Chapter 113: Qin Daofei Places His Aging Mother Under House Arrest

Now, let us speak of Qin Daofei and Jifeng.

When Qin Daofei walked out, Jifeng was headbutting a plum tree in the courtyard. He had both lustful desires and the boldness of a bear, but his biggest problem was that he could not defeat Afei. If he launched another sneak attack, would Afei tear him limb from limb? Moreover, the things Jifeng wanted to do were far more intense than last time.

The mere thought of Afei dealing him a fatal blow made Jifeng feel a chill in his groin.

Terrifying!

"Want to subdue Afei?" Qin Daofei walked out, casting a sidelong, gloomy glance at Jifeng. "Stop acting so pathetic by bullying the plum tree!"

I...

Jifeng was completely speechless!

"Master, you must have a way, right?" Jifeng turned to anyone for help in his desperation.

Qin Daofei smiled faintly. "There are methods aplenty, but what I want to figure out most right now is what exactly was in that letter my mother took?"

"I don't know about that either. I was only responsible for giving all the love letters the Grand Madam wrote back then to Afei. The ones concerning Tan Xiyin were all added by herself. I reckon the letter the Old Madam took away has something to do with Princess Naxi'er, doesn't it?" Jifeng deduced.

Qin Daofei said indifferently, "I'll give you a chance to investigate and find out. Once I get what I want, I will teach you how to subdue Afei, and I guarantee she won't kill you!"

"Then I shall await the Master's good news!" With that, Jifeng vaulted away into the air.

Now, let us turn to Tan Xiyin and Naxi'er.

After the two women emerged from the Exquisite Pavilion, Naxi'er said to the little maidservant, "Come with me to the Melodious Pavilion. The Second Madam's place is desolate and cold, go help tidy it up!"

The maidservant's face turned ashen, yet she dared not show the slightest bit of resistance.

Once everyone returned to the Melodious Pavilion, Tan Xiyin's original maidservant was dismissed, leaving only that little girl kneeling before Naxi'er and Tan Xiyin.

An Muya stood gloomily to one side, holding a sewing needle.

"Speak, then. Why was it that after you were told to plant the letters, they turned out to be love letters written by Feng Linglong to the Master? Didn't you see the expression on your Master's face? He was very happy, wasn't he?" Naxi'er did not fly into a rage, but her words caused the little maidservant to tremble all over with terror.

Kneeling on the ground, the maid kowtowed frantically. "Your Royal Highness, I truly placed all the letters you gave me inside the Grand Madam's room, truly!"

"Then how did they turn into those other letters?" Tan Xiyin was not like Naxi'er; now that her reputation in the Carefree Manor was utterly ruined, she cared not a whit about being even more ruthless to others.

The maid crawled on her knees to Tan Xiyin's feet, weeping and begging for mercy. "Second Madam, I really don't know! After I finished placing the letters, I never stepped away from the room for even a single step!"

"Even if Feng Linglong has people around her, and you were watching with your own eyes, how could they possibly have swapped everything out?" Naxi'er chimed in.

Kneeling on the ground, the maid looked utterly bewildered and said, "I don't know either!"

"Were you asleep?" Tan Xiyin asked, narrowing her eyes.

The maid tried hard to recall, then shook her head and replied, "I wasn't! I didn't fall asleep!"

"It seems that unless we teach you a lesson, you will never know the immensity of heaven and earth!" As soon as Naxi'er finished speaking, An Muya grabbed the maid, muffled her mouth, and began stabbing her body with the sewing needle.

Muffled cries of pain echoed!

The maid rolled all over the floor in agony, unable to cry out because her mouth was covered.

Naxi'er and Tan Xiyin watched coldly as the maid struggled on the floor. After a moment, Naxi'er finally called a halt in a detached tone. "Alright, let her continue her confession."

"Your Highness, Madam, I truly neither left nor dozed off. I kept watch right there until you both went to the Exquisite Pavilion. Not a single person entered the room during that time. I am not lying!" The maid collapsed onto the floor, utterly drained of strength by the excruciating pain.

Princess Naxi'er glanced at Tan Xiyin and said indifferently, "Could it be... that Feng Linglong's people poisoned her?"

"That is entirely possible. After all, the person by Feng Linglong's side is the Gate Master of the Life Gate of the Netherworld Hall. The poisons in the hands of the Netherworld Hall are as numerous as the hairs on an ox. It is hardly surprising if they have a poison or two that temporarily causes a loss of sensation without leaving any trace afterward," Tan Xiyin said coldly.

Naxi'er glanced at the maid and said indifferently, "You can no longer stay in Carefree Manor. I'll give you some silver; leave under the cover of night!"

"Your Royal Highness, this servant will not speak of your affairs, I beg you not to drive me away!" Carefree Manor was not easy to enter; once she left like this, she would never be able to return in the future.

