"The blinding red sunset spilled onto the desert, making it look as if the entire desert had donned the most beautiful brocade. It was truly the most beautiful sight I have ever seen."
Listening to Chu Qing's description, Feng Jin was instantly moved. Even in this era of advanced transportation, she had never seen a desert, an ocean, or even towering mountains. Her days and nights were spent in laboratories, with only cold instruments for company.
Her daily life was consumed by countless surgeries. Thinking back, her past life was incredibly monotonous.
If it weren't for the twist of fate that led her to Dong Chu, her life would likely have continued in this manner.
"When I have the chance, I will go to the desert to see what the sunset looks like there."
"I can accompany Madam to the desert. I'm most familiar with how to enter and exit it," Chu Qing volunteered. After all, she too wanted to see the boundless desert again, the place that held all her happy memories.
"Alright, I will definitely take you with me."
The two walked, chatting and laughing, to Ling Muzhu's courtyard. The entire courtyard was eerily quiet, with no servants moving about.
The excessive quietness made Feng Jin uneasy. She hurried towards the house, only to hear faint murmurs from within.
Feng Jin's heart leaped in alarm, and she hastened inside. The scene that greeted her made her freeze in shock.
"Madam, why are you running so fast? This servant almost couldn't keep up."
Chu Qing panted, and as she looked up, she saw Madam's distressed expression. Following Feng Jin's gaze, Chu Qing also stood frozen in disbelief upon seeing what was happening, her mouth agape.
A woman, disheveled and entangled with Ling Muzhu, was pressing against him. Ling Muzhu, however, was desperately trying to push her away, but his hands seemed to lack all strength. After much struggling, he couldn't even push the woman off.
"Cousin, Miao'er loves you so much. Please grant my wish."
Such shameless words instantly reached their ears. Feng Jin's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
This was no lady from a respectable family; she was more licentious than any courtesan.
Chu Qing, a maiden who had never experienced such things, was so frightened by the shocking scene that she turned away, daring not to look.
Feng Jin quickly regained her senses and strode forward. With strength she didn't know she possessed, she yanked Zhang Miao'er up and unceremoniously threw her out.
"Chu Qing, hold her down!"
Hearing Madam's slightly furious voice, Chu Qing snapped back to reality and immediately restrained Zhang Miao'er, who was trying to escape.
Zhang Miao'er, a woman raised in the confines of her chambers and possessing no strength, was naturally no match for Chu Qing. With a swift twist, Chu Qing had her pinned, leaving her no chance to move.
Feng Jin grabbed a blanket from the side and covered the somewhat disheveled Ling Muzhu: "Muzhu... Ling Muzhu..."
Feng Jin's voice brought Ling Muzhu back to his senses. As he regained a sliver of clarity and recognized who was before him, he clung to Feng Jin as if she were a lifeline: "Eldest sister-in-law... I... I..."
"Don't speak for now. I know what happened. Take this pill first; it will help you feel better."
After giving Ling Muzhu the medicine, Feng Jin picked up a silver needle and inserted it into an acupoint on Ling Muzhu, temporarily suppressing the poison in his body.
Feng Jin's gaze fell upon the disheveled Zhang Miao'er, and she instantly understood what had happened. Anger flared, and she slapped Zhang Miao'er hard: "How could you do such a thing? You deserve to die!"
"You... What do you want to do? My mother... If Mother finds out, she won't... won't let you off!"
Zhang Miao'er threatened weakly, shrinking back in fear.
Now she was afraid. When she was doing such shameless things earlier, why wasn't she afraid?
Feng Jin's eyes were filled with disdain and mockery. Since she was so eager to offer herself, Feng Jin might as well grant her wish.
Her gaze landed on a plate of pastries on the table. Bringing it to her nose, she immediately recognized that the pastries were laced with a powerful aphrodisiac.
"Eat this, and I will let you go."
Feng Jin placed the plate of pastries in front of Zhang Miao'er and gestured for her to eat them.
"If I eat this, will you really let me go?" Zhang Miao'er asked, unconvinced.
"Eat it, and I will let you go."
Zhang Miao'er hesitated for a moment, looking at the pastries. She reached out her hand, then withdrew it, repeating this several times before finally resolving herself: "I'll eat it!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Zhang Miao'er grabbed the pastries and stuffed them into her mouth, finishing the entire plate.
Looking at her, Feng Jin wondered if Zhang Miao'er didn't know the pastries were also laced with an aphrodisiac, or perhaps the aphrodisiac wasn't her doing. Could it have been Ling Changyi's doing?
"I've eaten the pastries. You promised to let me go!"
Fearing Feng Jin would go back on her word, Zhang Miao'er quickly grabbed Feng Jin's sleeve, pleadingly.
"I will naturally let you go, but now is not the time!"
"What are you..."
Before Zhang Miao'er could finish, she felt a sharp prick in the back of her neck, and her whole body went limp, unconscious.
A cold smile played on Feng Jin's lips, the silver needle in her hand flashing a dazzling glow.
"Chu Qing, go find someone to carry Ling Muzhu back to the East Courtyard. Be careful and don't let anyone know. Also, find a strong man!"
Since she was so impatient to offer herself, Feng Jin would have to see the good deed through to the end and personally find a good match for Zhang Miao'er.
"Yes, Madam. This servant understands."
Although Chu Qing was inexperienced, she wasn't foolish. She roughly understood what Madam intended to do and felt no pity for Zhang Miao'er, believing she had brought it upon herself. If Madam hadn't arrived today, wouldn't Zhang Miao'er have succeeded, and Ling Muzhu's purity would have been lost?
He would have been forced to marry her. Such a wicked person deserved to suffer the consequences of her own actions.
In the time it took for a cup of tea to steep, Chu Qing returned with a few trusted individuals, carrying the unconscious Ling Muzhu.
She also brought back a very strong man, as per Madam's instructions.
Feng Jin's gaze swept coldly over the strong man as she spoke in a low voice, "This one is for you. You understand what needs to be done, right?"
"Madam, rest assured, this humble one understands."
"After the deed is done, I will give you some silver and help you leave. Think carefully about what you need to say and what you need to do."