Her background had always been something Bai Sanlang could aspire to, yet it had never matched the stature of the wives of Bai’s eldest and fourth sons.
The eldest sister-in-law hailed from the illustrious Lin family; her brother was the commander of the Imperial Army in the capital, commanding fifty thousand troops—a position of immense power that demanded deference from all who encountered him. Meanwhile, the fourth wife was Princess Wenyi of the Kang Prince’s Mansion, raised under imperial favor since childhood. Her dowry, when she married into the Bai household, had been prepared with the grandeur befitting a princess, a magnificent procession that stirred envy in many.
Neither of the other two sisters-in-law were particularly calculating, yet she insisted on matching them, never allowing a single advantage to go unchecked. She had invested heavily in cultivating Bai Sihan from a young age, nurturing her with care and strategy, hoping that one day, this bond would elevate her own status within the family.
Seeing Bai Sihan seated beside Wei Lanxuan, her charming and radiant face shining brightly, Shen Shi’s pride swelled. So what if the Lin family wielded real influence? The eldest branch still had no children; even the princess struggled to produce an heir, having borne only one daughter. Though Shen Shi herself also had only one daughter, she considered her in far better health and standing than the sickly princess’s child.
So this trip back to Dongdu was strategic for her . Shen Shi intended to use her daughter’s beauty and her own careful scheming to secure a powerful marriage, one that would raise the entire family’s status. Her husband, Bai Sanlang, could remain in the capital without needing to be posted elsewhere, and she would no longer have to tolerate the temper of the Lin family or Princess Wenyi.
As the evening wore on and several rounds of drinks passed, many of the women had become slightly tipsy. Given that male guests were also present, arrangements had been made for them to recover in the side rooms of the back courtyard.
Bai Siruo and Feng Jinyao followed Madam Lin, moving deftly between the front and back courtyards to assist with the guests, their graceful movements reflecting careful training in etiquette and social conduct. As today had been a lesson in skill and poise; their understanding of social nuances had improved remarkably.
On the way to the side rooms with the sisters-in-law from the Zheng family, Feng Jinyao felt a slight ache in her temples. Yet it was not the alcohol but the remnants of a nightmare from the previous night that weighed on her mind. She instructed Yunxu to accompany Bai Siruo and manage the guests while she rested for a moment in the corridor. After all, this was the Bai family’s private backyard; entry without summons was strictly forbidden in it.
“Miss, please wait a moment. I will return after sending someone over,” Yunxu said, bowing slightly.
“Mm,” Feng Jinyao murmured, adjusting her snow-white cloak. She stood in the corridor, the thin layer of frost clinging to the withered branches outside mirroring the faint sorrow on her delicate features.
Even in the dead of night, she could not escape the nightmares of her past life. Even though reborn she was still a little girl and navigating these treacherous situations alone was exhausting for her , yet if she attempted to explain her rebirth to her family, who would believe her? They might dismiss it as nonsense, ignoring her counsel entirely—a self-inflicted setback she could ill afford.
In her previous life, the Feng family had protected her until their deaths; in this life, she would be their guardian.
Wen Mengsheng who quietly followed her into the corridor, observing the scene with a mixture of curiosity and puzzlement. As wealthy young ladies—whether innocent and carefree or spirited and willful—always carried an air of distance, with a subtle barrier that made them appear wary of intrusion. Perhaps this was a weakness to exploit, but first he needed to find a way to lower her guard..
Thinking swiftly, he picked up the jade pendant that Wen Yuwei had failed to return. As a plan began to form in his mind, and he strode forward, each step radiating quiet confidence toward Feng Jinyao.
After recovering for a bit Feng Jinyao felt much better so after ,hearing footsteps behind her, she assumed it was Yunxu returning. She turned, smiling—only for her expression to shift sharply to one of horror.
“It’s you!” she exclaimed.
“I apologize for my abruptness,” Wen Mengsheng began, bowing slightly. “I found Miss’s jade pendant and—”
Before he could finish, Feng Jinyao’s sharp voice cut through the night.
“This is the Bai family’s backyard. You have trespassed without permission, Young Master Wen. You are capable, yes—but are you not afraid that someone might reprimand your father for neglecting his children’s upbringing?”
“You… Miss, you are overthinking. I was just—”
“Guards! Guards!”
Her command was sudden and unyielding. Feng Jinyao had little concern for what he intended to say; she regretted only that she did not know martial arts, otherwise she would have dealt with him herself.
Wen Mengsheng’s eyes widened in shock. He knew his father prized his official reputation above all; if he learned that his son had foolishly followed Feng Jinyao into the backyard, he would be furious. Desperate to mitigate the situation, he stepped forward to cover her mouth, but before he could touch her, a strong force seized him from behind, throwing him violently to the ground. Pain seared through his back.
