Chapter 111: Qin Daofei Cooks, Arousing the Envy of the Women

After entering the room, Tan Xiyin cast a brief glance around before asking with curiosity, "Where is the Princess's maid? How could Her Highness be left outside all by herself?"

"She went to the back kitchen to fetch my restorative medicine. I haven't been sleeping very well these past few days," Nuo Xi'er replied with a smile.

Just as her voice trailed off, the door was pushed open.

Nuo Xi'er's maid walked in carrying a bowl of medicine and said with a huffy expression, "Your Highness, drink your medicine!"

"What is the matter, Anmuya?" Nuo Xi'er asked gently.

Anmuya bit her lower lip, looking aggrieved and silent. Nuo Xi'er's gaze turned cold as she said faintly, "Surely you aren't going to throw a temper tantrum with me?"

"This maid wouldn't dare. This maid just feels it is deeply unfair to Your Highness!" Anmuya knelt on the floor and said indignantly.

Nuo Xi'er laughed. "Could my situation possibly get any worse than it is now? Speak your mind, I can bear it."

"Very well. Earlier, when I went to fetch the medicine, I heard people in the back kitchen say that the First Madam has been in a terrible temper these past few days and refuses to eat anything prepared by anyone. The Manor Lord was worried, so he went to the kitchen himself to cook for her. But that First Madam is so arrogant, she complained that the food the Manor Lord made was unpalatable and put him in a very embarrassing position. Out of curiosity, I went to take a look at Linglong Pavilion. When I got there, I saw the Manor Lord holding a rice bowl, chasing the young miss around to feed her, while the First Madam sat on the upstairs railing watching. After the Manor Lord finished feeding the young miss, he went inside to fetch some pastries to feed the First Madam. But she showed him no respect whatsoever; not only did she slap the pastries out of his hands, she threw a tantrum, pulled the Manor Lord's hair, and even bit him! She is nothing less than an absolute shrew!"

Oh...

For both Nuo Xi'er and Tan Xiyin, this was undoubtedly a piercing blow to the heart.

The two women looked at each other in silence, neither speaking first.

At last, it was Nuo Xi'er who broke the silence. "For someone as stern and dignified as Brother Qin to lower himself to this extent... Feng Linglong is truly... utterly ungrateful for the blessings bestowed upon her!"

"Hmph, people are generally just despicable. If he were even slightly nice to us, there's no telling how happy we would be. But Feng Linglong is arrogant due to favor; she simply doesn't deserve Brother Daofei's affection!" Tan Xiyin said, burning with anger as she cast a dark look at Nuo Xi'er.

Nuo Xi'er smiled indifferently and told Anmuya, "This medicine has gone cold. Go and reheat it."

"Yes, Your Highness!" After Anmuya withdrew, Tan Xiyin turned to her own maid and said, "You step outside as well. I have some private words to share with Her Highness."

How could the maid dare to argue? She curtsied and left the room.

"Is the Second Madam thinking the exact same thing as I am?" Nuo Xi'er poured a cup of tea and handed it to Tan Xiyin.

Tan Xiyin sneered. "Since Feng Linglong refuses to leave us a path to survive, why should we leave one for her?"

"Indeed. Favor is something that must be fought for. If you do not contend for it, a man will never dote on you. That is a truth I learned during all my years in the imperial palace," Nuo Xi'er said coldly.

Tan Xiyin smiled. "Since the Princess and I share the same view, why don't we hatch a proper plan together?"

"Heh, but I am quite curious. If we join forces and manage to strip Feng Linglong of her favor, what about the two of us? Who among us will then receive his favor?" Nuo Xi'er asked, narrowing her eyes.

Tan Xiyin answered, "You and I are different, Princess. You have borne a child for Brother Daofei, but I will never be able to bear children in this lifetime. Because of this, Brother Daofei has already given up on me, and Mother-in-law does not like me either. I do not scheme for Brother Daofei's affection; I only wish to acquire enough silver to ensure I never have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of my days. I scheme for a bit of wealth, whereas what the Princess schemes for is to be with Brother Daofei for a long, long time. Therefore, our interests do not conflict."

Hmph!

Princess Nuo Xi'er smiled. Outwardly, she said, "That's right, I truly love him. Back in the Great Desert City, when King Xiang ordered us to kill him, I took one look at him and couldn't bear to do it. I wanted to spend the rest of my life by his side, which is why I disregarded everything to be with him. What I want is the man himself, and I want him to give all his love to me!"

