It was also thanks to the young madam's brilliant planning that she had anticipated Baili Xi would not be easily captured. When he left, she had given him this sleeve dart steeped in a muscle-relaxing powder, which was why he was subdued so easily.
Otherwise, it would have truly been a huge problem. Lu Shi waved his hand, and the surrounding soldiers stepped forward to secure Baili Xi.
"Despicable, shameless! To resort to such ignoble tricks in secret!"
Baili Xi roared through clenched teeth. He never expected to be defeated by a trick, to fall from grace and be bullied by curs, and to fall into the hands of such a petty individual. How could he accept this?
"General Baili, save your strength. You can say whatever you need to say later."
Lu Shi completely ignored Baili Xi's furious outburst, treating it as the barking of a mad dog.
"Someone escort General Baili back."
Following this, Baili Xi was bound and bundled, then escorted onto a carriage.
"Back to the capital."
Lu Shi mounted his horse. This time, he had not failed his mission and had brought Baili Xi back.
With such a great achievement, the young general should at least reward him. Ideally, he would be granted a few days off to rest well. That would be simply perfect.
Lost in his daydreams, Lu Shi escorted Baili Xi to the capital. Instead of taking him to the prison, he brought him directly to the manor, awaiting the young general's judgment.
"Reporting to the young general, Baili Xi has been apprehended and is currently in the prison."
"Well done."
Rare praise indeed. Lu Shi instantly became a bit conceited. "It's all thanks to the young general's excellent guidance. As long as the young general is satisfied, that's all that matters."
"Your flattery is quite good. Starting tomorrow, you get three days off."
"Thank you, young general."
Lu Shi immediately accepted with delight. It seemed that flattery had its merits and might even lead to unexpected surprises.
"You may go. Send people to keep an eye on Baili Xi, and make sure there are no disturbances."
"Your subordinate obeys."
Lu Shi left excitedly, beaming with uncontainable joy, as if he had just bathed in spring breezes.
"Did you find money? You're smiling like that."
As Cai Qing entered the courtyard, she bumped into Lu Shi, whose smile was so wide it almost split his face. She thought he must have found money to be so happy.
"I'm even happier than if I'd found money! The young general has given me three days off, and I'll take you out to play."
"No, thank you. I still have to attend to the young madam. Since you have time off, you should rest well."
Cai Qing directly refused Lu Shi's offer. "I can't talk to you anymore, I need to take these things to the young madam."
With that, Cai Qing hurried away. The young madam was waiting for these items, and she couldn't afford to delay.
"Young madam, your servant has brought what you wanted."
Cai Qing placed the jars and bottles she carried on the table, almost filling it. It was clear that the young madam made a lot of these things.
Feng Jin stood up and searched for a long time before finding the bottle she wanted. She opened it, took some ointment, and applied it to the wound on Murong Jinyun's arm.
The cool ointment on her arm instantly brought a wave of stinging pain. Murong Jinyun subconsciously let out a soft cry and pulled her hand back.
"Be gentle..."
Gu Beichen, watching from the side, felt a pang of sympathy seeing Murong Jinyun in pain and gestured for Feng Jin to be gentler.
"Shut your mouth and don't be noisy," Feng Jin said impatiently, contemplating whether she should just kick Gu Beichen out.
"It stings a bit when you apply this medicine, but it's very effective. Your wound will heal quickly and leave no scar, so don't worry."
She used only the best medicine, ensuring not a trace would be left behind.
"Thank you, young madam."
Murong Jinyun lowered her head, her voice filled with gratitude.
"It's nothing. The cost of the medicine will be billed to Duke Gu anyway."
Gu Beichen froze instantly at these words, his hand holding the teacup faltering slightly.
He had experienced how expensive Feng Jin's medicine could be more than once, and his heart sank. He wasn't sure how much it would cost this time.
He mentally tallied his savings, thinking it should be just enough.
Feng Jin glanced at him lightly and immediately guessed his thoughts. She snorted, "I'm just joking. Consider this me being kind and offering charity this time."
Since Gu Beichen wouldn't be able to repay it anyway, she didn't expect him to. It was better to do a good deed.
"Keep the wound away from water for the next two days. Take this ointment back with you. Apply it three times a day, and it should heal within two to three days."
"Thank you, Young Madam Ling."
Murong Jinyun took the ointment from Feng Jin. She remembered how she had been disrespectful to Feng Jin before due to their differing allegiances, and now Feng Jin was not holding a grudge, which made her feel a little guilty.
"Young Madam Ling, I was very disrespectful to you before. I beg for your magnanimity, honored madam, and hope you will not hold it against me."
She figured Feng Jin wasn't one to dwell on petty matters. Since Murong Jinyun was initiating reconciliation, it was better to have a friend than an enemy, and she decided not to dwell on past incidents.
"What's done is done, and there's no need to mention it again."
With a casual remark, she effectively put the matter to rest.
Murong Jinyun's slightly embarrassed expression quickly returned to normal.
As Feng Jin was about to leave, she paused, her steps halting. After a moment's hesitation, she finally asked the question that had been lingering in her throat for a long time, "Your Highness, there's something I've been thinking about for a while, and I'd like to ask you. If my words are at all offensive, please forgive me."
"Young madam, please speak freely."
Gu Beichen sensed danger. Feng Jin's expression indicated that this was no simple matter. He was about to intervene when Feng Jin's sharp voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Sit down! This is none of your business!"
"Don't scare her..."
Under Feng Jin's warning, Gu Beichen could only mutter the words softly.
Feng Jin shot Gu Beichen a fierce glare. "Useless," she thought. Then, she turned her full attention back to Murong Jinyun.
"Your Highness, when you left with Baili Xi this time, was it voluntary, or were you coerced?"
"I... I was..."
Gu Beichen immediately became tense, eager to hear what Murong Jinyun would say.
"Baili Xi knocked me unconscious and kidnapped me. I didn't want to leave Dong Chu, and I knew what would happen if I left..."
Naturally, she didn't want to leave. Her current position, caught between two countries, meant that any incident could lead to war, resulting in countless casualties and widespread destruction.
"That's good. Your Highness, are you truly willing to enter this political marriage? If not... or if you have other intentions, then I ask that you find someone else to use, or leave Dong Chu of your own accord."