Outside the palace gates, a crowd had gathered to watch the spectacle.
A slender young girl knelt rigidly on the ground, a coffin strapped to her back, while people around her tried to pull her away.
"Lin Yunshi, have you lost your mind? How dare you accuse General Zhenbei? Do you want to drag the entire family to their deaths?" Lin Sheng hissed in a low voice, his face twisted with fury. Beside him, Master Lin barked, "Drag her away at once—and take that coffin with her!"
Several Lin Family servants immediately moved to seize her, but the girl threw herself over the coffin like a madwoman, clinging to it desperately. "This subject, Lin Qi, accuses General Zhenbei of filial impiety and the murder of his legal mother! This subject, Lin Qi, accuses General Zhenbei of filial impiety and the murder of his legal mother!!"
Her voice carried far, stirring murmurs among the onlookers.
"What’s going on? A mere fifth-rank Lin Family member dares to accuse the second-rank Feng Family?"
"Didn’t you hear? She’s accusing General Feng of killing his legal mother—wasn’t his legal mother originally from the Lin Family?"
"But those Lin Family members are trying to drag her away. Doesn’t look like they’re supporting her."
"You don’t understand. The deceased was just a married-off woman—why would the Lin Family risk their necks for her? But this girl, a mere concubine-born daughter, actually has the guts to defy her own family head..."
The whispers spread, reaching the ears of the Lin Family.
Lin Sheng couldn’t hold back. "Father, with so many people watching, if this gets too ugly, it might reach the Emperor’s ears..."
Master Lin gnashed his teeth but had no choice but to order his men to stop.
That wretched girl was going to ruin his career!
Just then, the palace gates swung open, and Feng Huan stormed out. "Who dares slander this general?!"
Lin Yunshi scrambled off the coffin and pointed at him accusingly. "General Feng, you heartless monster! Just because my grandaunt wasn’t your birth mother, you abandoned her at Huguo Temple for over a decade, never sparing her a thought. Are you even human?"
"Nonsense! My mother suffered from consumption. We had no choice but to send her there for treatment. The Feng Family provided for her every need all these years—how is that neglect?"
As Feng Huan finished speaking, the Emperor, the Duke of Chu, and others emerged from the palace.
The crowd immediately dropped to their knees in reverence. "Long live Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"
Lin Yunshi also knelt, silently steeling herself. Stick to what the county magistrate’s wife taught you...
"Your Majesty! This subject has a grievance to report. This subject accuses General Zhenbei of filial impiety and the murder of his legal mother!"
Before the Emperor could respond, Feng Huan staggered back as if struck. "What did you say? Who’s dead?"
Lin Yunshi bit her lip and pointed at the coffin, her voice thick with grief. "My grandaunt—your legal mother, the lawful wife of Elder Feng—passed away at Huguo Temple three days ago. I beg Your Majesty for justice!"
"What? Mother is dead?"
Feng Huan recoiled as if lightning had struck him.
Gasps erupted from the crowd.
"He didn’t even know his own mother had died? What kind of son is he?"
"I thought the Lin girl was lying, but it’s true!"
"And here I respected him for guarding the borders—turns out he’s nothing but a heartless beast!"
"Exactly..."
The public outcry grew, and the Emperor’s face darkened. "Master Lin, is this true?"
Master Lin’s legs gave out as he dropped to his knees. "Y-Your Majesty, this has nothing to do with me! It’s her—"
He frantically pointed at Lin Yunshi, but the concubine-born girl seized the moment, raising her voice. "The Feng Family has treated my grandaunt with utter contempt! They neglected her in life and denied her dignity in death. Three days have passed—has even a single noble family in the capital received word of her passing from the Feng residence?"
Silence fell over the crowd.
Then, from somewhere in the masses, a voice called out, "No obituary, but I heard they threw a grand banquet at Qujiang!"
The crowd erupted.
The accusations turned into a storm of fury, the people’s curses raining down like nails, burying the Feng Family in shame.
