Being directly exposed, Ling Mohan’s thick skin showed no trace of embarrassment.
“This is not me trying to please you, this is me genuinely caring about you.”
Ling Mohan eagerly sought to improve his standing with Feng Jin.
“I heard there’s a temple fair in the East City in two days. I’ll take you out to stroll around.”
He had specifically inquired about it from Lu Shi, knowing that neither of them had gone out alone together. This was the perfect opportunity to cultivate their relationship.
Temple fair… Feng Jin’s expression remained very calm, showing no joy.
In her previous life, she had always been holed up in laboratories researching medicines and poisons, or studying strange and rare illnesses.
Things like going out for fun seemed to have never occurred in her memories.
“If you don’t speak, I’ll take it as your consent.”
Seeing her delay in responding, Ling Mohan impatiently took it upon himself to assume Feng Jin had agreed.
“I…”
After a slight hesitation, Feng Jin still did not utter the words of refusal.
Never mind… Going out for a stroll would be good. She really hadn’t seen a temple fair here before.
“Young Madam, this is bird’s nest soup that the young general had someone prepare for you. Please try it.” Cai Qing placed the bird’s nest before Feng Jin, specifically emphasizing that it was prepared under Ling Mohan’s orders.
Feng Jin’s gaze darted back and forth between the two of them. She saw Ling Mohan sitting opposite her with a proud expression, his eyes fixed on her.
She tasted the bird’s nest perfunctorily. It was no different from what she had eaten before; it was made by the cooks in the small kitchen. Could it be made into something extraordinary?
“Does it taste good?” Ling Mohan leaned in and asked eagerly.
Feng Jin swallowed the food in her mouth and nodded perfunctorily, “It’s not bad.”
Ling Mohan immediately beamed with joy, his heart filled with a sense of accomplishment, more satisfying than winning a battle.
“If you like it, I’ll have the small kitchen stew it for you every day.”
Every day… Feng Jin’s spoon paused abruptly as she stirred the bird’s nest. Eating it daily would make her sick of it. “No need… no need.”
…
In the dark prison, Lu Shi arranged for guards to disguise themselves as assassins to attack the man. By simply revealing a forged jade pendant and provoking him slightly, the man immediately went mad.
Lu Shi seized the opportunity to charge forward with his men and apprehend all the disguised guards.
“Your master is determined to kill you, yet you wish to express your loyalty with your death. How ironic!” Lu Shi taunted deliberately.
The man’s eyes were bloodshot, and he forcefully suppressed the pain in his heart. Veins bulged on his forehead, and his mind was consumed by hatred. He had given his all for the one who had caused the tragedy of his family’s ruin. What was the point of being so persistent?
“Tell your master to come over. I’ll tell you everything.”
Having obtained the desired outcome, Lu Shi lowered his eyes to conceal the joy within them and slowly stood up, “You’re sensible. Give him something to eat. He’ll need the strength to confess later.”
Lu Shi hurried out to report the situation.
“Is he really willing to confess?” Ling Mohan asked uncertainly. Had he figured it out so quickly? It couldn’t be a trick.
“It’s not a deception. Once a person’s faith collapses and the person they care about most departs, the blow is absolutely the greatest. He is disheartened now, more desperate than if he were dead.”
Feng Jin had studied psychology in her free time, so she could deeply understand his current despair.
Ling Mohan stood up, picked up a cloak, and draped it over Feng Jin’s shoulders. “It’s getting late and the dew is heavy. Wear more, don’t catch a cold.”
“I’ll go to the dark prison first,” Lu Shi said and quickly withdrew. It was better for him not to be an eyesore here, lest he incur the young general’s wrath again. It was better to leave quickly.
…
By the time the two arrived at the dark prison, the man had lost all his vitality. He sat there blankly, like a walking corpse.
Ling Mohan sat upright opposite him, his expression grave as he looked at the man. “Speak. Tell us everything you know.”
The man paused for a moment, then slowly raised his head, clutching half a jade pendant in his hand.
“My name is Xiao Qi. I am an assassin from the Jianghu. During a mission, I was ambushed and severely injured. The Third Prince, Chu Yanxi, saved me. To repay his kindness, I have followed Chu Yanxi ever since. This assassination attempt was also ordered by Chu Yanxi.”
Ling Mohan’s eyes narrowed sharply. These matters did not surprise him much. “Besides this, what else do you know?”
“Nothing else. Chu Yanxi has always acted cautiously. Other than his personal guards, who know everything, we only follow his orders. I don’t know why he wants to kill you.”
Feng Jin’s gaze scanned his face. He was indeed not lying.
“I’ve told you everything I know. I was loyal and repaid kindness, but I never expected it to result in the ruin of my family. If I had known, I should have fled long ago and saved the lives of my wife and children.”
Xiao Qi’s face was filled with resolve. His wife and children were gone. What meaning was there in his living? He looked down at the jade pendant in his hand, as if he had made a decision…
Seeing that there was no useful information, Ling Mohan took Feng Jin’s hand and they rose to leave.
“Young General, how should we handle him?” Lu Shi was unsure of what to do.
“Dispose of him. He has also killed many people,” Ling Mohan said in a deep voice. An eye for an eye; were the people he killed undeserving of life?
“Yes, Young General…” Lu Shi quickly agreed. When he returned, the man had already committed suicide.
Feng Jin grasped the man’s hand. “Now that we know the truth, how do you plan to proceed?”
“Chu Yanxi has been in court for many years, his influence is deeply rooted, and his birth mother, the Empress, is deeply favored by His Majesty. His maternal family, the Liu clan, is powerful, a distinguished family of a hundred years. Without concrete evidence, we cannot act rashly. If we alert the enemy prematurely, all will be lost.”
Ling Mohan’s expression was extremely solemn. This matter was of great importance. With the slightest carelessness, the foundation of the Ling family, built over a hundred years, would be destroyed.
“Ambitious people will surely be impatient. As long as he makes a move, we will be able to catch his tracks. The fox’s tail will be exposed sooner or later.”
“The matter has been investigated and clarified. Tomorrow, the mansion’s restrictions will be lifted. We will say that you have recovered, and there is still no clue about the assassin, how about it?”
Feng Jin thought it over and decided this was the only way to move past this matter for now.
Ling Mohan embraced Feng Jin, saying softly, “I’ll do as my wife says.”
“Let’s go back. I’ve asked the small kitchen to make some Golden Milk Pastries. Taste them and see.”
Having been confined to the mansion during this period, Feng Jin, with nothing else to do, had asked the small kitchen to make some delicious pastries.
The food made by the small kitchen wasn’t very good, but the pastries were quite nice.