“Lord Lei, please sit!” Yang Sheng said, gesturing toward a seat.

“Good.” Lei Shenbao released Feng Jiang and sat down in the seat beside him.

He glanced around at everyone present, his gaze finally settling on Feng Jiu’er.

“Miss Long, have you been well since we last met?”

“Thanks to Lord Lei’s blessing, I’ve been quite well,” Feng Jiu’er said, raising her teacup toward Lei Shenbao before tilting her head back and draining it in one go.

“Good.” Lei Shenbao accepted the tea Yang Sheng handed him and looked around at everyone.

“These past few days have been hard on all of you. Allow me to offer tea in place of wine—bottoms up!”

Without waiting for anyone’s response, Lei Shenbao raised his cup and drained it.

“Tsk tsk…” He set down his cup, his gaze returning once more to Feng Jiu’er.

“Someone, bring out the portrait for Miss Long to see.”

Lei Shenbao stared fixedly at Feng Jiu’er without blinking, waving his hand.

Lei Ming pulled out a portrait from inside his robe, unfolded it, and placed it in front of Feng Jiu’er.

Feng Jiu’er looked at the figure in the portrait without showing the slightest hint of panic.

But Jian Yi and Qiao Mu beside her, upon seeing the portrait, immediately tensed up in alert.

“Miss Long, I wonder if you happen to know the beauty in this portrait? She also shares your surname, Long—her name is Long Jiu’er, deputy leader of Dragon Shadow.”

Lei Shenbao gazed at Feng Jiu’er as though admiring a great beauty.

Seeing this, Jian Yi’s expression darkened.

Feng Jiu’er, under the table, took hold of Jian Yi’s hand.

Jian Yi’s thick brows furrowed, and he released his grip on his sword hilt.

“Lord Lei, if you have something to say, please speak plainly,” Feng Jiu’er said, looking at Lei Shenbao, still appearing perfectly composed.

“Very well, then I’ll be direct,” Lei Shenbao said with a smiling nod.

“Your Dragon Shadow wants to gain a foothold in Licheng, doesn’t it?”

“Yes,” Feng Jiu’er said, picking up the teapot and pouring herself another cup.

“Straightforward!” Lei Shenbao rapped the table. “Yang Sheng, have someone bring some wine.”

“Yes, Lord Lei,” Yang Sheng said, cupping his hands and turning to leave.

“I wonder what happy occasion Lord Lei has, that calls for celebratory drinks?” Feng Jiu’er asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Dragon Shadow and I are about to become partners—isn’t that worth celebrating?” Lei Shenbao replied with a smile.

Feng Jiu’er looked at him, her crescent brows knitting slightly. “Lord Lei, did I hear you correctly?”

“You want to partner with Dragon Shadow? What does a small faction like Dragon Shadow have to offer?”

“As for how strong Dragon Shadow really is, just look at their leader, don’t you think?” Lei Shenbao said, once again giving Feng Jiu’er a meaningfully suggestive look.

That look of his made both Jian Yi and Qiao Mu deeply uncomfortable.

But neither said anything—for now, it seemed all they could do was wait.

Jian Yi would tolerate no one bullying his woman, not even so much as a look.

Fortunately, with Feng Jiu’er beside him, repeatedly reminding him not to act rashly, otherwise a fight would have already broken out here.

“Does Lord Lei know our leader?” Feng Jiu’er asked again, gripping Jian Yi’s arm, calmly looking at Lei Shenbao as she spoke softly.

“No!” Lei Shenbao shook his head.

He leaned in closer, looking at Feng Jiu’er, a gleam in his eyes.

Like a leopard eyeing its prey, practically drooling.

“I don’t know Dragon Shadow’s leader, but I do know Dragon Shadow’s deputy leader—Miss Long, aren’t you Jiu’er herself?”

“I’ve heard Miss Jiu’er hasn’t married yet, and besides, even if Miss Jiu’er were already married, I wouldn’t mind.”

Not just Jian Yi—even Feng Jiu’er wanted to beat up this foolish leopard.

No, wait—this wasn’t even like a leopard. It was simply a foolish donkey, a lecherous foolish donkey.

