"If you don't like it, I'll say other things you like to hear from now on. What do you like to hear, and I'll say it, okay?"
Ling Mohan asked Feng Jin cautiously, afraid he had done something wrong and angered Feng Jin again. Even his attempts to please were meticulous and timid.
"It would be good if you spoke less nonsense. Don't say things like you just did again, because they are really... really unpleasant to hear!"
If she ever found out who taught Ling Mohan these nonsensical words, she would definitely curse all eighteen generations of his ancestors to alleviate the resentment in her heart.
Who was the damned person who turned Ling Mohan into this mess? She truly missed the silent, cold, and cool Ling Mohan of the past. The current Ling Mohan was annoyingly hateful.
"Okay, I'll listen to you." Ling Mohan spoke obediently according to Feng Jin's words. Whatever he said now was wrong; only speaking less was the correct approach.
As long as it could appease Feng Jin's anger, he was willing to do anything.
"Close your mouth and sleep!"
Feng Jin commanded coldly, covering herself with the quilt as she spoke. The moment her eyes closed, Ling Mohan became restless.
"What do you want to do? Can't you just sleep peacefully and stop causing trouble!"
It was already late at night, and if they didn't sleep soon, dawn would break. Feng Jin felt her eyelids constantly fighting to stay open.
"I have one last thing I want to ask you. After I ask, I promise to let you sleep soundly."
"Speak quickly."
Feng Jin yawned, tears almost uncontrollably streaming down her face.
"It's about Feng Ruoyan. She's dead... she died in prison tonight."
"That's perfectly normal. She was already deeply poisoned, and death was inevitable. It's normal for it to happen a day or two earlier. Why are you suddenly concerned about Feng Ruoyan? What are you trying to do?"
Feng Jin found it strange. Why was Ling Mohan acting so weird this time, suddenly showing concern for Feng Ruoyan?
"It's nothing, I just feel she died a bit too quickly."
Ling Mohan spoke his doubts calmly. After all, he had promised Chu Yanxi to spare Feng Ruoyan's life. He hadn't expected Feng Ruoyan to die so soon.
Fortunately, Chu Yanxi was also dead, otherwise, things would have become troublesome again.
"She didn't have many days left anyway. Death was inevitable sooner or later."
Feng Ruoyan's death was something she had expected. It was only a day or two earlier, nothing to be surprised about.
Hearing Feng Jin say this, Ling Mohan felt a little better. Since it was fate, he couldn't be blamed.
Besides, their child was being well-fed and cared for by him. He felt he had treated them fairly.
Once Ling Mohan convinced himself, his mood instantly lifted. He reached out and pulled Feng Jin into his arms.
"What are you doing? Can't you just sleep properly?"
Feng Jin was completely speechless with Ling Mohan at this moment. Couldn't he just go to sleep obediently instead of being around her and being so handsy?
The man seemed not to hear her, his hands still restlessly moving over Feng Jin, but he didn't overstep. This left Feng Jin with no valid reason to vent her anger, even if she had any.
She decided not to bother with Ling Mohan over these trivial matters and prioritized sleep. Ignoring the man behind her, she closed her eyes and went to sleep.
...
"Young Master, the Third Prince has already passed away. It's not appropriate to have people guarding outside the West Liang Princess's courtyard like this. Should we withdraw them?"
Lu Shi immediately regretted his decision. He wished he hadn't lent his men to Gu Beichen in the first place. Chu Yanxi's matter was settled, yet these men were still not being returned.
How long would it take for him to get his men back by following Gu Beichen? He had no idea what Gu Shizi was thinking, insisting on guarding a young lady's courtyard without leaving.
Never mind that they only had an engagement; even if they were married, Gu Beichen's actions were unbearable. If it were him, he absolutely could not tolerate such a situation.
This was essentially surveillance. He truly admired the West Liang Princess for being able to tolerate this for so long without getting angry.
Gu Beichen remained silent. He had been having people watch Murong Jinyun all this time, but Murong Jinyun had been very well-behaved. Every day, besides sitting outside her courtyard for a while, she would trim flower branches, sip tea, or do embroidery. She hadn't done anything out of line.
He had endured immense pressure to keep his men surrounding Murong Jinyun's courtyard for so long. Bai Lixi alone had approached him several times, only to be turned away.
Now that Chu Yanxi had also passed away, this matter was settled. He indeed had no reason to continue having people guard outside Murong Jinyun's courtyard.
It was time to withdraw them. A hint of displeasure showed on Gu Beichen's face, and in the end, he reluctantly said, "Let's go. Take your men away."
As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Beichen stood up and walked out. After such a long time, it was time to go see Murong Jinyun.
Lu Shi, who had been looking troubled and worried, immediately had a complete change of expression upon hearing Gu Beichen's words. His face lit up with joy, and he followed Gu Beichen out.
"Princess... Princess, the soldiers guarding outside our courtyard have all been withdrawn."
Murong Jinyun's expression slightly stiffened. The hand holding the needle trembled, pricking her fingertip. A drop of bright red blood fell precisely onto the embroidered handkerchief, landing on the already embroidered plum blossoms and dyeing them even redder.
"Princess, your hand... I'll go get some medicine right away."
"No need to make such a fuss. Let's go out and take a look."
Helped by her maid, Murong Jinyun stood up and walked out. Just as she reached the doorway, she met Gu Beichen, who had one foot already stepping into the courtyard.
Meeting again after so many days, the two seemed much calmer, as if many words were suppressed in their throats, making it difficult to speak.
Finally, it was Murong Jinyun who broke the silence. With a smile on her lips, she gracefully walked up to Gu Beichen and gently brushed away the snowflakes falling on his shoulder.