Lin Yuwei clutched the porcelain bottle in her hand as if it were a treasure, her heart’s desire finally within reach. The joy in her eyes was impossible to conceal.
She impatiently opened the lid and brought it close to her nose, kissing it gently.
It had a faint, pleasant scent that was incredibly comforting. This was truly a good thing. Sister Feng Jin was so good to her, giving her such treasures without batting an eye.
“Just use it as I told you, and I guarantee there won’t be a single mark on your abdomen.”
She had personally tested it herself when carrying the twins, Da Bao and Er Bao; there were no marks on her abdomen. As long as Lin Yuwei persisted in using it, she would definitely see results.
Feng Jin’s gaze drifted towards the door. She hadn’t expected Chu Chenyi to be so patient, and he still hadn't shown himself at this hour.
“Why hasn’t the Prince of Jing come? Are the two of you having another spat?”
“No, I can’t be bothered to pay attention to him anymore.”
She no longer considered Chu Chenyi important. She had also discovered that as long as she didn’t pay too much attention, she wouldn’t get angry. Therefore, it was best to ignore Chu Chenyi.
Feng Jin’s eyebrows rose slightly. It seemed there was something brewing between the two of them. Just as Feng Jin was about to pry, Chu Chenyi’s annoying figure slowly appeared before them.
“Oh! The Prince of Jing truly has a grand demeanor. It takes three requests and four invitations to finally see you. It’s not easy at all.”
Feng Jin said with sarcastic taunts, and the smile in the corner of her eyes struck Chu Chenyi with an involuntary chill.
He cleared his throat, and Chu Chenyi’s expression returned to its usual calmness. He sat calmly on a chair, but his gaze dared not meet Feng Jin’s directly.
After a moment of silence, none of the three present prepared to speak. The air fell into a rare quiet.
The slightly eerie atmosphere made Lin Yuwei uneasy and somewhat fearful. After a moment’s hesitation, she cautiously ventured, “Um… would you like some tea? I’ll go brew some for you?”
After her words fell, the only response she received was a series of calm sounds. Lin Yuwei instantly felt incredibly awkward and took a sip from her teacup.
This feeling of being ignored was too embarrassing. She decided it was better not to speak and continue drinking her tea. Lin Yuwei remained silent for the rest of the time, not uttering another word.
Chu Chenyi’s gaze darted around guiltily, but his eyes never lingered on Feng Jin.
He kept pondering what Feng Jin was here for and what her purpose was.
Finally, Feng Jin felt it was time and said, “Cai Qing, show this to His Highness.”
“Yes, Young Madam.”
Cai Qing, who was called, immediately reacted and took out the ledger she was carrying, handing it to Chu Chenyi.
“What is this?”
Chu Chenyi glanced at the thick stack of scrolls placed on the table, his brow furrowed in confusion.
What trick was Feng Jin playing now? What did she want him to do with this? He still needed to be vigilant.
Feng Jin shot Cai Qing a look, signaling her to speak.
Upon receiving the signal, Cai Qing reacted swiftly and began to speak slowly, “Your Highness, this is the bill for your stay at the manor during this period. Please review it, Your Highness.”
Chu Chenyi’s brows furrowed tightly, his face filled with bewilderment. He had not expected Feng Jin to pull such a stunt. Despite his surprise, he picked up the ledger from the side and reviewed it meticulously.
He had to admit, the records were incredibly detailed. They even noted that he had broken a teacup. He wondered if they would also record how many breaths he took.
He finally understood why Feng Jin had been so courteous to him all these days, treating him to good food and drink, and taking care of every little detail with such meticulousness.
So this was what she had been waiting for. She had set a trap for him long ago. He had to admit, Feng Jin was a master in this regard, and he willingly conceded defeat.
“You are truly formidable. Consider it my bad luck that I was careless and fell into your trap.”
He could only accept his misfortune in these matters. He had initially thought Feng Jin had suddenly changed her ways to be so polite to him, but it turned out he was just too foolish, being tricked and yet foolishly happy about it.
Lin Yuwei seemed to understand something as well. She reached out and took the ledger from beside Chu Chenyi. Upon seeing its contents, she was instantly startled, her face paling.
She quickly shoved the ledger back into Chu Chenyi’s embrace, eager to distance herself from him.
“This is all from your own usage. It has nothing to do with me…”
The amount spent was truly astronomical, and she didn’t have that much money. With debts and creditors, since it was Chu Chenyi who spent the money, he should find a way to repay it himself. She shouldn't be dragged into this.
Lin Yuwei took a step back, maintaining a distance from Chu Chenyi. She cleared her throat and explained, “Sister Feng Jin, if these are all debts he incurred, then you should collect from him. It has nothing to do with me.”
Chu Chenyi was instantly angered by the woman’s sudden change of heart. Her expression had shifted too quickly. This was a case of every person for themselves in times of trouble.
Feeling abandoned, Chu Chenyi’s face darkened further. He would remember this debt and settle it with Lin Yuwei later. For now, the most important thing was to find a way to send away this great calamity, Feng Jin.
“You never said you would demand money before, so… so I will not acknowledge this account!”
Discarding even the last shred of his dignity, Chu Chenyi looked at Feng Jin with feigned righteousness, though he was inwardly terrified, fearing that Feng Jin might devise other ways to punish him.
“So, according to His Highness the Prince of Jing, you intend to default on this debt?”
She had anticipated that Chu Chenyi would play this trick before coming, as it was his usual behavior. Fortunately, she had a countermeasure to deal with Chu Chenyi.
“This account has no beginning or end. Your one-sided statement cannot prove anything. Without concrete evidence, I truly cannot acknowledge this debt.”
He truly had no money. Even if he were to sell everything in the Prince’s manor now, it would likely be insufficient to cover the debt. At this point, he no longer cared about appearances.