"I'll give this hairpin to Cai Qing when she arrives, you can go back now."
"Thank you, Young Madam."
With her lingering concerns settled, Lu Shi left with a foolish grin.
About fifteen minutes after Lu Shi departed, Cai Qing walked over, her gaze sweeping across the courtyard but finding no sign of Lu Shi.
"Young Madam, has Lu Shi left?"
Feng Jin nodded, "Just now."
Cai Qing's face immediately drooped. What kind of person just leaves without a word? It was a shame after her efforts in taking care of him these past few days.
"Lu Shi asked me to give this hairpin to you. He said he was too embarrassed to give it to you himself."
Feng Jin, with the still-warm hairpin Lu Shi had just handed her, passed it to Cai Qing. The back and forth was quite troublesome.
Cai Qing looked at the hairpin in her hand and suddenly remembered that this was the very hairpin she had fancied at the shop the other day but hadn't bought because it was too expensive.
She hadn't expected Lu Shi to buy it for her. Why didn't he give it to her directly? Must he use the Young Madam to pass it to her?
However, given Lu Shi's clumsy nature, he probably wouldn't have dared to give it to her face to face.
"You seem to really like this hairpin. It seems Lu Shi understands your preferences quite well."
"Not at all... He just secretly went back and bought it after I took a liking to it but didn't buy it."
Cai Qing held the hairpin in her hand, her tone filled with the shyness of a young girl.
"Tell me, how have you been getting along with Lu Shi these past few days? Has anything else happened?"
Feng Jin leaned closer to Cai Qing, asking with a gossipy air.
"No... no, nothing has happened. We were just like usual. I took care of Lu Shi after he drank his medicine, and then I went straight back to my own room."
As if worried Feng Jin might misunderstand, Cai Qing immediately denied it, even intensifying her tone. Her subtle movements revealed her current nervousness.
"Why are you so nervous? I was just asking casually. If nothing happened, then nothing happened. I believe you."
Not daring to press further, as pushing too hard would be counterproductive.
Feng Jin had no choice but to let it go. Unable to find any other topic to discuss with Cai Qing, she continued to fiddle with the medicinal herbs in her hand.
After about half an hour of silence, Chu Qing entered with a food box and placed it on the table.
"This food box is so exquisite. Where did you get it?"
Cai Qing took the food box, examined it, and then directly opened it. Even the pastries inside looked exquisitely beautiful.
"I met Lord Lu at the entrance just now. Lord Lu asked me to bring it in."
After hearing Chu Qing's words, Cai Qing's hand holding the pastry paused. She felt both their gazes fixed on her, unsure whether to put down the pastry or keep holding it.
"Lu Shi is truly thoughtful. Look how exquisite these pastries are. I wonder how they taste. Chu Qing, try one."
"Thank you, Young Madam..." Chu Qing took a pastry and took a bite, her lips and teeth filled with sweetness. "Cai Qing sister, this one is delicious too. You try it."
Cai Qing took a pastry and took a bite, but even the most delicious food lost its flavor in her mouth.
Feng Jin chuckled at Cai Qing's expression. After sitting for a short while, she got up and left.
...
"Young Madam, should we still pack this set of stationery for Second Young Master?"
"Young Madam, should we still pack this outfit?"
Feng Jin inventoried the items before her. These should be enough.
"Let's still pack a set of stationery. Prepare two warmer outfits, and pack more of those freshly made biscuits. Pack the milk that you were asked to simmer yesterday into portions..."
Feng Jin gave instructions one by one, making sure nothing was left behind. After checking everything, she closed the boxes. This should be enough.
"Sister-in-law, this is too much. We don't need so much for just three days."
Ling Muzhu looked at the several boxes packed to the brim. It would be a struggle just to carry them in.
"What do you know? Three days may not seem long, but it requires quite a few things. Once the doors of the examination hall are closed, if you lack something, it can't be sent in, and you'll be the one worried. Better to prepare more than to be short of something later."
Feng Jin added a few more items out of concern before she was satisfied. "I'll have the servants send them in later. Tomorrow morning, you'll travel light. In the afternoon, you shouldn't study anymore. I heard that the Sanqing Temple outside the city is very efficacious. We'll go pray for your success."
"Sister-in-law, since when did you believe in such things? If I lack true talent and learning, even praying to all the gods and Buddhas in the world would be futile, and I still wouldn't succeed."
Ling Muzhu had always been skeptical of such matters. Examinations were about genuine ability; how much could these things help?
"This is for good luck. It's better to believe in it than not. You can come with me this afternoon. If you don't come, do you think I'll let you off?"
"I understand, Sister-in-law."
Unable to refuse Feng Jin, Ling Muzhu had no choice but to agree.
After lunch, Feng Jin called Ling Wan and Ling Muzhu to go to the Sanqing Temple together, accompanied by the Black Armored Army stationed at the estate.
This was Feng Jin's first time going out with such a grand entourage, also because Ling Muzhu's imperial examination was imminent, and everything had to be handled with utmost caution to avoid any mishaps at this critical juncture.
"The Sanqing Temple is also very accurate for matchmaking. You should go and pray for a match soon, and find yourself a suitable husband."
"Sister-in-law, marriage is a matter of fate. Why bother the gods and Buddhas with these things? Let's first pray that Muzhu can succeed in this imperial examination and win the top prize."
Ling Wan shifted the topic to Ling Muzhu. As a young lady, how could she dare to actively pray for marriage? Wouldn't that make her a laughingstock?
Ling Muzhu nodded reluctantly. He had indeed been dragged here forcefully. In his opinion, he would be better off using this time to read more books.
"Look at the two of you, both looking so unwilling, as if I'm forcing you to come!"
There wasn't a hint of a smile on their faces, making it seem as though they were being forced at the point of a knife.
"Young Madam, we've arrived at the Sanqing Temple."
It was Chu Qing's appearance that interrupted their conversation. Ling Muzhu seized the opportunity and quickly said, "Sister-in-law, we've arrived. Let's go in and take a look first."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ling Muzhu jumped off the carriage. Seeing this, Ling Wan also hurriedly followed.
Feng Jin naturally saw through their little schemes and didn't bother to expose them, getting off the carriage together.