Chapter 53: Linglong's Anger Unabated, the Overlord Provokes Once More

"Feng Linglong, why are you so cruel?" Tan Xiyin's tears fell in rapid succession.

Linglong regarded her with bloodthirsty eyes, a cold, ghostly gaze, and her lips curled into a merciless smile as she enunciated each word: "You call me cruel?"

"You want to destroy my face so I can never reconcile with Brother Daofei! You want to break my fingers just to torture me! You claim it's for vengeance for my parents—what are they to you? Why put on such a righteous front?"

"Oh my, how clever you are! You've guessed it all. So, will you cut or break?" Linglong looked at Tan Xiyin with icy sarcasm.

Tan Xiyin bit her lip. "Would Brother Daofei permit you to do this?"

"Him? I'll deal with him the same way in a moment. Don't worry, neither of you will escape." Linglong toyed with the dice at her waist, smiling.

Tan Xiyin's pupils shrank with fear. She desperately searched Linglong's expression, trying to discern if she truly meant to harm her.

But in Linglong's eyes, there was nothing but indifference and the will to kill.

Trembling, Tan Xiyin grasped Linglong's hand. "Feng Linglong, I'm already crippled. My legs are numb, whatever grudges there were, I've already paid for them. Please, spare me."

"Spare you? Years ago, you failed to kill me but robbed me of my child. Did you spare me? I crawled back from the depths of hell, and still, you try to kill me at every turn. Did you ever spare me?" Linglong's eyes were cold, but her smile remained.

Tan Xiyin knew—Feng Linglong was not like Qin Daofei. Even if Qin Daofei wanted her dead, he would grant a swift end. Linglong, however, would torment her before death.

Yet she could not resign herself to dying.

"Madam, I beg you, let me go!" Unable to rise, Tan Xiyin could only reach for Linglong's hand.

These hands, with but a flick, had claimed four lives. These hands had plunged her into suffering, made her a wanderer plagued by nightmares.

Such hands!

Linglong flung Tan Xiyin's grasp away and, with a cold gleam, drove the dagger down.

A shriek.

Tan Xiyin screamed, terror filling her eyes.

Then, time seemed to freeze. All eyes fixed on Linglong's dagger. Yet it had not pierced Tan Xiyin's arm, but landed on the bedpost beside her.

But—

Drip, drip.

The sound of water striking the floor echoed from under the bed, unnaturally eerie in the silence.

Linglong looked down—there, under Tan Xiyin's bed, a small puddle was forming.

Tan Xiyin had wet herself in terror!

Heh.

Linglong sneered, pulled the dagger free, calmly donned her bamboo hat, and said coolly, "I'll return tomorrow. Yet I may not be so merciful next time. Best resolve your personal issues before I come again."

With that, Linglong departed.

Tan Xiyin, eyes bloodshot, watched Linglong's retreating figure, her thin fingers curled as if to crush something in her grasp.

"Feng Linglong, just you wait! Just you wait!" she spat through clenched teeth.

Outside the Melody Pavilion, Hua'er asked Linglong, "Miss, are you really going to let her go?"

"Do you think your mistress is such a kind soul?" Linglong pursed her lips, smiling. "She’s weak now. If I stabbed her for real, everyone would censure me. I’m not that stupid. I’ll just scare her every day, make her life miserable."

Fang Qing gazed at Linglong, her eyes deep. After a moment, she said, "No wonder he fell in love with you even while raging. This is the first time I’ve realized you’re actually clever."

Uh!

"What do you mean, fell in love while raging… with whom?" Even under the bamboo hat, Linglong’s eyes darted about uneasily.

Heh!

Fang Qing’s smile was less than sincere.

"How many times do you think Lord Qin has wanted to strangle you?" Fang Qing asked.

Linglong rolled her eyes. "Every moment, I suppose?"

"Yet you’re still alive?" Fang Qing pressed.

Linglong retorted, "Worse than dead!"

Fang Qing was left speechless.

At the fork leading to the various courtyards, Hua’er asked in confusion, "Miss, now that Linglong Pavilion is burned down, where shall we go?"

Linglong glanced at Pine Cypress Residence and the front courtyard where Qin Daofei stayed, then looked back at the Melody Pavilion. With a sly smile, she suggested, "Why not move to Melody Pavilion and become neighbors with Tan Xiyin?"

