Chapter 64: Linglong Restrained by Lord Xiang – Bonus Chapter for Everyone's Appreciation

As Linglong walked along, she suddenly turned back and hooked her arms through Hua’er and Fang Qing’s hands, glancing from one to the other. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off about them.

“What’s wrong with you two?” Linglong asked.

Fang Qing and Hua’er both reacted with exaggerated surprise, as though affronted. “What could possibly be wrong? I’m perfectly fine!”

“Oh, is that so?” Linglong released Fang Qing and pulled Hua’er aside. As Tang Li passed by, Linglong distinctly saw Hua’er shudder, though Tang Li’s expression was calm and indifferent. That, in itself, seemed to wound Hua’er deeply—Linglong watched as she visibly wilted.

“What happened with Tang Li yesterday?” Linglong pressed.

Hua’er shook her head. “Miss, nothing happened. Don’t talk nonsense.”

“You’re denying it so quickly that no one would believe there’s nothing going on!” Linglong shot her a sidelong glance, thinking to herself that something must have happened between those two unlucky souls last night.

She pondered it for a long while on their way back but couldn’t make sense of it. On the return journey, Qin Daofei said he was going to see Lord Xiang; Fang Qing and the others took another carriage back, leaving only Linglong and Qin Daofei traveling together.

“You’ve been lost in thought this whole time. What’s on your mind?” Qin Daofei asked in his usual cool tone.

Linglong bared her teeth. “Master Qin, you’re sharp—help me analyze what happened with everyone last night? They’re all acting so strange!”

“You’ve spent all this time brooding over a trivial matter like that?” Qin Daofei looked at Linglong with open disdain.

His look stung. Linglong slapped his shoulder, gritting out, “Qin Daofei, if you have something to say, just say it. Don’t insult me.”

“Last night, Tang Li must have confessed to Hua’er and been rejected. As for Murong Xiao, he definitely confessed as well—and Fang Qing didn’t seem too opposed. As for Jifeng, he tried to play the rogue and ended up getting beaten at his own game,” Qin Daofei declared with certainty.

Linglong was skeptical and retorted, “If you know so much, why don’t you become a fortune-teller?”

“Tang Li and Hua’er are both uneasy, which means the truth has come out. But because of Hua’er’s past, she can’t accept anyone, so she turned Tang Li down. As for Murong Xiao, he left early this morning, cheerful and eager to prepare his proposal, which means Fang Qing didn’t refuse him last night—otherwise, he wouldn’t be so bold. As for Jifeng, the claw marks on his face speak for themselves.”

Linglong still didn’t believe him.

Qin Daofei raised an eyebrow. “Wanna bet?”

“Bet... on what?” Linglong mulled it over and in the end decided to take him up on it.

Qin Daofei smiled coolly. “If I win, you’ll bear me a child.”

“Why don’t you drop dead?” Linglong lunged to kick him, but Qin Daofei caught her ankle. “What, are you scared to bet?”

Linglong grinned coldly, but in her heart, she really was afraid.

“I won’t have a child, pick something else!”

“Then... spend a month with me in the mountains, just the two of us. I’ll do whatever I want, and you can’t resist,” Qin Daofei countered.

Linglong cursed him inwardly; no matter what, the outcome was the same.

“If you’re too scared to bet, I’ll have someone take you home—I’ll go see Lord Xiang myself,” Qin Daofei goaded her.

Anyone else might have failed to provoke Linglong, but as they say, there’s always someone who can tame you. Qin Daofei, it seemed, was that person.

As soon as Linglong heard that, she slapped her thigh. “Fine, let’s bet! But if you lose, you owe me a hundred thousand taels of gold!”

“Greedy!” Qin Daofei said with a faint smile.

“Lecher!” Linglong shot back angrily.

They exchanged a look, then Qin Daofei chuckled softly, “So, a greedy woman and a lecher—quite the match. My respects, Madam Qin.”

“Get lost.” Linglong regretted the bet the moment it was made.

Qin Daofei only laughed, saying nothing more. Linglong fumed, standing up abruptly—only to forget she was in a carriage. With a thud, her head hit the roof, and she saw stars.

Qin Daofei quickly pulled her onto his lap, rubbing her head. “Are you alright?”

“I’ll live!” Linglong had hit herself hard.

Qin Daofei, both pained and amused, said, “Can’t you ever admit defeat?”

“Master, we’ve arrived at Lord Xiang’s residence!” the coachman called, stopping the carriage and announcing through the curtain.

Qin Daofei and Linglong glanced coldly outside. Lord Xiang... may our rivalry be to the death!

Qin Daofei alighted first, then wrapped an arm around Linglong’s waist to help her down from the carriage. The gatekeeper at Lord Xiang’s manor, upon seeing Linglong, was so excited he abandoned the door and ran clattering inside.

Witnessing this, a dark, murderous gleam flashed in Qin Daofei’s eyes—cold and intense, utterly unconcealed.

“My lord, my lord, Miss Linglong has arrived!”

The gatekeeper announced at the study door.

