Chapter 327: Side Story: Fierce Neighbor Chapter 28 (+Supplement)

Side Story: Fierce Neighbor Chapter 28 (+Supplement)

Anyone can blurt out harsh words; when an incompetent person does it, it's empty bravado, but when a capable person does it, it's like striking a mountain to startle a tiger, and Jin Jingwen clearly belongs to the latter!

Thus, although Jin Jingwen's voice was not high and her words were measured, they made every servant standing in the courtyard shiver, and the formerly arrogant concubines of the Wangfu were reduced to quails!

Of course, Jin Jingwen wasn't just talking. However, she did lie about one thing: from the start she intended to reserve a few women for Yin Fengxuan.

Jin Jingwen saw this clearly. Although Zhang Guifei repeatedly asked her to help clean up the shabby Gong Wangfu, at the end of the day this was Gong Wangfu, not the Jin family residence, so even when Jin Jingwen spoke confidently, she was still an outsider!

And with so many Houyuaner concubines in Gong Wangfu, if they were all swept out, people would think she was ruthless, tarnishing her reputation. Jin Jingwen would never do such a foolish thing, though given her temperament she would normally cut the weeds at the root!

So Jin Jingwen kept a card up her sleeve; this way, no one could accuse her of overly vicious tactics, brandishing a chicken feather as a command arrow, she could give Zhang Guifei an explanation, and also avoid making Yin Fengxuan too resentful!

Of course, Jin Jingwen wasn't afraid of Yin Fengxuan, but as the saying goes, a cornered rabbit will bite. And Yin Fengxuan, being accustomed to things, if the Houyuaner were truly emptied he would surely go berserk… After all, a madman's mind is always different from a normal one, and Jin Jingwen naturally understood the principle of "caution ensures a long voyage."

Jin Jingwen had planned all this from the beginning. Now, seeing everyone obedient, especially those concubines lowering their heads, she felt satisfied and slowly rose from her seat.

"Alright, since that's the case, let Prince Gong handle the rest! It's getting late, so I won't linger any longer."

At that moment, the moon was already high in the sky. With everything arranged, Jin Jingwen naturally wouldn't stay in Gong Wangfu any longer. Yin Fengxuan, who had been thinking of strolling around and saying something, was startled when Jin Jingwen announced she was leaving, and couldn't help but speak up.

"Huh? Miss Jin, you're leaving already? How about…"

Yin Fengxuan clearly spoke without thinking. So before he could finish, Dong Er couldn't hold back.

"Prince, everything is clear now. Could the remaining wrap‑up be left to our Miss to do for you? Besides, it's already late…"

Honestly, if she could, Dong Er would explode on the spot, pointing at his nose and shouting:

"You bastard, have you no shame left?"

"If you have no shame, don't drag our Miss into it either!"

"Our Miss has been stuck in this shabby place for so long; it's already dark and she still isn't allowed to leave… What are you trying to do? If any rumors spread, will you take responsibility?"

"Besides, even if you were responsible, our Miss doesn't even think of you! Bah!"

Fortunately, Dong Er held back; the words didn't fully escape her mouth, and she offered a pleasant excuse instead, yet her eyes stared fiercely at Yin Fengxuan, as if any more nonsense would earn her a slap to death.

Unfortunately, though Dong Er was fierce, Yin Fengxuan paid her no heed. As Dong Er chattered, Yin Fengxuan simply slapped her aside.

"Go, go, go, I'm not talking to you, stay on your side!"

"You…"

Damn! Dong Er was about to lose it. At that moment she wished she could smash the bastard's face and then dig a pit to bury him!

Just then, as Dong Er was about to erupt, Jin Jingwen stepped forward and stood directly before Yin Fengxuan.

Jin Jingwen said nothing, but with a glance instantly reduced Yin Fengxuan to a scumbag, then pursed her lips and said,

"What? Does Prince Gong still have any business?"

Jin Jingwen's voice was unexpectedly gentle, her beautiful eyes slightly narrowed, yet those ordinary words sounded to Yin Fengxuan like—

"Damn you, Yin Fengxuan, if you dare say you have business again, I'll slap you to death!"

"So shut up, move aside, get lost!"

I must admit, Yin Fengxuan truly grasped the essence! In an instant his heart prickled; just as he tried to speak, he raised his hand to cover his mouth and shook his head violently!

Yin Fengxuan's beast‑like instinct saved him again! Seeing this, Jin Jingwen finally nodded in satisfaction, lifted her chin, and left with Dong Er…

But after only a few steps, Jin Jingwen suddenly halted; instantly, everyone in the courtyard, Yin Fengxuan included, felt their hearts leap to their throats.

