"I'll go back and prepare the prescription, and have Chu Qing deliver the medicine to you once it's brewed."
After Feng Jin finished speaking, she was about to get up and leave. Just as she reached the door, Ling Muzhu hurriedly called out, "Sister-in-law, wait… I have something else I want to discuss with you."
Ling Muzhu strode up to Feng Jin, a bit shyly, "Sister-in-law… I…"
"What is it?"
"Actually… it's just… can you not tell anyone about this? I'm a grown man, if others find out about my weakness, won't they laugh at me? Please, sister-in-law, help me keep it a secret…"
After all, this matter concerned a man's dignity. If others found out, wouldn't he be ridiculed to death? He would truly have no face to see anyone again.
*Poof…* Feng Jin couldn't help but laugh out loud. If Ling Muzhu hadn't reminded her, she would have completely forgotten about it.
Indeed, for any man, regardless of age, this was a major taboo.
Feng Jin understood Ling Muzhu's feelings. After all, this wasn't the first time she had encountered such a situation. She readily agreed to Ling Muzhu's request, "Don't worry, I will definitely keep this a secret for you and won't let anyone else know."
However, if word got out, Ling Muzhu would never be able to find a wife.
"Thank you, sister-in-law. Your great kindness…"
"Spare me the nonsense. Go and tidy up your belongings. Tell me if you lack anything, and I'll help you get it."
After all, Ling Muzhu's birth mother, Madam Zhao, was not at home, and Second Master Ling was confined to the ancestral hall. Wasn't it said that a sister-in-law was like a mother? If she didn't care for Ling Muzhu now, who else would? She had to put in more effort.
"Sister-in-law, there's no need to worry. Everything is prepared, and there are no omissions."
He was going to take up his post, not go to war. If anything was truly missing, he could purchase it when he arrived in Ning County. He had only brought some clothes for changing.
"Alright, then you tidy up. I'll be going now."
Ling Muzhu's departure date was drawing nearer. Before he left, she had to help him recover his health. She couldn't let Ling Muzhu take up his post with a frail body.
With time still on her hands, Feng Jin did not linger any longer and hurried back to her courtyard to brew medicine.
"Young Madam, let me handle these things. You should go and rest."
Chu Qing saw Feng Jin placing the medicine pot on the stove and quickly put down what she was doing. She rushed over and took the medicine pot from Feng Jin's hands.
"It's nothing, I can handle this small matter myself. You can't possibly snatch every task from me…"
Feng Jin also noticed that these past few days, Chu Qing would snatch any task from her the moment she saw it. Was she planning to enshrine her like a painting on the wall?
"Young Madam, I see that you still have to take care of the children these past few days, and do other things. You're too tired, which is why I wanted to help you with some tasks so that you have more time to rest."
The young madam had no free time to rest all day. She was snatching tasks only to give the young madam more time to rest. She couldn't let her get exhausted again.
"My body isn't made of water, it's not that delicate. If you keep me from doing anything and make me sit and rest all the time, I'm afraid I'll become a fat woman in no time."
"Not at all… Young Madam is naturally beautiful. Even if you become a fat woman, you'll be the most beautiful fat woman in the world."
The young madam was truly the most beautiful woman she had ever seen in her life. No one could compare to the young madam.
"Stop your flattery. I don't want to become a fat woman. Go and attend to your own business. I can still manage to watch over this medicine pot."
"No, Young Madam, I'll do it. Young Madam, I beg you, please go and rest for another day. Tomorrow, I won't snatch things from you anymore."
Being able to rest for another day was a day gained. Chu Qing stubbornly guarded the medicine pot, refusing to let Feng Jin come near it.
She was as determined as a nail driven into iron, resolving to drive Feng Jin away. She insisted that Feng Jin should rest for another day before she would relent.
Finally, Feng Jin was won over by Chu Qing's stubbornness. With a helpless sigh, she stood up, "Alright then, you guard it well. I'll go back and slack off. Once the medicine is brewed, you can deliver it to Ling Muzhu."
"Is this medicine for Second Young Master? Is Second Young Master ill?" Chu Qing's tone became a little anxious as she heard that it was for Ling Muzhu, and she inquired.
She had seen Second Young Master just two days ago, and he seemed perfectly fine. How could he have fallen ill so suddenly? She hadn't heard anyone mention it.
Feng Jin didn't pay much attention to Chu Qing's unusual reaction. Recalling her promise to Ling Muzhu, she vaguely mumbled a couple of sentences to brush it off, "It's nothing, just a slight cold. A little medicine will fix it. Don't forget to deliver it to him."
After saying that, Feng Jin quickly left, worried that she might slip up and break her promise, which would be difficult to explain to Ling Muzhu.
A cold… Chu Qing's brow furrowed slightly, a trace of worry flashing through her heart.
…
After Feng Jin returned to her courtyard, she felt that the courtyard was unusually quiet today. Usually, as soon as she stepped inside, she would hear the sounds of the two children playing. Today, however, it was abnormally silent.
This was completely unlike the usual behavior of those two rascals. Such quietness made her wonder if they were plotting something again.
Feng Jin walked forward with a high level of vigilance. As she approached the room door, she first pressed her ear to it and listened carefully. It was still silent.
This stark contrast made Feng Jin somewhat puzzled. Could it be that the two little ones had gone out?
She immediately pushed the door open and walked in. She saw Da Bao and Er Bao sitting neatly on chairs, their heads lowered, seemingly engrossed in something.
"What are you two doing?"
As Feng Jin's voice fell, Da Bao and Er Bao simultaneously looked up at Feng Jin.
"Mother, you're finally here!"
Da Bao and Er Bao said in unison, then both jumped down from their chairs and rushed to Feng Jin's side, holding up their Rubik's cubes. A flurry of sounds ensued.
"You two, speak one at a time. Slow down, and no fighting to speak."