Chapter 124: Outsmarting Steward Zhang

"Bitch!" Steward Zhang feigned absolute disgust toward Tan Xiyin on the surface, yet his hands eagerly tore at her garments.

After a bout of fierce indulgence, Steward Zhang slumped onto the bed and asked harshly, "What on earth do you want me to do?"

"I want you to help me steal the client ledger from the Xiaoyao Manor, and I want to know how much wealth Xiaoyao Manor actually has left!" Tan Xiyin replied with a coquettish smile, looking at Steward Zhang with utter impunity.

Steward Zhang turned pale, and he hissed, "That is impossible! I can't do this. There are far too many hidden agents in Xiaoyao Manor. Do you really think I have the ability to steal something so vital?"

"Then I'll just shout for everyone to come. Besides, I am already considered a venomous, shameless bitch anyway; I don't care at all what others think of me. With my eldest brother as my protective amulet, Xiaoyao Manor won't dare to do anything to me. But as for you—if anything happens, hahahaha, if you cuckold the Master of Xiaoyao Manor, I'm afraid your future... No, you won't have a future!" Tan Xiyin laughed wildly and heartlessly.

At that moment, Steward Zhang gnashed his teeth in hatred. Yet, as the steward of Xiaoyao Manor, he knew all too well how the manor dealt with traitors. Putting aside whether the Master would kill him, even if spared, he would no longer have any standing in the pugilistic world.

Thinking of these things, Steward Zhang lost all his bravado.

He gazed coldly at Tan Xiyin and said with a chilling tone, "I never expected that you would ultimately turn against the Master. You always boast that you love him more than your own life, but when the time came to hurt him, you showed not an ounce of mercy. Tan Xiyin, this is the last time I will help you. If there is a next time, I will kill you no matter the cost. At worst, I will tell the Master that I caught you illicitly fornicating with another man and killed you by mistake. Since you’ve been whoring around outside with all sorts of men, I am certain the Master will believe me. Perhaps he will even thank me for eliminating such a troublesome burden for him."

"Hehe, I have hidden a great deal of evidence regarding you and me. If you dare to lay a hand on me, someone will surely deliver it straight to Qin Daofei. By the time I reach the Underworld Bridge, you will have already caught up to me. Do you... dare to test it?" Tan Xiyin languidly draped her hand over Steward Zhang's body with seductive charm.

Furious, Steward Zhang shoved Tan Xiyin away, got out of bed, and began dressing.

Just as he was about to leave, Tan Xiyin purred seductively, "Remember, I am only giving you three days. If the three days pass and you still haven't brought me what I want, then we shall both perish together!"

"Bitch!" At that moment, Steward Zhang had no other words left to express his hatred for Tan Xiyin.

Heh!

Tan Xiyin laughed icily. "I've already fallen to this state anyway. Whether you curse me or call me cheap, none of it can hurt me. No one can hurt me except Qin Daofei. But from now on, don't even dream of Qin Daofei hurting me either!"

Tan Xiyin failed to notice that outside her window, a pair of eyes had witnessed the entire process of her illicit liaison and transaction with Steward Zhang.

Knock, knock, knock!

The gates of Linglong Pavilion were struck.

At that moment, Linglong was pinned underneath Qin Daofei, right in the middle of some wicked mischief. Hearing the knocking, Qin Daofei buried his face against Linglong's chest in sheer frustration and hissed, "If this isn't a matter of life and death, I'm going to kill whoever it is!"

"Go already! If you wake up Feng Yixiao, I'll never forgive you!" Linglong kicked Qin Daofei, her face flushed with shyness.

Qin Daofei turned back, planted a fierce kiss on Linglong's lips, and then reluctantly went to open the door.

Once the gates were opened, Qin Daofei saw the maid who usually attended to Tan Xiyin kneeling outside. As she looked up and caught sight of Qin Daofei, she said urgently, "Master, this lowly servant has something to report."

Something concerning Tan Xiyin?

"Come in!" Qin Daofei stepped inside and instructed her, "Shut the door!"

After the maid entered and closed the door, Linglong also walked out from the inner chamber. Seeing that it was Tan Xiyin's maid, she narrowed her eyes and gazed at her coolly, as if appraising her.

Once inside, the maid immediately dropped to her knees and pleaded, "Master, Grand Madam, please, save me!"

"You haven't even said what the matter is. How can we save you?" Knowing full well that this bastard Qin Daofei would never speak up if someone else was pleading for help, Linglong took the initiative to ask.

The maid replied, "This lowly servant was originally sent by Mother Xiahe to keep an eye on the Second Madam. However, the Second Madam was well aware of my identity. One day, she grabbed me by the hair and forced a poisonous pill down my throat, forbidding me from reporting anything about her to Mother Xiahe. Terrified of dying, this lowly servant truly stopped telling Mother Xiahe the truth after that. But I swear, this lowly servant has never helped the Second Madam do anything wicked!"

