The Second Madam glanced at her daughter, then looked toward Xianghe, who stood not far off. Her voice was cool and sharp. “Is the wound on Qing’er’s neck really that Feng Yuxin’s doing?”
Xianghe—the handmaid the Second Madam had sent to keep an eye on her daughter—nodded. She was the cleverest of the servants and had been the first to pull Feng Qing away when things turned ugly. Even now the memory made her shudder. “Yes, madam. That Feng Yuxin is uncanny—she knocked those guards flying as if they were nothing.”
The Second Madam’s face darkened. She tried to figure out what had happened. Even if Feng Yuxin had begun to cultivate, ten days was nowhere near enough time to become that formidable.
“Mother, what are you hesitating for? Send me a few men—I want them both dead.” Feng Qing, impatient and hot-tempered, pressed.
The Second Madam’s look chilled. “And then what? How do you imagine your father will explain their sudden deaths to everyone outside?”
Feng Qing waved the idea off. “What’s there to explain? Say they caught some disease and died.”
The Second Madam gave her a long look. “Qing’er, if you were half as clever as your twin siblings, I wouldn’t be having to worry like this.”
The remark stung. “Mother, my sister may be clever, but she’s not here. I’m the one at your side—who’s been filial to you?”
From childhood she’d heard her mother praise the twins—the brother and sister who had been taken three years ago by a major sect as disciples. They’d only returned once since. The more they were away, the more the Second Madam dote d on Feng Qing. The girl secretly relished the exclusive attention; she wouldn’t have minded if the twins never came back.
“You’re the only one here now,” the Second Madam said. “I cannot let anything happen to you. If I asked the covert guards to take the woman and her mother away, it would satisfy your anger. But it would sully the good name we’ve worked so hard to build.”
“Then what do you suggest?” Feng Qing asked, unwilling to let it go. “You aren’t seriously telling me to just forget it, are you?”
“Of course not.” The Second Madam’s voice was sharp. “Remember the bet you and your father made? The signed paper with the handprint—bring it to me.”
Feng Qing fished out the document at once and handed it over.
The Second Madam scanned it and a small smile flickered at the corner of her eye. “Qing’er, this is perfect. You were about to have them killed—such a crude plan. Use this instead.”
“What do you mean?” Feng Qing peered, puzzled and suddenly alert. Her mother’s certainty told her a plan was forming.
“There’s a three-day clause, isn’t there?” the Second Madam said, tapping the words. “Use those three days to drag Wen Jie out into the open. Then pour dirt on that mother-and-daughter—discredit them so thoroughly that even Yan Aojun will be forced to repudiate her.”
Feng Qing was hotheaded but not foolish. Once the idea clicked, she straightened. “I’ll set it up immediately.”
“Have the steward make the arrangements with you,” the Second Madam added. “I trust him to handle it.”
“Good, Mother. This time I’ll ruin Feng Yuxin and her mother’s reputation until they crawl out of the Prime Minister’s mansion in disgrace.” Feng Qing’s face lit with vindictive excitement.
The Second Madam softened slightly. “When you’re thwarted in the future, don’t rush in blind. Think about the consequences.”
Feng Qing looped an arm around her mother and tried to be playful. “Mother, I’m wound up because of the injury and the shock. Don’t be mad—I’m still sore.”
The Second Madam couldn’t help an exasperated sigh; she produced a jar of ointment and began to dab at her daughter’s wound. “You’re safe here because your father and I protect you. Out in the world you’ll meet much stronger opponents. Even if you face someone superior, try to avoid a head-on clash. Lay low, wait for the right moment, and strike decisively then.”
“I know,” Feng Qing replied, but the answer lacked conviction. The Second Madam could see it and sighed again.
…
After leaving the trading house, Feng Yuxin crossed to the North City. She made the rounds, found the local head, slipped some silver, and issued a few curt instructions. She hadn’t gone far before she noticed a tall man standing a short distance away.
Mo Xuanye wore a black robe and a black mask. The look about him was oppressive and dangerous.
Feng Yuxin stepped forward and produced the return gift she’d prepared. “Thank you for what you did today. This is my repayment. From now on, we owe each other nothing.”
At the last words, the man’s aura sharpened to an ice-cold edge. “Owe each other nothing? Are you certain?”
She felt the chill rolling off him and instinctively took a step back, frowning. “What else do you want? I may have had your help today, but what I gave you isn’t cheap. It should clear the debt.”
She was always wary of owing favors; that was why she’d chosen gifts that were rare—two of them dating back to ancient times and a pill that ranked nine in quality. On the Tianyuan Continent, alchemists rarely reached even the fourth stage; pills were graded lower, middle, and upper within each stage. A ninth-grade mid-level pill was exceptional. She’d thought she’d been generous. What more could he want?
It irritated her—debts were a nuisance. From now on she’d avoid owing anyone anything.
Earlier that morning, after he had arranged things for Feng Yuxin, Dongfang Zhi had arrived in Xisong. They’d discussed a few matters, then Mo Xuanye, without delay, had come looking for her. He had seemed to expect at least some gratitude; instead, she’d offered to sever ties.
He grimaced, anger flashing through his deep-set eyes. “Feng Yuxin, you’ve tangled with me. Don’t think you’ll ever wash this clean.”
Her brow knit. “What do you mean, ‘tangled with you’? I brought up the marriage arrangement—do you honestly think I wanted to marry? Who in their right mind volunteers to be sent so far away?”
Mo Xuanye’s voice tightened. “Never mind the marriage now. Think back to when you went to Dongyuan—didn’t you draw me into it? If you hadn’t intervened to keep me alive then, I would have died. You can’t pretend you weren’t involved.”
Feng Yuxin went speechless. What nonsense was this? Those events had been set in motion by the previous life’s owner, not her. Why was this man determined to latch onto her now? The thought of being pursued by someone so formidable filled her with sudden, sharp irritation.