Ling Muzhu spoke in time, he would always remember the kindness of his elder sister-in-law and would never forget it.
He didn't know how he could ever repay such a great debt of gratitude.
"Elder sister-in-law, if you ever need anything, please tell me. I would go through fire and water and never retreat."
Ling Muzhu's expression was resolute, determined to repay Feng Jin's kindness.
Amused by his overly serious demeanor, Feng Jin covered her mouth and chuckled, "Look at you, you silly boy. It's getting late, you should go back and rest."
"Elder sister-in-law, I will take my leave then."
Just as Ling Muzhu reached the door, Feng Jin's cautionary voice echoed behind him.
"Make sure to bolt the door securely when you rest, and have two servants stand guard at the entrance. That way, it will be difficult for anyone to get in."
Feng Jin's kind reminder made Ling Muzhu feel a surge of dread. At this rate, could he even sleep soundly at night?
"Thank you for the reminder, elder sister-in-law. I have noted it all."
Returning to his courtyard, Ling Muzhu's mind was filled with Feng Jin's well-meaning advice as he left, and Zhang Miaor's repulsive face kept flashing in his mind. Ling Muzhu couldn't help but shiver.
He quickly ordered his servants to guard the door of his room and not allow anyone in, then firmly locked the doors and windows before finally going to sleep with peace of mind.
...
"Wailing and crying, acting like you want to die! What kind of behavior is that!"
Ling Changyi's anger flared as she looked at Zhang Miaor's state. This was supposed to be a foolproof plan, so why had it turned out like this?
"Are you sure Ling Muzhu was in the room when you went in?"
Zhang Miaor sniffled, her voice choked with tears, "I... I clearly saw him in the room, and I gave him the congee. I don't know what happened after that. Then you, mother, came in with people, and I really don't know why it turned into that disgusting man..."
The thought of her pure body being defiled by such a repulsive man made her want to die.
Being witnessed like this in public, how could she ever face anyone again?
"If that's the case, how did the person suddenly change?"
Ling Changyi was filled with questions but ultimately couldn't figure out what had happened.
"I don't know... I don't know anything..."
Zhang Miaor cried out, seemingly stimulated, her words slightly frantic. She only knew her purity was gone, and how could she ever get married now?
Realizing Zhang Miaor's distress, Ling Changyi also grew anxious. She reached out and hugged Zhang Miaor, "It's all over. With your mother here, nothing will happen."
It was just losing her purity, not disfigurement or death. As long as that beautiful face remained, she would naturally find other ways to marry her off into a prominent family.
"It was all your idea! I've lost all my dignity and purity. If this gets out, what family would dare to marry me? I might as well die or shave my head and become a nun in a convent, rather than live with people pointing fingers at me!"
Living such a humiliating life was less satisfying than a swift death.
*Slap!* A clear slapping sound echoed in the room.
Zhang Miaor clutched her burning, aching cheek and looked at the person before her in disbelief.
"Mother, you... you hit me..."
"Of course, I hit you, you useless thing! It's all your fault for being so incompetent, just like your useless father, you're both good-for-nothing. I shouldn't have plotted for you, I should have married you off to some impoverished scholar, so you wouldn't embarrass me here!"
Ling Changyi shouted angrily, losing patience with Zhang Miaor's incompetence and no longer wanting to scheme for her.
If she had known this would happen, she would have just chosen any family for her to marry into and be done with it, instead of having her embarrass her here.
"If you think I've embarrassed you, then you shouldn't have asked me to do such shameful things! You dressed me up like that to seduce Ling Muzhu, and you're the one who put that filthy medicine in the congee! All of this was your plan, and now you blame me for being a disgrace!"
If it weren't for her mother's instigation, how could a young lady like herself have come up with such a plan and done such a thing?
In the end, she didn't manage to seduce anyone and instead lost her purity. If she had known this would happen, she would never have obeyed her mother's command and done such a shameful deed.
"You're blaming me now!"
She had always thought of Zhang Miaor's best interests, and in the end, it all became her fault. Ling Changyi felt a pang of heartache.
"Yes, it's all your fault! You made me do all this! If I don't blame you, who else can I blame!"
Zhang Miaor cried out heart-rendingly, then collapsed onto the bed and sobbed uncontrollably.
After a moment of silence, Ling Changyi finally couldn't bear it and sighed helplessly, "I will help you find another marriage, and you can marry into that family!"
"Mother... you... you don't want me anymore? Now that I'm no longer useful, you want to send me away!"
"With your current state, do you still expect to marry into the Ling family as the main wife? Earlier, Prince Chu wanted to take you as a concubine, and I refused. But now, it seems this is the only path left."
Zhang Miaor's pupils widened abruptly, and she shook her head in panic, "I... I don't..."
"That Prince Chu is an old man over fifty, he could be my grandfather, and his mansion is filled with countless concubines. Mother, are you just going to watch your daughter jump into a fire pit!"
"Prince Chu is His Majesty's own uncle. What if he's older? With your looks, as long as you marry him, you will surely gain his favor. If you're lucky, you might even become a princess, enjoying endless wealth and glory."
"That won't do either! Prince Chu is so old, he..."
"If you are unwilling, then you can only marry the scholar your father chose for you. The choice is yours, and the decision rests entirely with you."
If she didn't like the choices she made, then she had to make her own. Either marry the scholar or marry into Prince Chu's mansion. In the end, there were only these two paths to choose from.
Zhang Miaor slumped onto the chair, her eyes vacant. Marrying a scholar meant a life of hardship, and she would have to do farm work every day. How could she live like that?
Marrying that old man, Prince Chu, meant no worries about wealth and luxury. However, Prince Chu's age was comparable to her grandfather's. How could she... how could she serve him...
"Mother... I... I..."
"Miaor, listen to your mother's advice and marry Prince Chu. Prince Chu is old, and he won't live for many more years. When that time comes, you will be a princess and enjoy wealth and glory for a lifetime. Isn't that better than a lifetime of poverty if you marry a scholar?"
Ling Changyi persuaded her earnestly, "I am your mother. Everything I do is for your own good. Can a mother harm her own daughter?"