"Hah, that certainly sounds like Tan Xiyin's style!" Linglong sneered sarcastically.

Qin Daofei leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers rhythmically against the table, remaining silent.

Terrified by his silence, the maid continued to drop bombshells. "Master, there is one more thing this lowly servant must report. The Second Madam's legs were never injured at all; she has been faking it the entire time! She frequently disguises herself as this lowly servant to slip out. I followed her once and discovered that she goes to Steward Zhang's room every single time, staying there for hours without coming out. Previously, I didn't understand why, but just a short while ago, I saw the Second Madam and Steward Zhang inside the room... inside the room... doing *that*. Afterwards, the Second Madam even forced Steward Zhang to help her steal the account books recording Xiaoyao Manor's business transactions, as well as the ledgers detailing Xiaoyao Manor's current financial status. I didn't dare speak of previous matters because I lacked proof, but tonight's events were heard by my own ears! That is why I risked my life to come and inform the Master and the Grand Madam!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Who would have thought? Tan Xiyin actually hooked up with Steward Zhang as well?" Linglong gloated with schadenfreude.

Qin Daofei finally spoke up. "Go back for now and stay put. Come back tomorrow night at this time, and I will have the Divine Doctor Ye examine you. As long as it's a poison, the Ye family has a way to cure it. From now on, unless it's a matter of grave importance, you don't need to report every little thing. Dismissed!"

"Yes!" Having secured Qin Daofei's promise, the maid finally left with a reassured mind.

After the maid departed, Linglong poked Qin Daofei's arm and asked, "Hey, does your concubine really need men that badly?"

"Mm. What, do you want to give half of your man to her?" Qin Daofei asked indifferently.

Naturally not daring to answer that, Linglong grinned baring her teeth and said, "No, I was just wondering: how many men does she actually have? Ranging from the Imperial Son-in-law down to stewards and footmen, with officials like Jiong Zimei somewhere in the middle. Tsk, tsk, tsk, what will you do if she hooks up with the Emperor next?"

"Instead of having the spare time to worry about her, you'd better worry about yourself!" Qin Daofei raised an eyebrow at Linglong, not a trace of anger in his eyes. As for Tan Xiyin, he had once shared sibling-like affection with her, which was why he had been reluctant to see her become a loathed woman. But now... it had nothing to do with him anymore. Even if Tan Xiyin were to steal every man under the sun, it wouldn't concern Qin Daofei in the least.

Hearing Qin Daofei's words, Linglong instinctively scrambled to the side.

Before she could escape, however, Qin Daofei grabbed her by the arm, pulled her back, and settled her onto his lap. Linglong protested, "I was merely speaking the truth! I had no intention of mocking you!"

"I just want to ask you: when on earth did Qin Yixiao become Feng Yixiao?" Qin Daofei gently lifted Linglong's chin, tracing her lips with his slender fingers.

Mentioning this instantly gave Linglong plenty to say!

She retorted fiercely, "You have the nerve to ask me when?!"

"Back when you fled far away to the northern frontier and I left Xiaoyao Manor, I had already decided that you were my cast-off husband. Since that decision was made, Feng Yixiao naturally had to take the surname Feng. Later on, when you got entangled with Nuan Xier and engaged in a heartbreaking illicit affair, my hatred grew even deeper, giving Feng Yixiao even less reason to carry the surname Qin! Besides, she isn't even your child, so why on earth are you fixating on this issue?" Linglong reeled off her evidence, feeling thoroughly righteous.

Hearing this, the corners of Qin Daofei's lips curved into a faint, mocking smile. "So, what you're saying is... Yixiao was born by you alone?"

"Yes! I gave birth to her at the Tongtian Tower. It's not like you didn't see it!" Linglong declared defiantly.

Qin Daofei leaned down, wearing a bewitching smile as he said to Linglong, "Then tell me again: who was the man with you at the Tongtian Tower?"

"It was you... It was you... But—"

Before Linglong could finish, Qin Daofei pressed a single finger against her lips, saying calmly, "Since you know it was me, why can't Yixiao be the child of both you and me?"

"But—"

Linglong's words were once again cut short by Qin Daofei. "There are no 'buts.' Let's make a wager: whoever begs for mercy first loses, and whoever begs for mercy gives their surname to Yixiao!"

Oh no!

Linglong covered her mouth. She wanted no part in this blatantly preordained losing wager.

However, Qin Daofei would not allow her to refuse...

Several hours later, Linglong finally pleaded for mercy: "Alright, alright! I'll listen to you, I'll listen to you, okay?!"

