The whip whistled through the air, landing a heavy blow on the wooden crate.
The crisp sound made Yu Shi and Feng Yiyi shriek and jump back.
Feng Yinwan glared at them, her aura radiating an unyielding power.
"You dare touch my mother's belongings? How audacious of you!"
Having already witnessed Feng Yinwan's formidable strength, Yu Shi naturally dared not confront her directly. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to speak, her voice trembling.
"Yinwan, you... you've misunderstood!"
"We wouldn't dare touch the late madam's possessions. We were merely... merely seeing that things had been left in the room for too long and feared they might mildew... so we ordered them moved out to air them!"
She explained with a stiff, unnatural smile.
Feng Yinwan's beautiful eyes swept over them, her gaze sharp and chilling.
"According to Madam Yu's words, this Princess Consort would like to ask you."
"Do gold and silver develop mildew, or do jewelry and jade need airing!"
Yu Shi's heart tightened at her reprimand, and she shivered uncontrollably again.
Fearing that Feng Yinwan might lash out with the whip herself, Yu Shi's eyes darted around. She forced a smile and said,
"Yinwan, this courtyard has long been sealed. Wouldn't it be a shame for such fine things to be kept out of the sun? Furthermore, as years pass, it would be difficult to find anything if it went missing. I intended to sort through them and have them moved to the storeroom for individual registration!"
As she spoke, she subtly signaled to her attendants, "Isn't that right, everyone!"
The servants understood, not daring to object, and could only nod repeatedly.
Seeing this, Yu Shi relaxed slightly and smiled apologetically, "You see, Yinwan, I didn't intend to touch them."
Feng Yinwan rolled her eyes without restraint. "Madam Yu, if this Princess Consort hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she might have actually believed you!"
Yu Shi glanced at her in a low tone and fell silent. Unexpectedly, Feng Yiyi, feeling she had a point, frowned in dissatisfaction.
"Feng Yinwan, what do you mean! My mother only did this with good intentions. Do you think anyone else would be bothered with these broken trinkets!"
As she spoke, her eyes greedily glanced at the chests. Such words were hardly believable.
"Broken trinkets?"
Feng Yinwan narrowed her eyes and lashed out with the whip.
"Weren't you the one who stole my mother's jade bracelet before? Feng Yiyi, doesn't your face hurt?"
The whip was sharp and precise, striking Feng Yiyi's forearm and drawing blood.
Feng Yiyi cried out in pain, her arm hurting as much as her face.
Caught off guard by such an attack, Yu Shi's expression changed. She quickly stepped forward and shielded Feng Yiyi in her arms.
"What are you doing! We'll return the items, why are you hitting someone!"
Feng Yinwan was too lazy to argue with her.
She lightly tapped the whip in her palm, her voice chillingly devoid of mercy.
"Before dinner, all the items must be returned to their original places, not a single one missing."
Yu Shi breathed a sigh of relief, but then another whip whistled past her ear.
Feng Yinwan glared at them, her eyes icy cold.
"If I find even one item missing, you can ponder the consequences yourself."
With that, she put away the whip and turned to leave for the embroidery building.
Behind her, Yu Shi let out a long sigh, her legs feeling weak, her hands trembling as she supported Feng Yiyi.
With this commotion, the matter of summoning Yuping was forgotten by Feng Yinwan.
Before she could remember it, the half-closed door was pushed open forcefully, and Yuping, with her belongings packed, appeared before her.
The familiar round face brought a surge of warmth to Feng Yinwan. She almost wanted to shed tears of joy.
"Yuping!"
"Miss."
Her voice was filled with surprise.
Yuping's eyes held a hint of resentment.
"Why are you back? I was just about to send someone to fetch you!"
Yuping pouted. "Miss, you only just thought of it, didn't you?"
Look at that!
If she hadn't been by her mistress's side for so long, accustomed to her mistress's shameless lies, she might have actually been fooled!
Alas, being a maid to her mistress was truly exhausting!
Her deception exposed, Feng Yinwan blushed and cleared her throat awkwardly.
"I swear, I really thought of it the moment I returned. But then a small incident happened, and I got angry and forgot again..."
Yuping, who was accustomed to being forgotten, nodded with doubt.
"What small incident?"
As she spoke, she recalled the quietness of the manor upon her arrival, without any hint of celebration for Feng Yinwan's return. She grew suspicious.
"Miss, where are Master and Young Master? Isn't it almost time for dinner?"
Such silence was uncharacteristic of General Feng or Feng Jingyuan!
Feng Yinwan raised her eyebrows, thinking that the girl had become smarter after a few days apart.
"There's an urgent military situation, Father and brother have led troops to battle."
"I was just about to tell you this. The moment I entered the manor, I ran into Madam Yu and Feng Yiyi stealing my mother's遗物. They're already this brazen after Father left. If I hadn't returned, what would have happened!"
Even now, she was still somewhat indignant.
Unforeseeing this, Yuping's brow furrowed.
"Master had already ordered Biluo Courtyard sealed. Madam Yu actually dared to break it open and steal the late madam's possessions. Their actions are simply outrageous!"
Feng Yinwan patted her hand reassuringly. "Don't worry, I've already made them return everything as it was."
"I don't know much about my mother's遗物. Since you're back, come with me to take a look, lest they hide anything."
Yuping nodded, put down her luggage, and followed her to Biluo Courtyard.
After being whipped, Yu Shi and Feng Yiyi were quite obedient. When Feng Yinwan entered the room, the items on the table had been returned, untouched.
Years ago, after her mother's death, General Feng, consumed by grief, had ordered this courtyard sealed.
At first, it was merely locked. He would occasionally visit when filled with longing, and Feng Yinwan had accompanied him a few times, but only a few.
In her memory, she had set foot in this courtyard very rarely.
While she was lost in thought, Yuping had already stepped forward to examine the jewelry inside the makeup box. After counting several times, her brow furrowed again.
"Miss, there's one hairpin missing."
Feng Yinwan's brows tightened upon hearing this, her beautiful eyes turning cold.
They actually dared to hide something!
"What kind of hairpin is it?"
Yuping frowned and hesitated slightly.
"I don't know how to describe it. The hairpin is made of gold, with a cluster of fiery red flowers on it, and adorned with emerald-green gems on the sides."
"I don't know the name of the flower. It doesn't look like something from the Central Plains."
She paused and then added meticulously, "Of course, it might be due to my limited knowledge."
The description was rather abstract.
Feng Yinwan frowned and decided to demand it directly.
"If you saw the hairpin, would you be able to identify it?"
Yuping nodded, not disappointing her. "Yes, the hairpin has a unique design. I remember it very clearly."
Feng Yinwan curved her lips. "That's good then."
When the two arrived at Yilan Courtyard, Yu Shi was dabbing medicine on Feng Yiyi with great distress. Seeing Feng Yinwan approaching menacingly, accompanied by Yuping, she turned pale and cried out,
"The items have been returned. What else do you... what else do you want!"
Feng Yinwan glanced at her disdainfully, the coldness in her eyes rising again. "Does Madam Yu remember what this Princess Consort said?"
"Wh...at..."
Yu Shi opened her mouth, but before she could ask, she saw Feng Yinwan's lips curve into a cold smile.
"This Princess Consort said, not a single item missing!"