“Young General, the Young Madam is tidying herself up, please wait a moment.”
Cai Qing emerged from the room and reported respectfully.
When the Young Madam was tidying herself up, even she was asked to leave, leaving the Young General to wait.
“This ugly woman is putting on airs, making us wait for her!”
Gu Beichen muttered indignantly. He, the noble Young Prince, was waiting for a woman for the first time, and she was an ugly woman at that.
“Young Prince, the Young Madam asked me to tell you that if you can’t speak properly, then you don’t need to speak for the rest of your life!”
After Cai Qing finished speaking, she hurriedly patted her almost leaping heart.
It had to be said that the Young Madam was truly brave. This Young Prince was notoriously difficult to deal with in the capital, yet the Young Madam dared to speak to him like that, which was admirable.
“What… this ugly…”
Before Gu Beichen could finish speaking, with a flash of silver light, he opened his mouth wide and made a muffled sound.
His mouth was stuck open…
“If the Young Prince likes to keep his mouth open and breathe in the fragrant air, then this mouth needs to be closed.”
A clear and cold voice came from the room. A woman in a crimson scholar’s skirt emerged gracefully.
Her three thousand strands of black hair were styled into a cloud bun with a jade hairpin, loosely adorned with a silver woven ribbon, and a gold-inlaid peony butterfly镂空华盛 (carved gold peony butterfly镂空华盛) was diagonally inserted. A light tassel fell casually, creating a ripple in the wind.
The glazed jade pendant at her waist swayed gently with her movements.
A plum blossom was dotted between her eyebrows, adding a touch of charm to her refined and subtle makeup.
“Young General, you have waited.” Feng Jun gracefully curtsied.
Ling Mohan coughed lightly, concealing the astonishment in his eyes, and lowered his voice, “The spots on your face?”
“I’ve covered them with powder. What do you think, Young General?”
“Very good, let’s go!”
Ling Mohan’s eyes narrowed, his gaze scanning Feng Jin. Could rouge and powder truly cover such large blemishes?
Gu Beichen, with his mouth agape, gargled and blocked Feng Jin’s path, pointing at his own wide-open mouth with a look of earnestness.
Feng Jin, that wicked woman, that ugly woman, had set him up.
“Young Prince, is there something?”
Feng Jin wore a bright smile, but Gu Beichen felt a chill down his spine. That smile was more terrifying than a ghost.
“Mmmph…” Gu Beichen’s mouth was wide open, only able to make muffled sounds. He looked as embarrassed as one could be, with no trace of a noble young master.
Feng Jin snorted coldly, “Young Prince, I told you long ago, if there’s a next time, it won’t be as simple as being unable to speak. I’m teaching you a lesson, so you should think before you speak in the future!”
Gu Beichen nodded frantically. He vowed never to provoke Feng Jin again.
What was intended as a minor punishment, Feng Jin immediately released his acupoint.
Having his mouth held open for so long, the sudden release brought him an unusual comfort. He looked up and met Feng Jin’s gaze, startling him. He flinched and took two steps back, hiding behind Ling Mohan.
He decided he should visit the Ling Estate less in the future; that way, he could live a few more years.
The banquet was boisterous, with everyone discussing Ling Mohan and the country girl who married into the Ling family.
“Don’t be frightened by her appearance later; I’ve never seen such an ugly woman.”
Ling Yan was widely proclaiming Feng Jin’s ugliness and coarseness among her circle of young ladies.
She had already made up her mind to humiliate Feng Jin at this banquet.
“Sister, have you made all the arrangements?”
Ling Muzhu had knelt in the ancestral hall for three full days. It was only when Ling Second Master interceded that the Old Master Ling allowed him to be released. Even now, his knees still ached faintly when he walked.
He had also been severely disciplined by Ling Second Master with three strokes of the rod, which settled the matter.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got everything prepared. How is it on your end?”
“Everyone is in place!”
Ling Muzhu, who always sought revenge, was determined to drive Feng Jin out after she had caused him such a significant fall.
“Young General, Young Madam has arrived!”
The servant’s announcement broke through the air, and at once, countless eyes turned towards the entrance.
As the two appeared, the clamor erupted like thunder.
“Has the Young General’s poison really been cured?”
“Is that the Young Madam beside him? Isn’t she the one the Feng family raised in their rural estate? With this appearance and temperament, there’s not a trace of a country girl!”
“Indeed! I saw that she is even more beautiful than that Feng Ruoyan.”
“And her excellent medical skills, truly a remarkable woman.”
Feng Jin calmly listened to the compliments from others.
She couldn’t help but sigh, realizing that in any era, appearance mattered. Looking good had already won over many hearts.
If she had appeared before the world in her ugly makeup, she would only have been met with ridicule.
Feng Ruoyan, standing at the back of the crowd, gazed admiringly at Ling Mohan. He had actually woken up…
Her gaze fell upon Feng Jin, who stood beside Ling Mohan. How could a coarse, ignorant country girl be worthy of standing beside the Young General?
A pair of hands clasped Feng Ruoyan’s hands, which were pale with jealousy.
“Yan’er, don’t forget your current status. You are about to be betrothed to the Third Prince. Minor matters are not worth your concern.”
Madam Sun was clearly more composed than Feng Ruoyan. Becoming the official Third Prince Consort by marrying the Third Prince was the most important matter now.
“Yes, Mother. It was my daughter’s impulsiveness!”
Feng Ruoyan suppressed her emotions. Once she ascended to the position of Third Prince Consort, she would then become Crown Princess, and eventually, Empress.
At that time, Feng Jin would surely be at her mercy.
Madam Sun looked coldly at Feng Jin, suppressing the disgust on her face, and put on a loving smile as she gracefully walked towards Feng Jin.
“The Young General’s recovery is a blessing to Southern Chu. Congratulations!”
Madam Sun was known for her excellent superficial conduct, which had earned her a good reputation among the noble ladies.
“Thank you, Mother-in-law. All of this is thanks to Feng Jin. Without Feng Jin, my illness would never have been cured.”
“Young General, you are too kind. It seems the master’s words were not false. Jin’er’s fate can aid you. We should interact more often from now on.”
The Ling family was deeply entrenched in Southern Chu. With this marital tie to the Ling family, if Feng Ruoyan married the Third Prince and ascended to the throne of Empress, she would have great support.
If Feng Jin, that little vixen, cooperated obediently, she might spare her life. Otherwise, she would end up the same way as her short-lived mother.
“Madam Prime Minister, have you forgotten? To marry Feng Ruoyan to the Third Prince, you made me, this crude and ignorant country girl, marry into the Ling family. We had agreed before my marriage that after leaving home, I, Feng Jin, would have no further ties with the Feng family, and there would be no need for further interaction!”
Feng Jin would not indulge her. The thought of using her to connect with the Ling family to help Feng Ruoyan marry the Third Prince was a pipe dream, a wishful fantasy.
“Feng Jin, you are talking nonsense!”