"Good!" Although he agreed, Qin Daofei did not stop.

Such a beast!

Linglong wailed inwardly. Why on earth did she allow herself to be coerced by such an untrustworthy scoundrel!

Having been forced into a night of unbridled indulgence, Linglong naturally could not get up the next morning.

Qin Daofei left early in the morning, leaving the responsibility of looking after Feng Yixiao to Jifeng. Jifeng looked resentfully at Aifei and complained, "I am Xiaoyao Manor's finest intelligence officer, and now I've been reduced to babysitting. Where is justice in this world?"

"Aren't you the one who would rush to your death without hesitation if your master told you to? How is it that being asked to watch a child for a moment has you unwilling?" Aifei sat nearby, gloating.

Jifeng scooped up Feng Yixiao and sidled closer, leaning against Aifei's shoulder. He cast a pitiful puppy-dog look at Aifei and asked, "When will you give me a child of our own? I'd be more than happy to watch my own child!"

Hah!

"In your dreams!" Aifei said, turning to walk away.

Jifeng grabbed the sleeve of Aifei's robe and even incited Feng Yixiao: "Yixiao, wrap your legs around her and let's see how Uncle Jifeng deals with this stubborn woman!"

Mh?

"You truly have a death wish, don't you?" Aifei said coolly.

Jifeng grinned flashing his teeth. "That's right, I've grown tired of living! What are you going to do about it?"

With that, taking advantage of the fact that Feng Yixiao was hugging Aifei's leg and preventing Aifei from moving freely, he threw his arms around Aifei and began planting kisses all over her face. Once he had his fill, he bolted away, laughing triumphantly as he ran.

Aifei rolled her eyes. "Childish ghost. Unless you plan on never seeing me again for the rest of your life!"

"Kisses!" Seeing Jifeng and Aifei kissing, Feng Yixiao puckered her own lips and demanded kisses too. Aifei shot her a disdainful glance and said coldly, "When you grow up, go find a husband of your own to kiss. Aren't you gross?"

By the way, wasn't kissing Jifeng gross too?

Hmph!

Feng Yixiao pounced her lips. That was why she liked Longlong and Feifei the least—they always stole Daddy and Uncle Jifeng away from her!

Returning from outside, Qin Daofei headed straight for the study.

"Wuying, come out!" Qin Daofei called out quietly.

Wuying emerged from the shadows, bowed, and asked, "Master, what are your orders?"

"Go and clear everyone out of the accountancy office to attend a meeting outside. If Steward Zhang is there as well, take him along too. Make sure under no circumstances is he left alone in the accountancy room." Qin Daofei instructed calmly.

After Wuying left, Qin Daofei tossed a set of account ledgers onto the desk and said quietly, "Retrieve the real account ledgers and put these fake ones in their place in the accountancy."

"Yes!" A voice sounded, and immediately after, the account books on the desk vanished without a trace.

Having finished his task, Qin Daofei stood up and walked out.

When he reached the fork in the path leading to Linglong Pavilion, Songbai Residence, and Miaoyin Pavilion, he paused for a fraction of a second before turning toward Songbai Residence.

Songbai Residence.

Qinwang Xiangyu had resumed eating normally, but she still knelt before the Buddha statue every day chanting sutras. Yet her expression did not grow any more peaceful from the chanting; the single glance she cast at Qin Daofei when she opened her eyes was filled with bitter hatred and sorrow.

"Mother!" Qin Daofei called out.

Qinwang Xiangyu closed her eyes once more, completely ignoring him.

Qin Daofei quietly knelt beside her, saying nothing.

After the two of them remained locked in this stalemate for a full hour, Qinwang Xiangyu finally opened her eyes and asked, "What is your goal? A grown man refusing to tend to his own affairs and wasting time bickering with me here—what is the point?"

"Mother, the New Year is fast approaching. Your son dearly wishes that you could let go of your prejudice against Linglong so we can spend the New Year together in peace!" Qin Daofei said with utmost sincerity.

Hmph!

Qinwang Xiangyu let out a cold snort. "If I am unable to change my attitude toward Feng Linglong, do you intend to keep me locked up for the rest of my life?"

"At least until Tan Xiyin is dead, your son will not let Mother out!" Qin Daofei replied with brutal honesty.

Hmph!

Qinwang Xiangyu scoffed again. "You cannot kill Tan Xiyin. In your heart, Tan Jian's past affection and loyalty to you make it impossible for you to strike. It's just like your feelings for Feng Linglong—if she hadn't used her own family's wealth to help you out time and time again back then, you never would have survived to see this day, let alone enjoy such prosperity!"