"No!" Hua’er and Fang Qing refused in unison.

Uh!

"Why not?" Linglong thought it sounded fun—she could drop by for a chat anytime.

"Because you’re the main wife of the Villa, and that’s the West Wing—for concubines," Qin Daofei’s voice cut in from behind, grave and low.

Linglong turned and looked at him in the sunlight. Only now did she notice how haggard Qin Daofei had become, a faint stubble on his once flawless face. Even a handsome young lord could be worn down by life, it seemed.

Hmm.

Linglong reined in her straying emotions, cleared her throat, and asked, "Then where do I stay?"

"The front courtyard. The main house!" Which meant—sharing a room with Qin Daofei?

Heh.

Linglong shot him a sidelong glance. "Aren’t you afraid your mother will throw a fit if you let me, a woman, stay in the main house?"

"Linglong Pavilion is gone. Aside from the front courtyard, only Pine Cypress Residence remains. I doubt my mother would want to share with you. There’s no other choice," Qin Daofei frowned. Every time he recalled Linglong dealing with his mother, he felt a headache coming on.

"But I don’t really want to live with you!" Linglong said bluntly. "I actually prefer getting close to Concubine Tan these days!"

Linglong’s "close" was uttered through gritted teeth.

Qin Daofei stepped forward, grasped Linglong’s wrist, and said softly, "Be good. Come back with me. You’ve been in the dark room too long—you shouldn’t stay in the sunlight for so long."

"I can walk myself. I’m not your mother; you don’t need to support me," Linglong shook off his hand. But after a single step, she nearly stumbled and quickly clung to Hua’er and Fang Qing, grumbling, "Why aren’t you two helping me?"

Who else would so openly snub the Villa Master but Feng Linglong?

Qin Daofei only looked at her, his gaze dark, showing no sign of annoyance.

They returned in a grand procession to the front courtyard, to Qin Daofei’s rooms. Fang Qing and Hua’er were assigned to Tang Li’s room; Tang Li squeezed in with Gale, the two forming a protective flank around Qin Daofei’s quarters, like door gods.

That, according to Linglong.

At Qin Daofei’s instruction, none dared oppose Linglong as she bullied her way about.

As soon as Linglong entered Qin Daofei’s chamber, her eyes lit up. The scoundrel had clearly prepared this for her. Once, his quarters bore not a trace of feminine presence. Now, the scent of rouge filled the room, the warm jade curtains a telltale sign.

Flowers and potted plants were arranged everywhere, all clearly premeditated.

A brand-new dressing table and jewelry—each piece carefully selected.

With everyone keeping her company through the day, Linglong felt at ease. But when night fell and the others withdrew, leaving only her and Qin Daofei, an awkward silence settled in.

Linglong stood by the window, breathing in the fresh air.

Qin Daofei stood a short distance away. Since Linglong remained silent, he too did not speak.

At last, when Linglong’s legs began to tremble, Qin Daofei relented: "Linglong, rest, will you?"

"I’m not sleepy. I’m fine," Linglong replied with forced composure.

Qin Daofei, amused, scooped her up and tossed her onto the bed. "If you won’t sleep, I have ways to make sure you do."

Linglong shrank away from him, making her aversion plain, flailing her limbs to fend him off, aiming squarely at his most vulnerable spot.

Qin Daofei gazed at the ceiling, at a loss.

He dragged over a chaise lounge to her bedside. "Don’t worry. I lost the bet; from now on, unless you permit it, I won’t touch you. Not until the day you allow it."

But that day—would be his to determine.

"Then enjoy waiting," Linglong said, pulling the covers over herself and, in her heart, sneering: Just wait a lifetime, why don’t you?

Yet a lifetime is long—who could say what would happen?

Qin Daofei propped his head on his hand, reclined on the soft couch, and quietly watched Linglong’s back. For him, as long as he could watch her, it was enough.

Linglong wasn’t really asleep, either. She could feel Qin Daofei’s gaze upon her, but she was too angry to pretend nothing was wrong, too angry to banter with him as usual.

For Linglong, this was the highest level of anger.

