Chapter 16: Wanting to Capture Linglong, Even an Uncle Is Slapped in the Face

The main residence, Pine and Cypress Hall.

Qin Daofei sat upright, fiddling with the celadon teacup in his hand, listening to his mother's endless complaints about the dangers of Linglong returning to the manor.

A sudden gust of wind swept in from outside. Jifeng entered and whispered into Qin Daofei's ear the latest mischief Linglong had caused at the Miaoyin Pavilion. Qin Daofei pinched the bridge of his nose—this troublesome little thing!

After a pause, he said in a calm voice, "Today, there should be news from Suyeb City. Go see what the outcome is."

"Yes, sir!" Jifeng had come to understand by now: as long as Feng Linglong didn't kill anyone, there was nothing Qin Daofei couldn't tolerate. Perhaps, even killing might be forgiven.

"What are you daydreaming about? Go!" Qin Daofei snapped.

Lady Xiangyu, the Matron of the Qin family, slapped the armrest in frustration and said in a chilly tone, "Qin Daofei, did you hear your mother's words?"

"Jifeng just had something to report, so I wasn't paying attention. Would Mother please repeat what you said?" Qin Daofei replied with perfect seriousness, spouting nonsense.

Lady Xiangyu thought she was bound to be driven to an early grave by these two.

Little did she know, even more infuriating matters were about to unfold—things that would make her wish she could stuff Qin Daofei back into her womb.

She had no intention to repeat the countless crimes of Linglong; she couldn't even remember what she had said.

Mother and son sat in silence.

Lady Xiangyu thought, "I must find a way to drive her out. Absolutely."

Qin Daofei, meanwhile, was pondering, "What color clothes should I buy for her today? She used to dress like a rainbow, and now she looks as if she's in perpetual mourning. Forget it, I'll have Miss Feng make some for her. It's slow, but at least stylish."

"Madam, your brother is here!" Xia He hesitated, glancing at Lady Xiangyu.

Xia He had no idea about Qin Daofei's intention to write a biography of his uncle, nor why the old master seemed so irate.

Wearing a crimson official robe, Wang Liushu entered, glared fiercely at Qin Daofei, and said in a cold voice, "So, Jiong Zi Mei tells me you plan to write my biography?"

A "biography" was a code among the people of Carefree Manor.

It was said that when Qin Daofei, at the tender age of thirteen, first took charge of the manor, not only was he ostracized by his peers, but also targeted—openly and in secret—by high-ranking officials who'd suffered at the hands of Carefree Manor. The most ruthless schemer was none other than the Prime Minister himself.

Without hesitation, Qin Daofei used his family's resources to write an exposé on the Prime Minister, which spread widely among the populace. Eventually, word reached the Emperor, who paid a hefty sum for the evidence and exiled the Prime Minister's entire family to the frontier, forbidding them from ever holding office again.

So when Lady Xiangyu heard Qin Daofei intended to write his uncle's biography, she rolled her eyes and collapsed into her chair, Xia He rushing to her side in alarm.

Qin Daofei, however, said calmly, "Mother's health seems to be failing. Tomorrow, I will find a female physician to care for you, so you can recuperate properly."

"As for Uncle… It's just a biography; is that really worth such anger?" Qin Daofei was unconcerned.

"You just want to keep that wretched woman, don't you? Fine, keep her. Liushu, you've already spoken to the Prefecture of Jingzhao—told them not to bother us anymore. Let her court death as she pleases," Lady Xiangyu said, for her own family's honor was as important to her as her husband's.

Wang Liushu looked at his elder sister in confusion. "Sister, what do you mean? I never invited anyone from the Prefecture to our home."

"Mother should know by now—the poisoning case from years ago was never simple," Qin Daofei said, rising to bow. "Uncle, make yourself comfortable. I have matters to attend to."

"But… the biography…" Wang Liushu stammered.

Qin Daofei replied, "I had intended to record Uncle's achievements over the years, but since you are so modest, I won't boast on your behalf."

"You little rascal!" Wang Liushu cursed through gritted teeth.

Watching Qin Daofei's retreating figure, Lady Xiangyu murmured, "Does he have feelings for Linglong or not?"

No one could answer that question.

Qin Daofei returned to Linglong Pavilion, where Linglong was sitting amid her boxes of dowry, counting her belongings.

It was the first time he'd seen a woman drooling over her own silver. Qin Daofei said nothing, just looked at her coldly.

Noticing him, Linglong quickly hid her little golden abacus, slammed the box shut, spread her hands, and said disdainfully, "A manor master barging into another's room like this is very rude."

"Does this manor bear the surname Feng or Qin?" Qin Daofei raised an eyebrow, his voice unhurried.

Linglong pointed at the door. "It's Ling!"

"Pack up your things. I'm taking you to have some new dresses made," Qin Daofei said, eyeing her clothes with disdain. Even garments from two years ago now hung loose on her.

"Have those assassins been dealt with, that you're so bold to go out?" Linglong asked, picking at her fingernails.

