"You are too young to understand what deep affection means, you're just spouting nonsense."
Perhaps Ling Mohan left the ointment out of guilt.
"I certainly do. When the young general learned you were taken away by the steward, he urgently had Lu Shi bring all the servants to prove your innocence. After arranging everything, he went to see the Old Master. The young general truly has deep feelings for you."
She was certain that the young general had genuine affection and loyalty towards the young madam. She could still vividly recall how anxious he had looked.
Feng Jin lowered her eyes. No wonder he went so late; it was because...
He had worked hard for her, being so busy on her behalf.
"Young madam, allow me to help you apply the medicine. This is from the young general; it mustn't be wasted."
Cai Qing spoke with hidden meaning as she applied the ointment to Feng Jin's wound.
Regardless of anything else, the medicine was effective. After applying it, the wound on her back immediately stopped hurting and itching.
Feng Jin picked up the ointment jar and sniffed it at her nose, instantly recognizing the addition of an herbal ingredient.
No wonder it was so effective. Every medicinal ingredient added was worth a hundred gold pieces on its own. How could it not be effective?
It was a pity it was too expensive for anyone to afford.
Once developed, it could only be used by royalty and nobility. A single drop would be enough to cover the expenses of an ordinary family for a lifetime.
Such extravagance!
After a pause, Feng Jin suddenly remembered something. This medicine might have other uses.
"Cai Qing, go fetch the bronze mirror."
"Yes, young madam."
Feng Jin wiped away the powder on her face, revealing the skin with its faint spots. She then applied the medicine from the jar to her face.
As soon as it touched her skin, she felt a tingling sensation, followed by warmth, and then a gradual cooling.
When the sensation subsided, Feng Jin wiped off the ointment. Along with the spots, they vanished, and her skin instantly became incredibly smooth.
It was a fortunate coincidence; this medicine also possessed detoxification properties.
She had realized earlier that the spots on her face were caused by poisoning. Unfortunately, the antidote she had developed was missing one ingredient. Although it had cleared most of the poison, residual toxins remained in her body.
She hadn't expected her luck to be this good; she had actually stumbled upon the right thing.
"Young madam, the spots on your face are gone!"
Cai Qing exclaimed in surprise. This ointment was miraculous; it could even remove spots. The young madam was already beautiful, and with the spots gone, she now possessed a beauty that could captivate any man and bring kingdoms to their knees.
She was even more beautiful than Feng Ruoyan. In her opinion, the young madam was the most beautiful woman in the capital, no... not even in the entire realm could one find a woman more beautiful than the young madam.
Feng Jin examined her reflection in the bronze mirror. This face was exactly the same as her appearance in her previous life.
Her own face felt more comfortable to look at.
Feng Jin's gaze inadvertently fell upon the jade bracelet on Cai Qing's wrist. It looked very familiar, as if she had seen it somewhere before, but for a moment, she couldn't recall.
"Cai Qing, the bracelet on your hand?"
"Young madam, if you hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten. This bracelet was given to me by Madam Sun. I was just about to give it to you?"
Saying this, Cai Qing removed the bracelet from her wrist and handed it to Feng Jin.
Feng Jin examined the bracelet. No wonder it looked familiar; she had seen Madam Sun wear this bracelet before.
However, was Madam Sun truly so kind as to give a bracelet to Cai Qing?
She picked up the bracelet and examined it closely. There seemed to be no issues.
Feng Jin detected a faint, unusual fragrance. This scent was different from the floral water young ladies sprayed on themselves.
It resembled the scent of aloeswood, but Madam Sun had never been devout. How did her belongings acquire the scent of aloeswood?
No, this didn't smell like aloeswood...
She had seen in ancient medical texts that people from the Miao region were skilled in using gu. They had once cultivated a type of gu that needed to be placed inside a person's body during childhood, where it would reside and grow.
Normally, the host would not feel any discomfort.
This gu needed to be activated by incense. Once it came into contact with the activating incense, the gu would awaken and gradually gnaw at the host's internal organs. Within three days, the afflicted person would die.
As soon as she had taken over this body, she had detected the presence of an unknown parasitic organism.
She had then employed a small trick to eliminate the parasite.
This small creature had been placed inside the original owner of the body by Madam Sun.
Perhaps, realizing that the original owner was difficult to control, she had intended to eliminate her completely.
"Young madam, is there something wrong with this bracelet?"
Cai Qing asked with concern. She knew that Madam Sun and her daughter never had good intentions. If she gave her a bracelet, she must have intended to harm the young madam through her.
"It's nothing. This bracelet has good luster. Since Madam Sun gave it to you, you should keep it."
Feng Jin returned the bracelet to Cai Qing. Madam Sun's scheme was destined to fail.
"Young madam, I cannot accept this bracelet. Madam Sun gave it to me because she intended to harm the young madam through me. If I accept the bracelet, it will be like having a handle on me. Young madam, please take the bracelet back."
If Madam Sun hadn't forcefully pressed the bracelet upon her, she would never have accepted it. The young madam had shown her immense kindness, and she could not betray her conscience for a meager gain.
Feng Jin reached out and helped Cai Qing, who was kneeling on the floor, to her feet. She had not chosen the wrong person; this young girl was truly loyal.
"Take it. Don't refuse what others give you for free. Don't worry, Madam Sun won't use this bracelet to threaten you into doing anything."
She had long understood Madam Sun's petty schemes. She suspected that the dowry might also have been sprinkled with incense.
"Where is the dowry stored? I'll go and inspect everything."
If it weren't for Madam Sun's mischief, she would have forgotten about the dowry. It indeed needed a thorough inspection.
"Young madam, it's all here."
Cai Qing stepped forward and opened the storeroom doors, holding the dowry list. She itemized them one by one: "Young madam, here are ten sets of jewelry and headdresses, this is a ruyi scepter, and here are porcelain wares..."
After inspecting everything in the room, Cai Qing continued, "Young madam, there's more in the room next door. Let's go and see."
There was more? There was so much of it. Most of this was the betrothal gifts sent by the Ling family. The display of a grand procession was indeed impressive!
"I won't look at the rest!"
If they looked at everything, it would be almost dawn. Feng Jin opened a jewelry box and took out a pair of heavy dragon and phoenix gold bangles, placing them on Cai Qing's wrist.
"Young madam, this is too precious; I cannot accept it!"
"Since I'm giving it to you, it means you deserve it. You are not allowed to refuse, just accept it!"
Pure gold was a stable and hard asset; it would never depreciate. No one could refuse the allure of gold.
"Thank you, young madam."
Cai Qing was deeply moved. The young madam was gifting her such precious bangles.
"Little girl, stop crying. Follow me closely, and when you're older, I'll find you a good marriage so you can marry gloriously and live your own little life."