Ling Muzhu spoke up in time. He would always remember his elder sister-in-law's kindness and would never forget it.
However, with so many favors owed, he didn't know how he would ever repay them all.
"Sister-in-law, if you ever need anything, please, just tell me. I would go through fire and water without hesitation."
Ling Muzhu's expression was resolute; he was determined to repay Feng Jin's kindness.
Amused by his overly serious demeanor, Feng Jin giggled, covering her mouth, "Look at you, you silly boy. It's getting late. Go back and rest early."
"Sister-in-law, I will take my leave then."
Just as Ling Muzhu reached the doorway, Feng Jin's cautionary voice echoed from behind.
"When you rest, make sure to bolt the door securely and find two servants to guard the entrance. That way, it will be difficult for anyone to get in."
Feng Jin's kind reminder made Ling Muzhu feel a chill of lingering fear. If this continued, could he even sleep soundly at night?
"Thank you for the reminder, sister-in-law. I will remember it all."
Returning to his courtyard, Ling Muzhu's mind was filled with his sister-in-law's kind reminder as he left, and Zhang Mia'er's repulsive face kept flashing in his mind. Ling Muzhu couldn't help but shiver.
He quickly instructed the servants to guard his door and not let anyone in. Then, he securely locked the doors and windows before finally feeling safe enough to go to sleep.
...
"Crying and wailing, what kind of spectacle is this!"
Ling Changyi was furious watching Zhang Mia'er's state. This was supposed to be a foolproof plan, yet it had turned out like this.
"Are you sure Ling Muzhu was in the room when you went in?"
Zhang Mia'er sniffled, her voice choked with tears, "I... I clearly saw him in the room. I also gave him the porridge. I don't know what happened after that. The next thing I knew, it was you, Mother, who came in with people. I honestly don't know why it turned into that disgusting man..."
The thought of her pure body being defiled by such a repulsive man made her wish she were dead.
With such an event witnessed by everyone in public, how could she ever show her face again?
"If that's the case, then how did the person suddenly change?"
Ling Changyi was full of confusion but could not figure out what had happened.
"I don't know... I don't know anything..."
Zhang Mia'er cried out in a slightly frenzied manner as if she had been provoked. All she knew was that her purity was gone, and how would she ever get married now?
Realizing Zhang Mia'er's distress, Ling Changyi also panicked slightly. She reached out and pulled Zhang Mia'er into her embrace, "It's all over. With Mother here, nothing will happen."
It was just losing her purity, not disfigurement or death. As long as this beautiful face remained, she would naturally find other ways to marry her off into a prominent family.
"It was all your idea! Now I've lost all face, and my purity is gone. If this gets out, what family would dare marry me? I might as well die or cut my hair and become a nun in a convent, rather than be gossiped about!"
Living such a humiliating life was less desirable than a swift end.
*Slap!* A crisp sound of a slap echoed in the room.
Zhang Mia'er clutched her burning cheek, looking at the person before her in disbelief.
"Mother, you... you hit me..."
"I'm hitting you, you ungrateful wretch! This is all your fault for being useless, just like your incompetent father. You're both useless scum that cannot be molded. I shouldn't have planned anything for you; I should have just married you off to some poor scholar to avoid you embarrassing me like this!"
Ling Changyi's voice was filled with anger. She had lost patience with Zhang Mia'er's lack of accomplishment.
If she had known this would happen, she should have just chosen any family for her to marry into, instead of letting her embarrass her here.
"If you think I'm embarrassing you, then you shouldn't have asked me to do such embarrassing things! You were the one who told me to dress like that and seduce Ling Muzhu. The disgusting medicine in that bowl was also given by you. All of this was clearly ordered by you, and now you're blaming me for embarrassing you!"
If it weren't for her mother's instigation, how could a young lady like her have come up with such a plan and done such a thing?
In the end, she not only failed to seduce him but also lost her purity. If she had known this would happen, she would never have obeyed her mother's command and done such a shameful thing.
"Are you blaming me now!"
She had thought of everything for Zhang Mia'er, and in the end, it had all become her fault. Ling Changyi felt a pang of heartache.
"That's right, it's all your fault! You're the one who made me do this. If I don't blame you, who else can I blame!"
Zhang Mia'er shouted desperately, then collapsed onto the bed and sobbed uncontrollably.
After a moment, Ling Changyi couldn't bear it any longer and sighed helplessly, "I will help you find another match, and you can marry into that family!"
"Mother... you... you're giving up on me! You're just trying to get rid of me now that I'm no longer useful!"
"With your current state, do you still expect to marry into the Ling family as the primary wife? Prince Chu wanted to take you as a concubine earlier, but I didn't agree. However, now it seems this is the only path left."
Zhang Mia'er's pupils widened abruptly, and she shook her head in panic, "I... I don't..."
"That Prince Chu is an old man over fifty, he could be my grandfather! His manor is filled with countless concubines. Mother, are you just going to watch your daughter jump into a fiery pit?"
"Prince Chu is the Emperor's own uncle. What does it matter if he's older? With your beauty, once you marry him, you're sure to gain his favor. Perhaps, if you're lucky, you can become a princess and enjoy endless wealth and prosperity."
"That won't do either! Prince Chu is so old, he..."
"If you're unwilling, then you can only marry the scholar your father chose for you. The choice is yours. How you choose is entirely up to you."
If she didn't like the choices made by her mother, then she had to choose for herself. Either marry the scholar or marry into Prince Chu's manor. Ultimately, there were only these two paths.
Zhang Mia'er slumped onto the chair, dispirited. Marrying the scholar meant a life of hardship and daily farm work. How could she endure such a life?
Marrying that old man, Prince Chu, meant no worries about wealth and prosperity, but Prince Chu's age was equivalent to her grandfather's. How could she... how could she serve him...
"Mother... I... I..."
"Mia'er, listen to Mother's advice. Marry Prince Chu. Prince Chu is old and won't live for many more years. Once you become a princess, you'll have wealth and prosperity for life. Isn't that better than a lifetime of poverty marrying a scholar?"
Ling Changyi persuaded her earnestly, "I am your mother. Everything I do is for your own good. Can a mother harm her own daughter?"