The hall fell silent.
The expressions of those present turned subtly complex.
Empress Pei whispered softly, "Changle..." She shook her head at her, signaling not to act impulsively.
After all, today's Qujiang Banquet was nominally hosted by the Dowager Empress!
But Chu Ruoyan couldn't care less. If in the past she might have restrained herself out of propriety, now she was determined to settle scores—an eye for an eye!
"Your Majesty, it's not that Changle is being unreasonable, but my second sister suffered unjustly. If winning the Divine Cauldron would cost her life, wouldn't it have been better to lose to Miss Feng earlier?"
At these words, Feng Ying's face instantly paled.
Second Lady Feng snapped, "What do you mean by that, County Princess Changle?"
The Feng family had only two branches, always united as one.
Feng Ying's mother had passed early, and Feng Huan had never remarried, so the Northern Garrison General's household had always been managed by Second Lady Feng.
But Chu Ruoyan didn’t even glance at her, merely waving her hand.
Nanny Zhou immediately dragged a maid forward. "Miss, we found her!"
Feng Ying clenched her handkerchief tightly, while Second Lady Feng asked in confusion, "Isn’t that Huan'er, the maid from the outer courtyard? Why are you holding her?"
Chu Ruoyan lifted her chin slightly, and Nanny Zhou declared, "Esteemed guests, this wretch was the one who pushed our Second Miss into the water!" She then twisted Huan'er's arm viciously, making her shriek in pain.
"I didn’t do it! Please, save me, mistress!"
Nanny Zhou’s face darkened, ready to twist harder, but Feng Ying snapped, "Enough!"
She stepped forward and curtsied gracefully to Chu Ruoyan. "County Princess Changle, I understand your anger over your sister’s misfortune. If punishment is necessary, direct it at me instead of an innocent servant!"
Her words sounded noble and righteous. Jiahui, who had been holding back, finally spoke up. "Mother, Feng Ying is right. This is clearly an excuse for her to vent her grievances!"
Gu Feiyan chimed in, "The Princess speaks wisely. We implore Your Majesty to judge fairly!"
Everyone present was sharp-witted. A mere maid being pinched—or even beaten to death—was hardly worth a second thought.
But Feng Ying insisted on protecting her, and Princess Jiahui backed her up. Thus, those eager to curry favor joined in.
"Miss Feng is kind-hearted, and Princess Jiahui is magnanimous. We beg Your Majesty to intervene!"
"County Princess Changle is acting out of selfish motives. Your Majesty should reprimand her!"
The voices grew louder, one after another.
Empress Pei looked troubled, but Chu Ruoyan calmly walked up to the maid. "Oh? You claim you’re innocent?"
The maid nodded frantically, and Chu Ruoyan smiled. "Then you’re saying I’ve wronged you?"
Huan'er froze as Chu Ruoyan’s light, chilling voice drifted down. "In that case, let’s take this to the magistrate’s office, shall we?"
To the magistrate?!
When the young mistress ordered her to push someone, she never mentioned it would escalate to an official investigation!
Huan'er looked up in panic, only to see the County Princess smiling—her words carrying no hint of jest. "Yes, to the magistrate! With so many witnesses here, the authorities can interrogate everyone until the truth comes out."
"If the local office isn’t enough, we’ll go to the Ministry of Justice. If the Ministry isn’t enough, there’s always the Board of Punishments! Don’t worry, I never wrong the innocent. Even if we must appeal to His Majesty, justice will be served."
Huan'er trembled violently, truly terrified.
Even before reaching the Emperor, the twenty lashes she’d endure just for filing a complaint—how many could she survive?
Desperate, she looked at Feng Ying, who stepped forward and demanded sharply, "County Princess, since you’re so certain—was it you or not?"
Huan'er hesitated, but the silent message in Feng Ying’s eyes was clear.
Yet she still worried for her family...
"If you confess truthfully, I swear your family will be well taken care of."
Feng Ying’s promise finally made up her mind.
Huan'er kowtowed hard. "It was me! I—I resented Second Miss Chu for overshadowing our mistress, so I pushed her into the water to vent my anger!"
Feng Ying exhaled in relief, while the hall erupted in murmurs.
