Chapter 335: Side Story: Fierce Neighbor Chapter Fifty‑Four

Side Story: Fierce Neighbor Chapter Fifty‑Four

Although Yin Fengxuan issued an order to behead Lu Duming, to be honest it wasn't really excessive.

You should know that Yin Fengzhan once strangled a minister to death in public at the Golden Throne Hall, a ruthless man. So merely chopping off Lu Duming alone already puts him in a good mood. To put it bluntly, he even looked at the entire Lu family, and no one was surprised!

Moreover, this matter also stems from Lu Duming's own faults. What does it mean for three households to be ruined and their members dead? He even maimed five ordinary civilians simply because they displeased him or he found them unsightly… That's tyrannical; if such a person weren't cut down, it would be utterly unreasonable!

Thus there's no blame in Lu Duming's death at all! As for Lu Shuang, Yin Fengzhan also looked after him; after all, he raised such a son. Even if Lu Shuang remains a senior official, do you think he can stay the same as before? Retiring him was a face‑saving move!

Furthermore, even if we backtrack a thousand steps, Pei Yaoguang had previously singled out Lu Duming, but there's another issue: contempt for imperial relatives! That's the crux, and if Yin Fengzhan had even hinted at it, the whole Lu household would have been doomed. Yet Yin Fengzhan never mentioned it at all, which is already a special mercy.

Anyway, the current First‑Rank Senior Official, stripped to a blank slate because of his son, is indeed a terribly unfair fate. Although the higher‑ups gave him face by allowing Lu Shuang to request retirement, everyone knows the Lu family's business after this uproar.

Therefore, Lu Shuang can no longer stay in the capital. As for Lu Duming, since Yin Fengzhan issued the decree himself, no one below dared to delay, and there was no talk of a 'cut‑off' or anything; as soon as the order arrived, within two days Lu Duming was pushed to the market gate and beheaded!

Even if it's harsh, it's still one's own bloodline. After Lu Duming's head was taken, the Lu family hurriedly retrieved his body, performed a simple funeral, then quickly sold off some of their capital properties and left the city entirely!

…

The once‑great Lu family thus vanished from the stage of history. For a while they became the talk of every citizen's idle chatter, and when the Lu family was mentioned, it always traced back to Lu Duming's provocation of Yin Fengxuan at Liufang Zhai, which sparked a huge uproar. Speaking of Liufang Zhai, the topic inevitably involves Jin Jingwen.

You should know that at Liufang Zhai, Jin Jingwen never disclosed her family background. Yet the onlookers weren't fools; after inquiring, they learned her origins. Her own life story could fill a whole novella, and that day she handled the affair exquisitely, so instantly Princess Consort Jin Jingwen's name rose like a soaring magpie!

Even more interesting, among the crowd at Liufang Zhai that day was a storyteller named Liu Dazui'er. He happened to have witnessed the whole incident, so he embellished it into a tale, then spread it in taverns and tea houses, making Jin Jingwen even more famous.

Riding on Jin Jingwen's affair, Liu Dazui'er also caught fire. The other storytellers, seeing Liu Dazui'er reap the benefits first, began to dig up Jin Jingwen's past. In a flash they spun tales of a loyal woman avenging herself alone, of a noble family turning the tide… In short, they re‑examined the old Jin family case and credited the vindication to Jin Jingwen.

The story was told with vivid detail, and for a moment Jin Jingwen was mythologized. Yet regardless of the rumors, she remained unflustered, doing what she had to do, completely unaffected.

In contrast to Jin Jingwen's composure, Yin Fengxuan has been overjoyed lately. Whenever he hears others mention Jin Jingwen, he can't help but rush over and proudly tell them:

You know, you know, she's my wife!

Later, Lin Quan, Yin Fengxuan's henchman, could no longer stand it, but he couldn't speak up, so he privately reported to Jin Jingwen. Upon hearing it, Jin Jingwen thought it was mortifying, and that night she returned and gave Yin Fengxuan a good beating, twisting his ear and sternly forbidding such disgraceful conduct!

Because Jin Jingwen spoke up, Yin Fengxuan's clownish behavior finally toned down a bit. Yet still, whenever he goes to the office, his head stays held high, his smug aura unspotted by anyone but Jin Jingwen; otherwise she'd beat him again.

…

Life eventually returned to peace.

The Lu family's turmoil was ultimately just a ripple; the former clamor faded away over time.

Speaking of it, Yin Fengxuan now actually holds an official post. He is the respectable Deputy Minister of the Imperial Stable Office, a rank neither too high nor too low, and Jin Jingwen originally thought that, given Yin Fengxuan's clownish and foolish nature, he probably couldn't accomplish any real work… In plain terms, he's like standing over a latrine without doing anything.

