Chapter 40

Wu Cuizan is here to claim her daughter, not to receive a lecture. No wonder she's a daughter raised by the Fu family; now her manner and bearing are no different from a lady of the official family. If one said she came from a lowly background, who would believe it?

Wu Cuizan naturally cannot lose her bearing; after all, she is Cheng Lingyan's mother—still flesh that fell from her own womb—what can she do to Wu Cuizan?

Thus, Wu Cuizan sneered and said to Cheng Lingyan, "Child, I know exactly where you have moles or scars. If you don't believe we are mother and daughter, you may shout it out. Lord Fu knows about this matter; if the truth slips, your lineage will be questioned, and no one can protect you!"

Hearing this, Cheng Lingyan jumped a foot; she stammered, "What are you talking about?! You mean… even my maternal grandfather knows this?"

"Hey, don't doubt it! Look, what is this?" Wu Cuizan pulled a Hetian jade from her waist, engraved with the Fu family seal—indeed a treasure of the Fu family.

Seeing the jade, Cheng Lingyan was about seventy to eighty percent convinced. Lord Fu would not give a Fu family item to such a household unless there was a genuine request. But since she is not of the Cheng line, why bring her back to the Fu residence? Cheng Lingyan recalled her parents who died miserably in Tongzhou, and a chilling thought arose: could Lord Fu have brought her in to appease Old Lady Su, pretending she were the Cheng Lingyan who had already died?

Then is Old Lady Su's own maternal granddaughter truly dead or merely feigned dead? Cheng Lingyan's mind was a tangled mess; she wanted to ask Lord Fu but dared not speak.

If Wu Cuizan's words are true, wouldn't she fall into a mire and be trampled by countless people? Then Fu Wan of the second branch would sneer at her, saying she has no face or skin to rely on after so many years of the Fu family! Cheng Lingyan could never afford such a disgraceful face.

She wanted to refute Wu Cuizan, yet feared she would spill the matter, so she decided to steady her first! Cheng Lingyan gritted her teeth and asked Wu Cuizan, "What do you want from me?"

In any case, Cheng Lingyan is still just a child, so being at a loss now is normal. Wu Cuizan, fearing she might panic and let something slip back at the residence, soothed her: "Mother isn't trying to make things difficult for you; now you have a good opportunity, so your future should be paramount. It's just that Mother has had hard times these years—you don't know how us common folk suffer outside!"

As she spoke, she began to feign a wailing lament, and Cheng Lingyan, irritated beyond measure, said, "What exactly do you want?"

Wu Cuizan saw she wasn't buying the act, perhaps because mother and daughter had no emotional foundation, making the performance a bit false. She lifted her sleeve, tucked her eye corner, and in a soft voice said, "Mother is short on money, can't even afford meals, and wants you to help the mother's family."

Fine, so she's a debt‑collecting ghost!

When has Cheng Lingyan ever been handled like this? She felt her teeth itch with anger but was helpless. She took two deep breaths and, exasperated, asked, "How much do you want?"

Wu Cuizan immediately smiled broadly and said, "Not much, just five hundred taels!"

"Five hundred taels?! Why didn't you rob it?!" Cheng Lingyan's monthly allowance is only seventy to eighty taels of silver; it's only because Old Lady Su favors her that an unmarried girl receives such a large personal stipend.

Know that a typical official's daughter, upon leaving the boudoir, has a dowry of only two to three thousand taels of silver, so Wu Cuizan's greed is truly black‑hearted!

Wu Cuizan, seeing she stubbornly refused, chattered, "I saw you picked two sets of jeweled headpieces; each set should cost about a hundred taels, right?"

So she had indeed seen them, coveting Cheng Lingyan's jewelry headpieces! Those were Cheng Lingyan's saved personal funds, and today she came to buy some ornaments for her own pleasure. Cheng Lingyan, seething, ground her teeth and said, "Five hundred taels, I don't have! One hundred taels is barely possible; take it if you like!"

She thought this would scare the brat, but Wu Cuizan, who has walked more roads than she has eaten meals, shouted, "Fine, the daughter enjoys life abroad, no longer needs her mother! I'm going to the office to file a complaint and demand the Fu family return my own daughter!"