Princess Jiahui’s face darkened, and she stormed off in fury.
Gu Feiyan, humiliated, slunk away as well.
"Your Majesty!" Feng Ying knelt. "Our household failed in discipline, causing Second Miss Chu undeserved suffering. I accept any punishment!"
Second Lady Feng also knelt. "We beg Your Majesty’s judgment!"
Empress Pei hesitated, glancing at Chu Ruoyan, who merely chuckled. "Poor discipline and premeditated harm are two different things. Changle believes we should still take this to the magistrate—lest we wrong the innocent."
The Feng family’s expressions darkened. None expected her to press the matter!
Second Lady Feng snapped, "County Princess Changle! Must you push this until our families are irreconcilable?"
Her tone carried a clear threat.
But with Yan Zheng absent, no one could rein Chu Ruoyan in. She raised a brow. "If it comes to that, the fault won’t lie with the Chu family! Why plead for peace now, when you didn’t think before harming others?"
"You—!"
Second Lady Feng nearly choked on her rage. Feng Ying couldn’t help retorting, "County Princess, as a married woman, shouldn’t you consider the Grand Secretary? Must you make enemies everywhere for him?"
Mentioning Yan Zheng only emboldened Chu Ruoyan further. "I’m doing this precisely for him!"
The first duty of a wife was to protect her family!
Feng Ying seethed, but Empress Pei nearly laughed.
She’d sensed something different about Changle today—but never imagined she’d single-handedly take on the entire assembly, ready to challenge the whole capital!
Still, for all the drama, she couldn’t let the Feng family lose face entirely.
After all, the Dowager Empress doted on Feng Ying as her future ninth daughter-in-law...
Just as she was about to speak—
Thud!
A white-haired, hawk-eyed elder entered, leaning on a golden cane.
"Father-in-law!"
"Grandfather!"
Second Lady Feng and Feng Ying called out simultaneously. Empress Pei straightened. "Elder Feng."
This was Feng Huan’s father, a veteran who had fought alongside the late Emperor to establish the dynasty.
A battlefield injury had crippled his left leg, forcing him into seclusion. Rarely seen in recent years, he’d entrusted the Northern Garrison household to his eldest son.
Yet today, even he had been roused!
Elder Feng first saluted Empress Pei, then swept his piercing gaze across the Feng family, who stiffened under his scrutiny.
"Look at you all. Tch."
He turned to Chu Ruoyan, then limped toward Huan'er—
CRACK!
The golden cane struck, splitting her head open.
Before the maid could scream, another blow sent her sprawling—lifeless.
The banquet hall turned deathly silent. Noblewomen stifled gasps behind their sleeves.
"Your Majesty, does this suffice as our answer?"
Elder Feng’s voice was hoarse. Empress Pei averted her eyes from the gruesome sight. "Changle..."
Chu Ruoyan’s face darkened. "Killing the witness—how ruthless."
Elder Feng snorted. With a swing of his cane, he struck Feng Ying next!
Feng Ying grunted, collapsing before scrambling back to her knees. "Th-thank you, Grandfather, for the discipline."
“Well? Are you satisfied now?”
Chu Ruoyan fixed her gaze on the scene—the strike had been merciless, and blood immediately seeped from Feng Ying’s left arm.
At this point, Empress Pei finally spoke. “Enough. The culprit has been punished. Let this matter end here. Chang Le, come with me. I have words for you.”
Chu Ruoyan had no choice but to follow her out.
As she reached the doorway, Elder Feng’s voice suddenly rang out from behind. “Give my regards to your father and mother!”
Chu Ruoyan paused slightly, puzzled. While it made sense to send greetings to her father, why include her aunt?
Once outside the Feng residence, Empress Pei said gravely, “Chang Le, you must be cautious from now on. The Feng family is not to be trifled with—especially Elder Feng…” For some reason, the empress herself seemed wary of this retired official.
Just as Chu Ruoyan was about to ask, a cool, familiar voice sounded by her ear. “Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. This official will ensure her safety.”
Her heart leaped with joy, and she turned abruptly—only for her forehead to brush against the speaker’s lips.
“Yan Zheng!”