Humph!

"If you wish to stay here, the only way you can remain is in the form of a corpse. Are you willing?" Tan Xiyin said with a chilling tone.

With no other choice, the maid could only kneel on the ground and weep. She regretted it to her very core now. Had she not been blinded by greed and allowed herself to be used by Naxi'er, how could she have ended up being driven away?

After the maid departed, Tan Xiyin smiled at Naxi'er. "Princess, you have seen it for yourself. Big Brother Daofei is just like this, bestowing groundless and unconditional pampering upon that bitch Feng Linglong. If Feng Linglong does not die, I am unwilling to leave, and you will never win Big Brother Daofei over either."

"You are leaving?" Naxi'er did not entirely believe Tan Xiyin's words.

Tan Xiyin smiled. "I no longer hold any hope for Big Brother Daofei, so why shouldn't I leave? In the past, when Feng Linglong controlled Carefree Manor, I knew I couldn't get a single coin of silver from her hands. But you are different; you are smarter than her, and you have more wealth than her. As long as we overthrow Feng Linglong, you will give me money and let me leave, rather than letting me stay here to interfere with you and Big Brother Daofei. Am I... right?"

"Correct. Once Feng Linglong is killed, I will give you plenty of silver, enough for you to live a life free of worries about food and clothing for the rest of your days. You can even go find a young man and live your life well all over again."

For some reason, Tan Xiyin always felt as though Princess Naxi'er's words had a hidden meaning.

However, Tan Xiyin did not wish to inquire further. Regardless of anything else, as long as Naxi'er shared the same goal as her and could manage to kill Feng Linglong, Tan Xiyin cared not a whit whether Naxi'er was hiding something.

"In that case, let us make a new plan. This time, we must absolutely not allow Feng Linglong to succeed!" Princess Naxi'er gazed at Tan Xiyin with vicious eyes, and the two women smiled with a tacit understanding.

Although the Qin Clan's Land of Fragrance was anxious to uphold Qin Daofei's reputation, news that Qin Daofei had placed his own mother under house arrest on account of Feng Linglong still spread like wildfire through the capital.

The Ministry of Punishments.

Wang Liushu swept everything off his desk onto the floor, slammed his fist down upon the surface, and said harshly, "Qin Daofei, you've really done it! Do you truly take my Wang family for having nobody left?"

"My Lord, if someone like Manor Master Qin truly loses his temper and casts aside all ties of kinship, the affair concerning his mother is the best proof of it. If you go to hold him accountable now, and... and should he compile a biographical record denouncing you, what then?" Jiong Zimei looked timidly at Wang Liushu.

A biographical record denouncing him!

A biographical record!

Wang Liushu abruptly stood up and said with bitter hatred, "Then let him compile a biography denouncing his own uncle! He places his own mother under house arrest and drives his uncle to ruin—I want to see whether, when he takes Feng Linglong out in public in the future, other people will point at Feng Linglong's spine and curse her for a vixen!"

Good grief!

Jiong Zimei felt as though his entire world was collapsing. Was Lord Wang planning to go down with Qin Daofei in mutual destruction?

"My Lord, do not act on impulse! Let us wait and observe a little longer?" Jiong Zimei's fortunes were inextricably linked with Wang Liushu's—when Wang flourished, he flourished, and when Wang fell, he fell. He did not want to die!

"Do not try to persuade me further. The only reason I, Wang Liushu, have reached the position I hold today is entirely due to the support of my elder sister. Qin Daofei was also helped along every step of the way by me during his youth. Now that he treats my elder sister in this manner, if I do not step forward, there is no telling if he might genuinely drive my sister out of the family in the future. You need not concern yourself with this matter; it is my family affair, and I shall handle it myself!"

With those words, Wang Liushu strode out.

Jiong Zimei's furrowed brows became even more pronounced at that moment!

Carefree Manor.

As soon as Wang Liushu stepped through the gates, he headed straight for the Pine and Cypress Residence.

"Lord Wang!" Upon seeing Wang Liushu, a domestic servant hurried forward to offer a bow. While it looked like a greeting, it was actually a maneuver to block his path and deny him any chance of entering the doorway.

Wang Liushu's eyes bulged like copper bells. He pointed at the servant's eyes and demanded, "Are you trying to block me?"

"Lord Wang, the Manor Master has given orders that no one is permitted to see the Old Madam. We dare not let you in without authorization, so we must ask your forgiveness!" As the servant spoke, he stood even more resolutely before the entrance, refusing to give anyone a chance to slip inside.

In a towering rage, Wang Liushu pointed at the servant's nose and snapped, "You all just wait!"

Of course they had to wait—for this period of time, absolutely no one was allowed inside!

