"Shut up, do you really think I don't know your schemes!" Feng Jin sneered, looking at Ling Mo Han with disdain. "Aren't you just worried about getting yourself implicated? Why make so many excuses."
She was too foolish, she almost forgot that Ling Mo Han used to be an imperial tutor and had served as a civil official. His mind must be as sharp as a needle.
It was not easy for him to scheme against her.
His hidden thoughts exposed, Ling Mo Han awkwardly touched his nose.
"I have to consider the bigger picture..."
Feng Jin shot Ling Mo Han a fierce glare and walked out, ignoring him. "I'll go pick some fresh vegetables."
They had been eating dried vegetables for the past two days, and she was practically lacking in vitamins.
After picking some fresh vegetables from the detached courtyard, Feng Jin also brought back some vegetable seeds.
It was too troublesome to keep going back and forth to the detached courtyard of the Ling mansion. She had been considering for the past two days whether to reclaim the empty space behind the East Courtyard and plant some vegetables. It would be more convenient to pick them as needed, saving her the trouble of running back and forth.
Upon returning to the Ling mansion, Feng Jin ordered people to take tools to the backyard to reclaim the wasteland.
Feng Jin sat in the pavilion, tasting the freshly picked fruit. The peaches were juicy and sweet, just a little small.
"Sister-in-law, these tangerines are delicious, very sweet, and not sour at all," Ling Wan said, handing Feng Jin a peeled tangerine.
"Not bad. There are so many tangerines in the detached courtyard, we can't finish them all. Tomorrow, we'll pick some to sell. It's rare to find fruit this season, and these tangerines will surely fetch a good price."
Feng Jin began to strategize again. Everything else was ephemeral, only money was the most important.
"Sister-in-law, I'll go with you tomorrow to pick tangerines to sell."
Compared to the two of them relaxing under the pavilion and eating fruit, the stark contrast with Gu Bei Chen and Ling Mu Zhu, who were working under the scorching sun, was too obvious.
The sun was fierce, and Gu Bei Chen was sweating profusely under the intense heat, his fringe wet and clinging to his cheeks.
"I'm done!" Gu Bei Chen threw the hoe to the ground and ran into the cool pavilion, grabbing the teapot and gulping down water. His dry throat finally felt better.
If he continued, he'd lose half his life.
Feng Jin glanced at Gu Bei Chen and said irritably, "You dare to slack off again? Look at Ling Mu Zhu, he hasn't complained of being tired. Why are you so troublesome!"
After her transformation, Ling Mu Zhu had truly undergone a metamorphosis, like a changed person.
And then there was Gu Bei Chen, still as annoying as ever. The difference was truly significant.
"If I keep working, this prince will die of exhaustion!"
"This is a lack of exercise. Look at Ling Mu Zhu. His body was weaker than yours before, and now look at him. Can't you have a little ambition and look forward?"
"I think I'm quite fine as I am. I don't need to look forward at all. This prince will not fall for your taunts. You can give up on that idea!"
Gu Bei Chen said with a smug look. He was well aware of Feng Jin's little tricks. He didn't think he would be as easily fooled as the naive young Ling Mu Zhu.
"Alright, if you don't want to do it, that's fine. But I don't keep idlers here. Cai Qing, order someone to pack up Prince Gu's things and send the bill for his expenses during this time back to the Zhennan Prince's manor. I'll see if the Zhennan Prince will default on the payment!"
Feng Jin made up her mind, spoke her piece, and got up to leave.
Seeing that things were not going well, Gu Bei Chen put down his teacup and took two large strides to block Feng Jin's path. "Don't! Let's discuss it. Don't be impulsive. Impulsiveness is the devil. It's just work, I'll do it right away. I love working the most."
To show his resolve, Gu Bei Chen quickly picked up the hoe he had thrown down and worked even harder than before.
Ling Mu Zhu glanced at Gu Bei Chen. He deeply sympathized with his predicament, having experienced it himself before.
If he had known this would happen, why did he act that way in the first place!
Now, after several hardships, he had learned to be much smarter, working more and talking less.
Feng Jin reclined leisurely on the lounge chair, enjoying the midday sun, like a wealthy landlord. She occasionally got up to check on the progress of the two men.
"Ling Mu Zhu, your land..."
"Sister-in-law, did I not do a good job? I'll redo it immediately!" Ling Mu Zhu's voice was laced with worry.
"Why are you so nervous? You've tilled the land well. Just fetch some water and water it. You can rest after you're done."
"Yes, sister-in-law, I'm going now!"
As soon as he heard that he could rest, Ling Mu Zhu seemed to be injected with chicken blood and worked even harder.
"Can I rest too?" Gu Bei Chen asked, his voice filled with envy and excitement.
Feng Jin glanced at the messy land. "You haven't even cleared all the weeds. You want to rest... Go hoe it again. We'll talk about resting after you're done!"
Feng Jin stretched. After sitting for an afternoon, her back was starting to ache.
"Cai Qing, you stay here and supervise Prince Gu hoeing the land."
"Yes, Madam."
After taking a few steps, Feng Jin seemed to remember something and turned back to Cai Qing. "If Prince Gu gives you any trouble, just send the account book to the Zhennan Prince."
"Yes, Madam, your servant has noted it down."
Gu Bei Chen suppressed the anger in his heart and raised his hoe, gesturing at Feng Jin.
"Cough... cough..." Cai Qing coughed lightly to remind him. "Prince Gu, Madam asked me to supervise you. I have to report everything you do back to Madam."
Gu Bei Chen's lips twitched a couple of times. As expected, the servant was just like the master. If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked. Those taught by Feng Jin would surely be as difficult to deal with as she was.
"You little girl, learning so much from Feng Jin now. Be careful not to be unmarried in the future."
"It's good if I don't get married. This servant has no intention of marrying. I just want to follow my Madam for life."
If it was in the past, Cai Qing had indeed thought about performing well in front of her master and receiving the master's favor to marry out of the manor.
But now, she just wanted to serve by her Madam's side. She had long lost interest in getting married.
"By following your Madam, you'll learn well..."
Gu Bei Chen said earnestly, "This prince advises you not to try to learn everything from your Madam. If you continue like this..."
Gu Bei Chen chattered on endlessly, completely forgetting what he was supposed to be doing.
"I'm done. I'll go back first. Prince Gu, you can take your time with it."
Ling Mu Zhu dropped his hoe, brushed off the dirt, and sauntered away.
"He's gone, so I'm not working either. You have to treat us equally." Gu Bei Chen wanted to muddle through.