Couldn’t this foolish donkey just say things properly? If Jian Yi really did make a move, things wouldn’t go well for him either.

Still, Feng Jiu’er didn’t want to clash head-on with this foolish donkey just yet—this was Licheng, his territory, and she couldn’t afford to gamble on that.

Feng Jiu’er gripped Jian Yi’s arm with such force her fingertips nearly dug into his flesh.

Jian Yi glanced down, and with great effort managed to suppress some of his anger.

Feng Jiu’er gave Jian Yi a reassuring look, then turned back to look at Lei Shenbao.

“Lord Lei, what exactly do you mean by this?”

Even though she clearly wanted Lei Shenbao to understand her man was angry, Lei Shenbao showed not the slightest sign of restraint.

“Miss Long, what I mean is very simple.” Lei Shenbao curled his lips into an infuriatingly smug smile.

“I only want one thing—you, Miss Long. In exchange, I’ll partner with Dragon Shadow unconditionally and help you establish yourselves in Licheng.”

Lei Shenbao’s lecherousness wasn’t a recent development. Having seen Feng Jiu’er’s true face, he’d lost sleep for two nights running.

Even while holding his own wife, his mind was filled with Feng Jiu’er’s features.

He had gone mad! Mad for Feng Jiu’er!

But what Lei Shenbao didn’t know was that the speed with which he’d discovered Feng Jiu’er’s identity as Dragon Shadow’s deputy leader was entirely within Feng Jiu’er’s own design.

Feng Jiu’er had deliberately arranged for this fact to be leaked to Lei Shenbao. Of everyone present, only Feng Jiu’er herself and, as far as she knew, Feng Jiang were aware of this.

Jian Yi and Qiao Mu didn’t know, which was why their anger was now playing out so vividly and convincingly.

She also had no idea how a certain man would react upon learning that his own wife had even resorted to using her beauty as bait, just to resolve matters swiftly.

The only thing that surprised Feng Jiu’er was that Lei Shenbao had actually come to this very place to say such things to her face.

So just now, she had wondered whether Yang Sheng had been corresponding with Lei Shenbao all along, reporting their every move.

“Lord Lei, you’re joking, aren’t you?” Feng Jiu’er curved her lips with some difficulty.

Yang Sheng personally carried in a pot of wine, and upon hearing Lei Shenbao’s words, he froze for a moment before pouring him a cup.

“Joking?” Lei Shenbao burst into loud laughter. “Miss Long, you’re being far too modest.”

“You’re the first woman to ever tug at my heartstrings like this—otherwise, I wouldn’t have come in person to fetch you.”

“Miss Long, what do you think? If you came with me, Lei Shenbao, I guarantee you a lifetime free from worries about food and clothing.”

“What’s more, I’ll let you continue with your own ambitions—I’ll support Dragon Shadow unconditionally, without any interference!”

Feng Jiu’er truly wanted to scoff—this foolish donkey actually looked down on their Dragon Shadow that much?

Once Dragon Shadow brought him fully under their control, would he have to cut open his own stomach in shame?

“Lord Lei, my apologies! Your terms are quite generous, but I truly cannot accept.”

“Jiu’er already has a fiancé,” Qiao Mu said, glaring at Lei Shenbao.

As if she would fight to the death alongside him should Lei Shenbao try to force the issue.

“I know,” Lei Shenbao said, nodding.

His expression darkened slightly, but as he raised his wine cup and looked up, the corners of his mouth lifted once more.

“Miss Long, as I said, I wouldn’t mind. You should think it over carefully, carefully.”

The words had barely fallen when he indifferently withdrew his gaze, raised his wine cup, and took a light sip.

“The wine’s quite ordinary, but when one’s in a good mood, everything tastes good, don’t you think?”

Lei Shenbao held his cup, looking at Feng Jiu’er, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, though a hint of seriousness lingered in his eyes.

Sun Yishi stared at Feng Jiu’er, stepping forward, his breathing growing heavy.

“What my lord means is, don’t refuse a toast only to end up drinking the penalty wine!”