Inwardly, however, Princess Nuo Xi'er scoffed, "I want both the man and the wealth, and I also want the powerful network of connections of the Carefree Manor!"

"Since there are no obstacles between us, should we now discuss how we ought to proceed?" Tan Xiyin also sneered inwardly, "Bitch, don't think I don't know what you're plotting. You've had your eyes on everything in the Carefree Manor from the very beginning, but do you really think you can swallow it all?"

The two women plotted against each other in secret while appearing as affectionate as sisters on the surface.

"Since she bullies Brother Qin so, making him enter the kitchen must be considered a great humiliation for a man of the Cold Food State, right?" Nuo Xi'er said with a smile.

Hahaha!

Tan Xiyin laughed triumphantly, then lowered her voice and said, "As for this matter, it is up to the Princess to bring it up. After all, you hold some weight in Mother-in-law's eyes."

"No, we shall go together. If only one of us expresses outrage, Mother-in-law might not care. What the two of us must do is fan the flames together and make Mother-in-law go settle accounts with her!" Nuo Xi'er was quite clever; she had no desire to shoulder all the risks alone.

Tan Xiyin's gaze darkened as she cursed inwardly, "Bitch, you're quite clever!"

Yet she did not show it on her face. Instead, she grasped Princess Nuo Xi'er's hand and said, "Then let us go together to Mother-in-law's place and fan the flames!"

Having agreed upon a plan, the two women made their way to the Pine and Cypress Residence of Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu.

Seeing the two of them arrive together, a trace of displeasure flashed across Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu's eyes. She was afraid that Tan Xiyin might harm the child in Nuo Xi'er's womb, so she thoroughly disliked Nuo Xi'er getting close to Tan Xiyin. Yet Nuo Xi'er was truly... disobedient.

Nuo Xi'er knew that Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu was unhappy, but she didn't care in the least. She smiled and asked, "Mother-in-law, have you eaten?"

"I've been angered to the point of fullness, I won't eat!" Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu snapped irritably.

Heh!

Nuo Xi'er was unperturbed. She walked over with a smile and began massaging Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu's shoulders. "Mother-in-law, this daughter-in-law has also been very angry these past few days and unable to eat, so I chatted with the Second Madam to pass the time and dispel my boredom. However, during our chat today, we touched upon a topic that we both felt was quite excessive."

Having introduced the topic, Nuo Xi'er glanced at Tan Xiyin, waiting for her to take over.

Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu frowned and asked, "What is going on?"

"It's like this, Mother-in-law. These past few days, we've constantly heard rumors that the First Madam has been throwing tantrums at Linglong Pavilion. Perhaps because Hua'er has gone out, she is in a bad mood, and Brother Daofei might have gone to the kitchen to cook for her out of concern..."

Before Tan Xiyin could finish, Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu slammed her hand on the table and stood up in a rage. "That bitch Feng Linglong! How dare she make Daofei go to the kitchen? Does she not understand that a gentleman stays away from the stove?"

"Mother-in-law, I don't understand your Central Plains theory about a gentleman staying away from the kitchen. I simply feel that for my husband to go to the kitchen and cook for Sister Linglong is already the utmost he could do. Yet Sister Linglong shows him no respect, complains that his food is unpalatable, yells at him, and even makes him tend to the child. That is simply going too far!" Nuo Xi'er added fuel to the fire.

Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu was furious. She barked angrily, "Go and summon Steward Zhang! I want to ask him what kind of good son I have raised!"

"Yes, Old Madam!" Xiahe cast a deep look at the two women in silence before turning to find Steward Zhang.

After Steward Zhang arrived, Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu demanded, "Has your young master been going to the back kitchen to cook lately?"

Steward Zhang glanced at the women, uncertain how to reply.

"What? Can my words in this household no longer command obedience?" Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu snapped sharply.

Steward Zhang lowered his head and apologized, "It's not like that, please calm your anger, Old Madam. The Manor Lord has indeed been cooking these past few days, but he is largely unfamiliar with it, so the dishes he makes usually end up being brought back uneaten. The cooks offered to make them for him, but he refused and insisted on doing it himself, even scalping his hands. Since Old Madam already knows, perhaps you should go and manage him?"

"You're only telling me this now?" Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu was incandescent with rage. She grabbed a teacup from the table and hurled it at Steward Zhang's head.

Steward Zhang did not dare to dodge, letting the cup strike his forehead. He muttered aggrievedly, "With the Manor Lord's temperament, how could this servant dare to speak of it?"

"Fine! He is your Manor Lord, your master, and all of you indulge him and let him have his way! But his mother is still alive, and I will not let him act so lawlessly!" Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu pointed at Steward Zhang and cursed vehemently. Steward Zhang looked wronged, yet had nothing to say.

As Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu turned to go settle scores with Qin Daofei, Nuo Xi'er quickly stepped forward to hold her back, looking pitiful. "Mother-in-law, please don't be angry. I believe the fault does not lie with my husband, but with Feng Linglong. If she weren't being so overly fastidious and pretentious, my husband wouldn't have to lower himself so much to beg her and coax her, wouldn't you agree? Such a woman is utterly hateful. We ought to go put her in her place, not punish your son!"

"You're right, it's all Feng Linglong's fault!" Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu strongly agreed with Nuo Xi'er. She felt that Qin Daofei must have gone blind; such a good woman as Nuo Xi'er was trying so hard to defend him and treat him well, yet he stubbornly preferred that useless Feng Linglong.

This fixation made Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu hate Linglong even more. She said angrily, "Then I shall go see just what Feng Linglong is trying to do! Just because she lost a maid, is she going to turn the Carefree Manor upside down?"

"Please don't be angry, Mother-in-law. Working yourself into a rage is bad for your health. We can just find a time to go deal with her!" Nuo Xi'er consoled her while egging her on.

Tan Xiyin stood quietly to one side, not uttering another word.

"What do I need to find a time for? Do I need to pick a time just to deal with Feng Linglong?" Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu stormed out in a fury.

Nuo Xi'er and Tan Xiyin exchanged meaningful glances and smiled knowingly.

Linglong Pavilion.

Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu led a large group of women imposingly into Linglong Pavilion. Linglong was standing on the veranda with Feng Yixiao, watching the snow, and spotted them marching over from afar.

Judging by their aggressive demeanor, Linglong knew instantly that Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu was here to pick a fight.

She realized that ever since Princess Nuo Xi'er's arrival, Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu's previously suppressed anger had flared up once more, and it was growing by the day. This was certainly not a good sign.

And the person providing her with courage and strength was clearly this "lofty and powerful" Princess Nuo Xi'er.

Linglong picked up Feng Yixiao and walked downstairs, blocking their path. She looked at them indifferently and asked, "What brings all of you marching in here so grandly?"

"Feng Linglong, are you or are you not my son's wife?" Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu had learned a bit of cunning; she didn't jump straight into accusations, opting instead to question her status.

Linglong chuckled. "That's a rather difficult question to answer. To begin with, I've always been Qin Daofei's wife from start to finish, yet it also seems I haven't been his wife for a long time. But in his heart, I've always been his wife. Though I have no wish to be his wife, he insists on forcing me to be, while you, Old Madam, have consistently refused to acknowledge me as his wife. So honestly, I have no idea whether I count as his wife or not!"

Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu's head began to throb from Linglong's tongue-twister. She waved her hand impatiently and demanded, "Just tell me straight: are you Qin Daofei's wife or not?"

"I'll leave that for the Old Madam to decide. If you say I'm his wife, then I am; if you refuse to acknowledge it, then I'm not!" Either way, Linglong refused to admit it—what could Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu possibly do?

Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu was so angry she could choke. This was why she always avoided talking to Linglong; every single conversation left her numb with fury.

"You've been married into the Carefree Manor a second time! My refusal to acknowledge it doesn't change the fact that you were remarried into this family. Tell me, am I to acknowledge it or not?" Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu refused to back down.

Linglong was entirely unafraid of her. She shrugged and said, "Then Old Madam, please do as you please. If you acknowledge it, I'll change my form of address and call you Mother-in-law. If you don't, I'll continue calling you Old Madam. Either way, it makes no difference to me!"

"You've already borne his child, and you still won't acknowledge it?" Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu was trying to back Linglong into a corner and force her own admission.

Heh!

Linglong sneered, "Old Madam, this child is mine. Even if she was born, she belongs to me. What does that have to do with whether I am Qin Daofei's wife or not? There are plenty of children in this world who stay with their mothers after birth—do all those women suddenly receive formal recognition just because of a child?"

When it came to sparring with words, anyone whose tongue wasn't sharp enough stood a very real chance of being angered to death by Linglong!

Huff, huff, huff!

Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu had to take several deep breaths to ensure she didn't faint from anger on the spot.

"Fine! Today I explicitly acknowledge you as my daughter-in-law and Qin Daofei's wife! As a wife, you made your husband go to the kitchen every day to cook for you, yet you refused to eat it and threw tantrums at him—what do you mean by this?" Unable to win the verbal battle, Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu decided to retreat and open a new battlefield.

Oh!

