Chapter 218: Stubbornness - Rebirth of the Noble Daughter

 Chapter 218: Stubbornness

Seeing the scene, everyone soon understood.

It turned out that the fox was used to catch the traitors.

Animals, with their sensitive sense of smell, can detect things ordinary people cannot, such as the scent of Qingyan flowers. Not only can they detect it, but it can also make them aggressive.

If there were others involved, Ding Dong and the others might still try to argue, but with only them being caught, their fate was clear.

After dismissing the other servants, only Madam Feng, Bai Mama, Feng Jinyao, her personal maids, and Bai Deng remained in the courtyard.

Bai Mama’s trained maids were all skilled and swiftly dealt with the three prisoners. It didn’t take long for Ding Dong to give in under the torture.

“Madam, Third Miss, I truly didn’t know what that thing was! It was Amber who told me to place it. She said the madam liked flowers and plants, and that doing a good job would be beneficial for my future. I had no idea it could harm people!”

Once Ding Dong made this statement, her parents also nodded in agreement, claiming ignorance and that they were deceived by Amber, which led to their mistake.

Unfortunately, Madam Feng wasn’t foolish, and neither was Feng Jinyao.

Smirking at Ding Dong, Feng Jinyao said, “I never said that thing was harmful. How would you know?”

This question left Ding Dong speechless, her mistakes compounding. Beads of sweat dripped from her forehead as she contemplated how to exonerate herself. Feng Jinyao, however, grew impatient.

“If any of you confess, I will spare them. As for the others, those who betray their master, there is no need to waste words on them. Just execute them.”

She addressed Bai Deng loudly, “Is the paddle ready?”

“Yes, Third Miss. It’s been prepared; we’re just waiting for your command.”

“Very well, then…” She glanced over the three and noticed Fu Li Shi was the most panicked. “Let’s start with you.”

The paddle struck Fu Li Shi repeatedly. While she cried and begged for mercy, she continued to claim her innocence.

Ding Dong and Old Fu remained stubborn. Even when witnessing their loved ones being beaten, they refused to confess. Feng Jinyao lost interest.

“Fine, if you won’t talk, then let’s skip this. Bai Deng, continue the beating until death!”

“Understood!”

Madam Feng looked at her daughter and wondered why, even with over twenty years of experience managing the household, she found it hard to issue such a ruthless command. Yet, her daughter, still so young, was so resolute and merciless. It was perplexing.

The paddles continued to fall, and none of the three would reveal the truth.

As her second brother had said, they were indeed stubborn.

The people held at the manor had been questioned without revealing any details, and these three were the same.

Feng Jinyao grew increasingly curious about the mastermind behind these loyal servants. How could someone cultivate such devoted subordinates to betray their master?

After over thirty blows, the three were barely conscious.

It seemed unlikely that they would reveal anything further.

“Alright, find someone to check on them. Don’t let them die. Also, arrange a carriage to send them to the manor, and separate them from Amber and the others. With our methods, it seems impossible to extract information from them. We’ll have to wait for my elder brother to return and make further plans.”

Feng Jinyao instructed.

Her elder brother, Feng Jinxu, was from the Dali Temple and had different interrogation techniques. Perhaps he could obtain results.

For now, her task was to ensure these individuals stayed alive until her brother returned.

“Indeed, it’s as if they’re being paid for two jobs but only doing one. How could someone as close as the madam’s servant betray her!” Bai Mama trembled with anger.

But there was no remedy. She could only watch her son drag the prisoners away.

The incident had completely ruined the previously good mood.

Returning to her room, Bai Mama had someone bring hot tea to warm everyone up. Madam Feng finally calmed down, but the fear only grew with more thought.

“How could they have the scent of Qingyan flowers? The flower merchants sent by my second uncle’s family are already imprisoned at the manor. How could they have made contact? Could it be… Could it be that the second branch is truly trying to harm me?”

The thought made Madam Feng shiver.

Being harmed by close family was worse than being harmed by outsiders.

She had a neutral relationship with the second branch, neither too close nor too distant, and couldn’t understand why they would want to harm her. And repeatedly at that.

With this thought in her mind, she began to see everyone in the courtyard as a potential traitor and grew wary of the second branch.

Feng Jinyao, however, comforted her.

“Mother, don’t worry too much. I believe in my second uncle and aunt. It’s likely that there’s a lapse in their courtyard, and we need to inform them quickly. The enemy’s reach has extended to Dongdu City. It’s possible that my second uncle and aunt are also being deceived by them.”

“How can you be so sure it’s not them?”

Madam Feng’s question was reasonable, but Feng Jinyao was certain because, in her past life, after her mother’s sudden death, nothing unusual had happened with the second branch. If they were behind this, why had they not come forward to see the results? It didn’t make sense.

But she couldn’t reveal this to Madam Feng, so she evasively replied.

“The second branch has never had any disputes with us. One branch is in government and the other in business. We support each other and move forward together. I can’t find a reason why they would want to harm you!”

Her sincere words made Madam Feng feel guilty for her earlier suspicions.

Yes, she shouldn’t have doubted them. It would hurt their feelings.

Thus, she assured Feng Jinyao.

“You’re right. I was overthinking. If I let my second brother and sister-in-law know, it might create discord. Now, we must send a letter to them quickly to alert them. But how can we send it without being discovered?”

In the current volatile situation in the Northwest, even sending messages was difficult. Even if the letter were sent, it might fall into the wrong hands.

Feng Jinyao pondered briefly before speaking. “Send it to the Hua family. I remember there’s a warehouse in the capital belonging to the Hua family. They frequently travel between Dongdu City and Liangzhou. If we give the letter to the person in charge there, it might work. The Hua family is my aunt’s maiden family, so they wouldn’t harm her.”

“Alright. Ah Yao’s suggestion is excellent. I’ll write the letter right away.”

Madam Feng quickly wrote down the details of the poisoning incident, sealed the letter, and handed it to Bai Mama. “Send this to the Hua family’s warehouse and tell the person in charge that this message concerns the Hua family’s survival. It must be delivered quickly.”

“Rest assured, Madam. I’ll handle it right away.”