Ling Mo Han's eyes flickered with suspicion as he eyed the cake on the table. Without a word, he scooped some up and smeared it directly onto Feng Jin's face.
"What are you doing?" Feng Jin exclaimed, startled by the sudden attack.
"This is called sharing blessings and enduring hardships together. You and I are one, so we should naturally enjoy good things together."
Ling Mo Han said righteously, a smug smile plastered on his face.
"Alright, then let me show you what I'm capable of."
As if granted a royal pardon, Feng Jin was instantly unleashed. She pounced on Ling Mo Han, smearing the entire cake onto his face. If there had been any semblance of order or beauty before, now only ugliness could describe it.
The others also joined in, and the whole large cake, little of which had actually been eaten, ended up on everyone's faces.
After the wild battle, cake splattered in every corner of the room, leaving no spot untouched.
Feng Jin wiped her face, her clothes covered in cream stains.
"I'll go change. Cai Qing, you lead them to clean up the room."
With that, Feng Jin rose to leave, feeling sticky and uncomfortable all over. She desperately needed a bath.
After Feng Jin left, Ling Mo Han also got up and departed, leaving the mess to the others.
Cai Qing looked at the scene of utter devastation in the room, her little face falling. How long would this cleaning take? If only they hadn't played so wildly, she wouldn't be the one left to clean up the aftermath.
"I'll help you clean. You go change into some clean clothes first," Lu Shi said in a deep voice, and immediately started cleaning.
"I'll be back as soon as I change."
Cai Qing no longer hesitated. The sticky feeling of cream all over her was too uncomfortable. She hurried back to her room to change, then rushed back to help clean.
They toiled until dusk before the front hall was finally tidied. Cai Qing's legs were slightly weak from exhaustion, and she slumped into a chair, lacking the strength to even sit up straight.
Lu Shi saw Cai Qing's depleted energy and handed her a cup of tea.
"Thank you, Guard Lu Shi," Cai Qing said, taking the cup and sipping the tea.
"Oh... Lu Shi, you're really biased. You didn't see how tired I am and didn't even offer me a cup of water."
Ling Mu Zhu grumbled discontentedly, singling out Lu Shi for interrogation.
"Exactly, I'm also about to die of exhaustion," Ling Wan complained with dissatisfaction.
"Second Sister, if you're thirsty, I'll get you some tea. Don't count on Lu Shi."
Ling Mu Zhu's eyes shrewdly observed Lu Shi and Cai Qing. These two were quite good at hiding things; how had he never noticed before?
Cai Qing's fair face immediately flushed red, and she lowered her head in embarrassment, daring not to speak further.
"No... I... I just..."
Lu Shi stammered, unable to articulate anything coherent, unsure how to explain.
"Alright, stop explaining. I understand all of this," Ling Mu Zhu said, giving Lu Shi a look of understanding, and stood up to pat his shoulder.
"I can't anymore. I'm going back to my room to rest."
Ling Mu Zhu stretched. He really couldn't hold on any longer and had to go back for a bath and a good sleep.
"I'm going back too. You two continue... continue."
Ling Wan didn't want to be a third wheel anymore. She stood up and left in a hurry.
Cai Qing lifted her eyes to glance at Lu Shi, then quickly lowered her head again. The embarrassment on her face intensified. She coughed lightly, "I'm going back to attend to the young madam."
She stood up flustered and left with hurried steps. As she passed Lu Shi, Cai Qing darted past him, afraid to look him in the eye.
"Cai..." Lu Shi opened his mouth, but swallowed his words, feeling even more annoyed at himself for being unable to speak what was on his mind.
Cai Qing, her face flushed red, ran back. Feng Jin, who was tending to the flowers, saw the hurried Cai Qing and called out, "Cai Qing, what's wrong? Why is your face so red?"
"N-nothing..." Cai Qing stammered. "I... I just got too... too hot... I'm going back to my room to change."
Cai Qing hurried away, clearly distracted, and almost tripped over a stone.
Hot? Feng Jin looked up at the overcast sky. There wasn't even any sun today; it was actually a bit cold.
What was wrong with Cai Qing, acting so strangely? She'd have to ask her about it when she had time.
Yesterday, Lin Yu Wei had returned to Pingyang Marquis's mansion, leaving her with no one to talk to or to alleviate her boredom. She was practically dying of boredom every day.
Feng Jin couldn't help but sigh. This ancient era was truly unpleasant; there were no forms of entertainment at all. Especially at night, how could someone like her, accustomed to a vibrant nightlife, tolerate this early-to-bed, early-to-rise lifestyle?
Men could at least go out to amuse themselves and pass the time. Women, however, were advised not to leave their chambers, confined to these square courtyards all day. How were they supposed to live?
Fortunately, she still had things to do to pass the time, otherwise, she would truly be suffocated.
"What's with the sighing?" Ling Mo Han asked, walking over and sitting beside Feng Jin, having heard her sigh from a distance.
Feng Jin rested her head on the table, not looking up at Ling Mo Han, and murmured to herself, "I'm so bored, utterly uninteresting every day..."
"Bored, uninteresting. Tell me, what would be interesting?"
Ling Mo Han rested his chin on his hand, keenly awaiting Feng Jin's next words.
"Can we go out to play tonight?"
She had never been out at night before and wanted to take this opportunity to see what the nightlife in Dong Chu was like.
"A woman going out at night would cause gossip. If you're truly feeling stifled, I can take you out for a stroll tomorrow at noon."
"I don't want to. I only want to go out at night. I can dress up as a man and go with you. I promise I won't run off anywhere or cause any trouble. Please take me out, won't you..."
Feng Jin swayed the man's arm coquettishly. Her desire to go out hadn't been so strong initially, but Ling Mo Han's words had only made her more eager.
If she didn't go out today, she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.
"Do you really want to go out that much?"
"Really, truer than pearls!" Feng Jin replied sincerely, her eyes shining with anticipation for Ling Mo Han's answer.
"Alright then, you can come with me. But you must not cause any trouble, you must stay by my side and not wander off..." Ling Mo Han said with some unease, chattering on.