What Jin Jingwen didn't expect was that after moving to the Imperial Stable Office, Yin Fengxuan actually stopped causing trouble. Whether he's competent, Jin Jingwen can't see, so she's unsure, but over such a long period he never arrived late or left early! Initially, Jin Jingwen was skeptical and summoned Lin Quan privately, since Lin Quan follows Yin Fengxuan daily and would know any issues. Lin Quan's reply was that his master is very capable!

It turns out that although Yin Fengxuan's IQ sometimes isn't online, he does have a sense of responsibility. Moreover, the affairs of the Taifu Temple were arranged by Yin Fengzhan, and Yin Fengxuan has always obeyed his fourth brother, so from the start he acted with the mindset of not bringing shame to his fourth brother.

Moreover, Yin Fengxuan has a virtue: he knows his own weight. Understanding his shortcomings, he doesn't pretend to be something he isn't, so on his first day at Taifu Temple, in front of all the officials, he spoke openly, then went to the palace to see Yin Fengzhan, saying his abilities were limited and he needed a few assistants!

He said assistants, which really meant Liu Hai, Wang Chuan and the others. Upon hearing this, Yin Fengzhan didn't say much, simply had people fetch Liu Hai and the others, and personally interviewed them.

And although Liu Hai and his companions, thanks to good backgrounds, usually walked around the city with confidence, they had never entered the palace, let alone met Yin Fengzhan. So when they met, Liu Hai could still stand bravely, but Wang Chuan and Zhao Chenglong were so frightened they fell to the ground. In the end, Yin Fengxuan couldn't stand it, stepped forward and kicked the two up. Throughout, Yin Fengzhan remained calm, merely asked Liu Hai and the others a few questions, then without further comment handed the three to Yin Fengxuan!

Yin Fengxuan openly recruited three errand‑boys. As for this new boss, the officials throughout Taifu Temple were initially resistant. One must know that officials each have their own niche; if the superiors don't move, no matter how well the subordinates perform they remain stuck. When the old superior Di Qing finally passed away, it seemed a huge opportunity, but before anyone could act, this super‑airborne newcomer Yin Fengxuan seized it!

Everyone's feelings are easy to understand. If someone else came and gave him a slight bump, it could be teased a bit, but who is Yin Fengxuan? He's a brother who grew up wearing the same trousers as the current Emperor! If you try to trip him, if you want to marginalize him, you'd rather not live, so it's not pleasant, and everyone has to endure it. Yet deep down they still look down on Yin Fengxuan; there's nothing they can do, his past reputation is just too foul!

What the officials didn't expect was that, despite his occasional erratic and troublesome behavior, Yin Fengxuan is actually a decent person. Moreover, as a proper Prince, a true imperial relative, his bloodline gives him a head start no one can match! Yet despite that, he never puts on airs, acts generously, and his popularity is off the charts, so soon the whole Taifu Temple was bought off by him! Consequently, even those who were initially uneasy with Yin Fengxuan came to accept this somewhat unreliable but well‑liked and responsible new boss!

In short, Yin Fengxuan thrives in Taifu Temple like a fish in water. With Liu Hai and the others helping, it's like adding wings to a tiger!

Now Jin Jingwen was truly dumbfounded. Though she said nothing, she felt a bit pleased inside. That night she specially had the kitchen prepare some delicacies, but when Yin Fengxuan returned and saw them, he was startled, thinking he'd made another mistake, and immediately confessed. Infuriated, Jin Jingwen wanted to punch him!

Days passed one by one, and before long winter arrived silently.

Dongling lies in the southeast; although it isn't the icy wasteland of the Western Di Kingdom, it is still very cold. Especially this year, winter came earlier than usual; it isn't even December yet, and one must wear a cotton coat when going out morning or night.

Moreover, with winter's arrival, Taifu Temple grew increasingly busy—inventory checks, horse farms preparing for winter, and so on… Thus, in these circumstances, Yin Fengxuan, as the head of Taifu Temple, became ever busier.

During these days, although Jin Jingwen still quarreled and fought with Yin Fengxuan all day, everyone in the Gong Wangfu clearly sensed that the two's relationship was improving.

And now, watching Yin Fengxuan leave early and return late each day, Jin Jingwen says little aloud, but behind the scenes she handles many matters well, leaving Yin Fengxuan with no worries at all.

The most aware of this is Jin Jingwen's maid, Dong'er. That afternoon, hearing Jin Jingwen's order to have the kitchen prepare a blood‑swan broth that night, Dong'er burst out laughing.

Dong'er laughed uncontrollably, which made Jin Jingwen, who was reading nearby, look up and glare at her.

"You little girl, why are you laughing for no reason? Are you having a fit?"

