Dabao, understanding his father all too well, held no hope for the method Erbao had just proposed.
Relying on their father was no better than relying on themselves to beg their mother. Perhaps if their mother was in a good mood, she would return the wooden sword to them.
It was better not to ask their father; in the end, he might even side with their mother and scold the two of them severely.
"No... Father will help us."
Erbao appeared confident, clearly having devised a foolproof plan and certain he could get his father to help them retrieve their belongings from their mother.
...
"Where is Caiqing? I haven't seen her for ages."
Since morning, Caiqing hadn't made an appearance, and it was only Chuqing who had been busy.
"Young Madam, you don't know yet. Lord Lu took Sister Chuqing out this morning to prepare things. It seems a happy event is approaching."
Chuqing smiled, genuinely happy for Caiqing.
Since she arrived by the Young Madam's side, besides the Young Madam, Caiqing had been the kindest to her, treating her like a younger sister. Seeing Caiqing find her happiness made her naturally delighted.
"Why is Lu Shi suddenly so enlightened? He's acting so quickly. Is he preparing for marriage?"
Feng Jin was very surprised by Lu Shi's change; it was incomparable to his previous slow-paced nature. Lu Shi had indeed done well this time.
"Lord Lu must be worried that Sister Caiqing will refuse to marry him, so he's striking while the iron is hot."
Chuqing had witnessed firsthand how worried Lu Shi was that Caiqing might go back on her word. Yesterday, he had asked Sister Caiqing multiple times if she truly was willing to marry him.
He was afraid that Sister Caiqing had only agreed to marry him on impulse, so he naturally had to speed up his pace and quickly marry her off to be most secure.
"What a waste of worry."
Anyone with eyes could see that Caiqing genuinely liked Lu Shi and wouldn't marry anyone else. It was just Lu Shi being too insecure.
However, it was good for Lu Shi to have some sense of crisis; it would make him cherish and be content even more.
"When Caiqing returns, tell her to come find me. I have something to tell her."
It was unlikely she would see Caiqing herself in the next day or two, so she could only ask Chuqing to pay attention and relay a message.
"Yes, Young Madam, this servant has noted it all."
After a hasty meal, Feng Jin returned to her room to continue her study of medicine.
Dabao and Erbao, being clever imps, had been guarding the entrance along Ling Mohhan's usual route.
They waited for two to three hours before Ling Mohhan finally returned.
Upon seeing Ling Mohhan's figure, the two immediately rushed forward and hugged him tightly.
"What's wrong with you two? Haven't I always told you to be steady when you walk and sit? What's with this haste?"
Ling Mohhan was slightly taken aback by their sudden rush and quickly pulled the two clinging children down.
"Father, Mother took the wooden sword..."
Dabao tilted his small face, looking earnestly at Ling Mohhan, his eyes full of pleading.
"And then?"
Ling Mohhan bent down, looking at Dabao, not following his words but directly asking. He wanted Dabao to state his request first before deciding whether to help them.
"Father... will you help us get it back?" Erbao tugged at Ling Mohhan's sleeve and stepped forward, speaking proactively.
"Why did Mother take the wooden sword?"
He did not agree to the two clever imps' request but instead inquired about the reason for the incident.
The two children exchanged furtive glances, as if discussing a strategy.
Ling Mohhan did not press further immediately but calmly watched the two, seeing what reason they would come up with.
After a brief discussion, Dabao finally spoke, "Mother doesn't want us to play with it, she said it's dangerous... so she took it away."
Just as he had guessed, without a doubt, the two children had been playing with it in front of Feng Jin, and it was confiscated. They dared not ask for it themselves, so they came to him, hoping he would help them get it back.
These two cunning little ones had quite a few tricks up their sleeves, even knowing to find a helper.
"Didn't Father warn you not to play in front of Mother? Now that it's taken away, it's your own fault. Father can't do anything."
It was their own fault for not listening to advice and not hiding properly. Now that it was confiscated, there was no point in thinking about playing with it, and it was simpler this way.
He was somewhat worried that these two rascals hadn't sold him out and needed to quickly go back and gauge the situation, which was the most important thing.
"Father, you really are afraid of Mother!"
As soon as Erbao said this, Ling Mohhan stopped in his tracks, turned around, fixed his gaze on Erbao, directly pulled him closer, and asked sternly, "Who taught you these words? And who told you Father is afraid of Mother!"
"Everyone says so."
This statement included everyone. However, he wasn't lying. Everyone in the manor knew that Father was most afraid of Mother, but no one dared to say it in front of Father. Thus, Father naturally assumed he hadn't heard it.
"That 'everyone,' how many people actually said it!"
Ling Mohhan became somewhat agitated. He did admit to being a bit afraid of Feng Jin, but he wouldn't allow others to say it, especially when such words came from his own son. He felt that this小子 looked down on him a little.
"It's true, otherwise why wouldn't Father dare to ask Mother to return the wooden sword? Father, you're just afraid of Mother."
Dabao, seeing his brother almost at a loss for words, quickly jumped in to retort.
"Exactly, Father is afraid of Mother!"
Erbao immediately added, solidifying the fact that their father was afraid of their mother.
"You two wait and see if I can get the item back. Or, Father is never afraid of Mother; Father respects your Mother, understand!"
Ling Mohhan felt a terrible headache from being exasperated by the two of them, repeatedly cautioning them.
He had to rectify his image in Dabao and Erbao's minds and establish his authority.
"Then Father, go and get it. If you get it back, then we'll believe you're not afraid of Mother."
Dabao's eyes rolled as he continued to provoke Ling Mohhan, "Erbao's idea is really good; Father has already taken the bait."