Linglong understood now. So it was because Qin Daofei had been cooking that the two women behind her felt unbalanced and had instigated Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu to come and cause trouble.

"What could I possibly mean? He's a grown man who insisted on cooking, and yet he's terrible at it. You surely don't expect me to suffer through it and eat unpalatable food, do you? Would you like me to have him cook for all of you instead?" Linglong took advantage of the situation and pushed her luck.

Oh dear heavens!

Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu was so angry her fragile heart felt like it was shattering.

"He is a man! Do you not understand that a gentleman stays away from the stove?" Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu roared.

Linglong replied calmly, "I didn't ask him to cook. If you want to know whether someone understands, why don't you go ask your son if he understands?"

"Then why didn't you stop him? He is the Manor Lord of the Carefree Manor, a benchmark of the martial arts world, a wealthy merchant renowned across the capital... Could you not have maintained a shred of dignity for him?" The more Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu spoke, the more aggrieved she felt. Her fine son had been completely ruined by a woman like Feng Linglong—how hateful!

Heh!

Linglong sneered, "Is he my son or your son? Why should I manage him? As you yourself said, he is the Manor Lord of the Carefree Manor, a benchmark of the martial arts world, a wealthy merchant renowned across the capital, and your son. If he refuses to cherish his own reputation, what can I possibly do?"

In truth, deep down, Linglong didn't think there was anything wrong with Qin Daofei cooking.

Of course, she would never voice such thoughts aloud, lest Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu use them as ammunition to cause more trouble.

"But Sister Linglong, as your husband's wife, shouldn't you have stopped him if his words and actions were improper?" Seeing that Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu was no match for Linglong, Nuo Xi'er stepped forward to take over.

Heh!

Linglong cast her trademark cold smile at Princess Nuo Xi'er. "What a ridiculous thing for the Princess to say. Is the husband mine alone? Aren't the two of you his wives as well? If his actions were improper, why did you only run off to complain to Mother-in-law instead of advising him yourselves?"

In any case, it had nothing to do with her!

Oh!

"First Madam's words are truly heartless. Brother Daofei never visits our quarters, so even if we wanted to advise him, we never get the chance, do we?" Tan Xiyin finally couldn't help chiming in either.

Linglong shifted Feng Yixiao to her other arm, then pointed her chin towards the entrance behind them with a mischievous smirk. "Your Brother Daofei has arrived. Go ahead and advise him, I won't stop you!"

Feng Linglong!

Tan Xiyin gritted her teeth, cursing herself for running her mouth, speaking up at precisely the wrong moment, and right when Qin Daofei could hear her.

"What's all this commotion?" Qin Daofei walked over carrying a wooden tray, his sleeves rolled up. Devoid of his usual dignified and ascetic aura, a slightly disheveled Qin Daofei, carrying the strong scent of worldly domesticity with his rolled-up sleeves, possessed a unique, alternative charm.

Seeing the tray in his hands, Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu immediately found her opening. "What have you been off doing?"

"Cooking. Does Mother wish to have a bite with us? I've discovered I am not omnipotent; when it comes to cooking, I'm not particularly good at it," Qin Daofei said, handing the tray over to Mama Xiahe. He then walked over, reached out to take Feng Yixiao into his arms, teased her twice, and asked, "Did she force your mother to bring you out to play again?"

"Longlong, Xiaoxiao!" No one could make out what Feng Yixiao was babbling about, so Qin Daofei smiled and asked, "Do you want to make your mother happy?"

Feng Yixiao squinted her eyes in a smile and nodded!

Qin Daofei burst into laughter. "My little Xiaoxiao is so well-behaved, you know how to cheer your mother up!"

Oh...

Qin Daofei's appearance seemed to instantly dissolve the hostility and tension hanging between the women.

Seeing that he wasn't angry, Tan Xiyin breathed a sigh of relief. She put on a forced smile and said, "Brother Daofei, you're back. It's too cold out here, my legs can't take it, I'll be heading back first."

"Wait," Qin Daofei called out, halting Tan Xiyin in her tracks. He said faintly, "Weren't you here to advise me? Leaving before you've even given your advice?"

Heh!

Qin Daofei was actively picking a fight!

Linglong folded her arms across her chest, preparing to watch the show.

Seeing that Qin Daofei was siding entirely with Linglong, Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu grew furious and snapped, "Must you always shield this woman?"

"What kind of phrasing is that from Mother? I merely asked what Xiyin wanted to advise me on, how did that get tied back to Linglong? Xiaoxiao, you shouldn't watch your grandmother throw a temper tantrum, I'm afraid you'll have nightmares tonight," Qin Daofei said indifferently, shifting Feng Yixiao to his other shoulder.