So angry she couldn’t even muster the urge to argue.

That night, neither slept, and neither spoke. The silence pressed so heavily on Linglong that, near dawn, she rolled over and glared fiercely at Qin Daofei. "You damn scoundrel, you keep staring at me—I can’t sleep!"

"If you can’t, I can’t either," Qin Daofei replied, sounding almost aggrieved—like a ghost had possessed him.

Linglong stared at the canopy. After a silent moment, she said quietly, "I’ll count to three, and we’ll close our eyes together."

Qin Daofei smiled, closed his eyes contentedly, and said, "Feng Linglong, one day, I will get what I want, and you will have what you seek—but only some of it."

For some reason, Linglong felt as if Qin Daofei had cast a net, trapping her inside.

"If I don’t tear your net to shreds, I’m not Feng Linglong," she muttered to herself as she drifted off.

Qin Daofei, eyes half-lidded with sleep, traced Linglong’s brows with his slender fingers. "Go ahead—layer by layer, unless you can tear it all the way to the end of the world."

One boasted of tearing nets, the other of casting them to the world’s end.

Ah!

If one can’t sleep at night, one will rise late in the morning.

When Linglong awoke, Qin Daofei was gone, the chaise moved to the corner as if the previous night’s separate beds had never happened.

In front of her bed lay a new set of lotus-pink clothes, a pair of pearl-trimmed shoes on the footstool.

Linglong sprawled across the bed, breathing in the lingering scent of Qin Daofei. She didn’t want to get up.

"Miss, did you sleep well?" Hua’er entered, carrying a washbasin, and drew the curtains slightly to let in a sliver of sunlight. "Young Master said a bit of sunlight is good, but to take it slow. Can you handle it?"

"Don’t call him Young Master—he isn’t!" Linglong grumbled.

Hua’er laughed. "He is, as long as he likes you, I’ll acknowledge him as such. He also said I should make you good food, and even drink a bit of wine with you to keep you company."

"Just because he lets you drink with me, you like him now?" Linglong smacked her lips. "Though I actually do want a drink."

Hua’er, hearing this, said, "I’ll ask Sister Fang Qing to join us, then fry a few dishes so we can drink together?"

"No, I’m deciding whether to visit Concubine Tan or Prince Xiang first today." Linglong propped her head in her hands, looking troubled.

Plop!

Hua’er dropped her handkerchief into the basin, splashing water onto her skirt. She wrung out the cloth and scrubbed Linglong’s face fiercely.

"Ouch, Hua’er, are you trying to murder me?" Linglong yelled, her face squeezed and pinched out of shape.

Hua’er, eyes red with anger, spat, "You’re still unwell, yet after faking death to avoid Prince Xiang, now you want to seek him out? If you want me dead, just say so, and I’ll cut my own throat and join Master!"

"Are you secretly in love with Master?" Linglong teased, her face full of gossip, betraying no sign of her recent inner turmoil.

Ah!

Hua’er twisted Linglong’s cheek harder. "Don’t think I won’t deal with you just because you’re my mistress. I’m angry!"

"Don’t be, don’t be! Go and prepare some snacks for drinking," Linglong soothed, seeing Hua’er’s eyes redden and not daring to further offend her feisty maid.

Hmph!

Hua’er hung the handkerchief on the rack and stormed out.

Soon after, Fang Qing entered, regarding Linglong in puzzlement. "Hua’er was only in here a moment—how did you drive her to that state?"

"I was well-behaved," Linglong insisted, not moving a muscle to prove it.

Fang Qing only smiled.

Then—

Both glanced at the ceiling. Linglong rolled over and called to the rafters, "Little Feifei, since you’re here, come down. What’s there to be shy about?"

Thud!

A bundle dropped in front of Linglong’s head, and Ai Fei was already perched on the desk.

Linglong sat up and opened the bundle—inside were countless severed fingers. She recoiled, tossing the package off the bed.

"You dreadful woman, where did you find such things?" Linglong demanded.

Ai Fei sipped her tea unhurriedly. "I killed everyone in the Asura Sect. These are my gifts to you—congratulations on your second resurrection."

Pfft!

