Only after learning that Jin Feng already had a complete plan did Madam Zhu Chen finally feel at ease.
It was already dinner time, so Jin Feng invited the mother and daughter to stay and have dinner together at the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce.
During the meal, Madam Zhu Chen reminded him and added some more details. Jin Feng noted everything down carefully.
Jin Feng had already valued Zhu Linglong highly before this. He had specially assigned two female bodyguards to her, responsible for her security.
Through today’s conversation, Jin Feng also realised how important Madam Zhu Chen was.
For the safety of the mother and daughter, Jin Feng transferred an entire squad of bodyguards to protect their family.
This made Madam Zhu Chen extremely moved. She thanked him profusely with Zhu Linglong before they left.
After seeing the mother and daughter off, Jin Feng did not rest either. The documents Ruan Tongjie had left for him were even more than those from West River Bay. Moreover, the disaster relief matters were extremely complicated. Jin Feng stayed busy until midnight before he finally finished dealing with everything.
Early the next morning, as soon as the city gates opened, he led people out of the city again.
Zhou Youda had been helping Jin Feng build factories all along. But recently, due to interference from eunuchs and powerful nobles, all construction sites had been forced to stop. Many matters required Jin Feng’s decision.
Jin Feng had not been gone from the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce outpost for long when Qing Mulan arrived with people to find him.
Unfortunately, by then Jin Feng had already left the city. She was one step too late again.
Jin Feng stayed busy outside the city until the city gates were about to close before he returned.
“Sir, Miss Qing came looking for you this morning,” Ruan Tongjie said. “Miss Qing said that Her Highness has fallen ill.”
“Fallen ill?” Jin Feng frowned slightly. “Is it serious?”
“It seems quite serious. Miss Qing said Her Highness was unconscious until midnight before she woke up.”
“Unconscious?” Jin Feng was stunned. “Da Liu, prepare the horse!”
Actually, when the Ninth Princess had left the small courtyard yesterday, Jin Feng had already noticed that her expression seemed off.
But at the time, he thought she was simply too exhausted from days of rushing about, so he did not pay much attention. He certainly had not expected her to fall into such a severe coma.
There was no time to go inside. As soon as Da Liu brought the horse over, Jin Feng mounted it and galloped straight towards the Qing residence.
The gatekeeper at the Qing residence had long recognised Jin Feng. While sending someone to report inside, he led Jin Feng into the reception hall.
“This old servant has already sent someone to inform the master. Please wait a moment, Mr Jin.”
The inner courtyard of the Qing residence not only housed Qing Mulan and the Ninth Princess, but also Qing Xinyao’s wives, concubines, and children. Jin Feng could not simply barge in, so he had to patiently wait.
Fortunately, he did not have to wait long. Qing Xinyao soon arrived.
“Lord Qing, Her Highness has fallen ill?”
“Yes. Mulan said that yesterday, after Her Highness left your courtyard, she fell unconscious. She only woke up at midnight.”
Qing Xinyao continued, “But sir, there is no need to worry. I have already called the best physicians in West Sichuan to examine her. Her Highness is not in serious danger. She will recover after resting for a while.”
“Would it be convenient for you to take me to see her?” Jin Feng asked.
It was already late. As an unrelated man, it was not really appropriate for him to enter the inner courtyard of the Qing residence.
But at this moment, Jin Feng could not be bothered with such things.
Not only because of the Ninth Princess’s importance, but also because she held an unusually special place in his heart.
“Please, sir.” After thinking for a moment, Qing Xinyao made a polite gesture to invite him.
“This ci poem does not strictly follow the rules of metre, but it is easy to understand, concise, and thought-provoking. It can be considered an excellent work. It is exactly Mr Jin’s usual style…”
In the room, the Ninth Princess was leaning against the pillow, discussing with Qing Mulan the poem Jin Feng had composed at Lushui Villa.
When she saw Jin Feng come in, she helplessly glanced at Qing Mulan. “Sister Mulan, did I not tell you not to inform sir?”
