Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 47 Family

Chapter 47: Chapter 47 Family

Fengyu grasped her wrist, completely ignoring the sharp dagger, provoking her with an almost maddened fervor. "Come on! Ruin my face! In public! Do you dare?"

Though Lin Yu Yan hated Fengyu, she still retained a shred of rationality and truly didn’t dare to do anything in public. But Fengyu clung tightly to her wrist, and as the two struggled, Lin Yu Yan felt her wrist being forced forward in a stabbing motion. Before she could react, Fengyu was already bleeding profusely, the sight rendering Lin Yu Yan completely stunned. She wanted to let go, but Fengyu’s mocking voice rang out, "Lin Yu Yan, you’ve killed someone."

When Lin Yu Yan closed her eyes, all she could see was Fengyu’s beautiful yet insane face.

"Madwoman! Madwoman! Fengyu, you lunatic!" Lin Yu Yan pounded on the doors of the ancestral hall, sobbing pitifully. "Let me out! Brother, Father, Mother, I didn’t kill anyone! I didn’t... Please believe me!"

The Feng Mansion, Plum Garden.

Zhang Lingzheng thought himself truly unfortunate to be caught up in the schemes and manipulations amongst noblewomen. From the outset, Fang Lingjun and Fengyu had planned to frame Lin Yu Yan. Yet Fengyu deviated from the plan, acting more daringly and recklessly. Fang Lingjun had honestly believed Fengyu had been stabbed, and the thought had horrified her completely. When Zhang Lingzheng arrived, he was immediately coerced into being a co-conspirator. As a childhood friend of Fang Chuning, he’d always treated Fang Lingjun like a sister, caring for her as she grew up. By a twist of fate, he was now implicated—though if the matter were uncovered, he would feel deeply wronged. Moreover, young ladies often acted without thorough consideration. Thus, Zhang Lingzheng penned a letter and instructed a servant to deliver it to Xie Xun, detailing the truth and hoping Xie Xun would handle the aftermath. If the plan went awry, none of them would be able to escape unscathed.

"This Miss Feng San is audacious to a fault."

To hurt a thousand enemies while sacrificing eight hundred of her own, Fengyu had Qiuxiang prepare pig’s blood concealed within her cloak. But as the dagger was sharp, it pierced through the pig blood and accidentally grazed her as well. Fortunately, the injury was only superficial. Zhang Lingzheng declared to the outside world that Miss Feng San was unconscious and at death’s door. Apart from Fang Lingjun staying to care for her, no one was allowed into Plum Garden.

"Don’t worry, I’ve arranged everything perfectly; no one will suspect a thing," Fang Lingjun said. "Fengyu was bleeding so profusely that everyone saw it—who would doubt her?"

"What if the Lin Family sends an imperial physician to examine her wounds?"

Fang Lingjun fell silent for a moment before replying, "If they dare send a physician, Fengyu will truly stab herself for real."

Zhang Lingzheng: "..."

"Anyway, keep your mouth shut. Other than you and me, no third person will know."

Zhang Lingzheng hesitated, glancing at Fang Lingjun. She couldn’t shake off an ominous feeling. "If you dare expose me, my brother definitely won’t let you off."

"Why do you young ladies harbor such deep grudge and resentment, wishing to destroy someone utterly?" Zhang Lingzheng couldn’t quite fathom it. He trusted Fang Lingjun’s character; though she had her spoiled tendencies, she was still a kindhearted and lovable girl. But as for Miss Feng San—after seeing her willingness to harm even herself, he couldn’t believe she was any sort of virtuous individual.

"Don’t concern yourself!" Fang Lingjun sneered coldly. "She won’t have it easy anyway. After today, she’ll get a taste of her reputation being completely ruined."

"Advise Miss San to rest in bed for two or three days at most. No need to overdo it."

"Fine, you’re the physician. Whatever you say goes."

Zhang Lingzheng: "..."

Chunlu gently applied medicine to Fengyu. The sharp dagger had grazed the skin, leaving a faint wound. Fortunately, the injury was shallow. Qiuxiang sobbed as she applied the ointment and said tearfully, "If I had known Miss intended to harm herself, I wouldn’t have helped—no matter what! That dagger went in red and came out white; what if it had caused serious harm?"

