"I've noted it all down. Cai Qing, you must help me," Feng Jin said with a hint of worry in her tone.
Her gait was much more restrained now. Feng Jin only dared to lift her head and chest, not even daring to lower her gaze, fearing that if her head dipped down, it would be impossible to raise it again.
Ling Mohan waited outside the door for a long time before Feng Jin, leaning on Cai Qing's arm, slowly made her way over.
"Why are you dressed so lavishly today?" Ling Mohan had never seen Feng Jin dressed so formally before. In the past, she would simply tie up her hair with a single hairpin. Today's attire was truly a refreshing sight.
However, Feng Jin's walking posture looked so awkward. A distance that could have been covered in two steps now took more than ten.
"Why are you just standing there? Hurry and help me onto the carriage."
Feng Jin, mindful of the coronet on her head, didn't even dare to meet Ling Mohan's gaze directly. She extended her hand and, supported by the two of them, boarded the carriage.
Inside the carriage, Feng Jin, laden with pearls and ornaments, leaned cautiously against the backrest, resting.
"If you feel tired, you can take off the hairpins on your head."
Ling Mohan truly couldn't bear to see Feng Jin so weary, so he asked Cai Qing to remove the hairpins from Feng Jin's head.
"No, don't touch them... I only just managed to put them on."
Feng Jin adamantly refused to have her pearl hairpins and jade rings touched. What she was carrying on her head was practically a house; this was her weapon for showing off later, and she wouldn't allow even the slightest deviation.
...
Feng Yuanping sat anxiously in the main hall. For three consecutive days, there had been no news of Feng Ruoyan. The men he had sent out had scoured the entire capital upside down, yet there was not a shred of information.
In the imperial court today, he had tried to probe Ling Mohan several times, but the man's thoughts were too profound, and his efforts were ultimately futile.
Now, he felt like he was being roasted over a fire, completely uncomfortable.
"Master, the wedding date is fast approaching, and there's still no news of Yan'er. What should we do?"
Madam Sun began to worry. Feng Ruoyan was, after all, her own daughter, and her future wealth and status were tied to her. At this moment, Madam Sun was particularly anxious.
"What should we do? You're only scared now. Where were you before? You shouldn't have incited Yan'er to do such a foolish thing. It's too late for regrets now. We can only do our best and leave the rest to fate; it all depends on her own fortune."
The matter was settled. All he could do now was to do his best and leave the rest to fate.
"Master, are you really going to abandon Yan'er?"
"It's not that I'm abandoning Yan'er, but that I am powerless at the moment. On the wedding day, if Yan'er still doesn't appear, the Feng family will be unable to present her, which is an act of deceiving the emperor. If the Son of Heaven is angered, the Feng family will be spared no one. I will then be a sinner to the Feng family!"
Feng Yuanping understood the wrath of an emperor. At this moment, he had to plan for the sake of all members of the Feng family.
"Master, the Second Miss and Young General Ling have arrived."
A panicked young servant rushed in to report, directly enraging Madam Sun, who blurted out, "What is that wretched Feng Jin doing here? She's the one who ruined my Yan'er! How dare she come? Summon the guards to arrest Feng Jin. I want to see if Ling Mohan will really let her go..."
*Crack...* A crisp slap echoed through the hall. Madam Sun, stunned, covered half of her face, which was red and burning, and looked at Feng Yuanping in disbelief.
"Master... you... you hit me..."
"I hit you, you foolish woman! Not to mention that Feng Jin has been personally enfeoffed as Princess Jianing by His Majesty. Just Ling Mohan himself – who is he? The God of War of Eastern Chu, the current Imperial Tutor! You gathered the manor guards to attack them. Do you truly want to destroy my entire Feng family!"
A surge of anger shot up to his head. Feng Yuanping was almost driven to death by Madam Sun's stupidity.
"What's going on? The King of Dragons' temple is flooded by water; family members don't recognize each other. Father, why did you slap Madam Sun?"
Feng Jin's sarcastic voice permeated the entire hall. This was the second time Feng Jin had entered this place. The first time, Madam Sun had forced her to marry Ling Mohan. This time, she saw Madam Sun in such a pathetic state.
The winds changed direction; times were different now. Madam Sun actually had this day.
Madam Sun's venomous gaze was fixed tightly on Feng Jin, her eyes blazing as if she wished to bore holes through Feng Jin.
"Madam Sun, why are you looking at me like that? Did I offend you somewhere?"
Feng Jin put on an innocent act, her pure and harmless eyes showing a hint of timidity, making her truly seem like a victim.
Feng Yuanping's expression darkened instantly, and he sternly reprimanded, "Why are you still standing here making a spectacle of yourself? Go and prepare tea."
He couldn't afford to offend anyone now and could only vent his anger on Madam Sun.
"Yes, Master." Madam Sun's status was not what it used to be, so she could only comply with her head bowed. In her heart, she added this account to Feng Jin's ledger. Once Feng Ruoyan became empress, she would be the first to tear Feng Jin apart to quench her hatred.
Feng Jin's lips curled into a sarcastic smile. Her cheap father's ability to bend with the wind was truly first-class. He was so adept at flattery; no wonder he could become Prime Minister. He did have some capability.
"Young General, what is the reason for your visit today?" Feng Yuanping showed no father-in-law airs towards Ling Mohan, acting more like he was facing a superior, with a demeanor of bowing and deliberately currying favor, which made Feng Jin feel immensely disgusted.
"I wanted to return to the manor to have a look, and he accompanied me. What... are you not welcoming us?"
"How could that be? If you can let go of your resentment towards your father and are willing to come back to see me, I can't tell you how happy I am."
Feng Jin's lips twitched uncontrollably. This face was truly hypocritical. If she hadn't known Feng Yuanping's true character long ago, Feng Jin would have truly been fooled by him now.
Feng Yuanping, fearing that his performance was not realistic enough, even forced out a few tears.
After a period of emotional appeal, Feng Yuanping's eyes reddened slightly, and he sighed, "Feng Jin, my previous actions were all due to my foolishness, which caused you to suffer a great deal. Please don't resent me. Your father apologizes to you."
Feng Yuanping's words were not untrue. At this moment, Feng Ruoyan, his greatest pride, was useless. Even if she returned safely, she could not shake off the charges of deliberately abusing servants and framing others. Her reputation was ruined.
The situation had turned around drastically, and he had to re-strategize and mend his father-daughter relationship with Feng Jin. After all, they were biological father and daughter; there were no grudges that couldn't be resolved overnight.
It was just a pity that the real Feng Jin had long since been abused and killed by people arranged by Madam Sun due to his coldness and indifference.
The current Feng Jin had no blood relation to him. If it weren't for the original host's unfulfilled wish, Feng Jin wouldn't have wanted to step foot in this place even once.
"Father... I am truly laughable. Do your actions towards me truly qualify you to be a father? Have you forgotten that we severed ties long ago?"