This moment was too much to endure. Feng Jin stood up and yawned several times, her eyelids constantly battling each other. Dragging her weary body, she walked towards the bed.
Ling Mo Han followed her closely, attending to Feng Jin's every need. He thoughtfully lifted the bedding on the bed and, as Feng Jin sat down, he artfully removed her shoes. In short, everything was taken care of with great precision.
His care was boundless, but the more attentive he was, the more uneasy Feng Jin felt. "Stop hovering behind me. I can do these things myself. I don't need your help. You should go to bed quickly," she said.
At this moment, every word she spoke to Ling Mo Han was a struggle to stay awake. After finishing, she collapsed onto the bed, her eyelids immediately shutting down as soon as she touched the mattress.
"I'm just..." Before Ling Mo Han could finish speaking, he heard Feng Jin's steady breathing. He couldn't help but crane his neck to glance at her. Seeing that Feng Jin had already fallen asleep, he murmured to himself, "She falls asleep so quickly. I knew I should have come back a little later. She probably would have been asleep by then."
He figured that if he had returned a little later, Feng Jin would have succumbed to sleep without any fuss.
Ling Mo Han gazed at Feng Jin's sleeping face, a faint smile appearing on his lips that lingered for a long time. He tucked the covers around Feng Jin, carefully lay down beside her, drew her soft body into his embrace, and drifted off to sleep with great contentment.
The next day, when Feng Jin woke up, Ling Mo Han was long gone. Even the bedding was cool to the touch, indicating that Ling Mo Han had left a considerable time ago.
After lying in bed for a while to recover, Feng Jin slowly got up. She casually tied up her long hair, inserting a simple hairpin.
In recent days, she had learned some basic hairstyles, and simple, everyday styles were now within her capabilities, at least enough to appear presentable in public.
Feng Jin looked at herself in the bronze mirror. After making a few minor adjustments, she nodded with satisfaction. It was passable, and then she got up to leave.
As she walked to the front hall, Da Bao and Er Bao were sitting obediently, each holding a bowl and eating heartily.
"Young Madam, you're awake. I'll get you some food right away."
Cai Qing, seeing Feng Jin appear, quickly pulled out a chair and attended to Feng Jin as she sat down, then hurried to get a bowl of congee.
"Young Madam, you've woken up early today. I was just about to keep the congee warm on the stove, and you're already up."
Feng Jin took a sip of the white congee and her gaze fell on Cai Qing. She looked around but couldn't see Chu Qing's figure. "Where is Chu Qing? Why isn't she here today?"
"Chu Qing went to the garden to pick tangerines," Cai Qing replied casually. Chu Qing had been eyeing the tangerines for the past few days. As soon as they ripened, she couldn't wait and rushed over early this morning.
She hadn't returned yet, and it seemed unlikely she'd be back anytime soon until she had a basket full.
"She's truly gluttonous. But eating so many tangerines in winter is bad for the stomach. Make some warming soup for Chu Qing later. Don't let her eat too many tangerines and then get an upset stomach."
Eating so many cold foods in the dead of winter and not getting a stomach ache would be strange. Feng Jin quickly instructed Cai Qing to make some warming soup, fearing that it would be needed by more than one person later.
"Yes, Young Madam. I'll do it right away."
Cai Qing nodded in agreement. She also quite fancied some tangerines, but she wondered why Chu Qing hadn't returned yet.
"Mother, I want tangerines... tangerines..."
Da Bao tugged at Feng Jin's sleeve, his round eyes full of craving for food, and he even swallowed.
Feng Jin was amused by his greedy look and playfully tapped Da Bao's forehead. "You little glutton, you're about to drool."
"Wait until Sister Chu Qing brings back the tangerines, then you can eat them. But only a little. Eat too much and your little stomach will hurt."
"Okay... Mother..."
His wish granted, Da Bao nodded obediently. Er Bao, however, gave him a look of disdain, "Glutton..."
Da Bao glared fiercely at Er Bao, his eyes full of anger and dissatisfaction.
"Alright, the two of you. You're so young, yet you're already fighting. If you keep this up, you won't get any snacks."
As soon as Feng Jin said this, the two little rascals quieted down and obediently started eating their rice.
Not long after, Chu Qing returned, carrying a full basket of tangerines. "Young Madam, this year's tangerines are growing beautifully. They are large and very sweet. Young Madam, please try one."
Chu Qing placed a peeled tangerine in front of Feng Jin. She had eaten several on her way back; they were truly sweet.
Feng Jin tasted one. It was indeed very sweet, but it was a bit cold, making her gums ache slightly. It seemed she wasn't meant to enjoy such a delicacy.
"Did the trees bear much fruit?"
"A lot! I picked the best ones. There are still many on the trees that haven't ripened yet."
Feng Jin glanced at the tangerines in the basket and said calmly, "Go and pick some good tangerines later and send them to the Old Master."
After all, good things should be sent to the elders first. Although there was some unpleasantness yesterday, basic courtesy must still be observed.
"Young Madam, sending these to the Old Master... I'm just worried if the Old Master will..."
Cai Qing was aware of what had happened last night and was still concerned that the Old Master might still be angry and throw them out along with the tangerines.
"That won't be a problem. Let Er Bao accompany you."
Feng Jin's gaze fell on the calm Er Bao. She lowered her head and said to him, "Er Bao, you'll go with Sister Cai Qing to deliver the tangerines to Great Grandfather. But after you deliver them, you must come back with Sister Cai Qing. When you return, Mother will take you and your brother out to play, alright?"
"Okay... Mother." Er Bao nodded obediently.
"Mother... I want to go... I want to go..." Da Bao dissatisfiedly tugged at Feng Jin's sleeve, pointing at the basket of tangerines and Er Bao, frantically expressing his desires.
Why should Er Bao go alone? He wanted to go too.
"No!"
Feng Jin refused Da Bao's request without thinking, fearing that if he went along, he might not be able to return.