Feng Jin slammed the invitation in her hand heavily onto the desk, it was already her greatest show of tolerance for not throwing it on the floor.
Her muddle-headed father, truly had a screw loose, to send such an invitation. For her to attend Sun shi's funeral, should she laugh or cry?
"You are, after all, a daughter of the Feng family, and Sun shi was also your nominal stepmother. By reason, you should indeed go."
As soon as Ling Mo Han said this, he was immediately met with Feng Jin's gaze full of hatred.
"If you want to go, then go yourself. Even if you go to wear mourning attire, I absolutely won't say a single word."
Feng Jin glared fiercely at Ling Mo Han. He truly was speaking from a position of ease.
With a mere flap of his lips, he spoke so simply, yet he pushed her out. If he had the ability, he should go himself.
"I am merely suggesting. If you don't wish to go, then naturally no one will force you. In that case, I will decline this invitation for you."
"Wait, you asked Lu Shi to tell me there was something important. What you referred to, shouldn't it be these matters?"
Ling Mo Han nodded faintly. "Naturally, it is this matter. I couldn't make up my mind for a moment. If I hadn't made it sound serious, you wouldn't have come so quickly."
Indeed, this matter concerned Feng Jin, and he found it difficult to make a decision. After much thought, he decided to let Feng Jin decide for herself whether to go or not.
"Since you don't want to go, I will directly reply and refuse."
With that, Ling Mo Han picked up his brush, about to write. Just as he was about to put pen to paper, Feng Jin quickly called out, "Wait!"
"What is it now?" Ling Mo Han put down the brush in his hand.
"I think it's better to go. It can also help you probe the reality of the situation."
Feng Jin reached out and took the invitation from the desk. However, she couldn't go alone; appearing so solitary would seem too lacking in presence. But she also couldn't let Ling Mo Han accompany her.
After much deliberation, Feng Jin's gaze fell upon Ling Mu Zhu, who had been standing by the side silently for a long time. Wasn't he the most suitable candidate?
"Eldest sister-in-law, why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?"
He reached up and wiped his face, finding nothing. Being looked at by Feng Jin's gaze made his back prickle with cold. Ling Mu Zhu couldn't help but shrink his neck.
"It's nothing much. It's just that I'll have to trouble you to accompany me for a trip."
"Eldest sister-in-law, you don't mean you want me to go to the Feng residence with you, do you?"
Feng Jin nodded faintly, reached out and patted Ling Mu Zhu's shoulder, and began to coax him: "After much thought, only you accompanying me is most appropriate. Firstly, you are the young master of the Ling family, and it is only proper to represent the Ling family in offering condolences. Secondly, your presence is very imposing, making you very suitable to accompany me. This matter is simply tailor-made for you."
If she hadn't found anyone suitable, and didn't want to go alone, she wouldn't have dragged Ling Mu Zhu along.
"Really, Eldest sister-in-law? You think I'm so capable." Ling Mu Zhu was completely swayed by Feng Jin's few words. After being constantly negated, to suddenly be affirmed, Ling Mu Zhu instantly felt a sense of elation and bewilderment.
Without hesitation, he immediately agreed: "Since Eldest sister-in-law thinks so highly of me, Eldest sister-in-law, don't worry. I will handle this matter for you and absolutely won't disappoint you!"
Ling Mu Zhu exuded a powerful aura, as if going to battle, and took the lead, clearing the way for Feng Jin.
Amused by his foolish demeanor, Feng Jin still bit her lower lip tightly, preventing herself from laughing, and tried to maintain a calm composure as she followed behind Ling Mu Zhu, walking out together.
Upon arriving at the Feng residence, Feng Jin slowly alighted from the carriage, supported by Chu Qing.
White sashes were hung high on the main gate of the Feng residence, and the lanterns on both sides of the gate had been replaced with white ones. The servants at the entrance were all dressed in mourning attire.
To go through the motions, Feng Jin had specifically changed into a simpler, cleaner outfit before leaving. However, compared to the white that filled the entire courtyard, her attire seemed a bit too vibrant.
If it weren't for the hope of obtaining useful information, she wouldn't have even come.
"Eldest sister-in-law, shouldn't we go inside?"
Ling Mu Zhu reminded her. It was almost winter, and standing at the entrance, the cold wind was whistling. He was only wearing a thin layer of clothing, and the wind made him feel cold all over, causing him to shiver involuntarily.
"You deserve it. Who told you to dress so thinly when you left? Let the cold wind temper you a bit. Your constitution is so weak; how will you endure it if you are sent to a hardship post as an official in the future?"
With such a constitution, unable to withstand a gust of cold wind, how could he possibly achieve great things in the future?
It was better to be tempered now than to suffer hardship and be tempered outside.
"I understand, Eldest sister-in-law. After we return, I will definitely practice archery and riding diligently and will not be lazy anymore."
He regretted it now. If he had known earlier, he wouldn't have slacked off during archery and riding practice. Truly, as the saying goes, "If you don't strive when you are young, you will regret it when you are old." It was too late to regret it now; all he could do was practice diligently, hoping it would still have some effect.
"The Ling family has been renowned generals for generations. By rights, you should also know some martial arts. I didn't expect you to become a scholar of no use... no, you should be a dissolute young master."
She could still recall the things Ling Mu Zhu had done before. If he hadn't stopped at the precipice in time, she didn't know what kind of person that boy would have become.
If he had continued on his previous path, the next time they met, it would probably be in the prison of the Ministry of Justice.
When his past deeds were mentioned, Ling Mu Zhu lowered his head in shame. "Eldest sister-in-law, please don't mention my past foolish actions. I have already made mistakes and am correcting them. Please be merciful and let me off the hook. Don't mention them again in the future."
He was already this old and had a sense of shame, alright? To always bring up his past absurdities made him truly feel embarrassed.
"I won't mention them if you don't want me to. Alright, let's go inside."
With people coming and going at the entrance, their standing there was too conspicuous. Feng Jin took the lead and walked inside. "Afterwards, you will follow closely behind me. Don't run around, understand?"
"I understand, Eldest sister-in-law."
Ling Mu Zhu nodded obediently and followed behind Feng Jin quietly, keeping an extremely low profile, knowing full well that he was only here for show.
"Jin'er, you've come?"
Feng Yuan Ping saw Feng Jin and walked towards her with a smiling face. His joyful expression was not at all like someone whose wife had just died; it was more like someone who had just taken a young and beautiful concubine.
He had initially intended to address her as Prime Minister Feng, but seeing that there were people around, he changed his address at the last moment, managing to utter the two words with difficulty: "Father."