Chapter 83

At the Shi family’s banquet, FanFan had made a complete fool of herself. 

She had just blown a whistle. 

Many guests saw her with a very peculiar whistle, which she had just finished using and was holding in her palm. 

The baby cried loudly. 

The old lady, not in a good mood, immediately asked her, “Was it you? Let me see your hand.” 

FanFan, feeling very embarrassed, said, “Old lady…” 

“Let me see!” the old lady raised her voice. 

FanFan had no choice but to open her palm. 

The whistle was special—long and difficult to blow. 

The guests were stunned. 

The baby cried non-stop, and despite Mrs. Shi’s efforts, she had to take him away. 

Director Shi and his son apologized to the guests. 

The old lady did not continue to make things difficult for FanFan, but the guests began whispering among themselves. 

“You should leave now,” the old lady said coldly to FanFan. “In the future, if the Governor is not coming, you need not come either. You are more trouble than you’re worth.” 

FanFan’s face turned crimson. 

As a concubine, if she clashed with Ning Zhen, it could be considered a rivalry between “wives and concubines.” In this era, many warlords’ wives and concubines were all referred to as “Madam,” so a little jealousy wasn’t a big deal. 

But even as times changed, FanFan didn’t have the standing to defy the old lady. 

Every time she came to the old residence looking for trouble, she only dared to use Xu Fangdu as a shield. 

As a concubine, if the old lady decided to be ruthless, the Security Bureau wouldn’t even take her case; they wouldn’t be able to intervene. 

FanFan had to leave, feeling thoroughly embarrassed. 

The Shi family’s servants brought her coat and cloak from the lounge. 

FanFan put on the cloak, biting her lip in anger, and walked out. 

Before she had left the small courtyard of the banquet hall, she instinctively put her hand into the cloak’s pocket. 

She felt something soft and cool. 

She was horrified, quickly pulling her hand out, and something seemed to slither away. 

She was nearly terrified out of her wits. 

FanFan’s face went pale as she involuntarily screamed and frantically tried to remove the cloak. 

In her clumsy state, she tripped over herself and fell. 

Guests in the banquet hall saw the commotion through the window and began to come out. 

The servants were also shocked. 

The old lady’s brows twitched in frustration: “Is it that concubine again? What’s she causing a fuss about now?” 

Ning Zhen helped the old lady with her arm: “Mother, let’s go and see.” 

Many people gathered under the eaves to watch. 

At the courtyard gate, FanFan had not yet stepped out of the banquet hall’s courtyard. She was sitting on the ground, looking like a madwoman. 

A bold old nurse approached to check and said to FanFan, “Don’t be afraid, the snake is dead. In the cold winter, even a live snake wouldn’t bite; snakes need to hibernate.” 

Ning Zhen called out, “The old lady wants to know what happened?” 

The old nurse hurried over and respectfully told the old lady, “The concubine had a dead snake in her pocket. It seems to be a prank, and she was scared.” 

Guests were astonished. 

“How could there be a snake?” 

“In such cold weather, where would a snake come from?” 

“Wasn’t the concubine blowing a whistle just now? I’ve seen those types of whistles used to tame snakes. Could she have brought the snake with her?” 

The old lady, listening to these speculations, looked extremely displeased. 

She said to Ning Zhen, “Go and bring a few more maids to carry her out.” 

She didn’t want others to continue gossiping. 

Ning Zhen agreed. 

The old nurse picked up the dead snake, and Ning Zhen along with another strong maid carried FanFan away. 

Rumors started to ferment quietly. 

The guests’ interest in the Shi family’s baby was nothing compared to their interest in the Governor’s wives and concubines. Everyone secretly discussed the incident. 

The old lady was left with a lump in her chest, unable to breathe easily. 

FanFan sat in the car, still shaken and looking extremely pale. 

She tried to calm herself but continued to tremble uncontrollably. 

Ning Zhen closed the door on her side and said to FanFan’s driver, “You can leave for a while; I need to speak with the concubine.” 

The driver complied. 

Ning Zhen entered the car from the other side. 

As soon as she sat down, she slapped FanFan hard. 

The slap was forceful and crisp, causing FanFan’s head to turn sideways. 

FanFan, already trembling, was stunned by the slap. Her ear rang, and at first, she felt numb, then pain began to spread across her cheek and half her head. 

“You…” As she regained her senses and tried to retaliate, Ning Zhen pulled a gold hairpin from her hair. 

The pin was extremely sharp and was aimed directly at FanFan’s throat. 

FanFan had nowhere to retreat and was flustered. 

“I’m hitting you on behalf of the Governor, to teach you a lesson. I want to make three things clear.” 

Ning Zhen’s expression was cold. 

When she spoke quietly, her eyes were as dark as ice, radiating a chilling sharpness. 

“First, using a venomous snake with no regard for the guests, myself, the old lady, and the infant who has just turned a month old—such malice is unforgivable.” 

“Second, with the old lady present, you didn’t consider the embarrassment it would cause if things went wrong, the disgrace it would bring to the Governor’s residence, and the ridicule for both me and the old lady!” 

“Third, I have always left you alone, not quarreling with you for disrespecting me as the main wife. But you wanted to harm me and overstep your bounds.” 

“I am merciful; I only slapped you. It’s not for you but out of respect for the Governor.” 

Throughout her speech, Ning Zhen kept the hairpin pointed at FanFan’s throat. 

Any attempt by FanFan to speak would result in the pin piercing her. 

FanFan could only glare at Ning Zhen with hatred. 

Ning Zhen’s expression remained indifferent: “You lack patience and sophistication, and you’re careless with even small matters. Your only merit is serving men well, making the Governor regard you as precious. 

If I were you, I’d make good use of my strengths, be a proper second concubine, and not cause trouble everywhere. If you provoke me, you will die.” 

With that, she moved her hand. 

FanFan felt a chill on her neck, followed by a searing pain. 

When she touched it, her hand was covered in blood. 

Covering her neck, FanFan cried out, “Ning Zhen, do you dare kill me? You…” 

“Impudent. If you continue to address me directly by name, I will truly kill you,” Ning Zhen warned. 

FanFan’s pupils constricted slightly, and she dared not speak further. 

Ning Zhen got out of the car. 

She resumed her gentle and elegant demeanor and instructed FanFan’s driver, “Take the concubine back.” 

Putting the hairpin’s cover back on, Ning Zhen placed it back in her hair and went back to the banquet. 

FanFan quickly took out a compact mirror from her bag to check her neck. 

Fortunately, the wound wasn’t deep, just a clear blood streak with blood continuing to flow. 

It was a surface injury. 

The driver started the car. 

FanFan sat there, her neck and face hurting; she had also fallen on her tailbone, and her whole body ached. 

She had placed a highly venomous snake in the hand warmer, intending to awaken the hibernating snake with the warm fire. She also had a whistle from a snake charmer. 

As long as the snake came out of the hand warmer, regardless of whether it was in Ning Zhen’s hands, she would be implicated. 

The hibernating viper was particularly irritable, with strong venom. If it bit or injured someone, Ning Zhen’s reputation as the Governor’s wife would be ruined. 

From then on, her reputation in Suzhou would be in tatters, and she wouldn’t be able to show her face. 

Even if the Sheng family didn’t dismiss her, she would be confined to the inner chambers. 

And in the chaos, who would know it was FanFan who blew the whistle? 

Her plan had been perfect, but unexpectedly, the snake didn’t come out when the whistle blew; instead, the baby started crying first. 

She hadn’t expected to find a snake in her own coat pocket. 

Knowing the danger of the snake, FanFan was terrified in that moment. 

She didn’t want to die!