"I'll go and have a look," Cai Qing followed her gaze, grabbed a stick nearby, and fished out the paper lantern from the pond.
"Young Madam, this seems to be a wish lantern."
Cai Qing handed the retrieved paper lantern to Feng Jin.
"It really is..." Feng Jin took the paper lantern and examined it for a moment before noticing something unusual, "Why is this wish lantern white?"
White wish lanterns were used to pray for the deceased. In the post station, if there was a deceased person, only Cui'er and the other two would qualify.
Could it be that someone had placed this wish lantern for Cui'er and the others? Feng Jin's interest was immediately piqued. She carefully examined the paper lantern, and after dismantling it entirely, she saw a line of small characters written inside.
'May you ascend to paradise early and be free from hardship in the next life.'
Below the line of small characters were two words: 'Zhen Zhu'. This was likely the name of the person who placed the paper lantern.
Feng Jin couldn't help but repeat these two words in her mind. She was eager to find out who this Zhen Zhu was.
If this wish lantern was indeed placed for Cui'er and the others, then the person must have had a deep affection for them to risk placing it. If so, this could indeed be a way in.
"Young Madam, this wish lantern is made so exquisitely. I've never seen such a style before!"
She had never seen a wish lantern made in this manner before; it was truly peculiar.
"You truly haven't seen this style of wish lantern before?"
"Yes, never!" Cai Qing nodded with certainty. She was sure she had never seen such a wish lantern before and thought it might not be a custom from Dong Chu.
"If you haven't seen it either, then it's likely not a custom from Dong Chu."
Feng Jin was now about seventy to eighty percent sure, but she needed to confirm it.
"Cai Qing, go and gather everyone in the post station. Tell them that a wish lantern for the deceased was found in the pond, which has offended me. We must find out who did this and punish them severely."
"Ah?"
Cai Qing exclaimed in surprise, asking with a hint of disbelief, "Young Madam, do you really... really want to do this?"
If this were done, wouldn't the Young Madam's reputation be ruined?
"Yes, hurry up and go!"
Feng Jin urged her again, quickly sending Cai Qing away.
"Yes, Young Madam." Cai Qing dared not delay any longer and trotted away with hurried steps.
In just a moment, Feng Jin's arrogance and haughtiness spread to every corner of the post station.
Therefore, when Feng Jin appeared before everyone, she was met with many pointing fingers.
"Young Madam." Cai Qing, upon seeing Feng Jin, hurried forward to greet her and had a servant bring a chair to place beside Feng Jin.
Feng Jin sat upright, her gaze, tinged with a hint of coldness, swept over everyone. She lightly parted her red lips and said, "The appearance of such an inauspicious object in the pond is a grave offense and disrespect. Tell me, whose item is this?"
Cai Qing placed the retrieved wish lantern on the table. "Whoever placed this wish lantern, be sensible and admit it quickly, lest you bring others down with you."
Having been by Feng Jin's side for a long time and influenced by her, Cai Qing now spoke with a certain authority.
"Madam, this wish lantern is also a way to express some grief. The departed have passed, and the dead should be respected. Please do not be too harsh."
Granny Sun stepped forward, her face wreathed in a smile.
*Bang!*
Feng Jin heavily threw the jade stone she was playing with onto the ground, emitting a loud noise that startled everyone.
"When I am speaking, when has it been your place, a servant, to interfere? Granny Sun, I address you as 'Granny' out of respect for your age and as an elder from Xi Liang, and I have always treated you with respect. But this does not mean you can dictate my actions."
At this moment, Feng Jin's face was filled with ferocity, a stark contrast to her usual gentle demeanor towards Granny Sun. She retorted without courtesy, "No matter how senior you are, you are ultimately just a servant. I am the master, and you are the servant. This is the difference. Granny Sun, do you understand how one should address their master?"
"This old servant momentarily forgot her place. I beg your forgiveness, Madam!"
Granny Sun immediately knelt before Feng Jin, pleading for mercy with her head bowed low.
"Considering your age and that you acted out of confusion for a moment, I will let it pass for now. If there is a next time, you will be punished for multiple offenses. Granny Sun, I hope you will behave yourself."
"This old servant understands her duties as a servant," Granny Sun replied indifferently, her dulled eyes filled with venom.
Feng Jin had publicly humiliated her in front of so many people. She would remember this debt for now. Once the Xi Liang army breached the capital, Feng Jin would be nothing more than a refugee, and she would ultimately fall into Granny Sun's hands. At that time, she would make Feng Jin's life a living hell.
For now, she had to endure this immense humiliation to achieve ultimate victory.
"Have you all thought clearly? Whose hands did this inauspicious item come from?"
Feng Jin continued to ask, but the response was still silence. No one dared to step forward and admit it.
Gradually, Feng Jin's patience wore thin, and her suppressed temper flared.
"You don't know what's good for you. Since no one admits it, then you will all be punished together."
Feng Jin stood up and strode towards everyone, her scrutinizing gaze sweeping over each person.
"To use your hands for such inauspicious things instead of something else is truly a waste of such skilled hands. Since that is the case, these hands are no longer useful."
Feng Jin smiled, but her smile was incredibly sinister and terrifying. "Guards, bring the thumb screws. Under severe torture, let's see if you still remain so stubborn."
"Madam, it... it was this servant who placed the wish lantern."
A clear voice rang out from the crowd. After a moment, a slender woman with a decent appearance walked out from within the crowd.
"What is your name, and for whom did you place the wish lantern?"
"This servant's name is Zhen Zhu, and the wish lantern is... is..."
Zhen Zhu's words stopped abruptly. Her gaze, filled with a hint of fear, fell upon Granny Sun. The words that had reached her lips were forcibly swallowed back.
"I am the one asking you. Just answer, why do you need to look at others?"
Granny Sun's intimidation among these palace maids was truly significant. With just a look, she scared Zhen Zhu into silence.
It seemed Granny Sun would become her greatest obstacle. She needed to find a way to get rid of Granny Sun.
"Yes, Madam..." Zhen Zhu quickly averted her gaze. After a moment of silence, she continued, "This wish lantern is... it is for my deceased father. Yesterday... yesterday was my father's death anniversary. Our family has a custom of placing wish lanterns to pray for blessings. This servant, therefore, dared to place a wish lantern..."