Wu Cuizan's words frightened Cheng Lingyan half to death; she quickly grabbed Cheng Lingyan, her face ashen, and said, "Alright, you wanted silver, I'll give it! Stay behind the screen; if you make any sound, your silver will be gone!"

Seeing she was willing to give the silver, Wu Cuizan was overjoyed. She clapped her hands repeatedly, agreed, and hurriedly slipped behind the screen.

Cheng Lingyan called the maid into the elegant room; her face flushed as if blood could drip, and she asked, "Go quickly and summon the shopkeeper; tell him not to wrap the headpieces, I won't buy them."

"Miss?! But this jewelry box is sealed with the Golden Jade Pavilion mark; letting anyone open it seems improper, right?" The maid also felt embarrassed; she had just, under Cheng Lingyan's authority, flaunted before the shopkeeper to have the jewelry properly wrapped! Now saying she won't buy, she'd be accused of pretending to be wealthy, losing face.

"Keep your mouth shut! Go now!" Cheng Lingyan shouted angrily.

The maid dared not defy her mistress, so she went downstairs and fetched the shopkeeper. It's interesting: the two headpieces Cheng Lingyan chose were contested by various ladies, and the shopkeeper originally wanted to lower the price for another lady, but today he met the wealthy patron Cheng Lingyan. He proudly told that official lady, "A few days ago the lady wanted a red agate and jade‑inlaid floral fruit headpiece; I said the price couldn't be reduced, but you insisted on holding on. Today, Miss Cheng of the Fu family came and at full price bought two headpieces in one go—that's true discernment!"

The shopkeeper sold the items, gaining the nerve to rebuke the lady who had haggled before. But Cheng Lingyan said she didn't want them, not just swapping headpieces but outright refusing to buy. Consequently, the shopkeeper, trying to resell them to others, would likely find no buyers.

Isn't Cheng Lingyan just hindering someone's business?

The shopkeeper has been operating in Jingdu for years and has some capital and backing.

He, furious, went straight upstairs and said to Cheng Lingyan, "Miss Cheng, these items have the payment seal; you can't just return them, that's unreasonable, right? Who would I sell them to now? Which lady would want them?"

Cheng Lingyan hadn't expected the shopkeeper to come back, feeling so embarrassed she wanted to crawl into a hole. She cleared her throat lightly, feigning composure, and said, "That's your problem! A shop that big shouldn't forbid returns of unsold hairpins. If I don't like them, I won't take them! Now the shopkeeper keeps arguing, refusing to return my silver? If this continues, I'll have to summon my maternal grandmother, the Lady of Qingping County, to a court hearing!"

Hearing Cheng Lingyan's sharp words, and adhering to the principle that common folk shouldn't fight officials, the shopkeeper chose not to argue further. He muttered irritably, and before leaving the elegant room, coldly left a remark: "If Miss Cheng later refuses to buy headpieces, then don't make me come in and out three times delivering goods for you to pick. I also need to do business and must serve actual buyers!"

"You!" Even though Cheng Lingyan was fuming, she had to admit the shopkeeper's words weren't off base. One must buy something for a shop to be attentive.

When the shopkeeper returned the silver note, Cheng Lingyan tallied it, slipped it to Wu Cuizan behind the maid's back. After Wu Cuizan left, she suddenly ordered the maid, "Go follow that woman and see where she lives. I'm returning to the residence; wait for your report."

The maid, confused, asked, "Miss?"

"Don't ask too much, and don't speak out of turn, or I'll cut off your tongue!" Cheng Lingyan's eyes flashed ferociously; the maid shrank her head and could only quietly follow Wu Cuizan.

In the carriage, Cheng Lingyan closed her eyes for a short rest. She suddenly had a bold, reckless thought: if she eliminated Wu Cuizan, no one would know her identity, and Wu Cuizan could no longer come repeatedly to demand money.

The idea was brilliant; Cheng Lingyan's heart was cold and hard. She didn't care whether Wu Cuizan was her biological mother; anyone who blocked her path would only have a dead end!

Cheng Lingyan learned Wu Cuizan's residence from the maid, quietly hired bandits, gave them silver, and had them set fire to Wu Cuizan, then ransacked her home. Wu Cuizan wasn't a Jingdu native, so she had no relatives to avenge her; people just said bandits were rampant, the populace was uneasy for a few days, and the incident was soon forgotten.

