Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 48: Colluding with Evil Intentions

Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Colluding with Evil Intentions

Feng Ling had no intention of greeting Mrs. Lin and took her maid back to her own courtyard. Feng Wan supported Lady Feng as they headed to the main hall. "Mother, if Mrs. Lin asks you to persuade Yu’er to let bygones be bygones, you must never agree to it."

"Yu’er is injured this badly, and she still has the audacity to ask us to let bygones be bygones?"

"Perhaps she thinks Yu’er overstepped her bounds by insisting on competing with Lin Yu Yan for the jade bracelet, resulting in Lin Yu Yan’s reputation being completely tarnished."

"How shameless. Her daughter used a knife to harm someone, Yu’er’s life is hanging by a thread, and she feels no guilt?"

Feng Wan spoke calmly, "If Yu’er manages to wake up unscathed, her reputation might improve somewhat. After this incident, Lin Yu Yan’s prospects for marriage are likely ruined. Tell me, is Mrs. Lin feeling more hatred or guilt right now?"

Lady Feng finally understood. By the time mother and daughter reached the main hall, the maids of Mrs. Lin had already displayed a pile of gift boxes, filling the space. Mrs. Lin warmly took Lady Feng’s hand and said, "Sister Zhang, it has been so long since we’ve seen each other. You’re looking younger than ever. Walking alongside your elder daughter, the two of you look more like sisters than mother and daughter. I’m truly envious."

Lady Feng invited her to sit down and responded politely, "The children have grown up now—each of them respectful, sensible, and accomplished. I haven’t had to worry much about them, so I spend my days tending flowers and planting herbs. With a peaceful mind and good sleep, one naturally appears younger."

These words hit a sore spot for Mrs. Lin—although Lin Cheng was competent and promising, Lin Xiao was notorious for his debauchery, and Lin Yu Yan had now committed an act of violence. How could she feel at ease? But Mrs. Lin was no ordinary person and didn’t lose her temper despite Lady Feng’s subtle jabs. "Your eldest son serves as an official in Liling, diligent and upright, and your daughters are learned, virtuous, and ladylike. I truly admire your family. As for my sons, they’re unruly and unprincipled, and Yu Yan is both headstrong and reckless. Children are indeed life’s burdens; it’s a headache for me. Today, Yu Yan accidentally hurt Fengyu and has been confined to the ancestral hall by her father to reflect on her actions. I can only come on her behalf to apologize. How is Third Miss’s injury? Is it not too severe?"

So she calls it "accidental," turning Lin Yu Yan’s deliberate act of harm into something unintentional.

"I’ve just come from Yu’er’s courtyard. The child has been frail since childhood, unable to withstand wind or rain, and has always relied on medicine. She grew up pampered, never even endured a scratch or bruise. Today has truly been a tribulation—her injuries are so deep that bowls of blood had to be carried out. The Imperial Physician said..." Lady Feng wiped away tears with a handkerchief. "The prognosis isn’t looking good."

Mrs. Lin’s face stiffened. "It’s truly that severe? Third Miss has suffered greatly. It’s all Yu Yan’s fault. Once she’s out of the ancestral hall, I’ll make sure she comes to personally offer her apologies."

Lady Feng lowered her head, shedding tears, visibly grief-stricken, and didn’t respond. Mrs. Lin’s expression turned awkward, but for the sake of her daughter, she pressed on. "Sister Zhang, Yu Yan is not inherently bad—she’s just spoiled and clumsy. This time, harming Fengyu was truly accidental. She’s a kind-hearted child who wouldn’t even dare harm an ant."

Feng Wan couldn’t believe Mrs. Lin’s audacity, blatantly twisting the truth. Lady Feng was equally incensed. "Mrs. Lin, what are you even saying? That blade was crimson-stained, witnessed by everyone present."

"I asked the people who were there, and they all said that Fengyu and Yu Yan were just playing around, and the injury was unintentional." Mrs. Lin sighed in anguish. "If Yu Yan is accused of deliberately harming someone, her reputation will be ruined. What will become of her in the future?"

Lady Feng pointed in the direction of the Plum Garden. "My Feng Family’s daughter is lying in bed, her life uncertain, and yet you call it an unintentional mistake?"

