"I've noted everything down, Madam. May I avoid going out for these few days? I..."
"I understand. Rest well in your room, and just say if you need anything."
Feng Jin, aware of her worries, readily agreed to Yun Niang's request. After giving Yun Niang a few more instructions, Feng Jin left.
...
As Feng Jin returned to her room, she found Ling Mo Han sitting there with a dark expression. Lu Shi stood obediently beside him, not daring to make a sound, looking like a wronged spouse.
"Why are you back so early today?" He usually returned around noon. Today was truly unusual.
"Didn't I tell you not to go out?"
Ling Mo Han suppressed his emotions, his tone as gentle as he could manage.
"I just checked on Yun Niang. I can only feel at ease after seeing her condition stabilize."
Feng Jin understood Ling Mo Han's concern and explained, "I know what you're thinking, but I am a physician. I have to consider my patient's well-being. I will definitely act within my capabilities and will not harm myself."
Sensing the subtle shift in their atmosphere, Lu Shi discreetly retreated to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
After Feng Jin's explanation, the pent-up frustration in Ling Mo Han's heart finally eased a little.
"In any case, you are forbidden from overexerting yourself in the future."
This morning, when he woke up and found Feng Jin missing, he searched the entire manor before finding her.
He had called out to Feng Jin several times with no response, scaring him into calling for a doctor. He then learned that Feng Jin had fainted from exhaustion.
One more incident like this would have given him a heart attack.
"I know. I just wanted to treat Yun Niang's face as soon as possible. As a young woman, she has endured much mockery due to her appearance. I want to heal her face and let her appear in front of everyone beautifully."
Feng Jin had seen many people deeply affected by their appearance and genuinely wanted to help Yun Niang.
"Even so, you must prioritize yourself," Ling Mo Han said gravely. He pulled Feng Jin into his embrace and spoke in a low voice, "I cannot bear the pain of losing you."
Feng Jin's heart trembled violently, and a similar emotion surged within her. She unconsciously embraced the man back, promising, "I will not leave you."
Ling Mo Han gazed into Feng Jin's eyes and couldn't resist kissing her, a kiss that was light and fleeting.
Feng Jin's eyes widened abruptly, and she remained stunned for a long moment, yet her body responded to the man's advances.
As if encouraged, Ling Mo Han's hands grew bolder. He swept Feng Jin into his arms and carried her towards the bed.
...
"Young Master Gu, the Young General has ordered that no one be allowed to enter. Please wait outside."
Lu Shi blocked the door with a resolute expression, brooks no argument.
"You have quite the nerve. You know who I am, yet you dare to stop me!" Gu Bei Chen was furious. This Lu Shi had learned a lot from Feng Jin and had become quite bold.
"Please forgive me, Young Master Gu. I am acting under the Young General's orders. If there is punishment, the Young General will handle it."
The implication was that it had nothing to do with you; please shut up quickly.
Gu Bei Chen was so enraged his lungs felt like they would burst. He had been experiencing misfortune for days, his every outing seemingly cursed.
"Fine... fine. Lu Shi, you are indeed commendable. Bring a chair. This Young Master will sit here and wait. I want to see if Ling Mo Han will come out today."
He would wait here like a hunter lying in wait for his prey, refusing to believe he wouldn't get his man.
As dusk settled, Gu Bei Chen remained sitting there, alone and forlorn.
Lu Shi, returning after finishing his meal and changing shifts, showed a flicker of surprise upon seeing Gu Bei Chen. Why was he still waiting?
"Young Master Gu, why don't you go back first? When the Young General comes out, I will personally inform him that you waited here all afternoon."
Lu Shi's tone was sincere; he just wanted to send this jinx away quickly.
"Get me some food," Gu Bei Chen ordered the guard beside Lu Shi. He refused to believe Ling Mo Han could stay inside forever.
The guard looked at Lu Shi, then at the imposing figure of Gu Bei Chen, caught between a rock and a hard place.
"Prepare some food first, and then get Young Master Gu a pot of good wine," Lu Shi instructed. He had to appease this VIP.
He had hoped for a day of rest today, as the Young General wouldn't need him. But who knew this troublesome character would show up again, causing so much bother?
Once the food was served, Gu Bei Chen drank cup after cup, as if venting his frustrations.
After a few cups of wine, Gu Bei Chen transformed into a garrulous drunkard, his tongue loosened.
"I truly don't know what's gotten into Ling Mo Han. Why is he so infatuated with Feng Jin? He values romance over friendship; he's inhumane."
Gu Bei Chen felt wronged. How could he have such a friend like Ling Mo Han? It was like he had drawn the short straw for eight lifetimes.
Especially whenever he encountered Feng Jin, nothing good ever happened.
"Our Young Madam is such a good person. It's only natural that the Young General likes her. Young Master Gu, you simply have too much prejudice against our Young Madam."
Lu Shi was now utterly loyal to Feng Jin and would not allow anyone to defame her.
"How can you betray me too? Didn't you dislike Feng Jin before?"
What was happening to this world? Everyone was betraying him.
Gu Bei Chen felt his world collapsing. He suddenly felt utterly alone.
"Young Master Gu, please don't talk nonsense. I have never disliked the Young Madam from the beginning. These are all your assumptions. Do not force your assumptions onto me. This is... this is defamation."
Lu Shi had learned many peculiar words from following Feng Jin these days and was now putting them to good use.
"Where did you learn these strange words?"
Gu Bei Chen knew exactly how much knowledge Lu Shi possessed. These words were definitely not something he could have come up with.
"The Young Madam taught me. The Young Madam is learned and talented, possessing vast knowledge and mastering everything. It is truly the Young General's good fortune to have married the Young Madam."
More importantly, the Young Madam treated each of them with sincerity, never differentiating them based on their status.
She always thought of them, even gifting him several bottles of the precious Qing Feng Yu Lu Paste and sharing candied chestnuts with them.
Truly, she kept track of every detail.
Having such a master was also his good fortune.
"Enough... enough. Just shut up. I get angry just hearing you praise Feng Jin."
If not for Feng Jin's trickery last night, he wouldn't have been surrounded by those women and unable to escape.