He paused, then continued, "She is the legitimate daughter of Marquis Pingyang, and she should have married a good man. If I cannot be devoted to her, why should I delay her happiness?"
He had long known of Lin Yuwei's feelings for him and had deliberately kept his distance, intending to extinguish any hope she might have.
Feng Jin was stunned by his words. In ancient times, men were esteemed and women were subservient.
Women, after marriage, followed their husbands, and after their husbands' deaths, followed their sons, living their entire lives dependent on men.
Though the daughters of noble families appeared to have status, they couldn't even decide their own marriages. Women were merely tools to consolidate and leverage power.
For him to consider a woman's feelings was truly rare.
"What is it?" Ling Mohan asked, noticing Feng Jin's brief distraction.
Returning to herself, Feng Jin shook her head, "It's nothing. I was just lamenting how difficult women's destinies are, unable to live for themselves their entire lives."
"Take me, for example. My marriage to you was only because the Master calculated that my fate could aid you. It was my good fortune that your illness was cured and you awoke. If my luck had been worse, and you had died, people would have said I was the cause of your death, and I would have been branded a cursed and inauspicious person. What would await me then?"
Ling Mohan's heart trembled. If Feng Jin hadn't been able to cure his poison, according to the rules, she would likely have been forced to be buried with him.
It was no wonder Feng Jin was so determined to divorce him.
"I will treat you well from now on!" Ling Mohan blurted out, surprising even himself.
Feng Jin, however, scoffed dismissively, "Treat me well? Young General, how do you plan to treat me? Provide me with food and drink, let me manage your household, help you take concubines, and raise your children? Young General, do you truly believe this constitutes treating me well?"
"Isn't this how women are?"
This was all he had seen and experienced. For a woman to gain her husband's trust and respect in her lifetime was already considered fortunate.
"This is not what I want. I have already told you, Young General, that once the lingering poison in your body is cleared, we will divorce and go our separate ways!"
She had no desire to be confined to the small world of the inner chambers, bound by countless rules.
Ling Mohan's expression drastically changed. She spoke of divorce daily, yet did she know that once a woman divorced, she would be gossiped about for the rest of her life and find it difficult to remarry?
Even so, she still wanted to divorce him.
"We will discuss this later. Let us first pay our respects to the Old Madam of Marquis Pingyang's mansion."
Ling Mohan said in a low voice. His leg was still healing, and a divorce would have to wait. Within this period, he had plenty of ways to make Feng Jin willing to stay.
"Greetings, Old Madam. I wish you boundless fortune and longevity like the East Sea and South Mountain!"
Feng Jin was unusually dignified as she bowed slightly to the Old Madam of Marquis Pingyang's mansion.
"Good, good... rise quickly," Old Madam Lin stepped forward, helped Feng Jin up, and pulled her to sit beside her. Her loving gaze swept over Feng Jin, and she murmured, "You resemble her, you resemble her so much!"
"Old Madam, you..." Feng Jin felt that Old Madam Lin was looking at someone else through her.
Old Madam Lin clasped Feng Jin's hand, "Your maternal grandmother and I were sworn sisters. You truly resemble your maternal grandmother! Especially your eyes. It's a pity! She passed away so young. Before she left, she entrusted me with the care of your mother, and I... alas! I have failed your maternal grandmother's trust!"
Recalling the past, Old Madam Lin felt a surge of melancholy. "Your mother married your father and suffered many misfortunes. I wanted to intervene, but I was powerless!"
Back then, she had accompanied the former Marquis on an assignment to Yangzhou. Upon learning of the events in the capital, she had written to warn Feng Yuanping. By the time she returned, she had already heard of Xiao Nanxi's death, and even her orphaned daughter Feng Jin had been sent to a manor in the countryside to recuperate.
She had visited multiple times, inquiring about Feng Jin's whereabouts, and had also searched the countryside, but to no avail.
Her constant worry had led her to believe she had let down her friend, and she had fallen ill, her health no longer as robust as it once was.
To see Feng Jin return safely in her lifetime and marry well would allow her to face her friend in the afterlife with a smile.
Feng Jin listened to this past account, surprised to learn of it. At the time, the original host was too young and had no memory of such significant events.
"Old Madam, Feng Jin is most fortunate to be so remembered by you."
Old Madam Lin looked at Feng Jin with affection, "Child, I treated your mother like my own daughter. If you don't mind, I will acknowledge you as my granddaughter today. You can call me Grandmother from now on."
The Marquis Pingyang's mansion had endured for three dynasties and was deeply entrenched.
To be associated with such a family would provide her with a powerful backing in the capital.
"Feng Jin is willing. Greetings, Grandmother!"
Feng Jin responded wisely, served Old Madam Lin tea, and thus cemented their adoptive kinship.
"Jin'er, this is your grandmother's见面礼 (jiànmiànlǐ - meeting gift)!"
Old Madam Lin instructed a servant to bring a rosewood box and handed it to Feng Jin, "You can look at the contents later when you return."
Then, she turned her attention to Ling Mohan, "Young Master Ling, please help Jin'er put this away first."
"Yes, Old Madam."
Old Madam Lin then chatted with Feng Jin for a long time and insisted on having Feng Jin sit with her at the birthday banquet.
The Old Madam of Marquis Pingyang's mansion was known for her cold and aloof nature. She didn't dote on her own granddaughters, and generally ignored outsiders.
Today, however, she was drawing Feng Jin close, speaking to her with great affection and a loving expression.
All those present were, to say the least, astonished.
The originally harmonious scene was shattered by a lady's sudden cry.
"Ah!"
All eyes turned in that direction.
"Hiss... it hurts..."
"Madam!"
"County Princess!"
Madam Wang, the principal wife of Marquis Pingyang, rushed over to check, "What is wrong? Quickly, carry Princess Anping to her room, and send for a midwife and imperial physicians immediately!"
"Young Master, please escort the County Princess to her room first. The midwife and imperial physicians will be here shortly."
Princess Anping was the orphaned daughter of Prince Ning and had been betrothed to the legitimate son of Duke Yue by the Empress Dowager. If anything were to happen to her at the Marquis Pingyang's mansion, their entire family would be implicated.
"Young Master, I... I can't do it anymore. Save... save the child!"
Princess Anping's face was pale, and her strength was draining away.
"Ning'er, don't be afraid. It will be alright. You and the child will be fine." Liang Chen was also frightened and quickly held Chu Ning'er's hand to comfort her.
When the imperial physicians and midwife arrived, Princess Anping was already on the verge of death.
"Young Master, the birthing room is bloody. Please step outside!"
The midwife ushered Liang Chen out, leaving only two maids.
Pots of bloody water were carried out of the room, leaving Liang Chen deathly pale and almost collapsing to the ground.