Aunt Zhang was also shrewd and immediately saw the clue. She hurriedly said, "Miss, I'll get another pair of bowls and chopsticks."
Feng Jin sat down with a cold face, "How did you find this place?"
Ling Mohan ignored her and continued to eat, having to admit that Feng Jin had a deep understanding of eating.
Ling Wan and Cai Qing became instantly constrained due to Ling Mohan's sudden visit, unsure whether to stand or sit.
"You all continue eating, just pretend he doesn't exist."
Feng Jin completely ignored the man. He came uninvited and ate with relish. Only Ling Mohan could be so shameless.
"Miss, the bowls and chopsticks are here." Aunt Zhang placed two sets of bowls and chopsticks on the table, and beckoned to Lu Shi, "Little brother, you sit down and eat too."
It was mealtime, and they couldn't let others stand and watch them eat.
"Lu Shi, you sit down and eat too." Feng Jin finally noticed Lu Shi standing by.
"Thank you, Madam."
Having run all day, Lu Shi was already hungry, and the aroma made his hunger even more apparent.
After getting Feng Jin's permission, Lu Shi hurriedly sat down, picked up his bowls and chopsticks, and began to eat.
Ling Wan was restless. She never imagined she would one day dine at the same table as Ling Mohan.
Even though they were siblings, there was a distinction between the嫡 (main wife's children) and 庶 (concubine's children). Her mother was a concubine, and she, as a庶女 (daughter of a concubine), had to eat in her own room.
During festive banquets, even if they attended, they were seated at a separate small table with a few simple ingredients.
"Eldest sister-in-law, eldest brother, I'm done eating. I'll go make you a pot of tea."
After speaking, Ling Wan left as if escaping.
Feng Jin cast an unfriendly glance at Ling Mohan, thinking it was all his fault that Ling Wan was uncomfortable and had left in a hurry.
"Why are you looking at me?" Ling Mohan felt Feng Jin's gaze was strange.
"Eat your food. You'll stuff yourself to death sooner or later!"
Feng Jin said impatiently. He was eating heartily.
After eating and drinking their fill, Feng Jin stared coldly at Ling Mohan. Why wasn't he leaving yet? Unable to bear it any longer, she asked, "When are you leaving?"
"When are you leaving?"
He came here to take Feng Jin with him, so when Feng Jin left, he would leave.
Feng Jin's mouth twitched. She rolled her eyes.
This man was now a complete rogue.
"Miss, it's getting late. If these two young ladies stay out overnight, their reputation will be affected. Why don't you go back with this young master today?"
Aunt Zhang, having been through a lot, saw the situation clearly and advised Feng Jin to return first.
It didn't matter what happened to her alone, but she had brought Ling Wan and Cai Qing with her, who were all unmarried young ladies.
Staying out overnight would damage their reputation and make it difficult to find husbands.
"Let's go back." Feng Jin said dejectedly.
"Aunt Zhang, please pick some vegetables and fruits for us to take back."
She didn't want to eat the dried vegetables and fruits from the Ling Mansion anymore.
"Okay, Miss, I'll go right away."
Aunt Zhang was capable and, in a short time, picked a basket full of vegetables and fruits, enough to last for a while.
Lu Shi took the basket and put it into the carriage. It was a fresh thing to see fresh vegetables at this season.
After getting into the carriage, Ling Mohan unceremoniously picked up the grapes and ate them with relish.
They were even sweeter than the grapes offered as tribute before.
When they arrived at the Ling Mansion, there were no grapes left in the basket.
Feng Jin's brows furrowed. She had specifically asked Aunt Zhang to pick more grapes. It was truly bizarre that they could be stolen.
"Did you see my grapes?" Feng Jin asked Ling Mohan, lifting her eyelids.
"No," Ling Mohan said in a low voice, then got up and jumped off the carriage.
Afterward, Feng Jin's angry roar could be heard from inside the carriage.
"Ling Mohan, you ate them all and you still won't admit it!"
On the seat where the man had just been sitting, there was a pile of grape skins. Yet, he had just adamantly claimed he hadn't seen them.
Feng Jin took a deep breath, preventing herself from suffocating in anger.
"Eldest sister-in-law, brother definitely didn't do it on purpose. Please don't be angry." Ling Wan, who had witnessed the entire incident, was also greatly surprised and could not associate the stoic Ling Mohan with stealing food.
It completely subverted her worldview and understanding.
"He did it on purpose, just to spite me. I'll be angered to death by him sooner or later."
She had to divorce Ling Mohan as soon as possible and pursue her new life.
"Take these fruits back to Aunt Bai." Feng Jin handed the fruits to Ling Wan. Aunt Bai's courtyard didn't have a small kitchen, so the vegetables couldn't be eaten if brought back. It was better to cook and send some prepared food.
"Cai Qing, put the remaining vegetables in the small kitchen and take some fruits to the Old Master."
After all, Old Master Ling was an absolutely authoritative figure in the Ling family. Courting favor with him brought her nothing but benefits.
"Yes, Madam."
After eating and drinking their fill, Feng Jin lay on the couch, leisurely eating tangerines.
It was a pity that the climate here was temperate, and she couldn't eat tropical fruits.
It was now the season for lychees, and not being able to eat them was a great regret.
"A thousand miles of red dust, a concubine's smile, no one knows the lychees have arrived."
She didn't have the good fortune of Concubine Yang. If she wanted to eat lychees, she could only rely on her own efforts.
"Madam, it's cool in autumn. Eat fewer cooling fruits, or your stomach will feel uncomfortable."
Cai Qing looked at the pile of tangerine peels and advised, eating so many would make her stomach uncomfortable again later.
"I won't eat anymore." Eating too many tangerines would turn her skin yellow.
"Cai Qing, have you prepared the bathwater?"
After traveling all day, she needed a medicinal bath to relax.
"It's all prepared, Madam. I'll help you change."
"No need. You go rest early. I'll do it myself." Feng Jin really disliked being served while bathing and quickly sent Cai Qing away.
Her tired body sank into the hot water filled with medicinal herbs, and her mind and body instantly relaxed.
Medicinal herbs that promoted blood circulation and helped with sleep were added to the water. After soaking for a while, Feng Jin felt drowsy.
Feng Jin got up, put on her clothes, and was about to get into bed when...
There was a loud crash at the window. Before Feng Jin could react, a man dressed in black, holding a sharp sword, burst in through the window.
The man reacted extremely quickly, holding the sword to Feng Jin's neck and threatening, "If you dare to make a sound, I'll kill you!"
"Don't... please spare my life, good sir. I am just a weak woman. Whatever you say, I will do."
Feng Jin wisely surrendered, subtly shifting her body backward to move the dangerous sword further away.
"Quick, search thoroughly. Don't miss a single corner..."
Noisy sounds came from outside the window. Feng Jin immediately recognized Lu Shi. The man in black must be the assassin they were looking for.