"I..."
Chu Chenyi was instantly speechless, not knowing how to refute.
It was simply because what Ling Mohan said was so reasonable, but if Lin Yuwei hadn't insisted on not going, he wouldn't have gone to join the fun.
The room was filled with women, and he was the only man, making him feel like an outsider. He neither spoke nor stayed silent, just sat there foolishly. It wasn't until someone left that he found an excuse to leave with them.
"Don't make fun of me about this. If Lin Yuwei hadn't refused to go, I would never have gone."
It was Lin Yuwei's task, and since she suddenly played coy and refused to go, he was forced to step up.
If no one from Prince Jing's mansion was present, and the Empress found an excuse, it would be another hassle. The matters in Xiliang already had him swamped, and he had no time to deal with the Empress.
"I see you're quite happy, with no sign of being forced at all."
After carefully observing Chu Chenyi, Ling Mohan saw no trace of reluctance on him. On the contrary, he looked quite happy.
"Nonsense, I was extremely unwilling."
Chu Chenyi excellently concealed his embarrassment. He would never admit how much he enjoyed watching then. He grew up in the palace and had witnessed many struggles between women, but it was rare to see someone as fierce as Feng Ruoyan.
However, what piqued his curiosity the most was not Feng Ruoyan, but the silent Liu Menghan. The fact that she could tolerate a concubine's antics and still smile while enduring everything showed how deep her schemes ran.
...
"Sister Feng Jin, have some tea first. This tea is this year's tribute, Longjing from before the rain. Taste it and tell me what you think."
Feng Jin lowered her eyelids, glanced at the teacup, then at Lin Yuwei. Resting her chin on her hand, she looked at Lin Yuwei with interest: "Just say what you want to say directly. There's no need to beat around the bush, nor to try and bribe me with things."
Her hidden intentions exposed, Lin Yuwei smiled sheepishly. Holding Feng Jin's hand with a hint of shyness, she asked, "Actually... actually... I wanted to ask... ask about praying for children..."
*Cough... cough...*
The tea in her mouth suddenly choked in her throat. Feng Jin coughed violently and only slowly recovered after a while.
"I'm not the Goddess of Childbirth. I truly can't help with praying for children. Otherwise, shall I accompany you to worship the Goddess of Childbirth?"
She really couldn't decide matters of childbirth, but she did know of a temple where prayers for children were most effective. She could take Lin Yuwei to try, it might be of some use.
Lin Yuwei hurriedly shook her head and explained again: "Sister Feng Jin, that's not what I meant. I want you to examine my body to see if... if..."
She found the remaining words too difficult to utter. She was too embarrassed to say such things.
It was also because when she returned to the Marquis's mansion last time, her mother suddenly inquired about her offspring, which made her worry. Could it really be a problem with her body?
Matters of a woman's privacy, and being childless for a long time, were grounds for divorce. Moreover, she was married into royalty, and offspring were even more important. She couldn't possibly consult an imperial physician about this matter, so she could only ask Feng Jin.
"You suspect it's your body's problem that's why you haven't had any offspring?"
Lin Yuwei nodded in embarrassment and quickly said, "Sister Feng Jin, please just examine me and see if it's my body's issue that's causing the lack of offspring?"
"Matters of offspring are decided by both husband and wife, it's never solely a woman's problem. I think you should ask Prince Jing to examine you together and see whose problem it is."
"You mean to call Prince Jing here, and both of us get examined!"
Lin Yuwei asked again in surprise. It was truly the first time she had heard Feng Jin say something like this. Throughout history, wasn't giving birth always the woman's responsibility? How could it be that men also had a responsibility now?
If such words, which went against tradition, were to spread, she would surely be accused of treason. Lin Yuwei was so scared that she dared not think further, and said with worry: "Sister Feng Jin, you can say such things to me, but please don't say them in front of outsiders. Otherwise, you'll be gossiped about and cause big trouble."
"This is the truth. Having children is a responsibility shared by both men and women. Have you ever seen a woman give birth all by herself? And whether it's a boy or a girl is entirely determined by the man, and has nothing to do with the woman!"
She truly couldn't accept the ancient concept of male superiority and the ignorant belief that childbirth was solely the woman's responsibility.
"But... but isn't it always the woman's matter since ancient times?"
Lin Yuwei had never heard such words before and couldn't accept them for a moment. She somewhat believed what Feng Jin said, but years of ingrained beliefs kept telling her it was wrong. She was in a dilemma.
"I don't expect you to believe me, but all I want to tell you is that you can never have a child by yourself."
Lin Yuwei lowered her head and remained silent for a long time. After a pause, she looked up at Feng Jin and said, "Then Sister Feng Jin, please examine me first to see if it's my body's problem."
Unable to resist Lin Yuwei's persistence, Feng Jin reluctantly agreed: "Extend your hand, let me examine you first."
Feng Jin placed her hand on Lin Yuwei's wrist, her eyes darting slightly. After a moment, she said, "There are no problems at all. You are very healthy."
"If I have no problems, then... then does Chu Chenyi have the problem..."
This thought suddenly crossed Lin Yuwei's mind, and she blurted it out subconsciously. After saying it, she realized what foolishness she had uttered and quickly covered her mouth.
She looked around, and after confirming there was no one else, she slowly relaxed, patting her startled heart: "Fortunately... fortunately, no one heard."
"Heard what?"
Chu Chenyi's voice asking the question sounded from behind Lin Yuwei. Her relaxed nerves tensed up again. Lin Yuwei felt a sudden chill down her back, her mind racing to figure out how to deceive him.
"What were you two talking about?"
Seeing that neither of them answered, Chu Chenyi patiently asked again.