Feng Jin was furious and reached out to pull the man up. She had never realized before that this man had the potential to be a scoundrel.
Dodging Feng Jin's tug, Ling Mohan took the initiative, grabbed Feng Jin's wrist, pulled her onto the couch, and held her tightly in his arms, "You got up too early this morning, let's catch up on some sleep."
Feng Jin struggled to push him away, but it was still to no avail.
Coupled with not sleeping all night, Feng Jin immediately felt sleepy upon touching the bed and soon fell into a deep slumber.
Lu Shi ran over in a hurry but was blocked by Cai Qing outside.
"Miss Cai Qing, I have an urgent matter to report to the young general, please let me in."
"No, the young general and his wife are resting, don't disturb them. We'll talk about it when they wake up."
Cai Qing still earnestly hoped for the two of them to reconcile, so she couldn't let Lu Shi inside to cause trouble.
"I..." Lu Shi was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, but he couldn't force his way in. He paced restlessly outside the door.
"Oh, Cai Qing, please do me a favor and let me in, I really have something urgent!"
"I said no, and I mean it. I'm a person of principle!"
Lu Shi suppressed his urge to explode, paused, and then directly shouted at the door, "Young General, Young Madam, I have an urgent matter to report, and Cai Qing is blocking me from entering."
His voice was so loud that even the sparrows in the trees were startled awake and flew away from the danger zone, flapping their wings.
"You shut up! If you keep shouting, the whole mansion will hear you."
Cai Qing was so scared that she hurriedly tried to stop him, but Lu Shi seized the opportunity and darted inside.
"You can't go in." Cai Qing followed them into the room.
"Your subordinate has important matters to report, please forgive my intrusion, young general." Lu Shi hurriedly begged for mercy as soon as he entered.
Feng Jin woke up when she heard the commotion outside. Just as she was about to open the door, the two of them rushed in one after another.
"Young Madam, this servant failed to stop him." Cai Qing glared fiercely at Lu Shi.
Ling Mohan leaned against the couch with a look of annoyance. He wanted to sleep hugging his wife, but it was so difficult, and there were always people who weren't observant enough to cause trouble.
"Speak, what is it?"
"Young General, Prince Jing wishes to see you. Your subordinate dare not make a decision privately and has come to seek instructions."
Upon hearing this, Feng Jin knew there was something fishy. "Cai Qing, accompany me to see if the young general's medicine is ready."
"Yes, Young Madam."
Ling Mohan's expression deepened. After a pause, he said, "Tell Prince Jing to return to his mansion first. We will go through the secret passage to meet Prince Jing after tidying up."
"Young General, your body?"
"I am unharmed. Matters of importance take precedence, don't delay."
In the quiet of the night, in a secret chamber of Prince Jing's mansion, Ling Mohan, dressed in black, entered with agile steps.
"I thought you were seriously injured and about to breathe your last."
Chu Chenyi sat in a wheelchair, but his noble demeanor remained unchanged.
"Your Highness, you are still alive, so how could I bear to die first?"
"You..." Prince Jing's mouth twitched slightly. He shouldn't have spoken so carelessly and asked for trouble.
"Regarding the assassination, do you have any leads?"
Ling Mohan sat opposite him, his expression grave. "This was found on the assassin. Do you recognize it?"
He tossed a pure copper token to Chu Chenyi.
With just a glance, Chu Chenyi's pupils instantly widened, and the hand holding the token tightened, the veins on his fair hand bulging.
"Back at the hunting ground that year, I was assassinated and fell from my horse, breaking my leg. I found this token nearby."
"Both of these incidents were done by the same person," Ling Mohan said in a deep voice. "It's a pity that I sent people to investigate, but there is no information about this token in the martial world."
After a pause, Ling Mohan offered his conjecture, "This token might be worn by assassins privately kept by official families."
"It's a capital offense for princes and ministers to keep assassins privately. We haven't investigated in that direction from the beginning."
Chu Chenyi rested his hands on his numb legs, filled with unwillingness and resentment.
"I will have the Black Armored Army investigate this matter privately," Ling Mohan said in a low voice. "As for your legs, the Empress Dowager instructed Feng Jin to treat you secretly."
"Treatment..." Chu Chenyi sneered, "I've long given up hope. Many renowned doctors have declared these legs useless, and any further treatment would be futile."
He had long accepted the fact of his disability and had always resisted treatment from doctors.
He didn't want to experience the process from hope to despair again.
"I believe Feng Jin can cure your legs!"
Ling Mohan said solemnly. He and Chu Chenyi had known each other since childhood and had been like mentor and friend for many years. He didn't want to see him so dejected.
He was even more convinced that with Feng Jin's medical skills, she could save someone as dying as himself, so curing Chu Chenyi's legs would be no difficult task.
Having known him for many years, this was the first time Chu Chenyi had seen him so certain about someone. He couldn't help but waver, and a flicker of hope ignited in his eyes.
He wanted to stand up again more than anyone.
After his legs were crippled, his world seemed to have collapsed.
All his favor and prestige vanished overnight. He would never forget his father's disappointed and regretful gaze.
His imperial grandmother's worried and pained eyes, and the Empress's smug look hidden behind her hypocritical concern.
"Do you really believe she can cure my legs?"
"I believe in her!" Ling Mohan stated firmly.
Chu Chenyi slowly lowered his eyes, hoping that it would be so.
"My Prince, the Princess Consort asks if you are free to return home tomorrow," Ye Qi reported.
Chu Chenyi's eyes shifted, and he hesitated, remaining silent for a long time.
"You should accompany her. You cannot refuse the Pingyang Marquis Mansion's invitation," Ling Mohan advised. The "three-day return visit" was an important occasion, and leaving the new bride to go back alone would invite gossip.
Ling Mohan couldn't help but recall Feng Jin's righteous indignation. It seemed he hadn't accompanied Feng Jin for her return visit either.
However, Feng Jin had long since broken ties with her family in the Feng Mansion. She probably couldn't wait to sever all contact with them and wouldn't be thinking about a return visit.
Chu Chenyi paused, "Tell the Princess Consort that I will accompany her on the return visit tomorrow."
"I haven't had a chance to ask you, how was your wedding night?"
As soon as Ling Mohan finished speaking, Chu Chenyi's face turned ashen, and he cast a displeased glance at Ling Mohan.
He had almost forgotten about it. He took out a porcelain bottle from his embrace and threw it in front of Ling Mohan, "Do you recognize this?"
Ling Mohan's brows furrowed. He picked up the medicine bottle and glanced at it, finding it somewhat familiar. He seemed to have seen it with Feng Jin. He asked uncertainly, "This seems to be Feng Jin's. How is it in your possession?"
Chu Chenyi's mouth twitched uncontrollably, "This is Feng Jin's. She gave it to Lin Yuwei to drug me on our wedding night and have me carried away."