"It's a deal!" Feng Jin said calmly, her eyes unwavering.
Ling Muzhu looked at Feng Jin with disdain, waiting for her to kowtow and apologize tomorrow before being driven out of the Grand Tutor's mansion in disgrace.
He refused to believe that if all the renowned physicians in the world were helpless, Feng Jin, a country girl who barely knew a few characters, could cure his cousin's illness.
"Nan Ge, if you need any medicinal herbs, feel free to take them from the mansion's herbal阁!"
For half a year, Old Master Ling had sought renowned physicians in vain for Han'er's illness. In desperation, he had believed the master's prophecy that a daughter from the Prime Minister's mansion would bring good fortune to Han'er, thus leading to the idea of a marriage to ward off misfortune.
Feng Jin was not one to refuse. If someone was willing to provide the herbs, why waste her own?
She immediately had the steward take her to the herbal阁.
"Young Madam, this is the herbal阁. The smell inside is strong, please instruct me if you need any herbs, and I will retrieve them for you!"
The steward's tone was cold, his words guarded, lacking any deference expected of a subordinate, as if he were the master.
"Since I am the young madam of this mansion, there is nowhere in this mansion I cannot go. If you block me here and delay the young general's recovery, how will Old Master deal with you!"
The steward's face turned pale. He hadn't expected this country girl to be so sharp-tongued.
"Still not moving aside!" Feng Jin said sternly.
The steward's heart faltered, and he quickly stepped back, opening the door.
The Ling family had enjoyed imperial favor for generations, achieving great merits and being highly valued by successive emperors. The herbal阁 housed countless precious medicinal ingredients.
"Thousand-year Dragon Bone" – such an ingredient had been extinct for centuries, yet here it was, still in existence.
Feng Jin's face lit up with joy. She immediately pocketed the treasure and took several other herbs before leaving.
With Old Master Ling's decree, Feng Jin directly ordered the guards to surround the East Courtyard, preventing any stray cats or dogs from wandering into the wrong places.
Feng Jin took out a delicate and small porcelain bottle from her embrace, took out a pill, dissolved it in water, and fed it to Ling Mohan.
This pill was refined by her using over a dozen rare medicinal ingredients, particularly the Thousand-Leaf Grass and Dragon Tail Mountain Ginseng, of which only two stalks existed in the entire world. It seemed they would all be used on Ling Mohan today.
She then stewed the remaining Thousand-Leaf Grass, Dragon Tail Mountain Ginseng, and Thousand-Year Dragon Bone together for three hours before feeding it to Ling Mohan.
Feng Jin unfastened Ling Mohan's collar, her fingers holding three golden needles, channeling her internal energy to insert them into acupoints.
Cold sweat beaded on Ling Mohan's forehead, and his skin was covered in a fine mist.
When the time came, Feng Jin quickly withdrew the needles. Silver-blue insects, emitting a chilling aura, clung to the golden needles.
The one who cast the spell must have harbored deep hatred for Ling Mohan, using three Ice Curses, intending to kill him!
It was a pity that Ling Mohan's fate was not yet to end, as he had encountered her.
Feng Jin refined the Ice Curses into the decoction. This ice could be considered a rare treasure, and to destroy it like this felt like a waste. It would be better to collect it; it might be useful in the future.
Although the Ice Curses were removed, Ling Mohan's body was too severely ravaged by them, especially his legs. The cold poison had infiltrated his bone marrow, and a full recovery would not be easy!
Shortly after the Ice Curses were removed, Ling Mohan awoke.
He... the Ice Curses within him had been dispelled...
The bone-chilling coldness in his body vanished, and the gnawing pain in his chest disappeared.
As Ling Mohan was about to rise, a voice stopped him.
"If you wish to be permanently disabled, go ahead and get up then!"
"You dispelled the Ice Curses on me?"
Ling Mohan said incredulously, as the world proclaimed the Ice Curses to be incurable.
The woman before him had a coarse appearance, but her watery eyes were exceptionally lively and clear, like a deep, unfathomable pond.
"It was I who dispelled them. I saved your life; I hope you will remember this kindness!"
Feng Jin was not one to be benevolent without expecting a reward. She had gone to great lengths to save his life, and naturally, she wanted Ling Mohan to remember it well.
"Of course, I will. Whatever you wish for, be it gold or jewels, I will satisfy you!"
"I don't need gold or jewels. As for how you will repay me, I haven't thought of it yet. Consider it a debt, and you will have the opportunity to repay it!"
Ling Mohan was slightly taken aback. He prided himself on his understanding of people, yet he had never met such a unique woman, especially with the cool and detached aura she possessed, so different from the noble ladies of the capital.
"May I know your name, Miss?"
"My name is Feng Jin. I also have another identity – I am your newly wedded wife!"
"What..." Ling Mohan looked at Feng Jin in surprise...
Newly wedded wife... What was going on?
Feng Jin explained the entire situation to Ling Mohan without reservation.
Even if she didn't say anything, Ling Mohan would eventually find out. It was better for her to just state it directly.
...
"Ugly woman, open the door... It's time. Do you still want to hide inside? Hurry up and pack your things and get out of the Ling family!"
Ling Muzhu's idiotic voice echoed throughout the East Courtyard.
As soon as the day was up, Ling Muzhu rushed to the East Courtyard, eagerly awaiting Feng Jin to kowtow and apologize to him.
"Don't make a fuss!" Old Master Ling shouted angrily, his tightly clenched fist hidden in his sleeve betraying his current anxious state.
He had been sleepless all night and had rushed to the East Courtyard as soon as dawn broke.
He hoped that Feng Jin could cure Han'er's illness!
"Grandfather, I've already told you, that ugly woman can't cure Big Cousin's illness at all. She's probably hiding in the room now, too scared to come out. Just let me drag her out and... "
"Silence! You have no manners or respect!"
Old Master Ling's face darkened. This was the upbringing of the children from the second branch; they were simply outrageous.
Scolded by his grandfather, Ling Muzhu's spirit deflated, and he stood aside dejectedly.
Old Master Ling strode towards the house. Just as he reached the doorway, the door opened from within. Feng Jin stepped out and approached Old Master Ling, showing proper courtesy.
"Grandfather!"
"Nan Ge, how is Han'er?"
"Young General..."
Before Feng Jin could finish speaking, Ling Muzhu could no longer restrain himself: "Ugly woman, don't talk so much nonsense, just go in and see for yourself!"
"If Cousin hasn't woken up, then you kowtow and apologize to me, and then get out of the Ling family!"
As Ling Muzhu finished speaking, a cold and commanding voice rang out.
"Younger cousin, you've grown quite bold, even trying to drive out my wife!"
Ling Muzhu's expression froze. He rubbed his eyes, unable to believe what he was seeing.
His Big Cousin, who had been in a coma for half a year and whom renowned physicians had given up on, had actually woken up.
And he had been saved by a crude and ignorant country girl...
"Impossible, this is impossible!" Ling Muzhu vehemently denied. "Grandfather, this person must not be Big Cousin. This ugly woman must have found someone to deceive you..."
"Slap!" A crisp slap echoed.