"Sis, if you’re giving gifts, at least choose something nicer?" Linglong hopped off the bed, used her pretty new shoes to kick the package away, then kicked at Ai Fei. "Take that thing away! If you scare Hua’er, I’ll fight you!"

Ai Fei used a palm technique to retrieve the package, tossing it onto the rafters, and resumed drinking tea.

Linglong dashed over, hooked a finger under Ai Fei’s chin, and pulled off her veil, revealing a scar that had clearly been there a while.

"Who did this to you?" Linglong asked coldly.

Ai Fei removed the veil entirely. "I fought the Asura Sect. Injuries are inevitable."

"Those fingers are freshly cut; that scar is old," Linglong said skeptically.

Ai Fei raised an eyebrow. "You think the Asura Sect is easy to deal with? Got anything to eat? I’m starving."

"Sure, ten taels a bowl for beef noodles. If you want wine, fifty taels," Linglong spread her hands, greed written all over her face.

Ai Fei set her teacup down, voice cold. "Drug Qin Daofei, strip him, and put him in bed for me to play with. I’ll give you five thousand taels."

Pfft!

As Ai Fei spoke, Linglong and Fang Qing were both raising their teacups. Hearing this, they simultaneously turned to Ai Fei and sprayed her with tea.

Ai Fei calmly shielded herself with her black veil, escaping the aromatic assault.

Fang Qing looked at Linglong as if watching a farce.

Linglong was speechless.

"Um… I’m just afraid he’ll kill me!" Yes, Linglong feared only Qin Daofei’s wrath—she had no reluctance otherwise.

No, not at all!

Tsk!

Ai Fei dropped the veil, snorted, "Women!"

"Big Sister Fei, you’re back?" Hua’er entered with a tray of dishes and a steaming bowl of beef noodles.

Ai Fei actually smiled at Hua’er. "Yes, I came a long way and I’m famished."

"Then take the noodles first. I’ll go cook another bowl," Hua’er said, placing the bowl in Ai Fei’s hands.

Linglong reached out to snatch it, but Ai Fei flashed her dagger onto the table. "When I’m hungry, I’m no different from a beast!"

"And when I see money slipping away, I’m no different either!" Linglong grinned, eyes narrowed.

Hua’er moved Linglong’s hand aside and said to Ai Fei, "Don’t mind her, Sis Fei. My mistress got a little daft from being locked up—she’s not right in the head."

Uh!

Linglong felt distinctly out of favor.

"Enough fooling around. She looks travel-worn—let her eat before you bicker," Fang Qing interjected, catching Linglong’s resentful look.

Linglong smirked. "Why don’t you try being nice to her next time?"

Strangely, Fang Qing noticed that the same mischievous grin flashed at the corners of both Linglong and Ai Fei’s mouths. Truly two odd women.

When Hua’er returned, she brought three more steaming bowls of noodles.

The women gathered, drinking wine and eating in great comfort.

"Didn’t your man forbid you to drink? Why so generous today?" Ai Fei asked after a sip.

Linglong’s hand paused, her face clouding.

But Ai Fei was used to this love-hate banter and pressed on, mocking, "I see, just as I thought—a woman."

Afraid Linglong would be hurt, Hua’er poured wine for Ai Fei and motioned for Fang Qing to encourage Linglong.

Ai Fei squinted at Linglong. Linglong tossed a peanut at her. "What are you staring at? No matter how you look, I won’t turn into a man to satisfy your perverted desires."

Pfft!

Fang Qing and Hua’er both snorted with laughter.

"A woman who crawled out from piles of corpses on the frontier—if you could be defeated by such trivial matters, you’d be better off as a courtesan in the border winds. The useless have no right to be my friend," Ai Fei declared.

Indeed, both spoke with unique and forceful styles.

"I always wanted to be a courtesan at the frontier, but the madam feared my beauty would cause trouble and wouldn’t hire me. What could I do?" Linglong shrugged, her expression saying, "Is it my fault I’m this outstanding?"

So infuriating!

Ai Fei slammed her wine cup down. "Shameless!"

"Can a face be eaten or exchanged for silver?" Linglong stood, lifting her skirt and placing one foot on the stool, the picture of a female hooligan.

Hua’er hurriedly pulled her down. "Miss, if you keep jesting so indecently, I’ll be truly angry!"

