Chapter 25: Unmasking the Treacherous Plot, Yet Falling Victim to Deceit

After those two left, Linglong had intended to sit on the swing for a while, but upon seeing how vividly red the flowers there were, she felt uneasy. Shifting her steps, she sought out a quiet trellis, hiding behind it to savor the scent of roses.

About a quarter of an hour passed before Linglong heard the sound of approaching footsteps.

“They must have already left the back garden,” said the voice of the King of Xiang.

Qin Daofei cast a cool glance toward where Linglong was hiding, then smiled and remarked, “This back garden of yours truly is unique, King of Xiang.”

“Unique? What use is that? Didn’t she just rush back to your side anyway?” The King of Xiang’s voice sounded tinged with sadness. He casually plucked a flower, twisted it in his palm until it was crushed, then flung it to the ground in frustration, stomping it into fragments.

Qin Daofei looked at him coldly. “Do you still pine for my wife, King of Xiang?”

“As long as she lives, I will never let go!” The King of Xiang’s eyes brimmed with dark, wild desire.

Qin Daofei regarded him with a half-smile. “The moment you killed her father, you were destined never to have her.”

“You’re no better—you killed her child, nearly drove her to death in prison. Why can she turn back to you, but not to me?” The King of Xiang stubbornly believed Linglong was debased, that she was repeatedly scorned by Qin Daofei, yet always crawled back to lick his heels.

But was he himself not equally debased?

“It was an accident... As for the prison, I’ll get to the bottom of it. Whatever I owe Linglong—love, happiness, her child—I will repay her!” Qin Daofei finished, stumbling back a few steps, laughing. “Is it just me, or is this garden spinning?”

Ha!

The King of Xiang gave a malicious smile, clapping Qin Daofei’s shoulder. “Are you drunk, Brother Qin?”

“I’m not drunk. I’m going to find Linglong. Linglong, come out! We’re going home!” Qin Daofei shoved the King of Xiang aside, staggering forward.

The King of Xiang said coldly, “Feng Ying, aren’t you coming out? Take Master Qin down to rest.”

The rumored little sister quietly emerged from the shadows. After exchanging a glance with the King of Xiang, she supported Qin Daofei. “Master Qin, let’s go.”

Linglong watched from her hiding spot, nearly tearing down the King of Xiang’s trellis in her agitation.

That little vixen had somehow already changed into an outfit identical to Linglong’s, hairstyle and all, and was leading Qin Daofei toward the side chamber.

“Linglong, you look so beautiful tonight,” Qin Daofei mumbled, his whole weight slumped against Liu Feng Ying, boneless.

Linglong gritted her teeth. Qin Daofei, you fool—are you blind? I look a thousand times better than that woman!

Liu Feng Ying laughed flirtatiously. “Do you want to dote on me tonight?”

“I’ll dote on you for a lifetime!” Their voices faded as they walked away, leaving Linglong seething. Qin Daofei had never spoken a tender word to her, yet now he lavished sweet nothings on that vixen.

The King of Xiang watched their departing backs with a chilly gaze. “Linglong, I want you to see with your own eyes as he betrays you with another. Let’s see how you continue to love him.”

With that, he headed to the back courtyard.

As soon as the King of Xiang left, Linglong stepped out.

“Hmph! I’m not here for your sappy lines, nor for you to repay me happiness or my child. I want those one hundred thousand taels of silver. I saved you for the money—remember that!” Linglong declared fiercely, hoisting up her skirts and chasing after him.

Meanwhile, the King of Xiang, upon reaching the back courtyard and seeing the lights blazing in the Princess’s chamber, hurried over. The maid at the door quickly curtsied. “Greetings, Your Highness!”

“Did Linglong return with the Princess?” he asked.

The maid shook her head. “I only saw the Princess and Sister Chun Ni; Miss Linglong wasn’t with them.”

Inside, the Princess, hearing the King’s voice, gripped her handkerchief in fear, looking at Chun Ni, uncertain what to do.

“Miss, you’d better explain to His Highness, or he might blame you in his usual way,” Chun Ni, knowing the King’s temperament, advised.

The Princess glanced at Chun Ni, reluctantly rose, and came out to greet the departing King of Xiang. “Your Highness…”

“Didn’t I ask you to keep watch over Linglong? Where is she?” His anxious tone deeply wounded the Princess, who stared at him, pale and trembling, unable to utter a word.

“Your Highness, after Miss Linglong went to the back courtyard, she said she wanted to be alone. The Princess wasn’t feeling well, so I took it upon myself to bring her back to rest,” Chun Ni hurried to shoulder the blame, fearing the Princess might be beaten.

The King of Xiang cast a cold glance at Chun Ni, paused in thought, then asked, “Did she like that trellis?”

