"Mu Zhu... Mu Zhu!" The Second Master Ling cried hoarsely, clinging to the door. Only silence answered him.
Feng Jin, hearing the sounds of pain from within, could not help but tremble. She looked at Ling Mu Zhu beside her. "He is your biological father, after all. Aren't you going to see him one last time?"
"I won't. Seeing him will only bring more pain. I can't bear it."
Blood kinship, his father had doted on him the most when he was young. How could he bear to see his father like this?
But if he showed mercy today, it would only endanger his father's life and the entire Ling family in the future. It was better to harden his heart now and protect everyone.
Ling Mu Zhu's footsteps quickened, as if trying to escape it all.
Watching Ling Mu Zhu's receding figure, Feng Jin sighed helplessly. Things had come to this, and there was no other way.
This was a trial for Ling Mu Zhu. If he could get through it, his future days would be better.
Feng Jin did not linger. Before she left, she instructed the black armored guards stationed outside the ancestral hall to take good care of the Second Master Ling, providing him with the best in food, accommodation, and daily necessities.
This would also put Ling Mu Zhu's mind at ease, allowing him to focus all his attention on the imperial examinations and not be distracted by this matter, thus delaying his studies.
"Young Madam, you're back. This servant made you Osmanthus and Lotus Seed Soup. Please have some first."
Upon seeing Feng Jin, Chu Qing quickly brought over the warmed soup. It had been made earlier, and since the young Madam had not returned, it had been kept warm on the stove. It was perfect to drink now.
Feng Jin took a sip. The taste was indeed different from the ones she had drunk before.
The osmanthus flavor was very strong, yet not a trace of osmanthus could be seen in the bowl.
"What did you put in it? The osmanthus flavor is so fragrant, but I don't see any osmanthus petals?"
"Young Madam, this is cooked with osmanthus honey, so naturally, you won't see any osmanthus petals. Cooking the lotus seeds with osmanthus honey makes the flavor even more fragrant and sweet."
This method was taught to her by Sister Cui Er. It was a pity that Sister Cui Er was no longer here, and a trace of sadness flickered in Chu Qing's eyes.
"Your method is quite novel. In the past, Cai Qing would go early in the morning to pick fresh osmanthus to cook this lotus seed soup, but it wasn't as fragrant and sweet as yours."
She wondered how Cai Qing was doing now, how Lu Shi's injuries were, and when the two of them would return to the capital.
Thinking of this, Feng Jin could not help but sigh. News spread so slowly in ancient times.
In modern times, a phone call would immediately inform one of the situation on the other end.
Now, just exchanging letters, a round trip could take more than ten days. Even with carrier pigeons, it would take two to three days. Anything important could be delayed on the way.
"Young Madam, are you missing Sister Cai Qing?"
"Alas... Cai Qing used to buzz around me all day, and I found her annoying. Now that I haven't seen her for several days, I feel a bit empty, as if something is missing."
She had probably gotten used to Cai Qing being around her. The sudden absence made it truly uncomfortable.
Habit was truly a tormenting thing.
"Logically speaking, the message should have arrived by now. But the carrier pigeon hasn't arrived for so long."
Chu Qing calculated the time. A round trip for a carrier pigeon should have been completed by now. Why was there no news at all?
"Perhaps it was delayed on the way. Even the best-trained pigeons can make mistakes. Even an old horse can stumble. Let's wait another two days. Perhaps it will arrive."
Feng Jin said indifferently, not paying much attention to the matter. She simply assumed that the carrier pigeon had encountered some problem on the way. Perhaps it had gotten lost. After all, even the most precise instruments could make mistakes, let alone an animal.
However, Chu Qing did not think so. Well-trained carrier pigeons would definitely not make mistakes. Moreover, the pigeon used to deliver the letter was Ling Mo Han's, so it would definitely not be late.
Either it was intercepted on the way, or Cai Qing encountered some trouble and could not send the letter in time.
Various possibilities played out in Chu Qing's mind. Of course, these were just her speculations. Without witnessing the event firsthand, she could not draw any conclusions.
"You don't need to worry too much. Ling Mo Han sent the most elite vanguard of the black armored army. Each of them can fight ten men. Even if something happens, news will be sent. Since everything is calm now, we have no need to worry."
Feng Jin had great faith in the prowess of the black armored army. Even if something truly happened, the men of the black armored army would find a way to send news.
The absence of news now was the best news. They just needed to wait patiently.
"This servant understands, Young Madam." Chu Qing nodded slightly in agreement, praying silently in her heart that nothing would happen.
After a pause, Chu Qing continued, "Young Madam, it's this time of day. Shall we go and pick up the young master?"
"Has the Old Master not sent the child back yet?"
Feng Jin asked, puzzled. The time she had left was agreed upon for only two hours. Now, four hours had passed, and the child had still not been returned.
Was he going back on his word again? Feng Jin truly wanted to cry. He was so old, and he was the head of the family, yet he still acted in such an untrustworthy manner.
"Chu Qing, go and ask Nanny Lin to bring the child back. Also, inform the Old Master that if he doesn't keep his word like this in the future, Da Bao and Er Bao will not be allowed to visit anymore."
After much thought, she decided it was best not to go herself. If she went, there might be an argument, which would be difficult to resolve.
She was not worried as long as Chu Qing went with the experienced Nanny Lin.
"This servant obeys and will go now."
After Chu Qing agreed, she went to call Nanny Sun to accompany her to the Old Master Ling's courtyard.
"Miss Chu Qing, the Old Master is old, and his temperament is like that of an old child. When you speak later, you must be respectful. If the Old Master says anything unpleasant, do not pay attention to it. Let this old servant speak to the Old Master."
Nanny Lin pulled at Chu Qing's sleeve as they approached the courtyard, her voice filled with gentleness.
"We servants receive our master's scolding and beatings as grace. How could we hold a grudge for it?嬷嬷, please rest assured."
She had seen all sorts of difficult and vicious masters in the Xiliang imperial palace. She had heard the harshest words and suffered the harshest punishments. She was long accustomed to them.
Instead, these days by the young Madam's side, she had truly felt that the young Madam did not treat them as servants, but as people, as individuals with dignity.