"Muzhu... Muzhu!" Ling Erye shouted hoarsely, clinging to the door, but only silence answered him.
Feng Jin's heart trembled slightly upon hearing the pained sounds from inside, and she looked at Ling Muzhu at her side, "He is your biological father, after all. Aren't you going to see him again?"
"I'm not going to see him. Looking again will only make me feel distressed and unable to bear it."
As father and son, bound by blood, his father had doted on him the most in his childhood. How could he bear to see his father like this?
But if he showed any mercy today, it would only harm his father's life and the entire Ling family in the future. It was better to harden his heart now to protect everyone.
Ling Muzhu quickened his pace, as if trying to escape it all.
Watching Ling Muzhu's retreating figure, Feng Jin sighed helplessly. Things had come to this, and it could only be this way.
This matter was also a trial for Ling Muzhu. If he could get through it, his future days would be better.
Feng Jin did not linger. Before leaving, she instructed the Black Armored Army guards outside the ancestral hall to take good care of Ling Erye, ensuring his food, lodging, and daily necessities were all of the best quality.
This way, Ling Muzhu could be more at ease, allowing him to focus all his attention on the imperial examinations and not be distracted by this matter, which would delay his studies.
"Young Madam, you're back. This servant made osmanthus and lotus seed soup for you. Please have some."
Upon seeing Feng Jin, Chu Qing hurried to bring the warmed soup. It had been prepared long ago. Since the Young Madam hadn't returned, it had been kept warm on the stove, and it was just right to drink now.
Feng Jin took a sip. The taste was indeed different from what she had drunk before.
The osmanthus flavor was very strong, but not a single osmanthus petal could be seen in the bowl.
"What did you put in it? The osmanthus flavor is so fragrant, but I don't see any osmanthus petals?"
"Young Madam, this is cooked with osmanthus honey, so naturally, you won't see any osmanthus petals. Cooking lotus seeds with osmanthus honey makes the flavor more fragrant and sweet."
This method was taught to her by Sister Cui'er. It was a pity that Sister Cui'er was no longer here, and a hint of sadness flickered in Chu Qing's eyes.
"Your method is indeed novel. In the past, Cai Qing would go early in the morning to pick fresh osmanthus to cook this lotus seed soup. Your version is more fragrant and sweet than hers."
She wondered how Cai Qing was doing now, how Lu Shi's injuries were, and when the two of them could return to the capital.
Thinking of this, Feng Jin couldn't help but sigh. News spread so slowly in ancient times.
In modern times, a phone call could immediately inform them of the situation on the other side.
Now, just communicating through letters, a round trip could delay things for ten days. Even carrier pigeons took two to three days. Any important matters could be delayed on the road.
"Young Madam, are you missing Sister Cai Qing?"
"Alas... In the past, Cai Qing was always flitting around me, and I found her annoying. Now that I haven't seen her for several days, I feel a bit empty, as if something is missing."
She had probably become accustomed to Cai Qing being around her. It was indeed uncomfortable when she suddenly disappeared.
Habits are truly torturous things.
"Logically speaking, the letter should have arrived by now. However, the carrier pigeon has not arrived for a long time."
Chu Qing calculated the time. A round trip for a carrier pigeon should have been around this time, but there was still no news at all.
"Perhaps it was delayed on the way. Even the best-trained pigeons can make mistakes. Even an old horse can stumble. Let's wait another two days; maybe it will arrive."
Feng Jin said indifferently, not paying much attention to the matter. She just assumed that the carrier pigeon had some mishap on the road, or perhaps it got lost. After all, even the most precise instruments could make mistakes, let alone an animal.
However, Chu Qing did not think so. A well-trained carrier pigeon would definitely not make mistakes. Moreover, the carrier pigeons used for delivering letters were Ling Mohan's, so they would certainly not be late.
Either they were intercepted on the road, or Cai Qing encountered something and did not send the letter in time.
Various possible scenarios played out in Chu Qing's mind. Of course, these were just her conjectures. Without witnessing the event herself, she could not make any conclusions.
"You don't need to worry too much. Ling Mohan sent the elite vanguard of the Black Armored Army. Each of them can fight ten men. Even if something happened, there would be news. Now that everything is calm, we don't need to worry."
Feng Jin had great confidence in the capabilities of the Black Armored Army. Even if something truly happened, the members of the Black Armored Army would find ways to send out news.
The absence of news now was the best news. They just needed to wait patiently.
"This servant understands, Young Madam." Chu Qing nodded and agreed, silently praying that nothing would happen.
After a pause, Chu Qing continued, "Young Madam, it is this time of day. Should we go and pick up the young master?"
"Has the Old Master not sent the child back yet?"
Feng Jin asked doubtfully. The time she had left was agreed upon: only two hours. Now, four hours had passed, and the child had still not been returned.
Was he going to renege again? Feng Jin truly felt like crying. He was an adult and the head of the household, yet he still did such untrustworthy things.
"Chu Qing, go and ask Nanny Lin to bring the child back. Also, tell the Old Master that if he speaks words that are not kept in the future, we will not let Da Bao and Er Bao visit anymore."
After much deliberation, she decided it was better not to go herself. If she went, there might be arguments, and it would be difficult to resolve the situation.
With Chu Qing going, accompanied by the experienced Nanny Lin, she was naturally not worried.
"This servant obeys and will go now."
Chu Qing nodded in agreement and then went to call Nanny Sun to accompany her to the Old Master Ling's courtyard.
"Miss Chu Qing, the Old Master is old, and his temper is like that of a spoiled child. You must speak respectfully when you talk to him. If the Old Master says anything unpleasant, just ignore it, and let this old servant talk to the Old Master."
As they were about to enter the courtyard, Nanny Lin tugged at Chu Qing's sleeve and spoke with great gentleness.
"As servants, our masters' scolding and beating are all considered grace. How can we hold grudges for it? Nanny, please rest assured."
In the Xiliang Imperial Palace, she had seen her share of difficult and malicious masters. She had heard the most unpleasant words and suffered the harshest punishments, and she was already accustomed to them.
Instead, during her time by the Young Madam's side, she had truly felt that the Young Madam did not treat them as mere servants, but rather as individuals with dignity.