Chapter 339

First Volume, Chapter 339: Jealousy and Grain

"You!"

Jing Qianying's body instantly tensed to its limit, even hearing her own rapid, forceful heartbeat.

Even when facing the Imperial Consort before, Jing Qianying had remained composed, but now, seeing Qin Feng's eyes closed, that hateful face clearly saying "only a kiss will stop it," she lost all composure—her icy, frozen heart shattered completely…

But for Qin Feng, Jing Qianying could only abandon all her principles, with a resolve as if facing death, slowly lowering her body.

Just as their lips drew within less than an inch.

The half-dead Qin Feng suddenly struck, jerking his head up sharply—the soft touch spread across his lips, an unprecedented sensation flooding Jing Qianying's body like a master of deep internal energy delivering a direct palm strike right to her heart.

In that instant, Jing Qianying felt her heartbeat seemed to stop.

A window long closed for nearly two decades suddenly blew open under a gentle breeze, followed by a flood of sunlight pouring in…

As Jing Qianying stood frozen, her whole body filled with strange sensations, Qin Feng burst into a wicked, triumphant laugh: "Hehe, Fourth Sister, now you're officially mine."

Realizing she had been tricked by Qin Feng, Jing Qianying was consumed by shame and rage, her fury impossible to contain—she let out a deafening roar: "You miserable bastard, you're clearly tired of living—I'll send you to your grave!"

What?!

Qin Feng watched Jing Qianying's palm hurtling toward him—he felt his skull whirring as the impact struck, like being rammed by a mad bull, the world spinning violently before his eyes.

Damn it, she's serious?!

Qin Feng groaned inwardly—was he really going to die at the hands of his own woman, after surviving the Imperial Consort? How humiliating!

Driven by intense survival instinct, Qin Feng let out a pig-like scream that echoed throughout the Tianji Camp.

"Help! Jing Qianying is trying to murder her own husband!!!"

Murder her husband?

Her husband?!

Jing Qianying's face flushed crimson, unable to tell if it was rage or shame—she shrieked: "I'll silence you screaming! If I don't teach you a proper lesson today, I won't be called Jing Qianying!"

For the next one incense stick time, Qin Feng was pinned to the bed and relentlessly rubbed down by Jing Qianying—no one could tell if he was dying or enjoying it.

But the sounds of laughter, scolding, and screams reached Liu Hongyan's ears.

Liu Hongyan's heart ached even more—she rose to shut the door, muttering bitterly: "You ungrateful bastard—you forget Second Sister the moment you get Fourth Sister! All my care for you was wasted!"

Still, hearing Qin Feng's screams so strong and vigorous, Liu Hongyan finally relaxed—his injuries couldn't be too serious.

Just as Jing Qianying was giving Qin Feng his due, an untimely knock interrupted their intimate "exchange."

Qin Feng cursed inwardly.

"Who is it?! Can't you see I'm bonding with Fourth Sister?!"

As Qin Feng prepared to shout and drive away the intruder, a military dispatch slipped through the door crack.

Qin Feng's anger vanished instantly—he hurriedly said: "Fourth Sister, hold off on punishing me—quickly, bring me that dispatch."

Jing Qianying panted heavily, feeling that disciplining that brat was more exhausting than facing a Shanyin Expert.

Considering Qin Feng's injuries, she reluctantly gave up, rose, picked up the dispatch, and tossed it carelessly onto his lap: "I'm too tired to deal with you—suffering's your own fault."

Saying this, she pushed open the door and left.

Qin Feng unrolled the dispatch and read its contents—his expression turned mixed with joy and worry.

Joy: the Brocade Guard had begun functioning—he now had his own spy network.

Worry: the fragile stability of Beixi County was crumbling again.

The number of starving refugees flooding into Beixi County had surpassed ten thousand—and showed no sign of stopping.

Just the refugees alone equaled one-third of Beixi County's peak population.

Meanwhile, the Beidi had learned of this and dispatched small raiding cavalry units to ambush and kill refugees—Lin Quqi was forced to order the Beixi County Garrison to intercept the Beidi Cavalry and protect refugees retreating into the city.

As a result, both the consumption of materials and supplies and the casualties among the garrison during rescue missions had nearly exceeded Beixi County's breaking point.

The joy of winning Fourth Sister had vanished completely—Qin Feng's gaze grew heavy.

"If we don't resolve Changping County's crisis soon, the endless tide of refugees alone will crush Beixi County."

"No more delays—we must depart immediately!"

Qin Feng immediately sent for Qin Xiaofu to prepare for the journey to Changping County.

Meanwhile, atop Beixi County's City Wall, Lin Quqi watched the intermittent streams of refugees approaching from outside, weighed down by immense pressure.

Since the first wave of refugees reached Beixi County, the Beidi Cavalry had slaughtered mercilessly—estimates suggested at least a thousand had died on the road.

Yet the refugee horde showed no hesitation, still flocking like moths to flame toward Beixi County.

To these refugees, even if only one in ten survived to enter the county city, the risk was worth taking.

To turn back meant certain death.

The starving refugees had no choice!

Lin Quqi's situation was no better—the Beidi deliberately surrounded groups of refugees, holding back their slaughter, waiting hours to confirm no reinforcements would come before striking.

If they spotted any trace of the Beixi County Garrison, they set traps to lure them in.

So far, over one hundred garrison soldiers had vanished without return.

Yet Lin Quqi had no choice but to keep sending out garrison troops to rescue refugees.

Because it was Li Xiaolan's direct military order!

Watching another garrison unit leave the City Gate, racing toward distant refugees—how many more would die? —Lin Quqi's spirit was crushed—he turned to Li Xiaolan and asked grimly: "Third Miss, this tactic of pouring in reinforcements bit by bit is a grave military blunder!"

"More and more refugees flood into the county city—we have no time to screen them. Who knows how many Beidi Spies are hidden among them? Meanwhile, our garrison is being steadily consumed—what then, when the Beidi Army and their spies launch a Bandit Collaboration?"

How could Li Xiaolan not understand the stakes?

Yet her gaze remained as resolute as ever: "We have no alternative. If we allow these refugees to be slaughtered, Feng'er's political enemies in Beijing will seize this as leverage to impeach him. Once Feng'er is in peril and loses Tianji Camp's support, Beixi County will face true annihilation."

"In a National War, internal troubles are always more deadly than external enemies—loyal, righteous men die not on the battlefield, but in the Imperial Court."

Lin Quqi awoke from his shock—but his eyes grew even more hopeless.

Beixi County's capacity has reached its limit; if this continues, Beixi's destruction is only a matter of time!