"Sister-in-law, I'll head back then. You should get some rest early too."
It was indeed not late. She hadn't seen her mother since returning to the manor, and she couldn't refuse further. Ling Wan left directly.
Feng Jin removed the heavy ornaments from her hair and played with the two children for a while before coaxing them to sleep. She was almost falling asleep herself when Ling Mohan finally returned.
Drowsily, she stood up, put on her outer cloak, and was about to go out when she ran into Ling Mohan, who was returning.
"Why are you back so late?" Feng Jin's first words to the man were direct. It was late at night, and he had spent so much time in the study. He was truly taking his time.
"There were a few official documents that needed to be reviewed, which delayed me. Aren't you back late as well?"
The man's words made Feng Jin's heart tighten slightly. She glanced at him with a slightly flustered gaze and nervously explained, "I actually got back much earlier. Didn't Ling Wan tell you?"
"The servant outside reported not seeing you and Ling Wan return together. Should we invite the stableman to ask for clarification?"
With the situation as it was, Feng Jin stopped pretending and stated directly, "Since you already know, why didn't you say so earlier? You deliberately waited to see me keep up the pretense."
Ling Mohan was accustomed to Feng Jin's habit of attacking first and then shifting blame. "Tell me, where did you go?"
"To Prince Jing's manor, to save lives and heal the injured."
"Chu Chenyi is about to die, and you went to save lives?"
"Not about to die, but close to being unable to continue his lineage. The meaning is roughly the same."
Feng Jin explained it as she understood it, referring to the matter of treating Chu Chenyi's infertility. If it couldn't be cured, it would indeed mean the end of his lineage.
Her words instantly captured the man's attention. Ling Mohan's gaze fell on Feng Jin as he asked with confusion, "How is he unable to continue his lineage? What do you mean?"
"Actually, it's..." Feng Jin pondered for a moment. It shouldn't matter if she told Ling Mohan these things. It would be good to let Ling Mohan mock Chu Chenyi properly, then he would see if he dared to be so arrogant.
"Hahaha... Hahaha..."
After hearing Feng Jin's explanation, Ling Mohan couldn't help but burst into laughter. He found it hard to believe that Chu Chenyi had such a hidden ailment. He decided he would use this to extort a handsome sum from Chu Chenyi for his silence.
"Keep your voice down. Don't scare the children!"
She had finally managed to coax the children to sleep. If Ling Mohan woke them up, it would be a real hassle.
Ling Mohan stifled his laughter. Feng Jin's news was too explosive. He really wanted to see Chu Chenyi's frustrated expression; it would surely be very amusing.
"Look at your schadenfreude. I instantly regret telling you about this."
Just by looking at Ling Mohan's expression, she knew his intentions. He was undoubtedly thinking of using this matter to mock Chu Chenyi.
Feng Jin immediately regretted telling Ling Mohan. Now, she could only silently pray for Chu Chenyi, hoping he would be mocked less severely.
"It's too late to regret it now. I already know about this matter."
The smile had not yet faded from Ling Mohan's lips. He truly couldn't imagine Chu Chenyi having such a problem. This news was indeed the most explosive thing he had heard in a long time.
He figured Chu Chenyi wouldn't want this matter to spread, and he intended to use this leverage well.
Feng Jin looked at Ling Mohan's gloating expression with a hint of speechlessness and asked her lingering doubt, "Are you really in league with Chu Chenyi? Why do you look like this right now..."
She really couldn't find any words to describe Ling Mohan's current expression. Anyone who didn't know the inside story would definitely think they had a deep hatred for each other, judging by his demeanor.
"That doesn't mean I can't mock him," Ling Mohan replied as if it were a matter of course. The losses he had suffered at Chu Chenyi's hands could finally be repaid with interest.
Suddenly, his mood improved to the point of being excellent. He even remembered to remind Feng Jin, "If there are such matters in the future, don't forget to inform me promptly."
Feng Jin rolled her eyes and silently thought to herself that if such matters arose again, she would never tell him.
Now, she could only pray that Chu Chenyi wouldn't find out that the information had leaked from her and come after her with a sword.
And Lin Yuwei... she was truly sorry to her this time. She hoped it wouldn't drag her into it.
After silently praying, Feng Jin immediately focused her gaze on Ling Mohan beside her. "If you sell me out, I'll make sure you can never perform your husbandly duties for the rest of your life, rendering you completely unable to continue your lineage."
Feng Jin's fierce threat had no effect on the man. Ling Mohan laughed instead of getting angry. With a sweep of his large hand, he pulled the enraged woman into his arms. He lowered his head, leaning close to her ear, and said in an extremely ambiguous tone, "If I can't perform my duties, wouldn't that mean my wife would have to live as a widow? For her future happiness, my wife shouldn't plot against her husband."
"You scoundrel..." Feng Jin's face immediately fell, and she landed a fierce slap on the man.
As Ling Mohan dodged, he firmly held Feng Jin in his arms. Finally, he lifted her up and placed her on the bed. His tall body immediately pressed down on her.
"No... the children are still here!"
Fearing that something unspeakable might happen, Feng Jin quickly reminded Ling Mohan of the presence of their two children.
Suppressing his inner urges, the man calmed down and finally got off Feng Jin. He glanced with slight annoyance at the sleeping children, thinking they were truly little rascals who only knew how to spoil his fun.
"From now on, don't let them sleep here anymore." It made him have nowhere to sleep. The bed in his room was cold and hard, nowhere near as comfortable as this one.
Seeing his space occupied by these two little ones, he had nowhere to air his grievances, and Ling Mohan felt stifled. He just wanted to grab these troublemakers and throw them out.
Feng Jin glanced at the sleeping children, her eyes filled with a gentle smile. "They insisted on sleeping here, and I couldn't possibly turn the children away. So, you'll have to endure it."
She pulled the man up, lifted the quilt, and lay down. "You'll have to make do elsewhere tonight. I'm going to sleep now."
The bed wasn't large, and with the children and herself barely fitting, it was impossible for Ling Mohan to join them. She had no choice but to reluctantly send him away.