Pfft!

Had the atmosphere not been so solemn, Linglong would have burst out laughing. It had been a long time since she last heard him shut someone down like that; it was truly immensely satisfying.

Huff, huff, huff, huff!

Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu felt the world turning black before her eyes. Just a few more sentences from him, and she was going to pass out.

"Daofei, my son, I'm begging you, alright? I've accepted it, and chalked it up to bad luck that you insisted on remarrying Feng Linglong. But can you please care about Princess Nuo Xi'er? She traveled thousands of miles from the desert to find you, you can't just treat her poorly! You are a man, you must take responsibility for what you've done. It's one thing that you give her the cold shoulder while she's heavily pregnant like this, but you even make her worry about you. How can your heart bear it?"

Heh!

Qin Daofei let out a cold, detached laugh. "What is Mother trying to express here? Princess Nuo Xi'er arrived aggressively waving an imperial decree to force a marriage upon me—I didn't even get a chance to refuse. Doesn't Mother think that was the most humiliating thing to ever happen to the Carefree Manor? Besides, I've never done anything that should make anyone worry. What on earth is she blindly worrying about?"

Linglong was one hundred percent certain that Qin Daofei knew the exact reason why these women had come to pick a fight—his cooking.

This black-bellied rascal; even during a fight, he never forgot to dig a pit for others!

"You think Princess Nuo Xi'er forcing a marriage was humiliating, but going to the kitchen to cook for Feng Linglong isn't humiliating? You are the dignified Manor Lord of the Carefree Manor, not some ordinary man!" Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu completely snapped, abandoning all reason.

Qin Daofei glanced at the pale-faced Nuo Xi'er and said calmly, "Mother, I am the Manor Lord of the Carefree Manor, but I am also a husband. My wife could not stomach her food and I was worried—what is wrong with me going to learn how to cook for her? I refuse to believe that the people of the Cold Food State are so intolerant of a man who cooks for his wife!"

"What about Nuo Xi'er? Isn't Nuo Xi'er your wife as well?" Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu dragged Nuo Xi'er into the fray. Nuo Xi'er pulled on Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu's hand with a desolate expression and said, "Please don't be upset, Mother-in-law. Everything I did was of my own free will, it has nothing to do with Brother Qin!"

If an ordinary person heard a pregnant woman speak with such pitiful devotion, they would likely feel a surge of sympathy. But that person was definitely not Qin Daofei. He gave Nuo Xi'er a cold, aloof glance and said indifferently to Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu, "Mother heard it herself—she just said it has nothing to do with me!"

"You... you... you..."

Thud!

Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu was so angry she fainted on the spot!

"Grandma, bad!" Seeing Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu lying on the ground, Feng Yixiao thought she was throwing a tantrum on the floor and mimicked Linglong's angry scolding tone to berate Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu.

Qin Daofei didn't even frown. He simply carried Feng Yixiao with one arm, took the tray from Xiahe's hands with the other, and said calmly, "Mother has fainted. Mama Xiahe, you'd better hurry and carry her back."

With that, Qin Daofei handed the tray to Linglong, used his newly freed hand to wrap his arm around Linglong's slender waist, and headed home!

Nuo Xi'er and Tan Xiyin watched helplessly as the couple departed hand-in-hand, their love deep and unwavering, while heavy hatred brewed in both their eyes.

Tan Xiyin, in particular, returned to Miaoyin Pavilion, collapsed over her desk, and wept bitterly. Knowing her vicious nature, her maid did not dare to offer any comfort and hid far away.

After crying her fill, Tan Xiyin began smashing things around the room, cursing as she shattered objects: "None of them care about me! Feng Linglong has Qin Daofei protecting her, and that Nuo Xi'er has that old hag protecting her! Do you all take me, Tan Xiyin, for a dead person? Since you in the Carefree Manor treat me this way, don't blame me for being discourteous!"

Standing amid the debris, Tan Xiyin looked like a venomous snake lying in wait.

Later that evening, Tan Xiyin called her young maid into the room and said coldly, "Exchange clothes with me, I need to go out. Nobody ever comes to Miaoyin Pavilion anyway, you just need to obediently lie in bed!"

"B-but what if someone comes?" The maid was terrified. The risk of covering for Tan Xiyin was simply too high and not worth it.

Yet Tan Xiyin was determined to leave. She hissed angrily, "Bitch, I have things to do, why are you asking so many questions?"

