Feng Jin rolled her eyes speechlessly. This was clearly something he had snatched, yet he insisted it was something he had earned.
He really knew how to put himself in a good light, probably long forgetting the time he fought tooth and nail in the Jing Prince’s mansion for a calligraphy scroll.
“You’d better keep it well. Don’t let someone steal it one of these days when you’re not paying attention,” Feng Jin said sarcastically, with a hint of mockery.
“Who dares? Let’s see who dares to steal from my hands. They’d better weigh whether they have the ability.”
Ling Mohan was extremely arrogant. Did they not consider if they had the ability to steal from him before coveting his possessions?
The thief was even more righteous than the victim.
“Mistress, the second young lady is here.” Cai Qing stepped in to report.
“Please invite the second young lady in.”
Cai Qing acknowledged, curtsied, and left. In a short while, she returned leading Ling Wan inside.
“Eldest sister-in-law,” Ling Wan called out softly with a smile. However, upon seeing Ling Mohan standing beside her, the smile on her face vanished, replaced by a sense of timidity.
“Greetings, elder brother.” Ling Wan said respectfully.
Feng Jin sensed something was amiss. She glanced at Ling Mohan and said, “Didn’t you say you were going to the study? You should go first. Ling Wan and I have something to discuss.”
Ling Mohan was stunned for a moment. When had he said he was going to the study? Receiving Feng Jin’s signal to leave, Ling Mohan hesitated before leaving immediately.
“Alright, now that everyone’s gone, you don’t need to be so reserved. Just relax.”
Feng Jin pulled Ling Wan to sit down and placed a cup of fragrant tea beside Ling Wan.
“Thank you, eldest sister-in-law.” She was indeed a bit fearful when she saw Ling Mohan.
“It’s nothing. He’s your brother, why are you so afraid of him?”
Feng Jin had noticed many times that whenever Ling Wan encountered Ling Mohan, she seemed to transform, not even daring to speak loudly.
“I…” Ling Wan’s face showed some difficulty. She tugged at Feng Jin’s hand and asked softly, “Eldest sister-in-law, don’t you think elder brother is scary, especially when his face is cold?”
When she was young, she had been punished by Ling Mohan for breaking a vase. From then on, every time she saw Ling Mohan, she couldn’t help but recall the punishment.
She felt timid and it was much better to stay far away.
“Scary? I don’t think so. You have typical childhood trauma. You need to learn to overcome it. If you think about it carefully, you’ll realize that Ling Mohan smiles and cares for you, and you won’t find him scary.”
Feng Jin was guiding Ling Wan little by little, helping her overcome her psychological barrier.
Following Feng Jin’s line of thought, Ling Wan gradually recalled. However, her mind was filled with images of Ling Mohan scolding her with a cold face, and not a single image of him showing care.
“Eldest sister-in-law, perhaps it’s best to forget it. I’ll continue to stay away from elder brother in the future. I’ll come to visit you when elder brother is not at home.”
Ling Wan took out the bottle from her arms and placed it on the table. “Eldest sister-in-law, this is the Nine-Revolutions Heart-Protecting Pill. My mother asked me to bring it to elder brother.”
“I’ll accept it on your brother’s behalf. Wait here for a moment, I’ll get you something to take back to Concubine Bai.”
Feng Jin accepted the medicine bottle, got up, and walked towards the inner room. When she came out, she was holding a money bag in her hand.
“Take this money back and buy whatever you need.”
When Master Ling the Second managed the Ling family, he had often mistreated them, mother and daughter. It was common for them to lack food and clothing, let alone their monthly allowance.
“Eldest sister-in-law, I can’t accept this money.” Ling Wan directly refused. The monthly allowance had already been significantly increased by her eldest sister-in-law, which was already a great kindness. She absolutely could not accept more money from her.
“Don’t refuse again and again. We are family, why be so formal? It would seem like strangers. I know you and Concubine Bai have had a hard time living in the Ling family all these years, lacking food and clothing. Take these back and buy some things.”
Feng Jin placed the money bag into Ling Wan’s hands and had Cai Qing bring out the items. “The weather is turning cold, I had my people make a few clothes for you and Concubine Bai. Take them back and see if they fit. If not, have Cai Qing take them back for alteration.”
“Thank you, eldest sister-in-law.” Ling Wan thanked her repeatedly. She reached out to touch the fabric of the clothes. They were warm to the touch, the material was smooth, and they were fully filled with cotton. Even the fur collars on the neckline and cuffs were made of the finest, everlasting fox fur.
She had never even dared to dream of such clothes before. In winter, new clothes and charcoal fires would be withheld by Master Ling the Second’s men. The padded clothes delivered were damp, the cotton filling was thin, and the charcoal used was the lowest grade from the kitchen, which was unusable.
Her mother would then cover all the padded clothes on her body, and at night, both mother and daughter would huddle together to keep warm.
“It’s alright. If you lack anything in the future, just ask for it. You are the second young lady of the Ling family’s main branch. Your status is no less noble than anyone else’s. Never belittle yourself.”
“I understand, eldest sister-in-law. I’ll take my leave now.”
This was the first time someone had spoken to her like this.
…
When Ling Mohan returned, only Feng Jin was left in the room. “Ling Wan left?”
Feng Jin was focused on the item in her hands and merely nodded without looking up at Ling Mohan.
“Why do I feel like that little girl is a bit afraid of me?”
He had noticed many times that as soon as he appeared, Ling Wan would become very uneasy and quickly find an excuse to leave.
Feng Jin looked up at Ling Mohan upon hearing this and gave him a look that said, ‘You only just realized?’
Anyone could see that Ling Wan was afraid of him, and not just a little bit.
“I’m not that scary. Why should she be afraid of me?” Ling Mohan asked, puzzled. He believed he had grown up quite well. Which young lady in the capital didn’t flock to him upon seeing him? Ling Wan, who hid from him whenever she saw him, was truly the only one.
“You really have a lot of confidence in your looks.” Feng Jin glanced at him contemptuously and said helplessly, “You should smile at Ling Wan more in the future and care for her more. After all, she is your own sister.”
Ling Mohan hesitated. His memory of Ling Wan was not as deep as his impression of Ling Yan.
This was mainly because Ling Wan was timid and, being a concubine’s daughter, she was also self-conscious. She had always avoided him whenever she saw him.
He had been busy with court and military affairs for many years, so he had little interaction with her. She was no different from a stranger to him. He had never taken this sister to heart.
Upon Feng Jin’s reminder, he realized that he had indeed paid too little attention to Ling Wan. It was his oversight. After all, Ling Wan was the sister closest to him.
“I understand. I will pay more attention in the future.”
Ling Mohan responded in a deep voice. He would need to care for Ling Wan more from now on.