Feng Zexuan pulled out a thick stack of papers from her robe and handed them to Madam Wang.
“The property deeds and slave contracts are all here.”
Her tone was light, as though she were handing over a pile of scrap paper.
“This estate belongs to you now. Those guards and servants will all answer to you too.”
She clapped her hands casually.
“As for that old dog Zhao Wenyuan, he’s currently hanging from the beam in his study enjoying himself. Deal with him however you like.”
Madam Wang’s outstretched hands trembled slightly. When she accepted the stack of contracts, the weight nearly made her lose her grip.
She lowered her head and stared at the property deed in her hands, the crimson seals glaringly bright.
For all these years, she had been locked in the woodshed, dreaming every day of simply having a full meal.
And now someone had suddenly handed her an estate, even including the servants’ contracts…
Her fingers tightened around the papers until they turned pale, her throat constricting.
“Miss Feng… how could this humble woman possibly deserve…”
Before she could finish, her knees gave out and she tried to kneel.
“Whoa there!”
Feng Zexuan reacted quickly and caught her.
“The suffering you endured these years—this little compensation is nothing.”
【Besides, all this was Zhao Wenyuan’s dirty money to begin with.】
【Giving it to you can count as his compensation.】
After a pause, her tone shifted.
“But your son…”
Madam Wang stiffened.
“He’s spent all these years thinking about taking revenge on my father.”
Feng Zexuan stared at her.
“Even if he was deceived, he’s still a potential danger. You need to keep an eye on him.”
“Please rest assured, Miss.”
Madam Wang’s voice was still weak, but her tone was firm.
“I’ll explain everything to him.”
She bit her lip before finally voicing the worry buried deep in her heart.
“But… Rui’er…”
“Zhao Wenyuan committed the grave crime of colluding with the enemy and betraying the country. That means extermination of the nine clans.”
“Rui’er… will he also…”
At that point, her throat tightened so badly she could no longer continue.
Feng Zexuan froze.
【Host, this is ancient collective punishment. Not a single member of the nine clans gets spared.】
【…Holy crap!】
【I almost forgot about that!】
Madam Wang suddenly raised her head, shock flashing through her eyes.
Those two voices just now…
One belonged to Miss Feng—gentle and clear.
But the other…
What exactly was that voice calling itself “System”?
It clearly wasn’t present, yet it conversed fluently with Miss Feng.
Madam Wang’s heartbeat quickened, cold sweat forming in her palms.
At first, she had thought she was hallucinating from just regaining consciousness.
But the exchange had been far too specific…
How could it possibly be an illusion?
She opened her mouth, wanting to ask, yet not knowing where to begin.
After hesitating again and again, she swallowed the question.
That secret…
Was simply too shocking.
She needed time to process it.
Feng Zexuan thought for a moment before speaking.
“If your son voluntarily exposes Zhao Wenyuan and hands over all the embezzled gold, jewels, and evidence—”
“His Majesty should show some leniency.”
Madam Wang’s eyes lit up.
“I… I can testify too!”
“I can personally accuse Zhao Wenyuan of his crimes!”
“That would be even better.”
Feng Zexuan nodded.
“With you alive as a witness, and Zhao Rui willingly confessing, preserving his life shouldn’t be difficult.”
Only then did Madam Wang let out a breath of relief.
She tried to bow again, but Feng Zexuan stopped her.
“Alright, alright. I’m doing this for my father too.”
Feng Zexuan waved her hand.
“Zhao Rui’s been targeting my father all these years. This matter had to be settled eventually.”
Just then—
Chaotic footsteps sounded from outside the courtyard, drawing closer and closer in a frantic rush.
Madam Wang’s heart tightened.
The next moment, the courtyard gate was shoved open violently.
Zhao Rui stood in the doorway, panting heavily, drenched in sweat. It was obvious he had sprinted all the way there.
And when he saw the woman inside wearing clean clothes and gazing at him with clear eyes—
He froze completely.
“Mother?”
His voice trembled.
“You… you’re conscious?”
Madam Wang burst into tears the moment she saw her son.
Staggering forward, Zhao Rui approached her step by step.
He stared at her fearfully, afraid that if he blinked, the person before him would revert back into that deranged, madwoman state.
“Really… it’s really you?”
He cautiously reached out and touched her arm.
