Fearing that the Princess of Qingping might injure herself by getting overly excited upon seeing the child, especially since she was still in her confinement period, Feng Jin directly told her to stay and rest.
When Feng Jin arrived, a large crowd was packed into the room, interspersed with the cries of a baby.
"Lord Duke, Madam, Young Master, this child possesses golden eyes. He will bring disaster to his kin, endanger the imperial ancestors, and for the sake of future generations, he cannot be kept!"
A white-bearded old man, dressed like a wandering fortune teller, declared righteously.
"This..." Duchess Zhang, upon hearing this, was filled with worry. "My lord, for the prosperity of our descendants, this child truly cannot be kept!"
She still had two sons who were unmarried. She could not let this one child cause misfortune to her countless future grandchildren. Even with great reluctance, she had to make this painful sacrifice.
The Duke of Yue, having served in court for many years, had always been skeptical of such superstitions. Now that this matter had occurred within his own family, he couldn't help but feel some concern, his face showing evident distress.
"My lord, you must consider the future generations of the Liang family. Second and third sons are not yet married. Do you intend to sever their lineage? My lord, listen to me, bury this child, and we will hold a proper memorial service for him, so he may ascend to the Western Paradise sooner."
The Duke of Yue's expression wavered, clearly swayed. However, the thought of personally killing his own grandson still caused him great anguish!
Seeing the Duke of Yue waver, Madam Zhang quickly ordered, "Why are you all standing there? Hurry and take this child and bury him!"
"Who dares!" a furious voice boomed, as Liang Chen stepped forward, blocking the child with a dark expression.
"Chen'er, quickly move aside. This child cannot be kept!" Madam Sun scolded. This child absolutely could not remain.
"This is the child of Ning'er and me. Even if he brings ill fortune, I am willing to keep him. If he is to bring disaster, let him bring it upon me!"
Liang Chen stood resolutely in front of the child.
Feng Jin almost applauded. This was what a true man should be.
"Chen'er, you..."
Madam Sun was exasperated, her good son had been talking back to and defying her ever since he married Chu Ning'er.
"May I see the young master?"
Feng Jin, standing behind everyone, spoke calmly. As her voice fell, all eyes in the room turned to her.
"Who are you? How dare you be so presumptuous in the Duke's mansion!" Madam Zhang, seeing Feng Jin was unfamiliar, her tone became sharp.
"She is the young madam of the Ling family who saved Ning'er and the child earlier," Liang Chen explained.
Madam Zhang's gaze fell upon Feng Jin. "Young Madam Ling, this is a private matter of our Duke of Yue's household. It is inconvenient for an outsider to interfere. Guards, escort the Young Madam Ling to the front courtyard to rest."
"Who dares! Ling Mo Han's cold voice rang out, his tall figure shielding Feng Jin.
"Young Madam, please examine my son."
Liang Chen held back the crowd, allowing Feng Jin to approach and examine the child.
Madam Zhang, despite grinding her teeth in anger, could do nothing.
Feng Jin unfurled the child's swaddling clothes and immediately understood.
"Young Madam, how is the child?" Liang Chen asked anxiously. He had heard about the golden eyes, but he could not bear to abandon his own flesh and blood.
If this child were gone, then Ning'er...
He could only place his hope on Feng Jin. When Ning'er gave birth, the situation had been so perilous, yet she had managed to ensure the safety of mother and child. She would surely find a way to save this child too.
"The child is merely ill. I have a way to save him."
It was simply neonatal jaundice. The people of this era had never seen it before and had mistaken it for golden eyes, even fabricating a superstition about ill fortune.
Liang Chen's tense shoulders immediately relaxed, the heavy stone in his heart lifted. "Then I shall trouble the Young Madam!"
"Don't listen to this woman's nonsense. She must be saying this on Chu Ning'er's orders. This child cannot stay!"
Madam Zhang was determined to bury the child alive. She pushed past the crowd, reaching out to snatch the child, and ran out of the door with him.
Chu Ning'er, unable to rest her mind about the child, rushed out despite her maids' attempts to stop her.
As soon as she reached the courtyard entrance, she heard the child's heart-wrenching cries, and her own heart clenched.
Seeing Madam Zhang running outside with the child in her arms, unconcerned, the child wailing continuously, Chu Ning'er rushed forward. With strength she didn't know she possessed, she snatched the child from Madam Zhang's grasp and pushed her to the ground.
"Don't cry, baby, Mommy's here, Mommy's with you!"
Tears in her eyes, Chu Ning'er held the child tightly in her embrace.
The crying child immediately stopped wailing upon being held by Chu Ning'er and fell into a peaceful sleep.
"You... you give the child to me! This child cannot stay!"
Madam Zhang was still not giving up and tried to snatch the child from Chu Ning'er.
"Enough, Mother. With me here, no one will harm this child!"
Liang Chen stepped forward, pulled Madam Zhang away, and shielded Chu Ning'er and her son.
With him here, no one would dare to harm them in the slightest.
"You unfilial son! I raised you, and you've forgotten your mother after marrying a wife!"
Madam Zhang sat on the ground, weeping loudly, completely losing any semblance of a noblewoman.
"Silence! Are you not embarrassed enough!" The Duke's voice, deep and imposing, immediately silenced Madam Zhang's wails.
"Master, is this child truly an ill omen?"
The Duke of Yue's heart still harbored lingering doubts about the golden eyes.
"Golden eyes have always been considered an ill omen. For the sake of family prosperity, Your Grace should make a decision soon!"
"Nonsense!" Feng Jin could no longer stand it and directly cursed, "You charlatan, spreading heretical words! Do you really think you've seen through the heavens just because you mimic Jiang Taigong with a tuft of white beard? You dare to spout nonsense without even knowing what golden eyes are!"
"You... you... how dare you! Do you know the consequences of offending an immortal!"
This was the first time the white-bearded man had been cursed to his face since he began his profession. His speech even became somewhat faltering.
"You, you, you... what are you saying 'you' for? You can't even speak clearly, yet you dare to swindle people? Watch me pluck your beard today!"
Feng Jin was furious. How could anyone who wouldn't even spare a child be a good person? Reaching out, she actually pulled the chair down.
It came away too easily. As the beard came into her hand, Feng Jin felt something was amiss and let out a cold laugh. "Everyone, look! This charlatan's beard is fake! It's glued on. He doesn't have a single hair on his mouth!"
Clutching her stomach, Feng Jin laughed so hard her waist couldn't straighten. "Charlatan, are you perhaps... eunuch? Your mouth is completely hairless!"
The crowd couldn't help but burst into laughter.
The white-bearded old man covered his mouth. "You dare to disrespect me? The Three Pure Ones will not let you off!"
"I think the Three Pure Ones will deal with you first, for deceiving people in their name and damaging their reputation!"