Directly exposed, Ling Mo Han, with a thick skin, showed no embarrassment on his face.
"I'm not flattering you, I'm legitimately concerned about you."
Ling Mo Han eagerly sought to gain favor with Feng Jin.
"I heard there's a temple fair in the east city in two days. I'll take you out for a stroll."
He had specifically inquired about it from Lu Shi, knowing that neither of them had gone out alone. This was a perfect opportunity to cultivate their relationship.
Temple fair... Feng Jin's expression remained calm, devoid of any joy.
In her past life, she had spent her time holed up in her laboratory, researching medicines and poisons, or peculiar illnesses.
Activities like going out for fun seemed to be absent from her memories.
"If you don't speak, I'll assume you've agreed."
Seeing her hesitate, Ling Mo Han couldn't help but take the initiative, treating Feng Jin's silence as consent.
"I..."
She paused slightly but still didn't voice her refusal.
Never mind... Going out for a stroll might be good. She hadn't really seen a temple fair here before.
"Madam, this is bird's nest soup that the young general ordered to be stewed for you. Please try it." Cai Qing placed the bird's nest in front of Feng Jin, deliberately emphasizing that it was Ling Mo Han who had ordered it.
Feng Jin's gaze darted between the two. She saw Ling Mo Han sitting opposite her with a proud expression, his eyes fixed on her.
She took a perfunctory sip of the bird's nest. It tasted no different from what she had eaten before; it was made by the cooks in the small kitchen, how much difference could it make?
"Does it taste good?" Ling Mo Han leaned in eagerly and asked.
Feng Jin swallowed the food and gave a perfunctory nod. "It's not bad."
Ling Mo Han instantly beamed with joy, feeling a sense of accomplishment far greater than winning a battle.
"If you like it, I'll have the small kitchen stew it for you every day."
Every day... Feng Jin's spoon, stirring the bird's nest, suddenly paused. Eating it every day would surely bore her to death. "No need... no need."
...
In the dark prison, Lu Shi arranged for guards to disguise themselves as assassins to attack a man. By merely revealing a forged jade pendant and provoking him slightly, the man instantly went berserk.
Lu Shi seized the opportune moment and led his men to charge in, apprehending all the imposter guards.
"Your master is determined to kill you, yet you wish to express your loyalty through death. How ironic!" Lu Shi taunted deliberately.
The man's eyes were bloodshot. He forcefully suppressed the pain in his heart, his veins bulging on his forehead. His mind was consumed by hatred. He had worked tirelessly for them, only to face the tragedy of his family's ruin. Why should he be so foolishly devoted?
"Have your master come here. I'll tell you everything."
Having obtained the desired outcome, Lu Shi lowered his eyes, concealing his joy, and slowly stood up. "It's good that you're sensible. Give him something to eat. He'll need the strength to confess later."
Lu Shi quickly hurried out to report the situation.
"Is he really willing to confess?" Ling Mo Han asked uncertainly. Had he figured it out so quickly? He hoped it wasn't a trick.
"It's not a trick. Once a person's faith collapses and the one they care about most is gone, the blow is immense. He is now heartbroken and more despairing than if he were dead."
Feng Jin had studied psychology in her free time and could deeply empathize with his current despair.
Ling Mo Han stood up and draped a cloak over Feng Jin. "It's getting late and the dew is heavy. Wear an extra layer so you don't catch a cold."
"I'll head to the dark prison first," Lu Shi said, quickly retreating. He didn't want to be an eyesore here and provoke the young general's wrath. It was best to leave promptly.
...
When the two arrived at the dark prison, the man had lost all his vitality. He sat there blankly, like a walking corpse.
Ling Mo Han sat opposite him solemnly, looking at the man. "Speak. Tell us everything you know."
The man blinked dazedly, then slowly raised his head, clutching half a jade pendant in his hand.
"My name is Xiao Qi. I am a martial arts assassin. I was severely injured during a mission and was saved by the Third Prince, Chu Yanxi. To repay his kindness, I have followed Chu Yanxi ever since. The assassination attempt this time was also ordered by Chu Yanxi."
Ling Mo Han's eyes narrowed sharply. This information didn't surprise him much. "Besides this, what else do you know?"
"Nothing more. Chu Yanxi is always cautious in his actions. Only his personal guards know everything. We merely follow his orders. I don't know why he wants to kill you."
Feng Jin's gaze swept over his face. He didn't seem to be lying.
"I've told you everything I know. I was loyal and repaid his kindness, only to end up with my family ruined. If I had known this would happen, I should have fled long ago and saved my wife and child."
Xiao Qi's face was filled with despair. His wife and child were gone. What was the point of his living? He lowered his head, looking at the jade pendant in his hand, as if he had made a decision...
Seeing that there was no more useful information, Ling Mo Han pulled Feng Jin up and they left.
"Young General, how should we deal with him?" Lu Shi was unsure of what to do.
"Dispose of him. He has blood on his hands too," Ling Mo Han said in a deep voice. An eye for an eye. Who were the deserving victims of his killings?
"Yes, Young General..." Lu Shi quickly agreed. When he returned, the man had already committed suicide.
Feng Jin grasped the man's hand tightly. "Now that the truth is revealed, how do you plan to proceed?"
"Chu Yanxi has been established in the court for many years. His influence is deeply rooted. Moreover, his birth mother, the Empress, is deeply favored by His Majesty, and his maternal family, the Liu clan, is a powerful, century-old noble family. Without concrete evidence, we cannot act rashly. If we alert him, we will lose everything."
Ling Mo Han's expression was extremely grim. This matter was of great importance. With the slightest misstep, the centuries-old foundation of the Ling family would be destroyed.
"Ambitious people will surely become impatient. As long as he makes a move, we will be able to catch his slip-up. His fox tail will be revealed sooner or later."
"The matter has been clarified. We will lift the mansion's restrictions tomorrow and claim that you have recovered, and that the identity of the assassin remains unknown. What do you think?"
Feng Jin pondered for a long time. It seemed best to let this matter pass for now.
Ling Mo Han held Feng Jin close and said softly, "I'll do as my wife says."
"Let's go back. I asked the small kitchen to make some Golden Milk Crisps. Let's try their taste."
During her confinement in the mansion these past few days, Feng Jin had nothing to do but ask the small kitchen to make some delicious pastries.
While the meals from the small kitchen were not particularly good, their pastries were excellent.