Mrs. Lin, though thirsty, slowly sipped her tea as she spoke. "Sister Zhang, the dead turn to dust, and with them everything ends. But the living must look ahead. Yu Yan still has to marry; her reputation cannot be destroyed over such a minor incident, ruining her entire life. As a parent yourself, surely you understand my difficulty."

"I do not understand!" Lady Feng retorted angrily. "I don’t have a vicious and murderous daughter—I find your difficulties impossible to sympathize with."

Mrs. Lin laughed coldly. "Fengyu is obstinate and foolish, dragging down Feng Wan and Feng Ling as a result. Neither has yet secured a good marriage. Sister Zhang, if I act as a matchmaker, your elder daughter and Fourth Miss could both secure excellent matches. Fengyu is only your niece, not your daughter—why jeopardize your own daughters’ prospects for her sake?"

Lady Feng had been bristling with indignation, but upon hearing about Feng Wan and Feng Ling’s matrimonial prospects, she couldn’t help wavering. If Fengyu were to die, the reputation of the Feng Family’s daughters wouldn’t be tarnished, and her Wanwan and Ling’er...

"Mrs. Lin, my grandmother often said that in this world, one must walk with integrity and sit with dignity. As long as one acts with a clear conscience and commits good deeds daily, life will not go too badly. The Third Sister’s life hangs in the balance now; we can only pray for her safe recovery." Feng Wan, observing Lady Feng’s wavering resolve, reminded her, "Disgrace inflicted upon one is shame upon all. How could we selfishly pursue wealth and status for ourselves?"

"I’ve shown you courtesy, but you refuse to compromise. Fine, let’s see how things unfold!" Mrs. Lin stormed out, flicking her sleeves, leaving Lady Feng with teary eyes. "This is beyond outrageous!"

"Mother, the Ministry of Justice will make a ruling on this matter. Let’s refrain from receiving guests for the next few days." Feng Wan sighed. "I’ll go speak with Grandmother. Things have escalated to this extent—we can’t keep it under wraps."

Qiuxiang, who had overheard the conversation between Mrs. Lin, Lady Feng, and Feng Wan, relayed everything in detail to Fengyu and Fang Lingjun. Fengyu contentedly ate her bird’s nest soup.

Fang Lingjun said, "Just as you anticipated, the Lin Family wants to frame what happened as an unintentional accident during your playful interaction with Lin Yu Yan. How convenient for them."

"If this incident is defined as an unintentional accident, Lin Yu Yan’s reputation remains intact. Mishaps during archery practice are normal. But if it’s ruled as deliberate harm, her reputation is utterly destroyed, and everyone in the capital will avoid her like the plague." Fengyu smirked like a sly fox. "But she forgets that her act of violence was witnessed by everyone at the archery banquet—each and every one of them either a noble son or aristocratic daughter. Word will spread quickly, and no lady of the capital will want a ruthless daughter-in-law. Unless, of course, she’s marrying into a family equally cunning and intent on leveraging the Lin Family’s connections."

"Only we and Doctor Zhang know the truth of the matter. We cannot let it leak; otherwise, if the Lin Family retaliates, it’ll ruin you, and they won’t let you off lightly." Fang Lingjun worriedly added, "Your plan is too ruthless toward yourself—if anything goes wrong, you could lose everything. Is it truly worth it?"

Lin Yu Yan had hidden someone in the attic intending to tarnish her purity, then openly attempted to kill her at the archery banquet. Why should Fengyu forgive and forget, allowing her to roam freely and continue her bullying?

"It’s worth it!" Fengyu’s soft smile bloomed. "Others bully and humiliate you because you keep retreating and yielding, making it easy for them to prey on you. If retreating brings no peace, then let everything be decided in one confrontation—ensuring no further entanglements."

Inflicting harm upon a girl’s reputation is even crueller than taking her life.

"The Lin Family won’t let this go. Be prepared." Fang Lingjun hugged her. "Mother has already agreed to let me stay at the Feng Mansion to accompany you. Rest assured, I’ll shield you from all their scheming."

"Junjun, thank you!" Fengyu’s delicate voice warmed. "You’re truly wonderful."

"It’s your sweet words that make me conspire with you, go through fire and water for you, you little troublemaker." Fang Lingjun laughed as she tickled her. Fengyu rolled inward, and the two messed around in a playful scuffle.