Chapter 29: Chapter 29: The Disaster Brought by Ginseng Chapter 29: Chapter 29: The Disaster Brought by Ginseng Feng Bailing understood that making the nanny realize Feng Zhanlian’s true nature was not something that could be achieved overnight.
Feng Bailing, worried about Dongfang Lianhua’s health, did not say more.
As for the secret imperial orders, judging from Dongfang Lianhua’s demeanor, it appeared she truly did not know about this matter.
After taking the medicine, Dongfang Lianhua fell asleep.
Feng Bailing returned to the warm pavilion nearby, reciting the Gathering Seal Mantra given to her by Gong Zhu.
She sat cross-legged on the soft couch, feeling the flow of her internal energy.
“If the Pure Yang Qi inside your body does not threaten your life, then guide this Pure Yang Qi to your Dantian. This process takes some time, do not rush it, once you have Qi in your Dantian, you’ll have succeeded.”
When Feng Bailing woke up in the morning, her Dantian was still empty, but she had worked up a thin layer of sweat.
She applied some skincare products to her face and drank some Job’s Tears water for reducing swelling and whitening, then practiced a set of military boxing. By the end, another layer of sweat covered her.
Under the effect of the seventh sense, her five senses were even keener.
From the rooms, she heard the sound of weeping.
Feng Bailing walked into the warm pavilion of the adjacent room and saw Nanny Gui, with her head bowed, half of her face swollen, and a few servants beside her wiping their tears in anger.
“Miss, this old servant is useless; I couldn’t get the ginseng. The quartermaster, Ding San, said that since the youngest miss broke her leg, the south wing just requisitioned the last century-old ginseng. To get ginseng, the west wing must buy it with our own funds.”
How much monthly salary does the west wing receive? The Princess has been ill for years, spending money like flowing water; they have long been out of funds.
Feng Bailing’s beautiful eyes narrowed.
“It’s the one the Matriach brought from her old home, and if you trace it back, he’s your distant cousin.”
No sooner had Nanny Gui finished speaking than she saw Feng Bailing heading towards the storeroom.
The Matriach, who was Feng Zhanlian’s mother, had been a widow in her early years, raising her two sons by herself. Her life’s ambition was to become a noble Lady by imperial decree.
After Feng Zhanlian married into the Princess’ Mansion because of the Wenhua Seal, Dongfang Lianhua always felt guilty towards him.
When the Matriach brought her second son and his family to seek refuge with Feng Zhanlian, Dongfang Lianhua’s health began to deteriorate, and gradually she ceded her authority over the household.
Over the past few years, the faces inside and outside the Princess’ Mansion had changed. Since her return, Feng Bailing felt restricted everywhere; one could imagine how hard life had become for those in the west wing.
The Princess’ Mansion’s storeroom was toasty with a warming stove, and a middle-aged man with droopy eyes was warming his hands by the fire.
“This damn storeroom is cold in winter and warm in summer. Once the Matriach is back, I’ll ask Uncle Wang for his old job; within a couple of years, I could marry a few pretty little maids to warm my bed.”
As Ding San drooled over his daydreams, he saw Feng Bailing walk in with people.
“Miss, what kind of wind blew you this way?”
Ding San’s smile was a grimace.
Uncle Wang’s death hadn’t yet been widely disclosed, and the household servants all thought Uncle Wang had died from a drunken fall.
Feng Bailing circled inside the storeroom, her gaze finally resting on a brocade box on the shelf.
“My mother is frail; she needs some ginseng to replenish her strength.”
“Miss, ginseng is a precious medicinal herb, and we don’t have much in the mansion. The south wing just took one last night, and recently the mansion’s shops have been losing money; we don’t even have the funds to purchase new ginseng.”
Ding San lazily said.
The one in the west wing is already hanging on to half a life, and our young lady has just had her engagement annulled. The whole family is losing money and still wants to consume ginseng, pah.
Feng Bailing raised her hand and delivered a slap to the other’s face, followed by a backhand slap. The sound was crisp and loud; Ding San was struck to the ground.