"Tan Jian is Tan Jian, and Tan Xiyin is Tan Xiyin. If Tan Jian knew everything Tan Xiyin has done, he would not oppose me killing her! As for Linglong, my initial feelings for her were resentment, annoyance, and hatred. But I cannot ignore the fact that from the very first time we met, Linglong has had the power to influence me. She is a woman with a kind of magic; she shapes her son's life. I love her—not out of any sense of repaying a debt, but genuinely, truly love, without any reason whatsoever."

...

After remaining silent for a moment, Qinwang Xiangyu said coldly, "You may leave. Be it New Year's Eve, the Spring Festival, or any holiday in the future, as long as either of those two women—Feng Linglong and Tan Xiyin—is present, I will not attend."

Qin Daofei stood up, cast one look at Qinwang Xiangyu, and said quietly, "Mother, surely you know that Linglong has never owed you anything!"

With that, Qin Daofei walked away.

Qinwang Xiangyu shed a single, clear tear, but uttered not a word, continuing to chant sutras before the Buddha.

Stepping out of Songbai Residence and heading toward Linglong Pavilion, Qin Daofei encountered Tan Xiyin along the path. She was wearing a pink cross-collared jacket, sitting in her wheelchair and smiling brightly as she watched him approach.

Qin Daofei acted as if she did not exist, lifting his foot to walk past.

Tan Xiyin, however, called out, "Brother Daofei, let's talk?"

"Speak!" Qin Daofei stood rooted to the spot, entirely unconcerned by the freezing, snowy weather.

Tan Xiyin gave a desolate smile. "Brother Daofei, the wind and snow outside are so fierce, and my health is poor. Surely you wouldn't leave me out here in the freezing cold?"

"How much time do you need for whatever you have to say? I will give you precisely one quarter of an hour. A quarter of an hour won't freeze anyone to death!" Qin Daofei said indifferently.

Heh!

Tan Xiyin sneered. "Brother Daofei, you truly disregard all past affection, don't you?"

"The affection between you and me ceased to exist the moment you repeatedly harmed Linglong and caused the death of the child belonging to me and Linglong." Qin Daofei didn't spare Tan Xiyin an ounce of face.

Hahahaha!

Unfazed, Tan Xiyin burst into cheerful laughter.

Only when tears welled up from laughing did she finally stop. Wiping away her tears, she gazed mournfully at Qin Daofei and said, "Brother Daofei, you truly don't even care about my eldest brother's kindness anymore. But honestly, I don't particularly care either. However, there is one thing a certain mysterious person asked me to relay to you: Feng Linglong is cultivating a poison inside her body called 'Stepping Lotus', which is specifically designed to deal with you. The woman you believe belongs to you is actually the most terrifying one of all. She will eventually ruin your reputation and ultimately cause you to die from the poison."

"Ah, then relay this to him: even if Linglong drinks poison every single day and every inch of her body becomes venomous, she remains the best woman in this world to me. I am more than happy to be poisoned to death by her. If he feels unsatisfied, why doesn't he let Linglong rely on him instead?" Without looking back, Qin Daofei strode away.

Hmph!

Tan Xiyin smiled sinisterly. "Qin Daofei, even if Feng Linglong doesn't do all these things, I will. I will make sure you suffer every single one of them."

"Let's go!" Tan Xiyin hissed to her maid.

Cowering, the maid pushed Tan Xiyin's wheelchair back.

Suddenly, something violently slammed into Tan Xiyin's wheelchair, flipping it over to the left.

Tan Xiyin tumbled to the ground in a thoroughly disgraceful heap, glaring with venomous eyes at Aifei—who had overturned her wheelchair—and Feng Linglong, who was waving at her from behind Aifei.

"Feng Linglong, are you only capable of such boring, petty pranks?" Tan Xiyin demanded coldly.

Linglong pouted. "I haven't had the time to deal with you previously, but you've been getting a bit too full of yourself lately, haven't you? However, my greatest virtue is that I am utterly devoid of bottom lines. As long as it disgusts you and makes you furious, I couldn't care less whether it's a prank!"

"What are you trying to do?" Tan Xiyin stared darkly at Linglong.

Linglong smiled. "Remember Old Man Rat?"

At the mere mention of Old Man Rat, Tan Xiyin's entire demeanor shattered. She shrieked, "Feng Linglong, do you intend to bully a disabled cripple in front of all the people of Xiaoyao Manor?!"

"Well, that depends on whether you can manage to keep pretending to be disabled in front of Old Man Rat!" After issuing this preemptive warning, Linglong walked over with her hands behind her back and retrieved a cage from a corner.

Placing the rat cage right in front of Tan Xiyin, Linglong said, "Tan Xiyin, this rat broke into my room the day before yesterday to forage for food, so out of annoyance, I caught it and locked it up. It hasn't eaten in three days. Look at its fierce little eyes! Look at its ravenous fangs! And look at its fur—isn't it lovely?"

