Chapter 6, The Interest of a Slap

She suddenly recalled the time when her sister-in-law knelt at the gate with her children. She ordered the household not to inform the master, who pretended not to know. Lady Feng fell ill from the cold outside the door and fainted. At that time, Feng Zhiwei was only four years old, yet she remained calm and immediately pulled her brother to kneel on the street outside the alley. The siblings said nothing, only holding back tears in silence. Passersby, seeing this, felt great pity for the small children and sighed in sympathy. After kneeling for just one day, the household of the Qiu family could no longer bear the public's criticism and had no choice but to bring the mother and her two children into the residence.

Someone immediately went over and brought Feng Hao in. Feng Hao's face was already pale with fear, and he stammered, unable to speak. Feng Zhiwei frowned slightly, while Aunt An, as if she had discovered a treasure, exclaimed sharply: "What is Young Master Hao doing here? Is he also here to steal something?"

She lowered her eyes and softly said, "Thank you, sister-in-law, for your care..."

Indeed, this is an opportunity

Feng Zhiwei, who had been watching her mother, suddenly let out a gentle sigh, and a hint of comforting joy appeared in her eyes

Feng Zhiwei, however, smiled faintly

As soon as Aunt An finished speaking, another maid suddenly screamed. She had just been startled back a step by Aunt An's slap, colliding with the half-open window. Faintly, she heard a low gasp from below the window, and upon turning around, she discovered that the second son of the Feng family was crouching beneath the window.

Feng Zhiwei lowered her eyes, and in an instant, a hint of a smile unexpectedly blossomed, neither desolate nor sorrowful, neither sarcastic nor indignant, but a very peaceful smile

The warm rays of the setting sun shone ahead, while the astonished gazes of the crowd behind her cast a chilling sensation on her back. She stood in the middle, her figure retreating, slender and fragile.

As soon as Feng Hao saw Madam Feng, he rushed over and shouted, "Mother! They are twisting me so painfully!"

Her voice was long and drawn out, causing Feng Hao to tremble slightly and timidly take a step back

Feng Zhiwei stood in the winter dusk, feeling the chill of her thin clothing. Unable to resist, she tightened her sleeves a little more. Her gaze silently drifted past, lingering on Feng Hao's red lips and white teeth, then on the jeweled flowers at her mother's temples. The red jeweled flowers were resplendent and shimmering, pressing against the once dark hair, subtly revealing a strand of white hair, evoking a sense of beauty yet also a feeling of weariness.

This still means that they will be expelled from the residence, and everyone understood the implication, revealing faint smiles on their faces

but never looked back

Yet it seemed to be her illusion; in the blink of an eye, Lady Feng had already embraced her son, softly comforting him

Her expression was almost nostalgic, as if she wished to experience once more the pain of the slap's impact through the touch of her fingertips

She replied, "It was sent by the Liu family, and it is rare for my sister to like it"

Yet a faint smile appeared on her face, clear and shallow, not quite a smile, but rather as if painted with ink, the curve perfect yet rigid. Her brows were slightly raised, and her gaze shimmered and flowed, creating an eerie yet vibrant aura in the contrast of movement and stillness, leaving one with a chilling sensation deep within.

Speak to yourself

That is the younger brother who grew up with her

What are you doing here, you rascal

Over the years, this child has held an awkward position in the household, yet has managed to preserve their own integrity without being manipulated, all while remaining inconspicuous. Such composure and patience evoke a sense of unease in others

"Indeed, Madam Qiu has changed her tone. It is difficult to guarantee that some servants won't speak out of turn, and if the news spreads, it could lead to an unpleasant situation. The master has a fiery temperament and is strict in managing the household. When he is enraged, I fear that my niece will suffer..." She smiled slightly, looking at Feng Zhiwei, "Niece, perhaps it would be better for you to temporarily leave the residence? Rest assured, your aunt will take care of everything for you."

Madam Feng's face lit up with joy as she turned to look at Feng Zhiwei, who remained composed, gazing at a flower swaying in the wind outside the window, her hands tucked within her sleeves

In her smile, there is a divine radiance that comes and goes; clearly, her face is unremarkable, resembling that of a bookish person, yet it evokes a sense of extraordinary brilliance, almost dazzling.