Days passed, and soon the Mid‑Autumn Festival arrived. Three days before the festival, Lu Bao'er sent people from Xie Fu to purchase a batch of melons, fruits, or sacrificial items needed for the Mid‑Autumn Festival; the festival could be celebrated at home with incense and a small cauldron to honor ancestors.

Mid‑Autumn in Jingdu also involves eating mooncakes like in the countryside, but Jingdu's mooncakes differ: instead of the simple round steamed cakes of poor villages, they are molded into rhombus flowers, filled with date paste or sour plum‑walnut crumbs, and offered to the Moon God to pray for peace and family reunion in the coming year.

Xie Junling's rank was not high; ministers of the fifth rank and above had to attend palace banquets to show the emperor's favor for officials. For people like Xie Junling, the emperor presented several jars of imperial wine, then sent them home and gave them a day's leave.

On the day of the Mid‑Autumn Festival, Xie Junling celebrated at his residence together with Lu Bao'er. He was accustomed to rising early; when he opened his eyes, he saw Lu Bao'er curled up like a cat, still asleep, and his intention to get up softened. If he moved, he might disturb her, which would be undesirable.

Xie Junling examined the sleeping Lu Bao'er; the little girl had dark, thick lashes, a sharply upturned nose like jade, lips crimson as if stained with blood, with a hint of red in the powder, evoking tenderness. He didn't know why, he absentmindedly extended a finger, trying to touch Lu Bao'er.

As his slender fingertip reached halfway, Lu Bao'er suddenly opened her eyes.

Xie Junling felt somewhat embarrassed, but his deep composure prevented any outward sign, so he slowly withdrew his finger, pretending nothing had happened.

Lu Bao'er, seeing Xie Junling awake, gave a faint smile and sweetly called, "Lord, you're awake? Why didn't you call me? Oh, perhaps my sleeping beauty amazed you, so you took the chance to scrutinize me while I slept?" Of course, this passage is Lu Bao'er's playful fabrication to tease Xie Junling.

He felt a tinge of guilty conscience. He carefully avoided Lu Bao'er's scrutinizing gaze, lowered his thick lashes, cupped his hand over his mouth, and lightly coughed, "How could that be? I, your husband, merely thought your sleeping pose was ugly, was momentarily surprised. So I laughed inwardly and forgot to call you."

"…" Lu Bao'er was a bit displeased; she wanted to strike a blow at Xie Junling.

"Alright, get up; it's getting late. I'll summon the matriarch to style you." As he spoke, Xie Junling gracefully rose from the couch; though he had just woken, he still looked elegant and unruffled, his inner garment unwrinkled, showing no sign of disarray. He always handled things with ease, like a perfect modest gentleman, seemingly unfazed by anything, which bored Lu Bao'er.

Had Xie Junling ever looked flustered? Lu Bao'er reflected and realized she had never seen it. He seemed, from birth, adept at handling social affairs, never making a mistake or miscalculation.

While Xie Junling was washing in the adjacent room, the old matriarch entered with several maids in a line. Since it was Mid‑Autumn Festival, she had early gathered fresh osmanthus flowers, twisted them with copper wire into a hairpin, placed it on Lu Bao'er's bun, and added two clusters of pearl tassels of white rabbit fur; it looked like a rabbit fairy who had slipped down to the mortal world, savoring osmanthus mooncakes of the mortal realm.

After dressing, Lu Bao'er grabbed a red maple‑patterned Moonlight skirt and sprinted toward Xie Junling's side. She ran wildly, fast and urgent, her face beaming with a dazzling smile, shouting, "Lord! Lord! Look!"

Xie Junling turned slowly; he had intended to scold Lu Bao'er for her lack of decorum. Yet seeing her radiant smile, fearlessly charging at him, for some reason he seemed spellbound, opening his arms. A faint anticipation rose in his heart, as if he knew that the next moment he could tightly embrace the little figure arriving under the starry night.

He thought thus and acted accordingly. Lu Bao'er suddenly flung herself into his warm embrace, clutching Xie Junling's collar, and in a gentle voice said, "Lord, do I look good like this?"

She twirled like an offering, displaying the jeweled flowers on the embroidered shoes and the plain white fur on her head for Xie Junling.

Xie Junling saw the girl's eager anticipation; he wanted to mock her reckless behavior like a wild monkey, but forced it down, and, rarely, spoke softly, "Beautiful."

