"A deal is a deal!" Feng Jin said calmly, her eyes unusually firm.
Ling Muzhu looked at Feng Jin with disdain. He was waiting for Feng Jin to kowtow and apologize tomorrow, and then be kicked out of the Grand Tutor's mansion in disgrace. He simply did not believe that all the famous doctors in the world were helpless, and that Feng Jin, a village girl who could barely read, could cure his cousin's illness.
"Nan Ge, if you need any medicinal herbs, feel free to take them from the mansion's medicine hall!"
For the past six months, Old Master Ling had searched for famous doctors in vain for Han'er's illness. In desperation, he believed the master's words that a daughter from the Prime Minister's mansion had a destiny that could bring good fortune to Han'er, hence the idea of a marriage for good luck.
Feng Jin was not being polite. Since someone was willing to provide the medicinal herbs, why waste her own? She immediately had the steward take her to the medicine hall.
"Young Madam, this is the medicine hall. The smell inside is strong. If you need any medicinal herbs, just tell me to go in and get them!"
The steward's tone was cold, and his words were full of suspicion. He showed no deference as a subordinate, as if he were the master.
"Since I am the young madam of this mansion, there is no place I cannot go. If you obstruct me here and delay the young general's recovery, how will Old Master deal with you?"
The steward's face turned pale. He hadn't expected that this country girl, Feng Jin, would be so sharp-tongued.
"Still not moving aside!" Feng Jin said sternly.
The steward's heart jolted. He quickly stepped back and opened the door.
The Ling family had been renowned for generations, making significant contributions and earning the trust of successive emperors. The medicine hall contained countless rare medicinal ingredients. 'Thousand-year Dragon Bone' was a medicinal herb that had been extinct for centuries, and yet here it was.
Feng Jin was overjoyed. She directly put this treasure into her possession and then took a few more herbs before leaving.
With the pardon from Old Master Ling, Feng Jin directly ordered the guards to surround the East Courtyard, preventing any stray cats or dogs from wandering in.
Feng Jin took out a small, exquisite porcelain bottle from her robes, took out a pill, dissolved it in water, and fed it to Ling Mohan. This pill was refined with more than ten kinds of rare medicinal herbs, especially two ingredients, Thousand-Leaf Grass and Dragon Tail Ginseng, of which there were only two plants in the world. It seemed they all had to be used on Ling Mohan today.
She then boiled the remaining Thousand-Leaf Grass, Dragon Tail Ginseng, and Thousand-Year Dragon Bone together for three hours before feeding it to Ling Mohan.
Feng Jin untied Ling Mohan's collar, her fingers holding three gold needles. She channeled her inner energy and inserted them into acupoints. A fine sheen of cold sweat appeared on Ling Mohan's forehead, his skin covered in a layer of mist.
When the time came, Feng Jin quickly withdrew the needles. Silver-blue insects clung to the gold needles, emitting a chilling aura. The person who cast the curse must have deeply hated Ling Mohan, having placed three Frost Curses, intending to kill him! It was a shame that Ling Mohan was not fated to die and met her instead.
Feng Jin refined the Frost Curses in the medicinal soup. The ice itself could be considered a rare treasure, and it would be a pity to destroy it like this. It would be better to keep it, as it might be useful in the future. Although the Frost Curses were dispelled, Ling Mohan's body had been too severely ravaged by them, especially his legs, where the cold poison had infiltrated his bone marrow. It would not be easy to recover completely!
Not long after the Frost Curses were dispelled, Ling Mohan woke up. He... the Frost Curses in his body were gone... The bone-chilling coldness in his body dissipated, and the gnawing pain in his chest also disappeared.
As Ling Mohan was about to get up, a restraining voice sounded.
"If you wish to be crippled for life, then by all means, get up!"
"You dispelled the Frost Curses on me?" Ling Mohan said incredulously. Everyone knew that the Frost Curses were incurable. The woman before him had a coarse appearance, but her clear, limpid eyes were unusually bright and pure, like a deep pool.
"I did. I saved your life. I hope you will remember this favor!" Feng Jin was not one to be charitable without expecting anything in return. She had gone to great lengths to save his life, and naturally, she expected Ling Mohan to remember it well.
"That is of course. What do you want, girl? Gold, silver, jewelry, I will satisfy you!"
"I don't need gold, silver, or jewelry. As for how you will repay me, I haven't thought of it yet. Let's owe it for now, and there will naturally be an opportunity for you to repay me!"
Ling Mohan was slightly stunned. He considered himself well-acquainted with people, but he had never met such an unusual woman, especially with her aloof and indifferent demeanor, so different from the noble ladies in the capital.
"May I know your name, miss?"
"My name is Feng Jin. I also have another identity: I am your newly wedded wife!"
"What..." Ling Mohan looked at Feng Jin in astonishment... A new bride... What was going on? Feng Jin told Ling Mohan the whole story without reservation. Even if she didn't say it, Ling Mohan would eventually know, so it was better for her to be direct.
...
"Ugly woman, open the door... It's time, are you still going to hide inside? Hurry up and pack your things and get out of the Ling family!" Ling Muzhu's idiotic voice echoed throughout the East Courtyard. As soon as the day arrived, Ling Muzhu rushed to the East Courtyard, eager for Feng Jin to kowtow and apologize to him.
"Don't be absurd!" Old Master Ling roared, his clenched fist hidden in his sleeve betraying his anxious mood. He had been sleepless all night and hurried to the East Courtyard at dawn, praying that Feng Jin could cure Han'er's illness!
"Grandfather, I told you long ago that that ugly woman couldn't cure my cousin's illness. Now she's probably hiding in the room, too scared to come out. Just let me drag her out and kick her..."
"Silence! You have no manners or respect!" Old Master Ling's expression was grim. This was the upbringing of the children from the second branch, utterly unruly.
Scolded, Ling Muzhu lost his spirit and stood dejectedly to the side. Old Master Ling strode towards the house. Just as he reached the door, it opened from the inside. Feng Jin stepped out and approached Old Master Ling with proper etiquette.
"Grandfather!"
"Nan Ge, how is Han'er?"
"Young general..."
Before Feng Jin could finish speaking, Ling Muzhu couldn't help himself. "Ugly woman, stop talking nonsense and just go in and take a look!" If my cousin isn't awake, you'll kowtow and apologize to me, then get out of the Ling family!" As Ling Muzhu's words fell, a cold, commanding voice rang out.
"Cousin, you've grown bold, trying to chase out even my wife!"
Ling Muzhu's expression froze. He rubbed his eyes, disbelieving what he saw. His cousin, who had been in a coma for half a year and whom even famous doctors had given up on, had actually woken up. And he had been saved by a crude, ignorant village girl...
"Impossible, this is impossible!" Ling Muzhu vehemently denied. "Grandfather, this person must not be my cousin. This ugly woman must have found someone to deceive you..."
"Slap!" A crisp slapping sound