"Silly Qiuxiang, your Miss knows what she’s doing; she wouldn’t truly injure herself." Fengyu frowned at the pain. Her delicate brows twisted as the crimson mark sharply contrasted against her fair skin.

Chunlu leaned down and gently blew on the wound before advising, "Doctor Zhang said the wound is shallow and won’t leave a scar. Miss, you mustn’t do anything so dangerous again in the future."

Fang Lingjun hurried inside. "Lady Feng has arrived."

Fengyu quickly adjusted her clothing and lay down pretending to be unconscious. Chunlu applied powder to her lips to make her appear pale. Just as they pulled the quilt up, Lady Feng entered the room with Feng Wan and Feng Ling accompanying her.

Though Lady Feng held little affection for Fengyu and also coveted the wealth of the second branch, she had never wished harm upon Feng Shu, Fengyu’s sister. Upon hearing about the stabbing incident during the archery banquet, Lady Feng had been both worried and agitated, sending an abundance of health supplements to Fengyu and making frequent visits to check on her. Fengyu feigned unconsciousness as the room was filled with the scent of medicine. When Lady Feng saw Fengyu lying there, her face pale and pitiful, her eyes involuntarily reddened.

"Such misfortune! The Lin Family has gone too far. How can they dare kill someone in public?" Lady Feng turned to Zhang Lingzheng. "Doctor Zhang, can she wake up?"

"Miss San has lost too much blood; her condition is critical. It’s hard to say." Zhang Lingzheng struggled to balance his words, neither overstating nor making light of the situation. "It will depend on Miss San’s constitution."

"Fengyu has always been frail since childhood. What can we do? I’ve already sent word to Shu’er." Lady Feng dabbed at her tear-streaked face. "I hope she can come back to see Fengyu one last time."

Fengyu nearly bolted upright out of shock, her scalp tingling. If her sister returned, wouldn’t she skin her alive?

Zhang Lingzheng hesitated and gave Fang Lingjun a meaningful look—why was the story making Miss San sound like she wouldn’t survive? Fang Lingjun wiped her tears alongside Lady Feng and said, "Lady Feng, Fengyu is blessed with good fortune and will surely pull through. We’ve made two batches of thousand-year-old ginseng broth to sustain her. She’ll be fine."

Zhang Lingzheng massaged his temples. For a severely injured person, excessive supplementation would only worsen their condition. Unable to bear it any longer, he interjected, "Lady Feng, Miss San’s pulse is still steady. She should...pull through."

Lady Feng exhaled in relief as Feng Wan bowed respectfully. "Doctor Zhang’s healing skills bring the dying back to life; you’re a great benefactor to Feng Mansion. Thank you for saving her in time."

Zhang Lingzheng sidestepped the gesture. "It’s merely my duty, Miss Wan. There’s no need for thanks."

Feng Ling peeked at Fengyu, recalling the shocking scene at the archery grounds. "Third Sister, if you wake up, I promise not to fight over jewelry and clothes with you again."

Fengyu: "..."

Fengyu needed to rest. Lady Feng, Feng Wan, and Feng Ling didn’t stay long. As they left Plum Garden, Nanny Li hurried over. "Madam, Mrs. Lin has arrived. She’s waiting in the main hall."

Lady Feng’s emotions were difficult to describe. She and Mrs. Lin had been on good terms in their youth. Times changed, and noble families rose and fell; the Lin Family remained unshaken through it all. The gap between them widened over time. When Mrs. Lin had hosted banquets, she had only sent Lady Feng a single invitation. Her words carried subtle mocking tones, and she even hinted at Su Yuejiao intentionally, upsetting Lady Feng. Though Feng Changlin had risen to become Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Mrs. Lin still looked down on the Feng Family.

Moreover, Fengyu had once arrived unannounced, demanding compensation for a broken hairpin she claimed Lin Yu Yan had caused—further souring relations between the two families. After that, Mrs. Lin stopped sending invitations altogether and had never stepped foot in Feng Mansion.

"Ling’er, you go back to rest. Wanwan will accompany Mother to meet the guest."

"Yes!"