Although Feng Zhiwei is not respected, she has been raised in seclusion since childhood. What will happen to such a delicate and fragile young lady if she is expelled from the residence? Even if she is brought back in the future, the reputation she would have lost while being out in the world would mean that she could never again be worthy of a good marriage.

Seeing his expression, Aunt An's eyes flashed with a hint of joy. She suddenly softened her tone and said with a smile: "The young master is still young and inexperienced. It's not a big deal if he is led astray and makes some mistakes. Just have a good talk with Aunt, and there's no need to wait until the lady arrives, as that would not end well."

Aunt An displayed a broad smile, having removed the thorn from her eye, truly delightful

Madam Feng's fingers trembled slightly as she averted her gaze. Feng Zhiwei noticed her discreetly brushing away a bit of golden food from the cuff of her sleeve, which had stuck to her when Feng Hao had lunged at her earlier.

"Young Master Hao, in the face of significant matters, one must be clear about right and wrong," Aunt An said with a smile that was not quite a smile, pointing her chin towards the direction of the front courtyard. "The master governs the household with military law, and he cannot tolerate any petty theft, let alone the theft of the imperial tribute. Even if His Majesty does not hold you accountable tomorrow, the master will certainly expel you from the residence once he finds out. Young Master Hao, consider this..."

Feng Hao was startled by her gaze, his knees involuntarily weakened, but he quickly turned his head away and stepped back a pace from her side, then mumbled rapidly, "... Sister said there are delicious foods here and asked me to wait for her..."

Indeed, the son is still more important... Lady Qiu thought indifferently, and then considered the daughter of the Feng family, who appeared gentle and compliant, living a life of indifference in a corner of the Qiu residence, neither striving nor seeking, yet no one could gain any advantage from her or her mother.

Feng Zhiwei took a deep breath, slowly lowered her hand that was resting on her face, and stared at Feng Hao

Madam Qiu slightly returned the courtesy to the *picture* book, a hint of understanding smile appearing at the corner of her mouth

Everyone was on guard against her outbursts, whether it be pleading or crying, yet they did not expect her to display such an expression, leaving them momentarily stunned. However, Feng Zhiwei suddenly turned around, remaining silent, and walked out.

Feng Hao was startled by the word "steal," causing his whole body to tremble slightly. He glanced at Feng Zhiwei and then timidly lowered his head

Suddenly, she heard Lady Feng softly say: "Madam... Zhiwei is young and inexperienced, greedy and gluttonous. I hope you can be more forgiving..."

She recalled her intention to match her with the son of Manager Liu. The boy did not utter a single refusal in her presence, yet he "coincidentally encountered" the master, who remarked, "The third young lady has taken a liking to the jade hairpin of Zhiwei and has sent it to her." This prompted the master to inquire about the origin of the hairpin.

The women around all raised the corners of their mouths in unison

"It is not a big deal, really," Lady Qiu said with a smile, almost kindly. "How could we, as family, make things difficult for you? His Majesty will arrive tomorrow, and as for the changes, Her Highness the Princess has always been on good terms with the Qiu family and will not hold these matters against you"

The phrase "Hao'er has not yet grown up" made Lady Feng shiver unexpectedly. She tilted her face slightly and raised her hand to touch the jeweled flower, her fingers trembling slightly.

I will return

In a moment of breathless silence, Feng Zhiwei raised her hand and touched the fingerprints on her face

Madam Qiu calmly observed everything, listening to Aunt An, who hurriedly embellished her report. Suddenly, she turned to Feng Hao and asked, "Hao'er, was it Zhiwei who asked you to wait by the window?"

"Hao'er!" A sudden angry shout rang out, causing everyone to turn around. They then saw the mistress of the house, Madam Qiu, standing at the entrance, having appeared there at some unknown time. Meanwhile, Madam Feng, who had just spoken, stood beside her, glaring at Feng Hao.