For a moment, the vast courtyard fell silent again.

In the hush, Jin Jingwen slowly turned her head and fixed her gaze again on the five concubines.

"By the way, I just gave you a reminder… I understand your thoughts! But the rule stands: a concubine must know her place. If you think otherwise, don't—otherwise… hehe…"

She said no more, but the meaning was crystal clear. As her voice faded, Jin Jingwen indeed saw the women's faces turn even paler, raised an eyebrow with a faint smile, and walked away without lingering.

Jin Jingwen cut through the mess like a hot knife; in an afternoon she swept through the entire Gong Wangfu, cleaning it out!

Everyone became obedient.

Of course, there were still after‑effects, like the women expelled from the Wangfu who were resentful and caused trouble again at Gong Wangfu. Fortunately, after Jin Jingwen's stern lesson, Gong Wangfu was now a different place, and with Chief Overseer Lao Hu truly capable, such petty matters were handled neatly without Yin Fengxuan's involvement!

The affairs of Gong Wangfu were essentially concluded. After a tiring afternoon, Jin Jingwen went home, bathed early, and rested, but she rose early the next morning and went straight into the palace.

Upon entering the palace, Jin Jingwen naturally reported the results to Zhang Guifei. Though she wasn't one to show off, she said a few words and conveyed the outcome to Zhang Guifei. Hearing this, Zhang Guifei was instantly delighted and praised Jin Jingwen's work, saying she hadn't misjudged her at all.

These days Zhang Guifei found Jin Jingwen increasingly agreeable, but being shrewd she knew the matter couldn't be rushed and had to proceed slowly. So she no longer discussed Gong Wangfu, instead chatting casually with Jin Jingwen, inquiring about Jin Liangyu's condition, and even suggesting that when the little boy Yin Junting was ready for tutoring, perhaps Jin Liangyu could enter the palace to be his companion reader.

Upon hearing the suggestion, Jin Jingwen's eyes lit up instantly!

It should be noted that Yin Junting is the eldest son of Yin Fengzhan and Nie Jinxuan; the little fellow is already outstanding in appearance, now just over three years old, sprightly and unusually sensible, and is very likely to be appointed Crown Prince and eventually ascend the throne.

Moreover, even if the boy never becomes emperor, merely holding the title of the imperial family's eldest son guarantees a bright future!

Of course, even if Zhang Guifei didn't bring it up, if she later wishes she could mention it to Nie Jinxuan without issue. But it's always better for someone else to speak first…

Jin Jingwen's mind was always sharp; in the blink of an eye she realized the matter brought only benefits, and promptly agreed.

…

Getting such a good opportunity to enter the palace made Jin Jingwen happy. Afterwards Zhang Guifei chatted with her at length until near noon, when Jin Jingwen finally left.

Coincidentally, just as Jin Jingwen stepped out of the palace, Yin Fengxuan also entered!

Technically, Yin Fengxuan didn't want to come. After all, he still had a wound on his head and a bruise on his face from being beaten with a copper basin by Jin Jingwen yesterday, so appearing like this was embarrassing… but there was no choice! Since Gong Wangfu had been cleaned up, Yin Fengxuan needed to go into the palace to inform his mother.

Although Yin Fengxuan is usually carefree, for such a proper matter he would still speak up. Of course, this wasn't a complaint; after all, Zhang Guifei herself had ordered Jin Jingwen to act yesterday, and now that it's done he couldn't fault it. Knowing this, Yin Fengxuan shuffled over.

When they met, seeing her son's head full of lumps, Zhang Guifei remained remarkably calm, not even asking a question, but leaning on the concubine's couch and saying to Yin Fengxuan,

"You brat, what are you doing in the palace? Trying to complain to me?"

Zhang Guifei's remark clearly referred to Jin Jingwen's matter. Upon hearing it, Yin Fengxuan was first stunned, then blinked.

"Uh… so Mother already knows?"

"Obviously! Can't you see what time it is? Jin Jingwen went to the palace early this morning to tell me; if I waited for you, I'd be waiting until the flowers withered countless times!"

…

Zhang Guifei deeply felt that her whole life's cultivation now rested entirely in the hands of her own troublesome son!

At this moment, scolded by Zhang Guifei like this, Yin Fengxuan was not the least bit bothered, and was instead immediately drawn to the three characters "Wen girl."

"Huh? Mother Consort, Miss Jin came early this morning?"

"What did you expect? That Wen girl doesn't lack manners like you do!"

