Feng Jin returned to her room, still somewhat shaken. It had been a close call; just a moment more and the arrow would have pierced her body.
"Young Madam, are you alright?"
Chu Qing, seeing Feng Jin's pale face, hurried forward to inquire.
"I'm fine, I just didn't react in time. I'm fine... fine..."
Feng Jin spoke these words partly to comfort Cai Qing and partly to reassure herself.
"The children!" Feng Jin had just sat down when she abruptly stood up again. The two children were in the next room, and Feng Jin's heart immediately tensed. She hurried to the door, and just as she reached it, the tightly shut door opened from the outside, and Ling Mo Han's figure appeared.
The moment Feng Jin saw Ling Mo Han, her agitated heart instantly calmed, and she let out a deep sigh of relief.
"How are you? Are you hurt?"
Her voice was filled with concern as she looked at Ling Mo Han, examining him from head to toe.
"I'm fine."
"The children, Da Bao and Er Bao are still next door. I'll go check on them."
Feng Jin tightly gripped Ling Mo Han's wrist, her eyes filled with worry, and was about to head out.
"I've already sent people to guard Da Bao and Er Bao. Nothing will happen to them. This time, their target was you."
Ling Mo Han couldn't help but feel anxious, his tone of voice becoming a bit more serious.
"I... I still can't rest easy. Just let me go and guard them."
A mother's heart is connected to her child's. How could she possibly put her mind at ease at this moment?
"Your going there will only bring them danger. You staying here peacefully is the best choice for them."
Feng Jin's heart felt as if it had been sharply pricked, causing her great pain. As a mother, she was bringing danger to her own children. It was truly ironic.
"Stay here and remain calm. The children will be fine."
Ling Mo Han said in a deep voice. Only after calming Feng Jin did he leave.
"Young Madam, the two young masters are blessed with good fortune; they will surely be alright."
Chu Qing quietly stayed by Feng Jin's side, silently praying that they would all safely overcome this ordeal.
Feng Jin sat by the chair all night, her gaze fixed on the door, anxiously awaiting Ling Mo Han's return with good news.
It wasn't until the next morning, when Ling Mo Han still hadn't returned, that Feng Jin could no longer sit still. She hurried to the door.
"Young Madam, the Young General said you are not to go out."
Chu Qing became anxious and quickly stepped in front of Feng Jin. The situation outside was still unclear, and rushing out now would surely put them in danger.
"Chu Qing, don't stop me. I'll feel at ease only if I go and see."
Staying in the room was like being tortured alive.
"Young Madam, you cannot go out."
Chu Qing firmly blocked the door, refusing to let Feng Jin leave.
"Chu Qing, move aside. Don't force me to use force on you!"
Feng Jin said with some helplessness. At this moment, her heart was burning with anxiety, feeling as if she were being roasted alive on a hot pan.
"If you wish to leave today, you must kill me first."
Chu Qing was determined to stop Feng Jin from leaving the room and would not yield an inch.
"You... you really are stubborn!"
Feng Jin was truly exasperated by Chu Qing's stubbornness. No matter what she said, it was futile.
With the door tightly blocked by Chu Qing, she could only anxiously pace within the room.
The two of them were at a stalemate for nearly half an hour. Feng Jin felt her lips were about to wear thin, yet Chu Qing showed no signs of giving in.
"Young Madam, please stop talking. I will not yield today, no matter what."
Chu Qing's expression was firm as she guarded the door, showing no intention of retreating.
"You really are..."
Feng Jin's throat felt uncomfortably dry. She had spoken with Chu Qing for so long without achieving anything, and the hope of leaving through the main door seemed slim.
She took a sip of water to moisten her throat, and only then did she feel a little better.
After a while, a knock echoed from outside the door. Both women in the room instantly became alert.
"Who's outside!" Chu Qing shouted, raising her voice.
"It's me."
A familiar voice entered. Feng Jin immediately recognized it: "It's Cai Qing."
Just as Chu Qing was about to open the door, Feng Jin stopped her.
"What's in the last layer of the cosmetic box?"
Feng Jin asked with extreme caution. At such a time, it was best to be vigilant.
"It's itching powder, and laughing medicine..."
Only after hearing these responses did Feng Jin confirm that the person outside was Cai Qing, and she then instructed Chu Qing to open the door.
"Young Madam, why did you ask me those questions just now?"
Cai Qing was a little stunned when she heard the question. Fortunately, she knew what was inside the box. If she hadn't been able to answer, she wouldn't have been able to enter.
"It's because the Young Madam was attacked last night, so we had to be careful..."
Chu Qing recounted the events of the previous night to Cai Qing, explaining the reason for her caution.
"Attacked!" Cai Qing exclaimed, her eyes widening. She quickly asked about Feng Jin's condition: "Young Madam, were you injured?"
"I'm fine. Have you found any clues about the matter I asked you to investigate?"
It had been an entire night; there should be some results.
"Servant searched and found that after Yu Rong assassinated Granny Sun, she was taken away by a group of imperial guards who rushed in. Yu Rong's body was later disposed of..."
To verify if the person was indeed Yu Rong, she had bribed someone to take a look. Seeing the miserable state of Yu Rong's corpse, she found it too gruesome. Her entire body was covered in scars, not a single piece of intact skin. The left side of her face was scalded by a branding iron, her right eye socket was empty, and three of her ten fingers were missing.
Even recalling the sight made her feel terrified. How could anyone be so perverted to inflict such cruel torture?
"They acted swiftly."
Feng Jin wondered if the hypnotic effect on Yu Rong had worn off before her death and if she had revealed anything.
"Do you know who interrogated Yu Rong?"
"It was too strict; your servant couldn't find out."
Even this much information was obtained with great effort.
"Was anyone outside when you arrived?"
"Your servant didn't see anyone."
Where had that person gone? Feng Jin couldn't help but worry. Were the two children next door being guarded?
She grew more restless and abruptly stood up, about to go out.
"Young Madam, you cannot go out!"
Chu Qing shouted loudly and hurried to stop Feng Jin, but it was ultimately too late. Feng Jin had already walked out.
"Young Madam, I beg you, please go back!"