"Yes, Second Madam, this maid wouldn't dare!" With no other choice, the maid stripped off her outer garments and exchanged them with Tan Xiyin.

Tan Xiyin forced the maid to lie down on the bed with her back to the door, while she sat at the vanity table applying makeup for a moment. When she stood back up, she looked identical to the maid.

Unaware of the switch, the maid lay trembling on the bed, praying that no one would enter.

Once out of Miaoyin Pavilion, Tan Xiyin headed straight for the small courtyard where the servants lived, walking directly to Steward Zhang's door.

Knock, knock, knock!

"Who's there so late, what is it?" came Steward Zhang's voice.

"It's me, Steward Zhang. Didn't you mention last time that there was a letter from my family? I couldn't leave my duties then, so I never came. Today the Second Madam happened to go to sleep early, so I hurried over. Can you open the door for me?" Tan Xiyin lowered her voice and said.

Steward Zhang paused for a moment before hastily walking over to open the door.

"Second Madam, why have you come?" Once the door was closed, Steward Zhang asked in a low, anxious whisper.

Tan Xiyin cast a side-long glance at Steward Zhang and replied coolly, "I need to go out for half an hour. You cover for me!"

"That won't do, Second Madam! The entire Carefree Manor is on high alert right now. Ever since Hua'er went missing, all security patrols have returned to normal. Every move you make will be discovered!" Steward Zhang refused.

Tan Xiyin grabbed the front of Steward Zhang's clothes tightly, her tone turning dangerously intimate, "Old man, you didn't seem this scared when you were playing with me, did you? Besides, it doesn't matter to me anymore whether I can continue living in the Carefree Manor or not—do you want to die with me?"

Steward Zhang fell silent...

Tan Xiyin quickly pushed Steward Zhang aside and walked over to the wardrobe.

After opening the wardrobe and stepping inside, Tan Xiyin vanished from sight entirely.

Though anxious, Steward Zhang was utterly powerless to stop her!

While Tan Xiyin had slipped out of the Carefree Manor, Nuo Xi'er took a sudden whim to stroll over to Miaoyin Pavilion.

Anmuya tried to advise her otherwise, "Your Highness, it's late, the paths are slippery, and it's freezing outside. Why on earth are you going to Miaoyin Pavilion?"

"This afternoon, Qin Daofei's mother went out of her way to protect me. It looked like she was standing up for me, but in reality, she was just safeguarding herself. As for Tan Xiyin, though she didn't speak, she is deeply scheming and intensely jealous. If she harbors resentment toward me because of this, our relationship will become difficult to manage. I need to go offer some comfort. After all, such a good tool—if not properly maintained—would be a waste," Nuo Xi'er draped her cloak over her shoulders and prepared to leave.

With no other choice, Anmuya grabbed a lantern and followed Princess Nuo Xi'er out.

Arriving at the gates of Miaoyin Pavilion and finding the courtyard dimly lit, Anmuya whispered, "Your Highness, has the Second Madam already gone to rest?"

"It doesn't matter, we are both women. If she's asleep, I simply won't leave tonight; I'll stay and share a room with her. Chatting through the night by candlelight is far better than being alone in the cold," Nuo Xi'er deliberately raised her voice.

Anmuya was speechless and could only carefully support her to the door.

Knock, knock, knock!

As Nuo Xi'er and Anmuya knocked outside, the maid inside felt her heart leap out of her chest in panic.

Miaoyin Pavilion was usually dead quiet, and no visitors ever came. What was happening tonight? Why was someone here so late?

What should she do?

Despite the freezing winter weather, cold sweat broke out all over the young maid.

"Sister Xiyin, you must be indisposed and unable to open the door for me. I'll just let myself in, alright?" Without waiting for a reply, Nuo Xi'er pushed the courtyard gates open and walked in, accompanied by her maid.

"Oh my, so Sister Xiyin really was asleep?" Nuo Xi'er walked right up to the bed, sat down on a small stool, and muttered to herself, "My heart always feels so hollow and I can't sleep, so I shamelessly came to disturb you tonight."

The maid still didn't make a sound, but her entire body was trembling violently.

Nuo Xi'er and Anmuya exchanged glances, and together they reached out, violently flinging back the blanket—only to find the maid lying inside wearing only her undergarments.

"Why is it you? Where is your Second Madam?" Nuo Xi'er demanded in a low voice.

Realizing her deception had been exposed, the maid scrambled out of bed in terror, knelt on the floor, and kowtowed frantically to Nuo Xi'er. "Your Highness, I beg you, please don't tell anyone! If you report this, both the Second Madam and I will be driven out!"

