit me for her? My mother's corpse is barely cold, and you strike me in front of her memorial tablet. Do you want her to have no peace even in the netherworld? Father, are you treating Mother justly like this!"
Feng Yuanping suppressed the anger in his heart. If it weren't for the need to save face, why would he have brought Madam Sun back to the mansion for burial? He had also endured Feng Ruoyan's behavior.
"Enough. Shut up. Stay if you want to stay, and leave quickly if you don't!"
"Father..."
Feng Ruoyan called out weakly. How could her father treat her like this? Could it be that he already knew?
To avoid a complete falling out for the moment, Feng Ruoyan suppressed her emotions. "Father, I was too impulsive just now. Mother's tragic death..."
"Stop saying such useless things. Go and keep vigil for your mother."
Not wanting to listen to Feng Ruoyan's emotional appeals any longer, Feng Yuanping found an excuse to send her away.
"Yes... Father..."
Feng Ruoyan suppressed her anger, cast a fierce glare at Feng Jin from the corner of her eye, and turned to leave.
"Young Madam, you shouldn't have saved her back then. She's like a snake. Young Madam saved her life, and she's so eager to bite back at Young Madam."
Chu Qing couldn't stand it any longer. How could there be such a shameless person in the world? Young Madam had just saved her life, and now she was biting back.
Someone like this shouldn't have been saved in the first place. She should have let her die, ridding the world of a menace.
"When I saved her, I already anticipated this. The reason I saved her is because she is still useful to us. Don't worry about these trivial matters. She won't live much longer anyway."
For someone who was about to die, why should she care so much? Seeing Feng Ruoyan so enraged now proved that the little trick she had played back then had indeed borne fruit.
The more frantic and irritable a person becomes, the more likely they are to do something out of line. The more this happens, the less the Third Prince will be able to cope, and the time for chaos in the Third Prince's mansion is not far off.
"Alright, quickly go and offer incense. We'll sit aside and leave as soon as we're done eating."
Feng Jin moved away, finding this place too dirty for her feet.
Seeing this, Ling Muzhu offered incense quickly and hurried to follow Feng Jin's footsteps.
"Eldest Sister-in-law, how much longer do we have to stay? My back is starting to ache."
"It should be soon."
Feng Jin yawned. She was extremely tired. If this continued, she would really have to find an excuse to leave.
After a full half an hour more, Madam Sun's coffin was finally carried away. Feng Ruoyan followed behind the coffin, weeping grievously and nearly fainting several times.
When the Third Prince arrived in a hurry, Madam Sun's coffin had already been buried. He only exchanged a few polite words with Feng Yuanping before leaving with Feng Ruoyan.
"Since the main guests have left, there's no need for us to linger. Let's go."
Feng Jin lazily stood up and stretched. Sitting for so long had indeed made her back quite sore.
As soon as she heard about going home, Ling Muzhu's spirits lifted instantly. She quickly stood up and hurried outside, her previous listless demeanor gone.
"Young Madam, where did she go?"
After seeing off the guests outside, Feng Yuanping rushed to look for Feng Jin. He scanned the surroundings but couldn't find her. He asked the butler beside him.
"This old servant saw Miss leave just now. This old servant dared not step forward to stop her."