“Who—” he barked, fury and disbelief mingling. How dare they lay hands on the son of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel?
A whip cracked through the air, striking the withered branch beside him with a sharp, metallic whistle. The sound echoed in his ears, and as he surveyed the frost-strewn ground and scattered leaves, Wen Mengsheng’s face drained of color.
“You dare touch my sister? Do you wish to court death?”
“You… what are you going to do?” he stammered, maintaining a façade of composure despite his fear. He could not believe that Feng Jinling would be so audacious, daring to act so boldly during Old Madam Bai’s birthday banquet.
Feng Jinlin’s starry eyes narrowed, their icy gaze locking onto Wen Mengsheng like a demon’s from the underworld. His voice was calm yet carried a chilling weight.
“This whip has killed before, particularly that blind bastard. This is the Prime Minister’s backyard. If I treat you like a lecher and deal with you, not a soul will dare utter a word.”
The threat was blatant and terrifying. Wen Mengsheng’s anger flared, but he knew he could not defeat Feng Jinling here. With no other choice, he scrambled away, stumbling and cursing, leaving a threat in his wake: “You wait!”
Feng Jinling sneered at his pitiful retreat. “Hmph, what a coward.”
Turning back to Feng Jinyao, his fierce, vengeful persona melted into adoration. “Hehe, Ayao, look how impressive your second brother is!”
That familiar, infuriating expression returned and seeing that Feng Jinyao’s gratitude for his timely intervention vanished instantly. Remembering his earlier show-off in the front yard, she could not resist a verbal warning.
“Impressive! But I think I just saw Father and Grandfather pass that path—they didn’t look pleased. Do you think they saw you wielding your whip?”
Feng Jinling’s confidence deflated instantly. “No way… so unlucky?”
“Who told you to be so arrogant?” Feng Jinyao chided.
Inside, Feng Jinling cried silently, I was only standing up for you!
Seeing her younger sister finally smile, Feng Jinlin’s heart lifted with relief, yet he could not shake his lingering doubt.
“Ayao,” he murmured softly, “why do I feel you particularly dislike that person from earlier? It seems… I can’t quite put my finger on it.”
Feng Jinlin’s perception was keen; he had sensed her disgust and hatred after only two encounters.This couldn’t go on. Feng Jinling’s temper was like a newly drawn sword—sharp, unpredictable, and dangerously conspicuous. If this incident were to ruin his future, it would be a monumental loss for the family. Feng Jinyao made a secret note in her mind: Wen Mengsheng [son of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, a high-ranking official responsible for appointments and evaluations]—we’ll settle this later. Killing you like this would be far too easy. She would not die without let him endure the suffering of her family’s past calamities; otherwise, how could she face the flames of her previous life?
“I wouldn’t say I dislike him,” she said slowly, her voice measured yet firm, “but I find his behavior frivolous, inexplicable. Logically, our connection to my maternal grandfather’s family and to the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel isn’t particularly close, yet he, as their son, always seems to rush to speak to us. Don’t you think there’s something off about that?”
Feng Jinyao deliberately sounded serious, letting Feng Jinling draw his own conclusions.
“You mean… it’s possible someone placed him close to us intentionally?” he guessed, a hint of curiosity in his tone.
“Hard to say. But the Ministry of Personnel’s performance evaluations for officials have already begun and won’t end until the following April. During this period, it’s best to avoid contact with families we do not usually associate with. Otherwise, someone might find a reason to target us, threatening Father and Brother’s reputations—it would be disastrous.”
Feng Jinlin wasn’t naive. If he passed the upcoming exams, he would secure an official position, and he understood the weight of his reputation. He nodded solemnly. “Sister, you are very thoughtful.”
Seeing that her brother had understood, Feng Jinyao let the matter rest and shifted the conversation.
“Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be at the front, greeting the guests?”
“Hmph,” Feng Jinling snorted, his disdain evident. “You should warn your good sister to be careful. That young master from the Liang family is no suitable match. I saw him sneaking down a side path. When I followed, I saw him meeting Miss Wei’s maid—he even handed her something. Either he’s trying to seduce the girl herself, or her mistress. He is not trustworthy.”
His contempt was unmistakable. He looked down on such opportunists with the derision of one born to higher rank. Inept in both literary skill and martial training, they sought advancement solely through marriage and social climbing—just like his father before him.
Lord Liang had once been humble. If not for this advantageous union, how could he have risen so quickly? Yet the Earl of Changyi had fallen from grace after offending Emperor Qi, and Lord Liang, once a frequent visitor to his mansion, now severed all ties, revealing his opportunistic nature.