“Young miss, I am your…”
“I am a Commandery Princess personally appointed by the Emperor. Are you, a quartermaster, trying to claim kinship and reminisce with me?”
Feng Bailing picked up the brocade box and slammed it on Ding San’s forehead, causing his head to bleed profusely with fresh blood gushing out.
“Open your damn eyes and see what is inside this?”
Ding San’s face turned pale; inside the brocade box was a century-old ginseng. But how could the young miss know that there was ginseng in the storehouse when he had clearly hidden it well?
“Young miss… Commandery Princess, that’s for the Matriach to replenish her health.”
“Is the Matriach the Empress Dowager or Her Majesty the Empress? My mother is a First-Rank Princess, personally appointed by the late Emperor. The Princess’ Mansion you reside in, the monthly salary you receive, which of them isn’t from my mother’s dowry? You secretly hoarding ginseng is disrespectful to the Matriach; that’s a capital offense. Even if I killed you, it would not be too much. Someone, tie him up and throw him outside.”
Feng Bailing handed the ginseng to Nanny Gui and asked her to prepare the medicine.
She had a seventh sense, sharper than the average person; she could tell just by sniffing how many types of medicine were in the storehouse.
Ding San tried to pressure her with the Matriach; he was asking for death.
Ding San’s cries alarmed Feng Zhanlian.
“Ding San is an old servant of the mansion…”
Before Feng Zhanlian could finish, Feng Bailing gave him a look.
Feng Zhanlian suddenly remembered that Feng Bailing is now Princess Shengping, supported by Dugu Wu, the Ninth Prince.
Feng Zhanlian’s demeanor instantly diminished.
“Bailing, you’ve misunderstood Ding San. He wasn’t embezzling the medicinal ingredients. It’s just that the Princess’ Mansion hasn’t been faring well these years, and your grandmother is elderly and infirm, requiring ginseng every day. If not for your Uncle managing things efficiently, the Princess’ Mansion would have collapsed long ago.”
“This is something I was planning to discuss with father. In earlier years when my mother was unwell, and my brother and I were not around, we let Aunt Xue manage the household affairs, and also entrusted the outside shops to Uncle. Now that my mother’s health has improved, she said that when I get married and need money for my dowry, it would be a good opportunity for me to sort out the mansion’s accounts.”
Feng Bailing spoke nonchalantly, but her words turned Feng Zhanlian’s face green with embarrassment.
Did she and her mother intend to audit the books?
Later, Feng Xiangxue heard the news and sent for Feng Zhanlian.
“Father, how could you let sister do whatever she wants? These past few days, she has been causing chaos outside and now she won’t even spare her own people. Uncle Ding is still tied up outside, nearly frozen to death. I fear if sister continues this recklessness, there will be no place for my brother and me. Look at my leg…”
Feng Xiangxue said while wiping away tears.
“She has just been appointed Commandery Princess and is feeling proud of herself. But don’t worry, I’ve received news that your mother and the Matriach will return this afternoon. Your mother always has a way to handle her; just a few comforting words and not only will she hand over her dowry, but all the wedding gifts from Prince Shun’s Mansion will belong to us.”
Feng Zhanlian was initially very afraid of Dugu Wu, but suddenly he thought, Prince Shun’s Mansion is wealthy and prosperous; Feng Bailing, having lost her virtue, might as well be married off in exchange for a big dowry.
“Father, but how come I’ve heard that the Princess Consort of Prince Shun’s Mansion is rather mean? The previous princess consorts married there haven’t ended well, I heard that even the wedding gifts were embarrassingly trivial. Besides, if the word of sister’s disgrace gets out, this marriage is likely to fall through.”
Feng Xiangxue’s face showed concern, but inwardly she sneered.
The Crown Princess Consort was right, to deal with Feng Bailing one had to use the right method.
She had already secretly spread the news about Feng Bailing having a child, and when the rumors spread all over the city, she really wanted to see how Feng Bailing would marry into Prince Shun’s Mansion!