Chapter 24: Provocation - Rebirth of the Noble Daughter
Chapter 24: Provocation
"I'm also Father's son, why shouldn't I be allowed to go to school? Is it because Mother is afraid I'll steal Big Brother's limelight that she's acting like this!"
At just four years old, if it were an ordinary family, the child would probably still be playing in the fields. Yet in her family, this child was already accusing his stepmother of unfairness both directly and indirectly.
"How dare you! Is this how Aunt taught you? You dare to speak to your stepmother in such a loud voice, do you have no manners?"
Feng Jinyao stood at the door with a cold face, immediately scolding.
Feng Yunli's round chubby body trembled with fear, swallowing hard a few times before attempting to argue.
But Feng Jinyao's gaze kept him frozen, and he soon cowered behind his mother, afraid to act out further.
"Big Sister-in-law."
"You've come!" Madam Wen's eyes were filled with gratitude. "I feel really bad for troubling you at this late hour."
"We're all family here. Is your headache any better?"
Madam Wen sighed, her eyes red, looking on the verge of tears, making Feng Jinyao feel even more aggrieved.
As the legitimate wife, being manipulated into this state by her junior concubine, one could imagine how stifled she must feel.
Handing over a handkerchief, Feng Jinyao spoke up to comfort her.
"I went to Grandmother's house today, and she's really worried about you and the child. She asked me to bring back a lot of things, saying that when you're feeling better, you must bring Yunhe and go visit her."
Upon hearing this, Madam Wen became even more emotional.
Ever since she married into the Feng family, she had always been plagued by minor ailments. Therefore, the affairs of the inner courtyard were mostly managed by her mother-in-law, Madam Feng.
With not much real power in her hands, the servants, maids, and even the household servants naturally didn't respect her much.
Coupled with her naturally soft temperament, she was a well-behaved young lady at home, and even after marriage, she only wanted to live a simple life of being a good wife and mother.
But she never expected that after Concubine Lin entered the household, the couple gradually grew apart, and even her child suffered a lot of grievances.
"Thanks to Grandmother's concern, I will definitely take the child to see her in a few days."
"Mm."
Concubine Lin knelt beside her, watching the warm scene between the two sisters-in-law, but feeling a thousand grievances in her heart.
Why could her son go to the best academy while her son could only have a private tutor at home, all because of their status as legitimate and illegitimate children?
She was determined to fight for justice!
So she began to cry and beg again, "Please, Madam, also let Yunli go to school with Big Brother. I promise he'll study hard and won't steal Big Brother's limelight."
As soon as she finished speaking, tears followed.
"He's not as talented as Big Brother, born as a bastard in my belly, and if he doesn't study well and go to school, who knows how he'll be bullied in the future! Please, Madam, have mercy."
With that, she knocked her head on the floor several times, making the floor shake.
If someone who didn't know the situation saw this, they might think it was the wicked legitimate wife bullying the innocent concubine.
Hearing her words, Madam Wen's eyes became even redder, wanting to speak up but being held back by Feng Jinyao, who shook her head slightly and comforted Madam Wen's anxious heart with a faint smile.
"Look down on a bastard? What nonsense is this?"
Concubine Lin saw her speaking up and immediately stepped forward to continue her pleading.
"On the usual expenses, my lady follows the rules of the mansion and has never withheld anything. She even allocated some of her own money to help Second Brother with his expenses. Look at how strong Second Brother is, how could he be a child who's treated harshly?"
The maidservant Zhu Jin who stood by Madam Wen's side immediately spoke up to refute, fearing that if Feng Jinyao believed Concubine Lin's lies, they would be blamed by Madam Wen, and it would be hard to clear their names.
"What about the time when Yunli sprained his foot?"
"The physician said there was nothing wrong at all and that using medicine would easily harm the child's growing bones, so no medicine was used. But Aunt just wouldn't listen and has complained to Master several times about this!"
The maidservant Zhu Jin revealed the truth, not letting anyone take advantage.
After hearing both sides, Feng Jinyao thought for a moment before suddenly changing the subject.
"Do you know the three rules of Yunqi Academy?"
"What rules?" Concubine Lin pretended to be puzzled, how could she not know the rules when she had long planned to send her son to school?
Her appearance could deceive others, but she was not good enough to deceive Feng Jinyao.
"The first rule is that only legitimate children can enter. The second rule is that you must pass the exam before you can enter. The third rule is that you can't leave without gaining any merit. Which of these three rules do you think Yunli can meet?"
Feng Jinyao's words were like the morning bell, striking the hearts of everyone present.
The maidservant Zhu Jin, who was by Madam Wen's side, was originally very angry, but upon hearing Feng Jinyao's words, she felt relieved.
Looking at Concubine Lin's eyes, there was a hint of mockery.
Truly overestimating herself!
"To solve the legitimate child issue is easy, as long as Madam nods and registers my son under her name, wouldn't he be considered legitimate?"
Concubine Lin had long thought of a solution and blurted it out.
Feng Jinyao nodded, "That's indeed not difficult. What about the second rule?"
Seeing her tone not as harsh as before, Concubine Lin seemed to see hope and stood up, pulling Yunli up, then pretending to be pitiful and said, "Big Sister-in-law also knows that I can't read many words. On weekdays, Madam only pays attention to teaching Big Brother, and Yunli wants to learn but there's no one to teach him..."
"How dare you lie!" Zhu Jin, who was beside Madam Wen, couldn't bear it and immediately retorted.
"Isn't it true? Big Brother can read so many words at just six years old, hasn't Madam been attentive in teaching him? My son is only four years old now. If he can go to the academy to study, he will definitely make something of himself in the future. He's also a descendant of the Feng family. If he gains the favor of a nobleman, wouldn't it also bring glory to the Feng family?"
The more she talked, the happier she became and she even forgot her earlier crying and begging, which made Feng Jinyao sneer.
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