TNIBFT -Chapter 103 Cried from the Pain

Qin Fengyi remained silent, staring at the mountain of memorials piled before her, her fists clenched tightly.

After a moment—

Her voice came out hoarse: “Shangguan Ning’er, I order you to depart immediately for Sifang City and investigate the whereabouts of the princes and princesses. At critical moments, you may mobilize a thousand Imperial Guards.”

“Your Majesty…”

Shangguan Ning’er hesitated.

Qin Fengyi had just awakened, and all factions were watching like hungry predators. There wasn’t even a single truly loyal person by her side. If she stayed, at least Qin Fengyi would be safe within the palace. With the Emperor’s current condition—her legs still inconvenient—how could she feel at ease leaving?

Qin Fengyi smiled faintly, her gaze calm as she looked ahead. “Just focus on protecting my children. Make sure they return safely.”

“…Yes. This servant accepts the order!”

Shangguan Ning’er cupped her fists and finally withdrew.

The night grew deep, the dew heavy, the moon hanging over the willow branches.

Having slept for far too long, Qin Fengyi now cherished every moment of wakefulness. Holding a vermilion brush in one hand, her thoughts drifted back to six years ago—to that man.

Was he still alive?

Only after waking today did she learn that the entire Ye family had been executed.

The children had been rescued by loyal retainers of the Ye family. Then, Consort Ye of Great Liang had exchanged her life for theirs, allowing the three children to survive.

That man… must hate her to the bone, right?

This hatred was not only the Ye family’s grievance, but also the blood debt of her three children’s destroyed household. She, Qin Fengyi, would personally kill the enemies and offer comfort to Ye Tian’s spirit in the afterlife.

A cool breeze drifted in, making the candlelight flicker.

Qin Fengyi lowered her head, her expression serious as she began her third round of reviewing memorials.

…

Sifang City.

Yuelai Inn.

By the time Ye Tian woke up, it was already the next day. Looking at the unfamiliar mosquito net above him, he frowned, his mind momentarily dazed.

Did I transmigrate again?

Where is this place?

Before he could process it, a delicate, adorable little face suddenly dropped down into his view, magnified right before his eyes.

Warm breath puffed out from the child’s nose, soft and ticklish, carrying a faint milky scent. Seeing the familiar little face—and that single stray tuft of hair on her head—Ye Tian said speechlessly:

“Ye Shuangxue, what are you doing?”

“Looking at you!”

Ye Shuangxue’s small face looked blank for a second. But the moment she heard Ye Tian speak, her lips curled up into a wide grin. She immediately turned and shouted behind her:

“Big brother! Big brother!”

“Dad, Dad—!”

Ye Tian: …

Excited is fine, but do you have to press on my chest?

It hurts!!

Ye Tian bared his teeth in pain, tears nearly streaming out.

Ye Yunting rushed to the bedside in excitement, grabbing Ye Tian’s hand. “You’re really awake—Dad really came back to life!”

“That’s great!”

The little guy looked on the verge of tears from joy. It was the first time Ye Tian had seen the usually stoic eldest son show such vivid emotion.

Seeing Ye Tian grimacing, Ye Yunting asked nervously: “Dad, does something hurt?”

“Divine Doctor Qiu left some medicine—I’ll go get it…”

“N-No!”

Ye Tian’s throat was dry, like he was swallowing blades. He struggled to turn his head toward Ye Shuangxue and said: “She pressed on my wound.”

Me?

Ye Shuangxue froze. Feeling that her right hand was wet—and warm—she quickly lifted it.

On Ye Tian’s white inner robe, there was now a small red handprint.

“Hehe… Dad, are you okay?” Ye Shuangxue scratched her head awkwardly.

Lying on the bed, Ye Tian rolled his eyes.

This reckless girl—if she weren’t his biological daughter, Ye Tian would seriously suspect she was here to take advantage of the situation and finish him off.

Seeing that Ye Tian wasn’t speaking, Ye Shuangxue continued, “Dad, our hotpot shop burned down… will we have to go back to how things were before?”

