Just at that moment, with a swish, a gust of wind came from a hidden spot and Feng Zhanlian's hand slipped, dropping the little Feng Xiaoli to the ground.
Just as Feng Bailing, who had hurried back, felt her heart leap into her throat, she didn't think twice and flicked a stone, hitting Feng Zhanlian's knee squarely.
Feng Zhanlian felt numbness in his knee, weakness below it, and knelt to the ground.
However, right after, his palm ached tremendously, and another pebble pierced through the center of his palm.
"Father!"
Feng Xiangxue, assisted by her servant to "watch the excitement," witnessed this very scene.
"Xiao Li."
Feng Bailing caught her daughter, and from the corner of her eye, she saw Dugu Wu being pushed in by Feng Wan.
Covered by a thin felt blanket over his legs, his handsome face enveloped in frost and exuding a killing aura which did not lessen even slightly, his arrival immediately dropped the temperature in the room a few degrees.
"Dugu Wu, how dare you harm my father!"
Feng Xiangxue turned pale with fright, as Feng Zhanlian clutched his bleeding palm, his face contorted with pain.
On one hand, Feng Xiangxue was scared of Dugu Wu, but then thinking that the man had been stripped of his position, and with backing from the Crown Princess Consort and Dongfang Li, she felt a bit braver.
"He was impolite to my daughter, crippling one of his hands is already being polite."
If it weren't for worrying about hurting the little one, Feng Zhanlian's injuries would not have been limited to his hand.
His daughter?
Everyone present was struck by Dugu Wu's words.
Feng Bailing felt a warmth in her heart, never expecting Dugu Wu would acknowledge Xiao Li as his daughter before so many people.
The Princess Consort Shun also had a complicated expression.
That adorable little girl is Dugu Wu's daughter?
Looking at Dugu Wu, a single glance could freeze someone to the bone.
Then looking at the little baby, a single glance seemed to melt one's bones.
Who are they trying to fool? Not in the least bit alike!
The nanny beside her reacted quickly, subtly nudging the Princess Consort Shun.
Princess Consort Shun came back to her senses, realizing the situation seemed to have been sparked by her?
She cleared her throat lightly, regaining the composure of a matriach in charge.
"Prince Wu, you say this child is your flesh and blood? How is this possible? I remember clearly that you…"
"Princess Consort, I know about my daughter better than you do."
Dugu Wu couldn't even be bothered to spare Princess Consort Shun another look.
As Dugu Wu's eyes showed a flash of impatience, Princess Consort Shun wisely shut her mouth.
Undutiful son!
Rebellious child!
Princess Consort Shun cursed a few times internally, then thought, if she couldn't deal with Dugu Wu, she could target Feng Bailing!
Best pick on the softer targets.
Princess Consort Shun cleared her throat again.
"Princess Shengping, I just heard some rumors…"
"Ding San is spreading rumors and causing trouble, drag him out and execute him by caning."
Feng Bailing touched her daughter's forehead; the high fever wouldn't subside, it did not seem like a cold, nor a viral influenza. Without lifting her head, she simply stated.
The second half of Princess Consort Shun's words got stuck in her throat.
Beside Dugu Wu, Feng Wan stepped forward, consciously grabbed Ding San like an eagle capturing a chick, and took him away.
Outside the courtyard, screams resounded, and then, there was silence.
Feng Wan went and returned, this time coming back with a string of people.
"Prince, Commandery Princess, just now I caught several rabble-rousing hooligans slandering outside the Princess' Mansion and have brought them here to await the Prince and Commandery Princess for judgment."
Feng Wan brought those who were smearing Feng Bailing and her daughter's reputation in the city, directly in front of Princess Consort Shun and the Feng Mansion.
Feng Bailing couldn't help but be impressed by Dugu Wu's methods.
When she heard the rumors on the street, she knew someone was spreading lies, not expecting that Dugu Wu had already captured them.
Feng Xiangxue trembled slightly; she was frightened.
These people were whom she had found to defame Feng Bailing, but before the rumors could spread, they had been caught.
Dugu Wu was terrifying.
"Who told you to slander me?"
As Feng Bailing's gaze swept over them, their complexions drastically changed, they staggered, blood flowing from seven orifices, and they all fell dead on the ground.
"They took poison and died. I failed to notice, please forgive my negligence, Prince and Commandery Princess."
Only then did Feng Wan realize these people had been poisoned.
The other party knew Dugu Wu was watching and acted first.
"Feng Wan, it's not your fault; I should be the one thanking you,"
Feng Bailing said gratefully.
Feng Bailing then bowed to Princess Consort Shun, but her expression carried a faint coldness, which made Princess Consort Shun both embarrassed and angry.
Dugu Wu's words might deceive others, but they couldn't fool Princess Consort Shun.
What kind of man was Dugu Wu, with such high standards that the only woman he has cherished in these years was Nalan Yan'er, something everyone in Prince Shun's Mansion knew.
How could he possibly fancy Feng Bailing, much less have a child with her!
This child of Feng Bailing's must not be Dugu Wu's.
Because any woman who has been with Dugu Wu is sure to die.
"Today's incident was all a misunderstanding. The Princess' Mansion has poor discipline, resulting in the unruly servant Ding San. It is my failure as a Matriach. I plan to temporarily hand over the affairs of the Mansion to Ah Ling to help me straighten things out."
Dongfang Lianhua breathed a sigh of relief, and struck up a conversation with Princess Consort Shun.
She was also seeing the famous Ninth Prince for the first time. Although he had difficulty walking and his methods were rather ruthless, he was quite different from the rumors.
He was willing to acknowledge Xiao Li as his daughter, and his attitude towards Ah Ling was quite acceptable.
In Dongfang Lianhua's eyes, the mother-in-law, the taciturn Dugu Wu, was much more appropriate than the smooth-talking Dongfang Li.
"Lianhua, you must be confused. The affairs of the mansion have long been entrusted to Aunt Xue. How can you hand them to Feng Bailing? She is still just a child."
Feng Zhanlian, hearing this, hastily spoke, ignoring the pain in his palm.
With Uncle Wang and Ding San successively punished by Feng Bailing, Feng Zhanlian felt a sense of impending doom.
"Ah Ling is about to get married, and I, as her mother, naturally have to teach her how to be a Matriach properly. Or does the master think that we are inferior to Aunt Xue?"
Dongfang Lianhua's words were rather cold.
Since marrying Feng Zhanlian, she had confronted him for the first time.
Feng Zhanlian was left speechless, and Feng Xiangxue beside him was also anxious.
"The Princess is right. Let's follow your suggestion; from now on, Ah Ling will trouble herself with the affairs of the Mansion."
A gentle voice tinged with flattery came through, and from the gallery, a beautiful-looking woman arrived. Her skin was delicate and luminous; even in her thirties, she still had a captivating grace that was unforgettable at a glance.