TNIBFT -Chapter 180 A Woman’s Struggle

“Delicious…”

Shangguan Ning devoured her food with no sense of decorum. She held her chopsticks in one hand, head down, completely ignoring her appearance, her mouth and face smeared with sauce.

The bubbling, fiery hot copper pot, the fragrant aroma, and the relaxed, cheerful laughter around her—all of it gradually eased the tension she had carried for years.

Like a starving ghost, she swept through the beef and lamb on the table, leaving nothing behind.

In no time, only empty plates remained.

“How long has it been since you last ate?”

Ye Shuangxue frowned slightly. Ye Tian hadn’t even finished eating yet, and Shangguan Ning had eaten everything by herself. Seeing Shangguan Ning reaching for the last piece of meat in the copper pot, Ye Shuangxue quickly spoke up.

Shangguan Ning froze. Was the little master talking to her?

She hurriedly swallowed, plastered on the widest smile, and said in awe, “Three days!”

“Mainly because this food is just too delicious.”

Feeling embarrassed, Shangguan Ning licked the corner of her mouth.

Ye Shuangxue was quick-eyed and fast-handed, swiftly picking up the last piece of meat from the pot: “Hoo hoo…”

The little girl puffed her cheeks and blew lightly, then gently touched her pink lips to check it wasn’t hot. She quickly handed it to Ye Tian, saying, “Ah…”

“Open your mouth.”

Ye Tian opened wide and ate it in one bite.

Ye Shuangxue’s big eyes watched him contentedly, a small expression of satisfaction on her face.

Shangguan Ning was stunned.

This scoundrel, Ye Tian, actually allowed the Grand Princess of the Zhou Kingdom to serve him like this. The key was—the little princess was only a few years old, with tiny arms and legs. Shangguan Ning gritted her teeth in anger, her gaze full of resentment directed at Ye Tian, yet she could do nothing about it.

“I’m done eating.”

Ye Tian said.

“Eating so little and you’re full?” Ye Shuangxue didn’t believe him, pouting her little face.

“I’ll go take a nap,” Ye Tian said, then suddenly remembered something and looked at Ye Yunting with a smile: “So boring… Eldest, why don’t you tell me a story?”

A story?

Ye Yunting’s usually expressionless, icy face twitched slightly at the corners of his mouth.

He didn’t know how to tell stories; he rarely spoke. Asking him to tell a story was just setting him up to fail.

A faint, suspicious blush appeared on Ye Yunting’s pale face: “I… don’t know how…”

Before he could finish, Ye Tian clasped his right hand with his left, leaning painfully on the edge of the table: “Ouch!”

“So painful… it’s killing me…”

“If only I could listen to a story right now, to distract myself…” Ye Tian said, sneaking a glance at Ye Yunting.

It was obvious he was faking.

This shameless man even deceives children?

“Clack!” Shangguan Ning slammed her chopsticks down. Seeing Ye Yunting’s suspicious gaze toward Ye Tian, the words on her lips were swallowed back. How could such an intelligent young prince not see that Ye Tian was pretending?

Ye Tian loved to perform—let him perform.

Shangguan Ning smiled slyly, her gaze ill-intentioned as she looked at Ye Tian.

The next moment,

Ye Yunting stepped forward, holding Ye Tian’s right hand, frowning: “What story do you want to hear?”

“Rescue Mother on Mount Hua? Or Nezha Conquers the Sea?”

“Does your palm hurt now? The medicinal powder left by Doctor Qiu still has some…”

His urgent, caring demeanor was completely different from his usual self.

Ye Shuangxue said, “Hua Mulan, Father, tell me another story about Hua Mulan, and I’ll massage your legs for you.”

The two children chirped and crowded around Ye Tian.

“Hahaha…”

In the hall, Yuan Heipang and the others laughed heartily. Yuan Heipang turned to Ye Tian and said, “The stories you tell, Master, are just so enjoyable—more interesting than any storyteller.”

“Last time, Master didn’t even finish telling the story of Mulan joining the army. I couldn’t sleep well for several nights because of it.”

“Hua Mulan?”

“Who’s talking about Hua Mulan?”

Xiao Xun’er pushed open the main door and came in from outside. The wind and snow howled, and the north wind whipped through, tossing her long hair.

Squinting her eyes, she closed the door with a “creak!”

She brushed off the snow clinging to her clothes and strode toward Ye Tian.

Shanggan Ning glanced over.

A tall, graceful woman stood there, dressed in a bright red martial outfit, holding a horsewhip. Her heroic posture and commanding presence set her apart from ordinary women. Her features were delicate, her skin fair, and her aura was a mix of courage and beauty. Most striking were her phoenix-like eyes, sparkling with intensity and captivating anyone who met her gaze.

“Move over!”

“I’m starving!”

Xiao Xun’er, without any courtesy, lightly kicked Ye Tian’s rear.

Ye Tian was speechless and just scooted aside. Xiao Xun’er plopped down casually beside him and grabbed chopsticks from the table to start eating.

Shanggan Ning said nothing.

Her aura felt heavy and oppressive. She studied Xiao Xun’er cautiously—what was her relationship with Ye Tian?

So close?

Even the two children didn’t reject this woman. Shanggan Ning’s thoughts spun endlessly; her feminine instincts warned her: this was dangerous. The man and children that belonged to her Emperor were about to be taken by this woman in red.

With that thought…

“Bang!” Shanggan Ning sprang up from her seat. In her rush, the chopsticks in front of her clattered to the floor. All eyes turned toward her in surprise.

She tilted her face upward. Now, dressed as a man, a true upright and stalwart man, she wouldn’t raise any misunderstandings.

Right!

Shanggan Ning’s face was proud and haughty as she looked down at Xiao Xun’er: “Physical contact between men and women is improper. Miss, please mind your manners!”

Xiao Xun’er froze mid-bite, chopsticks hanging in the air.

Ye Tian: What’s going on?

In Yuan Heipang’s eyes, the flames of gossip burned bright—this fight between two women for the Master’s favor was about to begin.

The others: No wonder this woman risked everything to save Master. She must like him. That’s why she disguised herself as a man, got close to him, and stayed in the hotpot shop after getting ‘injured.’ Genius plan!

Ye Shuangxue thought: Who’s more upset than me?

The hall fell completely silent, the only sound being the bubbling of the hot pot.

“Glug!”

“Glug.”

Shanggan Ning looked at Ye Tian: “Weren’t you going to sleep?”

“I just happen to know how to tell stories. I’ll tell you all a story.” With that, Shanggan Ning, without waiting for a reply, pulled Ye Tian up, a look of triumph on her face as she stared at the bewildered Xiao Xun’er.

Ye Tian, completely confused, was dragged along, followed immediately by the two children.

Xiao Xun’er watched Shanggan Ning’s back: “What’s she up to?”

“Hehehe… what’s she up to? She has a crush on my Master, of course.” Once they were gone, Yuan Heipang grinned mischievously, staring at Ye Tian’s back. His face couldn’t hide his pride: “My Master is so charming. This woman would even die to save him—truly deep affection.”

“Mm.”

Xiao Wang and the others nodded in agreement: “This girl is disguised as a man. We won’t expose her unless she says it herself. If a woman is willing to die for me, she’s the only one I’d marry.”

“You know nothing!”

Old Yang shot them a disdainful glance from the side.