Feng Yue prided herself on her composure — yet when Chen Cai slandered her mother in public like that, every trace of calm shattered.
She could tolerate insults against herself, but not against her mother.
"Chen Cai! Watch your filthy mouth!" Feng Yue growled, fists trembling.
"Judging by how you flaunt yourself, anyone can tell what kind of woman your mother was," Chen Cai sneered with open disdain. "You claim I'm slandering her? Then explain — what exactly went on between your mother and my husband?"
Chen Cai's words were cunning. She'd trapped Feng Yue in front of everyone. What could Feng Yue possibly say?
If she said Feng Kang had forced her mother back then — Feng Kang himself would be the first to deny it.
"I…"
Feng Yue was shaking with fury. The mention of her mother clouded her thoughts completely; her mind was a mess, and she couldn't even form a sentence.
Watching the surrounding noblewomen begin to edge away from Feng Yue, Chen Cai's lips curled upward.
Pathetic little brat, she thought. You think you can challenge me?
At present, she controlled only about ten percent of the Feng family's fortune — but she'd be damned before letting this illegitimate daughter take another piece.
From nearby, Xu Mu noticed Feng Yue trembling with anger. He leaned toward Nangong Yao and whispered,
"I've found the stench of evil."
"Where?"
Nangong Yao's eyes darted around immediately.
"That woman," Xu Mu said, pointing at Chen Cai. "She reeks of sin."
"Really?" Nangong Yao covered her left eye, squinting suspiciously toward Chen Cai.
Even without her "Divine Eye," the woman's expression alone screamed villainy.
"What's this? You don't believe your own kind anymore?" Xu Mu teased with a faint smile.
"Of course I do! I can see it too!" Nangong Yao said earnestly — then suddenly bolted toward Chen Cai. "Evil-doer! You're a bad person!"
Chen Cai had been about to scold the "little brat," but the moment she recognized who it was, she swallowed her words.
The Nangong family — second only to the Dai family among the hidden clans. Not someone the Fengs could afford to offend.
Her expression softened instantly. "Little miss, perhaps you've mistaken me for someone else."
"How could I be mistaken? The evil on you is overflowing! Witness my holy light!" Nangong Yao declared, swinging her tiny fists at Chen Cai.
For a brief moment, Chen Cai's mask cracked — disgust flashing in her eyes. This little girl deserves to be strangled.
Men might find such a loli adorable, but as a woman, she only felt irritation. Still, she forced an awkward smile and stepped back, pointing toward Feng Yue.
"Get out! The Feng family doesn't welcome you!"
Then she turned and walked away. She couldn't afford to offend the Nangong heir — better to retreat than provoke her.
Once Chen Cai left, Feng Yue looked at the remaining women. "If I told you she was lying just now — would you believe me?"
The noblewomen exchanged glances.
One older lady said softly, "Xiaoyue, I believe you. The beauty pills you gave us really worked… but I can't afford to cross the Feng family."
The others nodded. Chen Cai's earlier words had been a veiled warning to them too — anyone siding with Feng Yue would make an enemy of her.
"I believe you."
Xu Mu's voice cut through, calm and confident as he walked to her side.
"I believe you too!" Nangong Yao chirped, still covering her left eye. "There's no aura of sin on you — you're a good person!"
Su Ruiming stepped forward as well. "Boss Feng, since Brother Xu believes you, so do I."
The noblewomen looked down in silence at Nangong Yao — they recognized her at once, of course. The Nangong family's little princess.
If only she were ten years older — seventeen or eighteen — perhaps then they'd have dared to defy Chen Cai. But as things stood… no.
Feng Yue had also noticed Xu Mu and the little girl with him. Clearly, Xu Mu had prompted Nangong Yao to intervene and defuse the situation.
"Thank you… for believing me," she said softly, bowing slightly. "I'll take my leave now."
"No need. Stay with me — no one will dare say a word," Xu Mu replied with a reassuring smile.
"But…" She hesitated, then nodded. "Alright."
They returned to a white round table together and sat down.
Moments later, Feng Yue noticed Feng Jian walking toward them. She sighed inwardly — it seemed she really wouldn't get to stay long.
But to her surprise, Feng Jian didn't even glance at her. He went straight to Xu Mu's table and leaned closer.
"Brother Xu, are you alright?" he whispered.
Feng Yue froze. Had she heard that right? Weren't they supposed to be mortal enemies? Since when did Feng Jian care about Xu Mu?
"Master Feng, now I'm confused," Xu Mu said casually. "Don't tell me you didn't know about what happened yesterday?"
"It had nothing to do with me," Feng Jian said in a low voice. "Everything that happened last night — it was my mother's doing."
He still felt a surge of irritation thinking about her. The words she'd said to him last night — unforgivable.
He still had a long life ahead, and no woman? Impossible. Anyone who stood between him and his pleasures, even his mother, was his enemy.
Xu Mu raised an eyebrow. So the mother and son had fallen out already.
"I believe you, Young Master Feng," he said with a faint smile.
Just then, several more guests entered, drawing attention from all sides.
"Young Master Dai is here!"
"Welcome, Young Master Dai!"
It was none other than Dai Xiao of the Dai family.
Chen Cai hurried to greet him, her face all charm and flattery. "Brother Dai!"
Dai Xiao smiled faintly in response, his mind wandering. Surrounded by so many people… perhaps there'd be an opportunity later for some "thrilling exercise" with Chen Cai.
As the crowd murmured, Feng Kang finally appeared.
Everyone turned to look. Not only Xu Shou, but all the attending businessmen were curious — what was Feng Kang up to?
Logically, an anniversary celebration should be held at a round number — thirty years, not twenty-nine.
Soon the guests settled down as Feng Kang took the microphone and stepped onto the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome. I imagine many of you are wondering why the Feng family chose to celebrate our twenty-ninth anniversary."
He smiled. "I'll be brief. The reason is simple — our family has joyful news. In fact, double the joy."
As he spoke, old photographs appeared on the giant screen behind him — images of dilapidated factory buildings.
"This," he said, "is the factory my father built. It gave me my first pot of gold — I was lucky. My first venture succeeded, and though the years have had their ups and downs, we've grown stable and strong."
He grinned. "But don't be fooled by my age — almost sixty or not, I still believe this is the time to make bold moves. Now, let me announce the first piece of good news."
He turned and gestured grandly. "Please welcome Miss Isabella from England!"
From behind the stage curtain stepped a tall woman in a flowing white gown, golden hair cascading in waves, eyes a clear sapphire blue.
A Western beauty, regal and radiant — she looked every bit a princess.
Xu Mu frowned slightly. A foreign woman? And Feng Kang's making such a fuss over her?
He quietly activated his Divine Eye to scan her.
Name: Isabella Russell
Identity: CFO of the Russell Group, England
Role: Female Lead of "Return of the Mercenary King"
Favorability: 0
Fate Level: 7 (Max 10)