After hearing Feng Jin's voice, Sheng Xubai finally came back to his senses and realized his gaffe. Sheng Xubai lowered his eyes to hide his unnatural expression. A cold wind blew, and Sheng Xubai suddenly felt a chill in his chest.
He looked down and saw his chest was wide open, exposing fair skin. A blush spread from Sheng Xubai's face to the roots of his ears.
Realizing Feng Jin was still beside him, Sheng Xubai hurriedly tidied his clothes, stood up, and took two steps back to maintain a distance from Feng Jin.
"I... just now..." Sheng Xubai stammered, unable to articulate anything coherent.
Instead, Feng Jin spoke up, "You have a heart condition, and I didn't know who your attendant was, so I administered acupuncture. Please bear with me if there was any offense."
How could a grown man be so thin-skinned? It was just unbuttoning his clothes to examine him, yet he acted as if he had suffered a great loss.
"My lady, you are too kind. I have no way to repay your life-saving grace. If you ever need me in the future, I will repay your kindness with my life."
"Then you can owe me for now," Feng Jin replied without politeness. It was possible she might actually need his help someday.
Sheng Xubai was slightly taken aback and surreptitiously observed Feng Jin. This woman was truly peculiar, so different from anyone he had met before.
"This place is crowded and full of prying eyes. Men and women are seated separately. If you stay here and are discovered, it will cause more trouble. Since Young Master Sheng's health is no longer a concern, it would be best for you to leave as soon as possible."
Although she didn't fear gossip, she knew the words wouldn't be pleasant, especially since Lin Yuwei and Ling Wan were with her.
She knew how important a woman's reputation was and didn't want to implicate others.
"It was my oversight. I shall withdraw now."
Sheng Xubai quickly retreated and, upon meeting Lin Yuwei and Ling Wan outside the tent, bowed slightly. "Thank you, Princess Consort Jing, and this lady."
As he had hidden behind the screen, he had vaguely heard someone call out "Princess Consort Jing." Judging by their attire, he recognized who the Princess Consort Jing was at a glance.
"Young Master Sheng indeed has sharp eyes."
Lin Yuwei looked at Sheng Xubai with a smile. He was truly stunningly handsome, no wonder so many women vied for a chance to meet him. It was a pity that Sheng Xubai was frail.
There were even rumors that Sheng Xubai's old ailment was difficult to treat, and he might not live past twenty-five. It was a shame for such a handsome appearance; indeed, heaven envied talented men.
"Princess Consort Jing flatters me. I should not linger here. I will call on you another day to express my gratitude and take my leave."
With many eyes watching this place, if someone with ulterior motives saw them, it would lead to more trouble. Sheng Xubai left in a hurry.
Lin Yuwei gazed at Sheng Xubai's retreating back, still feeling unsatisfied. She hadn't had her fill of looking at him, and he was already gone. Such a beautiful face, just seeing it for a moment each day would improve her mood for the entire day.
"Ling Wan, what do you think of the third young master Sheng's appearance?"
"Ah..."
Ling Wan replied with a surprised sound, her cheeks still flushed. She quickly withdrew her gaze from Sheng Xubai's retreating figure.
"You little thing, why is your face so red? Could it be that you're shy after seeing Sheng San Lang?"
Lin Yuwei teased her, and seeing Ling Wan's face turn even redder, she covered her mouth and giggled. "Alright, I'm just joking with you, but... you and Sheng San Lang are quite well-matched. How about I play matchmaker for you?"
"How can that be!" Ling Wan said hurriedly, "Princess Consort, please stop teasing me. How can such a thing be spoken of? Moreover, Young Master Sheng has a distinguished family background and noble status. How could I possibly be a match for him? Princess Consort, please stop making fun of me."
She knew her own worth. Even if Sheng Xubai was unwell, he was still a person of noble status, not someone a mere concubine-born daughter like herself could match.
If she didn't recognize her own position and harbored impossible fantasies, she would only end up heartbroken.
Over the years, she and her mother had survived the constant torment from the second branch and the bullying from the servants in the Ling family precisely because she had long recognized her own identity and status and never dared to covet things that did not belong to her. This way, life was easier.
Ling Wan clenched her hands tightly, her gaze fixed on her right hand, as if the moment Sheng Xubai had held her hand felt like an eon ago.
"What's so mismatched about it? Matters of the heart are about mutual affection. Look at your elder brother and sister-in-law. When they first got together, weren't people all over the capital mocking your sister-in-law? Now, aren't they incredibly loving? So, these matters of love are not about whether one is a match or not."
It was like her own marriage to Chu Chenyi. To outsiders, it was a well-matched union. However, they had no emotional foundation, and being together was just making do. Therefore, matters of the heart were the most inscrutable.
Lin Yuwei kept encouraging Ling Wan, urging her to be brave in pursuing love and not to let societal expectations hinder her lifelong happiness.
"Princess Consort, I've noted everything you've said. I have some things to discuss with my sister-in-law, so I'll go up now."
Ling Wan ran off, fearing that Lin Yuwei would continue to pester her with nonsensical talk.
"What were you doing outside? Why are you back so late?"
It had been quite some time since Sheng Xubai had left. Why were these two dawdling?
"It's all because of sister Ling Wan. She was so reluctant to part with the back of third young master Sheng."
Lin Yuwei didn't forget to add fuel to the fire, twisting the meaning of the event.
"It's not like that, sister-in-law. Please don't..."
"Really?" Feng Jin asked in surprise, apparently having completely ignored Ling Wan's words. She pulled Lin Yuwei along, wanting to ask for details.
"Of course. I saw with my own eyes our sister Ling Wan gazing at Sheng Xubai's retreating back with such longing in her eyes. It's true that although Sheng Xubai is frail, who wouldn't try to get close to him when he has such a handsome appearance? Which young lady wouldn't try their hardest to be with him?"
Lin Yuwei's tone held a hint of regret. Heaven envied talented men, but who made this third young master Sheng have such a weak constitution?
Feng Jin rested her chin on her hand, pondering for a moment. Then, she took Ling Wan's hand and said earnestly, "Listen to your sister-in-law's advice. Although Sheng Xubai looks good, his health is poor. His heart condition was something he contracted in the womb, and generally, such illnesses are very difficult to cure..."