Linglong burst out laughing, then took a deep drink.

"Oh dear, Hua’er is angry. Come, let’s not be upset—let’s drink!" Linglong poured wine for them all, grinning ingratiatingly.

When Qin Daofei returned, he found four women sprawled drunkenly among a mess of leftovers.

Seeing him, Linglong staggered up and lurched toward him.

Qin Daofei caught her in his arms. "Drunk? Are you feeling unwell?"

Linglong said nothing, but began fumbling with his clothes. Only when his strong chest was exposed did she beam in satisfaction. "Ai Fei, didn’t you want to sleep with this man? Five thousand taels—deal!"

Pfft!

Tang Li and Gale, lurking nearby, both burst out laughing.

Qin Daofei’s face darkened at once. What proud man would be pleased to be so lewdly… objectified by a woman?

"You little fool, I let you drink to cheer up, not to go mad!" Qin Daofei gritted his teeth, lifting Linglong by the collar and placing her on the bed.

Linglong, once she touched the bed, fell into a deep, untroubled sleep.

Qin Daofei glanced askance at Tang Li. "Aren’t you going to take her away, or are you waiting for me to throw you out?"

"Right away!" Tang Li scooped up Hua’er and hurried off.

Gale dropped from the rafters, rubbing his nose. "It’s none of my business, but I’ll see Miss Fang Qing home."

Once they were gone, only Ai Fei and Qin Daofei remained. They locked eyes.

Suddenly, Ai Fei struck.

Her sword darted like a dragon, aiming directly for Qin Daofei’s vitals.

Qin Daofei blocked with one hand behind his back.

"You eat and live in my house, yet raise your hand against me—why?" His voice was cold.

Hmph!

Ai Fei snorted. "While I was away, what did you do to that woman?"

"That’s between her and me—not your concern." Qin Daofei hadn’t expected that even drunk, this woman could be so dangerous.

His sleeve had been sliced open!

No longer daring to show off, he used both hands.

"When she dragged me out from a pile of corpses, her business became mine." Ai Fei’s moves remained swift and ruthless.

On the bed, Linglong, annoyed by the noise, turned over with a groan. "My head hurts—stop bothering me!"

Immediately, Qin Daofei and Ai Fei stopped, leaping into the courtyard to continue their duel.

Tang Li and Gale sat on the veranda rail, watching with relish.

The masters’ exchange was dazzling—Tang Li and Gale could only see two figures clashing midair.

The fight alarmed the Villa’s guards, who rushed in, surrounding the courtyard.

Tang Li waved them off. "It’s fine. Friends of the Master. Disperse."

The guards, unconvinced, retreated only after seeing Tang Li and Gale standing down.

"I’m done," Qin Daofei announced, landing a knife-edge chop to Ai Fei’s wrist. With a clang, her sword fell.

Ai Fei landed, sneering at him.

After drinking and exerting herself, a flush colored her normally pale face. But the glaring scar made Gale grit his teeth.

"I’ll fight you next—let’s go to the back hill!" Gale dragged Ai Fei off.

Tang Li was puzzled. "Master, why does Gale want a beating?"

"It’s probably the season," Qin Daofei replied coolly.

The season?

Tang Li scratched his head for a while, then clapped his hands. "Master, can Gale handle it?"

"Who’s handling whom?" Qin Daofei shot him a look.

Tang Li muttered, "Gale’s doomed!"

Qin Daofei ignored him and strode coldly back inside.

Linglong was fast asleep, legs tangled in the quilt, a crumb of cilantro at the corner of her mouth.

Qin Daofei wiped her face with a cloth, then lifted his sleeve to inspect his injuries.

He hadn’t noticed before, but now saw several scratches on his arm. "To be the woman of the Nether Hall’s Gate Master—truly extraordinary."

He stripped off his robe, rolling up the sleeve to expose the wounds.

They weren’t deep, but he made sure they were visible for someone to see.

Yet that someone slept until dusk. Upon waking, she just clutched her head and groaned.

Qin Daofei ignored her, slowly cleaning his wounds with wine.

Oddly, the wounds looked worse than before.

Linglong, thirsty, rolled around a few times before dragging herself up and staggering over for tea.

After two cups, she regained some strength.