“Will we not have enough to eat?”

At the mention of the hotpot shop, Ye Tian recalled the store that had turned into ruins. That was two or three months of his hard work.

His heart ached.

“Little sister, don’t talk about that right now. Dad just woke up—it wasn’t easy. We can earn money again, as long as our whole family is safe,” Ye Yunting quickly comforted him when he saw the sadness on Ye Tian’s face.

His small face looked awkward. First, his sister had pressed on Ye Tian’s wound, and now she brought up the hotpot shop.

Wasn’t this exactly what Ye Tian called a double attack—physical damage and emotional damage?

“As expected of my son, so sensible.”

Ye Tian nodded in relief, looking at his eldest—so mature, a future overlord, a rebellious minister, a ruler of one side. No matter how formidable he might become, right now he was still calling him “Dad” again and again, and that filled Ye Tian with a deep sense of satisfaction.

Noticing Ye Tian staring at him without blinking, Ye Yunting’s face flushed, his eyes darting away in embarrassment.

“Ah—!”

Ye Tian frowned, clutching his collar as if in pain. Ye Yunting and Ye Shuangxue immediately panicked, hugging his head.

“Dad, are you okay?”

“Dad, what’s wrong?”

One a future ruthless demoness, the other a future overlord—so those two were settled, right?

Still missing one.

“Xiao Jiang—where’s Xiao Jiang?”

Ye Tian glanced around the room, not seeing his youngest son. Ye Yunting lowered his head guiltily and said, “Xiao Jiang went with Doctor Qiu to nearby villages… to treat patients.”

Doctor Qiu?

Ye Shuangxue quickly added, “Doctor Qiu saved you. Xiao Jiang is going to follow him and learn medicine from now on.”

Ye Tian frowned, already understanding why Xiao Jiang wanted to study medicine.

Looking at the two tender little faces before him—their fair, delicate features, their bright, glass-like eyes, and their anxious, worried expressions—

These were his children in this other world. His blood, his family.

A warmth rose in his chest. Without saying anything, Ye Tian stretched out both arms and pulled the two children tightly into his embrace.

The sudden warmth made Ye Yunting freeze.

Ye Shuangxue also went still. She had just been about to struggle free from Ye Tian’s smelly armpit.

“Thank you…”

Ye Tian’s choked, sincere voice came from above their heads.

Neither child moved. In the quiet room, only the heartbeat of the father and his two children could be heard.

“I never expected you to love me this much. I may be a father, but this is the first time I’ve truly felt how important I am. Thank you.”

In his previous life, Ye Tian had no siblings. His parents died early, and he had to struggle alone in society from a young age.

No one cared. No one paid attention.

When he met a girl he liked, he gave everything—heart and soul—but in the end, the money was gone, and they were no longer compatible.

He had once doubted what love even was.

This world was full of false affection—where was true feeling?

At first, toward his three children, Ye Tian only wanted them to survive. Later, he felt they were pitiful, just like him. Since they were the biological children of this body, they were his children too. He hadn’t raised them strictly according to the “script,” mostly letting them grow freely.

But when he collapsed in the ruins, it was the three children who risked their lives to save him.

Xiao Jiang even chose to study medicine for his sake. Ye Yunting and Ye Shuangxue—only five years old—had stayed by his side and taken care of him all night.

The more Ye Tian thought about it, the more tears streamed down his face.

There was no way he wasn’t moved.

Feeling Ye Tian’s choking sobs and trembling arms, Ye Shuangxue froze. Then she gently wrapped her arms around him and said in a soft, childish voice:

“There, there… don’t cry, Dad. Don’t cry anymore. Did it hurt so much you cried?”

“Be good, Dad~”

Ye Tian: …

The tears of emotion were instantly forced back.

His face darkened.

Ye Yunting, whose hand had been frozen midair, gently patted Ye Tian’s back and said softly:

“As long as you’re here, we have a home. We all need you.”