Not looking at the unrepentant expression of my younger brother, not looking at the bitterness in my mother's eyes, not thinking about the betrayal of family, not thinking about what awaits me outside this door at https://www.hetushu.com

The twilight glow penetrates the hall and enters the home, casting a vibrant hue on everyone's faces. However, the rumored strong and bright woman is shrouded in the dark shadow of a corner, the rosy light brushing against her cheeks, highlighting a frost-white complexion reminiscent of cold moonlight

There are still people in this world who will speak in her defense

Feng Zhiwei suddenly stepped back.

Madam Feng's face turned ashen as she watched Feng Hao rush towards her. Her sleeves fluttered without wind, and her feet shifted slightly. However, she quickly steadied herself, raised her arm with a hint of stiffness, and caught the rushing Feng Hao, pulling him into her embrace

Feng Zhiwei observed coldly, her gaze flickering—her mother's earlier posture was somewhat strange

This time, even Lady Qiu was taken aback

Then she put down her hands, smiled gently, leaned close to the stunned Aunt An's ear, and softly said

Madam Qiu was momentarily taken aback. She understood the Feng siblings well, especially the extravagant yet not wealthy Feng Hao. It was evident that today's incident was a result of Feng Hao's greed, yet he was too cowardly to take responsibility and instead framed his own sister. She had initially thought that her famously strong-willed sister-in-law would certainly defend Zhiwei, considering her furious demeanor upon arrival. She expected the next words to be a reprimand of her son in order to save her daughter, but unexpectedly... this was the outcome.

Everyone was waiting for that crisp sound of a slap to ring out

At such a young age, knowing how to provoke public discussion to exert pressure on the Qiu family, and choosing to act when his mother was suffering from a cold, prevented the public from blaming Lady Feng for using her child to gain favor. This level of discernment and situational wisdom, upon reflection, left a chilling feeling in one's heart

Madam Feng's expression turned anxious as she was about to speak, but Madam Qiu suddenly turned to her, personally adjusting her hair. She then took a red jewel flower from her own hair and placed it in Madam Feng's hair, smiling as she said: "Hao'er has not yet grown up, and Wei'er is still quite immature. Sister, you worry too much; it is evident that you are aging."

Feng Zhiwei did not look back and walked straight to Aunt An, stopping in front of her

Lady Feng suddenly stopped him, turned around, and bowed to Lady Qiu

It was as if a muffled thunder struck deep within the heart, splitting open a deep and dark chasm, charred and stained with blood.

She hesitated and took a step back, while Feng Zhiwei stood firm in front of her, raising her hand

After the incident, the master was furious, blaming her for not managing the household strictly. The ambiguous items from the outside had actually been exposed to the young lady's eyes. If they were to be sent to the naive and innocent third young lady, what would the rumors say?

Feng Hao's expression was somewhat bewildered, as if he did not fully understand his mother's meaning. However, Lady Feng's lack of restraint had already bolstered his courage, and the fate of being expelled from the residence was something he was unwilling to confront. Gritting his teeth, he straightened his neck and was about to speak.

Aunt An let out a long sigh, and a chilling smile appeared at the corners of her mouth

She smiled and gently patted Aunt An's face from a perspective unseen by the crowd, then stepped outside with a stride

The interest of a slap... wait for me to collect it

This is her younger brother, this is her mother

Feng Hao hesitated, his fingers unconsciously entwined in his sleeves, a faint exotic fragrance wafting through the air. At the tips of his fingers, a few golden thread-like objects were still visible. Everyone noticed this but averted their gaze, all fixating intently on Feng Hao.

In the silent room, Feng Hao, who was busy acting coy, stiffly raised his head, his lips moving slightly as he glanced at Madam Feng

She stepped almost serenely into the vast setting sun, taking a deep breath in the enveloping golden light

Her hair was slightly disheveled from a slap by Aunt An, with clear fingerprints visible among the partially covered strands. Aunt An looked at her with some trepidation, suddenly recalling that she had just violated the rules by mistreating her superior. Now that the young lady of the Feng family was about to be dismissed, she had taken the opportunity to vent her anger by slapping her. The lady of the house felt guilty and likely would not intervene.

Feng Zhiwei turned her head, no longer looking at Feng Hao