"Qin Daofei, get out here! Come out!" Wang Liushu shouted all the way as he stormed forward in anger.

Servants of both sexes, upon seeing this, prudently retreated far out of the way, thinking to themselves: This is getting interesting now; the Manor Master has placed the Old Madam under house arrest, and the Old Madam's maternal family has come pounding on the door.

Qin Daofei, hearing the shouts from the front courtyard, rubbed the bridge of his nose and said to Jifeng, "Go appease the old man first; I'll head over in a moment!"

The Study.

Wang Liushu stood proudly at the entrance of the study. Jifeng walked over and said, "Lord Wang, please wait inside the study; it will be a little while yet before the Manor Master can come over."

"Fine! I have no desire to stand out here waiting for that unfilial, ungrateful brat either. Take me to see my sister," Wang Liushu said bitterly.

Well...

Jifeng said with a troubled expression, "It is like this, Lord Wang: without the Manor Master's orders, no one is allowed to enter the Pine and Cypress Residence!"

"Then tell me, why must he be so heartless as to place his own mother under house arrest?" Wang Liushu could not swallow his anger, and his tone remained abrasive.

Jifeng pondered for a moment before saying, "This matter must be traced back to the Old Madam herself. If the Lord is interested, please accompany me to the study and we can discuss it while seated!"

"Very well, this old man shall go sit in the study and listen to your explanation!" Wang Liushu kicked open the study doors and strode inside.

Jifeng rubbed his nose behind him, muttering under his breath, "These comforting chores are usually handled by Brother Li. I wonder if I'm going to stoke his anger even higher!"

"Speak!" Wang Liushu ordered, pointing at Jifeng.

Jifeng sat down and said calmly, "Lord Wang should be well aware of the Old Madam's temper. She has always desperately hoped to drive both the Grand Madam and the Second Madam out of the manor. In the past, she indeed acted along those lines, but the Manor Master never flew into a rage or threatened to place her under house arrest or anything of the sort. This time, however, the Old Madam truly went too far—she actually went so far as to curse the young miss. You ought to know that the Manor Master cherishes the Grand Madam and the young miss above all else. For the Old Madam to use such vile language to describe the young miss—naturally, the Manor Master grew furious. Of course, this is not the ultimate reason why the Manor Master placed the Old Madam under house arrest, but I believe that once Lord Wang hears the Manor Master's explanation, you will understand that placing the Old Madam under house arrest is actually protecting her and safeguarding Carefree Manor."

"You're saying my eldest sister cursed her own granddaughter?" Wang Liushu refused to believe it.

Jifeng replied, "Indeed. Everyone heard it. When she cursed the Grand Madam as some sort of unseemly woman, the Manor Master merely warned her not to hurl insults at random. But afterward, the young miss was woken up and began crying, and the Old Madam used the exact same abusive words she had hurled at the Grand Madam to curse the young miss as well."

"No, no, no. My eldest sister is an elegant woman; how could she possibly use such vulgar language to curse people? Was there something else that happened beforehand?" True to his background as an official in the Ministry of Punishments, Wang Liushu could not be easily swayed by such a one-sided account.

Jifeng shrugged. "The Grand Madam had a jade pendant on her person—the kind bestowed by men of the northern frontiers when expressing their affection to a woman. I heard from the Manor Master that it was given by Brother Li to Wan'er, the maidservant by the Grand Madam's side. Since Wan'er went missing, the Grand Madam likely kept it on her person as a memento. Somehow, it was ferreted out by the Second Madam and Princess Naxi'er, and the Old Madam jumped to the conclusion that the Grand Madam was having an illicit affair with an outsider. She insisted on searching the Exquisite Pavilion, yet found nothing whatsoever. Now, Young Miss Yixiao is the apple of the Grand Madam's eye; for the Old Madam to hurl unprovoked abuses at her, the Grand Madam naturally demanded an apology. When the Old Madam refused, you know the Grand Madam's temper—she threatened to kill the Old Madam. The two of them rowed more and more fiercely until matters reached this state!"

Hearing it explained thus, Wang Liushu finally understood.

He offered a sheepish smile and muttered, "My elder sister really... Even I can see that this was obviously a setup. How could she have fallen for it so easily?"

"Alas, the Manor Master's reasoning is precisely this: if things were left to the Old Madam's devices, Carefree Manor would likely be turned completely upside down. That is why the Manor Master placed her under house arrest. Lord Wang must realize that Princess Naxi'er successfully entering the manor was largely due to the Old Madam's efforts, so... the Manor Master is actually saving the Old Madam's life!" In a single breath, Jifeng elevated Qin Daofei from an unfilial son to a deeply filial one who was fighting tooth and nail to save his mother's life.

And it was precisely at this moment that this great, filial son, Qin Daofei, made his entrance.

