"Young General, the Young Madam is currently grooming herself. Please wait a moment."
Cai Qing emerged from the room and respectfully reported.
When the Young Madam was bathing, even she was asked to leave, so the Young General could only wait here for a while.
"This ugly woman puts on airs, making us wait for her!"
Gu Beichen grumbled, indignant. As a prince, this was the first time he had ever waited for a woman, and it was an ugly woman at that.
"Little Prince, the Young Madam asked me to tell you that if you can't speak properly, you might as well never speak again!"
After Cai Qing finished speaking, she quickly patted her pounding heart.
It had to be said, the Young Madam was truly bold. This little prince was notoriously difficult to deal with in the capital, yet the Young Madam dared to speak to him like this. It was truly admirable.
"What… this ugly…"
Before Gu Beichen could finish speaking, a flash of silver light appeared, and he suddenly found himself gaping, making muffled sounds.
His mouth wouldn't close…
"If the Little Prince enjoys having his mouth wide open, filled with fragrance, then this mouth needs to be shut."
A clear and cold voice emanated from the room. A woman dressed in a crimson scholar's dress emerged gracefully.
Her three thousand strands of black hair were styled into a cloud bun with a jade hairpin, adorned with a flowing silver ribbon. A gilded peony and butterfly镂空华盛 was casually inserted, its light tassels swaying gently in the wind.
The glazed jade pendant at her waist swayed with her movements.
A plum blossom was dotted between her brows, adding a touch of allure to her elegant and understated makeup.
"Young General, thank you for waiting." Feng Jun curtsied gracefully.
Ling Mohan coughed lightly, concealing the astonishment in his eyes, and lowered his voice, "The blemishes on your face?"
"I've covered them with powder. What does the Young General think?"
"Very good, let's go!"
Ling Mohan's eyes narrowed, his gaze darting back and forth over Feng Jin. Could rouge and powder truly conceal such large blemishes?
Gu Beichen, his mouth agape, tried to swallow and blocked Feng Jin's path, pointing at his own wide-open mouth with a pleading expression.
Feng Jin, that wicked woman, that ugly woman, had set him up like this.
"Little Prince, is there something?"
Feng Jin wore a bright smile. Gu Beichen, however, felt a chill down his spine. This smile was more terrifying than a ghost.
"Mmm mmm…" Gu Beichen's mouth was wide open, only able to make muffled sounds. He looked as pathetic as one could be, utterly devoid of his noble demeanor.
Feng Jin let out a cold huff. "Little Prince, I told you long ago that if there's a next time, it won't be as simple as not being able to speak. This is to teach you a lesson, to think before you speak in the future!"
Gu Beichen nodded frantically. He would never provoke Feng Jin again.
What was intended as a minor punishment, Feng Jin directly released his acupoint.
Having his mouth held open for so long, the sudden release was surprisingly comfortable. When he looked up and met Feng Jin's gaze, Gu Beichen shuddered and retreated two steps, hiding behind Ling Mohan.
From now on, he would have to visit the Ling Mansion as little as possible if he wanted to live a few more years.
At the banquet, a clamor arose, with everyone discussing Ling Mohan and the country bumpkin who married into the Ling family.
"Don't be scared by her appearance later. It's the first time I've ever seen such an ugly woman."
Ling Yan was loudly proclaiming Feng Jin's ugliness and vulgarity among her circle of young ladies.
She had already decided to utterly humiliate Feng Jin at this banquet.
"Sister, have you made all the arrangements?"
Ling Muzhu had knelt in the ancestral hall for three full days. It was only when Ling Erye pleaded that Ling Laotaiye finally let him out. Even now, his knees ached faintly where he had knelt.
He had also been severely disciplined with three strikes of the rod by Ling Erye. This was considered the end of the matter.
"Don't worry, I've got everything prepared here. How are things on your end?"
"Everyone is arranged!"
Ling Muzhu, with his vengeful nature, was determined to drive Feng Jin out after she had caused him such a significant downfall.
"Young General, Young Madam, they have arrived!"
The servant's announcement rang out, and instantly, countless pairs of eyes turned towards the entrance.
As the two appeared, the clamor surged like a tidal wave.
"Has the Young General's poison truly been cured?"
"The person beside him is the Young Madam, not the one raised on a country estate by the Feng family. Her appearance and demeanor show no trace of a country girl!"
"Indeed! I saw that she is even more beautiful than Feng Ruoyan."
"And she has excellent medical skills. Truly a remarkable woman."
Feng Jin calmly listened to the praises directed at her.
She couldn't help but sigh, realizing that in any era, appearances mattered. To be good-looking was to have already won over many hearts.
If she had appeared before the world with her ugly makeup, she would have only been met with mockery.
Behind the crowd, Feng Ruoyan gazed obsessively at Ling Mohan. He had actually woken up…
Her gaze shifted to Feng Jin standing beside Ling Mohan. How could a vulgar country girl be worthy of standing beside the Young General?
A pair of hands clasped Feng Ruoyan's, which were pale with jealousy.
"Yan'er, don't forget your current status. You are about to be betrothed to the Third Prince. Small matters like this are not worth your concern."
Madam Sun was clearly more composed than Feng Ruoyan. The most important thing now was to marry the Third Prince and become his legitimate consort.
"Yes, Mother. My daughter was impulsive!"
Feng Ruoyan suppressed her emotions. Once she ascended to the position of Third Prince's Consort, she would then become the Crown Princess, and later, the Empress.
At that time, Feng Jin would be at her mercy.
Madam Sun cast a cold glance at Feng Jin, suppressing her disgust, and put on a benevolent smile as she gracefully walked before Feng Jin.
"The Young General's recovery is a blessing for Southern Chu. Congratulations!"
Madam Sun, known for her excellent outward performance, had earned a good reputation among the noble ladies.
"Thank you, Mother-in-law. All of this is thanks to Feng Jin. Without Feng Jin, my illness would not have been cured."
"Young General, your words are not false. The master's prediction was not wrong. Jin'er's fate can help you. From now on, our two families should interact more."
The Ling family was deeply entrenched in Southern Chu. With the Ling family as in-laws, if Feng Ruoyan were to marry the Third Prince and ascend to the throne of Empress, she would have immense support.
If Feng Jin, this little vixen, cooperated obediently, she might spare her life. Otherwise, she would meet the same end as her short-lived mother.
"Madam Prime Minister, have you forgotten? To have Feng Ruoyan marry the Third Prince, you married me, this vulgar and ignorant country girl, into the Ling family. We agreed before my marriage that after marriage, Feng Jin and the Feng family would have no further connection, and there would be no need for further interaction!"
Feng Jin would not tolerate her attempts to use her and the Ling family to facilitate Feng Ruoyan's marriage to the Third Prince. It was a pipe dream, a deluded fantasy.
"Feng Jin, you are talking nonsense!"