Lu Bao'er was overjoyed, clapping repeatedly, "Then that's obviously the best; tonight we'll go out with you to watch fireworks and lanterns, and wearing this outfit, you won't have a dull look on your face."

Is it just to show off to outsiders? Xie Junling felt a vague displeasure.

He spoke in a cold tone, "Upon closer look, it's not that great, especially the osmanthus hairpin on your head—it looks clumsy and overly ordinary."

"Ah?" Lu Bao'er was stunned by Xie Junling's stick‑like blow with a sweet jujube, she was at a loss and whispered, "Husband doesn't like it? I was planning to disguise as the Jade Rabbit for you to see!"

Lu Bao'er was genuinely a bit disappointed, she lowered her head, her once radiant face instantly became listless, she reluctantly slipped out of Xie Junling's arms, intending to return to the inner chamber and have her grandmother change her clothes.

Seeing her about to leave, Xie Junling's remaining conscience twitched, and he blocked her: "Wait."

"Hm?" Lu Bao'er turned back, giving him a dead‑pan look.

Xie Junling furrowed his brows and, rather unnaturally, said, "Actually, this crude osmanthus has a bit of rustic charm; no need to replace it."

"Husband, didn't you say you didn't like it?"

"No."

"What?" Lu Bao'er's eyes instantly brightened, the corners of her mouth curled like a hooked moon.

"I say…" Xie Junling lifted his sleeve to lightly cover his Adam's apple and cool lower lip, feigning nonchalance, "I like it."

Receiving Xie Junling's praise, Lu Bao'er nearly burst into excited dancing on the spot. She took Xie Junling's hand and, while walking, said, "I told you, with my looks, any hair ornament I wear can't add much beauty. Husband is too cautious in words and deeds; he thinks I'm pretty in his heart but doesn't dare to praise openly. That's not good; it must change!"

"..." Hearing that, Xie Junling pressed his forehead, his head feeling as heavy as a cauldron; he shouldn't have been soft‑hearted!

Lu Bao'er led Xie Junling to the Flower Hall, where breakfast had already been set out. Lu Bao'er is hot‑tempered; on a whim she wanted mooncakes, so for today's breakfast the dishes were all assorted lotus‑shaped mooncakes.

Xie Junling served himself a bowl of Eight Treasure Porridge; he doesn't like sweets, so the porridge had no sugar. Today there wasn't even a side dish for the porridge, making some food hard to swallow, but Xie Junling watched Lu Bao'er picking mooncakes left and right with a cute expression and thought better not to call for more dishes, lest he spoil the mood.

Holding the belief that shared joy is better than solitary joy, Lu Bao'er took a bite of a salted‑egg yolk mooncake and handed it to Xie Junling, saying, "Husband, this is delicious; give it a try!"

Xie Junling glanced at the mooncake in Lu Bao'er's hand; a sharp corner had been bitten off, and only a small bite of the egg‑yolk filling remained, showing she had tasted the filling and liked it, so she promptly brought it to his lips. However, with maids watching on both sides, eating by hand was somewhat improper.

So Xie Junling coldly scanned the surroundings. The maids beside them already dared not look at the two masters at the table; now, seeing his eyes as fierce as a venomous snake, the terrifying great python seemed to be spitting poisonous tongues to drive people away! In an instant, the maids, understanding the mood, each stepped back.

With no one around, Xie Junling's dignity was preserved; he was pleased, lowered his head, and took a bite of the sweet mooncake his little beloved wife had cheerfully offered.

Only Lu Bao'er, realizing late, asked, "Eh? Where did the maids go?"

Xie Junling replied leisurely, "Perhaps they went to fetch pastries? No need to worry. What else would you like me to try? Since I still have a mind for sweet pastries, I'll reluctantly have a couple bites with you."

In other words, what else do you want to feed me? Since I haven't lost face, feed me quickly.

Lu Bao'er knew Xie Junling didn't like sweets; the thought that he pretended to try it just to not dampen her enthusiasm made her heart overflow with honeyed water, sweet enough to make her soul swoon.

Seeing Lu Bao'er smile, Xie Junling curiously asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I just think husband is a good person, treating me with a pleasant demeanor."

