Even if they were to be dealt with, a justifiable reason would be needed. They were all accompanying persons to the Princess of Xiliang; we had no actual right to dispose of them. A slight misstep could lead to widespread criticism.
The people of Xiliang might be waiting for this opportunity to attack us on this pretext. If we could endure some things, we should even allow them to err. Only after finding concrete evidence can we uproot them more effectively!
Feng Jin understood their special status and knew that in international relations, even the smallest matter could become a trigger for war between two countries.
On this matter, they had to be extremely cautious, not allowing the Xiliang people to find even the slightest handle on them.
"My wife is indeed exceptionally wise, hitting the nail on the head with a single remark."
He truly felt fortunate that Feng Jin was not his enemy; otherwise, he wouldn't have been entirely confident of defeating her.
"We're discussing serious matters, and you're being flippant again!"
She shot him a scolding look. How could he keep changing the subject and saying such nonsensical things? It left her unsure of what to say.
"What I said is also a serious matter."
Ling Mo Han spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, feeling no self-reproach for his earlier words.
If even praising his own wife was wrong, then something was truly amiss.
"As you wish!" Feng Jin said with a hint of helplessness, too tired to bicker with Ling Mo Han over such trivialities.
After a pause, Feng Jin asked again, "Then how do you plan to deal with these palace maids and eunuchs from Xiliang?"
"Whatever my wife wishes. We shall let them run wild."
After consideration, he realized that only Feng Jin's proposed method would be the most effective.
There were still a few days before they reached the capital, which was enough time for them to continue their misbehavior. When the time was right, they could be eradicated in one fell swoop.
"But this method takes too long. What if they behave themselves by the time we reach the capital?"
As Feng Jin's words fell, Ling Mo Han's expression instantly turned grave. He truly hadn't considered this point earlier.
"To draw out the frog from the pond." Feng Jin kindly reminded him.
Ling Mo Han immediately understood what she meant, a smile curling the corners of his lips. He leaned in and stole a kiss on Feng Jin's cheek, "My wife is truly my strategist."
"Don't get your saliva on my face."
The sticky feeling on her face was unpleasant, and Feng Jin, with a hint of disgust, vigorously wiped her face twice.
If you're going to kiss, why do you have to get saliva on my face? Isn't it disgusting?
"If you wipe again, I don't mind giving you..."
Before Ling Mo Han could finish his sentence, his gaze had already conveyed his meaning.
Feng Jin's face instantly flushed red, and she slapped him on the head.
"Throw out all those filthy thoughts from your head. If you dare to think of such things again, I don't mind helping you get a new brain."
She had performed brain surgery before. Although medical conditions were relatively primitive now, she was still confident she could help Ling Mo Han get a healthy, uncontaminated brain.
Although Feng Jin's lips were curved in a smile, it sent a shiver down his spine, a chill creeping up his back. "That won't be necessary."
The saying was indeed true: the most venomous heart belongs to a woman. One must never offend a woman, or you wouldn't even know how you died.
Ling Mo Han had witnessed Feng Jin's superb medical skills, especially her scalpel, which seemed sharper than his sword.
If Feng Jin wanted to, she could truly help him change his brain.
"If you continue to be disobedient, I'll really change your brain for you."
Feng Jin, pulling a scalpel from who knows where, gestured with it, truly giving the impression of performing surgery.
"You put down the knife in your hand first!"
Feng Jin's demeanor with the scalpel was quite chilling. Ling Mo Han quickly urged her to put it down, not wanting to have nightmares that night.
Giving the man a glare, Feng Jin continued on her own, using the scalpel to peel an apple.
The scalpel was extremely sharp, and the apple was peeled with remarkable fluidity. Feng Jin kindly offered the peeled apple to Ling Mo Han.
"No need. I like to eat them with the skin on."
With that, Ling Mo Han picked up an unpeeled apple and began to eat it.
If Feng Jin continued to torment him like this, he might develop a phobia of peeled apples in the future.
"Good intentions mistaken for donkey's lungs."
Feng Jin snorted coldly and bit fiercely into the apple in her hand, as if it were Ling Mo Han, venting her displeasure.
"Young General, your subordinate has something to report."
Suddenly, Lu Shi's slightly flustered voice rang out from outside the door.
Ling Mo Han's eyes narrowed. He got up, opened the door, and said sternly, "What is it?"
"Young General, the palace maids and eunuchs from Xiliang have engaged in a brawl. Three people are already injured."
As Lu Shi reported the matter, a flicker of disgust crossed his eyes. These Xiliang people were truly troublesome.
In just the past two days, they had caused no end of trouble. First, they complained about the food not suiting their taste, then the bedding was too hard to sleep on, and today they dared to engage in a brawl.
Escorting them to the capital was truly the most vexing task of his life.
Ling Mo Han's expression instantly darkened. "Go and see."
"I'm going too." Feng Jin said quickly, getting up to follow.
By the time they arrived, the individuals had already been separated. Feng Jin was quite surprised by the scene.
This was her first time witnessing women fighting amongst themselves. The scene was truly something.
Several palace maids had obvious scratch marks on their faces, their hair was a tangled mess, hairpins were scattered haphazardly in their hair, bedding was strewn on the floor, and there were many broken teacups on the ground.
Feng Jin carefully stepped in, wary of being cut by the fragments.
"What happened?" Ling Mo Han's voice was extremely cold.
"Reporting to the Young General, it began when these two young ladies argued over the unfair distribution of bedding. Then these few others got involved, and eventually, no one knew who threw the first punch, and they started fighting. Fortunately, they only sustained minor injuries," Lu Shi recounted what he knew.
"Because of such trivial matters, you resorted to fighting!"
Ling Mo Han said coldly, his face growing even more somber.
These young palace maids were only fifteen or sixteen years old. Startled by Ling Mo Han's stern tone, they froze, too afraid to move.
"For unauthorized fighting, how would you be punished according to the rules of Xiliang?"
"Young General, according to our Xiliang rules, if palace maids engage in unauthorized fighting over an issue, regardless of who is at fault, both sides will be punished. They will kneel for three hours and be denied food and water for one day."
The one who stepped forward to answer was a slightly older嬷嬷(mómó), who was also their steward.
"Then carry out the punishment according to your Xiliang rules. Additionally, each person will be given ten strokes of the disciplinary ruler, so they learn their lesson."