TNIBFT -Chapter 209 What Happened to Your Eyes?

She couldn’t tell whether this was reality or just a dream.

In her dreams, she often saw a family of five living happily together. Ye Tian’s face was always blurry—just a tall silhouette—and even the children’s appearances were only vague outlines. Even so, she never wanted to wake up from those dreams.

“Impudent!”

Nanfeng suddenly roared. With a sharp whoosh, he half-drew the sword at his waist, glaring viciously at Ye Tian—so furious it looked like he might chop off Ye Tian’s hand at any moment.

Qin Fengyi snapped back to her senses, her body trembling slightly as Ye Tian’s hand was shaken off.

Suppressing her emotions, she clasped her hands behind her back, her aura turning cold and imposing.

You think I can’t deal with you?

Ye Tian grinned cheekily and said, “We’re all men here. Lord Meng has shown my family great kindness. Look, I… I just got a little too excited.”

“What kind of man would fuss over something like that, right, Lord Meng?”

He deliberately emphasized the last part.

Qin Fengyi glanced at Nanfeng, and only then did Nanfeng reluctantly sheathe his sword.

Ye Yunting shot Ye Tian a glance, then tugged at Qin Fengyi’s clothes. “Lord Meng, please don’t be angry. My father just likes you—he’s not usually like this.”

“My father says you’re very knowledgeable, elegant, and even praised you for being handsome—said you’re the best person in the Great Zhou.”

“Oh?”

Looking at her son’s soft, bun-like face, Qin Fengyi cast a suspicious glance at Ye Tian.

For her son’s sake, most of her anger dissipated.

Ye Tian actually praised me like that?

Yet even now, he hadn’t recognized her. Could it be that night meant nothing to him—that he never remembered it at all?

Qin Fengyi’s thoughts grew complicated.

She felt relieved that he hadn’t recognized her, yet also angry that he didn’t remember her.

This man—the first ever to openly embrace her in public—

There would never be a second time!

“Did you like the gifts I sent yesterday?” Qin Fengyi asked with a gentle smile.

Ye Yunting was just about to answer—

When, from a corner of the hall, a soft, childish voice piped up, “The things you gave last night—Ye Tian liked them the most. He hid them all away.”

It must be her daughter speaking.

Qin Fengyi’s blood surged as she hurriedly looked toward the corner. There, at a large square table, sat a little girl with tiny tied-up hair buns, unable to sit still. Her small legs dangled in the air like she was on a swing, and her bright, watery eyes curiously stared at her.

In her little hand was a thick white radish, which she gnawed on with her front teeth like a hamster.

The moment their eyes met, Qin Fengyi’s vision blurred with tears.

She really is my daughter… her nose and brows look so much like mine.

Her feet moved uncontrollably as she quickly walked toward Ye Shuangxue.

Ye Shuangxue stared blankly at her—at her face, at her beautiful eyes. Something surged through her body, and her small mouth parted slightly, a glistening trail of drool at the corner of her lips.

Gently, Qin Fengyi reached out and wiped the drool from her daughter’s mouth.

Ye Shuangxue blinked.

This person is quite nice… she doesn’t even dislike me.

“Do you want some?” Ye Shuangxue offered, holding out the half-eaten radish.

Looking at the uneven, gnawed radish, Qin Fengyi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Overcome with emotion, she nodded and accepted it with both hands.

She lifted it to her lips, about to take a bite—

“Master!” Nanfeng reminded from behind.

Ye Tian glanced at Nanfeng and quickly stepped forward, snatching the radish from Qin Fengyi’s hand.

Crunch! He took a big bite.

“Bang!”

Qin Fengyi exploded in anger and punched Ye Tian straight in the eye.

She shouted angrily, “I’ve grown this old, and no one has ever snatched something from my hands!”

Ye Tian covered his eye and stepped back.

His voice carried a sobbing tone, “My daughter already bit that! You’re a grown man—are you sick or something?”

“If I give it to you, you just eat it? Do you really think you’re the child’s real father?”

Qin Fengyi clasped her hands behind her back, unwilling to admit defeat.

Ye Yunting and Ye Shuangxue rushed to Ye Tian’s side immediately, the two children asking with concern:

“Dad, are you okay?”

“Dad, can you still see?”

Ye Shuangxue stretched out a tiny finger and waved it in front of Ye Tian’s eyes.

“Lord Meng, hitting someone is wrong!” Ye Yunting dropped his earlier friendliness, standing firmly beside Ye Tian to defend his father.

Ye Shuangxue also raised her head and said, “That’s right!”

“Unless you give us another gift, Ye Tian will never forgive you!”

Hearing his daughter’s words, Ye Tian felt speechless—could they not make it this obvious?

Looking at the expressions on the two children’s faces, Qin Fengyi found it extremely difficult to deal with. Even when facing state affairs, she never changed her expression—but with Ye Tian and the two children, she had no idea what to do.

“I…”

“I…”

She couldn’t bring herself to say the words of apology.

Yet she also feared the two children might truly grow distant from her. After all, she had only a few days to build a bond before taking them away.

She glanced at Ye Tian. “How about… I stay and cook lunch for you all?”

“Let that count as my apology!”

“Brother Ye?”

“Brother Ye!”

Before Ye Tian could respond, a voice came from the doorway—it was Shi Shanxiang.

Squinting with one eye, Ye Tian looked up and saw Shi Hao supporting Shi Shanxiang as they limped in from outside.

“Brother Ye, I came yesterday but you weren’t in the shop. Today I finally caught you,” Shi Shanxiang said happily. He glanced back at Shi Hao, who quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and carried several packets of pastries.

“Uncle Ye.”

Ye Tian smiled.

Shi Hao placed the pastries on the table.

Ye Tian glanced at them and said to Ye Yunting, “Take Little Shi and your sister—open one pack and the three of you share.”

“Okay.”

Ye Yunting nodded and stepped away.

Watching Ye Tian’s children, Shi Shanxiang said with a smile, “Brother Ye, you really know how to raise kids. These two are more sensible than the last.”

“What happened to your eye, Brother Ye?”

“Oh, I accidentally hit it on a door,” Ye Tian replied, turning to look toward Meng Yuquan’s seat—only to find it empty.

His gaze swept around, and only then did he notice that Meng Yuquan had already gone upstairs with Nanfeng.

“Actually, I came today to ask Brother Ye for a favor…”

…

At that moment, Qin Fengyi stood on the second-floor corridor with her hands behind her back, looking down and taking in everything happening on the first floor.

“Who is that person?”

“He seems to have a close relationship with Ye Tian.”

She asked.

Nanfeng replied, “He should be the owner of a grain shop whom Ye Tian befriended. Ye Tian once helped him. Judging by his clothes, he’s just an ordinary man. Ye Tian himself lacks ambition and ability—this subordinate believes Your Majesty shouldn’t spend too much time entangled here.”

Qin Fengyi remained silent.

Her gaze softened as she watched her two children sharing pastries happily with their little friend.

Seeing her daughter so delighted by such ordinary pastries, Qin Fengyi felt a pang in her heart.

She raised her hand to stop Nanfeng and said, “From now on, you need not say anything that belittles Ye Tian.”

“If I hear it again, I will punish you severely!”

Nanfeng lowered his head and cupped his fists.

Qin Fengyi said, “No matter what, Ye Tian raised three princes for me.”

“That alone is a heavenly grace to me—and to the Great Zhou.”

“On that merit alone, Ye Tian deserves to be made a king or a marquis!”