"Oh." Xie Junling replied lightly, yet in a hidden corner unknown to others, he slightly lifted the corner of his mouth.

Being praised as a good person by her? That's actually amusing.

Outside, to promptly serve the master's household, the gathered maids in the corner trembled and said, "Where is the kindness? It's clearly a wolf in sheep's clothing!"

After night fell, Lu Bao'er insisted on strolling the bustling street. She originally wanted to send the household maids along, but Lu Bao'er felt something was missing, and after much persuasion she convinced Xie Junling to go out together. Xie Junling glanced at Zhu Sheng perched on the eave not far away, thinking that with his protection there would be no mishap, and thus agreed.

In fact, Xie Junling was so agreeable because Lu Bao'er said, "Since we're going to see lanterns, I naturally want to go with the person I love most. After thinking it over, the only choice in my heart is husband."

Her words were elegant, and Xie Junling couldn't refuse, so he agreed.

However, the reason Lu Bao'er said that was, of course, because Xie Junling is the head of the household! She wanted to go out late at night, so she naturally had to seek Xie Junling's permission. Flattery must be directed at the horse's rear, and that's exactly the principle.

As for whether she truly loves him… Lu Bao'er hadn't figured it out, but she knew Xie Junling, like a young lady, loves sweet words, so she just blurted a little deception.

Lu Bao'er took Xie Junling's hand, and they went out together. Outside the mansion, the streets had no lights; people had to carry lanterns to illuminate the way. Fortunately, today was Mid‑Autumn Festival, and the main road was a sea of people, each holding a flickering candle lantern, lighting the road as bright as day, preventing darkness.

Street vendors of all kinds took the chance to set up stalls, selling flower cakes, a dumpling stall with a pot of boiling water on the roadside, and a jewelry stall with handcrafted bead ornaments—life's myriad scenes, dazzlingly varied.

Lu Bao'er pointed to a nearby stall displaying a bronze basin of koi and said to Xie Junling, "Husband, I want a koi; fetch me one."

Xie Junling gave her a sidelong glance and asked, "Didn't you also feed wild cats in the back yard? If you keep koi there, aren't you afraid they'll be eaten?"

With that question, Lu Bao'er became conflicted. She loves cats and also loves koi; if she can't have both, which should she give up?

Xie Junling had long wanted to drive away the litter of wild kittens that Lu Bao'er attracted with dried fish, and this was a perfect chance to cut ties with the old cats.

So he gently persuaded, "Koi bring wealth and prosperity, can boost the household. Miss this village and the shop disappears. Think carefully—will you still keep the wild cats?"

Unexpectedly, Lu Bao'er shook her head firmly: "Then let's not get koi."

"Oh? So you're a nostalgic girl." Xie Junling's remark—whether mockery or praise—Lu Bao'er couldn't tell, so she said nothing.

Lu Bao'er scoffed, "I originally bought the koi thinking to feed the cats, but husband said it's a blessed item that brings wealth; if the cats eat it, it might bring misfortune, so I gave up."

Xie Junling snorted lightly, "In your heart, do you think I compare to the wild cats and am slightly better?"

"Husband is naturally more important than the wild cats!" Lu Bao'er thought this pleased Xie Junling, and said more resolutely.

Xie Junling's face darkened, and he coldly said, "Fine, Lu Bao'er, you compare your husband to an unknown wild cat?"

Lu Bao'er panicked, shaking her head, "Husband, you're wrong!"

"Oh?"

"Not just one… it's a whole litter!"

Xie Junling was so angry he nearly smoked from all seven apertures, clapped his hands repeatedly and said, "Fine, very fine."

"..." Lu Bao'er originally wanted to say "You're flattering," but seeing Xie Junling's expression was off, she didn't dare speak further.

Is Xie Junling suffering from autumn dryness today? Why is his temper so fierce? Lu Bao'er thought she must give him a bowl of autumn pear soup to cool his fire.

Seething, Xie Junling walked for a quarter of an hour without paying attention to Lu Bao'er, nor holding her hand.

Lu Bao'er felt uneasy; passing a shop, she spotted someone selling autumn pear soup and was overjoyed.

She said to Xie Junling, "Husband, wait for me a moment; I'll be right back!"

Though angry, Xie Junling didn't want Lu Bao'er out of his sight; when he saw her darting into the crowd like a slippery loach, he panicked, "Bao'er?! Where are you going? Come back!"

