With Feng Ruoyan’s whereabouts completely unknown, he was in a passive position, at their mercy.
Moreover, a woman’s reputation was paramount. Feng Ruoyan was about to marry the Third Prince, and if news of her disappearance spread, her marriage into royalty would be for naught.
His years of careful planning would be ruined. He could only search for her secretly, and his actions were hampered.
Madam Sun was consumed with worry over Feng Ruoyan’s situation, praying ceaselessly before the Buddha.
With no news even late into the night, she was even more anxious, pacing back and forth in her room. Upon Feng Yuanping’s return, she eagerly rushed to him, asking, “Master, is there any news of Yan’er?”
Feng Yuanping’s face was grim, his gaze towards Madam Sun laced with disgust. If not for her instigation, this would never have happened. Rage surged within him, and he struck Madam Sun heavily across the face.
“You wretched woman, this is all your doing! It was you who incited me to estrange myself from Miaoqing in the first place. It was you who told me Feng Jin’s destiny was so strong it would harm her father and mother, which is why I sent her to the countryside, leading to a father-daughter estrangement!”
“It was also you who incited Feng Ruoyan to do this, leading to this mess. You’d better pray Feng Ruoyan returns safely and can marry the Third Prince smoothly, or I will divorce you, cast you out of the Feng family, and leave you to fend for yourself!”
All of this was Madam Sun’s doing, causing discord between him and He Miaoqing as a couple, leading to Feng Jin’s current resentment towards him. The Ling family also suppressed him heavily in officialdom, and the Emperor’s trust in him was not what it once was.
His only hope now was for Feng Ruoyan to marry the Third Prince smoothly. Once the Third Prince ascended the throne, he would be second only to the Emperor.
But now, with this incident, his entire plan had been disrupted.
Madam Sun was stunned by the blow, collapsing to the ground, dizzy and disoriented. A stream of hot, red liquid flowed from her nostrils. At this moment, Madam Sun no longer cared about anything else, crawling on hands and knees to Feng Yuanping’s feet, tightly gripping his robe.
“Master, all my mistakes are my fault, but Yan’er is your own daughter and the Feng family’s only hope. You cannot abandon Yan’er, Master, please save Yan’er!”
Madam Sun’s face was full of pleading, but her eyes were filled with hatred. Only she knew in her heart that as long as Feng Ruoyan married Chu Yanxi and became Empress, she would no longer have to endure Feng Yuanping’s temper or grovel to please him.
“I will naturally save Yan’er. From today onwards, you will stay here honestly. If you dare cause trouble again, I will divorce you.”
Feng Yuanping uttered these words through gritted teeth, then turned and left without looking back.
…
Feng Jin woke up with an aching back and waist. Even the slightest movement made her feel as if her body was falling apart.
The man beside her was fast asleep, his strong, powerful arm resting across Feng Jin’s body.
Feng Jin carefully moved the man’s arm, tiptoed off the bed, changed her clothes, and left the room.
“How is his condition?”
“Young Madam, all his wounds have healed, but he has not yet woken up,” Cai Qing quickly replied after standing up.
Feng Jin stepped forward to check Yan Yu’s condition. His pulse was already stable.
“I added some calming medicine to the decoction I gave him last night, let him sleep a little longer.”
“Yes, Young Madam.”
As Feng Jin reached the doorway, she said with concern, “Ask Lu Shi to send a few guards to watch here.”
Feng Yuanping, that old fox, had likely guessed that Yan Yu had been moved to the Ling Residence. Having navigated the capital for so many years, his influence was deeply rooted, and it was inevitable that he would have spies within the Ling Residence. It was best to be cautious.
“I will go find Lu Shi now and have him send people.”
Shortly after Cai Qing left, Lu Shi arrived with guards who surrounded the room tightly. All food and medicine were provided by the small kitchen in the East Courtyard. Cai Qing was instructed to stay and attend to Yan Yu, ensuring that Feng Yuanping’s people could not infiltrate.
With all arrangements made, Feng Jin finally felt at ease.
After breakfast, she took Ling Wan and Ling Muzhu to the medical clinic.
Upon their arrival, the clinic was as bustling as usual.
It seemed unaffected by yesterday’s events; in fact, business had improved, with a continuous stream of patients seeking treatment.
“Young Madam is here.”
Yun Niang, who was dispensing medicine, called out with a smile upon seeing Feng Jin and her companions.
Feng Jin smiled faintly and nodded, then proceeded to examine patients with Wei Ran.
They were busy until dusk, when the number of patients seeking treatment finally dwindled.
“Is the Young Madam of the Ling Residence here?” a sweet voice called out from the entrance of the clinic. A young maid, about fifteen or sixteen years old, stood there with a look of slight panic.
Feng Jin recognized the maid as one of Chu Ning’er’s attendants. “Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be attending to Princess Qingping?”
“Young Madam, the Princess sent me to invite you. The young master has a persistent high fever.”
“I’ll go with you right away,” Feng Jin replied immediately, packing her things into the medical box.
“You two return to the residence first. Ling Wan, go tell Ling Mo Han that I’ve gone to the Duke of Yue’s Residence and he need not worry.”
“I’ve got it, Eldest Sister-in-Law.”
After giving her instructions, Feng Jin followed the maid to the Duke of Yue’s Residence.
The carriage sped along, and in just a quarter of an hour, they arrived at the Duke of Yue’s Residence.
“Young Madam, this way please.” The maid led Feng Jin towards a room.
“Princess, Young Madam is here.”
Feng Jin stepped into the room. Princess Qingping was holding her crying child, pacing anxiously like an ant on a hot pan.
Meanwhile, Liang Chen stood by with a worried expression, looking helpless, wanting to help but not knowing how.
“Ning’er, how is the child?” Feng Jin put down her medical box and hurried to examine the child’s condition.
“He’s had a fever since the afternoon. He’s taken medicine, but it hasn’t helped, and he cries uncontrollably.”
Chu Ning’er held the child, tears welling up in her eyes. The child’s crying made her extremely anxious.
“Place the child on the bed first so I can examine him.”
Feng Jin placed her hand on the child’s forehead. How hot it was.
“The child is dressed so thickly and the clothes aren’t breathable. How can the fever subside?”
Wearing such thick clothes in September would surely smother the child.
Feng Jin asked the maid to fetch a set of thinner clothes for the child, and upon changing him, she saw that his chest and back were covered in a dense rash of red spots.
He had developed eczema from being overheated. No wonder the child was crying incessantly.
“Sister, why is the child so red?”
Chu Ning’er became worried immediately, having never seen such a condition before.
“He was dressed too thickly, causing this eczema. A little ointment will fix it.” Feng Jin took out a purple ointment from her medical box and applied it to the child.
After applying the ointment, the child’s crying lessened considerably.
“The child’s body temperature is high, no need to dress him so thickly. Here is this bottle of ointment. If he develops eczema again, apply this to him.”