"Uncle, you have arrived!" Qin Daofei walked in, gazing solemnly at Wang Liushu.

Wang Liushu's anger had already been extinguished by Jifeng by seven or eight parts. He let out a sigh and said quietly, "You child... you know your mother has a bad temper and is prone to impulse. You should have just reminded her, kept her under control, and reined her in! Why did you have to go and place her under house arrest?"

"Since Uncle puts it this way, let me speak frankly with you, starting from when my mother forced me to marry Linglong in the first place. I have always had my own life plans, yet my mother constantly felt that she had to force upon me what she deemed best. She never once considered whether those things were truly useful to me. She shoved Linglong at me, and I tried my best to accept her. But just as I finally convinced myself to accept Linglong, disaster struck Linglong. The moment disaster struck, my mother added insult to injury, having Uncle plot against Linglong from within the prison. I didn't even have a chance to rescue her; I watched with my own eyes as the prison was burned to ashes, and my heart turned as cold as ashes, believing Linglong to be dead.

"Fortunately, Linglong later returned. Yet from the very day she came back, my mother has racked her brains trying to drive Linglong away. Could she not see that during those two years of Linglong's disappearance, I was no different from a dead man? Yet she remained so cold-hearted, allying with Tan Xiyin to plot against Linglong at every turn. And now, to top it all off, even while knowing full well that Naxi'er had plotted against and framed me in the Great Demon City, and knowing full well that the Emperor was setting a trap for me, she still exerted all her strength to facilitate Naxi'er marrying into this family.

"She repeatedly brings misfortune upon Linglong. Given Linglong's disposition, dealing with my mother would be as easy as turning over her hand. The only reason she has refrained from dealing with her is because she loves me and does not wish to make things difficult for my mother. Yet despite me making it so clear, my mother still allows herself to be instigated by others to harm Linglong time and time again.

"Tan Xiyin and Naxi'er are both vipers. For my mother to ally with them is akin to bargaining with a tiger for its hide. I have reasoned with her and tried to discipline her, but my mother is dead set on driving Linglong away. And in this lifetime of mine, Linglong is the only one I will ever have!"

Qin Daofei's unwavering firmness left Wang Liushu sighing in amazement.

"Then... shall I go try to persuade her?" Wang Liushu felt that his elder sister had indeed gone too far.

Qin Daofei said quietly, "That would be for the best. Mother has not eaten for a day and a night. I hope Uncle can manage to persuade her, and I hope that in the future she will no longer target Linglong. I had such a hard time winning Linglong back, and neither of us is young anymore; we have no more time to waste on endless pursuits."

The vulnerability Qin Daofei displayed made Wang Liushu acutely aware that this nephew of his, who had strived to be strong since childhood, finally had moments where he felt utterly powerless.

The Pine and Cypress Residence.

Where the grand master's chair used to stand in the front hall, there now sat a towering Buddha statue. Ever since Qin Wang Xiangyu had been locked away by Qin Daofei, she had loosened her hair, donned plain mourning clothes, and remained kneeling before the Buddha, chanting sutras unceasingly.

When Xiahe brought her food, she refused even to cast a glance at it.

When Xiahe pleaded tearfully, she merely slapped Xiahe across the face. Completely at her wits' end, Xiahe could only stand by the doorway, praying that Qin Daofei would come and soften his stance.

Yet this time, Qin Daofei never came at all.

To her surprise, however, Wang Liushu arrived.

Upon catching sight of Wang Liushu, Xiahe was overcome with emotion. She hurried forward and said anxiously, "Uncle-Lord, you've finally come! The Old Madam refuses to eat anything, and she's been kneeling here for a day and a night."

"Go boil some soft, mushy porridge; your elder sister will eat it in a while!" Wang Liushu instructed.

Xiahe hurriedly scurried off to the back kitchenette to cook the porridge.

Wang Liushu walked inside, knelt down beside Qin Wang Xiangyu, and said gently, "Elder Sister, I am here."

"Go back. I have nothing to say to you, nor to anyone else in this world. Since Qin Daofei holds me in such contempt, I simply shall never see him again. He is merely a son, after all—there is nothing about him that I need to care for!" Qin Wang Xiangyu was clearly still nursing her grievances against Qin Daofei.

Wang Liushu let out a sigh. "Elder Sister, I have just been to the study, and Daofei has explained the whole sequence of events to me. I know you always wanted what was best for him, but have you ever considered this: Daofei was able to calmly take over the family business at the age of thirteen, after his father's death, and within a single year eliminated everyone who deliberately plotted to destroy Carefree Manor—did he ever ask you for help? Did he ever cry or complain to you?"

"What are you trying to say?" Qin Wang Xiangyu finally opened her eyes.

