The person had already left, and Feng Yuanping could only sigh helplessly, filled with regret. If he had known, he wouldn't have wasted so much time there and could have come earlier to talk more with Feng Jin.
"Go prepare some flower cakes, and the fruits sent from our hometown. Send them all to the Ling Mansion."
He had originally intended for Feng Jin to take them back directly, but now they could only be sent separately.
"Yes, master. This old servant will go arrange it now." The butler agreed, turned to leave, and after a few steps, seemed to remember something, turning back to ask, "Master, should we prepare an extra portion and send it to the Third Prince's mansion as well?"
In the past, the master doted on the eldest daughter the most, always prioritizing her for any good things and arranging for them to be sent to the Third Prince's mansion early.
However, after the master returned from his trip, he had completely changed. He no longer cared for the eldest daughter as he used to, even showing some aversion. Instead, his attitude towards the second daughter, whom he previously disliked, had done a complete 180-degree turn, showing immense care and meticulous attention to every detail for her.
This time, when sending gifts, he cautiously asked if they should send a portion to the eldest daughter.
"This mansion has no eldest daughter or second daughter. From now on, there is only one young lady in the mansion, and that is Feng Jin. I have only this one daughter. Do you understand?"
"This old servant understands. I understand. I will go instruct someone to send the items to the young lady now."
The butler dared not inquire further into the matter. As servants, they only needed to follow the master's wishes and did not need to ask for reasons.
"Stop!" kuAiδugg
As the butler took a few steps, Feng Yuanping's scolding voice rang out from behind him. He quickly stopped and turned back, respectfully asking, "Master, do you have any other instructions?"
"From now on, if Feng Ruoyan comes to the mansion again, no one is to let her in without my command. Those who disobey will be beaten out of the mansion with sticks."
Madam Sun was already buried. He had done enough to maintain appearances by not exposing Feng Ruoyan's true identity. This was partly to preserve his own dignity and partly out of consideration for the fact that Feng Ruoyan had called him father for so many years, leaving her some final face.
As for the future, he did not wish to see Feng Ruoyan again. Doing so would only remind him of Madam Sun's wicked deeds and increase his aversion to Feng Ruoyan.
"Yes, master. This old servant will relay the order now!"
The butler nodded quickly and followed Feng Yuanping's instructions.
This caused a sensation throughout the entire mansion. The eldest daughter, who had been so favored by the master, was now forbidden from entering the mansion by the master's order after Madam Sun's death.
A few confidantes of Madam Sun, upon hearing this, found ways to inform Feng Ruoyan, who was residing at the Third Prince's mansion.
"Eldest young lady, this old servant heard it with her own ears. It was the master's direct order. Young lady, you must make other plans. Madam managed this household for so many years; we cannot let that little vixen Feng Jin seize everything in the mansion."
Granny Zhang was an old servant who had been with Madam Sun. She had done many wicked deeds with Madam Sun, oppressing the other servants and maids in the mansion and withholding their monthly wages. Now that Madam Sun was dead and the power had shifted, even though the master had not punished her, the people in the mansion were all sycophants. Seeing that she had lost favor, they all bullied her, and her life in the mansion was not easy.
Upon hearing of this matter, she decided to leak the news to Feng Ruoyan in an attempt to curry favor and secure a good position for herself, so she would not continue to be bullied by those scoundrels in the Feng mansion.
"Did Father really say that? Did you hear it yourself?"
"Eldest young lady, while this old servant did not personally hear the master say those words, it was Steward Wang, the master's confidant, who issued the order. Therefore, it is naturally the master's intention. Madam treated this old servant with great kindness when she was alive, and this old servant understands that Madam's greatest concern was you, eldest young lady. Now that Madam is gone, this old servant must repay her kindness and prioritize you, eldest young lady, in all matters."
Feng Ruoyan sat high above, looking down at Granny Zhang kneeling on the ground.
This Granny Zhang, formerly relying on her mother's influence, had run rampant in the mansion. Now that her mother was gone, it was no wonder Granny Zhang's life was difficult.
From the moment Granny Zhang arrived, she had guessed Granny Zhang's intentions. A wise bird chooses its nesting place. Now that her mother was gone, it was only natural for her to seek a new path and a new master.
"Granny Zhang, you may rise."
"Thank you, eldest young lady."
Feng Ruoyan picked up her teacup and took a sip of the clear tea, her tone indifferent. "Granny Zhang, I know why you have come to me. However, I am already married and have left the Feng family. Your contract of servitude is still held by my father. You know my father's current attitude towards me. As a married woman, interfering in my maiden family's affairs may lead to criticism. I'm afraid I cannot help you with what you seek."
Hearing Feng Ruoyan say this, Granny Zhang instantly panicked. She hastily knelt before Feng Ruoyan, repeatedly pleading, "Eldest young lady, please consider my past loyalty to Madam. Please take me out of the Feng family. This old servant truly cannot stay in the Feng mansion any longer. I beg for your mercy, eldest young lady, and save this old servant's life. This old servant will repay you with boundless loyalty and service."
"Granny Zhang, such grand gestures are too much for me to bear. It's not that I don't want to help you. You are currently a servant of the Feng family, and I do not hold your contract of servitude. Even if I kept you here, if my father took your contract and brought it to court, you would be considered a runaway slave and, according to the law, your legs would be broken. Even our entire Third Prince's mansion would be implicated... unless..."
Granny Zhang had already lost hope. It was Feng Ruoyan's final "unless" that reignited her hope.
"Eldest young lady, you just said 'unless,' which means there must be another way. Tell me, and I will do it!"
She would try any method to escape. It was better than continuing to suffer in the Feng mansion.
Feng Ruoyan's brow furrowed slightly, her face full of hesitation. "Actually... actually, this method is also not feasible. Grandma, you should pretend I... pretend I never mentioned it."
"Eldest young lady, this old servant will kowtow to you and beg you to save my life!"
"Granny Zhang, this will shorten my lifespan! Hurry and get up, I will tell you the method!"
Feng Ruoyan bent down to help Granny Zhang up and, in doing so, conveyed the plan she had already devised.
"The method is for you to steal your contract of servitude. Only when I have your contract can I take you in, and then we won't have to fear my father coming to demand you."
"Steal the contract? If I'm discovered, I'll..."