"Where is your Second Madam? Her legs are injured, where could she possibly have gone?" Nuo Xi'er interrogated the maid.

The maid shook her head. "The Second Madam only told me to lie here pretending to be her. As for where she went, this servant truly doesn't know!"

"Your Highness, her wheelchair is still right here. Without it, how could she go anywhere by herself?" Anmuya pointed to Tan Xiyin's wheelchair tucked away in the corner, her eyes filled with suspicion.

Following the direction of Anmuya's finger, Nuo Xi'er also spotted the wheelchair. She narrowed her eyes, stared coldly at the maid, and said in a chilling tone, "Didn't Tan Xiyin claim her legs couldn't walk? Without her wheelchair, and with you here instead of accompanying her, where could she possibly have gone?"

"I'm sorry, Your Highness, I cannot say! If I tell you, I'll lose my life!" The maid kowtowed repeatedly, but Nuo Xi'er remained completely unmoved. She sneered, "Aren't you afraid that I'll call someone right now and take your life?"

"Your Highness, please spare me!" The maid grabbed the hem of Nuo Xi'er's skirt, begging desperately.

Nuo Xi'er was not yet ready to expose Tan Xiyin, so she lowered her voice and said, "Keep shouting louder and wake the entire Carefree Manor. If you do, even I won't be able to save you."

The maid promptly clamped her mouth shut, gazing fearfully at Nuo Xi'er.

"Tell me, and I won't tell a soul," Nuo Xi'er changed tactics.

The maid eyed her warily. "I dare not say!"

"If you don't speak, I have no reason to protect you. But if you tell me, I won't even breathe a word of it to Tan Xiyin. How's that?" Nuo Xi'er was simply too curious about Tan Xiyin's whereabouts.

After pondering for a long while, the maid finally nodded. "Alright, I'll tell you!"

Nuo Xi'er calmly smoothed her sleeves and stared piercingly at the maid, waiting for the truth to come out.

"The Second Madam's legs are completely fine. Whenever no one is looking, she can walk normally all the time. But she forbade me from telling a single soul, warning me that if I ever dared to breathe a word, she would kill me. Besides, her older brother used his own life to save the Manor Lord's, so the Manor Lord will never truly harm her—that's why I didn't dare cross the Second Madam!" The maid revealed half the truth while keeping the rest concealed.

Nuo Xi'er asked calmly, "Then where did she go?"

"This servant genuinely doesn't know where she went. She ordered me to lie facing the wall with my back to her, and I didn't dare turn around to look. Though the Second Madam looks frail, her disposition is utterly ruthless and vicious. I truly don't know where she went, nor would I ever dare to pry into her affairs—she doesn't trust me anyway."

Nuo Xi'er glanced at the maid indifferently and murmured, "Who would have thought this Second Madam was so interesting?"

"Your Highness, please hurry back! If the Second Madam finds out that I told you her legs are fine, she'll surely kill me!"

Nuo Xi'er gave her a cold look. "From now on, keep a close watch on your Second Madam. If you bring me useful information, I'll reward you with silver, and you can secure your own future."

"Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness!" The maid kowtowed again.

With that, Nuo Xi'er and Anmuya turned and left Tan Xiyin's Miaoyin Pavilion.

The next day.

Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu and Nuo Xi'er went to the temple to offer prayers. On a whim, Nuo Xi'er suggested treating Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu to a meal, so the two of them headed to the Beyond Clouds Tower.

Because it was crowded and all the private rooms were occupied, Nuo Xi'er and Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu had to dine in the main hall.

Just as they finished ordering their food, they overheard a young couple chatting at a nearby table. The woman complained, "You're truly infuriating, husband. I asked you to cook for me and you just brushed me off, treating me to a meal here at Beyond Clouds Tower instead. Look at Manor Lord Qin of the Carefree Manor—he's wealthy, handsome, and so attentive to the Eldest Miss Feng. He actually cooks meals for her himself! I must have been blind back then to ever set my sights on you."

"That's right! I heard that Manor Lord Qin cooks for Eldest Miss Feng every single day, so I asked our man to do the same for me. But what did he do? He dismissed me with a single trip to Beyond Clouds Tower! I'm starting to think I was blind too, why didn't I find a good man who's as handsome, wealthy, and devoted as Manor Lord Qin? Just talking about it makes me furious." Another young woman at the adjacent table chimed in.

The two women began chatting freely without a care in the world.