Wang Liushu forcibly helped Qin Wang Xiangyu up, seated her in a nearby chair, and said softly, "Elder Sister, I saw firsthand the exhaustion etched upon him. He truly loves Feng Linglong. If you forcefully try to tear them apart, you are merely forcing him to turn his back on you. After all, if he could manage Carefree Manor without relying on you when he was a child, all the more so now that he is one of the foremost figures in both the martial arts world and the commercial realm. He is even less subject to your control! Furthermore, he is intelligent; he knows how to weigh pros and cons. You only see that he placed you under house arrest, but you fail to see that he did so to protect you—he was saving your life!"

"You think I was in the wrong?" Qin Wang Xiangyu had originally assumed Wang Liushu was on her side, but she never expected him to act as an advocate for Qin Daofei.

Wang Liushu smiled. "Elder Sister, it's not that I think you were wrong. But have you ever wondered why he chose to place you under house arrest with such absolute decisiveness this time? Over the years, you have repeatedly and excessively interfered in his life, and he endured it all. Why did he break his forbearance only now?"

Qin Wang Xiangyu suddenly thought of the letter she had hidden away.

"Are you saying those women outside want me dead?" Qin Wang Xiangyu asked with a pale face.

Wang Liushu replied, "You hurled insults at your own granddaughter—I can understand that Feng Linglong's reaction was an impulsive one. But Tan Xiyin and Princess Naxi'er are neither of them benevolent souls; both are women capable of murder. Leaving Naxi'er aside, her original purpose in coming to Hanshi was hardly innocent. Daofei wanted to stop her, yet you insisted on facilitating her marriage into the family. Perhaps you thought that once she managed to kill both Feng Linglong and Tan Xiyin, driving her out of Carefree Manor would be as easy as turning over your hand. But by that time, would you have been able to escape unscathed? Even if you did escape, with Feng Linglong gone, do you think Daofei would continue to live?"

Qin Wang Xiangyu remained silent.

Wang Liushu continued, "Think about it: why did Naxi'er persistently demand a maid from you that day to serve Feng Linglong? Why, knowing full well that you detest Feng Linglong, did she insist on bringing her back for a meal? And when Feng Linglong stood up to offer a toast, Tan Xiyin happened to come over to pick up food, and as luck would have it, she spilled the food onto Feng Linglong's clothes, whereupon Naxi'er conveniently uncovered that jade pendant? And how was it that you were so blindly determined to search the Exquisite Pavilion?"

True to his training as an official of the Ministry of Punishments, Wang Liushu did not spell it all out directly; instead, he let Qin Wang Xiangyu piece it together herself.

Qin Wang Xiangyu's complexion turned dreadfully ashen. She gazed dully at Wang Liushu, saying nothing.

Wang Liushu smiled slightly and said, "Look at that. Actually, when you aren't acting on impulse, you can see things clearly enough. Yes, when they plotted against Feng Linglong, they were simply using you as a tool. That maidservant planted the so-called evidence of Feng Linglong's infidelity in the Exquisite Pavilion right after they left. If you had exposed it, and Daofei had minded those things, Feng Linglong would have been finished. Once they succeeded, the relationship between you and Daofei would have been shattered beyond repair."

"So I suppose I ought to thank him for placing me under house arrest, then?" Qin Wang Xiangyu snapped with bitter resentment.

Ha!

"Elder Sister, you still fail to see the bigger picture, which is why you must obediently stay right here. Once Daofei has resolved these matters, he will come to escort you out. By then, perhaps he and Feng Linglong will have had another child, and without these scheming women, wouldn't it be wonderful for your whole family to live in harmony?" Wang Liushu had also resigned himself to the situation. With Qin Daofei being so obstinate, apart from accepting it, they elders truly had no other recourse.

Humph!

Qin Wang Xiangyu gave a cold snort. "Then let him keep me locked up like this! I shall never step foot outside for the rest of my life!"

"Elder Sister, I know you still harbor bitterness over what happened with our brother-in-law back then, but you cannot project all your unhappiness onto the children. Daofei did nothing wrong, and neither did you. Daofei has provided you with a secure and wealthy life; the least you can do is grant him a peaceful and harmonious household in return."

As soon as Wang Liushu finished speaking, Xiahe entered carrying a bowl of porridge.

Wang Liushu smiled wryly and shook his head. "Ah well, I suppose I must do it myself. This stubborn old sister of mine and her bad habit of refusing to eat when angry—there's still only me who can cure it!"

"Humph, you've already been bought off by that unfilial brat, and yet you still want to feed me?" Qin Wang Xiangyu showed no intention of eating.

Wang Liushu said, "As long as he is doing it for your own good, I will go along with him. You've suffered enough bitterness in this life; do you intend to pass all that misery onto me as well?"