"Feng Linglong, why are you doing this to me? By what right do you treat me this way?" Trembling all over from absolute terror, Tan Xiyin still forced herself to argue.

Pfft!

Linglong slapped her own thigh, laughing merrily. "When you were trying to terrify Qin Daofei just now, why didn't you stop to think about why and by what right you treated him that way? But if you insist on a reason, I can give you one: because... I simply find you an eyesore!"

With a cool smile, Linglong straightened Tan Xiyin's posture, dusted some white powder across her face, and even insolently patted Tan Xiyin's chest twice before rubbing her hands in the snow in feigned disgust.

Deciding they were clean enough, she ambled over with a beaming smile and said, "Tan Xiyin, you must endure this, you hear? Your task isn't completed yet. If you jump up and run away right now, you'll have to fulfill your promise and crawl out of Xiaoyao Manor, won't you?"

"Feng Linglong, you will die a horrific death!" Tan Xiyin cursed her viciously, teeth clenched, eyes bloodshot.

Eh?

Linglong chuckled. "I am doing exceptionally well right now. The man you love loves me deeply, and I believe there is nothing better in this world than that. Besides, I'm afraid I'll still be living a wonderful life long after you've already perished!"

Saying this, Linglong applied another batch of medicinal powder directly to Tan Xiyin's lips.

When Tan Xiyin tried to wipe it off with her hand, Linglong struck her across the face with a crisp slap and scolded sternly, "In Xiaoyao Manor, I am the Grand Madam. You openly threatened your husband and disregarded all laws of propriety and morality. As the legitimate first wife, it is my duty to discipline you!"

Shooting Linglong a venomous glare, Tan Xiyin spat out, "Feng Linglong, one day I will make you pay back everything you've done to me!"

"Oh, absolutely. I'm merely making you pay back the difficult life you forced me into when you framed me, threw me into the Jingzhao Prefecture prison, and forced me to flee everywhere after losing my child. An eye for an eye—I think it's entirely fair!" With that, Linglong snatched up the rat and held it right before Tan Xiyin's eyes, smiling as she said, "I searched for a very long time to find this male rat. I'm sure... you'll adore him!"

Right in front of Tan Xiyin, without batting an eyelid, Linglong produced a pair of scissors and ruthlessly snipped off the male rat's vital parts. She then dropped the rodent onto the ground. Driven half-mad by agonizing pain, the rat spun in circles on the spot before the bitter snow completely numbed its wound. Sniffing the air, it scurried directly toward Tan Xiyin.

Tan Xiyin shrieked at her little maid, "Kill that rat for me! Kill it right now!"

Not daring to disobey, the maid hurriedly turned around to look for something to smash the creature with. As she rushed past Aifei, Aifei flicked her wrist slightly, and the maid collapsed into the snow, instantly unconscious.

With Tan Xiyin's sole lifeline knocked out by Aifei, she could only dig her fingernails deep into the snow, forcing herself to stay calm. She reminded herself that she only had one final step left; she absolutely could not leave Xiaoyao Manor at this juncture.

Thus, as the rat lunged forward, scrambling across her mouth, her face, and burrowing into her bodice, she forced herself to remain motionless, enduring it all without twitching a muscle.

Linglong watched her coolly, entirely unsurprised by her choice to swallow her terror and endure!

"Feng Linglong, you'll come to a miserable end!" Tan Xiyin gagged repeatedly while screaming curses.

Attracted by the commotion, a crowd of servants hurried over to watch. Hearing that a scene was unfolding in the front courtyard, Steward Zhang also started walking that way. However, upon reaching a corner and catching sight of the rat clambering over Tan Xiyin's bosom, he abruptly changed his mind, turned around, and headed toward the accountancy office in the front courtyard via a different route.

Since everyone had gathered to watch Linglong discipline Tan Xiyin, the front courtyard was essentially deserted. When Steward Zhang slipped inside, only a single young clerk was sweeping the floor.

"Steward Zhang? Do you need something?" the clerk asked.

Steward Zhang smiled. "Nothing much, nothing much. I just came to check if there's anything I can use to help chase away that rat. The one on the Second Madam is terrifying!"

"Ah, what a pity!" The clerk scratched his head. "I can't see it. I wish I could go watch the excitement too!"

"In that case, go ahead. You're young, and you're quicker at catching rats than I am. Here, take this!" Steward Zhang casually handed a feathered duster to the clerk, who happily scurried off.

With the clerk gone, the accountancy office was truly empty.

Seizing the opportunity, Steward Zhang darted inside, rummaged through the counter for the account ledgers, shoved them into his tunic, and then pulled out a hand-warmer. He placed an oil-soaked hemp string inside the bronze stove, extending one end of the string beneath the curtain before hastily slipping away.

