Feng Jin slammed the post in her hand heavily onto the table. It was already her greatest tolerance that she didn't simply throw it on the floor.
Her foolish father was clearly out of his mind to send such an invitation. He wanted her to attend Sun Shi's funeral? Should she laugh or cry?
"You are, after all, still a daughter of the Feng family, and Sun Shi was your nominal stepmother. By all rights, you should indeed go."
The moment Ling Mo Han spoke, Feng Jin's gaze, full of hatred, immediately fell upon him.
"If you want to go, then go yourself! Even if you were to wear sackcloth and filial mourning, I wouldn't say a single word."
Feng Jin glared fiercely at Ling Mo Han. He truly spoke without considering her predicament.
With a mere opening and closing of his lips, he spoke so simply, yet he had pushed her into this situation. If he had the capability, he should go himself.
"I was merely suggesting. If you don't wish to go, naturally no one will force you. Then I shall decline this invitation on your behalf."
"Wait a moment. You asked Lu Shi to tell me there was something important. The thing you are referring to, could it be these matters?"
Ling Mo Han nodded faintly. "Naturally, it is about this. I couldn't make up my mind for a moment. If I hadn't made it sound serious, you wouldn't have come so quickly."
This matter truly concerned Feng Jin, and he found it difficult to make a decision. After much thought, he decided to let Feng Jin decide whether to go or not.
"Since you don't want to go, I will directly reply and refuse."
Saying this, Ling Mo Han picked up his brush to write. Just as he was about to put it down, Feng Jin quickly called out, "Wait!"
"What is it now?" Ling Mo Han put down the brush in his hand.
"I think it's best if I go. It can also help you gauge the situation."
Feng Jin reached out and took the post from the table. However, she couldn't go alone; appearing solitary would seem too lacking in presence. Yet, she also couldn't have Ling Mo Han accompany her.
After much thought, Feng Jin's gaze fell upon Ling Muzhu, who had been standing to the side without speaking for a long time, and she began to appraise him. Wasn't this the most suitable candidate?
"Eldest sister-in-law, why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?"
He reached up and rubbed his face, but found nothing. Being stared at by Feng Jin's gaze made his back shiver. Ling Muzhu couldn't help but shrink his neck.
"It's nothing much, just that you'll have to work hard and accompany me on a trip."
"Eldest sister-in-law, you don't mean you want me to go to the Feng manor with you, do you?"
Feng Jin nodded faintly and patted Ling Muzhu on the shoulder. She began to cajole him: "After much consideration, I've realized that only with you accompanying me would be most appropriate. Firstly, you are a young master of the Ling family, and it is fitting to represent the Ling family in offering condolences. Secondly, you have a very strong presence about you, making you very suitable to accompany me. This task is simply tailor-made for you."
If she hadn't been able to find a suitable person, and didn't want to go alone, she wouldn't have dragged Ling Muzhu along.
"Really, eldest sister-in-law? You think I'm so capable?" Ling Muzhu was completely swayed by Feng Jin's few words. After being constantly dismissed, to suddenly be affirmed, Ling Muzhu instantly felt lightheaded and bewildered.
Without a second thought, he immediately agreed, "Since eldest sister-in-law thinks so highly of me, please rest assured, eldest sister-in-law. I will definitely handle this matter well and will never disappoint you!"
Ling Muzhu, with great spirit, as if going to battle, took the lead and cleared the path for Feng Jin.
Amused by his foolish demeanor, Feng Jin still bit her lower lip tightly, preventing herself from laughing. She tried her best to maintain a calm demeanor as she followed behind Ling Muzhu and walked out.
Upon arriving at the Feng manor, Feng Jin slowly alighted from the carriage with Chu Qing's assistance.
White streamers hung high above the gates of the Feng manor, and the lanterns on both sides of the gate had been replaced with white ones. The servants at the entrance were all clad in mourning attire.
To go through the motions, Feng Jin had specifically changed into a plainer outfit before leaving. However, compared to the white that filled the courtyard, her attire seemed a bit too vibrant.
If it weren't for the desire to see if there was any useful information, she wouldn't have come back at all.
"Eldest sister-in-law, shall we go inside?"
Ling Muzhu spoke up, reminding her. It was nearing winter, and the cold wind was whistling at the entrance. He was wearing only a thin garment, and the wind made him feel cold all over. He couldn't help but shiver.
"You deserve it. Who told you to wear such thin clothes when you went out? It's good to feel the cold wind; it can temper your will. Your body is so weak; if you were to be an official in a harsh and cold region in the future, how would you endure?"
With such a frail body, unable to withstand a gust of wind, how could he forge a great career in the future?
Tempering himself now would be better than suffering and tempering himself later when he was out in the world.
"I understand, eldest sister-in-law. I will definitely practice archery and horsemanship diligently when we get back. I will never be lazy again."
He regretted it now. If only he hadn't been so lazy when practicing archery and horsemanship. Truly, it was a case of "a young man who doesn't apply himself grieves in old age." It was too late to regret it now; he could only practice diligently and hope it would still have some effect.
"The Ling family has been producing generals for generations. By rights, you should know some martial arts too. I didn't expect you to become a good-for-nothing scholar. No... you should be a dissolute young master."
She could still recall the things Ling Muzhu had done before. If he hadn't pulled back from the brink in time, who knew what kind of person that brat would have become.
If he had continued down that path, the next time they met, he would likely be in the Ministry of Justice's prison.
When his past misdeeds were brought up, Ling Muzhu lowered his head in shame. "Eldest sister-in-law, please don't mention my foolish actions from the past. I have already made mistakes and am correcting them. Please be merciful and let me off the hook. Don't bring it up again in the future."
He was already this old and had a sense of shame, you know. Constantly bringing up his absurd deeds from the past truly embarrassed him.
"We won't mention it, then. Alright, let's go inside."
People were coming and going at the entrance. Standing there the whole time made them too conspicuous. Feng Jin took the lead and walked inside. "Afterward, you'll follow closely behind me. Don't wander around, understand?"
"Understood, eldest sister-in-law."
Ling Muzhu nodded obediently and silently followed behind Feng Jin, being extremely low-key. He knew very well that he was just there to go through the motions.
"Jin'er, you've arrived?"
Feng Yuanping saw Feng Jin's figure and walked towards her with a smiling face. His joyful expression made it seem as though he hadn't just lost a wife, but had just taken a young and beautiful concubine.
He had originally intended to address her as Prime Minister Feng, but seeing the crowd, at the last moment, he changed his address and painstakingly uttered two words: "Father."