Feng Jinlin smiled weakly, "It's nothing, just got a chill. A hot bath will do."
Song Nan and Song Bei, the two servants who attended Feng Jinlin closely, immediately stepped forward to help him and then ordered someone to prepare a large bath.
Once he was settled in the wooden tub, the steam chased away the chill from his body, and Feng Jinlin felt truly alive.
The bruises on his body were even more apparent in the water. Song Nan frowned, "Second Master, what happened? Did you get into a fight again?"
Feng Jinlin closed his eyes to rest. Hearing his words, he couldn't help but laugh, "In your eyes, am I that fond of fighting?"
Song Nan fell silent. It wasn't that he thought him fond of fighting, but so many bruises needed an explanation. Just as he was thinking, he heard Feng Jinlin command, "Do not spread this matter outside, understand?"
"Understood."
The two had been with him for many years and were very discreet. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to skip school for nearly four months without being discovered. Feng Jinlin was quite confident in this regard.
Damn it!
The blows were too heavy. Fortunately, they didn't land on his face, or he wouldn't have been able to explain to his family during the New Year.
Thinking of that person, Feng Jinlin grimaced. He was confident that his martial arts were top-notch in Dongdu City, yet he couldn't even last thirty moves.
Indeed, there were always people better than you, and mountains beyond mountains.
He calmed his mind and breathed, the road ahead was long. He would wait for another chance to fight!
That evening, Feng Yunli's fall into the water and subsequent fever was still learned by Madam Feng. Although he was the son of a concubine, he was still her grandson, so she rushed over upon hearing the news.
She saw Madam Wen painstakingly feeding him porridge. He looked very weak, but at least he was safe.
"Yunli..."
"Greetings, Grandmother. Cough, cough..."
This time, he suffered much more. Although the fever had subsided, the water he had choked on had entered his lungs. Speaking casually hurt, and coughing was even worse, causing his small face to contort in pain.
Seeing this, Madam Feng stepped forward to help him breathe, patting his back and comforting him.
"I am well, I am well. Please don't speak anymore. How could such a mishap happen during the New Year!"
Madam Wen felt quite guilty. She had indeed been negligent in her care of Feng Yunli. She had thought that since she and Concubine Linlang had fallen out, there was no need to concern herself with her child, and that everything would proceed as usual. This had led to her servants not taking him seriously, even daring to agree to the idea of ice fishing in the middle of winter!
This was how the disaster had occurred.
Her bowed head, admitting her fault, made Madam Feng feel that she might have spoken too harshly. She had no children from her own womb. Honestly, if she did, she might not be as attentive as Madam Wen.
She helped Madam Wen, who was kneeling before her to admit her fault, up. "I am not blaming you. You have to take care of Yunhe and manage all the household affairs. It is normal to have oversights. However, with Yunli like this, why not move him to my courtyard? Bai Mama and the others have served children as they grew up and will surely take good care of him."
Madam Wen was somewhat taken aback. She wasn't sure what Madam Feng meant by her words.
Although she was no longer being blamed, the suggestion to take him away made her wonder if Madam Feng was worried about her lack of care.
As she was contemplating, she saw Yunli suddenly get up and cling to Madam Wen's arm, refusing to let go. His already weak little face turned red with anxiety. "I'm not leaving, I'm not leaving. I want to stay with Mother."
Madam Feng was truly surprised by this scene. How could Yunli be so attached to her after only a few days apart!
Madam Wen was also surprised. She had only been caring for Yunli for the past two days, and he had become so inseparable from her.
Yunli, however, did not have the complex thoughts of adults. He only knew that his mother had been by his side when he was in a daze, and she had soothed him to sleep when he cried incessantly.
Being here now made him feel comfortable, and he didn't want to go anywhere else.
A four-year-old child is neither very big nor very small, but he understood who truly cared for him.
Seeing him like this, Madam Feng felt a sense of relief. She patted Madam Wen's hand. "You have taken very good care of him, and Yunli likes it. Let him stay here. Anyway, I have fully recovered now. You don't need to worry about household matters these days. You can resume managing the household after Yunli has recovered."
Madam Wen thanked Madam Feng profusely. It was rare for a mother-in-law to show her such trust.
She continued to feed Yunli porridge, bite by bite. Although the child ate with some effort, his heart was as sweet as honey.
Before nightfall, Feng Jinyao came to visit again. Upon learning that Yunli was much better and had already fallen asleep, she did not disturb him further and went directly to Feng Er's courtyard, only to be met with a closed door.
Song Nan said that ever since he returned and took a hot bath, he had been resting in his room and had not come out for most of the day.
He had quietly gone in to check and said that the person was still fast asleep.
"If that's the case, then I shall take my leave. I will come to see Second Brother tomorrow after he wakes up."
"Yes, we bid farewell to Third Miss."
What Feng Jinlin had brought back this time was the Buddha's Heart Fruit, which was priceless. In her previous life, she had only heard of this medicine and had never seen it. How could Second Brother know someone with this medicine and obtain it so easily?
Too many mysteries surrounded Feng Jinyao, and she did not sleep soundly that night.
In her dreams, she returned to the past, her family members lying on the ground covered in blood, crying out in anguish. Startled, she woke up in the middle of the night and never dared to sleep again.
The intertwined floral embroidery on the bed curtain appeared exceptionally bright under the moonlight from outside the window. Yet, she did not know that Feng Jinlin, under the cover of darkness, had changed into a black brocade robe and quietly disappeared onto the street outside the Feng Mansion.
As dawn broke, Feng Jinyao finally succumbed to exhaustion and fell asleep.
Yun Xu tiptoed into the room. Seeing the half-burnt candle by the bedside and the half-opened book, she knew that she had not slept well again last night.
She gently pulled the quilt up to cover Feng Jinyao tightly and then tiptoed out.
Outside, Xiuqiu had already gotten up. Seeing Yun Xu emerge from the room, she asked in a low voice, "Should I prepare hot water? Is Miss getting up?"
Yun Xu shook her head, "She didn't sleep well yesterday. Let Miss sleep a little longer today."
"Alright." Xiuqiu did not suspect anything. She blew on her hands to warm them, rubbed them together, and headed towards the small kitchen.
The kitchen had bought good milk these past few days. Since she had nothing else to do today, she would make some milk soft cakes. Miss loved them the most. She could also send some to Second Master. He was working very hard these days, so it was natural to satisfy his dietary needs as much as possible.
Perhaps due to extreme fatigue, Feng Jinyao slept more comfortably this time, without the unease of midnight.
When she woke up, it was almost lunchtime.
"Hey, why didn't you wake me?"
Feng Jinyao muttered softly as Yun Xu helped her with her grooming.