【System, where is Lin Mo right now?】
【He’s inside this residence.】
The system replied.
【To meet the deadline, Lin Yanqiu brought him here too. He’s locked in a woodshed in the west courtyard.】
Feng Zefan listened to Lin Yanqiu’s endless self-praise and felt a wave of nausea.
【System, I really want to hit him right now.】
【Host, stay calm! Saving the person is the priority!】
【Fine… I’ll hit him later!】
“Master Lin.”
She spoke lightly, interrupting his long-winded boasting.
Lin Yanqiu quickly put on a smile. “My Lord, please give your orders.”
Feng Zefan stood in front of the screen wall, lightly tapping the eye of a painted oriole with her fingertip.
The sorrow hidden in that gaze seemed almost about to spill out of the painting.
“This oriole’s eyes… why do they look a little sad?”
Lin Yanqiu froze for a moment, then respectfully replied.
“My Lord has sharp eyes! Carving is all about attention to detail… This oriole is lamenting that its companions couldn’t fly together…”
“I think otherwise—”
Feng Zefan interrupted him, her tone calm and unreadable.
“It is crying.”
Lin Yanqiu froze.
“Crying? My Lord must be joking, this bird clearly—”
“It’s crying because its wings were broken.”
Feng Zefan withdrew her hand, brushing her sleeve lightly.
“Crying because its voice was taken away.”
“It can only be trapped within this tiny space, wailing day and night, yet unable to make a sound.”
With every word she spoke, Lin Yanqiu’s face turned paler.
Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.
Eunuch Laifu, standing nearby, immediately understood.
The Northern Frontier Prince wasn’t talking about a bird at all.
He was talking about Lin Mo!
“My… My Lord is joking…” Lin Yanqiu wiped his sweat, his voice trembling.
“The bird’s wings are fine. I checked carefully when carving it…”
“Yes, the bird is indeed fine.”
Feng Zefan turned and walked straight toward the west courtyard.
“I’m a bit tired. I’ll rest over there.”
Lin Yanqiu’s expression changed drastically. He hurried after her.
“My Lord! That area is for servants, dirty and messy. With your status—”
“What about my status?”
Feng Zefan didn’t stop walking.
“Can the Northern Frontier Prince not enter a woodshed?”
“That’s not what I meant…” Lin Yanqiu said anxiously.
Before he could finish, Feng Zefan had already walked far ahead.
Grinding his teeth, Lin Yanqiu followed with forced composure.
His mind was in chaos.
It’s over.
Could the Northern Frontier Prince have discovered something?
No… impossible!
Lin Mo is mute—even if discovered, he can’t speak!
Yes, I must be overthinking…
The Prince just said it casually. I can’t panic myself.
Thinking this, Lin Yanqiu slowed his steps slightly.
The west courtyard was remote, with several woodsheds in the corner.
Feng Zefan stopped in front of a wooden door.
A brand-new copper lock hung on it.
【It’s here.】
The system confirmed.
【Host, Lin Mo is inside.】
Feng Zefan stared at the lock, her eyes turning cold.
【They really locked him up tightly.】
【Host, do you want me to unlock it?】
【No need.】
Lin Yanqiu caught up, panting, and blocked the door.
“My Lord, this… this really is just a woodshed. It’s full of clutter, you—”
“Move aside.”
Her voice was calm—eerily calm.
Lin Yanqiu shuddered.
He swallowed hard and forced a smile.
“My Lord, why don’t we go to the front courtyard instead? I’ve made some new works there…”
“I said move aside.”
Feng Zefan raised her eyes.
When Lin Yanqiu met her gaze, cold sweat instantly drenched his back.
There was no warmth in those eyes.
It was as if she were looking at a dead man.
He stiffly stepped aside.
Without another word, Feng Zefan lifted her foot and kicked the door.
BANG—!
The wooden door flew off its hinges, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Inside, the woodshed was pitch black, and a strong smell of blood rushed out.
Eunuch Laifu covered his nose in disgust.
Was this even a place for humans to live?
It was worse than a prison.
Feng Zefan narrowed her eyes, waiting for her vision to adjust.
In the corner lay a curled-up figure.
Ragged clothes, soaked in dried blood.
Messy hair stuck to his scalp like dry straw.
So thin he was nothing but bones—every rib clearly visible.
The figure trembled violently upon hearing the noise, shrinking further into the corner.
【Host, it’s him!】
【I see.】
Feng Zefan stepped closer.
Lin Mo slowly raised his head.
His eyes were full of terror, like a frightened rabbit.
Lin Yanqiu quickly followed in and explained.
“My Lord, this is my apprentice. He’s mute, crippled, and not very bright either.”
“I couldn’t leave him alone at home, so I brought him along… Please understand, I’m just being kind…”
“Shut up.”
Feng Zefan crouched down.
She lifted Lin Mo’s chin.
Lin Mo’s eyes were filled with panic; he tried to hide, but couldn’t move.
She looked into those eyes.
Dull, foggy… but deep inside, there was still a trace of unwillingness.
【System, his injuries…】
【All caused by Lin Yanqiu.】
The system’s voice was cold.
【Whenever work was slow, Lin Yanqiu whipped him.】
【After whipping him, he still forced him to continue working. The wounds were never treated.】
【Once Lin Mo collapsed from exhaustion. Lin Yanqiu only gave him medicine because he was afraid he would die and stop working.】
【What a beast.】
Feng Zefan cursed inwardly.
Lin Yanqiu, seeing the Northern Frontier Prince silent, tried to steer things away.
“My Lord, this place is really too dirty and chaotic. Why don’t we look elsewhere?”
“I still have some new pieces you might—”
Feng Zefan released Lin Mo and stood up.
She turned to Lin Yanqiu.
“Master Lin.”
His heart sank instantly.
“My… My Lord…”
“I heard your apprentice is quite skilled?”
Lin Yanqiu forced a dry laugh.
“Haha… not really, he’s useless. He can only do rough work.”
“The screen wall—did you carve it yourself?”
Feng Zefan asked casually.
Lin Yanqiu tensed, but kept his expression steady.
“Of course! I carved it myself! Didn’t sleep properly for three months!”
Feng Zefan took out a jade pendant from her sleeve.
“If Master Lin is truly so skilled, why not carve an oriole right now?”
“On this jade pendant. That shouldn’t be difficult, right?”
Lin Yanqiu’s face turned ashen.
“This… this…”
After stammering for a long time, he finally squeezed out a sentence.
“My Lord, I’m feeling unwell today… my hands are shaking…”
“Oh?”
Feng Zefan smiled.
“You could carve such fine work on the screen wall, but can’t handle a jade pendant?”
“Or is Master Lin… simply unable to do it?”
Her tone shifted sharply.
“Or is it that the screen wall… was never carved by you at all?”
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