TNIBFT -Chapter 240 I Am Willing to Protect You

Qin Fengyi nodded.

Before she had lost consciousness, she had instructed Liu Ruyan to stay in Daliang and protect the three children as they grew up. Who could have guessed that after Liu Ruyan fell in love with Xiao Haoyang, the two of them constantly pulled in different directions, and Liu Ruyan abandoned her mission?

The three children suffered for several years because of this.

When she woke up, she sent her confidant Shangguan Ning to Sifang City to search for the children. The letter from Shangguan Ning mentioned Ye Tian, and it stirred her hatred.

She wanted nothing more than to kill Ye Tian to vent her anger.

He had abused the children, enslaved his own flesh and blood, and was utterly hopeless—skilled in eating, drinking, gambling, and debauchery.

When she received the letter, she couldn’t sleep for several nights.

Worrying even more for the children’s safety, she had no choice but to hurry and come to Sifang City herself.

Now—

The more Qin Fengyi investigated and got to know Ye Tian, the more she understood him. After interacting with him, guilt welled up in her heart. Ye Tian was excellent—a thoroughly competent father. The children couldn’t be without him; they relied on him. She herself, after spending some time with Ye Tian, felt a sense of ease and joy.

Deep down, she hoped Ye Tian would take the children and return with her to Dazhou.

“Can you tell me your real name?”

Ye Tian asked suddenly.

The horse beneath him paused. Qin Fengyi froze, her heart leaping. She turned slightly to look at Ye Tian.

Ye Tian smiled. “Meng Yuquan shouldn’t be your real name.”

“You are the biological mother of my children. There’s no doubt about that. Only a true mother could have such love—unhesitating, indulgent, doting. Every look, every action, is love.”

“You can’t fool anyone!”

Qin Fengyi lowered her head and smiled.

She had thought she had hidden it well.

“Qin Fengyi!”

She looked directly at Ye Tian, her tone calm, as if speaking the most ordinary name in the world.

This was the first time in her life she had ever told anyone her name.

A monarch’s true name was taboo. In Dazhou, not even characters with the same sound or writing were allowed. Hearing those three characters in Dazhou, officials and citizens alike had to kneel in respect.

Ye Tian nodded lightly.

He repeated it quietly in his mind a few times and thought the name was quite good. Looking up, he smiled: “A good name. Just hearing it, you know it comes from a family of martial generals.”

“Many things have passed. For example, the events six years ago—you and I… there are many things I hardly remember.”

Ye Tian continued.

Qin Fengyi had already made her own judgments. Hearing Ye Tian speak, she nodded lightly. Everything was as she had expected. When they first met, Ye Tian hadn’t recognized her, and for the events six years ago, she had mistakenly believed Ye Tian had deceived her. Later, she learned that three days after that, the Ye family’s household was destroyed, their clan exterminated.

Between them, there had been missed opportunities and misunderstandings.

“At that time, I was poisoned. Our relationship was a fleeting one. Even if you hadn’t taken responsibility, I wouldn’t have blamed you!”

Qin Fengyi spoke, her breath fragrant like orchids.

The warm breath was gentle, like a feather landing on Ye Tian’s ear.

Seeing Ye Tian not respond, Qin Fengyi continued: “Actually, I’m more familiar with the you of today.”

“If you’re willing, I am willing to protect you completely!”

“Ye Tian!”

“Ye Tian!”

Just as Ye Tian was about to refuse, Sun Wuji’s voice rang out, loud and piercing like a demonic roar, making the eardrums ache.

Ye Tian turned.

Sun Wuji was driving the carriage, waving at him excitedly.

“I’m exhausted, this old man! You have no heart, boy! Look at me—these three horses won’t listen. One wants water, one wants grass. I don’t care—you drive the carriage for me!”

Sun Wuji jumped down from the carriage and threw himself against Ye Tian’s leg.

Ye Tian shook his leg.

Sun Wuji clung like an octopus, impossible to shake off.

