“Whether to be honest about his identity should be his own choice. I can’t overstep and make that decision for him. Perhaps he feels the time hasn’t come yet?” Rong Pu smiled slightly. “However, it might not be as you guessed.”
“He’s not the son of the Prince of Liaodong?”
“He is indeed a descendant of Liaodong’s wealthy elite.” Rong Pu said, “A commercial magnate family that has operated for generations with vast wealth. They have countless estates, shops, and villas throughout Great Qian. The princes of Liaodong are tightly controlled by Prince Ding’an and live on monthly allowances—none of them are as wealthy as he is.”
Tie Ci let out a sigh of relief.
Rong Pu cared about his image in front of her and wouldn’t lie to her.
Rong Pu smiled slightly.
Not a single word was false.
A grandson was also a descendant.
“However, he should already have a fiancée at home.” Rong Pu said gently, “This might be why he hasn’t promptly revealed his identity to you. But after all this time without breaking the engagement, I find it puzzling too.”
This statement was also truthful.
The engagement with the Crown Princess had just been broken, but he had already found ways to have people whisper in Prince Ding’an’s ear about arranging another good match for the eighteenth young master of the Murong family.
After all, since Prince Ding’an had returned to Liaodong last time, his impression of the eighteenth young master had improved. After helping him break the imperial engagement, it would be natural to arrange another marriage as well.
Though he hadn’t heard news yet, it should be about ready.
Thinking of how Murong Yi had celebrated throughout the venue and treated everyone when the engagement was dissolved for Tie Ci’s sake, he smiled slightly.
Let me help you choose another worthy wife—definitely someone with power and influence, making it difficult for you to break a second engagement.
You’re welcome.
The boots had dried, and Tie Ci lowered her head to put them on, not letting Rong Pu see her expression.
Although she was always good at controlling her emotions and probably wouldn’t reveal any inappropriate expressions, she simply didn’t want him to look at her right now.
She didn’t entirely believe Rong Pu’s words, knowing his green tea attributes after all.
In the arena of love, Rong Pu wouldn’t help Rong Wei one bit.
Still, his words had some reference value and confirmed her inner doubts.
There was always a reason for not wanting to speak. Excluding identity restrictions, only this kind of reason remained.
Perhaps there were other reasons, perhaps Rong Wei simply had such a careless nature, perhaps Rong Wei was testing her to see who would speak honestly first. But regardless, her earlier impulse to immediately go and ask had quietly dissipated.
Dan Shuang had been guarding the cave entrance and eavesdropping. Now she suddenly stood up and walked away huffily.
Just then, Feiyu returned from hunting. Seeing Dan Shuang approach, he handed her a plump wild rabbit with great authority, saying, “Good maid, go clean this properly. I want to personally make spicy stir-fried rabbit for your mistress!”
Dan Shuang lowered her eyelids, glanced at the rabbit, and snorted through her nose, “Aren’t you good at flattering people? Go do it yourself!” She flicked her hand and left.
She had been respectful to Feiyu before, so he never expected to suddenly receive such a cold shoulder. He stared at her retreating figure in bewilderment, murmuring, “What’s wrong with this maid? Didn’t Mu Si cure her?”
Hearing this, Dan Shuang became even angrier. She turned back and said coldly, “Birds of a feather—thinking you can fool us master and servant!”
Feiyu watched her leave, cold as ice yet fiery as chili peppers. He hefted the rabbit, then glanced around and noticed Tie Ci wasn’t among the group. Looking again, he didn’t see Rong Pu either. His expression immediately darkened.
His silent, cold-faced appearance was quite intimidating—so intimidating that Da Wu seemed to hear sounds of slaughter again and quickly pressed himself against the wall. When his gaze turned to Yang Yixiu, Yang Yixiu immediately pointed toward that cave.
Feiyu strode toward the cave but didn’t enter immediately. He heard Rong Pu chattering inside to Tie Ci: “Just lie down and sleep for a while, I’ll keep watch. Dinner isn’t ready yet, so it’s perfect for resting. I know you’ll insist on taking the night watch again later…”
Feiyu expected Tie Ci to refuse and curled his lips in a disdainful smile, waiting quietly at the cave entrance.
Inside, Tie Ci indeed felt tired. Emotional ups and downs were exhausting, and she had insisted on taking the second half of the night watch last night out of concern for safety. At this moment, hearing Rong Pu’s gentle murmuring and smelling the faint medicinal fragrance in the cave, drowsiness suddenly overcame her. Thinking this time period wasn’t particularly dangerous, she hummed in agreement and said it was fine.
When drowsy, people’s speech becomes particularly soft and sweet. Outside the cave, Feiyu only heard Tie Ci’s gentle agreement from within, followed by the sound of a body settling onto the branches.
He stood outside the cave in shock.
What had happened during the time he was hunting?