Saying this, Zhang Guifei couldn't help but shoot her own son a glare, then raised a hand to prop herself up and sat upright on the soft couch, then pursed her red lips and looked at Yin Fengxuan.

"Wen girl and I have already talked it over, and I am very pleased with how Wen girl handled things! Hmph, but speaking of this matter, Xuan'er, I can't help but lecture you again... Xuan'er, tell me, as the master of the Wangfu, you can't even manage the people in your own household — isn't that a bit too useless?"

"And if you had said before that there were many troublesome servants in the household, and that the bunch of concubines in the rear courtyard were no easy marks, I would have believed you. But look now — in just half a day's time, Wen girl had everything sorted out neatly... given that alone, what do you have left to say for yourself?"

Better not to mention it — once this matter came up, Zhang Guifei felt all the more stifled with anger! And hearing this now, Yin Fengxuan couldn't help but scratch the back of his head, then hemmed and hawed for quite a while before saying in a low voice,

"Mother Consort, I... I didn't say anything..."

Uh... what was going on? Why did the vibe feel a little off?!

It was rare for Yin Fengxuan to act so bashfully, and it gave Zhang Guifei quite a fright. After all, in Zhang Guifei's original expectation, the moment those words left her mouth just now, her face-conscious, mother-cursing son would surely have jumped three feet high!

Therefore, seeing her own son looking like this, Zhang Guifei was also stunned. But right at this moment, Yin Fengxuan quietly raised his head to peek at his old mother, then scrambled over to the side of the soft couch, leaned against Zhang Guifei, and said,

"Mother Consort, there's actually something I wanted to ask Mother Consort for help with..."

"... What do you want to do?"

Eyeing her own son askance, Zhang Guifei grew more and more bewildered. But Yin Fengxuan, at this moment, exerted his utmost fawning and shameless abilities, leaning against his old mother like a puppy seeking affection while continuously shooting Zhang Guifei little glances and saying,

"Uh... actually, uh... actually this time Miss Jin helped out, so I was thinking..."

"You want to get back at her?"

Well, it couldn't be blamed on Zhang Guifei for thinking the wrong thing. It was simply that this fellow Yin Fengxuan had too many priors and his credibility was so rotten that it was impossible for Zhang Guifei not to think crooked.

But this time, Zhang Guifei really had gotten it wrong. So the moment those words fell, Yin Fengxuan immediately jumped up like a cat with its fur standing on end.

"Mother Consort! What revenge?! Is your son the kind of person with no class?"

"..."

I've never seen you have any class, okay?!

Zhang Guifei couldn't help roasting him in her heart. But she didn't say it out loud; she held it in for a while, then asked in a low voice,

"Then what do you want to do? But let me tell you, if you're up to some unreliable business again, then don't even mention me..."

"Aiya! Who's being unreliable?!"

Yin Fengxuan threw a little tantrum. But then he plopped down beside Zhang Guifei, and after nuzzling against her for a good while, he finally said with grumbles and whines,

"Actually, I was just thinking, since Miss Jin helped me out this time... so I was wondering whether I should find an opportunity to thank her or something... what does Mother Consort think?"

To put it plainly, Yin Fengxuan just wanted to seize the chance to build a connection with Jin Jingwen so he could smoothly make his move. But Yin Fengxuan also knew clearly in his heart that if he said so himself, Jin Jingwen would definitely ignore him! So he could only turn to his old mother for help!

And how could Yin Fengxuan's little scheme escape Zhang Guifei's eyes?! The moment she heard him say this, she immediately understood his meaning. And Zhang Guifei had originally wanted to bundle Jin Jingwen together with her own father-cursing son, so seeing him speak like this now, she was naturally overjoyed and incomparably happy!

But Zhang Guifei was also one who could keep her composure. In her heart flowers were blooming with joy, but on her face not a trace showed. She slightly turned her eyes to glance at her own son, then raised her brows and gave a light snort.

"What? You truly want to thank her now? You don't think I was being too meddlesome before, asking Wen girl to help?"

"Aiya, Mother Consort! When have I ever blamed you? Anyway, about this matter now — Mother Consort, tell me what to do? If I bring it up, she definitely won't agree, and it might even..."

The two words "beat me up," Yin Fengxuan ultimately didn't say out loud. And hearing this, Zhang Guifei forcibly controlled herself from laughing out loud, and merely pursed her lips.

