“I told you, I lost it.”

After a moment of silence, Feiyu said weakly: “Now I feel not only are my legs ruined, but my whole person is ruined…”

Tie Ci didn’t believe him, but still couldn’t help crawling up to take a look, then lay back down.

What a waste of energy.

“No… my true qi, when my true qi reaches my legs it can’t move forward.”

“I’ve never heard of anyone practicing true qi into their legs,” Tie Ci said leisurely. “Besides, with your character, if you were really disabled, shouldn’t you be crying and making a fuss, demanding I take responsibility for your whole life? This high-minded, self-sacrificing behavior – I’m not used to it.”

Feiyu fell silent.

After a long while he laughed: “See, this is what having a kindred spirit means.”

Tie Ci didn’t respond to his words.

In the darkness, they quietly listened to each other’s breathing.

Suddenly Feiyu said: “If it were you with disabled legs, what would you do? Would you magnanimously break up with me?”

“Reminder – we’re not in a romantic relationship, so there’s no breaking up to speak of,” Tie Ci said. “Both scenarios don’t apply to me. Even if my legs were disabled, I as a person wouldn’t be ruined, and I could still take responsibility for everything about myself.”

Feiyu fell silent.

After a long while he sighed: “Good person, don’t be like this. When you act this way, I like you more and more. If I really become the type who’d be magnanimous for your sake, that wouldn’t be good.”

Tie Ci said: “That’s not necessary either.”

“Can such things be controlled? I originally wanted to marry a local prestigious lady to gain in-law connections and support.”

“Add one. I originally planned to have three palaces and six courtyards.”

Feiyu snorted.

Tie Ci said meaningfully: “A life without crisis awareness is a failed life.”

“Me?” Feiyu said. “Beautiful, intelligent, powerful, fearless. Why should I have any crisis awareness?”

A moment later, the beautiful, intelligent, powerful, and fearless person whispered: “My legs are so sore. Could you massage them for me?”

Tie Ci said: “Men and women shouldn’t have physical contact.”

Feiyu muttered quietly: “A few days ago we rolled around on the same bed countless times, what’s this about physical contact…” Seeing Tie Ci’s gaze turn toward him, he quickly said: “Then master, please favor your top courtesan. I don’t mind the physical contact.”

Master Tie said: “I’m tired of you.”

The top courtesan swallowed his anger: “What new things does master prefer?”

Tie Ci said: “Uniform shows.”

Feiyu: “…??”

“Or inflatable dolls.”

“…???”

“Maid outfits work too.”

This time Feiyu understood and was shocked by Tie Ci’s tastes, feeling he’d discovered something incredible: “No wonder you keep two beautiful maids with you at all times!”

Tie Ci: “…”

No way, he’s even jealous of Chi Xue and Dan Shuang?

If someday he were brought into Ruixiang Hall and saw a whole room full of beauties, would he put on palace intrigue dramas or favor-competing shows every day?

This future empress seems a bit lacking in magnanimity.

Is it too late to dismiss the crowd of beauties now? Feels like the whole Ruixiang Hall might die.

Tie Ci thought about the future and decided it might be better not to establish an empress after all.

Since she wouldn’t establish an empress, she should give some compensation. She reached out to massage the narrow-minded little demon’s legs.

Though Feiyu joked casually, she still noticed his legs really hadn’t moved at all. Chi Fengli had indeed acted to convince those two – while his tendons and bones were fine, there might still be some damage.

This time Feiyu didn’t dare take advantage, humming comfortably and randomly directing her with “lighter” and “heavier,” but whispered: “The old woman can really keep her composure.”

Those two heart-attacking sentences they’d said seemed successful, but Chi Fengli had brought them here yet ignored them completely, which was rather strange.

He continued: “You should be more intimate with me – the old woman will definitely be stimulated.”

Tie Ci knew he was using public matters for private gain, but his words were indeed correct. Chi Fengli looked like cold ashes, but countless sparks hid beneath those ashes, ready to explode at any moment.

They just needed to stir up those ashes.

Before long, a gurgling sound came from the darkness.

Feiyu turned to look at her.

Tie Ci didn’t blush. Before he could tease her, she pressed his stomach, and Feiyu immediately made a gurgling sound too.

Feiyu couldn’t help but laugh: “That tickles…”

But Tie Ci felt a bit nostalgic for that firm yet soft sensation just now. Through the thin clothing, she could faintly feel his abdominal muscles.

Her mind couldn’t help but picture eight evenly beautiful abs, making her feel even hungrier.

Then she heard Feiyu whisper: “How about I let you eat my abs?”

Tie Ci raised her hand and lightly punched his stomach.

Feiyu cried out and laughed again: “Thick-skinned and fierce too.”

Tie Ci pointed at him: “Lazy and gluttonous too.”

The two looked at each other, both feeling they were evenly matched.

But at this moment, Tie Ci faintly heard some commotion from the main house.

Like someone breathing urgently, then slowly calming down.

She thought for a moment: “Let’s go find something to eat.”