With those words, Wang Liushu spoon-fed a mouthful of porridge to Qin Wang Xiangyu.

Yielding at last, Qin Wang Xiangyu opened her mouth and swallowed a bite.

Wang Liushu broke into a joyful smile!

Jifeng departed from the Pine and Cypress Residence, returned to the study, and reported to Qin Daofei, who was currently reading a book: "Master, the Old Madam has eaten!"

"Mmm!"

Qin Daofei nodded. "Go to the Beyond-the-Clouds Tower and order some dishes the Grand Madam loves. I'm going to go smooth things over on that side!"

"Master, you truly have it hard!" Jifeng expressed heartfelt pity for Qin Daofei.

Qin Daofei shot him a sidelong glance and said indifferently, "You'll understand in the future—Afei is even harder to handle than Linglong!"

Just as Qin Daofei was busy coaxing Linglong, Princess Naxi'er arrived uninvited.

Supporting her belly, she wore a rather poor complexion.

After all, being a pregnant woman, Linglong asked with genuine concern, "You don't look too well, Princess. Are you unwell? Would you like me to find a physician to take a pulse?"

"There is no need, Sister Linglong. Husband only listens to your words; could you please persuade him to lift the house arrest on Mother-in-law? She didn't mean any harm, she was merely... if you must blame someone, blame me. Had I not meddled and brought your jade pendant to light, Mother-in-law would never have misunderstood. Now that this matter has blown up into such a mess, it bodes ill for Mother-in-law and reflects poorly on Husband's reputation as well. Don't you agree?" Naxi'er said plaintively.

Qin Daofei looked at her coldly and said, "No one's pleas will work in this matter. If you truly cared about my mother, you wouldn't have stirred up so much trouble in the first place!"

"Husband, I truly didn't mean to. Why must you be so stubborn? Mother-in-law is advanced in years; what if something were to happen to her being cooped up in the house like this?" What worried Naxi'er the most was not Qin Wang Xiangyu's health, but rather that she had lost such a useful tool and felt somewhat unaccustomed to it.

How could clever people like Qin Daofei and Linglong fail to see through her scheming? Yet neither of them exposed her. Linglong, in particular, smiled and said, "Princess Naxi'er, you have just arrived at Carefree Manor, so there are many things you may not understand. But there is one thing you would do well to learn: in Carefree Manor, nothing remains hidden for long. It is always wise to think things through before acting. Once you understand this, you won't try to persuade Qin Daofei to let Mother-in-law off, because she truly went too far!"

"But..." Naxi'er clutched her belly as she sat down, wearing an expression of utter fatigue.

"Should I go find a physician for you, then?" Linglong made as if to head out the door. Qin Daofei pulled Linglong back, while Naxi'er also stopped her, saying with a sorrowful, pleading tone, "I really am fine. I'm merely worried about Mother-in-law and cannot sleep!"

Ha!

Qin Daofei sneered. "If you are truly worried about her, why don't you go keep her company in the ancestral hall?"

Uh...

Naxi'er was choked speechless by Qin Daofei's retort. If she went to the ancestral hall, who would handle her affairs outside?

"Never mind. I know I have no say in Carefree Manor; I shall simply return to my quarters!" With that, Naxi'er turned and left.

Filled with bitter resentment after leaving Linglong's chambers, she made her way straight to the Melodious Pavilion.

Upon seeing her, Tan Xiyin said coldly, "What brings the Princess here so late?"

"I went to Linglong Pavilion just now to beg Big Brother Qin to release Mother-in-law, but he wouldn't even listen to me. I simply cannot understand—in Big Brother Qin's eyes, does Feng Linglong truly take precedence over everything else?" Naxi'er said with intense hatred.

Ha!

Tan Xiyin let out a laugh of utter despair. "As time goes on, you will come to realize that the despair you are experiencing right now is nothing at all. If Feng Linglong does not die, you will never win Big Brother Daofei over!"

And as for me, even if Feng Linglong dies, I still will never win him!

Tan Xiyin thought with a chilling sense of desolation.

A trace of unforgiving, cold malice flashed through Naxi'er's eyes as she muttered, "How, pray tell, can we manage to kill Feng Linglong?"

"I've heard that Princess Naxi'er once used Gu poison to control Big Brother Daofei, is that true?" Tan Xiyin raised her head to look darkly at Naxi'er.

Naxi'er's expression instantly turned guarded. She asked coldly, "What are you implying?"

"Precisely this—is there anything in this world more capable of killing a person without a trace than Gu poison?" There was a hint of regret in Tan Xiyin's tone.

Naxi'er replied indifferently, "Such things cannot simply be summoned at will. The Gu poison I used back then was a gift from a friend of mine. I will have to go ask him if he can provide me with some Gu worms."

