Chapter 237 Returning Favor with Envy

Ling Mo Han couldn't understand a word of what Feng Jin had written. The different fonts and writing styles clearly showed a significant difference.

"I can understand it anyway," Feng Jin muttered, managing to make out the gist of it.

She couldn't be bothered to learn the written language of this era. She'd rather spend that time finding ways to earn more money. This was ancient times, wasn't it all about "a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent"? After much thought, she realized earning money was the most important thing.

Initially, she planned to earn money so that after she divorced Ling Mo Han, she could find a secluded paradise and live a carefree life. Now, her goal was to become the richest person.

"I'm not telling you anymore, I..."

Feng Jin's words stopped mid-sentence. Her scrutinizing gaze fell on Ling Mo Han as she slowly approached him. Her eyes landed on his shoulder, and she reached out to pluck off a long strand of hair. Bringing it to her nose, she immediately recognized that the scent wasn't hers; it was completely unfamiliar.

"Whose hair is this on your shoulder?" Feng Jin asked icily.

Ling Mo Han's heart leaped in fright. He hastily explained, "His Majesty summoned me to the palace today. A maid accidentally spilled tea on us. I assume this hair fell on me when she was helping me wipe it off. Look, there are still tea stains on my clothes."

Pointing to the tea stains on his robe, Ling Mo Han eagerly tried to prove his innocence. "This hair must have fallen on me from that little maid. I was in the military camp all day... Lu Shi was with me the entire time; he can vouch for my innocence."

Ling Mo Han's explanation was rushed, fearing that Feng Jin might misunderstand. He was practically ready to drag Lu Shi there as a witness.

"Alright, I believe you."

Feng Jin, with a headache from his rambling, quickly said, telling him to shut up and give her some peace. She stood up, tossed the hair in her hand, and washed her hands.

"You really believe me and aren't angry?" Given Feng Jin's usual temperament, it was too unusual for her to let this go so easily, which made Ling Mo Han even more uneasy.

"I'm not angry. I believe what you said."

The reason Feng Jin didn't press Ling Mo Han was that she had already identified the scent on the hair as camellia water, which palace maids commonly used to nourish their hair. Furthermore, Ling Mo Han was still wearing the same clothes he had worn when he left, and the mud on his shoes was black. Only the soil in the military camp in the capital was this specific shade of black.

All signs indicated that Ling Mo Han had been in the military camp all day and had not gone anywhere else.

Ling Mo Han frowned. The calmer Feng Jin was, the more uneasy he felt. If Feng Jin were to argue with him, it would have made him feel more at ease.

"You..."

"Shut up. If you say one more word, I'll kick you out." Feng Jin said unpleasantly. How could a grown man be so incessantly chattering all day? Didn't he find it annoying?

Scolded, Ling Mo Han immediately shut his mouth, not daring to say another word. However, he felt a lot more at ease.

After a long silence, Feng Jin finally asked, "Is there going to be a war?"

"Why do you ask?"

"You've practically been living in the military camp these past two days. You wouldn't normally be like this. The border must be unstable. You've been training the soldiers all day, haven't you?"

Feng Jin's words greatly shocked Ling Mo Han. "My wife is truly exceptionally intelligent. Nothing can escape your notice."

"Is the border truly unstable?" Feng Jin had only guessed before. Upon confirmation, she felt even more anxious. An unstable border, war imminent, hundreds of thousands of soldiers rushing to the front lines, the common people suffering the ravages of war and displacement...

Ling Mo Han nodded slightly. "There have been frequent skirmishes at the border with Cang Nan Country these past few days. Moreover, the Emperor of Cang Nan Country has passed away, and the Crown Prince has ascended the throne. His first act after his enthronement was to reorganize the army, revealing his sinister intentions. We must be on guard."

Although there was outward peace, the internal situation was turbulent. The border fortifications had been strengthened and raised by over a zhang. Armies were being reorganized everywhere, grain and fodder were being collected, and war was imminent.

"Cang Nan Country..." Feng Jin didn't know much about military matters, but the name felt strangely familiar. After thinking for a moment, she suddenly remembered, "Weren't you almost killed by the Frost Curse that time? Wasn't it during a battle with Cang Nan Country?"

"It truly troubles my wife to worry so much about me, to remember it so clearly." Ling Mo Han said strangely. This incident had always been a thorn in his side. In all his years of campaigning, he had never tasted defeat, yet this was the one time he almost lost his life. He had repeatedly tried to find out who had cast the curse on him but had never succeeded. If war broke out with Cang Nan again, he was determined to vent the suffocating anger in his chest and avenge his past humiliation.

Feng Jin covered her mouth and chuckled, teasing, "Of course, I remember clearly. Young General, have you perhaps forgotten? If I hadn't shown mercy and saved your life, would you still be alive to talk to me now?"

Ling Mo Han was instantly speechless, as Feng Jin was speaking the absolute truth, leaving him no room to refute.

"But, you truly haven't found out who cast the Frost Curse on you? Such insidious and cunning means clearly aimed to kill you. Haven't you considered who you might have such a deep and irreconcilable hatred with that they would want you dead?"

"On the battlefield, each fights for their own lord; we are natural enemies. That's not unusual."

"But it's also possible that someone in the court is colluding with the enemy, wanting you to perish in Cang Nan," Feng Jin said slowly, which greatly surprised Ling Mo Han.

"You... How did you know?"

Feng Jin pursed her lips, her tone tinged with sarcasm. "Didn't you suspect the same thing? When I removed the Frost Curse from you, didn't you suspect that I was in league with the one who cursed you, deliberately trying to harm you? Didn't you even dispatch secret guards to investigate this matter? Isn't that right, General Ling?"

His secret exposed, Ling Mo Han's face showed undeniable embarrassment. He coughed lightly and turned his head away, his words of explanation sounding weak. "It's just that your identity was too suspicious at the time. What I did was only natural."

Feng Jin's mouth twitched, and she rolled her eyes. "Yes, it's the first time I've seen someone treat their savior not with boundless gratitude, but by suspecting them of ulterior motives."

"Why are you still bringing up these trivial old matters?" Fearing that Feng Jin would continue to dredge up the past, Ling Mo Han quickly changed the subject.