"Alright, I'll count this brat as actually having some sincerity this time. But this matter does indeed call for thanking her... That's right, Xuan'er, isn't your birthday in a couple of days? Why not hold a proper one this time and invite everyone over? That way, with everyone going, that Wen girl won't be able to decline without losing face. Then I'll have a word with your fourth sister-in-law and have her go too, so the occasion will be grand enough!"

The method Zhang Guifei proposed was indeed not bad, and hearing it, Yin Fengxuan's eyes lit up, then he ran off joyfully.

Having matched wits and courage with Jin Jingwen for so long, Yin Fengxuan also knew a thing or two about her temperament. He knew that coming on strong definitely wouldn't work, so he could only try the soft approach!

And after getting the idea from his old mother, Yin Fengxuan rushed back to the Wangfu without stopping and began making arrangements. Of course, "making arrangements" really just meant handing everything over to Chief Steward Old Hu, and upon hearing that his master wanted to hold a birthday banquet, Old Hu didn't waste any words and directly got busy.

Yin Fengxuan's birthday was on the fifth day of the seventh month, still half a month away from the actual date, but Gong Wangfu had already begun bustling. Of course, this matter couldn't be hidden, and upon hearing the news, Jin Jingwen, who lived next door, couldn't help but knit her brows.

Actually, regarding the matter of Yin Fengxuan's birthday, Jin Jingwen was also aware. It was just that Jin Jingwen didn't care for this fellow to begin with, so originally she had planned to simply send someone with some gifts on the day itself and not go over personally.

Only, what Jin Jingwen hadn't expected was that for Yin Fengxuan's birthday this time, not only would Consort Yun Princess Consort Chen Yan'er go, but even Nie Jinxuan was going too... now this put Jin Jingwen in a position where she had to change her plan!

After all, if everyone else went and she didn't, it wouldn't look good. Add to that the fact that the Jin family and Gong Wangfu were neighbors — if she didn't go, there would be no way to justify it no matter how she put it, so Jin Jingwen had no choice but to go!

Though Jin Jingwen felt something was a bit strange in her heart, she couldn't quite put her finger on the reason.

And so, half a month's time — neither fast nor slow. In the blink of an eye, the actual day arrived.

Although Yin Fengxuan was unreliable, his status was right there, and no one could overlook it.

And today was Yin Fengxuan's birthday banquet; although the banquet would start in the afternoon, early this morning, Gong Wangfu already had its gates wide open, bustling with activity.

Of course, those who arrived first were all minor figures. It wasn't until the banquet was about to begin in the afternoon that some important personages made their appearances one after another.

The first to arrive was the Fifth Imperial Uncle. This old fellow was advanced in age; though he was no longer *now, he still loved a lively scene, and the moment he arrived he went to find Yin Fengxuan for a chat. Jabbering away, nobody knew what the two were talking about, but from time to time a sleazy laugh would come drifting out, making one can't help but wonder what on earth these two — old and young, two generations of capital libertines — were talking about!

And after the Fifth Imperial Uncle made his appearance, quite a few more people came in succession... Zuo Wei, the Minister of the Ministry of Punishments, and Zhou Jin of the Ministry of Rites arrived together as well. Then there was the recently-not-particularly-crazy Pei the Great Neurotic, who today came together with his own wife. Of course, as the most famous first-generation official and Nth-generation rich man in all of Dongling, the gift that Lord Pei presented was also magnificent — a golden Buddha larger than a person, directly dazzling everyone present! It made Shui Yun, who had come together with him, wish he could just dig a hole and bury himself, so as to spare himself the embarrassment of being seen with him!

And as if that weren't enough, as the biggest neurotic in all of Dongling, Lord Pei wasn't satisfied with merely presenting the gift; he then directly reached out on the spot to give it a look, and then leisurely said,

"It's solid!"

Awkward.

This time even Yin Fengxuan couldn't keep his composure. But Yin Fengxuan himself was also an abnormal one, so after a brief moment of stunned blankness, he directly let out a few sleazy heh-heh-heh laughs, then happily had someone put the gift away!

Wherever there was a neurotic, there was always entertainment to be had. But the identities of today's guests were all extraordinary, so apart from Lord Pei's unhinged gift-giving, things were otherwise calm. Then, in just a short while, Nie Jinxuan, as the Empress, also hurried over from the palace.

And appearing together with Nie Jinxuan was Jin Jingwen!

Be that as it may, by the time the banquet was about to begin, all the guests who should have arrived had essentially arrived. And today's birthday banquet was personally organized by Chief Steward Old Hu. Old Hu had always done things rigorously, so even though there were many guests, everything was still arranged in perfect order!

No update yesterday; two days' chapters merged.