Feng Jin let out a helpless chuckle. Cai Qing was indeed a money grubber. From now on, Lu Shi's monthly allowance would probably not be saved at all, as Cai Qing would snatch it all away.
Drowsiness crept in. Feng Jin yawned uncontrollably; she was truly tired.
"I'm going back to sleep. You all should sleep early too when you get back."
"Sister-in-law, I'll take my leave then."
Ling Wan also yawned. She hadn't slept all night and was struggling to stay awake. She'd better hurry back and catch some sleep. She hadn't been home all night and wondered if her mother was worried.
"Madam, your servant will also be going back."
Cai Qing and Chu Qing said in unison. They would sleep a little longer and then have to get up quickly to get busy.
"The two of you don't need to get up early. Just sleep until the sun is high in the sky and you wake up naturally. There's nothing to do anyway."
Feng Jin specifically told them to sleep in later when they returned. After all, waking up early would just be for cleaning and helping her with her morning ablutions.
Today, she planned to catch up on sleep and didn't need Cai Qing and Chu Qing to attend to her at all. Letting them sleep in a bit longer wouldn't hurt.
"Yes, Madam."
After everyone left, Feng Jin glanced at the messy room and the table full of mahjong tiles. She was too lazy to tidy up now. She'd deal with it after she woke up. The most important thing was to get back to sleep.
...
"Greetings, Young General."
"Greetings, Young General."
Not long after leaving the room, they ran into Ling Mo Han returning. Chu Qing and Cai Qing quickly bowed.
"Get up. Why are you up so early?"
It was barely dawn, and the two of them were already moving about in the courtyard.
Ling Mo Han looked at the two of them, his gaze as cold as ever. He hadn't slept all night. The study was too chilly, making him feel no sleepiness. As soon as it was dawn, he impatiently came to beg Feng Jin for mercy, hoping to get some sleep.
"Replying to the Young General, your servant has just come from Madam's side. Madam has also just gone to sleep."
Cai Qing answered instinctively. She was still afraid of Ling Mo Han and wouldn't dare to lie.
But shouldn't the Young General be resting in his room at this time? Why was he returning from outside?
Not daring to pry into the matters of her masters, Cai Qing didn't dare to think any further.
"Madam has just gone to sleep!"
It was clear that Ling Mo Han's tone was surprised when he asked this, with a hint of anger mixed in.
"Yes, Madam has just gone to sleep."
Chu Qing also sensed something was amiss and didn't dare to let Cai Qing continue speaking, lest she say something she shouldn't.
Ling Mo Han's eyes darkened. He didn't ask further and strode towards the room. He wanted to see what tricks Feng Jin had up her sleeve after staying up all night.
"The Young General just returned from outside. You say that..."
"Sister Cai Qing, let's go back first. I'm so sleepy."
Chu Qing yawned, unable to hide her drowsiness, and pulled Cai Qing's hand towards their room.
They, as servants, shouldn't interfere in the matters between Madam and the Young General. Let them resolve it themselves.
When Ling Mo Han pushed open the room door, he was utterly shocked by the scene before him.
The room was in disarray, with no space left untouched. Perhaps it was out of anger, the veins on Ling Mo Han's temples bulged and twitched constantly.
He felt a headache coming on. He reached out and pressed his temples, picking up a mahjong tile from the table. Feng Jin's enjoyment of the night was clearly visible.
She had kicked him out, yet she had called people to play all night. She was truly something. The more he thought about it, the more stifled he felt. Ling Mo Han closed his eyes, suppressing his anger, and gradually calmed down.
He couldn't get angry over such trivial matters, but he really couldn't stand it.
He walked into the inner room and immediately saw Feng Jin lying soundly asleep on the bed.
She was truly carefree. She had sent him to sleep in the cold study all night, while she had happily played all night. Now she was sleeping so soundly. The more soundly she slept, the more unbalanced he felt.
He sat by the bed and hesitated for a long time before his hand uncontrollably reached out.
He pinched Feng Jin's fair little face. He squeezed gently, instantly provoking the sleeping woman's displeasure.
Feng Jin furrowed her brows slightly and shook her head restlessly, but she couldn't escape Ling Mo Han's grasp.
As if finding a source of amusement, he found Feng Jin's angry and helpless appearance increasingly interesting. He couldn't help but want to tease her more, and he tightened his grip.
This time, it seemed to have thoroughly angered Feng Jin, and she slapped out fiercely. A conspicuous red mark immediately appeared on the back of his hand.
"You scoundrel, have you no shame? Pinching my face while I'm sleeping, only you could do something like this."
Feng Jin opened her sleepy eyes and glared fiercely at Ling Mo Han. She wondered why her face hurt so much; it turned out to be another trick played by Ling Mo Han, that scoundrel.
Taking advantage of her while she slept, sneaking in, and even pinching her face. Who knew what more excessive things he would do next? He was truly something.
Clearly, he hadn't expected Feng Jin to wake up so quickly. As their eyes met, Ling Mo Han appeared very awkward. He turned his head away and cleared his throat lightly.
"What time is it? Still sleeping? Get up and eat."
Pretending to be oblivious, Ling Mo Han reached out to pull Feng Jin out from under the covers, intending to drag her to eat.
"Are you sick?"
Feng Jin cried out helplessly. She strongly suspected Ling Mo Han was doing this intentionally, just to torment her.
"I'm so sleepy. If you have nothing else to do, then leave. I want to sleep."
Heavens! God, please show some mercy and take this plague away. Stop tormenting her. If this continues, she'll go mad.
"No, you need to get up now!"
Ling Mo Han abruptly pulled off the quilt covering Feng Jin. He was determined to keep her from sleeping. He wanted to see if she dared to play with people all night again, to teach her a lesson.
"Ling Mo Han, you scoundrel!"
With all her might, Feng Jin shouted, then fiercely kicked Ling Mo Han. This bastard was clearly picking a fight.
"Hurry up and get out. I want to sleep. I'm really so sleepy!"
She was truly exhausted. Why did Ling Mo Han have to torment her? Wasn't he deliberately trying to kill her?
Playing all night had the result of being too tired to even open her eyes. This feeling was truly unpleasant.