"Ah, miss, I'm not having a fit; I just think you're being too kind to the Prince! ~"

Saying that, Dong'er scurried to Jin Jingwen's side and deliberately spoke in a pretentious tone:

"Yesterday a turtle, the day before an old chicken, today blood‑swan… haha~— just like that, and you say you're not too kind to the Prince? But if I say, if you keep supplementing him this way, I'd guess tomorrow the Prince will be nose‑bleeding!"

Seeing her master caring for the Prince, Dong'er was naturally pleased, but she couldn't resist teasing a few more lines. Upon hearing this, Jin Jingwen was first stunned, then her cheeks flushed, and she sharply scolded:

"You little girl, got an itchy skin? Even daring to script me?"

"Hahaha~ Miss, I don't have that! I'm just speaking the truth! ~"

"Enough, shut up! You're spouting nonsense; and watch out, I'll tear your mouth off!"

"Alright, alright, I won't say anything, that'll do, right?"

Saying that, Dong'er solemnly raised her hand as if to seal her mouth, then burst into laughter again. After laughing, she pursed her lips, as if recalling something, and changed tone:

"By the way, miss, it's already winter; I reckon when the year‑end approaches the mansion will be busy again, so I'd like to take this relatively quiet time to go home…"

Dong'er's full name is Li Dong'er, a native of Li Family Village outside the city; she has a mother, a younger brother and a sister, and the family isn't well‑off. Since she had already spoken with Jin Jingwen about this, when Dong'er mentioned it now, Jin Jingwen didn't ask further and simply nodded.

"Hmm, then go home, and bring my regards to your mother and siblings. I've already informed Supervisor Hu; later go to his accounting office to collect twenty taels of silver. Consider it your New Year's money!"

Twenty taels of silver is nothing to Jin Jingwen, but for a senior maid like Dong'er it's nearly a year's wages. So Dong'er was startled; she knew the twenty taels were beyond her salary, an extra gift from Jin Jingwen, and she could hardly sit still upon hearing it.

Unfortunately, that's just Jin Jingwen's nature. So without waiting for Dong'er to suggest postponement, Jin Jingwen cut her off, then looked up at the sky.

"Alright, I think today is fine, there's nothing in the mansion, Dong'er, don't delay any further; go home today!"

The mansion truly had nothing at the moment. Yet afterward Dong'er checked around once more, making sure all her tasks were nearly done, then called over Chun'er, who was temporarily serving Jin Jingwen, to give her a thorough briefing. After nagging to the point Jin Jingwen could barely stand it, she finally slung the hastily packed bundle onto a carriage and left the city for home.

…

Dong'er went home, and Chun'er took over serving Jin Jingwen. Compared with Dong'er, Chun'er was noticeably more sullen and, being a bit fearful of Jin Jingwen, spoke even less. Since she said nothing and Jin Jingwen didn't press, Jin Jingwen soon dismissed Chun'er.

After winter set in, darkness fell earlier and earlier. Jin Jingwen quietly read in her room; in the blink of an eye it was dinnertime, and shortly afterward Chun'er came over to remind her.

"Princess Consort, dinner is ready."

"Hmm, leave it for now; I'll eat later."

At this moment, Jin Jingwen would never admit she was waiting for Yin Fengxuan, no matter what. Hearing her say that, Chun'er respectfully replied and then went downstairs.

Jin Jingwen kept reading, and before she knew how long had passed, she grew hungry enough to finally put her book down and call Chun'er in.

"Chun'er, what time is it?"

"Replying to Princess Consort, it's already the hai hour."

"And the Prince? Hasn't he returned yet?"

"Yes."

"……"

Hearing that, Jin Jingwen said nothing, but her delicate brows furrowed involuntarily.

"That good-for-nothing, where has he run off to now? Why isn't he back yet?"

"Could something have happened at the Directorate of Stables?"

"Tsk, really! Even if something happened, wouldn't they at least send someone to pass a message back?"

"What a pigbrain!"

Jin Jingwen cursed Yin Fengxuan in her heart, then pursed her lips in a fit of pique.

"All right, I know! Bring the food up."

"Yes."

Seeing Jin Jingwen's unpleasant expression, Chun'er dared not say more and hurried downstairs to give the orders.

Jin Jingwen ate dinner alone. Then she had Chun'er prepare hot water for a bath; after bathing and drying her hair, Yin Fengxuan still had not returned.

Instantly, Jin Jingwen felt an indescribable feeling. Her face darkened as she muttered a few words to herself, then she went straight to rest.

But as she lay sleeping, Jin Jingwen suddenly felt a stomachache; the moment she lay on the bed, she jolted, forced herself to sit up, and looked down—

"Sure enough, her period had come!"