Chapter 86: Accountability - Rebirth of the Noble Daughter

 Chapter 86: Accountability

As soon as he got the child, Feng Jinlin hurriedly carried him into the house. Zhu Jin and Yueli, who were by Madam Wen Shi's side, quickly stepped forward to help change the child into dry clothes, and the household doctor also rushed in with his medical kit.

Seeing this, Concubine Lin screamed and tried to rush inside but was pinned down by three or four old maidservants, rendering her immobile.

Without her dagger, she was like a chicken without claws, left at the mercy of others!

"Give me back my child! Give him back to me!"

Feng Jinyao coldly watched the frantic Concubine Lin and said indifferently, "This is a child of the Feng family. Why should we give him to you? You're just a concubine."

"I am his biological mother, his biological mother! Only I won’t harm him! Third Miss..." Concubine Lin screamed as she tried to rush towards Feng Jinyao. Yunxu and Huanhuan stood guard on either side, worried she might actually crash into them and cause trouble.

Madam Wen was unmoved by her struggles. She had seen too many such pitiful dramas in the past. Each time she softened, she and her child only faced neglect and abuse in return.

After ordering the execution of Qiu Yue, there was no chance of reconciliation between her and Concubine Lin. Instead of letting her repeatedly make trouble, it was better to sever her path in the household completely this time.

Zhu Jin came out of the house and reported to Madam Wen.

"The Second Young Master choked on water and was left in the courtyard to freeze for a while. He's now running a fever, and the doctor says he needs good care and rest."

Madam Wen nodded and glanced at Feng Yunhe beside her. She reached out and touched his forehead, smiling as she nodded to him. Feng Yunhe understood his mother's intentions quickly. Though he felt a bit unwilling, he agreed.

"Move the Second Young Master to the adjacent room. I will personally take care of him."

"Yes!"

"How dare you! You are trying to kill my son! Third Miss, you must not hand Yunli over to this wicked woman! It was she who conspired with her son to cause Yunli to fall into the water. If you hand the child over to her, Yunli will surely die!"

Concubine Lin was certain of this, and her tone was full of offense towards Madam Wen.

Calling her a 'wicked woman' and a 'poisonous woman' repeatedly made Feng Jinyao's eyes grow colder.

But Madam Wen was not weak this time. She immediately ordered two young male servants to step forward.

These two young men were Feng Yunli’s attendants, personally chosen by Concubine Lin, thus making them her confidants.

Seeing them, Concubine Lin's eyes lit up with hope. "Quick, tell the Third Miss how Yunli fell into the pond!"

She hoped their testimony would overturn Madam Wen's position, thus restoring her own innocence and bringing her back to the favor she once had.

The two young men exchanged glances, avoiding Concubine Lin's eyes. Instead, they trembled as they looked at Madam Wen, feeling panicked.

Madam Wen stood calmly in the corridor, saying nothing. Her cold demeanor made the two servants break out in a cold sweat.

One of them gritted his teeth and said, "It was the Second Young Master who wanted to go ice fishing. He had us carve out a hole, but then he lost his balance and fell in. Madam, it really has nothing to do with us servants. It was the Second Young Master’s own idea!"

The other quickly agreed, afraid of being implicated. They pushed all the blame onto Feng Yunli, knowing he was unconscious and unable to defend himself.

Concubine Lin's eyes widened, expecting them to tell the 'truth,' but they turned against her instead.

Distracted, she broke free from the maids holding her and slapped the servants, scratching one’s face with her long nails, causing it to bleed. The servants cried out in pain, and the maids quickly restrained Concubine Lin again.

Her hands were tied behind her back and her clothes were covered in dirt. She had lost all her former elegance, now looking disheveled and defeated. She glared at Madam Wen with hatred. "You poisonous woman, you even bought off Yunli's attendants. No wonder he fell into the pond. I will report today's incident to the master. Let him see your true nature. Sleeping beside a viper, he must wake up in fear every night."

"How dare you! A concubine dares to speak so insolently!" Zhu Jin, who had held back for so long, couldn't restrain herself any longer. She was about to speak when Madam Wen stopped her.

"Have you finished?"

"Hmph, I have nothing to say to a wicked woman like you!"

"Good, then tie her up and send her to the manor outside the city. When Yunli wakes up, the truth will come out. If he really fell in by accident, don't blame me for not showing mercy. I'll write up a charge and send you to the capital’s judiciary. Let's see which household's concubine dares to speak so outrageously, accusing others of murder and calling them wicked women!"

Madam Wen spoke calmly, but her words chilled Concubine Lin to the bone.

All she wanted was to use the child's pitiful state to gain sympathy from the master and push Madam Wen back into neglect. She didn’t expect Wen Shi to transform so completely in just a few days, leaving her at a loss.

"My brother is coming to the capital soon. He has the favor of a nobleman and will soon become an official here. I am a family member of an official. You can't just deal with me as you please!"

Concubine Lin clung to this hope, shouting as if to bolster her courage.

Unfortunately, Madam Wen was no longer weak. She laughed lightly, "You are a servant. Do you think being an official's family member makes any difference? Can it override the laws of the kingdom?"

Her mocking smile shattered Concubine Lin's last bit of hope. She collapsed to the ground.

Her eyes were vacant, and she had lost all her previous spirit. "No, no, my brother said once he returned, I would have backing. You can't do this to me."

Madam Wen, tired of arguing with her, had her gagged and sent away in a carriage to the manor outside the city.

The two servants who served Yunli felt relieved they hadn’t lied. Otherwise, their fate would have been no better than Concubine Lin’s.

Feng Jinyao had no objections to Madam Wen’s decisions.

A capable matriarch must not be soft-hearted when necessary. You can’t manage a household effectively by being overly lenient.

Instead of dwelling on Concubine Lin’s punishment, she was more concerned about Yunli’s health.

Madam Wen went into the room first, followed by Feng Jinyao and Feng Yunhe.

As Feng Jinyao was about to step inside, Feng Yunhe tugged at her sleeve, looking up with worried, fearful eyes.

"Auntie, it wasn't me."

📌 To Read The Latest Updates Click 👇👇

▶▶Rebirth of the Noble Daughter  

Next Chapter ▶▶