Marrying anyone would be the same, just a hasty end to one's remaining years.
"Even for the sake of Pingyang侯府, for my family, I will marry His Highness Prince Jing."
The imperial decree had been issued, and she had no chance to refuse. Since it was destined, why not marry with a happy heart?
She had once had the good fortune to meet His Highness Prince Jing. He was graceful and elegant; if not for his injured leg, he would have been an excellent match.
"Do you truly think so? I merely feel you deserve someone better."
Lin Yuwei smiled faintly and, holding Feng Jin's hand, said, "Actually, I've liked General Shao since I was little, but we were not fated to be. What doesn't belong to me, I must learn to let go. I choose to accept my destiny, and only then can my later half of life be more joyful."
"It's good that you can let go." Feng Jin's impression of Lin Yuwei's favorability rating soared.
She liked beautiful women who were kind and intelligent.
She was much better than Feng Ruoyan.
"Sister, don't you blame me for having liked General Shao in the past?"
In her understanding, no woman could tolerate another woman liking her husband, yet looking at Feng Jin's expression, there wasn't the slightest hint of displeasure.
"Since you said it was in the past, why should I dwell on past matters? Isn't that just bringing unhappiness upon myself? Besides, what's better than sisters, certainly not some smelly man."
Moreover, she didn't like Ling Mohan, nor did she care if other women liked him.
At the same time, Ling Mohan, standing outside the courtyard, sneezed several times in a row.
"General Shao, you seem to have caught a chill. Please put on an outer coat."
Lu Shi draped the pre-prepared outer coat over Ling Mohan's shoulders.
He couldn't help but feel that ever since the young general woke up, he had become somewhat frail.
It wasn't cold today, yet after standing by the door for a while, he had sneezed several times.
"I'm fine..." Ling Mohan brushed aside the outer coat on his shoulders. Why hadn't Feng Jin come out yet?
Could it be that she had quarreled with Lin Yuwei...
The man's face was full of worry. How could Lin Yuwei be Feng Jin's match? This was Pingyang侯府, the Lin family's territory. Causing trouble here wouldn't be easy to get away with.
Just as Ling Mohan's mind was racing with wild thoughts, the two emerged from the room, chatting and laughing.
"Is everything alright inside, General Shao?" Lin Yuwei greeted him with utmost courtesy.
Ling Mohan did not respond. Why had these two suddenly become so chummy?
"Someone is talking to you, what's with that attitude of yours?" Seeing that Ling Mohan was ignoring her, Feng Jin said with some displeasure and slapped his shoulder.
"Apologies, Miss Lin. Please forgive me."
Ling Mohan, snapping back to attention, cupped his hands and said, then grabbed Feng Jin's hand, looking her over from head to toe. Seeing that she was unharmed, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Feng Jin looked at Ling Mohan with an expression that implied he was being ridiculous.
"Sister Yuwei, we'll be leaving now. I'll bring you the beauty serum in a couple of days. I guarantee it will make your complexion glow."
"Thank you, sister."
After leaving Pingyang侯府, Ling Mohan couldn't suppress his curiosity. "What did you two discuss in the room, and what is this beauty serum?"
"These are a woman's secrets, naturally, I can't tell you."
Feng Jin refused without hesitation. Then, her gaze turned to Ling Mohan with curiosity, and she playfully remarked, "I didn't expect General Shao to be interested in such matters. Your taste is truly unique?"
Ling Mohan's face instantly darkened. He shot Feng Jin an unfriendly glance, pulled her into his embrace, and whispered into her ear in a low voice, "I'm also interested in other things, my dear wife. Would you like to know?"
"I'd be a fool to want to know!" Feng Jin, flustered with embarrassment, pushed him away.
'Bang!' With a sound, Ling Mohan's shoulder hit the carriage frame hard.
"Hiss..." The sharp pain in his shoulder made Ling Mohan frown. "Are you trying to murder your husband!"
"You're just putting on an act. I know exactly how much force I used!"
She had only given him a gentle push. On the battlefield, what kind of injuries hadn't he suffered from swords and sabers? That little bit of pain was nothing to him.
Yet he was acting as if he had lost half his life.
"I really am..."
Before Ling Mohan could finish speaking, Feng Jin jumped off the carriage, not wanting to listen to his complaints.
"Young Madam, you're finally back. Nanny Yun has been waiting for you in the mansion. She brought all the rewards the Empress Dowager bestowed."
Cai Qing looked as if she had seen something extraordinary.
"Instruct the kitchen to prepare the meal. Have Nanny Yun dine with us at the mansion."
"Yes, Young Madam!"
Nanny Yun saw Feng Jin's figure and slowly put down her teacup before rising. "Greetings, Young Madam."
"Thank you for making the trip personally, Nanny."
"Your servant is here by the Empress Dowager's command. It is hardly a hardship. Once the Feng family sends the dowry of the late madam and it is accounted for, this servant shall return to the palace."
"Thank you for your trouble, Nanny."
Feng Jin was full of respect. She knew that the Empress Dowager had sent Nanny Yun to prevent the Feng family from causing trouble.
"Nanny, why don't you have lunch first? Accounting for the dowry will take some time, likely arriving in the afternoon."
She suspected that her cheap father and Madam Sun and her daughters were currently trying to pass off fakes as genuine.
In the main hall of the Feng Residence.
Feng Yuanping's face was grim, his venomous gaze fixed on the trembling mother and daughter kneeling before him. The memorial in his hand was crumpled into a ball.
He picked up the teacup from the table and hurled it fiercely at Madam Sun.
The teacup struck Madam Sun's left shoulder directly, and the scalding tea splashed all over her. The valuable blue and white porcelain bowl shattered instantly.
Madam Sun still dared not make any move.
Feng Ruoyan was terrified and flustered. She had never seen her father fly into such a rage.
"Father... Father..."
"Silence! I don't have a disgraceful daughter like you."
Feng Yuanping was filled with fury, wishing he could kill the mother and daughter with a single sword stroke.
Feng Ruoyan had already been beaten ten times. Although the Third Prince had interceded secretly, she still couldn't avoid some physical suffering.
Her injuries had not yet healed, and she had been kneeling on the cold floor for a long time. Feng Ruoyan's frail body could not withstand such torment. She was already swaying.
"Master, Yan'er has just been punished. Her body cannot endure kneeling for so long! The Emperor has already decreed her marriage to the Third Prince as a secondary consort. Yan'er cannot board the sedan chair while ill."
Feng Yuanping's anger subsided slightly upon hearing that Feng Ruoyan was to marry the Third Prince.
He could not count on that girl Feng Jin to assist the Feng family. His only hope was Feng Ruoyan. Once she married the Third Prince, there would be no shortage of opportunities to become Empress.
"Get up and sit down first! How can you board the sedan chair if your body is injured?"
"Thank you, Father."