Only after feeling her warm body temperature did he finally believe this wasn’t a dream.
“You’re really conscious…”
“Rui’er…”
Madam Wang choked out through sobs.
Zhao Rui wanted to ask, “Was Father really guilty?”
He wanted to ask, “Were all the things Second Uncle told me lies?”
But none of those words made it out.
The truths he had heard in court had already torn his heart to shreds.
He simply embraced his mother tightly, desperately absorbing this warmth like a lost child.
“Mother! I thought you would never wake up again…”
He cried so hard his whole body shook.
Standing nearby, Feng Zexuan curled her lips.
【This Zhao Rui really is stupid.】
【His own mother was locked in the woodshed for years and he never noticed?】
The System promptly responded:
【Host, every time he returned home, he went straight to report to Zhao Wenyuan first.】
【By the time he finished, the servants had already cleaned Madam Wang up and locked her away again.】
【So he always thought his mother had merely gone insane. He never knew about the filthy truth behind it.】
Only then did Zhao Rui notice that the Northern King was still standing nearby.
Shame filled his face.
He truly deserved to die!
All these years, and he had never even understood his mother’s real circumstances…
The Northern King appeared here, and his mother had recovered… could it be the Northern King had cured her illness?
Feng Zexuan nodded toward Madam Wang.
“Your son’s back now. The rest is for the two of you to discuss yourselves. I’m heading out first.”
As she turned at the doorway, she added one more sentence over her shoulder.
“Remember. Just tell the truth when you testify.”
Madam Wang nodded solemnly.
With that, Feng Zexuan strode out of the courtyard.
【Finally got this settled.】
【Your baby here is exhausted.】
Inside the courtyard, only mother and son remained.
Madam Wang stroked her son’s hair as tears rolled down her cheeks one after another.
“Rui’er… Mother has something to tell you…”
Zhao Rui’s body trembled violently as he looked up.
His eyes were filled with confusion and fear.
“Mother… please say it…”
Madam Wang took a deep breath, as though making a difficult decision.
“Rui’er, your father… really did embezzle military funds and sell military weapons.”
“Lord Feng did not wrong him back then.”
Zhao Rui swayed unsteadily.
“But… but Second Uncle said…”
“He said Father was framed…”
“That’s because your second uncle deceived you.”
Madam Wang interrupted him, her voice trembling yet resolute.
“Everything your father did back then was directed by your second uncle.”
“Your second uncle was the true mastermind.”
“Your father was merely a puppet he used…”
Madam Wang recounted every detail of the past.
How Zhao Wenxuan had been schemed against by his own younger brother.
How Zhao Wenyuan had framed and shifted the blame.
How she herself had been drugged into madness…
With every sentence, Zhao Rui’s face grew paler.
By the end, he looked like he could collapse at any moment.
A beast-like growl escaped his throat.
Pain, fury, relief…
Those emotions twisted through his heart like blades.
Leaving him unable to tell whether he should cry or laugh.
Meanwhile—
Feng Zexuan did not return to the Feng residence. Instead, she headed straight for the Northern King’s Manor.
【Finally, I get to live in my new home!】
Standing at the entrance, Feng Zexuan looked up at the glittering plaque hanging above the gates.
Two rows of guards stood at the entrance, each ramrod straight and unmoving.
The moment they saw her, they all dropped to one knee in unison.
“Greetings, Your Highness!”
【…Good lord, what a scene.】
【How did a salted fish like me suddenly end up living this kind of life?】
Feng Zexuan waved casually.
“You may rise.”
【System, how many servants does this manor have?】
【Host, there is currently one steward, fifty guards, twenty maids, fifteen male attendants…】
【Not bad, not bad!】
【Looks like I’ll never have to worry about food and drink again!】
Just then, the steward stepped forward.
“Your Highness, everything in the manor has been prepared. Would you like to—”
“Looks good.”
Feng Zexuan replied absentmindedly as she walked inward.
Passing through the front courtyard and garden, she arrived at the main residence.
Pushing open the door, she found the room spotless.
The bed, desk, wardrobe—everything was fully prepared.
Feng Zexuan collapsed onto a reclining chair and let out a long sigh.
【System, wake me up in two hours.】
【This baby is seriously exhausted today.】
【Let me lie here like a corpse for a while first.】
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