In the courtyard.

"What on earth are you all doing?" Qin Daofei’s cold voice rang out from behind the crowd.

Hm...

Linglong shot Qin Daofei a side-long glance and said coolly, "Nothing much, except that your dear Second Madam's clothes are rather disorderly, which is somewhat offensive to public morals, Master Qin!"

And indeed they were!

Tan Xiyin hadn't dared to flee, but once the rat burrowed into her robes, she had desperately clawed at her own clothes trying to chase it out. Yet rats are natural tunnelers, and the creature kept burrowing deeper into her bodice to seek relief from its pain, causing Tan Xiyin's garments to slip open further and further.

Finally, gritting her teeth, Tan Xiyin grabbed the rat, crushed its life out with her bare hands, and hurled its carcass straight at Linglong's feet.

Just as she finished, Qin Daofei arrived.

Looking half-crazed, Tan Xiyin raised her head, her tear-filled eyes swimming with mist as she gazed at Qin Daofei. "Brother Daofei, do you think treating me this way is fair? Is it fair?!"

"Affairs between women are not my place to interfere with. Is Steward Zhang present?" Qin Daofei asked indifferently.

Steward Zhang stepped out from the crowd, lowering his head submissively. "What does the Master require of me?"

"Today I wish to host the Second Imperial Prince and the Divine Doctor Ye Lishang. Have the kitchens prepare a feast and fine wine. As for everyone else... disperse, will you?" Qin Daofei instructed casually.

Since the Master had ordered them to scatter, no one dared linger, and the crowd quickly dispersed.

With "great kindness," Linglong handed Tan Xiyin over to Steward Zhang to be taken back.

Not long afterward, a sudden fire broke out in the front courtyard's accountancy office, throwing everything into utter chaos. Yet Qin Daofei remained unbothered, sitting in Linglong Pavilion happily shelling sugar-roasted chestnuts for Feng Yixiao and Linglong.

"Hey, the account office is on fire! Aren't you worried at all?" Linglong asked playfully, eyeing Qin Daofei with amusement.

Qin Daofei brought a shelled chestnut toward Linglong's lips. Just as she was about to eat it, he instantly diverted it into Feng Yixiao's mouth, asking tenderly, "Yixiao, are the chestnuts delicious?"

"So yummy!" Feng Yixiao ground the chestnut with her few baby teeth, rewarding Qin Daofei with a sweet smile.

Furious, Linglong pinched Feng Yixiao's cheek. "Am I not your mother?"

"Daddy's... baby!" Feng Yixiao announced in her baby voice, then scrambled onto Qin Daofei's lap with an intensely possessive air.

Chuckling, Qin Daofei wrapped his arms around Feng Yixiao and continued feeding her.

Hmph!

Linglong grew incensed. What's so great about shelling a chestnut?

If you won't shell them for me, can't I shell them myself?!

Smack!

Qin Daofei swatted Linglong's hand away and asked coolly, "Why did you go stirring up trouble with a rat to torment Tan Xiyin again?"

"She spoke ill of me. Why shouldn't I scare her a little?" Unable to eat a single chestnut, Linglong poured herself a cup of tea to soothe her irritation.

Giving Linglong a look that suggested he saw right through her, Qin Daofei remarked, "Your little antics were just creating an opportunity for them, weren't they?"

"Oh, absolutely. After being played around by Tan Xiyin for all these years, I simply had to watch her get played with for once... By the way, Feng Yixiao, shouldn't you be taking your afternoon nap right now?" Linglong truly could not bear the sight of father and daughter acting so lovey-dovey. Her heart ached, her mouth ached, and frankly, everything felt sour.

Qin Daofei raised an eyebrow at Linglong. "Feng Yixiao?"

"Look, Feng Yixiao! Your daddy just admitted that you're a Feng!" Linglong laughed saucily.

Heh!

Qin Daofei chuckled too, but his smile carried an aggressive intensity!

"Jifeng, get in here for a moment!" Qin Daofei called out calmly.

Keenly dedicated to carrying out sweet-talk sessions up on the rafters, Jifeng hurriedly scrambled down upon hearing the summons. Knocking politely on the front door, he asked, "Did the Master call?"

"Qin Yixiao is due for her afternoon nap. Take her away to sleep, will you?" Qin Daofei declared shamelessly.

Jifeng wanted to beat his head against a wall. "Master, I am neither a maid nor a wet nurse!"

"However, didn't you boldly declare that you'd become a father within a month? Or perhaps you'd prefer that woman to keep arrogantly calling you 'Madman'?" Qin Daofei continued dangling bait in front of Jifeng.

