Feng Jin's tone carried a hint of helplessness, and she admired Ling Mohan's efforts for a mere bun.
At this moment, the bun in her hand felt exceptionally precious. She took a hearty bite, realizing that eating her fill was the most important thing. She mustn't waste the bun that had been sent from a hundred miles away.
"There's nothing to eat in the manor. It would be troublesome to go out and buy some, so it's better to have people from the mansion send it over," Ling Mohan explained indifferently. He also found outside food unpalatable, and going out to buy it would be a hassle. Having it delivered was simpler.
Feng Jin also admired Ling Mohan's logic. Going out to buy was troublesome, but having it delivered wasn't?
Truly a capitalist showing their exploitative nature.
"Eat your bun. What are you spacing out for!" Ling Mohan urged impatiently. If eating took this long, when would it ever be finished?
Feng Jin shot Ling Mohan a glare, complaining with dissatisfaction, "I'm eating, not shoveling food. You have to let me chew it properly before I can swallow."
Her habit, cultivated since childhood, was to chew slowly. Gulping it down like this would be too damaging to her digestive system. She valued her life dearly.
"Right, after we finish eating, we're going back, right?"
"We're not going back!"
Upon hearing this, Feng Jin put down her chopsticks, turned to the man beside her, her tightly furrowed brow filled with confusion. "If we're not going back to the manor, what else are we going to do? Don't you have any official duties?"
In the past, Ling Mohan was a figure rarely seen, always busy to the point of exhaustion. But these past two days, his behavior had been unusually out of character, spending so much leisurely time with her.
"Things out of the ordinary must have a reason," Feng Jin thought, growing increasingly suspicious. Her gaze fell on Ling Mohan, and after a moment's hesitation, she voiced the question in her heart.
"Did something happen in court? Are you being ostracized, or have you been dismissed from your post?"
It seemed like these were the only reasons that could lead to Ling Mohan being so leisurely for so long.
The man's handsome brows furrowed deeply. Feng Jin couldn't wish him any good, so eager was she to assume these things had happened to him.
Seeing Ling Mohan's long silence, Feng Jin grew anxious, her tone deepening as she continued to inquire, "I'm asking you, have you been dismissed? Or are you being suppressed by that bastard Chu Yanxi? Tell me, I'll help you think of a solution, or even help you get revenge."
"Can you just ask me something good for once? I haven't been suppressed or dismissed. I just wanted to take a day or two to spend with you."
Ling Mohan quickly explained. If he delayed any longer, Feng Jin would concoct a dramatic soap opera in her mind.
Her little head was filled with all sorts of nonsensical things; he admired Feng Jin's imagination.
"Are you telling the truth?"
Feng Jin asked again, a touch of uncertainty in her voice. Who knew if Ling Mohan was lying to keep her from worrying?
"Absolutely!" The man nodded with utmost certainty.
Fortunately, she had studied psychology before. From Ling Mohan's subtle facial expressions, she was sure this time that he wasn't lying. Only then did she believe his words.
"Actually... you don't need to specifically set aside time to accompany me. A true man dedicates himself to his ambitions. I understand these things. You are still young and in your prime for striving. You should put all your energy into your career, so that you can shelter me and our child from the storms..."
Feng Jin racked her brain, trying to persuade Ling Mohan. In reality, she wanted Ling Mohan to be less in her face, as his presence hindered her from doing other things.
"I've already achieved success in my career. If you ask me to strive further... I can only go on to... become emperor. Or do you want to be empress?" Ling Mohan retorted, pausing before continuing, "However, if you truly wish to be empress, I can..."
"Alright, alright... I have no interest in being empress. You don't need to strive any further. Just let things be for now. Do whatever you wish."
Feng Jin quickly interrupted him. If he continued, she'd be complicit in rebellion and usurpation. She didn't want to be beheaded so soon.
"It's fine. If you truly want to be empress, you must tell me, and I will fulfill your wish!"
Ling Mohan said with great seriousness, as if Feng Jin merely had to utter her desire to be empress, and he would immediately raise an army, depose the emperor from his throne, declare himself emperor, and then appoint Feng Jin as empress.
A few dark lines appeared on Feng Jin's forehead, filled with speechlessness. "I don't want to. You should dismiss that thought!"
If the rebellion succeeded, everyone would rejoice. But if it failed, wouldn't she be the first to lose her life?
Thinking of this consequence sent a shiver down her spine. She instinctively touched her neck, realizing that preserving her life was the most important thing.
She had earned so much money, yet hadn't enjoyed it properly before meeting her end. All her wealth would then fall into Emperor Xuanwen's coffers, which would be a huge loss for her.
"It's fine. If you are willing, I am also willing..."
Before Ling Mohan could finish speaking, Feng Jin directly covered his mouth with her hand. "I am not willing, so you shouldn't even think about it!"
After saying that, Feng Jin took a bun, bit into it fiercely, and walked out. She needed to thoroughly inspect the manor's layout and figure out the most suitable modifications, aiming to start the renovations within these one or two days and put them into use as soon as possible.
"Where are you going?" Ling Mohan asked, his feet obediently following Feng Jin's steps outward.
...
"What are you looking at so aimlessly here? Shall I take you for a walk outside and visit somewhere else?"
Ling Mohan crouched beside Feng Jin and asked cautiously. Since earlier, Feng Jin had been pacing around the garden. Now, she had stopped and simply squatted by the garden, staring intently. She didn't know what she was looking at.
He only had these two or three days of rest, so he couldn't go too far. He had planned to spend a few days of their world together here. But now, Feng Jin was ignoring him completely, leaving him to talk to himself like a jester. This feeling of being ignored was truly unbearable.
After a pause, Feng Jin still showed no intention of responding. Ling Mohan's patience reached its limit. He stepped forward, grabbed Feng Jin, and forcibly pulled her into his arms.