Lin Huaijin answered without a trace of hesitation.
Meanwhile, in the Prince of Ding's manor, Xiao Tingyi was listening to Yang Zhao's arrangements for Jinling City.
"The twelfth of May is the day the Chi family and the Zhu family are to be wed. If Your Highness leaves now, you can still make it. But if you wait until the third young lady's coming-of-age ceremony, it might be too rushed."
Xiao Tingyi didn't even lift his eyes. He directly ordered, "Let's leave first. Have Xu Lin impersonate me. As for you, you'll go with him to avoid any slip-ups."
"Your Highness..."
Without even thinking, it was clear the Prince wanted to stay to accompany the third young lady to her coming-of-age ceremony. But he was currently reported to be gravely ill and unable to get out of bed. Even if he stayed in the Eastern Capital, he wouldn't be able to see her. What was the point?
"Carry out the order."
"Yes."
Even if Yang Zhao was unwilling in his heart, he couldn't refute it at this moment.
Once the Prince made up his mind, it wasn't just eight horses, but eighty that couldn't pull him back.
At this moment, the Feng family was bustling with preparations for Feng Jinyao's coming-of-age ceremony. Everyone was busy as bees, but their faces were filled with joy.
After Madam Feng learned of Feng Jinyao's wishes, she directly refused the eldest maternal aunt Bai. Although she was worried about Feng Jinyao's future, what mattered most right now was her happiness.
At first, she felt a little embarrassed, but to her surprise, the eldest maternal aunt Bai was overjoyed. "Why else would it be a match made in heaven? A couple of days ago, my sister-in-law sent word that my second nephew would be accompanying Prince Ding to Jiangnan for medical treatment. I thought it wasn't appropriate to discuss marriage arrangements at such a time. Who knew Ah Yao would also be going? It's a good thing! A good thing! This way, perhaps the children will have a chance to fall for each other in Jiangnan."
Madam Feng was also a little surprised. She knew about Prince Ding's serious illness, after all, the imperial decree was posted all over the city. But she didn't know that Prince Ding was going to Jiangnan for treatment, nor that the Lin family's son would be accompanying him. Could it truly be as the eldest maternal aunt Bai said, that their destinies were intertwined? For a moment, she didn't know how to proceed. If her eldest daughter-in-law, Madam Wen, wasn't about to give birth, she would have definitely gone along. However, the situation was special, and she couldn't leave the Eastern Capital at this time. She could only find Feng Er and repeatedly instruct him.
Feng Er was also fiercely protective of his sister. Upon hearing about the Lin family's younger son, he became quite agitated. "Mother, don't worry. As long as I'm here, those scoundrels won't dare to lay a hand on Ah Yao!"
Madam Feng remained silent. The good second son of the Lin family had been called a scoundrel by him, and there was nothing she could say to refute it. However, it was good this way. With Ah Yao by her side, she could feel somewhat at ease.
Just as the Feng family was happily making preparations, Concubine Linlang, who had been imprisoned for many days, unexpectedly received a visitor.
"Linlang, Linlang..."
In the prison, Concubine Linlang was covered in filth. Her eyes, once sharp, now held a hint of weariness. When she first arrived, she was still arrogant and delusional. Now, she was like a withered branch, waiting for death to descend. Her case had not caused as much sensation as the Wen family's, so she could only wait for execution in the autumn. Thus, in prison, she was merely waiting to die. After months of hardship, she had aged considerably.
The person standing outside the cell nearly didn't recognize her when Linlang looked up. If it weren't for her facial features, one might have mistaken her for a madwoman.
"Brother? Brother..."
Linlang, as if grasping a lifeline before death, suddenly sat up and looked at the man. He wasn't tall and had a somewhat shifty look, but upon closer inspection, his features bore a resemblance to Linlang's. As Linlang rushed forward, trying to reach for him through the bars, he caught a foul odor. In the prison, there were no facilities for washing. After rolling in the straw for so many days, her hair was likely infested with lice, let alone cleanliness. He felt a sense of disgust, but he had an important task today.
"Brother, why did you take so long? The Feng family has been bullying me to death. Quick, take me out! I don't want to wait here to die!" As she spoke, she reached out to grab her brother's sleeve, but he subtly dodged her grasp.
"I know you've had a hard time these past few days, so I specifically brought some food. Eat some first, and then we'll talk after you've filled your stomach." With that, he began to pass the items from the food box one by one. Soft, white steamed buns, fragrant roasted chicken, and some stir-fried tripe that she used to love. Linlang even forgot about chopsticks and directly grabbed the food with her hands, stuffing it into her mouth. The food in the prison was not only devoid of oil but also had a stale smell. At first, she couldn't stomach it and would rather starve than eat. But the jailers wouldn't indulge her. After three days of hunger, she would have eagerly snatched even swill, let alone stale rice. Therefore, when she could finally eat such a meal, she naturally wouldn't hold back.
The elder brother of the Luo family, standing outside the cell, couldn't help but resent the Feng family upon seeing his sister's miserable state. After all, his sister had borne them a son. To have fallen to such a state was truly a family devoid of compassion and righteousness! Thus, while Linlang was frantically devouring the food, he spoke in a low voice.
"Sister, do you harbor any resentment?" Linlang was too busy stuffing her mouth to speak.
However, the elder brother of the Luo family continued, undeterred, "I know you are resentful, but you've been so worn down by the Feng family that you're timid. Don't be afraid. Now, I also have powerful backing. If you wish, I will help you exact revenge for this humiliation."
Upon hearing this, Linlang looked up at him. "How will you help me get revenge?"
"I heard that the eldest madam of the Feng family is close to giving birth, and it's likely a perilous time. If some measures can be taken during that period, it's possible that the Feng family's main branch will suffer a tragic case of one corpse and two lives. Then, if we eliminate that detestable Feng Jinxu and his legitimate son, wouldn't our Yunli be the sole bloodline of the main branch? At that time, wouldn't they have to rescue you, his birth mother?"
The elder brother of the Luo family's words ignited a wicked thought in Linlang. In the past, she only thought about how to make Madam Wen and Yunhe disappear, so that she could secure her position in the main courtyard. She still had some genuine affection for Feng Jinxu. But his actions during this period had long since eroded that affection, leaving only boundless hatred. Therefore, she stared intently at her brother and asked, "Are you sure? That black-hearted Yunli, I heard he has already recognized a thief as his mother. I've been imprisoned for so long, and he's never once come to see me."
Mentioning her son made her extremely angry. Not only was he unpromising, but he had also sided with Madam Wen and lived under her. She had raised him for all these years in vain!