Zhang Ji clutched his stomach, his mouth open in a wild laugh. He didn't want to laugh, but he couldn't stop himself.
"You... haha... what did you, haha... put in here."
Lu Shi, watching him, suppressed a smile. "This is a good thing, specially concocted by our young madam. Not everyone gets to enjoy it. You just savor it slowly."
To be able to enjoy it was his good fortune. It would be worth it even if he died.
"Just watch him here. When he dies, throw him directly into the mass grave."
Zhang Ji had no further use. Once dead, he would be disposed of.
"Yes!"
After giving his instructions, Lu Shi went to report to Ling Mo Han.
"Young General, the medicine has been administered. Do we still need to interrogate him? Perhaps we could get some information."
After all the effort to capture him, it would be a waste for him to die without revealing anything.
"There's no need to interrogate further. Nothing can be gained from it. This man is a death warrior trained by the Western Liang royal family. Even if he dies under torture, he will never divulge any information."
He had caught sight of the black plum blossom tattoo on Zhang Ji's wrist earlier, and that was how he had known his true identity.
Initially, the Western Liang royal family had trained a group of people specifically to monitor court officials. These then evolved into death warriors dedicated to assassination missions.
This group, like Zhang Ji, would never give up until their objective was achieved, and they were prepared to die for their country.
Even torturing them to death would yield no useful information. Other countries, upon encountering Western Liang death warriors, would kill them outright.
"Western Liang death warrior!"
Lu Shi could not hide his astonishment. He had heard of the Western Liang death warriors before. They were devoid of humanity, like cold weapons, and would stop at nothing to achieve their goals.
Indeed, nothing could be extracted from such death warriors. Killing them with a single blow would be the most efficient. It was just a pity that so much effort and manpower had been wasted to save him; it turned out to be a rescue in vain.
"Kill him later. No one is to be left alive."
His voice was chilling, his eyes filled with a murderous intent. Ling Mo Han's killing spirit flared.
The Emperor of Western Liang was even sending death warriors into the Eastern Chu territory. This showed his intent to subvert the Eastern Chu, his ambition was utterly detestable.
This matter concerned the survival of the Eastern Chu and was by no means trivial. Upon returning to his room, Ling Mo Han documented the recent events in a memorial.
He ordered the dark guards of the Black Armored Army to deliver the memorial to His Majesty.
Another copy was written and secretly handed to Chu Chen Yi, instructing him to go to the capital as soon as possible to make preparations and to guard carefully against Chu Yan Xi.
...
After Feng Jin had lulled the two children to sleep, she went to find Ling Mo Han.
"You look so troubled. How long are you going to sit here? It's already this late, why aren't you resting?"
Feng Jin draped a cloak over Ling Mo Han's shoulders. She had waited for him in the room for a long time and, not seeing him return, had come to look for him.
"It's nothing."
Ling Mo Han replied faintly. He drew Feng Jin into his arms, resting his chin gently on her slender shoulder. His steady breath brushed against Feng Jin's neck.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?"
She had never seen Ling Mo Han like this before. Clearly, the current matter was beyond his capabilities, and she couldn't help but worry.
After a long pause, Ling Mo Han cleared his throat and looked at Feng Jin. "When we return to the capital, you will take the two children and stay elsewhere for a while. Come back after everything is resolved."
"You want us to leave?"
"It's not that we're leaving. It's just that the upcoming events are too difficult. It would be too dangerous for you and the children to remain in the capital. After much consideration, it's best to leave the capital for a period of time. I will find a safe and reliable place and arrange for heavy guards to ensure your and the children's safety. I will come to pick you and the children up after the matters in the capital are settled."
After much deliberation, he decided that it was best for Feng Jin and the children to temporarily leave the capital.
The capital was fraught with danger, and he was worried about the safety of Feng Jin and the children.
Moreover, if Feng Jin and the children were to fall into the hands of others and be used to threaten him, he would have no choice but to abandon everything and choose Feng Jin and the children.
Being able to ensure the safety of the three of them, he would gladly endure the condemnation of the world, even if it meant losing his life.
"I can protect myself and the children. I will never be a burden to you. As long as I can be with you, I am willing to die."
She did not want to be someone hiding in the background. She was willing to die with him rather than live alone in shame.
"I don't have absolute confidence in this matter either. Even for the children's sake, you must leave. Don't worry... I will definitely be alive to see you."
Ling Mo Han embraced Feng Jin, truly feeling her presence and cherishing this rare moment of peace and security.
The steady, powerful rhythm of his voice was in her ears. Leaning into his embrace, Feng Jin clutched his clothes tightly, her heart filled with trepidation.
"Ling Mo Han, if anything happens to you, I will never forgive you in this life. I will find another man and live happily ever after, making your son call someone else 'father'."
Knowing that this was what Ling Mo Han cared about most, Feng Jin did not hesitate to threaten him.
"How dare you!" the man exclaimed angrily, tightening his grip on her. "If you dare, I will not let you go even as a ghost."
The mere thought of Feng Jin standing with another man made his eyes burn and his heart fill with jealousy, wishing he could tear them apart.
"That depends on you. I mean what I say. If you die, I will definitely not wrong myself by living a widow for you. Life is short, so one must live for oneself."
Her mindset was quite open. For her, a wife remarrying after her husband's death was a perfectly normal thing. She did not feel that what she had just said was wrong in any way.
Did Ling Mo Han expect her to remain a widow for him? Should he even erect a chastity arch in her honor?
Feng Jin found the idea of a chastity arch ironic. Chastity arches were merely tools to restrict women, not something good.
"Throw all those messy thoughts out of your head! I'm not dead yet, and you're already thinking about remarriage. Do you really not take me seriously!"
If Feng Jin continued to speak, he would be angered to death. He figured that if he truly died before Feng Jin, she would probably take the children and remarry.
To avoid being cuckolded, he had to try his best to live.
Ling Mo Han reached out and firmly pinched Feng Jin's delicate chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. His voice was laced with threat. "If you dare to stray, I will break both your legs."