But the crowd was too dense; he couldn't see any trace of Lu Bao'er. He hoped the girl would truly return quickly and not wander far.

Xie Junling stayed rooted, fearing that if he moved, Lu Bao'er would later be unable to find him. He whistled and called Zhu Sheng, "Go find the lady's whereabouts."

"Yes!" Zhu Sheng leapt a few times onto the eave, obeying Xie Junling's order, and went to search for Lu Bao'er.

After about a quarter hour, Zhu Sheng returned, reporting, "Master, I am incompetent; I cannot find the lady."

"What?!" Even Zhu Sheng can't find her?

Xie Junling panicked; in an instant, sweat dripped down his back, soaking his inner garment. He closed his eyes, recalling the time Lu Bao'er first came to Jingdu, when the Gu family ambushed the carriage she was traveling in, and he couldn't find anyone. Back then, he was like a bereaved parent, wandering the cliffs in a daze. The thought that the little girl he had raised might have died alone somewhere made his heart feel like being cut by a knife.

Xie Junling had long sworn that, from heaven to earth, he would never again give Lu Bao'er the chance to leave him, not in this lifetime.

Xie Junling went berserk, shouting Lu Bao'er's name along the way: "Bao'er?! Where are you? Come out!"

At that moment, Lu Bao'er, whom Xie Junling had been desperately searching for, was being dragged by someone into a pitch-black alley. She had originally intended to buy a bowl of cooling pear soup for Xie Junling to drink, but suddenly someone shoved a cloth soaked with soporific drug to her lips, letting her inhale the medicine, her legs went weak, and taking advantage, they abducted her to this desolate, godforsaken dark lane.

Lu Bao'er jumped in fright, she staggered to her feet and kept walking inward. She was most afraid of the dark, even needing to call Xie Junling when getting up at night, but today, for the sake of escape, she no longer feared the darkness.

The man behind her, looking burly and robust, a sturdy fellow, smirked lewdly and said, "Which family's young lady are you? I just happened to run into you, sir. With that delicate skin and tender flesh, you'll surely fetch a good price!"

Lu Bao'er bit her lower lip and shouted loudly, "If you dare to harm even a single hair of mine, my husband will surely tear you to pieces!"

The man stared, then burst out laughing: "You think I'd be afraid of you? No matter which miss you are, I'll sell you off somewhere far from Jingdu. If you disobey, I'll beat you, starve you, and if you still won't listen, it's nothing more than cutting out your tongue—what do I have to fear from you? Your family knowing you've been abducted will surely fear you've lost your purity; in private they won't find you, and outwardly they'll claim you died of illness—who'd care whether you live or die? The folks of Jingdu care more about face than life; it's just a girl—gone is gone."

Ordinary families indeed follow this logic—every household has daughters, and no matter how much they dote, they won't let a girl disgrace the family name. Indeed, as the man said, they might even eliminate the person to avert disaster. It seems this isn't his first or second time doing such a thing; who knows how many virtuous women have lost their lives at his hands.

Lu Bao'er had no recourse; she could only shout loudly, "Husband! Save me! Husband! Where are you?!"

Although everyone tonight had gone to the main lantern-lit street, paying no heed to these obscure corners, the man still feared complications, so he stepped forward, roughly clapped a hand over Lu Bao'er's mouth, and snarled, "Shout again and I'll snap your neck!"

Lu Bao'er, however, refused to yield; despite her young age, she had great spirit. At that moment she pulled out the hairpin from her head and stabbed it into the man's arm. In an instant, blood spattered everywhere, the bloody smell nearly overwhelming the onlookers' sight.

The man winced and loosened his grip; Lu Bao'er seized the chance to break free and ran toward the bright main road. Halfway there, she suddenly collided with a warm embrace. She jerked her head up—it was Xie Junling—and instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing Lu Bao'er bloodied and her hairpin askew, Xie Junling's fury flared instantly. He coldly summoned Zhu Sheng and said, "This scoundrel has the gall of heaven, daring to lay a hand on my person. Beat him half-dead, then find a pretext to hand him over to the authorities."

Xie Junling's words carried little warmth, and Zhu Sheng, seeing him so ferocious for the first time, already had a plan. After receiving the order, he pulled a dagger from his boot and prepared to have a good bout with the man.

