He wasn't saying this to appease Feng Jin, but because he genuinely hadn't gotten a good look. At the time, he'd only been focused on finishing the task quickly and returning, so he had no mood to observe the appearance of the Western Liang princess.
"That's a real shame. I heard from others that she's the number one beauty of Western Liang. It was such a good opportunity, and you didn't take a good look..." Feng Jin feigned sympathy, but inwardly, she was thinking that if Ling Mohan dared to look at the Western Liang princess even once more, she would gouge his eyes out.
If Ling Mohan knew Feng Jin's true thoughts, he would be extremely relieved that he hadn't said the wrong thing and had narrowly escaped.
"Did you tell Chu Chenyi what I instructed you to?"
"I did. He also asked me to convey that even if there's a divorce, it should be he who proposes it..." Ling Mohan relayed Chu Chenyi's proud words to Feng Jin.
"He truly is audacious. If he doesn't repent, then don't blame me."
Feng Jin's eyes darted around suspiciously, and a plan instantly surfaced in her mind.
Seeing Feng Jin's expression, Ling Mohan could immediately imagine Chu Chenyi's tragic fate and couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity for him.
But what was that sliver of elation? Why was he feeling a sense of anticipation? He was truly a contradictory being.
"What do you want to do?"
"Naturally, I want to help Lin Yuwei find a young husband."
She wanted to see how long Chu Chenyi could hold out. Once a young man entered the household, could he still be patient?
"Why are we looking for a young husband?" Ling Mohan asked, confused.
"Nonsense. What's the point of looking for an old one? If we're going to look, it has to be for a young one," Feng Jin replied without hesitation. Since they were going to go through with it, she naturally wanted to find someone young, at least to please her eyes.
Feng Jin's lips curved into a smile, and her mind was filled with suggestive scenes. She didn't notice the man beside her growing increasingly sullen.
"What's wrong?" Feng Jin sensed a chill behind her and turned her gaze to the man beside her, asking.
"Do you also want to find someone young?"
Ling Mohan's voice was slightly hoarse. He clearly remembered that he was a full six years older than Feng Jin.
"I..." Feng Jin was suddenly speechless. If she considered the age of this body, she was indeed six years younger than Ling Mohan, but if she considered her true age, she was three years older than him.
Calculating it, she was essentially an older cow eating young grass, which made her feel shy.
"Wife, I'm asking you a question, do you also prefer younger ones?" At the last word, Ling Mohan's tone rose slightly, carrying a hint of threat, causing Feng Jin to involuntarily shiver.
"I... I naturally..."
Could she admit that she liked someone younger? A May-December romance, a boy toy boyfriend – any woman would be unable to resist, right?
Feng Jin's mind conjured a dramatic scene. She lifted her face and saw Ling Mohan's exceedingly handsome face, making Feng Jin unable to help but swallow.
Now, every time she saw Ling Mohan, she couldn't help but think about being three years older than him. Wasn't this like an older cow eating young grass? Her heart filled with shame.
"Wife, I'm asking you a question, do you like younger ones?"
Ling Mohan's patience reached its limit, and he gritted his teeth, continuing to ask.
Feng Jin pulled her thoughts back and took a deep breath: "I... I like the kind like you..."
Seeing Ling Mohan's expression soften slightly, Feng Jin continued, "It's not about anyone else. Only you are the one I like."
Feng Jin's answer hit the mark perfectly for Ling Mohan, and the man's expression gradually eased.
"Um, the cherries I planted are ripe. I'll go pick some for you."
Feng Jin hastily changed the subject. She didn't want to discuss the matter of age anymore.
She busied herself, getting up to pick cherries for Ling Mohan.
If they continued talking, she might end up saying something she shouldn't.
Lin Yuwei was feeling vexed, and the flowers in the entire courtyard were thoroughly ruined, with petals scattered all over the ground after she had ravaged them.
Tearing off petals one by one, Lin Yuwei sighed and simply threw the withered flowers onto the ground, continuing to destroy other flowers.
"Please be merciful. If you keep pulling, all the flowers in my courtyard will be stripped bare by you."
Feng Jin looked at the petals strewn across the ground, then at the bare garden. It was only early spring, the peak blooming season, yet her garden was already bald.
Hearing the voice, Lin Yuwei lifted her eyes to glance. The survivors of the flowers in the courtyard stood sparsely, each alone. At her feet were piles of petals, and in her hand was only a stem, indicating that she was responsible for everything.
"Sister Feng Jin, I'm sorry. I was just feeling upset for a moment, and I didn't realize I had ruined your garden." Lin Yuwei was filled with guilt, ultimately blaming Chu Chenyi for it.
If it weren't for him, she wouldn't have been so upset and destroyed all the flowers in the garden.
"It's alright. Flowers can regrow if they're damaged, but once a person's heart changes, it's hard to win them back."
Feng Jin's words startled Lin Yuwei, and she couldn't help but recall that Chu Chenyi was going to meet the Western Liang princess today.
"Is it... is it true that Chu Chenyi, that scoundrel, has taken a liking to the Western Liang princess?"
Lin Yuwei spoke, clenching her fists tightly, contemplating how to deal with Chu Chenyi.
But the thought that they were about to divorce caused her mood to plummet to the bottom. Ultimately, she had been foolishly infatuated.
"That's not the case. It's just that Ling Mohan has noticed many noble ladies frequenting the Jing King's manor. News of your divorce has spread throughout the capital. I imagine those noble ladies are all eyeing the position of the Jing King's Consort."
Feng Jin truly admired her ability to fabricate stories. With a few words, she made something out of nothing sound so convincing that she almost believed it herself.
"Good for Chu Chenyi! He's already looking for his next partner so quickly, truly planning ahead!"
She had worried about him all night, losing sleep, while he was already enjoying the company of multiple women. Ultimately, her sincere feelings had been wasted.
"Sister Feng Jin, didn't you say you would introduce your cousin to me before? I want to meet him!"
Since Chu Chenyi was heartless and unfaithful, why should she continue to worry about someone unworthy?
She also wanted to start her new life and stop being so wronged, as she had been before.
"Of course. Let's arrange for me to bring him to meet you the day after tomorrow."
Feng Jin hadn't expected her tactic to work so quickly. However, this cousin was also something she had fabricated, so she needed to find someone soon before she was exposed, which would ruin everything.
"Today, His Majesty is hosting a banquet in the palace to entertain the Western Liang princess. Furthermore, you and Chu Chenyi have not yet divorced. Do you want to go tonight?"