Feng Jin, dressed in wedding attire, appeared behind him as silently as she could.
Beneath her bridal veil, she was heavily made up, her face painted like a monkey's backside, her eyebrows drawn thick and black, her blood-red mouth resembling that of someone who had just drunk the blood of the dead. She looked as terrifying as one could imagine.
The副将 (deputy general) was also stunned. This was the lucky star the old master had spoken of, and she was terrifyingly ugly.
A woman so hideously ugly could not possibly be worthy of the young general. Though the deputy general didn't say it aloud, his contempt was evident in his eyes.
Feng Jin did not cover herself with the red veil but rather walked brazenly into the sedan chair.
Closing her eyes, she rested in the sedan chair, her mind occupied with the information Qing Ling had gathered about Ling Mohan.
It was said that Ling Mohan had been injured in the head on the battlefield and had been in a vegetative state for half a year, neither living nor dead.
With her medical skills, she should be able to save him. The specific condition would only be clear once she saw him.
Along the way, the welcoming procession, with its drums and gongs, returned to the Grand Tutor's mansion.
Old Master Ling was a veteran of three dynasties, with disciples spread throughout the land. Half the officials in court were his students, and his family's background was not to be underestimated.
Old Master Ling had five sons and one daughter. His only daughter was born to a concubine, yet she was the one he doted on the most.
Four of his sons held official positions in court. However, his youngest son, disliking officialdom and preferring business, incurred Old Master Ling's great wrath. The father and son's relationship became strained, and the younger son left south to do business, never to return.
Ling Mohan, the eldest son of Old Master Ling, was the pride of the Ling family. He could recite poetry at three, astonished the court with an essay on governance at five, became the dean of the Imperial Academy at eight, and was appointed Imperial Tutor at twelve, making him famous throughout the land. At sixteen, facing national crisis, he abandoned his studies for the military.
In a battle that year, Ling Mohan, with two thousand elite soldiers, fought against Cangnan Country's two hundred thousand troops and achieved a great victory, becoming famous overnight. He then recaptured border territories, defeated the Xiongnu, and expanded the empire's borders. The populace hailed him as the "God of War," and his Black Armored Army was invincible.
His sudden serious injury and coma caught the Ling family off guard. Old Master Ling had exhausted every method to awaken his grandson. When all else failed, he resorted to the method of "冲喜" (chong xi, a custom of marrying someone to a sickly person to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits).
"Young Madam, you may alight from the sedan chair," came the deputy general's voice from outside the sedan.
The butler was already waiting outside to greet her. Upon seeing the woman with the bridal veil lifted, revealing her ugly face, he was shocked.
This woman was the one Old Master had arranged for the young general's 冲喜?
It was truly… an eyesore!
How could someone so ugly be worthy of their young general, whom they regarded as an immortal from heaven?
"It would be best for Young Madam to keep the red veil on," the butler said, his tone respectful yet distant.
"No need, let's not waste time," Feng Jin refused.
"Old Master is waiting for Young Madam in the study." Although the butler was displeased, he dared not overstep his bounds as a subordinate.
Feng Jin entered the mansion and followed the butler towards the study, passing through the garden.
The Ling mansion occupied a considerable area. The garden was planted with various rare and precious flowers. It was spring, and the flowers were in full bloom, filling the air with fragrance.
Seeing her calm demeanor and lack of greed on her face, the butler felt a touch of surprise.
He figured this woman was rather cunning, knowing to act composed.
They arrived at the study.
"Old Master, Young Madam has arrived," the butler announced respectfully at the door.
"Enter."
Old Master Ling put down his wolf-hair brush and looked up.
Upon seeing Feng Jin, Old Master Ling frowned. Although he had heard that the Feng family's eldest daughter was ugly and uncouth, having grown up in the countryside, she was not worthy of his most proud grandson. However, for his grandson to awaken sooner, these things were unimportant.
"Feng…"
"Feng Jin," Feng Jin announced her name.
Old Master Ling nodded, his cloudy eyes carrying a hint of pain. "You must have heard of Han'er's condition. He has not yet woken up and cannot perform the wedding ceremony."
"However, rest assured, you are still the lawfully wedded Young Madam of my Grand Tutor's mansion."
"Mm, I understand." Feng Jin's expression was calm, showing no hint of resentment.
Seeing this, Old Master Ling appeared noticeably surprised. "You don't mind?"
He had seen countless people, yet he had never encountered a young girl whose eyes were as bright and clear as this one before him, devoid of any impurity. Her overall serene and detached demeanor did not seem like that of someone from the countryside at all.
It seemed the master he had consulted was correct.
"Butler, escort Young Madam to the East Courtyard."
Ling Mohan's courtyard was in the East Courtyard, which was also the best located courtyard in the entire mansion.
"Yes, Old Master."
The butler led Feng Jin away from the study, heading towards the East Courtyard.
Along the way, the butler, worried that the future Young Madam would not be able to care for the young general, chattered incessantly: "Although the young general is currently unconscious, he might wake up at any moment."
"The young general likes cleanliness. You will need to wash and change his clothes daily. This task will trouble Young Madam from now on."
"Also, even though the young general is unconscious, he still needs to eat. The servants will bring the prepared ginseng soup and other tonics. Young Madam must remember to feed him on time…"
"Young Genera…"
"Are you finished?" Feng Jin suddenly spoke, interrupting the butler's unfinished words.
Her gaze, cold and clear, like a thousand-year-old frozen pond, made the butler feel as if his blood had solidified, sending chills all over his body.
"I do not need anyone to teach me how to do my work."
Feng Jin looked at him coldly, her icy eyes like a frigid pool, sending shivers down one's spine.
"How arrogant! A lowly person marrying my elder brother for 冲喜 dares to cause trouble in my Grand Tutor's mansion."
A pampered voice chimed in.
Feng Jin frowned and looked towards the newcomer.
The young girl was wearing a crimson water fairy outfit. A purple belt with pink trim cinched her slender waist to perfection. Her water-blue skirt trailed to the ground. Her powdered face seemed to hold the blush of spring, like a peach blossom blooming in March, exquisitely delicate.
The newcomer was the youngest daughter of the Ling family's second son, Ling Yan.