Xie Junling gripped Lu Bao'er's hand tightly, squeezing her wrist until it ached. Lu Bao'er furrowed her brows and let out a soft groan, startling Xie Junling into anxiously asking, "Are you hurt anywhere?"

Lu Bao'er shook her head: "No, it's you, husband, who's hurting me."

Upon hearing that, Xie Junling immediately loosened his hold. He pressed his lips together in silence, drew a cloth from his sleeve, and gently wiped the blood from Lu Bao'er's cheeks and neck, doing so with meticulous care, as if unwilling to let any trace of another's scent remain on her.

"As long as you're uninjured, that's good." Xie Junling wiped for a long while, then softly uttered those words from between his lips and teeth. He seemed to have just come to his senses, still shaken.

Seeing Xie Junling like that, Lu Bao'er also felt a little afraid. She forced a smile, spun a circle before him, and said, "Husband, look—I'm perfectly fine everywhere."

Then Xie Junling suddenly reached out, pulled her into his embrace, and pressed her head firmly against him. The girl's body was soft and fragrant; only after truly holding her did a sense of peace rise in Xie Junling's heart.

Lu Bao'er was startled by Xie Junling's sudden, unexpected embrace; her cheeks flushed, feeling his warm chest, and she momentarily didn't know what to do with her hands and feet. What's gotten into him? He hadn't said a word earlier, and now he's holding her in his arms.

Lu Bao'er carefully climbed onto Xie Junling's back, feeling through his clothes that his usually straight spine was trembling slightly.

Is he trembling? Is he afraid? Lu Bao'er found it unbelievable, and cautiously asked Xie Junling, "Husband?"

After holding her for a long while, Xie Junling finally forced himself to speak calmly: "I almost… lost you."

Lu Bao'er's heart gave a jolt as she suddenly recalled this morning's events. She had always thought Xie Junling steady and composed in his dealings, unruffled by hardship, but that wasn't the case. Xie Junling too could feel panic and unease, especially when the matter concerned her.

Does this mean he especially cherishes me? Lu Bao'er chuckled softly and asked proudly, "Husband, do you regard me as very important?"

Despite what happened, it's surprising Lu Bao'er could still laugh. Xie Junling felt a surge of irritation and said coldly, "No, as a husband I'm merely worried that my first wife has disappeared; if I were to remarry, I'd have to come up with another betrothal gift. Nowadays every official demands silver for bribes, our household is bare as can be, and taking another wife would likely be beyond our means."

"Oh…" Lu Bao'er pouted, feeling indignant inside.

Yet, although Xie Junling said that, his hold on her only grew tighter; even as they returned home, he never loosened his arm around her waist, making Lu Bao'er wish she could find a crack in the earth to disappear into.

Just as they were about to head back to the residence, fireworks burst outside the gate; a speck of starlight exploded in midair, blossoming into multicolored fireworks like clusters of hydrangeas. The blinding light illuminated people's hearts and also dispelled the lurking demons and monsters in the dark corners of the alleys.

Lu Bao'er wanted to see farther, but being short, she jumped several times in vain and still couldn't see.

Tonight has already been outrageously lawless; adding one more thing wouldn't matter.

Xie Junling suddenly reached out his hand to her and said, "Come here."

"Huh?" Lu Bao'er replied, puzzled.

Xie Junling, however, lifted her onto his shoulder without asking and said, "Sit here and watch."

Using Xie Junling's height, she sat high, saw far, and took in the fireworks in the distance with her eyes.

Lu Bao'er had originally thought Xie Junling was a lofty, untouchable flower; seeing his disheveled state today, however, gave her the sense of a banished immortal fallen to the mortal realm. In truth, Xie Junling, like her, also experiences joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness—he is merely an ordinary person.

He wasn't born with a naturally suave, smooth-talking disposition; rather, he forged this impervious, cold‑faced Yan King demeanor only after enduring great hardship.

Tonight felt like a dream or an illusion, leaving Lu Bao'er momentarily dazed, unsure what to do.

Has her relationship with Xie Junling become more intimate? Yes and no.

But was Xie Junling originally so afraid of losing her? Seeing Lu Bao'er bullied, he revealed such a fierce expression—something she had never seen before.

