Feng Jin gave a helpless chuckle. Cai Qing was truly a money-grubber. In the future, Lu Shi's monthly allowance would likely be completely seized by Cai Qing.
As drowsiness overcame her, Feng Jin couldn't help but yawn. She was indeed very sleepy.
"I'm going back to sleep. You two should also sleep early when you get back."
"Eldest sister-in-law, I'll be leaving then."
Ling Wan also yawned. Having not slept all night, she was struggling to stay awake. She should hurry back and catch up on sleep. She hadn't been home all night; she wondered if her mother was worried.
"Madam, this servant will also take her leave,"
Cai Qing and Chu Qing said in unison. They could sleep a bit more before getting up to busy themselves.
"You two don't need to get up early. Sleep until the sun is high in the sky and you wake up naturally. There's nothing much to do anyway."
Feng Jin specifically instructed them to sleep in more when they returned. After all, getting up early was just for cleaning and helping her with her morning ablutions.
Today, she wanted to catch up on sleep properly and didn't need Cai Qing and Chu Qing to serve her at all. Letting them sleep in a bit longer wouldn't hurt.
"Yes, Madam."
After everyone had left, Feng Jin glanced at the messy room and the mahjong table. She was too lazy to tidy it up. She would deal with it after waking up. Her priority was to hurry back and get some more sleep.
...
"This servant greets the Young General."
"This servant greets the Young General."
Not long after leaving the room, they encountered Ling Mohan returning. Chu Qing and Cai Qing quickly bowed.
"Get up. Why are you two up so early?"
It was barely dawn, and they were already moving about the courtyard.
Ling Mohan looked at the two, his gaze as cold as ever. He hadn't slept all night. The study was chillingly cold, offering no hint of sleep. As soon as dawn broke, he couldn't wait to find Feng Jin to plead his case and get some more sleep.
"Replying to the Young General, this servant just came from Madam's side. Madam has just gone to sleep."
Cai Qing replied instinctively. She still feared Ling Mohan and dared not tell a lie.
But shouldn't the Young General be resting in his room at this hour? Why was he returning from outside?
Not daring to pry into her masters' affairs, Cai Qing didn't dare to think further.
"Madam has just gone to sleep!"
It was clear from Ling Mohan's tone of surprise and the hint of anger mixed within his words.
"Yes, Madam has just gone to sleep."
Chu Qing also sensed something was amiss. She dared not let Cai Qing continue speaking, lest she say something she shouldn't.
Ling Mohan's eyes deepened. He didn't ask further and strode towards the room. He wanted to see what tricks Feng Jin had been up to all night.
"The Young General just returned from outside. You say that..."
"Sister Cai Qing, let's go back. I'm so sleepy."
Chu Qing yawned, unable to hide her exhaustion, and pulled Cai Qing's hand as they walked back to their room.
As for the matters between Madam and the Young General, they, as servants, should not interfere. Let them resolve it themselves.
The moment Ling Mohan pushed open the door, he was utterly shocked by the scene before him.
The room was in ruins, with no place to put a single foot. Perhaps out of anger, the veins on Ling Mohan's temples throbbed incessantly.
He felt a sudden headache. He reached up and pressed his temples. He picked up a mahjong tile from the table. Feng Jin's enjoyment and merriment throughout the night were evident.
He had driven him out, and she had called others to play all night. She was truly something. The more he thought about it, the more stifled he felt. Ling Mohan closed his eyes, suppressing his anger, and tried to calm down.
He couldn't get angry over these minor matters, but he truly couldn't stand it.
He stepped into the inner chamber and immediately saw Feng Jin lying on the bed, sleeping soundly.
She was truly carefree. After driving him to sleep in the cold study all night, she had happily played the entire night and was now sleeping so soundly. The sounder she slept, the more unbalanced he felt.
He sat by the bed and hesitated for a long time before his hand involuntarily reached out.
He pinched Feng Jin's fair cheek, applying a little force. This immediately caused the sleeping woman to show her displeasure.
Feng Jin's brows furrowed slightly, and she shook her head restlessly, yet she couldn't escape Ling Mohan's grip.
As if finding a wicked pleasure, he found Feng Jin's indignant and helpless expression increasingly amusing. He couldn't help but want to tease Feng Jin further, increasing the pressure on his hand.
This time, it seemed to have truly angered Feng Jin. She slapped out fiercely, and a noticeable red mark appeared on the back of his hand.
"You scoundrel, have you no shame? Pinching my face while I'm sleeping, only you could do something like that."
Feng Jin opened her sleepy eyes and glared fiercely at Ling Mohan. She wondered why her face hurt so much. It turned out to be Ling Mohan, the scoundrel, up to his usual tricks.
Taking advantage of her sleep, ambushing her, and daring to pinch her face. Who knew what more excessive things he might do next time? He was truly something.
Clearly, he hadn't expected Feng Jin to wake up so quickly. As their eyes met, Ling Mohan appeared very awkward. He coughed lightly, averting his gaze.
"What time is it, and you're still sleeping? Get up and eat."
Pretending to be oblivious, Ling Mohan reached out to pull Feng Jin, who was under the covers, out of bed to go eat.
"Are you sick?"
Feng Jin exclaimed helplessly. She strongly suspected Ling Mohan was doing this deliberately to torment her.
"I'm so sleepy. If you have nothing else, go out. I want to sleep."
Oh heavens! God, please show your might and take this scourge, Ling Mohan, away. Don't torment her any further. If this continues, she'll truly go mad.
"No, you need to get up now!"
Ling Mohan abruptly threw off the quilt covering Feng Jin, determined to prevent her from sleeping.
Let's see if she dared to play all night with others again. It would also teach her a lesson.
"Ling Mohan, you scoundrel!"
With all her might, Feng Jin shouted, and then fiercely kicked Ling Mohan. This bastard was clearly looking for trouble.
"Get out quickly, I want to sleep. I'm really so sleepy!"
She was truly exhausted. Why did Ling Mohan have to torment her? Wasn't this deliberately trying to kill her?
Playing all night had resulted in her being too tired to even open her eyes. This feeling was truly unpleasant.