Well…

“Your Highness, Miss Linglong was very fond of it. She said after spending two years out on the frontier, only seeing wind and sand, she never expected to return to the capital and be greeted by the scent of roses. She was delighted, so…”

“Ha, that’s just her nature—unrestrained. As long as she’s happy, that’s all that matters!” The King of Xiang muttered as he turned back toward the garden to look for Linglong.

Throughout, he hadn’t so much as glanced at the Princess.

The Princess wrung her handkerchief, collapsing in Chun Ni’s arms in tears.

As for Linglong—

She had followed Qin Daofei and Liu Feng Ying, sneaking into a small pavilion in the back courtyard. Outside, she heard Liu Feng Ying’s coy voice, “Master Qin, may I help you change?”

“Linglong, I missed you!” Qin Daofei seized Liu Feng Ying’s waist, pulling her into his arms and burying his face in her chest.

Linglong poked a small hole in the paper window, watching as Qin Daofei nuzzled Liu Feng Ying’s chest like a dog, so angry she wished she could stab his tendons with a hairpin.

“Master Qin, you’re so bad. If you missed me, why haven’t you acted?” Liu Feng Ying pressed Qin Daofei’s neck, drawing him closer.

Qin Daofei shook his head. “I was afraid you’d be upset.”

“I’m not upset!” Liu Feng Ying replied eagerly.

Outside, Linglong stamped her foot in fury. “I’m not upset either! I just want to kill someone!”

Shing!

The masked woman in black, always lurking in the shadows, handed Linglong a gleaming dagger, her cold eyes signaling her to kill.

Damn!

Linglong looked pale, glaring at her like she was denouncing a beast, pointing with trembling fingers and finally blurting two words, “Mercy, sister!”

The woman in black smiled faintly, then casually took a piece of silver from Linglong’s purse and flicked it toward the room.

Smack!

The silver hit Liu Feng Ying’s neck, and she collapsed limply to the floor.

Linglong stamped her foot. “Are you trying to kill me? Of all the stones, you had to use my silver!”

The masked woman shrugged, saying nothing.

Linglong saw Qin Daofei also collapse beside Liu Feng Ying and groaned, “Sister, help me out again…”

But when she turned, the masked woman was gone.

“Well done!” Linglong stomped her foot and had no choice but to sneak inside herself.

Linglong went forward and, out of spite, poked Qin Daofei’s face hard. “Qin Daofei, your mother’s calling you home for dinner!”

“Linglong, stop fooling around!” Qin Daofei rolled over, his hand expertly gripping Linglong’s waist, pulling her into his arms.

Linglong waved her hand dismissively. “How much did you drink?”

“I’m not drunk!” Those who claim not to be drunk are usually the drunkest.

Linglong reached out to touch Qin Daofei’s Adam’s apple, and he let out a low, beast-like growl. Frightened, Linglong covered his mouth gently, coaxing, “Be good—let me deal with that little vixen first, then I’ll deal with you.”

Whether he understood or not, after his hand loosened from Linglong’s waist, he tugged at his collar, demanding water.

Linglong kicked him twice, triumphantly. “Let you die of thirst—I won’t give you water!”

Then she rolled up her sleeves, dragged Liu Feng Ying to the bed, moved the footstool aside, and kicked the beauty under the bed. She replaced the stool, successfully hiding the body.

Clapping her hands, Linglong went to Qin Daofei, poking at his Adam’s apple, his face, his chest, his waist. Her fingers grew sore, yet Qin Daofei remained unmoved.

Linglong had to help him up. “The floor’s cold—I’ll get you to bed!”

“Sleep with you!” Qin Daofei, eyes glazed with drunkenness, lowered his head and captured Linglong’s lips, entangling her in passionate embrace.

The taste of wine filled Linglong’s nose and mouth with Qin Daofei’s breath. Her heart trembled, and though she meant to push him away, her hands softened on his shoulders, a sigh escaping between their lips.

Qin Daofei seemed possessed, gripping Linglong’s slender waist, his nose against hers, voice low, “In these two years, did you ever think of me?”

“Day and night!” The earlier tenderness vanished, leaving only gritted teeth.

Qin Daofei nuzzled Linglong’s delicate collarbone, laughing quietly.

“Laugh, will you!” Linglong shoved him, but he didn’t budge.

The scent of roses clung to Linglong, and Qin Daofei’s laughter deepened. “Day and night—let me be the only one to do that for you.”

With that, he eagerly kissed her again.

Linglong pondered for a moment, finally realizing why Qin Daofei had emphasized that first word so heavily.

Scoundrel!

Linglong’s heart cried out in protest!

Qin Daofei looked up at her, his eyes bloodshot, burning with desire—as if he’d waited forever for this moment.

Having known him for so many years, Linglong understood his nature, every move he made.

Tonight, was she doomed?

“Qin Daofei, you can’t—” Before Linglong could finish, Qin Daofei pressed a finger to her lips, his smile devilish. “Right—you mustn’t escape me.”

With that, he pressed down once more…