Feng Jin was furious and reached out to pull the man up. She had never realized this man had the potential to be a scoundrel.
Dodging Feng Jin's pull, Ling Mo Han turned the tables, grabbed Feng Jin's wrist, and pulled her onto the couch, holding her tightly in his arms. "You woke up too early. Let's get some more sleep."
Feng Jin pushed and shoved the man with all her might, but it was still useless.
Coupled with not sleeping all night, Feng Jin instantly felt drowsy upon touching the bed and soon fell into a deep sleep.
Lu Shi ran over in a hurry but was blocked by Cai Qing.
"Miss Cai Qing, I have an urgent matter to report to the young general. Please let me in."
"No, the young general and his wife are resting. Don't disturb them. We'll discuss whatever it is when they wake up."
Cai Qing still wholeheartedly wished for the two of them to reconcile, so she couldn't let Lu Shi disrupt them.
"I..." Lu Shi was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan but couldn't force his way in. He paced irritably at the door.
"Oh, Cai Qing, please be kind and let me in. I really have something urgent!"
"I said no, and I mean no. I'm a person of principle!"
Lu Shi suppressed his urge to explode, paused, and then directly shouted at the door: "Young General, Young Madam, I have an urgent matter to report. Cai Qing is blocking the door and won't let me in."
The noise was so loud that even the sparrows on the trees were startled and flew away in a panic, escaping the danger zone.
"Shut up! If you keep shouting, everyone in the manor will hear you."
Cai Qing, startled, tried to stop him, but Lu Shi seized the opportunity and slipped in with a whoosh.
"You can't go in," Cai Qing followed him into the room.
"Your subordinate has an important matter to report. I beg the young general to forgive my trespass." Lu Shi quickly begged for mercy as soon as he entered.
Feng Jin, having heard the commotion outside, woke up. Just as she was about to open the door, the two of them ran in one after another.
"Young Madam, this servant could not stop him." Cai Qing glared fiercely at Lu Shi.
Ling Mo Han leaned on the couch with a look of annoyance. How could it be so difficult to hold his wife and sleep? There were always unwanted people bothering them.
"Speak. What is it?"
"Young General, Prince Jing wishes to see you. Your subordinate dared not make a decision without permission and has come to seek your guidance."
Upon hearing this, Feng Jin knew there was something fishy. "Cai Qing, accompany me to see if the young general's medicine has been brewed."
"Yes, Young Madam."
Ling Mo Han's expression deepened. After a pause, he said, "Tell Prince Jing to return to his manor first. We will go see Prince Jing through the secret passage after I've tidied up."
"Young General, your body?"
"I'm fine. This is urgent. Don't delay."
In the dead of night, in a secret chamber of Prince Jing's manor, Ling Mo Han, dressed in black, agilely broke in.
"I thought you were truly gravely injured and about to die."
Chu Chen Yi, seated in a wheelchair, still exuded an air of nobility.
"Your Highness, you are still alive, how could I bear to die first?"
"You..." Prince Jing's mouth twitched. He shouldn't have spoken so flippantly and brought this upon himself.
"Do you have any leads on the assassination attempt?"
Ling Mo Han sat opposite him, his face solemn. "This was found on the assassin. Do you recognize it?"
He tossed a pure copper token across to Chu Chen Yi.
With just a glance, Chu Chen Yi's pupils widened. His hand gripping the token tightened, veins bulging on his pale skin.
"At the hunting ground years ago, I was attacked and fell from my horse, breaking my leg. This token was found nearby."
"Both these incidents were carried out by the same person," Ling Mo Han said in a low voice. "Unfortunately, although I sent people to investigate, there is no information about this token in the martial world."
He paused and voiced his speculation: "This token might be worn by assassins privately raised by aristocratic families."
"It is a capital offense for princes and ministers to privately raise assassins. We haven't investigated in this direction from the start."
Chu Chen Yi rested his hands on his numb legs, filled with unwillingness and resentment.
"I will privately have the Black Armored Army investigate this matter," Ling Mo Han said in a low voice. "Your legs... The Empress Dowager instructed Feng Jin to treat you secretly."
"Treat..." Chu Chen Yi scoffed. "I gave up hope long ago. Many famous doctors have declared these legs irreparable, and any further treatment would be futile."
He had long accepted the fact that he was crippled and had always resisted treatment from doctors.
He did not want to experience the process from hope to despair again.
"I believe Feng Jin can heal your legs!"
Ling Mo Han said solemnly. He and Chu Chen Yi had known each other since childhood and had been like mentor and friend for many years. He did not want to see him so dejected.
He was even more convinced that with Feng Jin's medical skills, she could save even a dying man like himself, so healing Chu Chen Yi's legs should be no difficult task.
Having known him for many years, this was the first time Chu Chen Yi saw him so confident in someone. His heart wavered, and a flicker of hope ignited in his eyes.
He wanted to stand tall again more than anyone else.
After his legs were crippled, his world collapsed.
All favor and glory vanished overnight. He would never forget his father's disappointed and regretful gaze, his imperial grandmother's worried and pained eyes, and the Empress's gloating look beneath her hypocritical concern.
"You truly believe she can heal my legs?"
"I believe her!" Ling Mo Han stated resolutely.
Chu Chen Yi lowered his gaze. "Let's hope so."
"Your Highness, the Princess Consort asks if you are free to return home tomorrow," Ye Qi reported.
Chu Chen Yi's eyes flickered. He hesitated, remaining silent for a long time.
"You should accompany her. We cannot slight the Marquis of Pingyang's manor," Ling Mo Han advised. Returning home after three days was a significant event, and leaving the new bride to go back alone would lead to gossip.
Ling Mo Han couldn't help but recall Feng Jin's sense of justice. It seemed he hadn't accompanied Feng Jin back home either.
However, Feng Jin had long since broken ties with her family in the Feng manor and likely wished to have nothing to do with them, so she wouldn't be thinking about returning home.
Chu Chen Yi paused. "Tell the Princess Consort that I will accompany her back tomorrow."
"I haven't had a chance to ask you yet. How was your wedding night?"
As soon as Ling Mo Han finished speaking, Chu Chen Yi's face turned ashen. He shot Ling Mo Han an unfriendly glance.
He had almost forgotten. He took a porcelain bottle from his embrace and threw it in front of Ling Mo Han. "Do you recognize this?"
Ling Mo Han's brow furrowed. He picked up the medicine bottle and glanced at it, finding it somewhat familiar. He thought he had seen it at Feng Jin's place. He asked uncertainly, "This looks like Feng Jin's. How did you get it?"
Chu Chen Yi's mouth twitched uncontrollably. "This is Feng Jin's. She gave it to Lin Yuwei to specifically drug me on our wedding night and have me carried away."