Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 103 Sisters

Chapter 103: Chapter 103 Sisters

From the first moment she saw Xie Zhang, she knew they wouldn’t get along. She didn’t like anyone who tried to snatch her sister away.

"Little jealous goblin!" Feng Shu couldn’t help but chuckle as she pinched her face lightly, pulling her along to push open the door to the Plum Garden. "Sister hasn’t forgotten our promise."

Inside the Plum Garden, dozens of lanterns hung throughout the courtyard, and on the ground was a golden phoenix lantern, exquisitely crafted, its colorful painting vivid and lifelike. In addition to the phoenix lantern, there were small lamp towers and various animal-shaped lanterns—lanterns filled the entire garden.

Fireworks glittered amidst falling snowflakes.

Her Plum Garden was essentially a mini lantern festival.

Xia Zhu said, "Third Miss, all these lanterns in the garden were made on our way back to the city. The young lady worked tirelessly, fearing she wouldn’t make it in time to spend the Lantern Festival with you. Luckily, we made it. Those palace-style lanterns are so intricately crafted; they took quite some time."

"I love them! Sister, you’re the best!" Fengyu hugged Feng Shu, her tone soft and sweet.

"So now you’re not blaming your sister for favoritism anymore?"

Fengyu wanted to admire the lanterns with Feng Shu beneath the corridor, but Feng Shu worried she might catch a chill, pulling her indoors instead. She opened a small window, while Chunlu, Xia Zhu, Dongxue, and the other maids kept the brazier burning. The room was as warm as spring.

"Let me take a look at your injury."

"What injury?" Fengyu happily leaned against the window to enjoy the lanterns, having forgotten about the cut from Lin Yu Yan’s knife. Qiuxiang and Chunlu frantically made eye signals, and Fengyu finally caught on. "Ah... It’s healed already."

"Has it left a scar? Let me check."

"No... it hasn’t."

"I don’t believe you. Take off your clothes."

"Sister, I’m cold!"

"Xia Zhu, Dongxue, bring another brazier."

Xia Zhu and Dongxue obeyed, pulling Qiuxiang and Chunlu out with them as well. When Fengyu had previously written a letter, she’d said her injury was minor and required only a few days’ rest, telling Feng Shu not to worry. Though Feng Shu had her doubts at the time, she had too many matters to attend to. Now, seeing Fengyu alive and kicking, even able to go out to admire lanterns, she was finally certain her little sister had lied.

Fengyu reluctantly confessed the truth about her scheming against Lin Yu Yan. "It was pig blood, not a real injury."

"You’ve really got some nerve!" Feng Shu grabbed her hand and used a ruler to smack her palm. "Who is Lin Yu Yan to you, that you’d take such a risk? What if you had truly gotten hurt?"

Two red marks quickly appeared on Fengyu’s tender palm, stark against her fair skin. While Feng Shu was doting toward her sister in general, when it came to discipline, no amount of pleading could sway her. Fengyu burst into tears, her fair and round eyes swelling red as she looked at her sister pitifully. Feng Shu knew she was pretending, but her heart softened after three strikes.

"Why are you crying?"

"I was wrong!" Fengyu confessed softly, her tone coquettish and pleading. "Sister, don’t hit me. It really hurts."

Even the hardest of hearts couldn’t resist her teary pleas. Feng Shu felt both sympathy and exasperation for her sister, who was both pitiful and deserving of punishment. Setting the ruler down, she reprimanded her, "Lin Yu Yan may be foolish, but Lin Cheng and Lin Xiao are not easily provoked. A single misstep could ruin everything. If Lin Cheng had caught you scheming against his sister, what would you do then?"

"What else could I do? She was holding a knife and threatening to scar my face," Fengyu replied indignantly.

"And would she have threatened you if you hadn’t provoked her?" Feng Shu had clashed with Lin Yu Yan at the Imperial College; ten Lin Yu Yans couldn’t match her sister Fengyu’s cunning.

"You’ve scolded and punished me, so can we put this matter to rest?" Fengyu tugged at Feng Shu’s sleeve. "Sister, please spare me this time."

Who could bear such a plea!

Feng Shu couldn’t help but smile. Seeing her sister’s grin, Fengyu seized the opportunity to cling to her, acting sweet and playful. Finally, Feng Shu relented, rubbing Fengyu’s sore palm while accompanying her to admire the lanterns.

