Sheng Xubai's health had been improving for a long time. What he was undergoing now was in the consolidation and recovery phase, and the medicine prescribed was for nourishing the body.
"Yes, sister-in-law," Ling Wan nodded in response.
After a pause, she asked with a hint of doubt, "Sister-in-law, why are you suddenly telling me these things today, and so late at night?"
What was wrong with discussing these matters at any other time, that it had to be in the dead of night?
Ling Wan couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, as if something was about to happen.
"It's nothing. I just suddenly remembered, and since I can't sleep anyway, I thought I'd talk to you about it."
Feng Jin, finding a casual excuse, said, "Now that I've told you everything, I'll be going back."
Worried that she might accidentally reveal something, Feng Jin spoke for a few more sentences and then quickly left.
As she reached the doorway, Feng Jin's steps suddenly halted. As if remembering something, she turned back and asked Ling Wan, "How have you and Sheng Xubai been getting along these past two days?"
"Getting along..." Ling Wan's words caught in her throat. "Young Master Sheng leaves after his acupuncture and medicine every day."
Ling Wan thought for a moment and replied in a calm tone. Her interactions with Sheng Xubai had always been very uneventful.
"Alright then." Feng Jin's tone was filled with unconcealed disappointment. These silent individuals, when would she see any progress? She couldn't be bothered anymore. She had done her part; as for any results, it would depend on their own fortunes.
"You two should get along well."
With that, Feng Jin turned and left.
"You're back. Where have you been?"
Ling Mohan was leaning against the bed. Seeing Feng Jin, he put down the scroll he was reading and raised his eyes to look at her.
"I went to instruct Ling Wan on a few matters. I'll be gone for more than ten days, and I was worried Ling Wan might poke Sheng Xubai, that sickly fellow, with her needles and injure him."
After finally pulling Sheng Xubai back from the brink of death, if Ling Wan were to injure him, it would be a loss outweighing the gain, a wasted effort.
"You're being reckless. Letting Ling Wan give Sheng Xubai acupuncture. If she were to actually kill him, and the Sheng family came to demand an explanation, I'd like to see how you would account for yourself."
Ling Mohan said helplessly. He had always disagreed with Ling Wan and Sheng Xubai's involvement. Just as he was trying to prevent it, Feng Jin directly opened the door to let the wolf in, clearly intending to oppose him.
She was audacious enough to let Ling Wan treat Sheng Xubai. If anything went wrong, he wanted to see how Feng Jin would clean up the mess.
"Stop your crow's talk. If you say less of those unlucky words, I'll be grateful. Sheng Xubai is going to be your brother-in-law in the future. You should at least be polite when you see him."
She didn't expect him to greet him with a smile, but it would be much better than greeting him with a gloomy face full of murderous intent.
Take yesterday, for example. Sheng Xubai had come to visit. Ling Mohan was supposed to welcome him, and he had even brought gifts. But the man's face remained gloomy from beginning to end, not showing even a sliver of a smile.
As Sheng Xubai was leaving, he specifically asked her if he had offended Ling Mohan in some way, even saying he wouldn't come again.
It was fortunate that she had a glib tongue and smoothed things over, which gave Sheng Xubai the confidence to visit often in the future.
"I'm always like this. If he doesn't like it, he doesn't have to come. No one in my Ling family is begging him to come."
He didn't want to see Sheng Xubai. That weak, listless appearance. He was clearly a pretty boy, constantly lingering in front of Feng Jin and Ling Wan for no reason. He didn't know what kind of spell he had cast on them, that they all spoke for him.
And all day long, like a woman, he gossiped and sowed discord behind people's backs. He, a grown man, could actually do such things and wasn't afraid of being laughed at.
From now on, he hoped Sheng Xubai would never appear in the Ling mansion again, to disappear from his sight forever. Then he could finally have some peace.
"You..." Feng Jin pointed at the man's nose, instantly rendered speechless with anger. A fire burned in her chest. Why had he become so petty?
Feng Jin snorted coldly, "I think you're just jealous because Sheng Xubai is better looking than you, and you can't stand it when others are better than you!"
Ling Mohan couldn't help but let out a cold laugh, disdainfully saying, "With his weakling appearance, why would I be jealous of him? If we're talking about looks, I'm clearly superior to him. Are your eyes faulty!"
He truly suspected that Feng Jin's eyes needed some treatment. Anyone with discerning eyes could see who was better looking.
He immediately concluded that Sheng Xubai was again stirring up trouble. Using Feng Jin's words, Sheng Xubai was a male version of a white lotus.
"I actually think Sheng Xubai is better looking than you."
Ling Mohan's handsomeness was rugged, while Sheng Xubai's was more towards a gentle handsomeness. But when it came down to who was better looking, her personal opinion was that Sheng Xubai had the edge.
"Is that so?" The man's tone carried a hint of threat, but Feng Jin didn't seem to notice it at all. Still lost in thought about Sheng Xubai's appearance, she merely nodded mechanically in agreement.
A second later, Feng Jin's scream, like that of a pig being slaughtered, echoed through the room.
"Ah... Ling Mohan, you bastard, put me down! You damn it..."
Suddenly hoisted onto his shoulder, Feng Jin couldn't help but let out a sharp cry!
The man seemed not to hear her. With a grim expression, he threw Feng Jin onto the bed, gripped her fair wrist, and pinned it above her head. His sinister eyes scanned Feng Jin from head to toe.
Feng Jin felt a chill run down her spine under his gaze, and she couldn't help but swallow. "What... what are you doing? I'm warning you, rape is... is illegal!"
Ling Mohan couldn't help but laugh, but his laughter was terrifying. Feng Jin's delicate body couldn't help but shiver.
"You and I are husband and wife. Anything I do to you is merely fulfilling my marital obligations."
The man's thin lips uttered these words without emotion, while his hands became restless. They traced from her forehead, the tip of her nose, her chin, and her neck, moving downwards until they rested on her waist. With a slight tug, the sash at her waist was untied.
A sudden chill on her chest pulled Feng Jin back from her wandering thoughts, but it was already too late. The man's kisses rained down indiscriminately on her lips.
Feng Jin was kissed until she was dazed, her consciousness gradually blurring. Her mind went blank, and the arms she had raised to shield her chest slowly fell limply.
When Feng Jin woke up the next day, her entire body felt like it had fallen apart. Even moving her arms brought on a dull ache.
The burning sensation in her throat made it painful to swallow even a sip of water.
Feng Jin slowly sat up, reached for a cup of water, and quickly gulped it down. After several cups of water, her throat finally felt a bit better.