"Then I wish the Princess success in getting what she desires!" Tan Xiyin narrowed her eyes, resembling a venomous, lurking serpent.

Naxi'er seated herself and said quietly, "No, no. This matter is not mine alone. You must understand that we are allies. I can go procure the poison, but the person who administers it must be you. Only then can I ensure absolute safety for myself."

"The Princess is truly calculating!" Tan Xiyin had not expected Naxi'er to be so cautious.

Naxi'er supported her belly as she sat, offering a faint smile. "Not at all. I merely wish for you to take part as well, otherwise avenging ourselves would lose all its amusement!"

"Very well, I agree!" After all, Tan Xiyin desired Feng Linglong's death far too intensely.

Once the two women finalized their plan, Naxi'er returned to her own chambers.

Upon entering, she shut the door and prepared to get ready for bed. But the very instant she turned around to latch the door, a figure clad in black silently materialized before her bed, gazing placidly at her.

Though startled at first, Naxi'er quickly recognized the visitor.

"Sir, you've come!" Naxi'er walked over with a smile. "I was just fretting over how to leave the manor to find you."

The man kept his head bowed. Hearing Naxi'er's words, the corners of his lips curved upward in a faint, eerie smile as he asked, "What is it you seek me for?"

It was that very voice—that aged voice, the voice of the strategist who had plotted alongside King Xiang.

"I told the Sir before: I love Qin Daofei, and I must have Carefree Manor. I must have his intelligence network, and I must have the man himself. But now Feng Linglong stands in my way, and I must eliminate her. Therefore, I have come to beg the Sir to bestow some poison upon me!" Naxi'er said coolly.

The man fell silent for a moment before replying, "How do you wish for her to die?"

"Naturally, she must die without a trace, preferably with no one able to investigate the cause of her death. That way, none of us will be implicated, and once she is dead, Carefree Manor will be mine!" Naxi'er said with a ferocious expression on her face.

The man chuckled coldly. "As you wish. Tomorrow, trick Feng Linglong into going out. I shall place a hairpin adorned with a coral bead in the jewelry shop opposite the Beyond-the-Clouds Tower. You must find a way to make her touch that hairpin. The moment she touches it, you will soon get what you wish for!"

"Very well, I shall find an opportunity to take her out tomorrow!" No sooner had Naxi'er finished speaking than the figure vanished swiftly into the secret passageway within her room.

Indeed, he had entered through the secret passage and departed through the secret passage!

Naxi'er gazed abstractedly in the direction where the man had disappeared for a long while before calling out, "An Muya, come in for a moment!"

"Princess, do you require anything?" An Muya asked, bowing low.

Naxi'er said in a low voice, "I have something to discuss with you..."

"...Princess, this is far too risky! We cannot do this!" An Muya wore an expression of intense disapproval.

Naxi'er said coldly, "What are you afraid of? The probability of this succeeding is extremely high. Once it succeeds, whether Tan Xiyin is around or not will make no difference. Even if she stays alive, she won't get a shred of affection from Qin Daofei anyway, so we might as well send her off to an early death!"

"Under the cover of night, An Muya slipped out."

The next day.

Acting as though nothing had happened, Naxi'er once again made her way to the Exquisite Pavilion.

"That bitch is here!" Afei sat at the table drinking tea, catching the sound of Naxi'er's footsteps from afar.

Linglong nudged Afei with a look of displeasure, reproaching her, "My little Yixiao is right here; mind your vulgar language!"

"Humph! So pretentious!" Afei retorted, ignoring Linglong thereafter.

Curious, Linglong asked, "Aren't you leaving?"

"I am not. I'm in a rather foul mood today with nowhere to vent my frustration, so I might as well find someone to take it out on!" Hearing Afei's reply, Linglong was left crying over nothing.

Sure enough, it was not long before Princess Naxi'er arrived.

"The Princess is certainly in high spirits, coming to my Exquisite Pavilion every single day!" Linglong said with a faint smile.

Naxi'er smiled as well, her eyes darting restlessly about the room. "Where is Husband? Why is he not here?"

"Your husband has to earn a living to support his family. If you're looking for him, go to the study now; you might catch him there," Linglong replied, unbothered by Naxi'er's directness, knowing full well that Naxi'er's purpose in coming to the Exquisite Pavilion was hardly to see her arch-rival.

Naxi'er laughed awkwardly. "My, listen to Sister Linglong. Even if Husband isn't home, can't I come seek out Sister Linglong?"

"My, why on earth would you look for Feng Linglong? To share tips on how to serve Qin Daofei?" Afei chimed in with a chilling, mocking tone.

Uh...

Linglong was struck dumb!

Naxi'er cast a sidelong glance at the unfiltered tongue of Afei, prompting An Muya to step forward, point at Afei's face, and snap, "Impudent wretch! How dare you hurl vulgarities at Her Royal Highness? You're asking for a beating!"