As Fengyu took stock of last night’s scheme against Lin Yu Yan and Jiang Yang, she decided to keep it from her sister. Otherwise, she’d endure another scolding or even worse punishment.

By the time Fengyu woke the next day, it was already noon. Staying up late to admire lanterns had her waking later than usual. In the morning, Feng Shu had roused her briefly to eat a few bites of breakfast before letting her sleep more. Feng Shu herself had gone early to Songhe Garden to greet the family matriarch and then helped entertain Mrs. Zhang with the head lady of the house. On her return, Feng Shu found Fengyu awake and joined her for lunch.

The previous night’s scandal of two noble ladies falling into the river during the Lantern Festival quickly spread through the Capital City. The affair between Jiang Yang and Lin Yu Yan was the most sensational, drawing widespread gossip. Early that morning, Jiang Lin arrived with Jiang Yang and hefty gifts at the Lin Family house, only for Lin Cheng to throw them out. Enraged beyond measure, Lin Cheng unleashed his fury, nearly breaking Jiang Yang’s legs. Jiang Yang tearfully proclaimed that he and Lin Yu Yan had been in love for a long time and even pulled out their love letters as evidence. Fengyu had long arranged for someone to muddy the waters in the crowd.

"Jiang Yang broke off his engagement with Fengyu for Lin Yu Yan. We overheard all of it last night, crystal clear."

"They were arguing by the river when Miss Lin accidentally fell in."

"Miss Lin also said she intentionally got close to Jiang Yang, playing along to make him break off his engagement with Miss Fengyu. Who would’ve thought that the top scorer would take her seriously?"

"The top scorer is truly innocent and gullible, completely duped."

When such remarks reached Lin Cheng, he was stunned. Realizing how embarrassing the situation was, yet knowing he couldn’t blow it out of proportion, Lin Cheng dragged Jiang Lin and Jiang Yang into his house, leaving the rest of the drama unseen by outsiders.

The rumors grew even wilder, and early in the morning, Dongxue reported them to Feng Shu.

"Once Jiang Yang is engaged to the Lin Family, bring out the debt note and demand repayment. If he refuses, report it to the Capital Governor and sell their property." Feng Shu said nonchalantly.

That property had been selected with Fengyu in mind. Such filth mustn’t be allowed to disgust her anymore. Despite the divorce happening so long ago, the people had yet to be evicted, showing an utter lack of decisiveness.

"Understood!"

Feng Shu finished handling a number of trivial affairs before finally enjoying a moment of peace while eating lunch with Fengyu. Fengyu, still a bit feeble, sipped on shredded chicken congee, her appetite lacking.

Feng Shu gave her a slice of sour pickle prepared by Qiuxiang. "Did you hear about Lin Yu Yan falling into the lake?"

"I did. I saw it myself." The sour pickle paired well with warm congee; the taste wasn’t bad. Fengyu mischievously blinked and said, "How pitiful, huh."

Feng Shu, "..."

She reconsidered pressing further, knowing Fengyu’s methods always left no trace. The outcome of Lin Yu Yan’s fall mattered little to her, even less was she inclined to trouble Fengyu on Lin Yu Yan’s behalf. Ultimately, Lin Yu Yan had only herself to blame. When the time came for her wedding to Jiang Yang, Feng Shu would send a lavish gift to thank Jiang Yang for sparing them.

After lunch, Feng Shu prepared to make a visit to the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion. Fengyu swallowed a piece of pastry, blurting, "I want to come too."

"What for?"

"The Marchioness mentioned several times already that she wanted you to bring me to the Mansion when you returned home."

"Fine!" Feng Shu ordered Xia Zhu and Dongxue, "Third Miss is going out too. Add more warm cushions to the carriage, prepare two exchangeable hand warmers, and pack some pastries for the ride."

"Understood!" Xia Zhu and Dongxue busied themselves in preparation. Feng Shu looked at Fengyu’s refined profile, slightly raising an eyebrow. Fengyu rarely showed such genuine excitement. "Why so happy about going to the Marquis Mansion?"

Fengyu paused briefly. "What nonsense... It’s only because you’ve returned home, so I’m in a good mood."

Feng Shu chuckled, only half-believing her answer. After the meal, Feng Shu carefully checked the gift list for the Marquis Mansion, including a chest brought back from Ningzhou from Marquis Zhenbei, entrusted to her to deliver to the Capital City. Once confirmed, she instructed Zhang Da and the others to load the items onto the carriage. Not until Fengyu had finished eating and rested briefly did they set out.