Chapter 335: First Volume, Chapter 335: Life Hanging by a Thread

First Volume, Chapter 335: Life Hanging by a Thread

Before the Imperial Consort could respond, the maid beside her shouted loudly: "Audacious lowly slave! When does a noble return home, and need to report to you?"

Qin Feng shrugged, unconcerned: "I was merely stating facts."

The maid remained furious: "To hell with your 'stating facts'—you're clearly framing them on purpose!"

"Shut your mouth! I'm speaking with a noble—do you have the right to speak?!" Qin Feng finally exploded: "Fine, that old hag the Imperial Consort bullies me because of her status, but what the hell are you?"

Qin Feng always valued equality, but this maid's arrogance, riding on her mistress's power, truly irritated him.

I can't curse the Imperial Consort—can't I curse you?

"You—"

"You what? If you dare disrespect this Young Master again, I'll have someone throw you out."

Before the maid could reply, Qin Feng followed with a cold smile: "Also, what proof do you have that I framed the noble? I think you're framing me!"

This remark left the maid speechless.

That's not right! How is this brat not following the script?

I threw out the accusation—Qin Feng should have desperately denied it, insisted he had no intent to frame, and then slowly fall into my carefully laid trap.

Instead… Qin Feng didn't deny it at all—he resorted to thug tactics and started acting like a ruffian.

Qin Feng's implication was simple: "I think you're protecting Lin Taibao. I have no proof—but I'm saying it anyway. Deal with it."

This move echoed his earlier tactic of denigrating the Lin Family, firmly insisting they had no noble title or official rank—just commoners.

The Imperial Consort had already been burned by Qin Feng's ruffian tactics before.

She glared at the maid.

The maid immediately fell silent, daring not to argue further with Qin Feng.

The Imperial Consort knew full well: Qin Feng's seemingly ruffian words were, in fact, his brilliance.

As the saying goes: "A lie takes one mouth to spread; the truth runs legs off trying to refute it."

In this capital, verbal attacks require no logic or evidence—just hurl one "outrageous claim."

The opponent is forced to desperately explain, prove their innocence.

If they don't respond, the rumor becomes truth.

By rights… such tactics should only be used by corrupt ministers and sycophants.

Yet Qin Feng, a scion of a noble house, resorts to such shamelessness—this caught the Imperial Consort off guard.

The Imperial Consort naturally despised such "baseless accusations," yet to outwit Qin Feng with words was nearly impossible—this brute refused to take the bait. No matter what she said, Qin Feng countered with the most shameless yet effective method: one trick, used everywhere.

Though unwilling to admit it, her father, Lin Taibao, understood Qin Feng better than she did.

There were only two ways to deal with a man like this.

Either ignore him—give him zero chance to latch on.

Or kill him outright.

The Imperial Consort conceded defeat but refused to yield; she shifted tactics, no longer dwelling on Zhengyi, and feigned concern: "Qin Feng, how is your mother, Qin Cheng Clan, faring in Beixi County?"

The Imperial Consort knew Qin Feng cared most for his family.

Targeting Qin Cheng Clan now would surely break Qin Feng's psychological defenses.

Under the Imperial Consort's intense gaze, Qin Feng chuckled, utterly carefree: "Thank you for your concern, Noble One—my mother is quite at ease in Beixi County."

This answer caught the Imperial Consort completely off guard.

Her brows furrowed; her gaze no longer held its earlier ease: "At ease? Beixi County faces constant risk of Beixi County Defense Failure, commerce has halted, even basic grain must be imported from outside. How can anyone be carefree there?"

Qin Feng's smile deepened: "Noble One, you don't know—I've already pumped hundreds of millions of taels into Beixi County. That tiny county is now as solid as a fortress. Even the Di have not launched a serious assault in a long time. Besides, Beixi County is my Qin Family Ancestral Land—living in one's own ancestral land is naturally joyful."

"If my mother were recalled to Jingdu, she'd be anything but at ease."

In the past, Qin Feng had indeed hoped to bring Qin Cheng Clan back to Jingdu.

But after learning of the Ming Prince's family's fate, he abandoned that idea.

On the contrary, keeping Qin Cheng Clan in Beixi County benefits the Qin Family in every way—no downside.

Far better than putting all eggs in one basket.

Behind the gauze curtain, the Imperial Consort's face darkened instantly.

DaxiangPrinceDeath—this blood feud, the Imperial Consort had never forgiven even a fraction!

She had assumed Qin Cheng Clan suffered humiliation in Beixi County, and that would bring her some balance.

Now she learned that wretched woman was living carefree in Beixi County—her eyes ignited with murderous intent.

Just then, Qin Feng delivered another crushing blow.

"But Beixi County is currently beset by troubles—starving refugees from all over are streaming into Beixi County. If this continues, People's Livelihood will collapse, dragging the entire county down. Hence, my journey to Changping County serves two purposes: first, to rectify local People's Livelihood; second, to eradicate the root of the refugee crisis."

"Beyond Changping County's drought, the floods in neighboring Jiangnan are also deeply worrying."

"Since we're addressing refugee relief, let's do it thoroughly."

What a "thorough" solution!

His meaning was crystal clear: Qin Feng intended to use Changping County as a foothold to extend his reach into Jiangnan.

Previously, Qin Feng's repeated attacks on the Lin Family were mere provocations.

This time—it was open war.

Even the Imperial Consort had forgotten when she last felt such intense killing intent.

Her voice sank even lower: "The journey from Jingdu to Changping County is long—be careful along the way. Don't let anything happen."

Facing this heavily threatening remark, Qin Feng smiled back: "Thank you for your concern, Noble One—I'll remember it well."

The Imperial Consort replied coldly: "Then remember it well."

Qin Feng bowed behind Jing Qianying, glanced around, searching for Lin Taibao's whereabouts.

I originally intended to use this opportunity to negotiate with Lin Taibao and see if I could extract any valuable information.

After all, Lin Taibao is an Old Fox who hides too deeply.

But given the current situation, it is no longer realistic to meet Lin Taibao today.

However…

The Imperial Consort's attitude already largely represents the entire Lin Family's stance, including Lin Taibao's.

Qin Feng no longer dwelled on it; he bowed toward the gauze curtain: "Since Lin Taibao is ill and bedridden, unable to receive guests, then let it be—I shall pay my respects another day."

Saying this, Qin Feng bowed his head and withdrew.

Jing Qianying turned to leave; this utterly ordinary action caused Qin Feng's heart to sink, and he quickly called out: "Fourth Sister, do not turn your back on a noble."

Jing Qianying froze.

In that moment of hesitation, the gauze curtain emitted the Imperial Consort's icy, frost-like voice: "Impudent!"

Before the words faded, a slender needle, finer than a hair, pierced through the gauze and shot toward them.

Jing Qianying was born a warrior; her style was direct and decisive—why would she ponder the consequences? Attacking the Imperial Guard was one thing, but attacking the Imperial Consort? That changed everything—even blocking a Flying Needle was utterly forbidden!

Jing Qianying instinctively raised her sword to block it.

At that critical instant, she felt her arm seized, and a figure suddenly stepped between her and the needle.

The Flying Needle pierced straight through Qin Feng's right shoulder, grazing Jing Qianying's eyelid as it flew past.

Crack!

A sharp crack.

The needle's momentum remained unspent, shattering the tiles on the eaves behind them, sending a spray of shards flying…