“How is that possible?!” Han Yueheng couldn’t help but cry out in alarm first, standing up and walking to her mother’s side to grasp her mother’s hand. She turned her head back to question Nanny Qi: “My things have always been kept by you and Qiuyu. You’ve always been meticulous in your work. Moreover, in my room there are also two instructress nannies and four palace maids bestowed by the palace… And all the items are registered and recorded in ledgers… Nanny Zhang herself is also a steward mama who came from the Fan residence. Could she not understand even this much? How could she possibly go do such a thing?!”
This was the first time Nanny Qi had been questioned so bluntly and discourteously by Han Yueheng. She raised her eyelids to glance at the pale-faced Han Yueheng, then shook her head rigidly: “Why would she steal things—how could an outsider guess her thoughts? Presumably she felt that since the residence was in chaos, it would be easy to make a move, so while everyone was busy beyond measure and no one was paying attention, she tried to act.”
She spoke lightly and with self-righteous confidence. Little Fan Shi glanced at the smiling First Madam Fan, and for the first time maintained her composure, instructing Qiuju neither humbly nor arrogantly: “Since she acted within the Marquis’s residence, as the mistress of the house I will certainly investigate thoroughly. You go put her under guard first.”
First Madam Fan’s gaze turned cold. She stared at Little Fan Shi with a half-smile, until Little Fan Shi couldn’t help but lower her head. Only then did she burst out laughing: “Has sister become confused? What she stole was the jewelry and accessories accompanying the Princess—this is no small matter. How can you treat it as an ordinary household thief? Today I just happened to encounter this. If it were someone else who found out, wouldn’t they say your Marquis Jinxiang’s residence has no regard for law and order, doesn’t put His Majesty’s and Her Ladyship’s dignity in your eyes, and dares to be negligent even with imperially bestowed items?”
When it came to sharp tongue and clever words, Little Fan Shi had never been First Madam Fan’s match. She was rendered speechless, yet still forced herself to support each other with her daughter: “This is after all a household matter of the Marquis Jinxiang’s residence. If it spreads out, given that the Marquis Jinxiang’s residence is already in this state, I fear it will cast a shadow over the Marquis’s official career.”
Now she puts on the appearance of a virtuous wife and good mother. Now she knows to use the identity of the Marquis Jinxiang residence’s mistress to pressure people. Unfortunately it’s already too late. First Madam Fan looked down at her from a superior position with pitying yet disdainful eyes. After a long while she coldly flicked her fingernail: “Spread out? How would such a matter spread out? Of course it should be handled immediately. Since I’m here today, rather than trouble two masters for one task, I’ll simply handle it for sister. This way the servants of the Marquis Jinxiang’s residence will also rein in their hearts, and sister’s days in the future will be more comfortable.”
Little Fan Shi was forced into having no words to respond. Supporting her head in a dizzy and confused manner, even her lips were bitten until they bled. She seemed to be restraining herself to the extreme as she called out: “No need! I’ll handle it myself…”
“How will you handle it?” First Madam Fan’s patience was finally exhausted. She had also lost interest in watching Little Fan Shi’s awkward state. She reminded her coldly: “Yueheng’s good day is just in these few days. Do you really want complications to arise?”
This blatant threat made both Little Fan Shi and Han Yueheng turn pale, their eyes widening in terror.
First Madam Fan calmly had Lianqiao help her stand up. Leisurely she adjusted the slightly crooked gold hairpin with filigree work inlaid with gemstones and figure patterns on her head. She lightly parted her vermilion lips and laughed once: “I’ll advise sister—don’t do things you shouldn’t do. The days ahead are still long. A’Zhi just encountered such a matter, and Yueheng is about to marry far away. If you make such a fuss every day, with no one in the residence who can help, I fear sister won’t be able to bear it.”
Little Fan Shi finally couldn’t help but rush before her and grasp her sleeve, almost in tears: “I’ll send Nanny Zhang back to our old home. I’ll go send her right now… right now… I beg you, I beg you, spare her…”
First Madam Fan seemed not to think at all before immediately shaking her off, with a disgusted and guarded appearance. Even that bit of smile that had been maintained on her face vanished without a trace: “Send her back? Too late! Water that’s been spilled cannot be recovered. Actually this is also good—you can learn a lesson, know what things should be done and what things cannot be done… In the future when you want to do something foolish again, first think of your son who died in vain, and this old goods, and you’ll probably become clear-headed!”
Little Fan Shi was pushed to the ground by her outstretched hand. She still wanted to rush forward again, but was already blocked by Nanny Fang and several palace maids including Lianqiao. Nanny Fang sighed, looking at Little Fan Shi with words on the tip of her tongue that remained unspoken. In the end she said nothing, shook her head and led the people to quickly chase after First Madam Fan.
Han Yueheng finally couldn’t help but cry out loud, with snot and tears helping Little Fan Shi up from the ground: “Mother… Aunt she… she’s really going too far…” Her temper rising, Han Yueheng suddenly became as if facing death without fear: “I don’t believe there’s no way to deal with her. The day after tomorrow when I accompany the Princess to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, I’ll publicly tear off her true face! Those with bare feet don’t fear those wearing shoes…”
Little Fan Shi patted her hand, raised her hand to wipe her own tears dry, supported her daughter to stand up, stepped over the threshold and looked coldly at those people’s backs. She laughed lightly once: “No need, no need. The things in Nanny Zhang’s hands were already given to me long ago. We had already anticipated this day… That person is so arrogant, we had long anticipated she would kill Nanny Zhang to silence her. Having killed Nanny Zhang, she’ll feel at ease letting me live a few more days…”
The corners of Little Fan Shi’s mouth held a smile of relief: “After I’ve handled your brother’s funeral affairs and sent you out safely and smoothly, I’ll have no more worries. At that time I’ll personally deliver this hairpin before the Crown Prince, and have the Crown Prince open his eyes properly to see—what kind of person he’s been favoring and doting on all these years…”
This kind of thing, no man can endure. Even if it’s just catching wind and shadows, it can still sicken and disgust a man for a lifetime. What’s more, this hairpin she held in her hand—Han Zhengqing had once kept it on his person constantly, never leaving it for a moment.
How Han Zhengqing had treated First Madam Fan all these years, everyone knew in their hearts. Once it was discovered that Han Zhengqing wasn’t devoted to the Eastern Palace because of his brother-in-law relationship, but because of First Madam Fan… Little Fan Shi finally exhaled a long breath of foul air. Her eyes were exceptionally bright, and the smile on her face finally reached her eyes. She just waited to see whether the Crown Prince could swallow this grievance.
Before, she had Han Zhi and Han Yueheng, she feared death, and also feared First Madam Fan would vent her anger on her children. That’s why she was willing to endure again and again, yield again and again, willing to be a living corpse. But now, First Madam Fan had personally severed all her escape routes completely. She had nothing left to worry about. This life—she simply wouldn’t want it anymore. She would use her life to prove the truth of her words. The Crown Prince should listen at least.