Feeling a temptation to test him, Chu Yanxi deliberately bumped the table as he stood up, spilling a pot of scalding tea directly onto Chu Chenyi's legs.
Instantly, an intense burning sensation spread across his legs. Yet, Chu Chenyi remained composed, as if nothing had happened.
"My apologies, Second Imperial Brother, I wasn't paying attention. How are your legs? Shall I summon the imperial physician?"
As the words fell, Chu Yanxi reached out to touch Chu Chenyi's legs, but his hand was stopped.
"Third Brother, there's no need. The tea is hot. My legs are crippled, Third Brother. Have a maid clean it up!"
Chu Chenyi naturally knew what Chu Yanxi was plotting. The slip-up was likely intentional.
Feng Jin and the other heard the commotion from afar and rushed over. Fortunately, Lin Yuwei reacted quickly this time, stepping in front of Chu Chenyi.
"These trivial matters do not require the Third Prince's concern. Allow me to tend to Prince Jing."
"Someone fetch a clean set of clothes and send them to the side hall."
Lin Yuwei stepped forward and pushed Chu Chenyi's wheelchair, heading towards the side hall. However, Chu Yanxi blocked their path.
"I was the one who was careless. Please, let me invite the imperial physician to examine Second Imperial Brother's injuries first. That way, I can be at ease."
The two parties confronted each other, neither willing to back down.
After weighing the pros and cons, Feng Jin stepped forward and said, "Greetings, Prince Jing, Third Prince. Previously, Prince Jing's health was always under my care. The imperial physicians in the palace are busy attending to the noble consorts and are overwhelmed. There's no need to trouble them. I will tend to Prince Jing's condition."
Lin Yuwei chimed in, "Indeed, the Young Madam Ling previously treated the Prince. This time, we shall trouble the Young Madam Ling."
"Your Highness is too kind. Let's send the Prince to the side hall first."
The Third Prince had no further retort and could only watch them leave. The hands hanging by his sleeves clenched tightly, veins bulging, and his eyes filled with murderous intent.
Outside the side hall, Ling Mo Han had stationed guards to surround the area.
Feng Jin first examined the injuries on Chu Chenyi's legs. Fortunately, the tea had cooled slightly by then, and his legs were merely red, without blisters.
She took a bottle of ointment from her pouch and handed it to Lin Yuwei. "Apply this ointment to his legs."
"I'll do it..." A blush briefly crossed Lin Yuwei's face before vanishing.
Chu Chenyi's thighs were injured, and having her apply the ointment felt somewhat awkward.
"Sister Feng Jin, perhaps we should find a young eunuch?"
She felt embarrassed about such a matter.
Feng Jin saw the peculiarity at a glance. "The situation is urgent, don't be shy. Hurry up."
If it were in the past, she would have applied the medicine to Chu Chenyi herself. But with Ling Mo Han standing nearby, if she were to do so, he would surely cause trouble.
Lin Yuwei clutched the medicine bottle tightly and steeled herself. "You should take off your trousers, and I'll apply the medicine."
Feng Jin, who was drinking water, heard these bold words and suppressed the urge to spit it out, forcing it down. It was indeed difficult for her.
Chu Chenyi's face turned ashen, wishing he could gag Lin Yuwei. He lowered his voice, "Be quiet!"
It took nearly half an hour to apply the medicine. Feng Jin was so bored she nearly dozed off.
"His Majesty has arrived. Hurry over," Ling Mo Han's voice echoed from outside the door.
Feng Jin lazily rose, tidied her floor-length dress, and walked out.
The moment Ling Mo Han saw Feng Jin, the coldness on his face receded, replaced by a smile. His eyes were full of tenderness. He stepped forward, took Feng Jin's soft, delicate, fair hand, and said intimately, "Are you tired? Would you like to sit down and rest for a while?"
"She's not tired at all! She ate and drank everything on the table!" Chu Chenyi's disdainful voice rang out from behind them. Feng Jin was indeed an unusually voracious eater. She had eaten quite a few preserved fruits and pastries at the banquet earlier, and now she had consumed so much more. Where did it all go?
Feng Jin let out a satisfied burp. She was just hungry, was it that exaggerated?
"No eating at the banquet later. Eating so much before bed is bad for your digestion."
She had indeed been eating more than usual these past few days. Could it be that her stomach was out of sorts?
"Understood. Let's go to the banquet first." Feng Jin, not wanting to listen to Ling Mo Han's nagging any longer, walked ahead.
"His Majesty has learned of your research into gunpowder. However, this matter concerns national military affairs and must be kept secret. Therefore, you will be rewarded at an opportune moment."
Feng Jin frowned slightly. "You told His Majesty that I researched gunpowder? Didn't I tell you to take credit for it yourself?"
The matter of gunpowder was of great importance. In this era, a woman developing gunpowder would face criticism, even if it were true.
If Ling Mo Han had developed gunpowder, he would receive immense praise. Considering the benefits, it was clearly best for Ling Mo Han to claim credit for it.
"My wife is so outstanding, of course, everyone in the world should know." Ling Mo Han actually had his own selfish motives. He wanted to use this matter to silence the gossipers.
Let everyone know how outstanding Feng Jin was, and that he, Ling Mo Han, was the one who had climbed up to her.
Feng Jin suddenly felt immense pressure. "Did His Majesty suspect anything?"
"His Majesty did not suspect anything. On the contrary, he was very pleased and praised your intelligence."
"That's good... that's good..." Feng Jin murmured to herself, still very nervous. After a pause, she held Ling Mo Han's hand and said, "By the way, if His Majesty asks in the future where I learned to make gunpowder, what will you say?"
"Whatever my wife says, I will say. I will obey all your commands."
"That's more like it." A satisfied smile graced Feng Jin's lips. Ling Mo Han was making quite rapid progress.
Feng Jin pondered for a moment and then said, "You can say that I learned this method from my master. If they ask who my master is, you can simply say it was an extraordinary hermit."
It was a lie anyway, so making it sound mysterious would make people believe it.
"Alright, we'll go with that explanation."
Ling Mo Han immediately agreed. He had indeed harbored doubts about Feng Jin's identity before and had secretly investigated. However, he had long since made up his mind. If Feng Jin didn't wish to speak, she surely had her reasons. He only needed to trust her wholeheartedly.
"Is there anything you want to ask?"
"If you want me to ask, I will ask. If you don't want me to ask, I won't," Ling Mo Han said in a low voice.
Feng Jin's heart trembled. The words of explanation that had reached her lips were forced back down.
She truly didn't know how to open up to Ling Mo Han. She wasn't from this world. The real Feng Jin had long since died. She was merely a soul from another world.