Chu Yanxi couldn't help but feel a desire to test him. As he stood up, he deliberately bumped into the table, sending the scalding tea tumbling onto Chu Chenyi's legs.
Instantly, an intense burning sensation spread across his legs. Chu Chenyi, however, remained calm, as if nothing had happened.
"Second Imperial Brother, I apologize. I wasn't paying attention. How are your legs? Should I summon an imperial physician?"
As his words fell, Chu Yanxi reached out to touch Chu Chenyi's legs, but his hand was intercepted.
"Third Brother, there's no need. The tea is hot. My legs are crippled, Third Brother, so please have a maid clean it up!"
Chu Chenyi knew exactly what Chu Yanxi was plotting. The accidental spill was likely intentional.
Feng Jin and the other two, hearing the commotion, rushed over. Fortunately, Lin Yuwei reacted quickly this time, stepping in front of Chu Chenyi.
"These minor matters do not require the Third Prince's assistance. Allow me to attend to Prince Jing."
"Someone, go fetch a clean set of clothes and deliver them to the side hall."
Lin Yuwei stepped forward, pushing Chu Chenyi's wheelchair, and hurried towards the side hall. However, Chu Yanxi blocked their path.
"Ultimately, it was my carelessness that caused this. Wouldn't it be better to first have an imperial physician examine Second Imperial Brother's injuries? That way, I can be at ease."
The group stood in a standoff, neither side willing to yield.
Weighing the pros and cons, Feng Jin stepped forward and said, "Greetings to Prince Jing and the Third Prince. Previously, Prince Jing's health has always been under my care. The imperial physicians in the palace are busy attending to the various nobles and are stretched thin. There's no need to trouble them. I will examine Prince Jing myself."
Lin Yuwei continued, "Indeed, Young Madam Ling has been treating the Prince. This time, we will trouble Young Madam Ling."
"Princess, you are too kind. Let's escort the Prince to the side hall first."
The Third Prince had no retort and could only let them leave. His hands, hanging by his sleeves, clenched tightly, veins bulging, and his eyes were filled with vicious killing intent.
Outside the side hall, Ling Mohan had the guards surround the area.
Feng Jin first examined Chu Chenyi's leg injuries. Fortunately, the tea had cooled somewhat by then. His legs were only red, with no blisters.
She took a bottle of ointment from her pouch and handed it to Lin Yuwei. "Apply this ointment to his legs."
"I'll apply it..." A blush flashed across Lin Yuwei's face, quickly disappearing.
Chu Chenyi's thighs were injured. Having her apply the ointment felt somewhat awkward.
"Sister Feng Jin, why don't we find a young eunuch?"
She felt a little embarrassed to do such a thing.
Feng Jin saw through her hesitation. "The situation is urgent, don't be shy. Hurry up."
Normally, she would have applied the medicine to Chu Chenyi herself. But with Ling Mohan standing there, if she were to do so, he would surely cause a scene.
Lin Yuwei clutched the medicine bottle tightly, steeling herself. "Pull down your pants, and I'll apply the medicine for you."
Feng Jin, who was drinking water, heard this bold declaration. She suppressed the urge to spit it out, forcing it down, which was truly difficult for her.
Chu Chenyi's face turned ashen. He wished he could stuff Lin Yuwei's mouth shut and said in a low voice, "Be quiet!"
It took nearly half an hour to finish applying the medicine. Feng Jin was so bored that she kept dozing off, almost falling asleep.
"His Majesty has arrived. Let's go quickly," Ling Mohan's voice sounded from outside the door.
Feng Jin got up lazily, tidied her trailing skirt, and walked out.
The moment Ling Mohan saw Feng Jin, the coldness on his face receded, replaced by a smile. His eyes were filled with tenderness as he stepped forward, taking Feng Jin's soft, boneless, fair hand. His tone was extremely intimate, "Are you tired? Would you like to sit down and rest for a bit?"
"Tired my foot. She ate and drank everything on the table!" Chu Chenyi's disgusted voice rang out from behind them. Feng Jin was truly an extraordinary eater. She had already eaten a lot of preserved fruits and pastries at the banquet, and now she had eaten so much more. Where did it all go?
Feng Jin let out a satisfied burp. She was just hungry; was it that exaggerated?
"Don't eat any more at the banquet later. Eating so much before bed is bad for your spleen and stomach."
She had indeed been eating more than usual these past few days. Could something be wrong with her digestion?
"I know. Let's go to the banquet first." Feng Jin didn't want to listen to Ling Mohan's nagging anymore and walked ahead.
"His Majesty learned that you developed gunpowder. However, this matter is crucial to national defense and requires secrecy. Therefore, we must wait for an opportune moment to reward you."
Feng Jin frowned slightly. "You told His Majesty that I developed gunpowder? Didn't I tell you to take credit for it yourself?"
The matter of gunpowder was of great importance. In this era, for a woman to have developed gunpowder, even if it were true, would invite criticism.
If Ling Mohan had developed gunpowder, he would have received countless accolades. Weighing the pros and cons, it was clearly best for Ling Mohan to take credit for it.
"My wife is so outstanding; naturally, everyone in the world should know." Ling Mohan actually had his own selfish motives. He wanted to use this matter to silence the gossip of the world.
He wanted everyone to know how outstanding Feng Jin was, and that he, Ling Mohan, was the one who had climbed too high by marrying Feng Jin.
Feng Jin suddenly felt a great pressure. "Did His Majesty suspect anything?"
"His Majesty did not suspect anything. Instead, he was very pleased and praised your intelligence."
"That's good... that's good..." Feng Jin murmured. Her heart was still very nervous. She paused, then took Ling Mohan's hand and said, "By the way, if His Majesty asks about it later, where did you learn the method for researching gunpowder from? What do you plan to say?"
"Whatever my wife says, I will say. I will obey my wife's every command."
"That's more like it." Feng Jin smiled with satisfaction. Ling Mohan was progressing quite rapidly now.
Feng Jin considered for a moment and then said, "You can say that I learned this method from my master. If they ask who my master is, you just need to say it was an otherworldly master."
It was a lie anyway, so the more fantastical it sounded, the more believable it would be.
"Alright, we'll go with that."
Ling Mohan immediately agreed. He had indeed harbored doubts about Feng Jin's identity before and had secretly investigated her. However, he had long since come to terms with it. Since Feng Jin was unwilling to speak, she must have her reasons, and he only needed to trust her wholeheartedly.
"Do you have anything you want to ask?"
"If you want me to ask, I will ask. If you don't want me to ask, I won't," Ling Mohan said in a deep voice.
Feng Jin's heart trembled. The words of explanation that were on the tip of her tongue were forced back down.
She truly didn't know how to begin explaining to Ling Mohan. She wasn't from this world. The real Feng Jin had died long ago. She was merely a soul from another world.