Ye Tian was speechless. This old man—didn’t he see he was looking for a wife?

He had been single all his life. Was the old man expecting him to stay single forever too?

Sun Wuji didn’t understand romance at all; he just found it amusing. Seeing Ye Tian and Qin Fengyi riding one horse, his eyes lit up. Curiously, he asked, “Is this horse fun to ride?”

“Why don’t the three of us sit together?”

“I’ll sit in the front, won’t take up any space at all…”

Sun Wuji looked eager, a pleading expression on his face.

Ye Tian: …

Qin Fengyi: …

In the end, Ye Tian couldn’t resist Sun Wuji’s persistence, nor could he outmatch him, so he had no choice but to sit in the carriage together with him.

Qin Fengyi’s horse circled around the carriage a few times, then she called out, “Ye Tian!”

Ye Tian immediately lifted the curtain and craned his neck to look outside. Qin Fengyi said, “Tomorrow, at noon, I have something I want to tell you.”

“Alright!”

Ye Tian agreed.

A faint smile curved Qin Fengyi’s lips. She flicked the reins, and her steed surged forward. Nanfeng and the others followed closely behind.

Watching Qin Fengyi’s heroic figure gallop ahead, Ye Tian couldn’t stop grinning.

Progress!

As long as she was willing to stay, the kids would finally have a mother!

When Xiao Jiang comes back, he’s going to be overjoyed, right?

Ye Tian felt a secret thrill in his heart. Sun Wuji looked at Ye Tian suspiciously, then glanced at Qin Fengyi’s back, then back at Ye Tian. The old man frowned, puzzled: “At noon, she’s bringing you snacks?”

“Or taking you out to play?”

“I don’t care, I’m going too, I’m going too!”

Sun Wuji tugged at Ye Tian, pouting cutely.

Ye Tian groaned.

He placed a large hand over Sun Wuji’s face: “Old man, do you want a daughter-in-law?”

“What’s a daughter-in-law?”

“She cooks for the kids every day, does their laundry, respects you, buys you nice things… you say one thing, she doesn’t say another…”

Thinking of Qin Fengyi’s cool, composed gaze, Ye Tian felt what he was saying was a bit unrealistic.

Sun Wuji lay flat in front of Ye Tian, nodding frantically: “Yes, yes, yes!”

…

Meanwhile, in Sifang City,

Old Yang sat at the entrance of a hotpot restaurant, his face dark as he watched the wide street, seemingly waiting for someone.

Ye Tian went out again this time, without taking him along.

His strength was clearly superior to Duan Qingshan, yet Ye Tian didn’t seem to notice.

And every day, he had to watch over two little troublemakers.

Old Yang clenched a leaf of vegetables in his hand, venting his frustration.

“Uncle Yang!”

“Uncle Yang…”

A soft, sweet voice came. Old Yang immediately put on a smile and turned kindly to the two children: “What’s the matter?”

His eyes swept over them, seeing that both were neatly dressed, wearing little hats. Old Yang asked, “Are you getting ready to go out?”

“The master said we can’t go out casually when he’s not home.”

“To go to the teacher’s house,” Ye Yunting said.

Yuxue’s cute face brightened, his big black eyes sparkling: “Since my father isn’t here, many things in the city aren’t being handled. The teacher is skilled; I want him to help.”

“If city affairs aren’t handled in time, it could cause a lot of trouble. Over time, the people will become dissatisfied,” he explained.

These high-minded principles had nothing to do with him, and Old Yang looked troubled: “But…”

Before he could finish, Ye Shuangxue, wearing a little tiger hat, raised an eyebrow at Old Yang: “If you don’t go, when Ye Tian returns, I’ll tell him that you never wanted to watch over us!”

“Uncle Yang just wants to be a great general, not play with us!”

“And he said he’s stronger than Uncle Duan…”

“Miss, I really didn’t!” Old Yang stepped forward nervously, covering Ye Shuangxue’s small mouth with his hand, pleading: “Whatever you say goes…”