Feiyu said: “My legs need to rest a bit more before they can move.”

“I’ll carry you on my back.”

Feiyu whooshed onto Tie Ci’s back in an instant.

His speed was breathtakingly fast.

Tie Ci: “…What happened to not being able to move?”

“My legs can’t move, so my hands are extra active,” Feiyu tightly wrapped his arms around her neck. “Good person, beautiful person, noble person, let’s go. You need my nose – I can tell you where the good food is.”

Tie Ci smiled and carried him to open the door. Both poked their heads out simultaneously.

There were no servants in the courtyard, no lights either, as if it were an empty yard.

But they knew Chi Fengli was in the main house, sitting in darkness, listening silently.

Perhaps she could hear everything happening throughout the entire mansion at this moment.

The young couple’s bickering, teasing, and mutual care, her daughter’s willful complaints, servants’ whispered conversations, and her husband with that person’s…

Just as Tie Ci carried Feiyu and poked their heads out, a sudden hot wind rolled toward them.

The hot wind seemed mixed with sparks and magma, so hot and stinging it made their eyes see stars. Then both doors slammed shut with a bang, almost hitting their noses.

They weren’t being allowed out.

The two tumbled back to the ground, feeling somewhat deflated. What was this woman trying to do by not making a sound or letting them leave?

“Rumors say Chi Fengli has a violent temperament… whoever spread those rumors, come out so I can beat them to death…” Tie Ci sat cross-legged irritably. That collision just now made her whole body feel like it was falling apart.

Feiyu fumbled in his chest and handed her a paper package.

Tie Ci smelled the oil fragrance.

Opening it, she saw seafood pancakes. Various chopped seafood mixed with seaweed and wild vegetables wrapped in pancake skin. The wrapper was chewy, and she could taste several kinds of seafood including shrimp, octopus tentacles, scallop meat, and jellyfish – rich in texture with both crispiness and tenderness. Seafood doesn’t taste good when cold, but this pancake had been hidden in Feiyu’s chest and still retained some warmth.

Tie Ci tore off more than half for Feiyu. Feiyu took it, saying: “Men should eat the big portion,” but after Tie Ci slowly finished eating, he tore off a large piece and stuffed it into her mouth.

When Tie Ci finished eating and he wanted to stuff more, she wouldn’t take it anymore, saying gently: “You gave me most of it – you should eat more.”

Feiyu’s whole body went numb with shock. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly caught on and grabbed Tie Ci’s hand, stroking it: “I’m fine. I don’t mind being hungry – I can’t let my baby go hungry.”

Now it was Tie Ci’s turn to want to vomit. She quickly covered her mouth, but Feiyu, who always pushed his luck, wouldn’t let her go. He held a corner of pancake close to her, using it to rub back and forth on her lips, laughing: “Come on, baby, big brother will feed you.”

Tie Ci was helpless, thinking she couldn’t cooperate with this guy in acting. He got into character instantly and could improvise his own adaptations – enough to make Shakespeare kick his coffin lid in anger.

She whimpered movingly while backing away. In the darkness, Feiyu saw her eyes like warm, lustrous pearls with a shallow smile, her slightly shining lips making her features appear even more distinct and beautiful. His heart felt slightly heated, and he couldn’t help leaning closer.

Then he kissed Tie Ci’s palm.

Tie Ci stuffed the pancake into his mouth with her other hand. Feiyu’s mouth immediately became busy and he could no longer think about stealing kisses.

This series of actions made rather ambiguous sounds. There was a noise from the main house, as if something had been smashed.

Feiyu and Tie Ci looked at each other. Feiyu whispered: “I think the timing isn’t quite right yet. How about we…”

Tie Ci suddenly pounced on him.

Feiyu joyfully let himself be knocked down by her immediately.

Tie Ci pressed on top of him and casually twisted his waist.

Feiyu indeed laughed lowly and rolled over.

But Tie Ci had already slipped away from beneath him like a swimming fish, her clothes rustling softly.

Suddenly there was wind outside.

Then the window paper lit up, tearing with a crack as a sword of firelight shot toward them. The two had to roll apart.

The firelight ignited the window paper with a hunting sound. Chi Fengli stood coldly at the door in the firelight – the fire was bright red, but she was as cold as an ice sculpture.

The two breathed a sigh of relief.

After all this clinging and entangling, this old woman finally couldn’t stand it and came out.

Feiyu poked his head out and smiled: “What, you want to control lovers too?”

Chi Fengli said: “Seeking death?”

Feiyu sneered: “Since you never planned to let us live anyway, it’s worth it for us to enjoy ourselves before dying.”

A flash of killing intent appeared between Chi Fengli’s brows.

But at this moment Tie Ci stood up, bowed to her, and said: “Madam Gui Hai, what we said earlier was sincere.”

Chi Fengli fell silent again. After a long time she said: “I haven’t heard that title in a long time.”

Tie Ci said: “Then, who has usurped your position, and who has caused your husband and children to turn against you?”