"Still not too stupid, at least there's hope."
Ling Mo Han's tone was laced with helplessness, finally understanding something, proving he wasn't beyond saving.
"The matter is handed over to you. It's getting late, so I'll be returning."
Feng Jin should still be asleep at this hour. It would be nice to hold his wife and sleep a little longer. As Ling Mo Han walked towards the door, he seemed to remember something, turned back, and said, "Tomorrow, at the morning court, whatever Chu Yan Xi proposes, you must find a way to thwart it, or take it over yourself."
If his guess was correct, Chu Yan Xi would indeed act according to Bai Li Xi's words tomorrow at the morning court. Whatever it was, it had to be stopped.
"You aren't attending the morning court tomorrow?"
Couldn't he handle this himself tomorrow? Why involve him in such a redundant task?
"Tomorrow I'll plead illness and won't attend the morning court," Ling Mo Han stated, turning to leave directly.
Chu Chen Yi's lips twitched twice. He was truly living the leisurely life, able to skip court whenever he pleased. When could he possess such courage?
...
When Ling Mo Han returned, Feng Jin was still sleeping soundly. The man shed his clothes and lay down beside Feng Jin, pulling her into his embrace before falling into a deep sleep.
Sunlight streamed in. Feng Jin murmured, reaching out to rub her sleepy eyes. A foreign object was pressing down on her waist. In her groggy state, Feng Jin directly threw it away, only to turn and see Ling Mo Han's enlarged handsome face before her.
Feng Jin's heart leaped in surprise, almost letting out a cry. She reached out to nudge the sleeping man awake.
"What time is it?"
Ling Mo Han was in a deep sleep, a truly tiring nap. Feng Jin slept sprawled out, without a hint of grace. It was only when he pulled her into his arms that she became a little more settled.
"It's almost Sishi. Why didn't you attend the morning court today?"
At this hour, Ling Mo Han would either have left early or just returned from morning court. This was the first time he had lingered in bed until the sun was high in the sky.
"I've taken sick leave today and don't need to attend morning court. Sleep with me for a while longer!"
He was sleeping so soundly, only to be pushed awake by Feng Jin. Now, he just wanted to get back to sleep.
With that, he pulled Feng Jin towards the bed.
"You sleep by yourself, I have things to do."
Ignoring Feng Jin's wishes, Ling Mo Han forcibly pulled her onto the bed, his strong arms encircling her slender waist, holding her tightly. "Sleep with me a little longer."
The man's magnetic voice reached Feng Jin's ears, his even breaths fanning across her neck, making her entire body tingle.
"Ling Mo Han..." Feng Jin called out tentatively, "Ling Mo Han, are you really asleep?"
After her words, there was no response for a long time, only then did Feng Jin confirm that the man behind her had fallen into a deep sleep.
A moment later, Feng Jin tiptoed out and went to the kitchen.
"Young Madam, I've brought everything you asked for."
Cai Qing placed a whole basket of fruits and vegetables on the table, panting from exhaustion. These things were quite heavy. If she hadn't met Lu Shi on the way, she really wouldn't have been able to carry them.
"Young Madam, why do you need so many fruits to make a cake?"
"Today, I'm making a cream cake." Feng Jin bent down and picked through the basket of fruits.
"Wash these and cut them into small pieces. I'll make the bread."
"Yes, Young Madam."
With the experience of her previous failed cake attempt, Feng Jin's current process was smooth and efficient. It didn't take long to whip the cream.
"Young Madam, they're all cut."
Cai Qing placed the cut fruits on the table and looked at the white cream. "Young Madam, why are you suddenly making a cake today?"
Usually, the Young Madam was too lazy to even enter the kitchen. This sudden whim to make a cake must be for an important reason.
"It's Ling Mo Han's birthday today, so I'm making a cake to celebrate?"
"Today is the Young General's birthday?"
Cai Qing's tone was surprised. It wasn't that Cai Qing didn't remember Ling Mo Han's birthday, but rather that Ling Mo Han had never celebrated his birthday before.
"Yes, I heard it from Aunt Bai."
She had learned about it when she was chatting with Aunt Bai that day, and Aunt Bai had mentioned it casually, only then did she know about Ling Mo Han's past.
Ever since the former First Madam passed away, no one had ever celebrated his birthday for him. Over time, among the people in the manor, except for Aunt Bai who would remember his birthday and make a bowl of longevity noodles, no one else remembered.
"No one has ever mentioned the Young General's birthday. The Master has been guarding the border year-round and hasn't returned to the manor for three to four years, so naturally, he hasn't remembered the Young General's birthday."
Hearing Cai Qing's words, Feng Jin felt a pang of sadness in her heart, her concern for Ling Mo Han deepening.
"Go wash the vegetables first. Today, we'll give Ling Mo Han a different kind of birthday."
"Yes, Young Madam, I'll go now."
Cai Qing, full of energy, picked up a basket of vegetables and hurried away.
After finishing the cake, Feng Jin carefully wrote a few words on it with ketchup: "Wishing Ling Mo Han a happy birthday, good health, and longevity!"
This was calligraphy that Feng Jin had specifically learned from Dong Chu, just for the purpose of writing a birthday wish for Ling Mo Han.
She then cooked a few dishes according to Ling Mo Han's taste. By the time she was done, it was already past noon.
Feng Jin hurried back to her room, preparing to give him a surprise.
As soon as she reached the East Courtyard, Feng Jin was captivated by the scene unfolding before her. She was stunned for a moment. It was simply too magnificent.
Feng Jin had only seen such scenes in television dramas before, but those were fake, achieved with wire stunts. But today, what she saw was all genuine. She realized that martial arts truly existed.
Every move Ling Mo Han made was fluid and powerful, so much so that the leaves on the trees were shaken off by his sword energy.
The man also sensed the person watching him from behind, sheathed his sword, and walked towards Feng Jin. Seeing Feng Jin's expression of awe, Ling Mo Han chuckled, taking a step closer. "Do you think your husband is too handsome and you're dumbfounded?"
"Where is that? Don't spout nonsense. Who thinks you're handsome?"
Returning to her senses, Feng Jin immediately denied it, a trace of unnatural blush appearing on her face.
"My wife is truly stubborn," Ling Mo Han teased, his voice deep and magnetic.
Feng Jin raised her eyes and looked at the man's back. Heaven was truly unfair. When creating Ling Mo Han, it must have given him all the good things, otherwise, how could even his back view be so handsome?
"Can you teach me that sword technique you just used?" Feng Jin walked up to stand shoulder to shoulder with the man, asking with a hint of excitement.
Ling Mo Han had been incredibly handsome just now. That sword technique clearly looked powerful. If she could learn it, perhaps she too could become a martial arts master.