At that moment, Lord Xiang was lounging amorously with Liu Fengying. Upon hearing the news, he pushed Liu Fengying aside without hesitation and exclaimed excitedly, “You said Linglong has come?”

“Yes, she’s arrived with Master Qin!” the gatekeeper answered respectfully.

Lord Xiang curled his lips and stood. “Linglong, you’ve finally come back.”

He made to go out and greet her, but Liu Fengying, coquettish and alluring, tugged at him. “My lord...”

Clearly, Liu Fengying hoped for his attentions to continue.

But at this moment, Lord Xiang had eyes only for Linglong. He coldly brushed Liu Fengying aside. “Out of my way!”

Having said that, he hastily straightened his attire and strode out the door.

Liu Fengying, half-undressed, leaned against a chair and sneered, “Feng Linglong, you really are a ghost that won’t let go, aren’t you?”

Lord Xiang exited the study to find Linglong and Qin Daofei conversing under the eaves. Who knows what mischief Linglong had uttered, but Qin Daofei was pinching her nose, and Linglong bared her teeth as if to bite him.

Something Qin Daofei said made Linglong burst into laughter, shyly patting his arm. As Lord Xiang approached, he heard Linglong chide coquettishly, “Qin Daofei, you scoundrel! I can’t stand you!”

Hmph!

Lord Xiang flicked his sleeve, thoroughly displeased at their public display of affection in his own home.

Hearing his voice, Qin Daofei and Linglong turned, but neither made the slightest move to salute, only regarding Lord Xiang with cool indifference.

“Linglong, are you feeling better?” Lord Xiang asked.

Linglong nodded vigorously. “As long as you don’t come to my house causing trouble, my mood improves and I feel better—strange, don’t you think?”

“That might be difficult,” Lord Xiang replied coldly.

Linglong snorted. “What’s this? Lord Xiang invites my husband to your home just to stand in the courtyard and freeze?”

“Someone, prepare the marinated pork made by Aunt Liang that Linglong likes to eat,” Lord Xiang ordered casually, but at this, Linglong halted.

She shot Lord Xiang a cold look. “You kidnapped Aunt Liang?”

“Linglong, why must you always think I’m some irredeemable villain?” Lord Xiang replied with a faint smile, leading Linglong and Qin Daofei toward the main hall.

Qin Daofei clasped Linglong’s hand, lending her silent strength.

Though Linglong would not admit it, with her hand in Qin Daofei’s, she no longer felt anxious.

In the main hall, once Linglong and Qin Daofei were seated, hot tea and a warming stove were brought in; soon after, a plate of marinated pork was served.

Linglong, puzzled, picked up a piece and tasted it, her expression quickly turning grim as she set her chopsticks down.

“Cheng Xiang, return Aunt Liang to me!” Having eaten it since childhood, Linglong knew the taste well. It was unmistakably Aunt Liang’s cooking.

Lord Xiang leisurely ate a piece himself, replying mildly, “Back then, at the door of the marinated pork shop, I watched you, and you watched Qin Daofei. Now, the three of us are sitting together because of this plate of pork. Isn’t that strange?”

He had not answered Linglong’s question, choosing instead to change the subject.

Qin Daofei squeezed Linglong’s hand, signaling her to keep calm.

Linglong took a deep breath and said quietly, “I know what you’re up to. But Cheng Xiang, let me tell you: Aunt Liang has been with my father for years—she’s like a mother to me. You killed my father, killed my child, and now you want to kill my mother too?”

“Your father was an accident. That child... that child had nothing to do with me. As for Aunt Liang, since you think of her as a mother, I’d like to see to what lengths you’ll go for your mother’s sake,” Lord Xiang replied, his gaze burning with madness.

Linglong sneered. “How far I’ll go doesn’t matter. But let me tell you: if you dare harm her, I’ll risk everything to enter the palace. I’ll replace any of the favored women there. If I supplant your mother, you’ll know what it means to be separated from your own flesh and blood. Then I’ll make you watch as I grow close to your father, and you’ll have to call me mother.”

“You—!”

Lord Xiang was furious; Qin Daofei was too, though he kept it bottled inside, planning to deal with Linglong later at home.

Lord Xiang had always thought Linglong’s threats of entering the palace were mere tantrums, but seeing her deadly serious now, he was truly afraid. This little woman really might do just that.

Letting Linglong stay at Qin Daofei’s side all these years was already the limit of what Lord Xiang could bear. If Feng Linglong really went to the palace and slept with his father, he’d slaughter the entire imperial court.

But what would that change? Linglong would still have been wronged.

“Cheng Xiang, do you dare wager this round with me?” Linglong asked coldly.

Lord Xiang shook his head. “As long as you don’t provoke me, I won’t touch Aunt Liang—I promise!”

“Ha! That’s a loaded promise. If you show up at my door looking for trouble, how can I not provoke you?” For Linglong, teasing Lord Xiang and needling Concubine Tan were the very focus of her life.

Lord Xiang gave a bitter smile. “This is the only assurance I can give you.”

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