Lu Bao'er felt that… she hadn't fully understood Xie Junling; her husband seemed to harbor some secret he had not yet told her.

All she wanted was to tell Xie Junling that she would never lightly leave him.

After all, in this world remarried women are not looked upon kindly; her husband is so good that she ought to cherish her first marriage—how could she even consider leaving Xie Junling?

Thinking this through, Lu Bao'er curled the corners of her mouth into a smile.

She suddenly asked Xie Junling, "Husband, if I tell Grandma that you carried me on your shoulder, will she scold me for being improper?"

Xie Junling gave a light cough and said, "Matters between husband and wife are not to be told to outsiders."

"Oh, this is something only we two know?"

"Mm." Xie Junling added, "Tonight's affairs must not be spoken of outside." No one will know that Lu Bao'er was seized by the villain; he doesn't want to invite gossip. Fortunately that man couldn't accomplish anything; had he done so, Xie Junling would have killed him and his family as well.

Lu Bao'er heeded Xie Junling's words and thus returned to the residence; the old grandmother saw her disheveled attire and asked, "Madam, what happened to you?"

Lu Bao'er glanced toward Xie Junling, gave a shy smile, and said, "This is a private matter between me and my husband; it cannot be told to outsiders."

"Private matters between husband and wife?" The grandmother and Qiuju examined in unison, then lifted Lu Bao'er's sleeve to see the deep five‑finger imprint left by someone's grip; they both realized what had happened. Their gazes at Xie Junling turned icy enough to devour a person. Who would have thought the modest gentleman would behave so badly at home? No, he had to go out to some deserted spot to indulge his lust—utterly bestial!

The grandmother had originally thought Xie Junling a respectable gentleman, hoping at least to wait until Lu Bao'er was older before consummating their marriage—but it turned out he was just a hypocritical man who tonight lured the little girl out to do wrong!

Poor little girl, used up and discarded, still expected to help count money—she's truly easy to deceive!

Seeing the crowd's hostile expressions, Xie Junling furrowed his brows slightly. Recalling Lu Bao'er's words, he let out a heavy sigh, unable to utter a single word. What else could he do? He could only silently acquiesce.

At night, after Lu Bao'er and Xie Junling had washed up and changed clothes, they lay side by side on the bed. Recalling the earlier events, Lu Bao'er felt a lingering unease once home and whispered, "Husband, can I sleep under the same blanket with you tonight?"

Xie Junling blinked, unsure whether to voice a refusal. But when he turned his head, he saw Lu Bao'er with her loose black tresses, looking at him pitifully, and his heart softened a bit.

He closed his eyes and said lightly, "As you wish."

Lu Bao'er cheered, then slipped into Xie Junling's blanket and wrapped her arms tightly around him.

She rarely has moments of such closeness with others; if she likes someone, she naturally wants to cling to them desperately.

Xie Junling was hugged so suddenly by her that he felt a bit ill at ease. He gave a light cough and scolded, "Let go, lie down nicely."

Lu Bao'er was stubborn to an astonishing degree, holding her neck stiff, she said, "No!"

"Huh? Still dare to go against him?"

"I like my husband, so naturally I want to hug my husband." Lu Bao'er smiled and said softly.

Hearing Lu Bao'er confess her feelings for the first time, Xie Junling was so shocked his soul almost left his body. He spoke with a hoarse voice, slowly and deliberately: "What did you say? You... like me?"

"Hmph!" Lu Bao'er said proudly, "Exactly, just like I like Little White, I'll also hug it every day the same way!"

"Little White?" Xie Junling asked through gritted teeth. Where did this wild man come from?

"It's the prettiest white cat from that litter of wild cats in my backyard!"

Xie Junling seethed, coldly chuckling: "Lu! Bao! Er! In your eyes, liking me and liking a cat are the same? Hugging me and hugging a cat are the same?"

"That's not the case either!"

"Hah."

"Cats are all fur, so hugging them is more comfortable."

As soon as Lu Bao'er finished speaking, Xie Junling gave the blanket a shake, tossing her to the inner side of the bed, and said coldly: "Go sleep on your own bedding; I'm not used to sharing a bed with you."

"" Lu Bao'er stared in shock! Why did her husband just have a pleasant expression, and in the blink of an eye turn hostile and refuse to acknowledge her? It shows, men are all scoundrels!

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