Chapter 227: Warning the Monkey - Rebirth of the Noble Daughter

 Chapter 227: Warning the Monkey

“Who’s next?”

“Master, Master, spare me! I’ll confess! I’ll confess!”

Once someone started pleading, the others dared not hide anything further; otherwise, they would end up like Hu Po, facing death.

The first to speak was a former gardener of the Feng family. He revealed that Bai Mama had discovered the asthma-inducing Yudixiang flowers planted in Madam Feng’s courtyard and frequently visited areas. He then pointed the blame at Ding Dong’s father, Old Fu.

“Master, the Yudixiang seeds were bought by Old Fu. He gave us several of us fifty taels of silver, saying... saying that if Madam fell ill, the second house would send someone to manage the situation. At that time, even five hundred taels wouldn’t be too much.”

The other gardeners also nodded vigorously, agreeing with his statement. They had previously concealed Old Fu’s identity, only describing him as a short man whose face they didn’t clearly see.

Given these circumstances, Feng Jinxu believed their words.

He instructed Bai Ban, “For betraying for money, break their legs and make them do the hardest work.”

Fifty taels was not a huge sum, but for someone who did well, the regular pay and holiday bonuses over the years would accumulate to a similar amount.

Now, however, they would lose a leg and be crippled for the rest of their lives, a steep price to pay.

The poor gardeners dared not even beg for mercy. Compared to Hu Po, who had at least left with her life, being taken away by Bai Ban’s men with pale faces and no resistance was a small mercy.

Feng Jinxu’s gaze turned to Old Fu, who maintained a defiant expression.

Such stubbornness was familiar to him from his days in the Ministry of Justice. He had dealt with many fierce criminals. Old Fu was just a servant; he gave a glance at Fu Yi and ordered:

“Remove his fingers one by one. After the fingers, start on the ears. I don’t believe his mouth is truly so stubborn.”

Fu Yi complied with the order. He first broke Old Fu’s jaw to prevent him from biting his tongue and committing suicide.

Old Fu was dragged out, and with one swift motion, his little finger on the right hand was severed. The pain made him unable to scream. Tears and saliva poured from his eyes, and he looked at Fu Yi with terror, fearing more.

Ding Dong had never seen such a scene and was paralyzed with fear, unable to speak. Fu Li Shi, next to him, was in a state of frenzy, covering her mouth and not daring to make a sound.

“Have you decided to speak now?”

Feng Jinxu’s cold voice rang out again. Old Fu shook his head vigorously. Seeing this, Feng Jinxu sneered and said to Fu Yi:

“Continue.”

With a flash of the blade, another finger was severed.

Fu Li Shi screamed and fainted from the shock.

Feng Jinxu didn’t even glance at her, instead instructing the people nearby:

“Pour water on her to wake her up. Keep watching!”

A bucket of icy well water revived Fu Li Shi, drenching her clothes. In this cold weather, wet clothes were particularly chilling.

However, the cold of her body was nothing compared to the chill in her heart. She shivered, watching her husband and pleaded, “Old man, just tell the truth! Otherwise, the master will really kill you!”

Seeing Old Fu still stubborn, she was the first to break down.

She crawled to the steps where Feng Jinxu was standing, kneeling and crying, “Please, Master, give our family a chance to live.”

“A chance to live is not something I can give. Whether you have a chance to live depends on yourselves.”

“Yes, yes! It was our ignorance that led us to be deceived by the second house. Master, years ago, when my mother-in-law was critically ill and needed rare medicine to save her, Old Fu couldn’t find it anywhere. That’s when he encountered the kind-hearted second house’s Madam. If she hadn’t helped, my mother-in-law might have died. Our whole family owes her a debt of gratitude!”

She continued, reminiscing about the past. The second house’s Madam mentioned was Feng Jinxu’s second aunt, Hua Shi.

Indeed, she had come to the Eastern Capital and stayed at the Feng family’s house a few years ago.

Could it really be that the second aunt was plotting against their mother?

The siblings’ faces darkened, especially Feng Jinyao, who, based on her memories from her past life, was certain that the poisoning was not the work of the second aunt. She had hurried to send a letter to the Hua family, and if it turned out to be her doing, it would mean considering enemies as family.

She felt like slapping herself in frustration.

Feng Jinxu’s voice was flat as he asked, “And then?”

“Then this time, she sent more gardeners and brought many precious seeds. She said that these seeds would make Madam fall ill for a while, so she could send someone to manage the house. We did this because of the gratitude we owed her.”

After speaking, she collapsed on the ground, begging for leniency.

“Then, the sesame flowers and peach fuzz added to the food were also arranged by you?” Feng Jinyao asked. She had stepped out from behind Feng Jinlin and was calm despite the blood and corpse nearby.

Adding such things to the food was also discovered by Bai Mama.

The intention was the same, to trigger their mother’s asthma.

When asked by Feng Jinyao, Fu Li Shi trembled and replied:

“Yes.”

Her voice quivered, not daring to lie.

Hearing this, Feng Jinyao was somewhat convinced, but Old Fu’s pretense of pain caused everyone to question and doubt his confession.

However, Feng Jinxu, who had keen insight, suspected there was more to the story.

Seeing Old Fu evade eye contact only confirmed his suspicion.

He then turned his attention to Ding Dong. The family of culprits was easiest to interrogate. Once you grasp what they care about, even the toughest ones could be made to confess.

“What you’ve said doesn’t add up. Did someone behind the scenes tell you to frame the second aunt if the plot was exposed?”

Feng Jinxu’s words plunged the family into despair.

Such a good story, how did he detect the flaws?

He glanced at Ding Dong, who instinctively shrank back. “If you want to keep your fingers, tell the truth, or you’ll end up like Old Fu.”

With a signal, Fu Yi swiftly executed a series of cuts.

Not only were fingers removed, but half of Ding Dong’s hand was also severed, causing excruciating pain and almost killing her.

Seeing the severed fingers on the ground, Ding Dong was terrified.

She feared becoming like her father at such a young age and worried she might not survive.