"Is that so? Then who do you think told me?" Feng Jin continued to press. "Whoever told you must be a gossipy busybody, someone who likes to stir up trouble and cause quarrels between couples. If I find out who that person is, I'll teach them a good lesson and see if they dare to spread rumors again!"
Feng Jin spoke while staring intently at Ling Mohhan, waiting for his reply.
Ling Mohhan remained silent, instead taking a sip of tea, a hint of guilt masking his slight embarrassment.
This was his first time doing such a thing, and he had been caught red-handed so quickly. It seemed that spreading rumors wasn't his forte, and he should do it less in the future.
"That person is indeed detestable. If I catch them, I will stand up for my wife."
He couldn't possibly let Feng Jin know about such a shameful matter. He could only grit his teeth and agree, hoping Feng Jin wouldn't press him further, or he would be unable to cope.
"So, you also think this person is very detestable?"
"Naturally!" Ling Mohhan's voice, tinged with guilt, grew louder.
"Oh..." Feng Jin's tone was full of disbelief. She wanted to see how long Ling Mohhan could keep up the act.
Seeing that Feng Jin didn't press further, the man breathed a slight sigh of relief, his unsettled heart calming a little. Just as he was completely relaxed, Feng Jin unexpectedly asked again.
"However, I heard from Lin Yuwei that the one spreading rumors was you?"
Feng Jin's words exploded like a timed bomb next to Ling Mohhan, leaving him flustered. For a moment, he forgot to put down the teacup in his hand.
"What's wrong? Could it really be you?"
Hearing Feng Jin's voice, the man snapped back to attention and quickly denied it, "Of course not. How could you listen to her nonsense? Does she have any proof? Did she see it with her own eyes or hear it with her own ears? I've already spoken to Chu Chenyi about this. Are you going to slander me without concrete evidence, just by opening your mouth!"
Eager to defend himself, Ling Mohhan's tone unconsciously became more forceful.
The more one tries to explain and cover up something, the easier it is to reveal flaws. From his eloquent defense, Feng Jin could already confirm that this matter was indeed caused by Ling Mohhan's spreading of rumors.
From initial disbelief to complete certainty, Feng Jin was speechless. She couldn't understand why Ling Mohhan would do such a thing.
"What's wrong? You don't believe what I'm saying?"
Ling Mohhan noticed Feng Jin's peculiar demeanor and quickly asked.
"Are you still going to pretend?"
Too lazy to play along anymore, Feng Jin cut to the chase and asked directly.
As expected, Ling Mohhan's expression froze. Knowing he could no longer hide it, he stated directly, "It was indeed me who spoke."
Upon hearing the man's admission, Feng Jin suddenly stood up and strode towards Ling Mohhan, scrutinizing him from above.
"Why would you do this? You're a grown man, yet you resort to such actions. Aren't you afraid of being ridiculed if word gets out?"
She truly couldn't understand why Ling Mohhan would do this, and wasn't he afraid of being laughed at if it got out?
She felt ashamed for him, and she had no idea what he was thinking at the time to do such a thing.
Caught red-handed, a fleeting look of embarrassment crossed Ling Mohhan's face.
This was something he had done on impulse. The moment he spoke the words, he regretted it, but the words were out, and spilled milk could not be gathered. He had no chance to take it back.
Who could have predicted that Chu Chenyi would also act impulsively and couldn't hold back at all, directly confronting Lin Yuwei? Now, the situation had become like this.
He had originally intended to deny it to the death, but who knew Feng Jin was so clever that she could figure out these things with just a hint? He couldn't hide it even if he wanted to.
"It was just an impulse. I just wanted to remind Chu Chenyi to keep Lin Yuwei in check and not have her spout such nonsensical things to you all day. Who knew these two would actually argue over this, and I also didn't expect these matters to reach your ears."
If he had known this would happen, he would never have done these things.
Feng Jin sighed helplessly, "You better pray that Chu Chenyi doesn't betray you, otherwise you'll truly be humiliated."
If such a thing got out, she felt ashamed, let alone Ling Mohhan.
"He probably won't..."
The man's voice lacked confidence. He only had a fifty-fifty chance that Chu Chenyi wouldn't reveal this.
It seemed he still needed to find an opportunity to have a good talk with Chu Chenyi about this matter and make him keep his mouth shut forever.
"That's not necessarily true."
Feng Jin played with the cup in her hand. She felt that even if Chu Chenyi didn't speak of it, Lin Yuwei would definitely know. Whether she would say it or not was uncertain, but Ling Mohhan was definitely going to be embarrassed.
"Since it's embarrassing, let's be embarrassed together."
Even if he were to fall, he'd drag someone down with him. As long as his affairs got out, he would drag Chu Chenyi down with him. At worst, they could be embarrassed together and have company.
Feng Jin sighed helplessly. She was starting to worry now, but why hadn't she thought of this earlier? This was truly self-inflicted.
"I'll go bring the children back. You'll have to find a way to resolve your own problems."
She had no good ideas for this matter, as words were ultimately out of others' mouths. She would let Ling Mohhan handle it himself. She would take this opportunity to pick up Dabao and Erbao.
This time, Feng Jin was very smooth and directly brought Dabao and Erbao back. As she left, Old Master Ling still reminded her to send the children back tomorrow.
Having them sent and picked up back and forth, it was the two children who were being tossed around. She was already considering that once the children were older, she might as well let them stay with Old Master Ling for a period of time to avoid such trouble.
Passing by the ancestral hall, the surrounding area was still guarded day and night by the Black Armored Army, without the slightest lapse in vigilance. Even when Ling Muzhu brought some items, they had to be inspected and confirmed before being sent in. She did not see Second Master Ling again.
As usual, after handing the items to the guards, Ling Muzhu was about to leave. The moment he turned, he saw Feng Jin standing behind him with two children. He stepped forward, "Greetings, sister-in-law."
"The imperial examinations are approaching. You still bring meals three times a day. Don't let it delay your studies."
"Everything is prepared. Thank you for your concern, sister-in-law. I'm also worried that father, confined inside, might not be eating well. I've prepared his usual favorite dishes, so he can feel more at ease."