It was no wonder that the noble ladies in the capital, upon seeing Ling Mohhan, would have their eyes light up, wishing they could skin him, dismember him, and swallow him whole.
Feng Jin sighed, her hand unconsciously reaching out to touch the man's face, her fingers tracing his eyebrows and lips.
The man suddenly opened his eyes, a wicked grin on his lips, scaring Feng Jin so badly she almost cried out.
"Wife, it's not very gentlemanly of you to sneakily touch me while I'm asleep."
Caught red-handed while peeking and touching, Feng Jin's face was filled with embarrassment.
She quickly turned her head away, stammering an explanation, "I... I just saw... saw some dust on your face, so I was wiping it off for you, yes... just wiping it off for you."
Ling Mohhan took in the woman's flustered, yet insistent, explanation. He chuckled softly, lowered his head, and whispered into Feng Jin's ear, "Wife, I am your husband. If you want to look, you can do so openly. Why the need to sneak around?"
Feng Jin's face turned completely red. She pulled the quilt over her head, "I'm sleepy, I'm going to sleep now."
The quilt muffled her breathing, making her face even redder.
"Don't suffocate yourself," the man's teasing voice echoed from above.
A muffled voice came from under the quilt, "You don't need to worry about me."
Only when there was no more movement outside the quilt did Feng Jin stealthily lift a gap, peeking out.
Seeing that Ling Mohhan had fallen asleep, she finally exposed her head to breathe.
Tentatively, she leaned her head into the man's embrace, finding a comfortable position and closing her eyes.
In winter, having such a living furnace to help with warmth was quite nice.
Nestled in the man's arms, Feng Jin soon began to breathe evenly.
The man, who had appeared to be asleep, opened his eagle-like eyes in the darkness. His gentle gaze fell upon Feng Jin, curled up in his arms like a cat. A smile played on his lips. He leaned down and kissed her smooth, fair forehead, then held her tightly and slept soundly.
...
"Useless trash, I sent you to investigate the Ling estate, and you found nothing. What good are you!"
Chu Yanxi's enraged voice echoed throughout the study, books scattered everywhere, leaving it in disarray.
"Your Highness, please forgive us. The Ling estate is heavily guarded, and we could not gather any information."
"Bang!" Anger flared, and Chu Yanxi grabbed a teacup and hurled it to the ground, shattering into pieces.
"Useless trash, unable to even handle such a small matter!"
Chu Yanxi's face was extremely pale. His hands, hidden within his wide sleeves, clenched into fists, veins bulging. He had been snubbed at the Ling estate that morning, only to be outmaneuvered by a woman.
What he hadn't expected was that Feng Jin possessed the Empress Dowager's token.
The Empress Dowager had always been aloof, and among the imperial grandsons, only Chu Chenyi had managed to catch her eye.
For Feng Jin to have earned such favor from the Empress Dowager as to be gifted her personal token.
Feng Jin was backed by the Ling and Feng families. Moreover, Ling Mohhan and Chu Chenyi had been close since childhood. Could it be that the Ling family intended to pledge allegiance to Chu Chenyi, a useless cripple?
The current situation was becoming increasingly unclear. He needed to quickly marry Feng Ruoyan and gain the support of the Feng family.
He had always harbored feelings for Feng Ruoyan. A mere concubine position might be too little for her.
However, with the current court chaos and the influence of his mother, the Liu family, he couldn't afford to lose them. He could only inconvenience Feng Ruoyan for the time being.
Once he ascended the throne, it would be his decision whom to make empress.
...
"Young Madam..." Cai Qing called out urgently, "Greetings, Young Madam."
Feng Jin poured herbs into the medicine pot, "What's the rush? Speak slowly."
Continuing to handle the herbs, she found the astragalus root's scent to be a bit peculiar.
"Young Madam, Prince Jing and his Princess are here to see you at the gate. Will you see them, Young Madam?"
Feng Jin put down the herbs, "Please invite them in and lead them directly to the East Courtyard."
"Yes, Young Madam."
Placing the medicine pot on the charcoal stove to simmer gently, Feng Jin rose and walked towards the main hall.
"Sister Feng Jin," Lin Yuwei, dressed as a princess, spotted Feng Jin and quickly rose to greet her.
"Greetings, Princess Jing."
"Sister, what princess this and princess that. You're being too formal with me. I came specifically to see you after my return. Sister, the assassination attempt that night has been widely spread. Are you injured?"
After her return, Lin Yuwei should have gone directly back to Prince Jing's mansion, but her concern for Feng Jin's safety made her insist on coming here.
"I'm fine..."
"What could be wrong with her? Who can gain an advantage when fighting her? You should be more worried about whether those assassins are still alive."
Chu Chenyi's sarcastic voice, word for word, reached Feng Jin's ears. Why had this man come along? He was as eyesore as ever.
"Prince Jing, your decisive judgment, does it stem from personal experience?"
Sensing the veiled meaning in Feng Jin's words, Chu Chenyi's face darkened considerably.
"You... you are disrespecting a prince. Do you know..."
"Know what? Did a single word I said disrespect you, Prince Jing?"
Chu Chenyi was rendered speechless by Feng Jin's words. He took a deep breath and told himself, a good man does not fight with a woman. As a prince, how could he engage in a verbal dispute with a mere woman? It would be a laughingstock.
"You really talk too much. When has Sister Feng Jin ever disrespected you?" Lin Yuwei couldn't stand it and directly retorted.
"You are my princess, and yet you are siding with an outsider. Do you know what it means to follow your husband's lead?"
Chu Chenyi said angrily. He was quite vexed that his wife was so easily swayed.
"How is Sister Feng Jin an outsider?" Lin Yuwei countered unhappily, feeling that if anyone was an outsider, it was Chu Chenyi in her eyes.
As the saying goes, two women can put on a show. Chu Chenyi, adhering to the principle of a good man not fighting with women, chose to remain silent and sat quietly.
"Sister, the young general is truly close to death."
The rumors circulating outside had reached Lin Yuwei. Her curiosity was piqued, and she also felt that if Ling Mohhan were to die, what would become of Feng Jin?
"He won't die yet!"
Ling Mohhan, who had just arrived at the doorway, heard their conversation and his mouth twitched uncontrollably.
So eager for him to die.
"Young General!" Lin Yuwei was the first to see Ling Mohhan standing at the doorway, her heart suddenly startled, her face filled with embarrassment.
She finally understood how awkward it was to be caught discussing someone's imminent death.
"Why did you come out?"
Feng Jin turned to look at Ling Mohhan, her tone laced with a hint of reproach. If he came out so openly, how could they explain it if their spies saw him?
"If I didn't come out, how could I have witnessed such a good show?"