Cai Qing knelt before Feng Jin with a thud. "Thank you, Young Madam. Your kindness to this servant is immense. I will repay you with my life's work."
She was a born servant, bound to her masters for life, subject to their every whim, from beatings to sale, never tasting freedom.
She was fortunate to have met the Young Madam, who treated her with such leniency.
"Get up. Don't kneel at every turn. Stand tall. No one is born inherently lowly, nor is anyone born inherently noble. If you want others to respect you, you must first respect yourself. Understand?"
"I understand. Thank you for your teachings, Young Madam."
Feng Jin nodded with satisfaction. "Let's go. It's getting late. We should get back and rest."
"Your subordinate greets the Young General!"
In the study, a man stood tall by the window, his dark, deep eyes holding a hint of emotion. His low voice inquired, "What have you found?"
"Young General, the Young Madam drowned half a year ago. Upon surfacing, she had no breath. The physicians were certain she had died, yet after some time, she awakened. According to the nanny who attended her, the Young Madam began to change from that point on, as if she were a different person."
"I see. You may go. Cease your investigation and withdraw carefully, leaving no trace!"
"Yes, Young General!"
As the words fell, the hidden guard who had reported immediately vanished into the night.
...
"Get out of my way! Do you know who I am!"
Feng Jin stood with her hands on her hips, shouting, utterly resembling a shrew.
"Young Madam, please forgive us. The Young General has ordered that you not leave the premises. Young Madam, please do not make things difficult for us small folk."
The gatekeepers looked troubled. They were merely following orders. Any mistake would make them scapegoats.
This was truly difficult...
"You... you really are..."
Feng Jin felt a fire burning in her chest, with nowhere to vent it.
"Young Madam, perhaps we should return for now!"
Cai Qing advised from the side. If they persisted, others from the estate would be alerted.
Feng Jin took a deep breath. A wise person knows when to retreat. If one path was blocked, there were others.
After being turned away at the main gate, Feng Jin tried the back gate and two side gates, but was blocked at each.
Suppressing her anger, Feng Jin clenched her fists.
"Young Madam, why don't we not go out today? Your injuries haven't fully healed. We can rest for two days and then go out."
Cai Qing said helplessly. It seemed they couldn't leave today.
"I have one more place I can get out."
A thought flashed through Feng Jin's mind, and she pulled Cai Qing along.
"This... Young Madam, can this work?"
"Of course it can. Don't worry!"
Feng Jin was full of confidence. With a powerful leap, she climbed onto a tree. "Cai Qing, give me your hand, I'll pull you up!"
Cai Qing hesitated for a moment before extending her hand to Feng Jin. After a crooked climb, she managed to reach the tree. Looking down, her legs trembled, and she was so scared she hugged a branch.
"Young Madam... this... this is too high!"
Cai Qing was so terrified her speech faltered. She had never climbed a tree in her life, and it was too frightening.
"It's okay, I'll jump down first, and I'll catch you."
As the words left her mouth, Feng Jin leaped down. "Quickly, Cai Qing, jump down!"
Cai Qing looked down, trembling all over. "Young Madam, I... I dare not!"
"You really are..." This was the critical moment; she couldn't let it all be in vain.
"Don't look down. Just leap down, and I'll catch you!"
Feng Jin reassured Cai Qing, her heart pounding with anxiety. She wished she could rush up and drag Cai Qing down.
"My dear, you certainly are experienced. It seems you've climbed over walls quite a bit!"
Ling Mo Han's voice, tinged with annoyance, sounded from behind. Feng Jin's heart sank. It was over.
"Young... Young General!" Cai Qing stammered, her footing slipping from fear. She fell straight down. "Ah! Help!"
"Cai Qing!" Feng Jin cried out in alarm.
Lu Shi flashed forward and caught Cai Qing, placing her gently on the ground.
Cai Qing, utterly shaken, slumped to the ground, unable to recover for a long time. She vowed never to sneak out with the Young Madam again; it was too terrifying.
"What are you doing here? I have urgent business and need to go out. You should go back!" Feng Jin's attitude was arrogant, as the saying goes, "Though in the wrong, I’ll still be defiant." In terms of momentum, she couldn't lose.
"Lu Shi, please escort the Young Madam back!"
Ling Mo Han commanded coldly, his face ashen.
If the gatekeepers hadn't reported, and he had been a step later, Feng Jin would have vanished.
If kind persuasion fails, don't blame him.
"You dare!" Feng Jin sharply rebuked Lu Shi and then faced Ling Mo Han, her head held high. "You have no right to restrict my personal freedom. I am going out."
She was determined to leave today, and she still needed to examine Princess Qing Ping.
Ling Mo Han's expression darkened. He stepped forward and scooped Feng Jin into his arms.
Startled by the sudden lift, Feng Jin instinctively clutched the man's neck for support.
The abrupt movement pulled at the wound on her back, and Feng Jin winced in pain.
"What's wrong?" Ling Mo Han asked in a deep voice.
"It's nothing, you just pulled my hair!"
Feng Jin offered a flimsy excuse, all for the sake of leaving. "Put me down, I really have something urgent to attend to."
"I'll accompany you in the carriage!"
Ling Mo Han said in a low voice. He couldn't rest easy letting her go out alone.
"Ah?"
Feng Jin was still lost in surprise when she found herself already seated inside the carriage.
"Lu Shi, to the Yue State Duke's manor."
"How did you know I was going to the Yue State Duke's manor?"
She hadn't told him, not even Cai Qing.
"Yesterday, someone from the Yue State Duke's manor sent a formal invitation. I guessed you would be going out today."
He had initially intended for Feng Jin to ask him for permission. He hadn't expected her to take such a risk and try to climb over the wall.
Feng Jin's lips twitched uncontrollably. She truly suspected Ling Mo Han possessed divine sight, otherwise, how could he be so privy to her affairs?
Or perhaps there was a spy among her companions. But Cai Qing didn't seem like a spy, so there was only one possibility: Ling Mo Han had someone watching her.
"Are you spying on me?"
Feng Jin asked directly, voicing her suspicion.
Ling Mo Han paused, his hand on the carriage curtain. Had Feng Jin discovered something? His men always remained hidden, never showing themselves. How could Feng Jin know? Or was she merely testing him?
"No, a gatekeeper saw you climbing the wall and came to report."
Ling Mo Han lied smoothly, his expression sincere.
"Is that so?" Feng Jin was swayed by his earnest demeanor and chose to believe him, not pressing the issue further.