Nuo Xi'er's face turned a shade of pale green, while Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu experienced a mixture of pride and mortification. On one hand, everyone was praising her son, which pleased her; on the other hand, the thought of Feng Linglong living in such happiness made her stomach churn.

Several other young couples nearby joined in the lively discussion as the wives chimed in, leaving their helpless husbands laughing bitterly—who asked them not to cook for their wives?

Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu and Princess Nuo Xi'er found their meal deeply depressing. Nuo Xi'er, in particular, felt as though her heart was being shredded; everyone was praising the man she loved, yet not a single ounce of that man's devotion belonged to her. Every word spoken felt like a sharp blade piercing her heart, causing a pain so intense she couldn't even cry out.

Unable to bear watching Nuo Xi'er suffer, Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu pulled her up and led her away.

As they were leaving, someone seemed to recognize Nuo Xi'er and remarked loudly, "Isn't that the barbarian princess who carried an imperial decree to force Manor Lord Qin into marrying her?"

"Hmph, a mere barbarian woman, and she still has the nerve to wander outside. Manor Lord Qin only cares for his original wife, the Eldest Miss Feng. I don't know where she gets the thick skin to come out and dine on the streets. If it were me, I'd have hidden away at home long ago."

Unlike women of the Cold Food State, who would have died of shame and hidden away for months had they been publicly ridiculed like this, Nuo Xi'er flew into a rage. Heavily pregnant, she marched right over to the woman, raising her hand to slap her across the face. The woman's husband reacted swiftly, grabbing Nuo Xi'er's wrist and snapping, "Madam, I suggest you show some self-respect!"

"This princess has never known what self-respect is! Even if this is the Cold Food State, I'll beat you if I feel like it—what can you do to me?" Nuo Xi'er was determined to strike the woman.

Heh!

The man sneered coldly, "My wife may be ordinary, but she holds the title of a Third-Rank Lady of the Court. What if you are an alien princess? Go ahead and strike her, let's see! Even if I have to kneel and die upon the imperial dais, I will petition His Majesty to punish you severely!"

Uh oh, she had run into a fanatical wife-defender!

Nuo Xi'er was left stranded with no way to back down gracefully.

She knew she was merely a powerless princess of Cangmo. Beating a commoner might have been overlooked, but the woman was a titled court lady of the Cold Food State. If the Emperor found out, he certainly wouldn't protect her.

Sensing Nuo Xi'er's predicament, Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu hurriedly stepped forward, grasped Nuo Xi'er's hand, and said, "You are a dignified princess, why lower yourself to squabbling with a shrew? Let's go!"

Though the man did not fear Princess Nuo Xi'er's status, he still had to give face to the Carefree Manor, so he wisely chose not to press the matter further.

Once back inside her carriage, Nuo Xi'er wept uncontrollably. Fearing that crying so hard might harm the child, Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu softened her tone and consoled her, "Why take a shrew's words so to heart? We were supposed to go offer prayers at the temple. If you cry your eyes out now, it will bring bad luck. Stop crying, quickly!"

Nuo Xi'er clutched Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu's arm and sobbed, "Mother-in-law, my heart hurts so much. Can we go back? I don't want to visit the temple anymore!"

Alas!

Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu patted Nuo Xi'er's arm gently and sighed, "You young people have too much pride. These kinds of hardships—Mother has experienced them all, which is why I no longer feel the pain. Never mind, you are still young, you will understand in time. Let's head back."

Heartbroken and miserable, Nuo Xi'er paid little attention to Madame Qin Wang Xiangyu's words.

Upon returning to the manor, Nuo Xi'er used an excuse to slip away to Miaoyin Pavilion.

Seeing Nuo Xi'er arrive, Tan Xiyin greeted her with a smile. "I heard that Mother-in-law took the Princess out to offer prayers, how is it that you've returned so soon?"

"Oh, don't ask, I was furious to death today!" Nuo Xi'er replied listlessly.

Pushing her wheelchair forward, Tan Xiyin assumed the role of an empathetic elder sister, grasping Nuo Xi'er's hands. "Tell me what happened, what's wrong?"

"I don't know who leaked the news about Brother Qin cooking for Feng Linglong, but now the entire capital is praising him for treating Feng Linglong so well. Mother-in-law and I went to Beyond Clouds Tower for a meal, and we overheard a few gossiping women discussing it. Even though I avoided them, I was recognized, and a whole group of people mocked both of us for failing to win his favor, saying that all of Brother Qin's affection was given to Feng Linglong alone. I couldn't swallow my anger, so I exchanged a few sharp words with them before losing my appetite completely." Nuo Xi'er deliberately looped Tan Xiyin into the narrative.