"Disgraceful! Throwing a banquet instead of mourning your own mother?"
"I heard it was to welcome some Feng daughter back to the capital. The whole family’s a pack of ungrateful wolves!"
"Even if the banquet was before her death, she must’ve been bedridden by then. How could they celebrate at such a time? No wonder the Lin girl is appealing to the Emperor!"
"Your Majesty, we beg for justice!"
In an instant, nearly the entire crowd knelt in unison.
Great Xia ruled by filial piety—officials, barring exceptions, observed a three-year mourning period.
For Feng Huan to not even know of his mother’s death, let alone have to be told by an outsider, was an outrage!
Feng Family servants hidden in the crowd rushed back to report.
The Emperor, caught in an impossible position, flung his sleeve in fury. "This matter will be dealt with justly! Feng Huan, Lin girl—both of you, follow me into the palace. Summon the Minister of Justice, the Chief of the Court of Judicial Review, and the Prefect of Shuntian. This case will be resolved before the day is over!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
The crowd bowed deeply as the Emperor led the procession back into the palace.
Nearby, inside a carriage, Chu Ruoyan watched everything unfold.
Old Xu approached, stroking his beard. "Well? Did my little outburst hit the mark?"
"Perfectly, absolutely perfectly!" Nanny Zhou marveled. "That shout just now sounded like a grown man—how did you do it?"
Old Xu was about to boast when he suddenly froze upon seeing Nanny Zhou. "Ah, well... I’ll explain later..."
Nanny Zhou nodded, then turned back. "My lady, your plan was brilliant. Having Miss Lin carry the coffin to appeal to the Emperor ensures General Feng’s unfilial reputation is sealed. He might even lose his position!"
There was precedent for such things.
Chu Ruoyan took a sip of tea. "Since the Feng Family wants to push Feng Huan as the scapegoat, we might as well make it final. The Fengs rely entirely on their one General Zhenbei. If he falls, I wonder if Elder Feng can still sit comfortably."
Meanwhile, at the Feng residence.
Upon hearing the news, Elder Feng collapsed into his chair.
"Grandfather! Someone must be behind this!" Feng Ying cried.
Elder Feng’s voice was hoarse. "Whoever it is, if your father is ruined, the Feng Family is finished!"
After a moment of silence, he ordered, "Bring the Imperial Pardon. You’re coming to the palace with me."
Inside the Hall of Heavenly Purity, the Minister of Justice and others arrived swiftly.
Yet none dared to breathe too loudly.
The Emperor’s face was beyond dark—he hurled a teacup at Feng Huan. "Do you have a death wish? If so, I’ll grant it! Drag him out and execute him at once!"
The cup struck Feng Huan’s forehead, drawing blood.
Feng Huan kowtowed frantically, his voice thick with grief. "Your Majesty, I truly didn’t know about my mother’s death! There must be some misunderstanding!"
"Misunderstanding? Her own family carried her coffin here! Should we open it to confirm?!"
The Emperor’s roar shook the hall, his temples throbbing with rage.
He had elevated the Feng Family, even considered arranging a marriage alliance with his ninth brother, hoping they would become pillars of the court like the Yan Family.
But who could have expected that before even settling the matter of merit, the accusation of unfilial disobedience had already arisen, utterly betraying his painstaking efforts!
Feng Huan found himself at a loss for words and couldn’t help but glance at Chu Huaishan.
In the past, this upright elder might have spoken a word or two in his defense, but now, with a sidelong glance, he pretended not to see.
“The situation has escalated to this point, Feng Huan. I must give the people of the realm an answer!” The emperor took a deep breath and was about to issue his decree when suddenly, a young eunuch rushed in through the palace doors. Before he could utter a word, Elder Feng strode forward with both hands raised high above his head—
“This old subject presents the late emperor’s ironclad pardon! I beg Your Majesty to spare my son this once!”