“You fell ill. Should I not tell him?”
Qing Mulan glared at Jin Feng. “Wuyang has been sick for more than a day. Why are you only coming now?”
Although more than a day had passed and she was no longer so angry, she still harboured some resentment towards Jin Feng.
Qin’er also did not give Jin Feng a friendly look.
“I went out today. I only found out when I came back.”
Jin Feng’s mind was entirely on the Ninth Princess. He could not be bothered to deal with Qing Mulan and Qin’er. He walked to the bedside and asked, “How does Your Highness feel now?”
“Much better.” The Ninth Princess shook her head. “It was never anything serious to begin with. Sister Mulan is just the type who panics easily. She made sir rush over so late at night.”
“At a time like this, there is no need for such polite words.”
Jin Feng said, “Did the physician say what caused the illness?”
“The physician said Wuyang had been overworked for days and recently burdened with too many worries, so she collapsed from exhaustion.”
Qing Mulan said with some annoyance, “You really do not let people have peace of mind.”
“Qing Mulan, earlier you were speaking with hidden barbs. I ignored you, yet you still push your luck!”
Jin Feng had been tired all day. When he returned, he learned that the Ninth Princess had fallen ill. His mood was already irritable. Now Qing Mulan was speaking in such a sarcastic tone again. Jin Feng had no patience left to indulge her.
“If you have something to say, say it directly. Stop beating around the bush!”
“You… you are scolding me!”
Qing Mulan was furious. She wanted to explode, but seeing so many people still present, she held it back. She pushed Qing Xinyao. “Brother, please step out for a moment!”
When Qing Xinyao heard this, his eyes narrowed slightly.
Now Jin Feng, the Ninth Princess, and the Qing family could be said to be allies in both attack and defence. Qing Mulan asking him to leave clearly meant this was not official business, but private matters.
With Qing Xinyao’s intelligence, when Qing Mulan said this, she was basically telling him outright that this was a private matter between Jin Feng and the Ninth Princess.
But Qing Xinyao said nothing more. He nodded, took the steward, and left.
Qing Mulan then drove out all the maids and older servants. Finally, she had Qin’er and Zhu’er guard the door, while Amei went to the rooftop to prevent anyone from approaching.
When the Ninth Princess saw this setup, she immediately knew what Qing Mulan was about to say.
Before Qing Mulan could speak, the Ninth Princess took the initiative. “Mulan, I know what you want to say. I can tell you clearly: sir and I are completely innocent.”
“Completely… innocent?”
Qing Mulan was caught off guard. “Then why did Qin’er tell me that you and sir stayed in the small grove for nearly an hour? What were you doing in there?”
“In this freezing weather, our fingers were about to freeze off. What else could sir and I possibly do?”
The Ninth Princess sighed helplessly. “We were discussing countermeasures in the small grove!”
“Discussing countermeasures?” Qing Mulan looked at the Ninth Princess suspiciously, then turned to Jin Feng. “You are a man. You tell me: are you two innocent?”
“We should be innocent… right?”
Jin Feng looked uncertainly towards the Ninth Princess.
“My god!”
The Ninth Princess pulled the blanket over her face in despair.
She really could not understand it. Jin Feng was clever and sharp in every other matter, yet when it came to romance, he was completely clueless.
She had never seen such a steel-straight man.
She had clearly been covering for him, and Qing Mulan had almost believed it. But with Jin Feng’s interruption, everything was ruined.
Sure enough, Qing Mulan exploded on the spot.
She yanked the blanket off the Ninth Princess. “Wuyang, has a donkey kicked your brain? I am standing up for you, yet you are helping him lie together! If you were not sick right now, I would definitely give you a good beating!”
After scolding her, she did not give the Ninth Princess a chance to speak. She turned and glared at Jin Feng. “You tell me: how far have you two gone?”
“How far we have gone is none of your business, is it?”
Jin Feng was also rendered somewhat speechless by the whole situation.
