Feng Yuanping, though puzzled as to why the Empress Dowager would issue an imperial edict to posthumously confer titles upon He Miaoqing, still hastened to express his gratitude. After all, such an edict to elevate a wife to the rank of Madam Gao was exceedingly rare and would bring great honor to the Feng family's lineage.
"The Young General and Princess Jianing are also present. Old servant pays his respects."
"Duke De, you are too kind. You have had a difficult journey. Please, come in and have a cup of clear tea to rest for a moment."
Duke De was an elder of the Empress Dowager's retinue, and Feng Jin treated him with the utmost courtesy.
"Thank you for your kindness, Princess. Old servant must return to the palace quickly to attend to the Empress Dowager. I shall not linger."
After Duke De departed, Feng Jin tightly clutched the imperial edict, the color of imperial yellow, in her hand. She raised her eyelids to survey the two of them, a pair of scoundrels in league, and said with dripping sarcasm, "Prime Minister Feng, with the Empress Dowager's edict delivered, you should open the ancestral hall and inform the ancestors of the Feng family."
"Naturally, naturally... this is a great honor for the Feng family. Come, someone open the ancestral hall, burn incense, and inform the ancestors."
Feng Yuanping's face was beaming with joy. Finally, there was something worth celebrating.
"My mother has been posthumously honored as a first-rank Madam Gao. As for Sun Shi, who was merely a concubine elevated to the main wife, she is utterly unworthy to kneel in the ancestral hall. She is only fit to kneel outside the hall, with the ceremony of a concubine."
Feng Jin's voice was icy, and her words struck Sun Shi as if she had been brutally slapped twice.
The Empress Dowager's conferment was a matter of great importance. For his own benefit, Feng Yuanping had no choice but to follow Feng Jin's words.
"You were a concubine elevated to wife. Before Miaoqing, you could only be a concubine. You shall remain outside the ancestral hall and prostrate yourself before Miaoqing according to the rites of a concubine."
"Yes, Master..."
Sun Shi gritted her teeth and agreed, stepping back.
"Someone fetch a kneeling mat for Madam Sun, so she may kneel outside the ancestral hall."
Feng Jin commanded coldly. A young servant brought a kneeling mat and placed it before Sun Shi.
"What is it, Madam Sun? Do you intend to defy the Empress Dowager's imperial edict?"
Seeing Sun Shi remain unmoved, Feng Jin spoke with impatience, her eyes full of disgust.
Sun Shi clenched her fists tightly, her lips pressed together as she uttered two words: "I kneel."
Sun Shi lifted her skirts and knelt. She should have eradicated Feng Jin, that little brat, long ago. Now, she had gained the upper hand and was humiliating her.
And He Miaoqing, that ill-fated woman. She was no match for Sun Shi in life, and after death, she still wanted to suppress her? Impossible.
When her Yan'er becomes Empress, Sun Shi would surely torment Feng Jin to death and smash He Miaoqing's spirit tablet, burning it to ashes, leaving her as a lonely ghost, unable to rest even in the underworld.
Feng Jin reached out and wiped the dust from He Miaoqing's spirit tablet. "I have taken your daughter's body. I will seek justice for you and ensure Feng Yuanping and Sun Shi meet their just desserts. May you rest in peace in the netherworld."
After cleaning it, Feng Jin carefully placed the spirit tablet back. She took out a simple wooden hairpin from her怀 and placed it before the spirit tablet.
This wooden hairpin was crafted by the original owner in her childhood as a gift for He Miaoqing. Sadly, before it could be completed, He Miaoqing had passed away. Now, Feng Jin would present the hairpin in the original owner's stead, thus resolving the matter.
Their mother-daughter bond was shallow in their past lives, but Feng Jin hoped they could renew their maternal affection in the next.
After returning from the Feng family, Feng Jin had been in low spirits, lacking appetite even for meals. She ate a few bites and returned to her room.
Feng Jin sat by the window, gazing at the crescent moon in the sky, and sighed.
"Why the sighs?" Ling Mohan pushed open the door and saw Feng Jin sitting dejectedly by the window, sighing occasionally.
"It's nothing. I'm just contemplating life," Feng Jin murmured, lowering her head. She tidied her clothes and stood up, her long hair cascading behind her, adding to a sense of melancholy.
"A person's life is but a fleeting century, yet they endure countless hardships. And to sacrifice their lives and futures for others—it is truly not worth it!"
"I will absolutely not let you suffer as your mother did. I will never let you endure hardship, nor will I let you sacrifice your life for me."
Ling Mohan's skill in speaking sweet nothings was at its peak. With a few words, he dispelled Feng Jin's gloom.
Feng Jin's lips curved into a smile. She was no longer a maiden whose heart fluttered at a few sweet words, but hearing someone speak so for her still brought a warmth that surged through her body.
"Your glib tongue now, did you learn it from Gu Beichen?"
She knew Gu Beichen was no good bird, having corrupted Ling Mohan into such a smooth talker.
"Everything I say comes from my heart and mind. There is not half a lie in it, nor am I trying to appease you..."
Ling Mohan eagerly explained, afraid Feng Jin would misunderstand him as trying to trick her.
"I know naturally that everything you say is true," Feng Jin said solemnly. It would be more difficult for him to lie than to speak the truth.
Ling Mohan embraced Feng Jin's delicate form, resting his head lightly on her shoulder. "Everything I say is true. If I ever do anything to wrong you, you can divorce me as soon as possible, and I will have no complaints."
Ling Mohan spoke with conviction, as he was certain he would never do anything to betray Feng Jin.
"This is your promise. If you dare to take a concubine, I will resolutely divorce you and never see you again."
Feng Jin's nature was resolute. Once she decided to part ways, she would cut ties completely. Why linger and cause further trouble?
"I will definitely not take a concubine. In this life, you will be my only wife. Therefore, you must cast aside all those muddled thoughts from your mind."
Ling Mohan straightened Feng Jin's head and met her gaze, his eyes full of seriousness. "Do not trouble yourself with these matters anymore."
"I had the small kitchen make a few dishes. Eat some before you sleep."
Ling Mohan took Feng Jin's hand and sat down. He opened the food box, and the strong, stimulating aroma of chili wafted out, causing Feng Jin to swallow. The smell was truly enticing and stimulated her taste buds.
Mapo Tofu, spicy boiled fish... these were her favorites.
Feng Jin eagerly stuffed food into her mouth. This was simply divine. If only it were accompanied by a glass of chilled grape juice, it would be perfect.
"Slow down, drink some water so you don't choke," Ling Mohan reminded her as he took out a cool glass of grape juice from the food box and offered it to Feng Jin.
"Grape juice..." Feng Jin quickly took a sip. "It's still cold. Where did you get ice?"
It was difficult to obtain ice during this season.
"Every winter, royalty and nobility store ice for summer use. Although the Ling family does not go to great expense to store ice, we can afford to buy some to make you grape juice."