Hiss!

Qin Daofei, tending his wounds, sucked in a breath. The gash at his right elbow was hard to reach, no matter how he twisted.

Linglong watched him through narrowed eyes.

He tried and failed several times, growing frustrated and tossing the cloth aside, ready to re-dress and ignore it.

Without a word, Linglong yanked open his shirt, rolled up his sleeve, and pressed the wine-soaked cloth down hard.

Hiss!

Qin Daofei winced, drawing in a sharp breath.

"It’s far from your guts. Won’t kill you," Linglong said gruffly, tossing the cloth aside and turning to leave.

Qin Daofei grabbed her wrist. "I’ve been out all day, haven’t eaten."

"Then go find your cook—I can’t cook," Linglong huffed, shaking him off and returning to bed.

Qin Daofei did not move, simply lay down on his little couch, hugging his arms and curling up in the corner, looking pitiful.

Linglong gritted her teeth. "A grown man acting pitiful—disgraceful."

She vented, then lay down herself, ignoring him.

But after sleeping all day, she was wide awake.

It became a contest of wills.

At last, Linglong stormed out.

She returned with a bowl of noodles, slamming it on the table. "Eat! Stop acting like a scorned woman."

Qin Daofei opened his eyes—he was clearly pleased, but masked it well, sitting down at the table without a hint of triumph.

After the first bite, Linglong frowned.

At the second, she thought he must be inhuman.

As he went for a third, she snatched the bowl away. "How can you eat such salty noodles?"

"If it’s from you, I’ll eat poison," he replied, reclaiming the bowl and continuing.

Uh!

For some reason, Linglong felt herself being flirted with.

"Whatever. Eat yourself to death for all I care!" She stomped back to bed, dizzy with anger.

Qin Daofei finished the overly seasoned noodles in one sitting, even the broth.

Then he strode over, looking down at Linglong. "The room’s too messy. I’ll have it tidied. Will you come out with me?"

At that moment, the setting sun slanted through the window.

Linglong bit her lip, looked at Qin Daofei, and reluctantly followed him out.

After giving instructions to Tang Li, Qin Daofei took her hand. "Want to watch the sunset from the roof?"

"No!" Linglong stamped her foot, determined not to be swayed by his little gestures.

But Qin Daofei swept her up to the top of the Sky Tower.

This tower was the tallest structure in the capital. From its peak, one could survey the whole city.

The sunset struggled and leapt, but was gradually swallowed by darkness.

Standing so high, the gloom in Linglong’s heart eased.

She gazed at the splendor of the city, but in Qin Daofei’s eyes, she was all the splendor he needed.

The next day.

Ai Fei appeared in the room, poured herself tea, and said coolly, "Qin Daofei has destroyed several of Prince Xiang’s illicit businesses. He’s almost lost his financial backing."

"Impossible. He’s a royal prince, with estates and stipends from the emperor. His family could live in comfort for generations. How could he be broke?" Linglong was skeptical.

Ai Fei sneered, as if mocking Linglong’s ignorance.

"Do you know how many men Prince Xiang keeps?" she asked.

Linglong fell silent. She knew Prince Xiang aimed to rebel, and anyone with such ambitions needed a power base—but she didn’t know how many.

"I reckon he’ll come for Qin Daofei soon," Ai Fei said with a hint of schadenfreude.

Linglong shot her a look. "Any other news from Prince Xiang’s mansion?"

"Yes. Princess Xiang was killed by Liu Fengying. The day Concubine Tan took a knife for Qin Daofei, Princess Xiang begged Prince Xiang to save her child—but he was set on seizing you, so he ignored her. As soon as he left, Liu Fengying killed her."

Though it was someone else’s tragedy, Linglong felt a chill down her spine. Clenching her fists, she asked, "With Prince Xiang’s household in chaos, isn’t Minister Liu raising a fuss over his daughter’s death?"

Linglong thought if Minister Liu made trouble, Prince Xiang would be too busy to bother with her.

Hmph!

Ai Fei snorted. "That Liu is inhuman. His children are just stepping stones to his success. One dead daughter means nothing—a new princess will still be his daughter. He doesn’t care about a dead one."

"Princess Xiang truly lacked sense," Linglong sighed.

