Manager Xia sneered coldly, “The Princess Consort isn’t seventy or eighty years old – can’t you hear clearly?”

“Audacious!” Dahan, Xiaoman and the others standing behind Qin Yining shouted in unison.

Xiaoman was more impulsive and immediately drew his saber halfway out, the blade’s cold light gleaming menacingly.

They had long heard Manager Xia speaking inappropriately, but without Qin Yining’s orders, they dared not act on their own. They hadn’t expected this man’s words to become insulting! How could they endure this?

Manager Xia was startled and instinctively stepped back half a pace, only then remembering that the woman before him was a Princess Consort.

But then he thought: What Princess Consort or not – if her Prince couldn’t produce silver, he probably wouldn’t even be able to suppress the troublesome Pingnan Army. If a military rebellion occurred then, whether Prince or Princess Consort, both would be in trouble. She’s just a woman who understands nothing, yet still dares to put on airs?

Manager Xia straightened his back. “There’s nothing audacious about it! This old man speaks harsh truths. Even if the Princess Consort doesn’t like hearing it, what I say is the reality. The Princess Consort is just a woman – wouldn’t it be fine to properly manage the Prince’s inner quarters? Yet you insist on reaching so far. Wouldn’t it be good to just sit and enjoy the profits? Let me ask you again – you took in nearly five hundred useless women into the manor, providing them with food, drink, and clothing daily. What was the purpose! Even if you want to make cloth factories and ready-made clothing, you could find people to work temporarily then, and there would surely be plenty willing. Yet the Princess Consort insists on finding so many women to support for nothing in advance. What exactly were you thinking!”

As soon as Manager Xia finished speaking, there was a sharp “clang” of blades being drawn. Both Dahan and Xiaoman unsheathed their sabers, raising them to strike.

“Ah! What are you doing!”

Manager Xia was startled and quickly stepped back two paces. However, his pride got the better of him, and he was certain that Qin Yining would only let her people frighten him. So he straightened his back again, stood his ground, glanced contemptuously at Dahan and Xiaoman, and raised his chin arrogantly.

“Do you actually intend to kill someone?”

Dahan scolded, “Audacious madman! How dare you show such disrespect to the Princess Consort! Forfeit your life!”

With that, he swung his blade to strike.

Manager Xia gritted his teeth. Though afraid in his heart, he refused to retreat, thinking that Qin Yining absolutely wouldn’t dare kill him, so he stood rooted to the spot without dodging.

How could he know Dahan’s background? This was someone who had once served beside the tyrant emperor and had done everything – killing someone face to face was no more difficult for him than stepping on an ant.

Dahan struck without hesitation. His only concern was that killing Manager Xia might ruin Qin Yining’s affairs, but Qin Yining remained seated in her original position, even smiling faintly while propping up her chin, her posture very leisurely, as if Manager Xia’s life or death had nothing to do with her.

Dahan then knew that Qin Yining wouldn’t stop him from acting, though she might not necessarily want Manager Xia dead.

Dahan’s blade, carrying his anger, chopped directly toward Manager Xia.

Manager Xia initially didn’t want to dodge, but seeing that Dahan showed no signs of holding back and Qin Yining had no intention of intervening, he immediately shuddered, quickly closed his eyes, crouched down with his head in his hands, and shouted, “You can’t kill me!”

For covert agents like Dahan, there was absolutely no reason to miss when killing a small fry like Xia Zongping.

However, since Qin Yining hadn’t spoken to decide this person’s life or death, Dahan didn’t dare rashly kill him. The blade shifted slightly, its edge grazing Manager Xia’s hat and striking hard into the ground before him.

It was a stone brick floor, yet this angry blow managed to cleave a deep white mark into it.

Manager Xia crouched on the ground, staring dazedly at the shocking mark on the floor before him, couldn’t help but swallow hard.

If such a powerful blow hadn’t missed, wouldn’t he have been separated from his head?!

Cold sweat broke out on Manager Xia’s back. However, when he raised his head and met Qin Yining’s half-smiling face, he regained his confidence.

The guards had even drawn their blades, yet this woman deliberately didn’t dare say much – she must still need him for future business.

Manager Xia stood up again, softening his attitude somewhat. His words were no longer as harsh as before. “This old man was also speaking rashly in his urgency, but this old man was thinking of the Princess Consort’s business interests and harbors no ulterior motives.

“The Princess Consort is a reasonable person. Please consider – in this poor, harsh land, there are many unruly people after the war. Not to mention anything else, just getting those people in the manor to straighten their attitudes took considerable effort from this old man. Those excessive incidents are simply countless. I didn’t want to boast of my achievements before the Princess Consort, did I?

“The Princess Consort is a noble person who enjoys a blessed life. Why not delegate authority to me? I’ll manage carefully, so the Princess Consort saves effort while having profits to enjoy. What’s not to like? Why must you tire yourself and bring all the trouble upon yourself? There must be plenty of affairs in the Prince’s mansion. Wouldn’t it be better to reserve your energy for managing those?”

Hearing Manager Xia indeed change his tune after being frightened, truly a master at adapting to circumstances, Qin Yining couldn’t help but laugh mockingly, “How rare for Manager Xia to change his attitude and become so gentle. This Princess Consort truly feels quite flattered.”

Manager Xia felt his face couldn’t bear this sarcasm, secretly cursing Qin Yining for being ungrateful and pushing her luck.

Seeing Manager Xia’s expression, Qin Yining could guess several parts of his thoughts.

Since this person remained unrepentant unto death, there was no room left to spare.

Qin Yining stood up, her face no longer bearing the previous amiable smile, saying indifferently, “Since Manager Xia finds the work so arduous, and the ‘unruly people’ always make Manager Xia feel overwhelmed, why not let someone else do this work? Manager Xia is already advanced in years. It would be proper to retire and enjoy your remaining years in comfort.”

Manager Xia looked up in shock, meeting Qin Yining’s cold gaze directly. That look seemed not to be viewing a living person, but an ant.

How could the change be so rapid! Just moments ago, the person who didn’t dare refute after being scolded like that had suddenly changed face!

Manager Xia had seen countless people. If he still couldn’t tell that Qin Yining had deliberately allowed him to act presumptuously just now, he would have wasted all these years fighting in the business world.

What a sinister wench! She intended to use her Princess Consort status to pressure people!

Manager Xia gritted his teeth and stood up with his spine tense, squeezing out through his teeth, “I see the Princess Consort is relying on her status and acting without fear? Aren’t you afraid of losing everything!”

Qin Yining said expressionlessly, “Is that so? I’m waiting.”

“Good, you wait!” Manager Xia clenched his fists and left harsh words before turning to leave.

Bingtang held the spiked hot tea in her hands, considering whether to splash it directly on him.

Dahan, Xiaoman and the others all looked toward Qin Yining, as if they would immediately pounce forward together with just a nod from her.

Manager Xia walked out angrily while secretly breathing a sigh of relief – he had not only preserved face but also preserved his life. Once he returned, she would get what was coming to her!

Who knew that just as he reached the doorway, he suddenly heard a low, authoritative male voice scolding, “Stop!”