"Now, now, this lady is a guest of Sister Linglong; An Muya, show some respect," Naxi'er said, pulling back An Muya's hand.

Ha!

Afei chuckled. She stood up leisurely and asked in a low voice, "You want to hit me?"

Good grief!

Afei was angry—how terrifying!

Linglong could not bear to watch.

Naxi'er's hand, which was holding back An Muya, twitched slightly. Taking the cue, An Muya whirled around, intending to land a vicious slap across Afei's face. Instead, Afei effortlessly caught her wrist, gave a light flick, and hurled An Muya straight out the window, sending her into a clean, unhindered freefall that ended in a heavy thud onto the grass below.

Oh dear!

Clasping her belly in shock, Naxi'er hurried out to check on her, crying out in exasperation, "Sister Linglong, your friend here is simply too much! Why must she be so heavy-handed?"

"She's an assassin of the Netherworld Hall; could you expect her to be gentle? I don't even dare cross her paths easily," Linglong replied nonchalantly. "As for your maid, she's quite bold herself, actually trying to slap her. Even your own husband has to treat her with the utmost courtesy when they meet!" Linglong smiled faintly, having no intention of concealing Afei's true identity.

What?

Naxi'er recoiled a step. "You're saying this young lady belongs to the Netherworld Hall?"

"Indeed. The Gate Master of the Life Gate. Doesn't she look a bit fierce? I also think such a malevolent old hag isn't much to look at!" Having just claimed to be afraid of the woman a second ago, she began openly disparaging her in the next.

Naxi'er offered a stiff, polite smile. "Sister Linglong is quite the joker. Well, since my maid was ignorant and offended this lady, and since I happen to be wanting to pick out a set of simple, unadorned jewelry to accompany Mother-in-law in worshiping the Buddha at the temple, why don't both sisters accompany me out? We can go take a look at some jewelry together."

Go pick out jewelry?

Afei looked at Linglong; Linglong looked at Afei. Both shared a tacit understanding, knowing deeply that Princess Naxi'er harbored no good intentions whatsoever.

"Um, I think I'll pass. It's far too cold outside; I don't wish to go," Linglong said indifferently.

"Oh, Sister Linglong, don't be like that. My maid An Muya offended this lady, and I feel terribly guilty about it. Won't you at least let me make some amends?" Naxi'er smiled persuasively.

Insistent on buying jewelry, were they?

A thousand thoughts churned through Linglong's mind. She glanced at Afei, who casually remarked, "Let's go. Why not?"

For a fleeting second, Linglong suspected that Afei was simply looking for an excuse to go shopping for jewelry!

And thus, completely ignoring the plight of the recovering An Muya, the group of them headed out to shop for jewelry.

As fate would have it, just as they reached the main entrance, they happened to run into Tan Xiyin returning from outside. Catching sight of her, Naxi'er hurried forward with a smile and said gently, "Sister Xiyin, we were just heading out to buy some jewelry. Would you like to come along?"

Tan Xiyin's complexion was rather poor. She glanced at Naxi'er and was about to refuse when Linglong stepped forward and chimed in, "Didn't Concubine Tan have all her jewelry extorted away by Xiao Cui previously? For over a year now, she hasn't had anything decent to adorn herself with. Since Princess Naxi'er is feeling so generous today, you ought to go pick out a few pieces yourself!"

With that, Linglong took Tan Xiyin's wheelchair from the hands of the maid and pushed her straight out the gates.

Tan Xiyin was given no chance to refuse whatsoever!

Inside the carriage, Linglong propped her chin in her hand, admiring the scenery outside. Afei unceremoniously dumped little Feng Yixiao into Linglong's arms, muttering, "Go take a look with your mother!"

"For someone so young to already be the Gate Master of the Netherworld Hall, Afei is truly extraordinary!" Naxi'er seemed to be deliberately flattering Afei.

Afei replied coolly, "When you've killed enough people, becoming a Gate Master naturally follows. Nothing remarkable about it."

"Still, it is rather curious that you, a Princess from the northern frontiers, should be so well-informed about a sinister pugilistic faction like the Netherworld Hall," Linglong turned back to look at Naxi'er with a half-smile.

Naxi'er smiled as well. "Although I am a princess, my imperial father has no sons, and I am the one destined to inherit the throne in the future. Therefore, I have pored over texts detailing all the pugilistic sects and regional generals since I was a child; it is hardly strange. Besides, I am also well aware that assassins of the Netherworld Hall are traditionally retained by the highest bidder. I simply never imagined, Sister Linglong, that you would be capable of employing the Gate Master of the Life Gate herself as your personal bodyguard. You are the truly remarkable one here."