Had Princess Xiang not used threats against her, Linglong would have helped her to the end of her pregnancy. She might not have saved the mother, but she would have protected the child.

But…

Linglong looked at her hands, suddenly feeling she too was a bloodstained executioner.

"Don’t look. Your hands are clean. If even your little villa is so full of intrigue, what hope for Prince Xiang’s mansion, so close to the palace? If not Liu Fengying, someone else would have done it. The woman was too foolish—she was doomed regardless. It had nothing to do with you."

Linglong gave a bitter laugh. "Seeking revenge for my father and my child, I’ve become the sort of person I despise."

"Despise yourself? Then give me all your silver and go die," Ai Fei demanded, hand out.

Uh…

Linglong gritted her teeth. "You greedy, lustful woman!"

"You see? Not melodramatic anymore," Ai Fei shrugged, not looking at her.

Linglong couldn’t help but laugh and cry.

As Ai Fei predicted, Prince Xiang soon appeared—but this time, he came secretly with assassins, not in open daylight.

With Qin Daofei and his men away, Steward Zhang rushed to Linglong. "Madam, please save the old madam!"

"What’s happened?" Linglong asked coolly.

"The old madam has been taken hostage by Prince Xiang. He says unless the Master comes out, he’ll kill her."

"Then go find your Master. Why come to me?" Linglong remained unmoved.

Steward Zhang wiped sweat from his brow. "Madam, the Master is in Yuanyang with Tang Li and Gale. They won’t be back soon. I beg you—please save the old madam!"

"Very well, let’s see," Linglong smoothed her skirt and said coldly, "I have business with Prince Xiang anyway."

Ai Fei, unable to appear openly, hid in the shadows. Linglong took Hua’er and Fang Qing to the rear courtyard.

There, Prince Xiang’s assassins had set out a chair for him. He sat with Qin Wang Xiangyu under his foot, his sword at her throat.

Seeing Linglong approach, Prince Xiang narrowed his eyes and smiled. "My Linglong, you truly are a cat with nine lives."

"Feng Linglong!" Qin Wang Xiangyu spat. She had once rejoiced at news of Linglong’s death, but upon hearing she’d survived, had avoided her out of annoyance.

Now, trampled underfoot, all her humiliation was thanks to Feng Linglong. Had it not been for her, would she have suffered such injustice?

Linglong advanced unhurriedly, stopping just a pace away and regarding Prince Xiang with cool detachment.

His sword did not move, but his gaze burned hot enough to scorch her.

"You’ve finally come out!"

Linglong smiled, walked up, and without looking at Qin Wang Xiangyu, delivered two resounding slaps to Prince Xiang, blooding the corner of his mouth.

"Tell me, Tan Xiyin claims you ordered her to poison me years ago. Is it true?" Linglong’s eyes glittered with venom.

Prince Xiang roared with laughter. "Tan Xiyin? Though I didn’t order it, she killed your child and cleared my path. I should thank her."

"I’ll find out the truth. If I prove it was you, Cheng Xiang, I’ll seduce your father and have him kill you. Before you die, I’ll make you call me mother, then I’ll slaughter your entire family to accompany my child in death—not one will be spared." Linglong’s eyes burned red.

Prince Xiang closed his eyes in humiliation. When he looked again, only vicious light remained.

"Linglong, if you insist on this, I have no choice. But today, I’ve come to take you away. No one in this place truly cares for you. I alone do."

Linglong sneered, seized the sword at Qin Wang Xiangyu’s throat, and squeezed until her palm bled.

"Let her go!" Linglong pressed harder, blood flowing onto Qin Wang Xiangyu’s neck. Unaware that it was Linglong’s blood, she screamed and fainted.

"She hurt you, and you’d still save her?" Prince Xiang’s eyes reddened.

Linglong sneered. "Anyone who can help my revenge is my ally. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. As for my feud with the Villa, I can let it go—strange, isn’t it?"

"Linglong, don’t think I won’t kill you!" Prince Xiang shouted.

Linglong shrugged. "Go ahead. At worst, we die together."

"Fine, then let’s die together!" Prince Xiang, more frenzied than ever, lunged for her.

Genius readers remember this site: . Mobile reading site: m.