Had someone really been so bold as to take advantage and steal his prize?
A man and woman alone together, away from the group in a cave, and she just went to sleep like that?
Feiyu glanced over and saw Dan Shuang giving him a challenging cold smile before turning and walking away.
Little flames immediately whooshed up inside him.
However, he still didn’t enter the cave immediately.
He thought for a moment, picked up his fan, flicked out a fan bone, bent down, and stabbed it into his own calf.
Blood immediately gushed out.
Tian Wu and Qi Yuansi were holding game, preparing to go to the stream to skin and wash it, when they saw this operation and froze in shock.
Thud —the game fell to the ground.
Their companions all turned to look, then all stood stunned.
What was this about?
Had he gone mad?
Qi Yuansi had been paying attention to the movements in the cave. Seeing Feiyu return and stand before the cave with changing expressions, he had felt somewhat satisfied. But now he felt like he’d been awakened from a dream and suddenly stepped back, then stepped back again.
Did big shots pursue women with such literal bloodshed too?
He seemed unable to play this game…
Feiyu calmly pulled out the fan bone and wiped the blood clean on Qi Yuansi’s chest clothing.
Qi Yuansi didn’t move.
The cold fan bone in Feiyu’s hand moved slightly upward, pressing against his throat.
Qi Yuansi’s throat moved slightly, and his entire neck instantly broke out in goosebumps.
He could feel the bone-chilling cold of the fan bone penetrating straight into his throat.
He could feel Feiyu’s deep, cold eyes staring at his vital point like a venomous snake.
He had never imagined that Feiyu, who usually seemed carefree and laughing, could have such murderous intent—like a madman.
Qi Yuansi felt quite wronged.
What did Rong Pu’s wall-digging have to do with him? How did he end up being the target of Feiyu’s displaced anger?
But deep down, he knew this threat wasn’t entirely unjust. Those vague feelings of unwillingness and longing hidden in his heart were like embers in a furnace—unnoticed by others but never extinguished, burning quietly.
He thought no one had noticed, but before truly intelligent people, even subtle changes in one’s gaze were answers.
Feiyu stared into his eyes, curled his lips, and patted the fan bone coldly against his Adam’s apple.
Then he let go.
Did he think he didn’t know about those crooked thoughts?
He just hadn’t been interested in dealing with this gloomy little ghost.
But just now, he suddenly understood.
No matter how small the beginning, how ridiculous the desire, anything that shouldn’t happen should be extinguished at the first opportunity.
Acting now was still in time.
He smiled and swept a glance at Qi Yuansi.
The first time was a warning; the second time would be murder.
Qi Yuansi understood his meaning and didn’t dare meet his gaze. It wasn’t entirely due to pressure, but also shame from having his inner thoughts seen through.
He stepped back. Tian Wu still stood there stupidly. Feiyu pointed at the mountain, then at his own calf, then at the game, addressing him and the others behind him who were staring foolishly.
Little idiots.
Your master went hunting in the mountains, fought bravely regardless of danger, and accidentally injured his leg. Understand?
Everyone nodded mechanically.
Under—stood.
You really know how to play.
The commotion outside alerted Tie Ci. Despite Rong Pu’s attempts to stop her, she got up and poked her head out. She immediately saw Feiyu and was about to put on a calm expression when she suddenly noticed his blood-stained calf.
She stepped out of the cave in one stride. “What happened!”
Feiyu leaned against the cave entrance, not even glancing inside. He coughed lightly and said, “Nothing, just got poked by a tree branch.” He hefted the rabbit in his hand. “How do you want to eat it? Roasted rabbit or stir-fried rabbit?”
“With your abilities, how could you get such an injury?” Tie Ci brushed aside the rabbit and crouched down to examine his wound. The wound was narrow and deep, truly looking like it had been poked by a thick branch.
“Fat Tiger accidentally stepped on a trap, and I got poked while saving him.” Feiyu answered matter-of-factly.
Fat Tiger: …Did I?!
Yang Yixiu patted his shoulder sympathetically.
Look, bad people all had the same tune.
Tie Ci glanced at Fat Tiger, but Feiyu moved his body, perfectly blocking her line of sight.
“How do you want the rabbit cooked?”
“Forget about the rabbit. Come in, let me bandage this for you. The wound is deep—if not properly treated, it could easily get infected.”
Feiyu immediately threw the rabbit to Fat Tiger as hush money and happily followed Tie Ci into the cave.
The cave was already small, and with the tall Feiyu entering, it became difficult even to turn around. Once inside, Feiyu unceremoniously sat down on the prepared pile of dry grass, saying, “I’m the injured party, so I won’t be polite.”
Rong Pu smiled as if he didn’t mind and said to Tie Ci, “Come out for dinner later, let me show you my cooking skills.” Then he left.
Feiyu stared at his retreating figure with a dark expression.
This pervasive pest.