"They have." Tang Li entered, placing a bundle of dossiers in front of them.

Qin Daofei didn't open them. "Inform the First Madam of the results."

"Madam, do you know from whom Wang Shun was taken?" Tang Li asked.

Linglong answered without hesitation, "A vile shrew!"

Qin Daofei frowned, spitting out through clenched teeth, "Linglong!"

She was utterly unconcerned.

"Our investigations show Wang Shun was first abducted by Lord Xiang…" Tang Li glanced at Linglong. He couldn't shake the feeling that Wang Shun's arrival was too coincidental, considering the history between Lord Xiang and Linglong—ah!

Lord Xiang!

Qin Daofei looked at Linglong with a half-smile and asked, "Have you kept in touch with Lord Xiang all these years?"

"Why not? If adulterers and adulteresses don't stick together, how are they adulterers and adulteresses?" Linglong answered coolly.

Hearing this, Qin Daofei stepped forward, hooked his finger under her chin, and said, "If I hear another foul word from your mouth, today I'll make sure you can utter only one sound."

Tang Li wanted to ask, What sound?

He didn't understand, but Linglong did immediately—her face flushed red as she slapped Qin Daofei's hand away, snapping, "You were the one who claimed I had an affair with him, and now you forbid me to speak of it? What do you want? Do you really think you're the master here?"

Qin Daofei ignored her and addressed Tang Li, "Continue."

Tang Li hesitated, calculating how to speak without invoking the manor master's wrath.

"Is it inconvenient for young master to say? Then I'll do it. Lord Xiang set fire, ambushed, and poisoned, but used an insufficient dose—enough to harm but not to kill. His aim was twofold: Wang Shun, and me, Feng Linglong." As she spoke of Lord Xiang, a deep hatred flashed in Linglong's eyes, which she didn't bother to hide even in front of Qin Daofei.

Qin Daofei frowned, pondering for a moment before replying gently, "I will make sure he pays the price."

A cold laugh.

"The grudges between Lord Xiang and me are none of your concern, Master Qin. You'd best focus on your concubine Tan—your lifelong affliction," Linglong said, pushing Qin Daofei away.

She picked up the dossier, leafed through it, and said in a flat voice, "You all just want to know how I managed to snatch someone from Lord Xiang, don’t you? In the world of wanderers, one is bound to meet a few good friends. I took Wang Shun from the assassin Ai Fei. When I married you, my father gave me a dowry worth one hundred thousand taels. All I want is to exchange it for one hundred thousand taels."

"Don’t you want to investigate what happened two years ago?" Tang Li pressed.

Qin Daofei shot Tang Li a glare—never before had Tang Li seen such naked reproach in his eyes.

"Two years ago? I committed every crime imaginable—murder, arson, prison break. Carefree Manor didn’t investigate thoroughly enough? What’s found by Carefree Manor is, naturally, authoritative," Linglong said with a careless laugh, then turned her back to them, clutching the die at her waist and pressing it to her abdomen.

This was her only solace when her emotions threatened to overwhelm her. It was how she had survived these past two years.

"Get out!" Qin Daofei barked, his tone sharp and cold.

Tang Li, aware of his misstep, hurried out.

"Lord Xiang is no longer the greenhorn who chased you through alleyways five years ago. Take care," Qin Daofei said stiffly.

"Who says he is?" Linglong answered lightly, toying with the die.

For a fleeting moment, even someone as clever as Qin Daofei couldn’t fathom what Linglong was thinking.

"Weren’t we going to the dressmakers? I have some business to take care of as well," Linglong said, gently stroking the boxes of her dowry, her brows shrouded in a mist that hid the true meaning behind her smile.

Qin Daofei frowned at her. His hand, resting at his side, clenched into a fist.

The two of them walked out of the room in silence, one after the other. Just as they reached the bottom of the stairs, they saw Steward Zhang leading a delicate young woman dressed in a shabby blue-and-white short jacket toward them.

Linglong and the young woman looked up at the same time—and froze.

"Miss?"

"Hua’er?"

"Miss, I knew you couldn’t be dead!" Hua’er was the maid Linglong had brought from her parents’ home. After Linglong disappeared into the prison, Hua’er had left the Qin household.

Linglong hugged Hua’er and smiled. "You make it sound like I’m some kind of old monster."

"You’re not an old monster—you’re a gluttonous, nine-lived cat!" Hua’er was so overcome she hugged Linglong tightly.

Ahem, ahem, ahem!

Linglong, still recovering from her injuries, was nearly undone by Hua’er’s embrace. Even with her face turning pale, her sharp tongue was undeterred. "Hua’er, have you been working the fields these years? Such strength!"

"Miss, how did you become so frail?" Hua’er asked, heart aching as she looked her over.

Linglong grinned, "Getting old—always brings a few ailments."

Hearing this, Hua’er assumed her mistress had fallen ill after a miscarriage. She gingerly supported Linglong’s belly, biting her lip, eyes reddening, tears streaming down her face.

"Hua’er, you’re making this very awkward for me. I don’t swing that way!"