Unable to listen any longer, Aifei dropped down from the rafters, seated herself at the table, propped her chin in her hand, and shot Qin Daofei a defiant look that practically screamed: *I'm sitting right here, and I'm not lifting a finger!*

Realizing the Master actually had a solution, Jifeng snatched up Feng Yixiao in one arm, slung his other arm around Aifei, and bolted out the door, terrified of disturbing the Master's private business.

No matter how foolish Linglong might be, seeing Qin Daofei's posture gave her a sudden jolt of alarm. She turned on her heels and prepared to sprint.

Before she could even make it out the door, a pale purple sash whipped through the air, wrapping precisely and securely around her waist.

With a gentle tug from the other end of the sash, the Master of Qin neatly reeled her back into his arms. By some demonic sleight of hand, as he retrieved his sash, he managed to untie Linglong's sash as well.

Uh...

Clutching her garments tightly around herself, Linglong stammered, "Feng Yixiao... Yixiao won't fall asleep unless I'm the one coaxing her!"

"Is that so?" Qin Daofei pulled Linglong flush against his chest. "Then why is it that every time you try to put her to sleep, you end up falling asleep yourself while she crawls off the bed to find Jifeng?"

Uh...

Linglong floundered. "N-no! I was just exhausted! Normally she's very attached to me—"

"Is she?" Qin Daofei relentlessly dismantled her excuses. "Then why am I the one putting the child to sleep every single night?"

That remark instantly ignited Linglong's fury. "Weren't you doing that because... because you wanted to get her to sleep early so you could have your way? She would have fallen asleep eventually once she tired herself out! Did I ask you to meddle?!"

"Didn't we already reach a consensus regarding Yixiao's surname? Why do you persist in calling her Feng Yixiao?" Qin Daofei possessed an endless supply of arguments, every single one capable of rendering Linglong defenseless.

Hmph!

That stirred up Linglong's anger all over again. "Was that a consensus?! I was coerced by you! You forced me!"

"Did I hold a knife to your throat?" Qin Daofei asked.

Linglong shook her head!

"Did I choke your neck to force you?" Qin Daofei pressed on.

Linglong shook her head again.

"Did I hit you or scold you?" Qin Daofei closed in even closer!

"Hold on!" Linglong stopped him, grumbling, "You... you practically bullied me into it, and you know it!"

Heh!

Qin Daofei replied heartlessly, "I don't know it. Therefore, you need to explain to me how I forced you."

Hmph!

Linglong gave Qin Daofei a shove. "You only ever know how to bully me using this trick! It was like this in the past, and it's still like this now. Qin Daofei, you're a bully!"

"Darling, that isn't bullying. That's called love. You must believe me!" Qin Daofei's lips brushed against Linglong's earlobe, sending a shiver down her spine that turned her legs to jelly. Just as she started sliding toward the floor, Qin Daofei caught her by the waist, hoisted her up, caught the edge of her crumbling collar, and smiled happily to himself.

Linglong rolled her eyes frantically. After a long moment of panic, a thought struck her, and she weakly offered, "Actually... Feng Yixiao... Yixiao doesn't have to carry the surname Feng. Really! I'm not all that stubborn about it!"

Oh!

Qin Daofei nodded. Lifting Linglong into his arms, he carried her over, dumped her onto the bed, and pressed his entire weight down on top of her. "Since you made me waste so much breath just now, don't you think you ought to compensate me?"

"Qin Daofei, don't push your luck!" Enraged to her limit, Linglong tried to fight back.

Qin Daofei gracefully wound a lock of Linglong's hair around his slender finger, tucking it behind her ear before murmuring softly, "I promise, it'll just be for a little while. We still have to host the Second Imperial Prince and Ye Lishang later."

"Knowing the Second Imperial Prince is coming, you still want to mess around?! I need to go get ready to welcome our guests!" In the desperate struggle between life and death, Linglong did not forget to provoke Qin Daofei.

Qin Daofei bit playfully at Linglong's cheek. Releasing her, he hissed, "You're going to welcome guests?"

Good grief!

She'd baked her own brain with anger!

"No, *you* are welcoming guests! The Second Imperial Prince is your friend, so naturally you should greet him. If you exhaust yourself beforehand, how will you entertain him later?" Even on the brink of despair, Linglong still sought to poke the beast.

Qin Daofei snatched Linglong's hairpin and flipped it to release the bed curtains, instantly plunging them both into a private, secluded enclosure. All that could be heard was Qin Daofei's soothing, cajoling voice: "Be a good girl and trust your husband. For this brief amount of time, your husband won't get tired!"

***

Ye Lishang and the Second Imperial Prince arrived ahead of schedule.

The moment they stepped into Xiaoyao Manor, they were greeted by a thick, heavy smell of smoke lingering in the air.

