Feng Jin slapped Ling Mohan directly on the head, forcing him to discard all those chaotic thoughts.
"If you keep thinking these messy things, you'll never get to step into this room again."
Seeing that Feng Jin was truly angry, Ling Mohan quickly shut his mouth and hurried to appease her, "I was just speaking casually, just joking with you, no need to take it seriously."
Knowing Feng Jin's temperament, Ling Mohan lowered his stance and coaxed her, afraid that if Feng Jin became unhappy, she would really prevent him from entering the room, which would be a loss that outweighed the gain.
"Is that so? You don't look like you were just speaking casually; it's more like you had ulterior motives. Dare you say you've never thought of this before?"
Initially, she hadn't thought much of it, but the more she saw Ling Mohan's eagerness to explain, the more she felt something was amiss, and she couldn't help but ask a few more questions.
She hadn't expected that these casual questions would uncover something Ling Mohan had kept hidden in his heart for a long time.
"Of course not. Why would I think that? It's only because you mentioned it that I suddenly remembered. It was just a couple of joking words; who knew you'd take it seriously?"
The more he tried to conceal, the more loopholes appeared. Ling Mohan's evasive and shifty eyes completely betrayed him.
Feng Jin immediately understood what was going on. Unable to suppress her anger, a small flame ignited in her eyes as she glared at Ling Mohan, "You're still quibbling. Do you really think I'm so foolish as to be easily fooled? Don't you know your expression has already given you away!"
Enraged beyond measure, she grabbed Ling Mohan's ear and looked down at the man, "If you dare to think these messy things again in the future, don't blame me for being impolite!"
"I know!" Ling Mohan looked like a child who had done something wrong and was being reprimanded, his aggrieved expression truly a bit pitiable.
The softest part of Feng Jin's heart was touched, and she felt a pang of sympathy. In the end, reason triumphed over impulse. "Put away that wronged look of yours. Anyone who didn't know would think you'd suffered a great injustice!"
If she looked at him like that any longer, she would feel immensely guilty. To prevent herself from softening, she simply turned her head away and stopped looking.
"Considering this is your first offense, I'll let it slide this time, but it's not to be repeated. If I find out there's a next time, you'll definitely have to face the consequences!"
After delivering her stern warning, Feng Jin's expression remained unchanged. She had to make Ling Mohan deeply realize his mistake and understand how absurd his actions were.
"I promise you there will never be a next time. Please don't be angry anymore?"
Realizing that Feng Jin was truly angry this time, Ling Mohan tentatively tugged at the woman's衣带, his tone full of pleading.
This made Feng Jin's anger dissipate by half unconsciously. Even the scolding words she had prepared got stuck in her throat, and she didn't know how to say them.
"Forget it... that's fine. It's enough that you remember."
Feng Jin waved her hand, deciding to let it go. There was no point in dwelling on the matter any longer. She decided to turn a blind eye and let it pass.
"I will definitely remember and not do it again!"
Having received forgiveness, Ling Mohan also dropped his wronged expression. He hadn't expected that Da Bao's trick would be so effective; he had actually managed to get away with it.
If Feng Jin knew that Ling Mohan had been faking it all along, and that Da Bao had taught him how to do it, she would likely be furious.
"I haven't asked you yet. You tied up Madam Sun and planned to just leave her in the study without bothering about her?"
Just leaving her in the study, apart from attracting gossip, also took up space. Leaving a living person in the study felt incredibly awkward to her.
"I've already told Lu Shi to put Madam Sun in the dungeon," Ling Mohan said casually, but his hands were restlessly fiddling with the sash around Feng Jin's waist. He fiddled with it for a long time without undoing it, and his movements became increasingly agitated.
"What are you doing? You're messing up my clothes!"
Discovering the man's intrusive hands at her waist, Feng Jin slapped him without hesitation, quickly snatching the sash from his grasp and tidying it.
"I just told you, and you're already being naughty again. You truly don't learn from experience!"
Feng Jin was impressed by Ling Mohan's lack of memory and learned her lesson, deliberately distancing herself from the man.
"Why are you sitting so far away? Come closer!"
Ling Mohan reached out to Feng Jin with ill intent, only to be pushed away.
"There's a saying that distance creates beauty. It's better for us to maintain some distance. This much is just right."
Pulling over a chair and sitting two meters away from the man, Feng Jin kept her distance for her own safety, her expression stern as she looked at the man opposite her, "If you have something to say, say it from there. It's best for us to maintain a certain distance for now."
"I have something to ask Madam Sun. Why don't you come with me?"
"This..." Feng Jin hesitated for a moment before slowly agreeing, "I'll go with you, but we'll need to call for someone else."
Ling Mohan instantly understood who Feng Jin was referring to. "I'll instruct Lu Shi to bring her here. We'll go ahead."
When the two arrived at the dungeon, Madam Sun was wolfing down food, her former elegance and grace gone. She now resembled a beggar who had been starved for a long time.
Upon seeing Feng Jin, Madam Sun somewhat awkwardly put down the steamed bun in her hand and straightened up slightly.
"Concubine Sun seems to be in a good mood, although the accommodations are a bit simple. Concubine Sun will have to make do, but the food seems to suit your taste; you're eating quite a bit?"
Feng Jin referred to her as "Concubine Sun" with each sentence, not forgetting to remind Madam Sun of her status as a concubine.
Madam Sun's molars ached with hatred. "You little slut, a nobody who's gotten power. Once I get out, I'll definitely..."
Before she could finish speaking, Madam Sun's neck was firmly gripped by a pair of hands.
"If you say another word, I'll snap your neck!"
Ling Mohan tightened his grip slightly, causing Madam Sun's face to turn black from lack of oxygen. She felt difficulty breathing and, driven by her instinct for survival, vigorously struck Ling Mohan's hand.
"Let her go first. It's not time to kill her yet," Feng Jin advised, thinking that killing Madam Sun now would be a waste of effort.
Ling Mohan suddenly flung his hand, and Madam Sun fell heavily to the ground, feeling pain all over her body. She gasped for air and only managed to recover after a long while.
"Concubine Sun, I advise you to be sensible. It's more important to save your life!"