Feng Ruoyan, relying on the Third Prince as her backing, instantly regained her composure. She was about to marry into the royal family, her status and position would soon change, and she was sure Feng Jin wouldn't dare to be presumptuous towards her.
"Heh... Feng Ruoyan, you are truly ridiculously naive. Marrying the Third Prince, you'll only be a concubine, a mere presence to be carried into the Third Prince's mansion by any sedan chair. Your status will be no different from a maid. How dare a mere concubine wield the prestige of the royal family? Aren't you afraid that His Majesty will find out, and you won't even keep the position of concubine!"
Feng Jin's words struck directly at Feng Ruoyan's sore spot. The hands hanging at her sides clenched fiercely, her eyes glaring at Feng Jin with cold fury, her tightly pressed lips highlighting her current rage.
Before Feng Ruoyan could react, women of all sorts rushed into the room. These were all young ladies from aristocratic families, each with a distinguished status.
Their purpose was naturally to mock Feng Ruoyan, who had often shown off and flaunted herself in front of them.
Naturally, they wouldn't miss the opportunity to humiliate Feng Ruoyan today, and they all seemed to be pushing their way in with all their might.
"Oh, why are the magpies chirping non-stop on the branches today? It turns out to be good news. Miss Feng is truly blessed to be marrying the Third Prince as a concubine. It's a good thing for you."
"Yes, it's considered a blessing for Miss Feng to be the Third Prince's concubine. It is also reasonable for a庶女 (shu nv - daughter of a concubine) to be a concubine."
"Who's to say otherwise? For a庶女 like her to become a concubine is indeed a great fortune. This can be considered a phoenix soaring onto a branch."
Feng Ruoyan's face turned ashen, her hands clenched into fists, wishing she could tear apart the faces of those who were kicking her while she was down.
"Ladies, please proceed to the front hall for the banquet."
Madam Sun, aware of their identities, naturally did not dare to offend them easily. She could only subserviently ask them to leave.
"Hmph, who do you think you are? You're just a concubine. Do you really think you're the principal wife of the Prime Minister's mansion? I've only heard of concubines being elevated to wives, but this is the first time I've heard of such a bizarre occurrence as a wife being demoted to a concubine. Truly a strange tale."
Madam Sun, though humiliated, dared not lash out. She could only maintain a smiling face and say, "Miss, you are also a lady of a reputable family. Speaking such words is not in line with your status."
"I am the legitimate daughter of a Duke. You, a mere concubine, are not worthy of speaking to me. Since you have some self-awareness, why don't you hurry up and get out?"
"You blind dog slave, hurry up and escort this woman out! Don't block my view here."
As the words fell, the servants standing at the door entered the room and dragged Madam Sun out.
Then, several young ladies from noble families standing at the door closed the room door.
Feng Jin took the opportunity to slip out before the door was closed. She had only walked a few steps when she heard Feng Ruoyan's pig-like screams. Feng Jin couldn't help but cover her ears; the sound was truly unpleasant.
After a while, Feng Jin saw the young ladies from noble families emerging from the room, their smiles never fading.
"Young Madam, those ladies have come out," Cai Qing reminded from the side.
Feng Jin put down the round fan in her hand and glanced towards the room. Only then did she rise and walk inside. Upon seeing Feng Ruoyan's state, she couldn't help but be shocked.
These young ladies from noble families, who appeared so delicate and frail in daily life, were surprisingly ruthless when they took action. Look at what they had done to Feng Ruoyan, with her headdress and jewelry scattered all over the floor.
Even a few buttons had been torn off her pale pink wedding dress, which hung askew. Faint red swelling and palm prints were still visible on her cheeks.
Looking at Feng Ruoyan's appearance, one could guess how fierce the battle had been just now.
"Don't think you can gloat. I won't let you laugh at me." Feng Ruoyan supported herself on a chair to stand up. In front of Feng Jin, she absolutely refused to let Feng Jin see her as a laughingstock; this was her last shred of dignity.
Feng Jin snorted coldly, no longer taking Feng Ruoyan seriously. "In your current state, you're not worth my time to gloat."
In Feng Ruoyan's current disheveled state, she was hardly worth Feng Jin's effort to deal with; it would be a waste of time.
"You dare to look down on me? What right do you have to look down on me!"
Feng Ruoyan roared hysterically, unable to accept that Feng Jin, whom she had once crushed under her feet, was now stepping all over her. How could she endure such humiliation?
"Just because I can kill you now is simpler than crushing an ant. Just because I stand above you now." Feng Jin looked down at Feng Ruoyan from a height, taking in her miserable state. The disdain in Feng Jin's eyes was unconcealable.
"You... Feng Jin, I'll kill you!"
Completely enraged, Feng Ruoyan lost all reason. She grabbed a hairpin from the table and lunged at Feng Jin.
Feng Jin didn't pay any mind to Feng Ruoyan charging at her. She simply shifted back slightly and delivered a powerful kick. Feng Ruoyan fell backward onto the ground.
Feng Jin walked up to Feng Ruoyan and looked at her coldly. "In your current state, I truly disdain you. Your life is destined to be like Madam Sun's, only fit to be a concubine, a mere placeholder, forever low-born."
"You dare to humiliate me like this! I will repay this humiliation a thousandfold someday!"
"Then we'll see if you have the opportunity." Feng Jin uttered a few cold words, turned, and left.
Since Feng Ruoyan was to be a concubine to Chu Yanxi, Chu Yanxi did not need to personally come to fetch her. The Third Prince's mansion merely sent a sedan chair and a嬷嬷 (mama - senior maid or governess) to escort Feng Ruoyan into the mansion through the side gate.
The Third Prince's mansion had originally planned to hold a banquet, but the Empress learned of it and ordered the Third Prince to cancel the banquet, forbidding any guests from attending. Not a single piece of red decoration was visible in the mansion.
Having watched the spectacle, Feng Jin lost interest in staying at the banquet. She asked Cai Qing to stay and keep watch, then found an excuse to leave and wander around. Following her memory, she made her way to the inner courtyard.
The courtyard gate was tightly locked, with mottled rust on the lock. It seemed the courtyard had been abandoned for a long time.
Feng Jin pushed the door hard. Perhaps due to disrepair, it only took a slight push for the courtyard gate to shake.
With another forceful kick, half of the door fell off. Then, with a few more violent kicks, the entire door came crashing down. Feng Jin entered with ease.