"Chengjie, it looks like Xiaoyao Manor caught fire!" Ye Lishang wore the expression of someone eager to watch a good spectacle.

Catching the scent as well, the Second Imperial Prince grabbed a passing servant and demanded, "What happened here in Xiaoyao Manor? Why is there such dense smoke?"

"Answering Your Highness, the accountancy office caught fire!"

"I'll be!" Ye Lishang trotted over, wearing an intensely gossipy expression. "Then where is your Master? Where did your Master go?"

The servant shook his head. "We went to Linglong Pavilion to report it, but Brother Wuying said the Master wasn't in the manor, yet strictly ordered that no one is allowed to enter Linglong Pavilion!"

The servant was beginning to question his entire existence!

Oh!

Ye Lishang lost interest. If Qin Daofei wasn't worried, it meant everything was fine!

"What, are you disappointed that nothing is wrong?" The Second Imperial Prince grabbed Ye Lishang by the wrist and dragged him toward Linglong Pavilion.

Ye Lishang's instinct for self-preservation kicked in instantly!

"Uhm, I can vividly imagine what kind of situation is going on inside Linglong Pavilion right now, so perhaps we shouldn't go there?" Ye Lishang hinted broadly.

What?

The Second Imperial Prince wasn't feeling particularly reasonable.

"We always head to Linglong Pavilion. If we don't wait there, where else would we go?" The Second Imperial Prince pulled Ye Lishang forward.

Digging his heels in, Ye Lishang resisted. "We truly cannot go! If we do, Qin Daofei will murder me!"

The Second Imperial Prince seemed to understand.

"Was it another one of your馊主意 (terrible ideas)?" The Second Imperial Prince frowned slightly and said, "I don't think Qin Daofei is the one who will kill you. If Feng Linglong ever finds out, consider yourself lucky if she doesn't hack you into a thousand pieces!"

Hmph!

Ye Lishang muttered defensively, "I merely suggested that Qin Daofei needed to plow the fields diligently if he wanted to father a child. Who knew he'd actually take it so seriously? Does he want a child *that* badly?"

Uh...

The Second Imperial Prince gazed at Ye Lishang with a profound look. "This isn't about whether he wants a child or not. Qin Daofei missed out these past few years... He's trying to make up for lost time now. Understand?"

"As expected, men are all heartless scumbags!" Ye Lishang stomped his foot in indignation, deeply disgusted by their beastly behavior.

Hah!

"As if you aren't a man yourself!" The Second Imperial Prince grabbed Ye Lishang's arm, pivoted him in the opposite direction, and dragged him toward the front reception hall.

***

Having eaten and drunk his fill, Qin Daofei finally remembered to handle the matter of the burned accountancy office. Upon walking into the front courtyard, he spotted Ye Lishang and Feng Yixiao rolling around together in the snow.

Deeming it beneath his dignity to associate with such a sight, Qin Daofei tried to slip past them unnoticed. However, Feng Yixiao spotted him, patted the snowy ground beside her, and chirped, "Daddy, roll, roll! Fun!"

"Yixiao can play with Uncle Ye. Daddy is going to check on the accountancy office!" Qin Daofei seamlessly took full advantage of Ye Lishang.

Upon witnessing this, the Second Imperial Prince naturally followed along behind Qin Daofei.

Halfway there, however, the Second Imperial Prince suddenly remarked in an eerie tone, "Whose cheap advantages are you taking, you bastard?"

"It has nothing to do with you, does it? I wasn't talking about you." Qin Daofei was in quite a pleasant mood, his tone toward the Second Imperial Prince exceptionally light.

Which made it all the more pitiful for a certain someone who had long been deprived of release. Not only did that person have to endure a burning torment, but he also had to suffer the disdain, mockery, and unmitigated cheap shots of a thoroughly satisfied husband.

Of course, someone as deeply cunning as the Second Imperial Prince would never let himself suffer a loss. Whatever indignities he endured courtesy of Qin Daofei, he would unfailingly make Ye Lishang pay back in full.

Just as the Second Imperial Prince began plotting against him, Ye Lishang—who was busy rolling snowballs with Feng Yixiao—suddenly felt an inexplicable chill run down his spine, terrifying him into shaking the snow off his robes as he shivered uncontrollably.

***

Accountancy Office.

Tsk, tsk, tsk!

Stepping inside, the Second Imperial Prince let out an admiring sigh. "This fire was set remarkably well. It burned nothing except the account office!"

"Indeed. The fires in our Xiaoyao Manor are exceptionally obedient," Qin Daofei replied coolly.

The Second Imperial Prince surveyed the ruins in silence.

At that moment, the young clerk walked out timidly, looking as though he had something important to report.