“I heard the engagement with the Xu family was arranged by the late Madam Liang,” Feng Jinling continued, his voice tinged with disgust. “What a pity. If she knew how her husband raised her children, she would be furious!”
“Second brother, enough! Aren’t you afraid of offending the gods?” Feng Jinyao interjected, recalling how wary she had become of matters divine since her rebirth.
“Alright, alright,” he waved her off, grinning. “I won’t say more. You can remind them yourselves. I’m going to the front yard to find Su Cheng and the others. That brat keeps clamoring for drinks; today, I’ll make him crawl home!”
With a flick of his sleeve, he strode away, leaving the corridor echoing with the sound of his departing steps.
As he reached the moon gate, he collided with Yunxu [Feng Jinyao’s attentive maid], who was returning after seeing off some guests. “Take good care of Miss,” he said over his shoulder, and then disappeared into the night. Yunxu was left completely bewildered; her young mistress had been standing calmly in the corridor just moments ago.
Feng Jinyao’s gaze drifted to the withered branches outside, as frost glistening in the pale moonlight. She fell into deep thought. Feng Jinlin’s words had given her a sharp wake-up call. She strained to recall the reason why the Liang and Xu families had broken off their engagement in her previous life. It had been a scandalous affair at the time, with rumors mixing fact and fiction, making the truth nearly impossible to discern.
Could it be… that the Liang family, in their ambition to rise in social rank through marriage with the Wei family, had deliberately ended their engagement with the Xu family?
Highly likely. Judging from Miss Liang’s attitude toward Wei Lanxuan [a young lady of high rank, daughter of the Duke of Wei] and Xu Mingyue [a young lady from a respected scholarly family], it was clear who held her favor. One was merely an acquaintance, the other a future sister-in-law. Anyone observing could discern her intentions.
A faint smile curved Feng Jinyao’s lips. If that was the case, she might as well play along and allow young master Liang a bright future for him .
“Miss, your hand warmer is cold. I’ve brought a new one—it’s warm now,” Yunxu said, holding out the small, portable brazier used to keep hands and feet warm in winter [a common accessory for noblewomen].
Feng Jinyao accepted it, feeling warmth seep through her fingers, and with it, her pent-up emotions began to dissipate.
“Where’s my cousin?” she asked.
“The county princess is in the backyard. The old lady [Old Madam Bai, matriarch of the Bai household, revered for her authority] was in high spirits today and had a few extra cups of wine. The madam and the others are keeping her company.”
“Hmm, let’s go over there too,” Feng Jinyao said, rising.
“Yes,” Yunxu replied, and the two made their way toward Shou Kang Courtyard.
Only a few steps later, they encountered her eldest brother, Feng Jinxu , and her fourth uncle, Bai Chaohe , followed by her second brother, Feng Jinling, who looked decidedly disheveled.
Feng Jinyao blinked in surprise. Why was Second brother Feng here? Hadn’t he gone to the front yard?
Feng Jinyao’s sharp gaze fell on him, catching him sticking out his tongue mischievously. Caught red-handed. Serves him right for ignoring advice.
Good sister, please help me, he thought, or else my eldest brother will punish me by making me copy books hundreds of times.
The two exchanged glances, while Fourth Uncle Bai Chaohe, watching from the side, thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle. Having spent long years at the academy, he hadn’t seen such a lively, entertaining scene in quite some time.
Feng Jinyao cast a pleading look at him. But Fourth Uncle’s expression was sly, amused, his ever-present folding fan fluttering lazily as he paid no heed to the freezing weather.
“Big Brother? What brings you here?” she asked shifting her target , masking her concern with politeness.
“Hmph,” Feng Jinxu said sharply, “if I had arrived a few steps later, this brat would probably have emptied Grandfather’s entire wine stash! What’s worse, he hasn’t been to the academy for four or five months! If not for Fourth Uncle today, Father and I would still be in the dark.”
Feng Jinyao’s glare cut through Feng Jinling. Wasn’t it only two months? Clearly, a lesson needed to be delivered.
She abandoned any thought of aiding him and instead fanned the flames for Feng Jinxu’s amusement.
“Just a few days ago, Second Brother went fox hunting at Mingchi Mountain with his friends. Without doubt, he is not the only one skipping school this time,” she said, voice light but cutting.
One sentence, and all his companions were implicated. Feng Jinling now truly understood the peril of crossing women—and the complications of petty affairs.
Feng Jinxu hearing this sneered, glancing back at Feng Jinling. He saw tears glistening in his brother’s eyes, lips pouting as if a cane were laid across his back, he would surely appear even more pitiful.
“From now on, cut ties with all your cronies! If you don’t pass the imperial examinations this spring, I’ll skin you alive!” Feng Jinxu warned, his voice carrying both authority and amusement.
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